The city skyline glittered like a carpet of diamonds beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Anna’s upscale hotel suite. The room was a cocoon of luxury—plush velvet drapes, a king-sized bed drowning in satin sheets, and the faint scent of lavender from the diffuser on the nightstand. But Anna, the reigning Ice Queen of the local arena, wasn’t here to soak in the ambiance. Her body still thrummed with the adrenaline of her performance just hours ago, her blades carving poetry into the ice while a crowd of thousands roared her name. Now, in the quiet of this suite, she was hungry for a different kind of thrill.
Anna reclined on a chaise lounge, her heavily pregnant frame draped in a silk robe the color of midnight, the fabric clinging to her curves like a lover’s touch. Her long legs were crossed, one foot lazily dangling a stiletto as she sipped sparkling water from a crystal flute. The pregnancy glow was real, sure, but beneath it burned something feral—a primal need that no amount of applause could sate. She smirked to herself, her sharp green eyes glinting with mischief as she scrolled through her phone, firing off messages to a carefully curated list of men. Her invitations weren’t coy; they were a gauntlet thrown down with the precision of a blade on ice.
**“Don’t waste my time, darling. Suite 1204. Be here in 30, or don’t bother showing up at all. I’m not in the mood for games—unless they’re the kind I win.”**
She hit send, her lips curling as she imagined their reactions. Another message followed, this one to a rugged firefighter she’d met at a charity event last month. **“I’ve got a fire that needs putting out, hotshot. Think you’ve got the hose for the job? Don’t keep me waiting.”**
Anna set the phone down, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass as she let her mind wander. Pregnancy hadn’t dulled her edge—it had sharpened it. Her body, round and full, felt like a weapon of its own, a testament to her strength and unapologetic femininity. She wasn’t just a skater; she was a force of nature, and tonight, she wanted to unleash that power on someone—or someones—worthy of her attention. The thought made her pulse quicken, her breath hitching as she imagined the night ahead. Control was her aphrodisiac, and she intended to wield it like a whip.
A soft knock at the door snapped her from her reverie. Her smirk widened. First contender of the evening. She didn’t rush to answer; let him stew for a moment. Anna rose with the grace of a panther, her robe slipping slightly to reveal the curve of her shoulder as she sauntered to the door. She opened it to find Liam, a tall, chiseled personal trainer she’d sparred with verbally at the gym more times than she could count. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his leather jacket slung over a fitted black tee that did little to hide the muscles beneath. He looked good, and he knew it—but Anna wasn’t about to let him know she thought so.
“Well, well,” she drawled, leaning against the doorframe, one hand resting on her hip. “You actually showed up. I half-expected you to chicken out, Liam. Thought maybe all that muscle was just for show.”
Liam’s lips twitched into a grin as he stepped closer, his hazel eyes raking over her with unabashed appreciation. “And miss a chance to see the Ice Queen melt? Not a chance, Anna. I’ve been warming up for this all week.”
She laughed, a sharp, musical sound that cut through the tension like a blade. “Oh, sweetheart, I don’t melt. I make others burn. But nice try. Come in—don’t just stand there gawking. You’re not here to admire the view out the window.”
He followed her inside, his boots silent on the plush carpet as she led him to the center of the room. Anna turned, her gaze pinning him in place as she gestured to the chaise. “Sit. Or don’t. I’m not your babysitter. But if you’re staying, you play by my rules. Got it?”
Liam raised an eyebrow, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it over a nearby chair before lowering himself onto the chaise. He leaned back, arms crossed, his posture all casual defiance. “Your rules, huh? What’s the game tonight, Anna? I’m guessing it’s not chess.”
She stepped closer, her presence commanding despite the swell of her belly. Her robe shifted, revealing a sliver of thigh as she bent slightly, her face inches from his. “Chess is for amateurs, darling. This is poker—high stakes, no bluffing. And I’ve got a winning hand. Question is, can you keep up, or are you folding before the first round?”
His eyes darkened, a spark of challenge igniting as he leaned forward, closing the gap even further. “I don’t fold, Ice Queen. But I’m curious—what’s the pot? What’s a guy gotta do to win a night with you?”
Anna straightened, her smile wicked as she turned away, pacing slowly to the window. She glanced over her shoulder, her voice dripping with playful menace. “Win? Oh, Liam, you’ve got it all wrong. You don’t win me. I decide if you’re worth my time. And right now, you’re on thin ice—pun absolutely intended. So, impress me. Tell me why I shouldn’t kick you out and wait for the next guy who’s probably already on his way up.”
Liam chuckled, standing and following her to the window. He stopped just behind her, close enough that she could feel the heat of him but not so close as to cross the invisible line she’d drawn. “Because the next guy won’t know how to handle you, Anna. I’ve seen you on the ice—cold, precise, untouchable. But I’ve also seen the fire in your eyes when you think no one’s looking. I’m not here to tame it. I’m here to stoke it.”
Her breath caught for a split second, but she masked it with a scoff, turning to face him. Her gaze was piercing, her tone sharp as a skate’s edge. “Pretty words, hotshot. But I’ve heard prettier. You’ve got five minutes to prove you’re more than talk, or I’m sending you packing. And trust me, I don’t do second chances.”
He grinned, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “Five minutes? I only need three.”
Anna arched a brow, her lips curling into a predatory smile. “Tick tock, then. Let’s see if you’re as good as you think you are.”
The air between them crackled, charged with unspoken promises and the thrill of the chase. Anna knew more guests would arrive soon, but for now, Liam had her full attention—and she intended to make him work for every second of it. The Ice Queen was in her element, and the night was just beginning to heat up.
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