Penalty for Boarding (Curves on Ice #3)

5. Calvin

CALVIN

I stand outside Olivia's door, barely breathing as I wait for her to answer. The bottle of wine feels heavy in my hand, grounding me in the moment. I don't know what possessed me to seek out her address and come all the way to Granite City tonight, but after our near-kiss this morning and the way she's been avoiding me all day, I knew I couldn't let things stand as they were.

I’m about to knock again when the door opens, and I finally get to set my eyes upon the one thing they crave. Olivia. Her hair is tousled and her cheeks are all flushed. She's wearing a soft, oversized sweater and leggings that I want desperately want to peel away from her soft skin. My dick is already trying to get ahead of itself, so I have to force myself to breathe slow and steady. Which is hard, since she’s so fucking sexy right now.

“Hey,” I say, my voice coming out way rougher than I intend.

“Hey, yourself.” She steps aside, silently inviting me in.

As I enter and look around, her apartment is exactly how I imagined it would be—warm, welcoming, and filled with personal touches that just feel unequivocally…her.

“I, uh, brought wine,” I say, holding up the bottle like a trophy.

Olivia's mouth quirks up in a slight smile. “I can see that.”

She takes the bottle from my hand and gestures toward her kitchen. “Let me find us some glasses.” I watch her move about the marbled space, my eyes dropping to her round ass as she lifts up on her toes and pulls two stemless wine glasses out of a cabinet beside the range hood. She sets them down between us while I open the wine bottle and start pouring.

“Calvin,” she says when I hand her a glass.

“Mmm?” I lift mine to the same level as hers and wait for her to speak.

“What are you doing here?”

I click my glass against hers. “Having a drink with my girl.”

She sucks in a breath. “Your girl? Calvin, I thought I made it clear that we should keep things professional.”

“And I thought I made it clear that there's nothin’ professional about the way I feel about you, Olivia.”

“But I work for the Fury—we live in different cities—and you're...” She trails off, letting out a sigh as she sets her glass back on the counter.

“I'm what? A player on another team? A client? A friend?” I set my glass down too then take a step closer, my fingers reaching out to tangle with hers. “I don't wanna be just any of those things, Olivia. I wanna be yours.”

“Calvin.” Her voice is barely a whisper as she looks down at our joined hands, her fingers moving against mine. “I don’t think it’s that simple.”

I lean in closer, my other hand finding its way to the small of her back, pulling her gently toward me. “Nothing worth havin’ ever is.” I move my mouth closer to hers, our breaths mingling in the space between us. “Just one kiss, Olivia,” I plead, my lips brushing against hers as I speak. “That's all I'm askin’ for.”

Her eyelids flutter shut, but she doesn’t pull away. “There are rules, Calvin, boundaries. If anyone found out...”

“Then we don't let them,” I whisper, pulling her flush against me. She gasps as she feels my hard length pressed against her, but she doesn't protest. Instead, she parts her lips ever so slightly. It's all the invitation I need.

I capture her mouth with mine, my lips moving against hers in a hungry, desperate kiss. Our teeth clash together, tongues tangling. My hands roam her body, feeling the curve of her hips, the dip of her lower back, the swell of her breasts. She responds with equal fervor, her fingers roaming until they tighten against my shirt and she pulls me closer.

Goddamn, this woman can kiss. Her lips are soft yet firm, demanding yet giving. If I didn’t think this woman was my future before, I certainly do now. Her taste, her touch, the feeling of her body pressed against mine. It’s fucking everything.

With my fingers threading into the back of her hair, I deepen the kiss, my tongue exploring her mouth as if it's charting undiscovered territory—territory I want to claim as my own.

Olivia moans softly into my mouth, her hands pulling at the waist of my shirt, seeking skin. I groan and drop my hand to her ass, tugging her flush against me, the pressure of her body to mine driving me wild.

I want to devour her, consume her entirely. But as much as I want to pick her up and march us both straight to her bedroom, I force myself to slow down, to savor the build up. This woman is my future, and I have no interest in rushing through this.

“Olivia.” My lips trail from her mouth to her jawline, peppering kisses along the way. She tilts her head back, giving me better access to the smooth column of her neck.

“Oh, Calvin,” she breathes, her fingers sliding into my hair. “We really shouldn't...”

I pause, my mouth hovering over her pulse point. I can feel her heart racing beneath my lips. “Then tell me to stop,” I rasp, sucking gently. My hand moves to cup the side of her head as I drag my lips over her skin until my mouth is near her ear. “Tell me you don't feel this, that you don't want me as much as I want you. And I'll walk away. I'll never bring it up again.”

I pull away just enough to look into her eyes, to search for any hint of resistance. But there’s none there. All I see are dilated pupils, swollen lips and flushed skin as she stares back at me, chest heaving.

“I can't,” she says finally. “I can’t tell you that, Calvin. Because it would be a lie. I do feel this. I do want you. More than I've ever wanted anyone.”

“Thank fuck.” Relief floods through me as I drop my forehead to hers. “Because I’ve gotta be honest, doc, I wasn’t plannin’ on taking no for an answer. From the moment I saw you, you were already mine. I’ve just waitin’ for you to catch on.”