Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
“You think I don’t know that? Messing up this opportunity for you is the last thing I want. I’m trying to stay away, but I’m powerless against the draw. You’re everything I want and can’t have. It’s killing me, Lexi. You’re killing me,” I grind out.
“You think it’s any different for me? You think I wouldn’t love to spend hours talking game strategy with you? Or that I don’t love it when I see the pride on your face after I make a good call? I miss the way your arms feel around me. And I desperately miss the way the world would fall away when it’s just you and me. You being right in front of me, but untouchable is torture, Roman.”
We’re both so worked up. So frustrated. “I’m at my breaking point. You should walk away.”
Her tongue sweeps along her bottom lip. “I should.”
I clench my fists at my side. “Tell me kissing you is a bad idea.”
“The absolute worst,” she whispers.
I give in to the urge to skim the edge of her jaw.
She whimpers, and that one sound nearly brings me to my knees.
Her hand settles on my chest.
“You should go.”
“I can’t.” She grips my lapel and tips her chin up. “Please.”
“What do you want, angel?” I curve my hand against her delicate cheek, the relief in being able to touch her overwhelming.
“You.” The whispered word floats between us.
I pull her against me. “Soften for me.”
And she does. Instantly. Perfectly. Every curve melding to my hard lines.
Her lips part on a needy sigh, and I angle her head, taking control of the kiss. All the frustration slips away as she moans into my mouth. She loops her arms around my neck, holding me tightly as our tongues tangle and explore. Her mouth is bliss, the taste of her a balm for the ache that’s been wrecking me.
The memory doesn’t do the reality of Lexi justice. She’s so soft under my touch, pliant and accommodating. Such a force on the ice and a pleaser in the bedroom.
“There you are. I’ve missed your sweet side,” I praise.
She moans again, fingers sliding into my hair as she pushes up on her toes, fighting to get closer. I walk her back toward the conference table. Shoving a chair out of the way, I lift her, our mouths still fused as she adjusts her dress, and hooks one leg behind my knee.
She’s as warm and rich as melted caramel on my tongue, and I can’t get enough. Each seductive stroke takes me higher, makes me crave more. We’re frantic—hands roaming, her heel digging into my ass cheek as I settle between her legs. We both groan when my erection presses between her thighs and she rocks her hips.
I keep one hand curved around the back of her neck. The other skims the outside of her thigh as I separate our mouths.
She makes a disappointed, plaintive sound.
“Are we done fighting?” I gently suck her bottom lip.
“So done.” She moans and tilts her chin up, seeking more. “God, I’ve missed you so much.”
I stroke her jaw with my thumb. “It’s the same for me.” It’s a relief to be able to act on it, even if we shouldn’t. “I’ve been dreaming of this tempting mouth.” I drop my head, stroking inside once, twice, a third time, before I pull back again and press my hips into hers, eliciting a deep, primal moan. “Of those exquisite little whimpers when I made you come, of the scandalous things you can do with these pretty lips.”
Our mouths collide again, hands gripping, bodies grinding. Somehow I knock one of the chairs over, and we both startle.
“Oh my God.” Lexi’s eyes dart around the room before settling on me again. “What are we doing?” She doesn’t push me away, though.
“Giving in.”
Her eyes fall closed as I run my thumb along the contour of her bottom lip, savoring what’s left of this stolen moment.
When they open, they’re full of the same yearning I feel. “I don’t want to blow my life up, but staying away from you is breaking me apart.”
I brush my lips over hers and straighten. I don’t want to stop touching her, so I carefully smooth out her dress and help her to her feet. “We’re almost halfway through the season. Once I retire, we’re not breaking any rules.”
“Six more months.” She fingers the lapel of my tux. “I don’t want to ruin this thing I’ve worked so hard for, but I don’t want to lose the possibility of us either. I feel like I belong with you.”
“That’s because you do. And I belong with you. We can make it through playoffs and stay professional.” I hope. “Go back to the party.” I kiss her one last time, in case I don’t get to do it again for several months.