DAKOTA

As we walk into the arena, my heart starts to beat a little bit faster and I go quiet, nerves creeping in. I'm about to embarrass the shit out of myself in front of the guy I'm coming to really like.

Parker gives my hand a light squeeze, sensing my sudden change in demeanor. "Nothing to be worried about, Kota. I'm the best skating teacher around," he adds with a joking smile.

"I don't think you understand, Parker, I really suck at this." I can't help but awkwardly laugh.

"Not after today, you won't." He gives me a look, quickly pulling on and lacing his skates before coming over to help me with mine. "Damn, Connor must really love you, these are nice ass skates," he says, studying them.

"He only got them for me after I claimed the rentals were the reason I couldn't get the hang of it." I smile at the memory.

Watching Parker's fingers make quick work of lacing up my skates has to be one of the most attractive things I've seen in my twenty-one years.

He steps onto the ice first, holding both hands out to me which I gladly take for multiple reasons. I don't even get my second foot on the ice before I start going down. Parker's reflexes are quick, his arms wrapping around my waist and keeping me from busting ass.

He looks at me, trying to keep a straight face but fails miserably, bursting into laughter. I can't help but join in right after. "Looks like we're really going back to basics today," he barely gets out.

"Told you." I keep laughing as Parker adjusts us so that he's behind me, arms still wrapped around my waist as he skates us into the center of the ice.

He has me press the outside of my skates to the inside of his, keeping them together as we move around so I can get a feel for the correct stride.

After about thirty minutes, I'm finally to the point where I can stay on my feet, moving as he holds my hands while skating backward in front of me.

"Have you ever gotten this far with Connor or Brooks?" He asks as we continue moving.

I finally pull my eyes from the ice before responding, "not even close. They both pulled me to the middle of the ice and then gave me a push before skating away," I laugh. "Something about it being like teaching a kid to ride a bike."

Parker chuckles, "so what you're saying is that I'm the better teacher?"

Knowing the answer he's looking for, I roll my eyes. "Yes, Parker Cadell, you're the best skating teacher I've ever had."

He silently cheers, releasing one of my hands and pumping his fist into the air as I look at him in amusement.

"With that, I think you're ready to try it on your own." My eyes widen at his words. He stops us, placing his hands on my shoulders in a true Coach-like gesture. "You're gonna skate from one wall to the other, and you're gonna do it flawlessly because as someone once told me, I'm the best skating teacher in the world."

"I don't think that's what I said," I giggle.

"Nope, it definitely is. Now get moving, Lowen." He lightly pats my arm before heading to the opposite side of the rink, a short distance away.

I put on my best game face, because fake confidence fixes everything, and push myself forward. I wobble about halfway to Parker, who rushes towards me, ready to grab me before I hit the ice. I hold up a hand, signaling him to stay there as I right myself, slowly skating the rest of the way.

The second my hand touches the wall, Parker wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me in the air and skating us in circles while cheering. After a few seconds, he stops and nuzzles his head into my neck. "Told you I'd turn you into a D1 athlete," his words make me smile.

Parker seems satisfied with my small victory, rushing off of the ice and coming back with two sticks and a couple of pucks.

"Uh, Park? I think you're overestimating my skill level," I say warily.

He pulls off his hoodie, leaving him in a white t-shirt that gives me a better view of his muscular, tattooed arm that I want to run my fingers over so badly.

"Maybe, but just entertain me," he says while shoving a stick into my hands. "I'll let you go at the empty net, show me what you've got."

While I've never shot pucks on the ice, Connor and I used to play a lot of field hockey. Parker doesn't need to know that though.

Parker is patient as always, making his way over to the net by my side at a very slow pace. He sets a few of the pucks in front of me before skating a few feet back to give me space.

I push the puck around for a minute, getting the feel of how it moves on the ice. Once I'm ready, I pull the stick back before I slap shot the shit out of the puck, watching as it hits the back of the net with ease. I let out a triumphant hum as I look over at Parker.

His jaw is dropped, eyes wide and unblinking as he looks back and forth between me and the net. "Do it again," his voice cracks at the end.

I smile, pulling another puck towards me and easily repeating my previous shot. "So Coach, what do you think?" I smirk over at Parker.

He finally shakes out of his dazed state, "I think you've been holding out on me, Lowen." The smile on his face makes me feel proud.

"Maybe just a tad," I joke back.

Parker skates in front of me, getting into a defensive position. "Try to get past me and land a wrist shot," he challenges.

I shrug my shoulders, up for the challenge. "Go easy on me though, I may know how to shoot a puck, but I wasn't lying about being a bad skater," Parker laughs at my words.

I slowly push towards him, trying to maneuver the puck while staying on my feet. I attempt to fake out Parker, acting as if I'm going to move left, but really moving right. He's quick though and jumps back in front of me before I can even get my stick around him.

The one thing Parker didn't teach me how to do is slow down, which is why I go straight into his body, tangling our skates together. Right before we hit the ice, he shifts so I land completely on top of him, protecting me from the hard ice.

I let my head fall to his chest, laughter flowing from both of our mouths. "I'm so sorry, Coach," I manage to get out, lifting my eyes to his.

"I think I forgot an important part of your lesson," he smiles at me, humor painted over his face.

Our laughter dies down after a few moments, but neither of us moves to get up, realizing our faces are only a few inches apart. Parker's eyes move from mine, dropping down to my lips. I leave one hand on his side, bringing the other up to rest on his cheek, my thumb brushing over his light stubble.

"Fuck it," is all he whispers before lifting his chin, slamming his lips onto mine.

I freeze for a mere second before my body responds and our mouths are moving in sync, an electric feeling shooting down my body. One of his hands wraps tighter around my back, while the other buries itself into my hair, allowing him to push my mouth onto his even harder.

His tongue swipes my bottom lip, just as I slide my hand up to his chest slowly, openly feeling his muscles as I go. I quickly part my lips, giving him full access. Parker lets out a soft groan as his tongue shoots inside of my mouth, tangling with mine.

Our kiss picks up in intensity, the hand on my back moving down to my ass before giving a light squeeze. I moan into Parker's mouth and feel a smile grow on his lips. Just as I open my legs to straddle his hips, a loud slap against the glass causes us to jump apart.

"Sorry to break up the tonsil hockey, but we need to get the Zamboni out here before the little league team plays real hockey." A member of the ice crew looks at us, equally disgusted and amused by the scene in front of him.

"Yes, of course. So sorry, sir." I push off of Parker, grabbing the sticks before skating towards the bench with the grace of a baby deer.

I hear Parker right behind me, laughing his ass off as we step off of the ice, moving to the bench and pulling off our skates. The second I sneak a glance over at him, I can't help but crack up too.

Parker pulls on his hoodie before grabbing our things, lacing our fingers together, and pulling me towards the exit. The second we reach his truck, he throws our stuff in before opening the passenger door and kissing my cheek after I sit down.

We stay quiet as he drives back towards my apartment, a large hand resting on my thigh, thumb rubbing back and forth against my jeans.

~

Parker kills the engine, jumping out and rushing around the hood so he can open my door and help me out. One hand stays attached to mine as he grabs my skates from the backseat. As we walk up the stairs, I wrap my free hand around his bicep, keeping our bodies as close as possible.

I'd say I'm doing it because of the cold weather, but that would be a blatant lie.

When we reach my door, Parker drops my skates to the floor before placing a hand on my jaw. "I had a lot of fun today, Kota. I'm so proud of you." His emerald eyes bore into mine.

"This was the best date I've ever been on," my words are nothing but sincere. "Thank you for being so patient with me, Coach," I smile up at him before leaning up and placing my lips on his once more.

"See you soon, Park," my smile is wide when we pull apart, and I walk backward through the doorway, eyes not leaving his.

"I better," Parker jokes, leaning forward to place one last lingering kiss on my lips.

I close the door and lean back on it as a rush of emotion hits me.

I'm officially obsessed with Parker Cadell.

______

Happy Thursday!

Early update today because I'm about to rush out the door for class :p

See y'all Monday