Heat it Up: Off the Ice - Book One (22 page)

I laugh. “I can’t tell them apart, either. But you know I’m not interested in either of them, right?” Sofia and I might not be involved in a real relationship, but that doesn’t mean I’ll fool around with anyone else while I’m with her.

Her beautiful eyes become brighter. “Does that mean friends with benefits is an exclusive thing for you?”

I nod. “It does.” I gently kiss her for a brief moment then rest my forehead against hers. “What about for you? Is it exclusive for you too?”

“It is,” she whispers.

This time when I kiss her, it isn’t so gentle. It’s possessive. And I don’t give a damn who sees me.

I’m so lost in the taste and feel of her, I’m oblivious to everything else. Which is why I don’t register until it’s too late what the girl’s laughter from nearby means. A tidal wave of cold water splashes us, mostly hitting Sofia.

Shrieking, she jumps back, and because my arms are still wrapped around her, she almost pulls me into the water. Toivo and Maija burst out laughing…until we get revenge and douse them with water.

Maija shrieks something in Finnish that causes Toivo to laugh harder. “I’m done,” she says and runs back to the beach. Sofia joins her, leaving me and Toivo behind.

“Are you and Sofia going to keep seeing each other when you return home?” he asks as we walk back to shore. Sofia and Maija are on the beach, rubbing themselves dry with their towels.

His comment surprises me. It’s one I haven’t thought about. “Are you asking or is Maija?”

“I’m sure Maija’s wondering the same, but no, the question is mine.” At my hesitation, he adds, “I understand if you don’t want to tell me. Or if you don’t want me to say anything to Maija.”

“I really don’t know what’s gonna happen when I go home. I’ve applied for a few hockey-related jobs that are out of state.” I had phone interviews this week for the coaching job in Seattle and the scouting position in Texas.

“But if you end up staying in Minneapolis…?”

If I were to stay in Minneapolis, I wouldn’t want to keep up our friends-with-benefits arrangement. But I’m not sure what I want beyond that. I loved Gabby and lost her. Her loss just about did me in. Would I be willing to risk that again?

“I don’t know,” I say, more to myself than to him.

After we spend time swimming and eating our picnic, we wander around the island, checking out the stores and the sights. We explore the Russian- and Swedish-designed buildings, the courtyard with the tomb of Augustin Ehrensvärd, King’s Gate, the museum inside Vesikki Submarine, and the museum inside the old prison.

“Kyle,” Toivo says, as we head for the café Joni recommended, “you should try the black-licorice ice cream.”

I screw up my nose. Kyle laughs. “That bad, huh?”

“I’ve never been a fan of Finnish black licorice.” Or any black licorice.

Of course Kyle, your typical athletic male, goes for the challenge. Once we’re all outside with our cold treats, he holds the cone out for me to try.

“I’m good thanks.” I lick my strawberry ice cream. “Yum.”

“This isn’t bad,” he says.

I lick mine again, trailing my tongue slowly up the side of the sweet goodness. Kyle watches, and his Adam’s apple jumps up then drops. “Still yummy,” I say.

“I’ll lick it, Kyle.” Lovisa’s gaze drops to his shorts and she takes a step closer to him.

Without warning, Kyle hooks his arm around my waist and yanks me in front of him. I stumble slightly at the quick move, but his arm keeps me from falling. Ignoring her, I turn to him, wrap my free hand around his neck, and kiss him. Our cold tongues slide against each other. This is as close to tasting the black licorice as I’m going to get. I still don’t like it, but it tastes a little better when Kyle is involved.

His hand slips under the hem of my tank top and rests against my skin. I’d like to say the message is clear that he’d rather be with me, but he’s been giving her not-so-subtle messages since it became obvious Lovisa wants him. She’s either really dumb or really stubborn.

I pull away slightly and smirk at him. “My strawberry ice cream is still better.”

“I might have to agree with you there.”

I let him have a lick then kiss him again. It’s not a long kiss, but it’s enough to keep me satisfied until it’s just the two of us.

We finish our ice creams and check out the art galleries and studios. It’s late afternoon by the time we return to Helsinki.

“I can drive you home,” Joni tells me as the ferry docks. The marketplace is packed up for the day, with a few workers still cleaning away the mess. Seagulls squawk and argue over forgotten scraps.

“That’s okay,” Kyle says, his hand resting on my hip. “I’ve got it.”

Joni shrugs and leaves to join his friends.

“Did you want to go back to my place? Or do you want me to drive you straight home?”

I rest my hand on his arm, his biceps hard beneath my palm. “I’d love to go back to your apartment, but I need to study.” I know if I go there, I’ll have a hard time leaving and won’t get any studying done tonight. “How about Monday?”

“How about tomorrow?”

“I’m spending the day with my grandmother, and I promised Joni I’d see a movie with him later on.” A promise I made Joni two weeks ago when he started teaching me Finnish.

Kyle grunts. “You know he’s trying to get into your pants, right?”

I feel my eyebrows jump up my forehead. “You mean like you?” The only difference is Kyle’s been there. Joni hasn’t and won’t be.

“That’s not how it is, Soph.”

Close enough. “Hey, don’t worry about it. It is what it is.” Too bad a part of me wishes it isn’t ‘what it is.’ Too bad what I’m beginning to feel for him has nothing to do with the benefits.

Once we’re off the ferry, we say goodbye to everyone and head to Kyle’s car. He drives me home but is quiet the entire way. It’s a comfortable silence, so I don’t make small talk or play our True or False game. He parks the car in the empty part of the parking lot, away from the main entrance.

My body instantly wishes I had gone back to his apartment for a while. It doesn’t care about my certification exam. It only wants to feel Kyle’s hands on it. It only wants to feel him in me.

Which is why I practically attack him when I kiss him goodbye. He returns my kisses with the same hunger burning in me. If the steering wheel wasn’t in the way, I’d climb onto his lap and straddle him to get even closer.

I moan and my body begs me to take him right here. Only then does an irritating voice in the back of my head point out I need to stop kissing him before it’s too late.

Reluctantly, I pull away. “I had fun today. Thanks.” This time I give his cheek a light kiss. Before I can ravish him again, I escape the car and practically run to the building.

Muumu is watching TV when I enter the apartment. She asks me how my day was. She already knew where I spent it and who I spent it with. I don’t mention Joni, but I don’t need to. He’s in some of the photos I took today.

She peers into the LCD viewfinder and sees him in the picture taken in front of a rusty old canon. He’s not alone. He’s with the twins. If Muumu recognizes the girls, she doesn’t give any indication.

She does, though, smile at the pictures of me and Kyle that Maija took. “
Komea
.” Handsome.

I nod. “
Muy komea
.”

After I finish showing them to her, I grab my textbook and notes, and go onto the balcony. Shouts and laughter from the playground below greet me, but since I can’t understand what the kids are saying, it all becomes white noise while I study.

By the time my brain decides it’s had enough studying and calls a revolt, I’ve been working for four hours. It’s still light out, but not enough to study by. Muumu has already gone to bed. I turn on the TV and flip through the channels until I find a show that looks interesting.

A few minutes later I realize it’s not what I thought it was. It’s soft porn. I’ve never watched porn of any sort before, but this one is mesmerizing. It wasn’t created to get men off. It was written for females.

My phone pings and I read the text from Kyle.
What are you doing?

My fingers hover over the keyboard as I contemplate what to tell him.
Watching soft porn
.

Seconds pass then my phone plays music. Kyle. Chuckling to myself, I answer it. What guy can resist porn, even if he isn’t here to watch it?

“Was that autocorrect playing with my mind,” he asks.

“Nope. I really am watching soft porn.” The girl who is supposed to be a young fairy godmother moans in agreement as Prince Charming goes down on her. Not quite how I remember the fairy tale.

Her erotic sounds make the girlie part between my legs sit up and take notice. Instead of changing the channel, I say, “I wish I were with you.” Except it comes out all breathy.

Several seconds tick by before Kyle says, “Me too.”

More seconds and more moans from the fairy godmother. His previous jokes about having phone sex with me sneak into my memory.

“If…” My mouth suddenly feels dry and the word comes out as a croak. I swallow hard. This shouldn’t be so tough. “If I were with you, where would you touch me?”

I can’t believe I said that.

“Is this you saying you want to have phone sex with me, Sofia?” he asks, the level of huskiness in his voice making me weak all over.

“Yes,” I squeak. Inwardly I groan. How am I going to do this if I can barely say a word?

I turn off the TV and move from the couch to the bed. With my lip trapped between my teeth, I close my eyes and imagine it’s Kyle’s fingers stroking the bare skin on my stomach.

“Are your clothes still on?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Remove your tank top and bra for me.” His voice is low, preventing his roommate from overhearing him. At least I hope Nik can’t hear him.

“Only if you remove your t-shirt.” The squeak has changed into something sounding a little more seductive. I can do this…I think.

I place the phone on the bed and remove my top and bra. “Okay.” Now what?

I pick up the phone and Kyle talks me through how he would touch me if we were together. I do the same to him as my fingertips lightly trace down my neck and my chest. They tease my breasts and my nipples. They continue south and explore every surface, every swell, every dip of my body. His deep voice guides me closer to the edge. It’s his words and voice that do this to me.

“Oh, God, Kyle,” I groan, straining to keep my voice down. From somewhere next to my hip, Kyle’s cry of ecstasy meets my own.

Once the post-bliss aftershocks fade away, I lie still for a few moments, dazed and completely spent. It’s not until Kyle says my name that I realize I dropped the phone at some point during my orgasm.

I scramble to pick it up. “Hello?”

“I thought I’d lost you for a second.”

A languid smile stretches on my face. “No, I’m good…And thank you. I needed that.” And not just for the orgasm, which was pretty damn good. Thanks to what we did, I can add another notch in the confidence belt.

“I can’t wait to do that to you in person next time.”

“Me neither. I’ll see you Monday.” My voice sounds drowsy and I fight to keep my eyes open.

“You know if you cancel on Joni, you can see me tomorrow.”

I give up on the battle to keep my eyes open. “Goodnight, Kyle,” I murmur and turn off the phone.

I’m tired, but not tired enough to miss the void in me at the absence of Kyle’s arms holding me close as I fall asleep.

Nor am I too tired to notice the longing in me. The longing to find myself in his arms come morning.

The following weekend, Kyle and I wait by his car for Muumu to join us. It’s early Saturday morning and we have a four-hour drive to Joensuu, located east of the Russian border.

“Are you sure ’bout this?” he asks

“Positive,” I say. “Joni told them you were coming and they’re fine with it.” Muumu and Joni’s grandmother, Aino, decided it wouldn’t hurt to have him come along. He would be a great addition to our mushroom picking expedition.

I wrap my arms around his waist. “Is your leg gonna be okay?” That’s the only thing I’m worried about. We’ll be doing a lot of crouching and standing. As it is, it will be tough for Muumu and Aino. That’s part reason they agreed to have Kyle join us. They have no idea about his injury.

He kisses me briefly on the lips. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

Muumu and Aino come down a few minutes later with Joni. He’s carrying his grandmother’s overnight bag. Mine and Muumu’s are in the trunk of Kyle’s car, along with the camping gear. Muumu and Aino are staying with Joni’s great aunt. Joni, Kyle, and I are camping in the backyard.

Joni gives Kyle last minute directions, in case we get separated on the way. I catch Joni scowling at Kyle as my friend climbs into the driver seat of the rental vehicle. Muumu and Aino might be fine with the extra body to help out, but Joni clearly would’ve preferred if they had said no.

“True or false,” I say as Kyle and I drive along the highway. “Your high school sweetheart was a fairy.”

Kyle’s mouth curls up to one side. We’ve long since tired of the boring first-date questions, and have progressed to the more bizarre ones. “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”

“That means you have to take a dare.”

“A dare it is then.”

Except, what the hell do I dare him to do while he’s driving that won’t end in an accident? A shudder goes through me, and I steer my thoughts away from where they’re headed. “I dare you to…I dare you to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

He throws me a that’s-the-best-you-can-do? look. I shrug.

I’ve never heard him sing before, but the moment he sings the first few lines, my mouth flops open. His deep, rich voice sinks into every cell in my body, warming me like a fleece blanket on a chilling morning.

“I didn’t know you could sing. Instead of the physics club, you should have been in the glee club.”

Now it’s his turn to shrug. “Singing never did anything for me. Not like learning how different hockey uniforms can affect your skating speed due their variation in aerodynamics. Or that skate blades are sharpened so only a small fraction of it touches the ice, which means less friction and faster skating speeds.”