Tal Bauer

I push gently, guiding him away until our lips are barely touching, and then—

The kiss ends.

And we are left like that, shocked in silence and stillness. I can feel his heat, as warm as when he was on the river, or as warm as when we threw our arms around each other on the ice. We are millimeters apart, and his hands are still buried in my hair. My hand is still on his chest, fingers curling into his shirt. His heart is pounding, a frantic, frightened thing

I can't tell which of us is trembling more.

Bunny... In hockey, everything is about the Cup, right? Everyone wants it, and people will sacrifice damn near anything to get it. I know how hard you and everybody else have worked to get here, so I want you to really listen to me when I say this to you: not a single person on this team would choose to sacrifice you for the Cup. And if it comes down to choosing—you or the Cup—we will all choose you. We nearly lost you once. We're not losing you again.

"I said you were my weakness. But that's not the truth. My fear is my weakness, and for weeks, non, maybe months, my fears have been set on fire inside me. My fears and my pain have been in control of me." He lays his hand on my bare chest. His blue eyes are burning, catching the light and holding on to it until he's lit from within. "The truth is, Hunter, mon cœur... you are my strength."

My heart is banging, beating wild and out of control. I tip my face up to Hunter. His smile blinds me, my vision eclipsed by the brightness of him, of everything that he is.

Hunter looks down and meets my gaze. The world falls away, swallowed by those black holes that have been opening around me.

The only thing left is him.

Hockey has been everything in my life... but now I am thinking of more.

Of after the games. After the applause. I'm imagining hours with someone by my side, watching the stars and talking until we're almost falling asleep on each other. Or of spending a day on the river. Or of holding someone's hand.

Holding his hand.

I thought you died in my arms, and my biggest regret was that I hadn't told I loved you yet. So I'm going to tell you every day now: I love you. I love you, and I want everything with you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Every moment we're together is another answer for me, and, hopefully, for him. Yes, this is right. Yes, this is what I want. Yes, he is who I adore.

Yes, I could fall in love with him.

Hunter watches the sunlight drift over the desert and the lights of Las Vegas shimmer like a firestorm.

I watch him.

"It is so exciting to watch someone like you play, Hunter."

"Someone like me?"

"You never give up."

"Hi," I squeak. "I wear your number."

"Enchanté." Bryce's grin grows. "I wear your number, too."