Chapter 1 Elyse

T he apartment is quiet as I lug my suitcase through the door, the wheels rumbling over the hardwood floors. Sam said he'd be at practice, but I expected his roommate Jack to be around.

Glancing around, I take in the spacious living area with its sleek leather couches and massive windows overlooking the city skyline. Modern art adorns the walls, and everything looks meticulously organized. Not a single item is out of place.

A faint sound reaches my ears, like rushing water. I freeze, straining to pinpoint the source. It's coming from down the hall.

The shower. Jack must be home after all.

Heat creeps up my neck as I blush imagining him under the spray, his muscular body wet and steam fogging the glass door. I give myself a mental shake, chastising my wandering thoughts. Get a grip, Elyse.

Still, my gaze drifts to the closed bathroom door, curiosity piqued. Jack Ford, captain of the Seattle Firebirds, Sam's roommate…and the subject of an embarrassing crush I've had for years.

I've watched him play countless times, usually on TV, admiring his talents on the ice, the sheer power and grace of his movements, but seeing him in person, or even just the idea of him nearby, makes me feel like a giddy fangirl.

The shower shuts off, and I freeze, holding my breath. Footsteps approach, and the door opens, billowing steam into the hallway. He emerges, a towel slung low around his hips, streams of water trailing down his broad chest and sculpted abs. My mouth goes dry as I take in the sight of him—solid shoulders, defined muscles, and that delicious muscular vee disappearing beneath the towel. He runs a hand through his damp, sandy hair, and our gazes collide, his steel-gray eyes widening in surprise. A flush stains his cheeks as he registers my presence. For a beat, we're frozen, the air crackling with an unexpected charge.

"You must be Elyse." The deep timbre of his voice sends a shiver down my spine. "Sam mentioned you were coming to stay."

I swallow hard, willing my voice to work. "Y-yes, that's me. It's nice to finally meet you, Jack."

A tiny smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "Likewise. Sorry about the…" He gestures vaguely at his state of undress.

"No need to apologize." The words tumble out before I can stop them. "I'm the one who should apologize for barging in unannounced."

His gaze holds mine for a beat too long, and I feel heat creeping into my cheeks. Get it together, Elyse. This is Sam's teammate, his roommate, and his friend. He's off-limits.

"I'll let you get dressed." I avert my gaze, turning on my heel. "It was nice meeting you."

"You too, Elyse."

The way he says my name, low and husky, makes me shiver. I hurry down the hall, my heart pounding against my ribs. So much for keeping my cool around Jack Ford.

Once in the guest room, I collapse onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow. What was I thinking, gawking at him like some lovesick teenager? This living situation just got a whole lot more complicated.

A soft knock at the door startles me. "Come in," I say, sitting up and smoothing my hair. Please let it be Sam. He said he'd only be a few minutes later than me when I'd insisted on taking a cab from the airport instead of waiting for him to get off and pick me up.

The door opens, and Sam pokes his head in, his dark hair tousled. "Hey, sis. Did you get settled okay?"

I nod, grateful for the distraction from my wayward thoughts. "Nice place you've got here."

"Yeah, not bad, right?" He grins, stepping inside. "Jack's an okay roommate, I guess. For a hockey meathead."

"Takes one to know one." I laugh at his teasing tone. "Speaking of Jack…" I hesitate, unsure if I should voice my concerns.

Sam arches an eyebrow. "What about him?"

"Nothing, it's just…" I shake my head. "Never mind, it's silly."

"C'mon, Elyse, spill it." He plops down on the bed beside me. "You can tell your big bro anything."

I chew my lip, debating. Finally, I sigh. "I may have…developed a little crush on Jack over the years. From afar, of course."

Sam's brows shoot up. "A crush? On Jack Ford?" A slow grin spreads across his face. "This should be interesting."

"Sam." I swat his arm. "It's not like that. He's your friend and teammate. I'd never act on it. I almost forgot about it till I came into the apartment to the sight of him in a towel!"

"Why not?" He shrugs. "Jack's a good guy under that brooding exterior. You could do a lot worse."

I shake my head vehemently. "No way. It would be too weird and too complicated. I'm just here for a few months, remember?"

"If you say so." Sam's grin turns mischievous. "He has a way with women. You might want to prepare yourself."

My heart skips a beat at his words. "What are you talking about?"

Sam is already standing, heading for the door. "Nothing, nothing. I'm gonna go grab a shower."

He winks at me before disappearing into the hall, leaving me equal parts flustered and intrigued.

***

The apartment is quiet as evening falls, the city lights twinkling outside the massive windows. After finishing my unpacking in the guest room, I wander down the hallway to explore the rest of the apartment. I can smell the aroma of fresh fruit.

Rounding the corner, I find Jack in the kitchen, his back to me, as he leans over the counter. Broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his snug t-shirt, the defined muscles of his back rippling with each movement. He's making some kind of smoothie; I realize from the blender whirring.

I clear my throat softly, not wanting to startle him. "Hey."

Jack turns and catches my eye. A slow smile curves his lips as he takes me in. "Hey, yourself. I thought I heard you come in."

His gaze drifts down, lingering on the curves accentuated by my fitted top and jeans. Heat blooms in my cheeks as I realize his eyes are on me.

"Smoothie?" he asks, gesturing to the blender with the kind of casual confidence that draws me in despite myself.

"Actually…" I move to the freezer, pulling out a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. "I was craving something a little more indulgent."

Jack chuckles. "You have a sweet tooth?" He shakes his head in mock disapproval. "So naughty, Elyse."

My breath catches at the husky timbre of his voice, the way my name rolls off his tongue with that deliberate ease. Get a grip, I remind myself. Reaching for a spoon, I dig into the creamy dessert, the cool sweetness spreading across my tongue as I let out a soft hum of pleasure.

His eyes follow my every move, darkening with a mix of amusement and something deeper. "You're enjoying that," he says with a hint of a smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

I swallow another blissful bite, sensing the thick tension between us. "You have no idea," I say, unable to hide my grin as I scoop another spoonful.

His gaze intensifies, and for a moment, the air feels charged, almost electric. I try to focus on the ice cream, but the way Jack looks at me makes that nearly impossible.

"You know," he says, his voice low as he takes a step toward me.

I catch a whiff of his woodsy cologne mixed with the clean scent of his skin as he enters my personal space. My heart kicks up a beat.

His stormy gray eyes lock onto mine, full of heat and suggestion. "There are healthier ways to satisfy a craving."

His rough, calloused fingers trace over the curve of my hip, sending tingles up my spine. I suck in a soft breath as he pulls me closer until I'm flush against the hard planes of his chest.

"Like this smoothie," he says, his breath a warm caress on my cheek. "Packed with protein, antioxidants…everything a girl needs."

I lick my suddenly dry lips, my mind racing. "Is that so?" I manage to say.

His mouth curves into a knowing smile. "Oh, yes. One sip. and you'll forget all about that ice cream."

His thumb strokes over the strip of bare skin between my shirt and jeans, making my knees weak. I clutch at his shoulders to stay upright.

A shiver courses through me as Jack's calloused fingertips brush against the bare skin of my lower back. His gray eyes bore into mine, dark and smoldering like the embers of a fire. He's leaning in so closely I can make out the rough stubble peppering his jawline.

"Well?" His voice is a low rumble that resonates through me. "What do you say? Want to ditch that boring ole' ice cream and try my smoothie instead?"

I swallow hard, acutely aware of my pounding heartbeat pulsing in my ears. The rational part of my brain is screaming at me to take a step back, to remind Jack that there's a line we can't cross. It would be reckless to complicate the situation.

But there's another part of me, a primal, visceral part, that wants to throw caution to the wind. Being this close to Jack awakens a hunger in me that I've tried my best to ignore. A hunger to feel his strong arms around me, to melt into his muscular chest, and to know the taste of his lips on mine…

Holding his gaze, I raise the spoon to my slightly parted lips. The melted ice cream drips down the curved metal surface. Slowly, deliberately, I wrap my lips around the spoon, savoring the sweet, creamy flavor on my tongue.

Jack's eyes blaze. I hear his breath hitch and see him swallow as he watches me intently. The air between us grows charged, like the heavy stillness before a storm.

I lower the spoon, licking the remnants of ice cream from my lips. "Mmm, delicious," I murmur, my voice a throaty purr. "But I think I'd like to try something new…"

Jack's eyes darken as I trail off, his gaze locked on my mouth. He takes a step closer, the air between us charged with an electric tension. The broad expanse of his chest rises and falls with each measured breath.

"Something new, huh?" His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. "I might be able to help with that."

Boldly, he plucks the spoon from my fingers and sets it aside. His palm skims along the bare skin of my arm, leaving a trail of delicious heat in its wake. I suck in a sharp breath as he steps even nearer, his muscular frame towering over me.

"What did you have in mind?" I ask, tilting my chin to meet his stormy gaze.

The corner of Jack's mouth quirks up in a half-smile. "Let's start with this."

He reaches for the blender, pouring a generous amount of the thick green smoothie into a glass. Holding my gaze, he brings it to his lips and takes a long, slow sip. I watch, transfixed, with each swallow.

When he's drained the glass, Jack sets it aside and licks his lips deliberately. "Your turn."

My heart thunders in my chest as he offers me the blender pitcher. Tentatively, I raise it to my mouth and take a sip of the cool, creamy concoction. The flavors explode across my tongue—tart berries, crisp apples, and a hint of ginger.

"Good, right?" Jack's voice is a low rumble.

I nod, unable to find my words as his intense stare pins me in place. Emboldened, I take another long pull straight from the pitcher, the sweet liquid sliding down my throat.

His eyes darken further, his jaw tightening as he watches me drink. When I finally lower the pitcher, he plucks it from my grasp and sets it aside.

"You've got a little…" His thumb grazes the corner of my mouth, swiping away a stray droplet.

The touch ignites sparks low in my belly. On impulse, I dart out my tongue, catching his thumb and tasting the tangy smoothie on his skin.

He groans before asking, "More?"

"I don't know," I say, my voice taking on a sultry lilt. "This seems to be doing the trick for me."

His fingers tighten fractionally on my hip, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my core. We're treading into dangerous territory now, the air thick with unspoken promises.

Just then, the sound of a key in the lock breaks the spell. Jack steps back, raking a hand through his tousled hair as Sam strides in, duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

"Hey guys, what's—" Sam stops short, brow creasing as he takes in the charged atmosphere. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Not at all," says Jack, grabbing his smoothie. He shoots me one last glance before brushing past Sam. "I was just heading out for my evening run. See you later."

He disappears down the hall, leaving me flushed and flustered, clutching my half-melted ice cream. Sam arches a questioning brow, but I just shake my head. This is going to be a disaster.