𝐑 𝐎 𝐒 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐄 ' 𝐒  𝐏 𝐎 𝐕

Something has changed.

Ever since Thanksgiving, we've argued less. The tension between us has calmed down to the point where when you look at his face you no longer want to immediately punch him. We smiled and laughed more with each other and voluntarily spent more time with each other. From Thanksgiving until now, we've gradually and unintentionally become closer.

Especially since the lake incident.

Caring gestures, secret touches and a kiss goodnight on the cheek were exchanged as Roman's attentive nature was on me ever since the incident. I can't say I hate it.

His hand trailed up my bare leg and left a trail of heat in its midst as his fingers delicately traced the curves of my body. From my leg to my hips to my waist. His hand rested on the pillow under my head and his hazel eyes connected with mine as he continued to push into me.

My back arched and my eyes rolled to the back of my head as he hit my most sensitive spots. A breathy moan left my lips, a satisfied smirk rested on his before he leaned down. Trails of kisses along my neck, down to my chest and paying special attention to my heaving chest set my body afire.

My nails dug into his torso as I pulled him closer. Our bodies were pressed together. My nipples brushed against his chest, our legs entwined with one another as our lower halves grind together in sync.

I bit my lip before a whimper escaped me as he picked up the pace. His other hand digs into my skin for some support as he moves above me. My eyes connected with his that were already on me, and I leaned up to kiss him. Passionately, our lips connected, and our moans were drowned out by one another.

He pulled his lips away before he pressed them to my neck once more and his hand that dug into my skin moved up to palm my breast and brushed his thumb over my hardened nipple. I breathed his name as I dug my nails into his defined ass cheek. Getting him to nibble on my neck before he slammed into me one final time.

The timer on the microwave beeps, making me jump out of my dazed state. Opening the microwave, I take out my pop tart.

Crap, that's hot.

Throwing it around between my hands like a hot potato, I throw it onto a plate to allow it to cool for a moment before I go to make a cup of coffee. My eyes flicker to the TV, playing a random show for some background noise as I get ready for morning class. The apartment is silent aside from some shuffling from my bedroom, but a voice breaking the silence grabs my attention.

"That's a good look you have there," His voice holds amusement, and I can feel the smirk playing on his lips as he walks out from the bedroom and steps into the kitchen area.

His jeans hanging low around his waist, with a towel thrown over his shoulder that he dried his now messy hair with. My eyes are drawn to his shirtless chest. Flickering my eyes away, I grab the coffee and hand it to him.

"Yeah? Should I walk around campus like this?" I question, raising my eyebrow before grabbing my now cooler pop tart and eating it. Roman's eyes flicker over my outfit, which consists of jeans and my white lace bra with a towel wrapped around my head that holds my wet hair.

"If you want every straight guy on campus to get a boner, sure." He shrugs and I chuckle. "Thanks for the coffee."

"No problem. You're lucky Cara drinks it or else you'd have to go without," I hum as I take my now damp hair out of the towel and run my hands through it.

Roman points to my pop tart. "How can you eat those things? They're disgusting and do you know how bad they are for you?"

I pout. "But they taste so good."

He shakes his head at me, happily drinking his coffee. "Your death."

"Dramatic much? Plus, drinking coffee isn't good for you either." I smirk, pointing to his coffee, and he shrugs.

"It keeps me awake and makes sure I'm less pissed off at people. Usually you." Roman against the breakfast bar.

"And these keep me happy, so take notes." I pat his chest as I go to walk around him and back to the bedroom, but before I can he grabs my hand and pulls me back. Pinning me against the breakfast bar, his hand cups my cheek and he kisses me. His lips slanting against mine as his tongue pushes against the seam of my lips, asking for permission. I push on his chest. "We have class."

"Skip?" Roman questions, raising his eyebrow as he wraps his arms around my waist to bring me into his chest.

"And then we have youth hockey practice," I remind him, and he throws his head back. The door opening gets our attention and Cara walks inside with her hand over her eyes.

"Please tell me you're not disgracing our apartment," Cara hopefully questions as she shuts the door. Peeking through her hand, she sees us and then removes her hand. "Oh, good, you're finished."

"I thought you had class all day," I question as Roman washes his cup out.

"My second one got canceled. I didn't get a chance to eat this morning so thought I'd come back and take the risk of catching you both because I'm too broke to pay for food." Cara sits on the couch and kicks her feet up on the table.

"We'll be heading out in a minute," I explain as I push Roman towards the bedroom.

"With shirts on, right? I'm pretty sure Boston U has something against public indecency," Cara shouts and I roll my eyes before closing my door.

❈❈❈

"Ok, that's it for today. We'll skate up and down a few times to cool down. Nice job, guys."

Roman high fives a few of the kids before they begin to do shuttle drills up and down the ice at a leisurely place to decrease their adrenaline from playing. Standing at the table and pouring drinks into the plastic cups for the kids when they come off. My eyes get distracted and land on the coach as he walks over to me, his eyes checking out Roman's teaching of the kids.

"Miss Jackson. Have a moment?" Coach asks as he comes to stand in front of me, and I nod my head, doing my best to hide my confusion. He gestures for me to follow, and we make our way to his office. My eyes locking with Roman's equally confused ones before I head inside.

"Is everything okay?" I question as he goes towards his desk and nods his head.

"Everything is great, and it should be for you now considering this is your last practice." Coach leans back in his chair and my eyes widen. "I think almost four months is enough punishment."

"Really?" I question and he nods his head.

"You and King haven't murdered each other yet, so best quit while we're ahead," Coach comments and I chuckle. "Don't let me catch you trying to sabotage his equipment again."

"Noted, thank you." I nod my head before turning and making my way out of his office and back to the rink.

The kids are now off the ice and are getting ready to head out, as some of them are already leaving. Roman skates around the ice, picking up the cones, and I walk to the side of the rink. He sees me before skating over and towering over me as he places his hands on the wall.

"What did coach want?" Roman questions, his eyes flickering to where the coach's office is.

"I am punishment free." I place my hands in my coat pockets and he raises his eyebrow. "He said I don't need to help you at practice anymore."

"Really? What's with his change of heart?" Roman questions, and I shrug.

"He said better safe than sorry before we start arguing," I chuckle, and he rolls his eyes. "What? You going to miss me helping you?"

I poke him, and he slaps my hand away. "Between classes, helping the professor and now sleeping together. I think one less activity together is probably better for our sanity."

"You know, I'll admit I did enjoy being around the kids." I shrug and he chuckles. "Seeing your face? That was the hardest part about this whole thing, but I could suffer through for the kids."

"Ha ha ha," Roman states as I walk off to say goodbye to the remaining people before I start to pack up the table and contents. "You weren't saying that this morning or last night."

He slips the comment in as he passes by me on the way to the storage cupboard before turning his head around and smirking at me.

Time to knock his ego down a few pegs.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

𝐀 𝐔 𝐓 𝐇 𝐎 𝐑   𝐍 𝐎 𝐓 𝐄

「  Ooh something has changed since the lake incident...are they starting to realise their feelings...

Q: how do you think they will come to the realisation?

Don't forget if Friday's update isn't up on Friday it will be up on Saturday.

Wow there are 13 chapters left of this book! This book should be completed in April and it's crazy updates started in December, it doesn't feel like that long ago to me. 」