Page 103 of Melt His Heart

The ice fills with reporters, coaches, and spouses. I give a quick interview to the newscasters, holding the cup. I hand it off to Avery; he deserves his time with it. That winning shot was incredible.

“Hey, you!” Kelly yells from across the ice, “Congrats! I guess being your friend finally paid off.” She laughs.

“You’re fucking annoying!” I laugh over all the noise.

“I’m annoying, but I got you the best gift ever!” She says, stepping aside and signaling to someone hiding off the ice. I crane my neck to see over her.

“Hey.”

Julian.

He waves, his dimples saying hello to me. I skate over to him faster than I did twenty minutes ago, passing that last shot to Avery. I pull him into a hug, the peach scent of hair and skin invading my senses. I’m probably crushing my poor baby a bit, but fuck.

This is a dream.

He’s a dream.

“What are you doing here?” I say, letting him step back a bit.

“Supporting my boyfriend, obviously.” He loves rolling his eyes, the eyes that sucked me in the first day we met and haven’t let me go since. I hope they never do.

“Congratulations, I can’t believe people actually listen to you.” He giggles, poking my side.

“Yeah, unlike somebody who never listens to me, look what happens when people do.” I pull him back in.

“If I listened to you, I wouldn’t be here, mister, no need to come back. I’ll be fine.” He says before pushing up onto his toes to kiss my cheek.

“I’m glad you’re here, baby.”

“Me too.” His voice is always so pleasing. I missed hearing it in person.

Kelly clears her throat, back after chatting with some of the other guys, “So, what’s the move tonight?” She grins.

* * *

I press his back into the wall of the elevator, his mouth perfectly fitted over mine. How could his kiss feel better than holding the fucking cup over my head?

This can’t be replaced.

Juyeon always melts when I touch him; his body chases mine when I pull away to lead us out into the hallway.

“Somebody’s needy,” I smirk.

“I am not!” He retorts, always hating to admit he loves what’s happening to him, what’s about to happen to him when I get this room door open.

I press my keycard to the door, and we spill into the room, our tongues still lapping at each other. Juyeon breaks apart from me, huffing and trying to catch his breath.

“I saw that guy trying to talk to you at the party.” He pouts, flirting around the room like a little cat, shedding his outer clothes as he goes.

“Oh yeah?” I smile, knowing exactly where this is going.

“Yeah, I should’ve started making out with you right there. But he looked so desperate, I felt bad.” He scoffs.

Juyeon walks past the couch, stopping to stand in front of the large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Look at that, my favorite views.

“Don’t worry, I was thinking of someone entirely different the whole conversation. Besides,” I say, padding over to join him, “he just wanted an autograph.” I look down into his eyes, glittering under the night lights showering the room.