Chapter 26

Eliza

Coleson Katz is driving me insane.

Not only does he teach me how to make a coffee one way and then make it a completely opposite way, but he has the audacity to get offended when I correct him. How in the world can he say he’s showing me how to run a business, when he explains the process but then announces he’s going to do things totally differently because it’s easier? How does that make sense? I don’t know, but this last week has been a lot.

He isn’t the same person around other people that he is when he’s with me. When it’s the two of us, he’s quick to smile or laugh, but once we’re downstairs or at the store, he’s colder than the ice he plays on. When I ask him about it, he acts like it’s not true. But it is. I know I’m not crazy. Though, he’s driving me closer to a straitjacket with each passing day! I can’t help but assume he hates living in Blitz. To me, it’s obvious, but I don’t know why. I feel it has something to do with his parents, but any time I ask, he changes the subject.

It’s completely bewildering.

That isn’t even the kicker of my week. My husband is an absolute fucking slob! I realize that he’s never lived with anyone, but how in the hell does he live with hair in the sink? God forbid he has practice, because afterward, he leaves his smelly socks all over the damn bathroom floor! And he has the gall to complain about doing dishes. The man is a walking mess, and my God, if it isn’t endearing. Every time I get on to him or start to clean, a guilty little smirk comes over his face, and he does it before I can.

And the cherry on top of this thing I call a marriage, he hasn’t fucked me senseless since the first time. He hasn’t even kissed me. Just a pat on my butt, and when he gets me off, per our agreement, he holds me from behind and rubs my clit until I come. It’s quick and efficient, and I’m losing my fucking mind. I want to feel his cock inside me, his mouth on my center, and his kisses drugging me. I want all of him, but he’s a quick little shit.

He makes an excuse faster than a teenager having to clean their room before they can go somewhere. I know what he’s doing, and his comment about my dress has pushed me over the edge. He’s trying to put distance between us, because he felt what I felt when he brought on pleasure I never even knew existed. He felt that this could be real, and it scared him soul-deep. Hell, it did me too, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to explore what could happen between us.

Especially when he looks at me like he is now. It hasn’t happened a lot over the week, but every so often, I catch him staring at me like he wants to devour me whole.

I’d let him with no hesitation.

Hell, it’s what I want.

I watch as his eyes lock on my lips, and I can see every thread of his restraint snapping. His jaw is tight, the vein in his neck pulsating, and Lord almighty, the lust in his eyes is sending pure heat between my legs. If I wait for him to kiss me, though, he won’t do it. It’s crazy that I know this after only a week, that I’ve learned so much about him. I adore every bit I learn. I just wish he’d tell me more. I yank on the collar of his blue shirt, bringing his lips closer to mine. I don’t kiss him, though; I give him the opportunity to pull away.

He won’t. I know he won’t.

Coleson’s breath hitches for only two seconds, but then he’s more eager than I’ve ever seen him, except when he tries to score a goal. His lips descend, and the moment they press to mine, I moan against his mouth. He smiles, and I want to kick the smug bastard. That thought is gone once his tongue runs along the seam of my lips. I open for him, and then our tongues are in an all-out war. I match him stroke for stroke. I clutch his shirt as he gathers the fabric of my dress at my back. I feel him hard against my stomach, and I gently rub myself against him so he knows I want him just as badly.

If not more.

That’s when he breaks this kiss.

With a chuckle that does nothing to calm me down, he squeezes my hips as I meet his gaze. “Now, now, Wife, don’t give me that look. We’re already going to be late.”

“Likely excuse,” I say, stepping away from him. “Let’s go.”

“No jacket?”

“No jacket.” I huff.

I know he’s dying behind me, wanting to say more. And honestly, I dare him to.

Because I’m ready to snap, and he doesn’t want me hollering at him when I’m horny and annoyed.

* * *

I hadn’t expected the gender reveal party to be at an outdoor rink.

On the way here, Coleson told me that Maverick Evangelina and his wife, Nora, met on a sheet of ice back in Minnesota when they were in high school. Not only are they finding out what their baby is on a sheet of ice, but they also got married on one too. It’s sweet, and I’m excited to meet everyone. That is, until we arrive and Coleson becomes rigid at the sight of his teammates. I groan inwardly as I watch him walk around the SUV, his shoulders back, his jaw tight, such stiffness in his gait. I hate that this happens to him, and I need to know why. How is he not relaxed even a bit from our kiss? I feel great, and my lips are still tingling.

God, he’s a pain.

My door opens, and he holds out his hand to me. I don’t take it, instead asking, “What’s wrong?”

Looking me dead in my eyes, he lies, “Nothing.”

“I know something’s wrong,” I insist, holding his gaze. “You’re all stiff and have this annoyed ‘I don’t want to be here’ look. If you didn’t want to come, why are we here?”

His eyes narrow just slightly. “Because I want everyone to know about you, and it’ll be good PR.”

I know this, so I’m unsure why that bothers me. It’s as if I forgot this was a fake marriage and I’m only here to make him look good. Surely I didn’t forget that… “Well, looking pissed off will make people think you don’t like me. Is that how you want this to go?”

“You know it isn’t.”

“Then stop,” I demand. “We’re here together, we enjoy each other’s company, and if you didn’t look so angry, people would like you more.”

He huffs at that. “No one here likes me.”

“I do,” I say with a smile, and I can tell he’s fighting back his own smile. His dimples flash, even without the grin, and Lord, if he isn’t a terribly cute pain in my ass. I reach out, threading my fingers through his. I pull him to me, thankful for the height of the truck so that our heads are even. I capture his lips with more force than I intended, but I can’t help how much I love kissing him. He melts against me, his hands coming to cup the sides of my ass, digging his fingers into my flesh as he steps between my legs. My dress gives him resistance for all of two seconds before I hike it up so I can bring him in closer. He comes willingly. I run my fingers along his chest, up his shoulders, and around his neck. I nibble on his bottom lip, and when he smiles against my lips, I smile back until our eyes meet. I kiss his top lip and then whisper, “I like you, Coleson. Even though you’re messy and drive me crazy daily.”

His dimples shine. “I wouldn’t want to be here if it weren’t for you,” he says softly, and then his jaw tightens. “And I don’t mean that like I’m only here to show you off, because I am. But you make it better. You make it doable. I sound stupid,” he groans, and I laugh.

“I know what you mean,” I say, amused. I could tease, but I know he’s nervous. “I won’t leave your side.”

He swallows, his eyes burning into mine. “They might say really awful things about me.”

“And I’ll correct them.”

He squeezes my ass. “I don’t deserve you.”

I grin up at him. “But you got me.” I push him back, much to his surprise, and take his hand in mine. “Now, come on. I want to show off my husband.”

As I jump out of the car with the gift for Maverick and Nora in hand, I don’t give him a chance to protest.

I’m going to show him that, together, we can do anything.