Chapter 6

The air in the private lounge still carried that crisp, chilled bite of the rink’s sub-zero atmosphere, but here, tucked away behind the heavy velvet curtains and soundproofed doors, the heat was a living, breathing thing. It radiated from the body heat of just the two of us, mixing with the scent of expensive scotch and the lingering, metallic tang of anticipation. The room was dim, lit only by the soft, amber glow of recessed lighting and the faint reflection of the holiday decorations visible through the glass partition that separated our sanctuary from the bustling crowd outside. I could hear the muffled thump of bass from the DJ booth and the distant shrieks of children, but inside, it was just us, suspended in a bubble of raw, unadulterated lust. I was sprawled across the plush, deep-red leather couch, my legs still wearing the tight, white silk stockings I’d paired with my short dress, though my heels had been kicked off and were now dangling precariously from my toes. My skin was flushed, a deep, rosy pink that spread from my chest to my neck, evidence of the teasing that had preceded this moment. He stood before me, tall and