Page 4 of Cold as Ice (Playing For Keeps)

"Kelsey, easy," he croons, trying to slow me down, but I refuse to be deterred.

I grit my teeth and slam myself down on him, ripping through my virgin barrier in one quick move. The sharp pain is immediate and intense. I choke on the pain.

"Stubborn little…" he growls, pulling me close. His mouth touches mine. "I should spank you for that. Are you okay, princess?"

"Fine," I gasp, writhing on him as the pain bleeds to pleasure and something else…something deeper. Wonder? Joy? I don't know that there is a word to describe the bone-deep sense of completion coursing through me. It's as if every dream I've ever had of this man have all come true at once.

"Then ride me, Kelsey." He grips my hips and lifts me up, showing me how to move. "Hard, princess. I'm not going to fucking last. You feel too perfect wrapped around me like you are."

I moan his name, planting my hands on his shoulders. Together, we work out a rhythm. Get lost in it. He lifts me up, and I drop back down on him, taking him deep again and then again. His lips move across my throat, pelting me with hot breaths and grunted words of encouragement. He's so sexy like this, all discomposed and turned on. He's been in the United States since he was just a little boy, but traces of his accent bleed through now, his voice guttural.

"God, princess. You're killing me." He rocks me faster, harder. "Do you know how fucking good you feel?"

"Yes," I moan, my core clenching around him. He's so big, so thick. I don't want this to end. And yet…it has to end. All I get is this one interlude. He isn't mine to keep, no matter how much I wish he were.

I push the painful thought away, refusing to think about it now. I just want to live in the moment, just once. Even if it can't last.

"Beautiful," he growls, dragging my mouth to his. He steals my breath. Steals another piece of my heart. And then sends me catapulting over the edge into a freefall. Except he holds me the entire way down, keeping me tucked against his big body as if to shelter me.

He writhes as we fall, moaning my name. It's perfect. He's perfect.

And it's over far too soon.

The alarm on my phone goes off, warning me that the interview is about to start. Which means the game is about to start too. We're out of time.

I want more time. I need more time. Except…I've never had enough of that.

"When the season ends, I'm hanging up my skates, Kelsey," he murmurs, brushing strands of hair out of my face. "Whether you're ready for me or not, I'm coming for you."

He…what?

I blink at him, shocked.

He's quitting?

"Kris…what?"

"I'm retiring, elskan mín. You won't date a hockey player, so I'm solving the problem."

My heart sinks into my stomach. My stomach clenches. He thinks he has to quit to be with me. Oh, no. This is all my fault. He can't retire. Not for me. Not when I can't ever give him the life he deserves.

"No." I pull away from him, climbing to my feet. My legs shake before they steady beneath me. "That's not what I want. This was a mistake. Don't give up your career for someone who won't ever give you what you want."

"Goddammit, Kelsey." He reaches for me.

I dart out of his reach, grab my skirt and panties from the floor, and quickly step into them. "I don't…want you."

I hate myself as soon as I say it. I hate the pain in his eyes and the way he flinches. I hate everything about this.

"Liar," he growls, trying to tuck himself back into his pants.

"I'm not lying."

"Yeah, you are. Why?"

Because I have leukemia. Because you have an entire future ahead of you, you big idiot. You can have anything you want…a family, babies. I'll never be able to give you that.

All I have for you is fear. It's not good enough. You deserve more.

I spin away from him to hide the tears welling in my eyes. But I don't say any of that. The words stick in my throat, refusing to come. "I'm not lying, Kris," I say instead. "Just accept it already. This won't ever happen again." For your sake, it can't.

I slip from the conference room before he can respond, fleeing like a coward. Tears blur my vision as I scurry down the hallway, trying like hell to forget the feel of his hands on my body.

For my sake, I have to forget. And for his, I have to let him go.

Chapter Two

Kris

Now

"Theo has been completely cleared by medical to play."

"Fuck yeah!" Jonas Michaud slaps Theo James on the back, nearly knocking him off the bench in the process. He's the biggest hockey player I've ever met. He's one of the fastest too.

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