The Definition of Icing: A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance (Dallas Demons Series) (14 page)

Chapter 18

Tripping: Penalty for taking down an opposing player with stick, hand, or sticking out your leg
—
Nate

“So how excited are you for the game tonight?” Kylie asks, taking a sip of her iced tea.

“You have no idea how anxious I am to see Nate play,” I admit. We’re sitting outside on this beautiful September afternoon, having lunch on the patio at an Italian restaurant in Uptown.

Nate was away at training camp for a few days last week, and now the Demons are going to play their first preseason game against the Cleveland Wildcats tonight at the Premier Airlines Center.

But to see Nate in his element, to see him for the first time skate with Harrison, to see his first start as a Dallas Demon—well, there are no words to describe how thrilled I am for the game tonight.

Kylie flashes me a grin. “He’s told you that he won’t play much, being that it’s the first preseason game and all, right?”

I laugh. “Nate says he’ll barely be on the ice, but I don’t care. I’m
dying
to see him play.”

Which is true. Nate said I’d probably get bored, but I know I won’t. And there’s no way I was going to miss his first game and seeing him in that Demons jersey for the first time.

“I know the feeling,” Kylie says, pausing to take a bite of her caprese salad. “And I still get excited for the first game of the season, too. But at least we’ll be able to keep each other company in the VIP lounge.”

“What?” I ask, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“The lounge the Demons have set up in the arena for wives and girlfriends. Didn’t Nate give you a credential for it?”

Suddenly an uneasy feeling washes over me. I decide I don’t want a bite of my ahi tuna and set my fork back down. “Um, Nate gave me two tickets. Arena seats.”

I see an uncomfortable expression filter across Kylie’s beautiful face. “Oh,” she says. Then she smiles brightly at me. “Well, maybe he did that so you could bring a friend.”

My stomach tightens. When Nate said he’d get me a ticket, he asked if I wanted to bring a friend.

But he never mentioned this lounge as an option.

I need to know more about this, to try and get rid of this uneasiness.

“So the wives and girlfriends have a special room?” I ask, trying to keep my voice causal.

Kylie nods. “Yes. It’s not far from the players’ dressing room,” she explains. “The game is on TV in there, and there’s food, a play area for the kids, stuff like that.”

I bite my lip. It sounds like a sorority, if you will, for the women in the lives of the Dallas Demons. Where they come together on game nights, cheer for their men, and bond over what it’s like to be dating or married to a professional hockey player.

A sorority,
I think as my chest tightens,
Nate doesn’t want me to join just yet.

“But for your first few games, you have to be where you can see the game live,” Kylie says reassuringly, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s so much fun to watch right on the glass . . .”

Kylie’s voice trails off in my head as I’m wrapped up in thoughts of Nate. I’m stung by this, and I know I shouldn’t be. Nate did say we were going to move
slowly.
And I suppose that means introducing me in all aspects of his life is going to take some time.

But what if he never does?
a small voice inside me whispers.

Okay, Kenley, now you’re being stupid.
I reach for my glass of water, taking a sip to try and clear my head. We’ve seen each other a lot the past few weeks, we did Connectivity video chats while he was in Fort Worth. We’re checking our schedules and making plans to be together whenever possible.

I need to trust that Nate can fully let me into his heart. He needs
time.
I can’t rush this. Nor do I want to. I want Nate’s feelings to be real for me, and I can’t put that on a timetable and expect him to meet deadlines. Like putting me in the VIP suite because I
feel
like his girlfriend.

So I clear my throat, listen to Kylie, and shove the stinging feeling aside. I
know
Nate. I know he wants to get to the same place. I trust him.

And right now I have to pray that trusting Nate—and what my heart thinks we
can be
—is the right thing to do. 

“These seats are
sick,
” Lexi exclaims as we take Nate’s seats on the glass.

I feel a shiver of excitement shoot down my spine, and it’s not from the cold temperature inside the Premier Airlines Arena. We sit down, right on the glass, as they say in hockey, and peer out over the vacant ice.

“I can’t believe I’m going to see him play,” I say in amazement.

“You say ‘him’ like he’s a player you have a crush on from afar,” Lexi says, grinning as she sits down. “You’re seeing your
boyfriend.
”

I frown. Lexi doesn’t know about my conversation with Kylie earlier.

“What’s the look for?”

I turn and see Lexi’s green eyes zeroed in on my face. I swear nothing gets past her. I glance around, and we’re alone in our little area of the arena for now, as Nate said to get here early so we can see them warm-up.

“Um,” I say softly, “I found out something at lunch today. And it’s been on my mind.”

“Okay. He’s in love with Harrison, right?”

I laugh. “No.”

“We already know he’s not a womanizer.”

“Far from it.”

“Well,” Lexi says, “we’ve proven all of CiCi’s theories wrong, so what could possibly be bothering you?”

I loop a strand of hair around my finger and stare out at the ice. “There’s a special VIP lounge for wives and girlfriends of the players. That’s where they watch the game, on TV. And he didn’t even mention it to me.”

Lexi digests this for a moment before speaking. “Don’t overthink this, Kenley. I don’t think Nate is making a statement by not giving you a ticket or pass or whatever to this lounge.”

I find my anxiety loosen up a bit from Lexi’s words.

“I just . . . I know Nate wants to take this slow,” I say. “And I know that’s making a big statement, putting me in that lounge.”

“Right, and you’ve just started seeing him.”

I nod. Then I confide my deepest fear. “My gut says to not worry how Nate is labeling things. To let us grow into whatever we are meant to be. But I know my gut has been wrong before. And . . . I think I would be devastated if I was wrong this time.”

“Wrong in what way?”

“What if Nate can’t open his heart to me?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Lexi asks, confusion etched on her face.

I swallow. She doesn’t know about Megan and Patrick, and I’ll never tell anyone that story. Not even to my best friend.

“He’s cautious because he’s been hurt before,” I say honestly. “And I’m afraid he’ll never move past that.”

“Okay, serious overthinking going on up here and it’s tripping you up,” Lexi says, tapping the side of my head affectionately. “So he’s been hurt before. So have you. But that doesn’t matter now. Keep dating him. Don’t worry about labels and lounges and what things should or shouldn’t be happening. Just let it happen organically.”

I feel a weight being lifted off my heart with her words.

“I seriously love you, you know that?” I say, feeling nothing but grateful that Lexi is my best friend.

Lexi grins. “I should lean in and kiss you. It would give that guy in the next section more of a selection for the photos he’s taking of you.”

I groan. “Ugh, another cell phone shooter?”

Lexi laughs. “Yep. Be braced for a round of ‘Hot Puck Bunny at Dallas Demons’ photos to be thrown up on social media.’”

More people enter our section, and I wrinkle my brow.

“I thought you said they’re called Puck Sluts.”

Lexi shrugs. “Interchangeable terms.”

I laugh, and she does, too.

Suddenly the PA announcer comes on and introduces the Dallas Demons, and out of the tunnel they come, skating onto the ice for pre-game warm-ups. A cheer goes up, and pulsating music fills the arena.

Excitement tears through me, and I eagerly search for Nate. Then I see him, skating right behind Harrison, sexy as hell in his silver and black hockey sweater with his new number, 88, on the back.

They are flying around their half of the rink, right in front of me and Lexi, and the speed and ease at which he moves is mind-blowing. Nate takes a turn and is right in front of us, and my breath catches in my throat as he glances at me and flashes me a smile.

Oh. Dear. God.

I didn’t think he could be sexier, but this takes it to a whole new level.

“Holy shit, did you see Nate Johansson smile?” a girl cries next to me.

I glance to my left, and a bunch of people have gathered to try and take pictures and video. Some have professional-size lenses, others are using cell phones. Which is what Lexi is doing now. She loves to video hockey and do her own edits, and she’s shooting the warm-up as well.

“He’s
hot
,” another girl chimes in. “We love you, Nate! Welcome to Dallas!” she screams at the glass.

Lexi bursts out laughing. “Welcome to your new world.”

I can’t help but laugh. I know it might bother some women, but I know it doesn’t mean anything. Besides, how can I blame them? Nate is gorgeous, after all.

“Harrison is even more handsome up close,” Lexi says as she continues to video. “How is that
possible
? And Matt Rhinelander is cute if you like blonds. So we have Harrison, Nate, and Matt on the same line. Hottest line in the league.”

Oh, definitely no doubt about that,
I think, looking at Nate. He’s so huge in his gear, and now Nate’s ripping powerful shots to the net to a Justin Timberlake song, and I can’t keep my eyes off him.

I watch as he goes through his warm-up, and I notice that he and Harrison already have such a good relationship. They’re talking and laughing, and at one point Harrison pokes Nate with his stick when he’s singing along to the warm-up song.

And as I watch him, I realize that with this game Nate’s truly starting his new life here. He has a captain he admires and trusts in Harrison. And if this warm-up is any indication, they’re going to play well together on the ice.

Then there’s me.

I watch my hockey player take another shot at the net. Nate wasn’t looking for me, and I wasn’t looking for him, but we found each other anyway. The fact that he’s even willing to take steps with me after what happened to him is
huge.

I see that Nate’s watching me, and my heart dances inside my chest. I smile at him, and he flashes me a grin before taking another shot.

I trust you, Nate
, I think, watching him move across the ice.
More than I have any man.

Now I have to trust he’s going to fall in love with me.

Because I’m already starting to fall for him.

Chapter 19

Caramel Stage: When you heat sugar to between 320-350F, at which point the water has boiled away and the sugar has caramelized, resulting in a rich, brown color
—
Kenley

This has been the best night
ever.

Seeing Nate play—even for the few minutes that he did—was exhilarating. He’s
amazing
on the ice! Nate moves with precision and speed—I still can’t believe how fast he can skate. He even had an assist, as Lexi explained, to Harrison that resulted in a goal. I remember leaping to my feet and cheering, and I know if I’m this excited over a preseason game, I’ll be out of control when I go to the first real game of the season.

And now comes the next best part of the night—meeting Nate at his place after the game.

I move down the hall to his door. Nate had explained to me he had to workout after the game, some core work and light toning, and then he’d be ready to leave. I shake my head. Seriously, he works out after playing hockey? This is a whole new world for me.

He texted me when he was leaving, and I headed over to meet him at his place.

I feel the butterflies shift in my stomach as I ring his doorbell. I wait for him to open the door, and as he does, my heart stops inside my chest.

Nate is standing there in a crisp white dress shirt and black suit pants. The shirt is unbuttoned a few spots, revealing his gorgeous olive skin, and now my heart jumps back to life, accelerating at a dangerous pace. If you were to take my temperature, it would be at the freaking caramel stage because I’m burning up now.

Sexy as hell
.
The man is sexy as hell.

“You’re so gorgeous tonight,” Nate says, his espresso-colored eyes flickering over me.

Huh?
Then I glance down at what I have on. I’m wearing a black, gathered-neck trapeze top, with my Rag & Bone denim jacket thrown over the top. I paired it with my white slim-fitted jeans and my black skimmer flats. A stack of silver bangles on my wrist and a silver link statement necklace complete my outfit.

Nate lets me in and shuts the door behind me. I turn around and smile at him.

“Thank you,” I say, happy that he complimented me. “I’m glad you approve of my game day outfit.”

“I love it,” Nate says, sliding his muscular arms around my waist.

I shiver from his touch. “Why are you so dressed up?” I ask, gazing up at him.

“We dress for game days,” Nate says.

“I have so much to learn,” I say, my arms finding their way to Nate’s waist. I feel the crisp fabric of his expensive shirt against my fingertips, and suddenly all I can think of is unbuttoning the rest of it so I can feel his chest.

“Learn?”

I nod. “You do Pilates, you have to workout
after
a game, and you have to wear suits even for a home game. I need a handbook to learn everything you do!”

“You don’t need a handbook when you have me,” Nate says, lowering his lips to mine.

His lips brush against mine in one of his delicious, sweet kisses. Then he slowly eases my lips apart, deepening the kiss, and heat fills me as his tongue demands more of me.

Both of his hands are in my hair now, caressing it as he continues to explore my mouth with his own. I match his kiss, which is getting more passionate by the second. His stubble is burning against my skin, which is making me crazy with desire. I slide my hands around his back, feeling his hard muscles through his shirt, and I moan against his lips in response.

Nate breaks the kiss, pausing to catch his breath, and I do the same.

“Hi,” he finally says, smiling at me.

I regain my breath and smile back at him. “Hi.”

Then we both laugh, as we realized we never got that far in our greetings tonight.

“I loved seeing you at the game,” Nate says, cupping my face in his hands and stroking it in that sensual way he has. “Sorry you had to endure watching me sit on the bench for most of it.”

I shake my head. “Are you
kidding?
I
loved
being there,” I cry. “The whole experience was incredible. Seeing how fast you skate, how you can shoot that puck. I relished every second of it.”

Nate grins at me. “But did you check out my ass? I’d been working on it the past week since your comment.”

Embarrassment sweeps through me, and I feel my face grow warm. Suddenly Nate’s eyes are sparkling at me.

“I love to make you blush, Bae.”

I laugh. “I’m so not your Bae.”

“You so are.”

Then his expression gets serious. He clears his throat and gazes intently into my eyes.

“Those tickets are yours,” he says softly. “You can come to as many games as you want. But don’t feel like you have to. I know you have a life. I know you work on your business, teach classes, have other things you want to do a—”

I interrupt him by placing my finger over his lips. “I’ll go to every game possible,” I promise, meaning every word. “I’m going to support you in any way I can.”

Nate entwines his fingers with mine and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you,” he says. “That means a lot to me.”

“I know it does,” I say. “And that’s why it means just as much to me to be there for you.”

Nothing is said for a moment. I’m standing with Nate, his strong hand still wrapped around mine.

But nothing needs to be said.

Because I know we’ve taken another step forward.

“I want you to stay over tonight,” Nate says, squeezing my hands gently. “Please sleep here. Stay with me.”

I feel my breath catch in my throat. I know what my answer is, but I decide to play coy with him first.

“I didn’t bring a toothbrush,” I say, smiling at him.

A grin spreads across Nate’s face, as he knows what my answer is going to be, too.

“I have an extra one.”

“Okay, so that problem is solved. But I don’t have anything to sleep in.”

“And this is a problem?”

I laugh. “
Nate.
”

Nate winds his muscular arms around me. “You can sleep in one of my T-shirts.”

Oh I love this idea, of being in his clothes.

I gaze up at him and lift an eyebrow. “And we’re still taking baby steps?”

“It’s a king-sized bed. You’ll practically be sleeping in Fort Worth. You won’t even know I’m there.”

I burst out laughing, and Nate does, too. But his answer tells me while we’ll be in the same bed, we won’t be having sex tonight.

“I think I’ll know you’re there,” I say.

Nate cocks his head to one side. “I don’t snore when I sleep.”

“Are you a cover hog?”

“Okay, this is the hardest time I’ve ever had getting a woman to sleep with me,” Nate exclaims, his eyes still sparkling. “And I do mean
sleep.
”

I can’t help but grin.
Oh, yes, Nate, you’re right about that. Most women would be naked and waiting in your bed at this point.

And while he could easily have that, he’d rather take it slow with me, which makes me treasure him even more than I already do.

“You’re evading the question,” I say smartly.

Nate laughs. “No, I don’t steal the covers. I get hot when I sleep, actually.”

“Then we coordinate well since I love being wrapped up in covers.”

“You make us sound like bed linens.”

I cup his face in my hands, feeling his stubble underneath my skin.

“Okay, I’ll accept your offer,” I say, pulling his face down toward mine. “I’ll sleepover tonight.”

Nate’s lips find mine, and we kiss to seal the deal.

“Care to see your sleeping accommodations?” Nate asks.

A shiver of excitement rips down my spine. I nod, and Nate takes my hand again, leading me through his condo, to the room I haven’t seen yet.

Nate’s bedroom.

My heartbeat is picking up the closer we get. Nate pauses in the doorway and turns on a light.

“Your room for the night, Ms. Hunter. I hope you find the accommodations meet your standards,” Nate says.

His room is sexy and cool, just like Nate. It’s very minimal and uncluttered. The walls are painted a sleek gray. I see a king-sized black leather platform bed, covered with chic white linens. I see he has a modern black chair and ottoman, and a long, tufted bench at the end of his bed.

And then there are the stunning, floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a dynamic view of downtown Dallas, all lit up against the black sky.

“This is gorgeous. The view is fantastic.”

“I prefer the view I have of you better,” Nate says.

I turn around. My pulse twitches as I study him, here in the low lighting of his bedroom. Nate is so gorgeous in his white dress shirt, right next to this seductive-looking bed . . .

Okay, this might be a totally bad idea, me
sleeping
with him tonight.

Like I will be able to sleep with Nate in the same bed.

Because I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off him.

Nate removes my jacket. With shaking hands, I try to undo his dress shirt, but I’m having problems. Suddenly I’m nervous and excited and seriously debating giving everything to Nate tonight instead of waiting.

Nate must sense this, because he gently places his hands on mine. “I’ll do it. We’ll just get comfortable, okay? That’s all I need.”

I’m so falling in love with you, Nate.

Nate slowly unbuttons his dress shirt. I bite my lip as he slides it off, walks over to his chair, and gently drapes the shirt over it.

I can’t take my eyes off him, the chiseled abs and a full-sleeve tattoo and damn it, I should throw myself on this bed and beg him to take me right now. His arms are so beautiful, the sculpted muscles, the veins running through them. His body is powerful and strong.

Nate moves his fingertips down to his belt buckle, undoing it, and then he takes off his pants.

Now Nate is standing before me in his boxer-briefs. His body is all muscle and athletic, completely beautiful.

And now this man is moving toward me, wanting me.

My heart slams inside my chest. I reach for my jeans button, but I’m so nervous my hands are fumbling with it.

Nate doesn’t say a word but slides his fingers around the button, undoing it. I’m able to slide out of my jeans, and I put them on the bench at the front of his bed.

Nate’s eyes are moving over me, skimming down my legs, back up my stomach, my chest, and then resting on my face.

“Christ,” Nate whispers. “You’re so beautiful.”

I change my mind. I want to be with Nate.

In every way.

“We don’t have to wait,” I say. “I want you.”

I watch as Nate’s chest rises and falls. I know he wants this as much as I do.

He doesn’t say anything. He takes my hand and leads me to the bed, pulling me down with him.

We’re now lying face-to-face. Nate props himself up on his elbow and begins stroking my face with his fingertips.

“I want to ask you something personal,” he says in the darkness.

“Anything,” I say, barely about to hear the words over the pounding of my heart.

“What was your first time like? Be honest with me.”

I freeze. “You want to know about Chase?
Now?
” I ask, confused.

“Not details, but what the experience was like. Was it everything you expected? Was it what you dreamed of?”

I study Nate’s handsome face before speaking. He’s so open and honest, and I can’t help but want to be the same with him.

“As far as what I expected it to feel like, yes,” I say slowly. “And I thought I was in love, so it was nice to have that physical connection with a man.”

“But was it
romantic?
”

“Chase said all the right things,” I say softly, reaching up and touching Nate’s stubble, which I feel like I need right now, to touch him. “But he didn’t mean them.”

“I’m not going to sleep with you tonight, Bae,” Nate says softly.

“But, Nate, that doesn’t matter,” I protest. “I know I don’t have a lot of experience, is that why you’re hesitating?”

“Oh, God, no,” Nate says, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Believe me, I want this, too. But I want your first time with me to be the first time you never had. I want to give you that. I want it to be special and romantic and everything you’ve dreamed of.”

Tears fill my eyes. Nobody has ever touched me like this. Ever.

“Nate, it doesn’t have to be like that,” I say as he becomes blurry in my vision. “Just you. That’s enough.”

“No,” Nate says firmly. “You deserve this. And I’m determined to give it to you. And when the time is right, I will.”

I see nothing but passion in those espresso eyes right now. Nate is going to give me the first time I never had. And I know it’s going to be everything I ever wanted, simply because I’ll be making love to Nate.

“What did I do to deserve you?” I whisper, choking back tears.

“I could say the same thing,” Nate says.

We fall silent for a moment. The shining lights of Dallas are coming through the window, illuminating Nate’s gorgeous body, and I can’t help but think this is where Nate was always meant to be. Nate was meant to be
here,
in this city, sharing his life with
me.

“Bae?” he says, breaking the silence.

“Yes?”

“Since we’ve decided we’re not having sex, we’re wasting valuable time that I could spend kissing you. And I refuse to talk for another second when I could be doing that instead.”

Nate draws me to him, moving me so I’m now on top of him. I feel the warmness of his skin against me, his hands in my hair, his lips taking from mine.

Never has anything felt as right as this. I know I’m with the man who is meant for me. I know it.

And I can’t wait for the day when Nate wants to take that next step with me, and I can show him how much I love him, in every way.