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

32 | Arden

My fingertips drip with water as I place the last plate in the drying rack, wiping my hands on the tea towel beside me and glance over my shoulder towards Jason but he isn't there.

He'd spent the whole time staring at me as I washed the dishes and when he'd tried to help, to offer to dry them for me I'd shooed him away.

The thought of his body so close to mine during such a domesticated actions had my heart racing in my chest and so he'd just stood there with a small smile on his face, leaning against the kitchen island with crossed arms while I did my best to ignore him.

I did so well that I didn't even realise he'd disappeared.

With narrowed eyes, I step away from the sink, staring around the slightly open plan of my kitchen and lounge room but he's not in either so I start walking, listening for any sound of him, taking the stairs slowly.

The bathroom is empty as I walk past and so I continue on, my eyes settling on my bedroom door, slightly ajar and a rustling coming from inside.

I take the last few steps and push the door open, my mouth dropping open when I see Jason standing in front of my closet.

"What are you doing?" I ask cautiously, watching his shoulders rise and fall in even breaths. He looks over his shoulder at me with a raised brow, his face the epitome of cheeky right now.

He turns slowly and my eyes move to his hands, where he clutches a small piece of fabric that has my eyes widening and cheeks reddening.

"I thought you said you threw this away?" Jason raises a cocky brow at me and I cross my arms defensively, staring at the garter swinging from his pointer finger.

"I must've forgotten to." I mutter and Jason chuckles at the answer.

"Is that why I found it hooked around the hanger with the dress you were wearing that night?"

I open my mouth but close it just as quick, trying to formulate and excuse as to why I kept the stupid thing.

"I haven't looked at that dress since the wedding, I probably didn't realise." I shrug, looking around my room to avoid looking at him.

"Mhmm." He doesn't look like he believes me, his eyes sparkling with mirth. Jason's grin is pure sin, wicked and slow as he closes the distance between us.

"You forgot to throw it out?" he repeats, voice low with disbelief, amusement threading through every word. "That's your story?"

I swallow, folding my arms tighter, which only seems to amuse him more.

"I forgot about it," I say again, my voice quieter now, faltering under the weight of his gaze. "I haven't touched that dress in years."

He hums. "Mm. Convenient."

My breath catches when he takes one more step forward, the garter still dangling from his finger like a lure he knows I'll take. There's a flash in his eyes, mischievous and predatory, and I barely have time to react before his hand gently clasps my wrist.

"Give me your other hand," he says, voice low and rich.

"What- Jason-" I start, but he's already guiding my other wrist forward, handling me like I'm something delicate.

He wraps the garter around them, slowly, loosely. Tying it just enough that I can feel the constraint, but not enough to stop me if I really wanted to break free.

I don't.

My lips part, breath shallow as I glance down at my bound hands. The lace looks obscene against my skin. A keepsake I should've thrown away, now turned into something else entirely.