Chapter 114: Masterpiece on Ice
Rhys
"I like your ass."
That was not what I had expected him to say. Hearing him say it with a serious look and a flat tone made me falter, and I almost lost my balance on the ice.
My stomach did a weird somersault that had nothing to do with the skating. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. "What?"
"You heard me," he continued, his expression stone-cold serious even as a wicked flash of mischief danced in his obsidian eyes. "I mean, your personality is a solid seven, and you’re a decent captain, I guess. But that ass? Rhys, have you looked in the mirror?" He asked, and before I could respond, he spoke up again.
"That frog position we do every time is my favorite part of practice because I get to see your ass. It’s a masterpiece, Rhys. A national treasure."
I stared at him for a heartbeat, my jaw actually dropping as I listened to him talk about my ass as if he were giving a long, educational speech.
I stood at the center of the rink, speechless. Never did I imagine that Kayden would talk about me like that. It was so funny hearing him speak that way, and after a while of just staring at him, I lost it.
A deep, boisterous laugh tore out of my chest, echoing off the glass walls of the rink.
I laughed so hard I had to double over, my hands resting on my knees as I struggled to draw air into my lungs.
"My ass, Kayden? Really?" I asked and laughed again. "Your favorite thing about me is my ass? That’s..." I didn’t even know what else to say because I was completely lost for words.
Kayden nodded. "I am a man of refined tastes, Rhys," he joked, showing off as he skated effortless circles around me while I just stood there watching him. "It’s a high-quality ass. You should be proud to carry it around. It’s the real Calder heirloom."
I shook my head, finally straightening up and wiping a tear of laughter from my eye. "You are unbelievable, Vale. Truly. Here I am trying to be the ultimate romantic, and you’re just back there checking out my form during drills."
"I mean it’s a good ass."
I rolled my eyes but said nothing.
"My turn to ask," Kayden said, his breath hitching slightly from the cold. He slowed his pace, gliding back toward me until our blades were almost touching. "What’s your favorite thing about me? And don’t you dare say my slap-shot, because I don’t want to hear that."
I didn’t answer with words at first. Instead, I surged forward, my skates humming against the ice as I wrapped my arms securely around his waist, pulling him back against me.
We moved as one, gliding in a long, sweeping curve under the sun that was starting to set.
"It’s your scent," I whispered, leaning down so my lips brushed the shell of his ear. "That orchid scent that seems to follow you everywhere drives me crazy. It’s intoxicating." I tightened my grip just a bit around his waist, feeling the steady beat of his heart through his jacket.
"And I love your frame. You’re compact, powerful... but most of all, I love that from where I stand, I can see the center of your side—the curve of your neck, the way your hair falls—all the little details you can’t even see yourself. I can see them all," I boasted.
Kayden let out a soft, breathy laugh, his head leaning back against my shoulder for a fleeting second before he let out a scoff. "So your favorite thing is that I’m smaller than you? You’re such a typical Alpha, Calder."
"It’s about having a better vantage point to adore you," I countered with a grin. "I love how small you are, and it’s not a bad thing."
Kayden scoffed again and didn’t stay still for long. With a sudden burst of energy, he twisted out of my arms and kicked his blades on the ice, spraying a fine mist of ice over my boots. "You’re a poetic jerk! Catch me if you can!"
He took off like a shot.
I didn’t hesitate, digging my toes into the ice to give chase. "Don’t make me catch you," I joked.
We tore across the rink, weaving through the ice while laughing out loud, as if we were all that mattered in the world.
Kayden tried to prove that he was a better runner, but I was faster. I slid up beside him when he wasn’t aware and managed to snag the edge of his jacket.
I pulled him back toward me just as he tried to pivot, and the sudden weight shift sent us both off balance.
"Whoa—down we go!" I yelled.
I instinctively pulled him into my chest, twisting my body so I would hit the ice first and he would land on top of me.
We went down hard, sliding across the frozen surface in a tangle of limbs and muffled shouts. We finally came to a stop in the dead center of the rink.
I lay there on my back, gasping for air, looking up at Kayden as he landed on me.
His face was flushed, his obsidian eyes wide and sparkling with a look of pure affection.
For a moment, neither of us said anything; we just stayed right there, staring at each other.
"You okay, Vale?" I asked, breaking the silence. I brushed a stray hair from his forehead. "Are you?" I repeated the question.
"I am now," he whispered, a soft, genuine smile pulling at his lips. He didn’t move to get up. Instead, he leaned down, his nose grazing mine, and he hugged me. "Best ride of the park. Hands down."
I let out a breathy laugh, my hands sliding up his back to hold him close against the cold surface of the ice. The air was freezing, but with Kayden pressed against me like this, I couldn’t feel it at all. The heat of his body was enough to keep me warm.
He pulled back just an inch, his eyes darting to my lips and then back up to mine. "Actually," he murmured, a bit of that mischievous spark returning to his face. "I take it back. This ride was still a little bit..."
I didn’t let him finish the complaint. I reached up, cupping the back of his neck and pulling him down to bridge the tiny gap between us.
I kissed him deeply, tasting the cold air on his lips and the warmth of his response as he melted into me. It was a slow, lip-biting kiss that made the rest of the world feel like background noise.
When I finally pulled away, Kayden looked a little dazed, his cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"Okay," he breathed, resting his forehead against mine. "Maybe the ride wasn’t that bad."
I chuckled and then looked up to check the horizon.
"As much as I love having you on top of me in the middle of a rink," I joked, "we have one last surprise to get to before the sun finally disappears."
"Oh, more surprises," Kayden chuckled and stood up, stretching forth his hand for me to take.
I grabbed his hand and let him pull me up.
"Come on," I said, leading him toward the exit where the attendants were waiting with our shoes. "We can finish our questions at the last spot. I still have a lot more I want to know about you and tell you."
~~~
Author’s note
The Chapters from here are moments that has anything to do with hockey. If you enjoy some romantic and funny moments with Valder and Mile, there are more Chapters to read. Click on the privilege Chapters and read ahead. The game returns from chaps 135...
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