Chapter 20

ELODIE

"You did say you've been skating before, right?" Mac grinned down at me.

I scowled. "Yeah, once. On a field trip in the fifth grade. So it's been a second." I finished tying the laces on my figure skates and almost fell on my face when I tried to stand.

"Whoa there." Mac caught me in his arms, and I could tell he was trying not to laugh. "You good?"

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I'm good. I'm fine. This is fine."

Mac wasn't convinced, and honestly, neither was I. But I wasn't going to admit that the thought of learning to skate alongside one of the best hockey players in the NHL was intimidating as hell.

Mac had suggested we go on more real dates, take each other to some of our favorite spots and restaurants. This round was Mac's turn. When he'd suggested going ice-skating, I'd almost wanted to say no. But tonight, we were at a local ice-skating rink. Luckily, there weren't many people for me to injure.

I wasn't afraid of the ice. No, I was afraid of looking like an idiot in front of Mac. I said a silent prayer that I wouldn't break any bones out there. That would put me out of commission to do the far more important things he and I had planned.

I tentatively stepped onto the ice, very slowly gliding across its surface.I probably couldn't have been going any slower.

"It's not lava, baby," said Mac. "It's not going to hurt you."

As he said those words, he skated around me, smirking. I wanted to kick him in the shin. But there would be no kicking anything. Lifting my leg would surely mean falling flat on my ass.

Mac could sense my unease. He took my arm and gently started guiding me. As nervous as I was, I certainly didn't mind his touch.

"Don't stare at the ground. Dig the front of your skate into the ice to slow down and stop. Glide into it. There you go. You're a natural."

I laughed. "You're such a liar." I flailed a bit, but Mac caught me.

"Hey, I made you laugh." He grinned. "I'll take that as a win."

"You can't make me laugh. I'll fall."

"Pretty sure you have a high chance of falling without my sense of humor interfering."

We slowly skated a circle around the rink. Mac eventually let me skate on my own, but I had to grab the sides of the rink multiple times.I was worse than the little kids.

Had I been this awkward when I'd done this as a kid? All I could remember was falling on my ass a few times but getting right back up. I also remembered one of the girls had taken figure skating lessons. She'd spent most of the trip showing off. Considering she'd also loved to bully other students, including me, I'd been euphoric when she'd taken a tumble.

But I wasn't ten years old anymore. I had farther to fall. I wasn't going to give up, though. I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward, doing my best not to stare at my feet.

"Are you Cole Mackenzie?" A young girl and boy skated up to Mac, their faces alight with excitement.

Mac smiled down at them. "Yeah, I am."

A few more skaters, realizing who Mac was, came over, and soon, Mac was surrounded by kids asking for his autograph.

I watched in amusement as he asked each kid their name and their favorite hockey player. Most of them said Mac was their favorite. Of course they did.

"Did you always want to play hockey?" one boy asked Mac.

"Not always, but after I started taking lessons, I fell in love with it. Do you play?" Mac asked.

The boy nodded. "I'm a goalie. I want to play in the NHL someday."

Mac signed the boy's hat and returned it with a smile. "Then keep practicing. Every day, you'll get better if you put in the time and effort."

"My mom doesn't like hockey. She wants me to do figure skating," one of the girls said.

The boy next to her scoffed. "Girls aren't allowed to play hockey."

The girl's lower lip protruded like she was about to cry. Mac knelt in front of her. "If you want to play hockey, then don't let anyone stop you. Girls can definitely play hockey," he said, his tone completely serious.

The girl nodded, looking determined now.

Mac finally returned to my side. I couldn't stop smiling, couldn't help thinking what an amazing father he might be someday.

"What?" He looked embarrassed.

"You were so good with them." I smiled.

He shrugged. "It doesn't take much to be nice to a bunch of kids."

"Sure, but you could've just signed a few hats and hockey sticks and called it a day."

"If you think that means I'm getting soft, you're in for a rude awakening." He grinned wickedly, which made me blush and look forward to finding out what he meant.

We kept skating, and my skills improved marginally. My initial nervousness had faded, and by the time we'd finished, I'd started to thoroughly enjoy myself. I wasn't great at skating, sure, but I could see myself coming back.

"Did you learn to skate when you started playing hockey?" I asked, suddenly curious. "Or did you already know how to skate?"

"I'd skated some, but hockey is what forced me to get comfortable with it. But hockey isn't exactly figure skating." Mac's grin was wry. "We're not out there doing triple axles."

"Have you ever done figure skating?"

"Oh, fuck no. That shit's terrifying." He shuddered. "I saw a teenager trying to do a double something or other. She somehow twisted her leg right at the same time as she came down on it. Suffice it to say, everybody freaked the fuck out when they saw her bone sticking out of her leg."

I gaped at him. "Oh my God."

"I'm too much of a wimp for figure skating," he said, half joking.

I patted his arm. "It's good to know what your limits are."

He growled, and when no one was looking, he kissed me until I saw stars.

For dinner, Mac took me to one of his favorite wing joints. It was in a nondescript building that had been a gas station back in the fifties and sixties. It'd been turned into a restaurant thirty years ago and had flourished ever since.

The place was packed. When I saw the line out the door, I almost wished I'd brought a snack to tide me over. But Mac, being Mac, managed to get a seat within five minutes. I should've known.

"Nice to see you, big guy!" A middle-aged man walked over to our table. He and Mac shook hands. He then turned his gaze to me and said, "And who's this lovely lady?"

Mac shook his head."None of your business, Vinnie."

Vinnie held up his hands, a wide grin on his face. "Whatever you say, boss." He handed me and Mac two very well-used menus and went to greet more patrons.

I chuckled. "Who was that?"

"The owner. He and his wife, Ramona, took over this place a few years ago from the previous owner. I also might've lent him some money to keep things afloat."

I raised an eyebrow. "You know them that well?"

"Kind of. Vinnie is a friend of a friend. Mostly, I loved this place so much that I hated that it might go under."

Now, I was intrigued. If this place was so impressive that Mac was willing to give the owners money, it must be worth trying. Mac ordered for us both, assuring me that I'd love it.

It didn't take long for our food to be brought out: crispy, perfectly golden chicken wings with a spicy peanut butter and jelly sauce. Alongside were french fries and onion rings and an assortment of other dipping sauces.

"Peanut butter and jelly wings?" I picked one up, intrigued. "That could either be incredible or terrible."

"They're fucking out of this world." Mac bit into his own wing and groaned.

I took a bite, and the taste of the salty but spicy peanut butter and the sweet jelly, combined with the crispy breading and moist chicken, was like heaven on Earth. I'd had my fair share of chicken wings—LA was famous for some fantastic chicken-and-waffle joints—but this?

"Okay, I get why you gave Vinnie money." I took another bite, quickly inhaling one wing and starting on another.

I didn't even care that my fingers soon were covered in sauce or that Mac reached over to wipe sauce from the side of my mouth. I didn't worry that Mac would judge me for having a healthy appetite.

When I'd first started dating Todd way back in high school, I didn't eat real food in front of him. Stupid, I know. But when we went out, I'd only order salads or tiny cups of soup. It got to the point that Todd asked me if I thought he couldn't afford to pay for a real dinner.

I'd fessed up and told him I was embarrassed to eat too much in front of him. He'd said I was being ridiculous. After that, I'd ordered more substantial meals. But even then, I never would've eaten wings like this with him. Todd had always been a stickler for eating healthy, especially as an adult.

I bit into the last onion ring and sighed happily. "You really outdid yourself," I said.

Mac grinned. "I'd take the credit, but I can't. I just know a great spot when I see one. Or taste one."

He then leaned toward me, his eyes heated. "And can I just say how fucking sexy you look, eating chicken wings?"

I burst out laughing. I didn't feel sexy. I was stupidly full, my fingers were greasy, and I barely restrained myself from belching after drinking a large Coke.

"You have a strange idea of sexy," I replied.

"Seeing a woman enjoying herself? That's always sexy. You know I just want you to enjoy yourself, right?"

I shivered at the look in his eyes. Fortunately for my stomach, the drive back to his place was long enough to digest all that spectacular food, although I found myself getting lulled to sleep as the sun went down.

I felt a gentle hand on my arm. "Elodie, we're home."

Although we were at Mac's, the words we're home resonated with me. His house had become comfortingly familiar. I'd even left a few toiletries there. Seeing my toothbrush in his bathroom made it seem like our relationship was serious.

Which is just silly of me , I thought. A toothbrush is just for convenience, nothing more.

"Oh, did I fall asleep?" I yawned, feeling sheepish. "I'm so sorry."

"Food coma. It happens to the best of us."

Before I knew what he was doing, Mac opened the passenger door of his car and lifted me out. I protested, even as a thrill went through me.

"I can walk!" I exclaimed.

Mac carried me into the house like I weighed nothing more than a feather. "But I like you in my arms," he said.

He placed me on the living room couch and then got me a sparkling water, which was what I usually drank. He sat down next to me, his arm around me, his warmth making my heart beat fast.

"Are you still tired?" he asked after some minutes of silence.

I wasn't sleepy in the least now. His mere proximity was like a flame to tinder. My body never failed to react to his presence.

It didn't help that he looked extra handsome, with his rumpled hair and blue T-shirt that defined his muscular chest and arms. I touched his cheek, the stubble rough against my fingers, and kissed him.

He kissed me back until I could've forgotten my own name. Any sleepiness I'd felt had melted away. Now, all I could feel was desire pulsing through me.

"No, I'm not tired," I replied, meaning it.

"Good. Because I have one last favorite thing to show you."

His grin was wicked. I nodded, my heart pounding now with anticipation. Mac then slowly undressed me until I wore only my bra and panties.

"Have you ever been edged?" he asked between kisses.

"Um, not really?"

"It's one of my favorite things. Let's see how long I can keep you from orgasming." He chuckled as he squeezed one of my nipples. "Because we both know it doesn't take you very long to come."

I snorted because I knew he was right. He played my body like a musical instrument. He seemed to know intuitively how best to bring me to climax. Even my trusty vibrator wasn't as good as Cole Mackenzie.

Mac sucked my nipples through the fabric of my bra, making me moan. I felt his fingers on my pussy, and he rubbed my clit lightly through the lace. But even as I tried to get him to rub me harder, he just shook his head and laughed.

"Patience, patience," he commanded. He slid down to the floor and parted my legs. "Pull your panties aside. Show me that sweet pussy."

I blushed. I couldn't hold his gaze while I did as he wanted. But I could feel his eyes on me, and it only made me gush with want.

"Show me that clit and pussy," he rasped. "Open for me."

I squirmed. "Mac—"

"Do as I say."

I obeyed, even as I blushed from head to toe.

"Finger yourself," he said.

I trembled as I pushed a finger inside. I was already sopping wet.

"Now fuck yourself," Mac commanded.

The sound of me finger-fucking myself filled the room. I felt Mac's fingers dancing along my labia, brushing my engorged clit, but not enough to bring me to orgasm. I shuddered when he licked my clit. His touch was featherlight—painfully soft—and I tried to add another one of my fingers.

He batted my hand away. "I didn't tell you that you could do that. Turn over."

I bit my lip. I turned over, and then Mac gave me three firm slaps on my ass cheeks. I squealed. That earned me two more slaps.

"Now, are you going to obey me?" he said.

I nodded, then quickly said, "Yes, yes."

Mac turned me back over and pulled my panties off. He put my legs over his shoulders, widening me until I had nowhere to hide, and buried his face in my pussy. He licked and sucked at a relentless pace until I was close to the edge.

But whenever I got close to coming, he'd back off, petting my thighs and making soothing noises. He drew me to orgasm, so close, and then would back off. Again and again, he edged me.

It felt like time had stopped. I was sweating, panting, arching like a madwoman in Mac's arms. He just pressed me down into the couch to keep me still.

"Please," I begged. "Please, Mac."

Mac lightly rubbed my clit with his thumb. "Keep begging, baby."

I did. I had no pride left. I felt my body tense, my climax just out of reach, but Mac knew exactly when to back off.

It was incredible. It was terrible. I didn't know the difference between pleasure and pain now.

"PleaseMacpleaseMacplease," I said in a rush. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I dug my fingers into the couch cushion.

"You want to come, Elodie?" He licked my thigh and then gave it a smacking kiss.

"Yes. I do. Please let me come."

Mac just watched me, his eyes dark and sultry. He massaged my thighs, my ass, touching every place that wasn't my pussy. I started sobbing in earnest now.

"Poor baby," he crooned. "Maybe I'll let you come now."

I nodded. "Please, please, please."

Then, before I could say another word, he parted my legs wide, latched his mouth onto my clit, and plunged three fingers into my pussy. I screamed. He fucked me hard and fast with his mouth and hands. The sounds of my squelching pussy filled the room. I arched and moaned and begged.

And then, I finally came so hard that I blacked out. Only the feeling of Mac petting my sides brought me back down to earth.

He pulled me down into his arms. I was as limp as a rag doll.

"Elodie? Can you hear me?"

I couldn't speak. Words failed me. "Um." That was all I could manage.

Mac kissed my temple. Then he gathered me into his arms and carried me upstairs.

When he put me to bed and climbed in beside me, I could only burrow into his embrace. I didn't think I'd ever recover from that session.

"Sleep," Mac whispered.

He didn't have to tell me. I fell asleep the moment I closed my eyes.