Breaking Ice

Chapter 8

Chloe

Being in his arms feels a little too good but I will just try to convince myself that it's because of the medal that lays on my chest.

Freaking Stanley Cup first-place medal. I've seen them countless times when LA Falcons would win but I wasn't allowed to touch one. Here I am, a guy who was practically a stranger still put one around my neck.

After a little while I pull back, so I can admire the medal from up close and shuffle a little back as the proximity makes my head spin a little. In a good way which scares me. Having any feelings towards him besides professional admiration isn't something I can afford. Eyes and on the prize which is helping publicly the guys to win the trophy for the best team. Would be great if they could get to the Stanley Cup final but that's a long journey away and them being a pretty new team, statistically it probably will not happen this year but anything can happen.

"Thank you for letting me try it on. It's beautiful." I look up and his eyes dance between the medal and my face. I go to take it off but he stops me, his hand grabbing mine, halting my movements.

"I want you to keep it on one condition." He smirks a little as he grabs the medal tugging me closer to him. I swallow and nod for him to continue. Some part of me wants to deny it and give him the medal as it is not mine to keep. But that part is way too little compared to the excitement of a little girl whose dream came true. Her own Stanley Cup gold medal, she might not have earned on the ice but the one who did thought she deserved it.

I'm not a fool to deny a gift like this, one no money could buy.

"You'll owe me a kiss."

Say what?

"Pardon you?" The words came out of my mouth quicker than I could stop them. I knew he was a flirt but a kiss? He wants me to kiss him? Why would he wager a medal like this for a simple kiss with me?

"I don't mean now, Kotenok." he smirks and then smiles, enjoying my reaction. He loves to make me squirm and see how far he can push me.

Little jabs on the ice or during the photoshoots. When I have my lunch he throws a little innuendo that makes me almost choke. I know that smile. The triumph in his eyes as he sees my reaction, that he affects me.

"Fine, when?" I sit back, pulling my hand out of his, much larger one. I know he is letting me, probably a little shocked by the change in my demeanour. I can't let him win. I know that getting a reaction out of me is what he wants. He won't get it.

He wants to play?

I'm ready to win that model fair and square.

Then again all is fair in war and love.

"That will be up to me. I can ask for it at any time, anywhere and there will be no buts. No takebacks." the confidence that this man radiates should be ridiculous but instead, it's just freaking hot

"Deal only exception is Miami Vipers. I think we both don't want the whole of the team and management to know about this." I make a point to show the 'this' by pointing at him and then at the medal.

"Debatable at best but fine. Not in front of the team." he shrugs and gets up slowly giving me his hand in the process. He pulls me up along with him and now I'm just not sure what to do. I'm giddy about the medal and maybe a little excited about doing something daring. I just have to remind myself that it's just one kiss. Nothing more.

I gotta remember that very well.

"Let me take you home." he smiles like he knows he won. But I'm the one with the medal and all he gets is a meaningless kiss.