Play With Me ✔️|| 2 || Off the Ice Series

16 | Arden

Jason hadn't mentioned the kiss during our disastrous attempt at spear fishing and for that I was grateful. We'd hardly spoken the rest of the day and night, just bundled up together silently to go to sleep and when I'd woken this morning he was gone, the hut empty.

I sit near the fire, having cleared the debris earlier and now just creating a pile of sticks ready for tonight's fire.

Footsteps approach and I look up, seeing Jason walking through the door, a new and improved spear clutched in his hands.

I raise a silent brow, and he shrugs, "I secured it more, hopefully the blade doesn't pop off this time."

"You're trying again?"

"We're running out of coconuts and honestly, it's not enough to sustain us for much longer," Jason says, sitting down next to me. His knee brushes mine, and I ignore the way it sends a jolt up my spine. "We need to try fishing again."

I grimace, remembering yesterday's disastrous attempt. "We barely managed to scratch a fish, I'm pretty sure they were laughing at us."

Jason chuckles, his grin crooked and boyish. "We'll get it right today. Trial and error, kitten."

I roll my eyes and stand, brushing dirt off my legs. "Let's just catch some fish before we starve to death."

By midday, the sun is relentless, beating down on us as we wade into the shallows with our makeshift spear. Jason watches me with a mixture of amusement and exasperation as I grip the spear like I've seen in survival shows.

"Hold it tighter," he says, stepping closer. His hands close over mine, adjusting my grip. His chest brushes my back, and I can feel his breath on my neck. My pulse quickens, but I shove the feeling aside.

"Like this?" I ask, trying to sound unaffected.

"Better," he murmurs, his voice low. Too low and I look over my shoulder at him with a raised brow that he ignores but I see the twitch in his cheek at my suspicion.

I narrow my eyes more and he grins, stepping back with raised arms, placating. "Alright, alright." He whispers, still grinning. 

I breathe out as he steps back further and turn my narrowed eyes at the pool of water, soft waves lapping near the rocks and throw the spear. The spear glides through the water and hits . . . nothing, not even slicing between sand as it topples and starts drifting away in the water. I start forward and swipe it up before it's out of reach.

"You're doing it all wrong," he says, his tone laced with amusement.

I scowl, narrowing my eyes at the contraption in my hands. "Maybe you should try teaching instead of taunting, Wilde."

Jason smirks, his gaze flicking to mine. "Teaching is taunting. It keeps you motivated."

"Motivated to throw this spear at your head," I mutter.

He laughs, a low, warm sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Careful, Kitten. You might hurt yourself first."

I'm about to retort when he shifts closer, his broad shoulder brushing mine. His hands move over mine, guiding my fingers to hold the spear correctly – or at least what he deems correct, after all neither one of us are spear throwing geniuses. My skin tingles where we touch, and I suddenly find it hard to concentrate.

"See? Not so hard," he murmurs, his voice dropping an octave.

I swallow, determined not to look at him. If I do, I'll see that smug, teasing grin - and worse, the softness in his eyes that makes my chest ache.

"I've got it," I say quickly, pulling my hands back.

Jason sits back on his heels, his smirk widening. "Sure you do, kitten."