Eyes Turned Skyward

“Oh, hell, no. I’m staying away from anything in a uniform.”

Jagger stole the puck and flew down the ice. He nailed his shot, scoring. I jumped out of my seat, squealing like a crazy woman.

He fist-bumped Josh and waved at me before another play.

I was the only one on my feet, and my cheeks heated, despite the freezing temps. I smoothed my coat and sat, keeping my gaze on the ice.

Both Sam and Ember broke out in laughter. “Oh, you’ve got it bad,” Sam said between gulps of air.

I let loose a smile but didn’t argue. They were right.

Jagger came through the doors of the rink, and I didn’t hesitate, just skipped over to him and jumped. He caught me easily. I didn’t even reprimand him for manhandling my rear in public—my mouth was too busy kissing him.

“So, you guys coming home or planning on sleeping here at the rink?” Josh joked.

I broke away. “Want to go do something with me?” I asked Jagger.

“Whatever you want.”

“That’s a dangerous offer, Jagger Bateman. I might want to paint your toenails pink.” I loved being held eye level with him, so close I could lose myself in those electric blues.

“Then I would probably have to keep my socks on at all times.”

“Hey, Jagger, I think you’ve got your damn hands full with that one.” Ember laughed, looping her arm around Josh’s waist.

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved her off, and they headed out the door with Sam.

“What did you have in mind?” Jagger walked us toward the door, despite my dangling feet.

“Oh, just checking off some boxes.”

“One day I need to see this infamous list. I’m beginning to think you just add things as you want to do them.”

“Wait until you see number fourteen.” I smiled, then slid down his body and headed to the car. Something told me he wouldn’t have a problem producing a mind-blowing orgasm.

“Seriously?” he asked, his knees nearly pressed to his chest in the tiny go-kart. “This is on your list?”

I buckled my belt and winked at him. “It’s a suitable environment for driving recklessly.”

“I’m never going to get used to you, am I?”

“I hope not.” I lowered my sunglasses as the light turned green. Flooring it, I zoomed out ahead of the other racers, who were all at least ten years younger. Jagger caught me easily at the first turn, accelerating through it where I braked.

That was the way he did everything, speeding ahead when common sense said to slow down. One of the kids rubbed my left side, and I hit the gas, the force sliding me back in my seat. I kept the pedal to the floor, eased up before the curves, and accelerated out of them, darn near keeping pace with Jagger.

The speed whipped the loose tendrils of my hair, and the wind stole the moisture from my lips. I edged out the kid next to me, moving to the center of the track so he couldn’t get beside me again. We took the overpass at full throttle, and I crept up on Jagger, nearly on his bumper.

I registered the steepness of the last curve and took my foot off the gas. Jagger maintained his speed, kept control when the car skidded to the side, and accelerated out of the turn. Even with the brake off, I felt the force pull me to the left, and a trace of fear touched me. I wasn’t wearing a helmet. I checked my watch, and my heart rate was still in good parameters. Funny, I had a ticking time bomb in my chest, but I was worried about a helmet on a go-kart track.

Jagger came in first, pulling in between the concrete barriers that marked the starting lanes. I parked behind him, unclicked my seat belt, and stood.

He helped me out, and I caught the dismayed looks of some of the kids he’d just smoked. Apparently he did, too.

“Sorry, guys,” he apologized, turning his baseball hat to the front again. The white of the cap contrasted to his tan skin and made his eyes seem even brighter blue. “What?” He caught me staring.

“Mr. California,” I mumbled with a smile.

He kissed my cheek as we walked off the track and past the attendant. He stopped and passed a fifty-dollar bill to the guy. “Hey, man, let the kids go again. It wasn’t exactly a fair matchup.”

Well, if that didn’t just melt me.

The attendant nodded, one earbud still in, and stopped the kids as they followed us out. I looped my arm around Jagger’s waist as the kids yelled out their thanks.

“You kept up,” he said with a smile.

“You should see me on an ATV. I more than keep up.” At least I used to.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Skee ball?” he asked, taking me into the arcade portion of the park.

“Oh, I’d hate to wound your ego,” I said with mock sorrow.

“My ego has pretty good defenses.” He flicked his tongue stud across his front teeth and smiled. He had to stop doing that before I jumped on him…again.

He was careful to respect the boundaries I’d vaguely outlined a week ago in Nashville, but with every kiss, I wondered what it would be like with him. Sure, I liked sex, but I hadn’t lied. I’d never seen the big deal, or the reasons people had affairs and were ruled by this lust nonsense. I’d never had trouble keeping my head in bed, but Jagger made me lose all sense of reason with a simple kiss. My only thoughts were always more or closer.

Like right now.

“—can take it. Paisley?” He jarred me from my growing obsession with his mouth.

Oops. “Hmm?” I asked, like he hadn’t just caught me openly ogling him.