Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Great banter?” Lilah supplies.
I clamp my lips together. “It’s nothing serious. Just a distraction.”
Sloane arches a brow. “And yet, here you are, practically vibrating while Big D lights up your phone.”
She’s not wrong.
And that’s the problem.
“Are you sure there’s nothing more to it?” Lilah asks, gentle but knowing. Almost as if she can see right through my lies.
“Nope.” The smile I force feels brittle around the edges. “Honestly, I think it’s already run its course.”
By the looks on their faces, none of them are buying it.
“Anyway…” I clear my throat before quickly changing the subject. “The auction’s this weekend. You should have seen the way Oliver was sulking about it. He’s going to positively squirm on stage.”
“I can’t wait to watch,” Sloane says with a laugh.
“I bet Oliver will go for the highest bid,” Lilah adds.
My brows snap together as I frown. “You really think so?”
Three gazes pin me in place as more heat crawls up my neck.
My phone vibrates again. It’s a steady and relentless onslaught against the tabletop. Unable to take another second, I flip the slim device face down. But the noise continues to reverberate through the wood until my pulse kicks into a frantic tempo. One that somehow echoes my core, even though he got me off just a few hours ago.
That’s the moment I realize how screwed I am.
Even worse than that?
I have no idea what to do about it.
6
Oliver
The locker room vibrates with post-practice energy as showers hiss in the background, skate blades clatter into stalls, and steam curls off the tile as it mixes with the tang of sweat and soap.
Zane plants himself in the center of it all with nothing more than a white towel slung around his hips. “I don’t want any of you to feel bad when I go for double what you clowns pull in at the auction,” he announces. “Everyone around here knows I’m the main attraction.”
Knox looks up just long enough to snort. “Buddy, the only thing you’re headlining is a cautionary tale.”
Laiken doesn’t bother glancing his way. “It must be exhausting to be that arrogant and that wrong.”
Steele towels off, water spraying the tile as he shakes out his hair. “You should really think about hydrating, Holloway. You’re losing a lot of electrolytes running your mouth so much.”
Zane grins, completely unfazed, while laughter and more jabs ripple through the room.
As tempting as it is to unload on him, I bite back the comment that’s poised on the tip of my tongue.
I don’t have the patience for him today.
My head’s still buzzing from what happened this morning with Rina.
I can’t stop thinking about the way her body melted under my hands or the sexy little sounds she made before they turned desperate. And then, like always, the second I gave her what she wanted, she slammed the door shut on me.
My body might be outwardly calm, but my head’s a war zone.
Two months.
That’s how long she’s been trying to convince herself this is nothing more than sex.
But I know better. Every damn time I touch her, the line she drew between us disappears.
That has to mean something.
“Yo, River.” Jax drops onto the bench, shirt halfway over his head. “Sloane’s gonna be at the auction, right? I’m like, asking for a friend.”
River doesn’t even blink. “Your friend should know she’d eat him alive.”
Jax grins as he yanks the shirt down. “Good thing he likes being devoured.”
Knox mutters, “How about restraining orders? Does he like those too?”
Laughter rings throughout the room as Jax flips him off with a grin. I have to admit the guy’s been good energy for the team.
Laiken leans back against his stall. “What about you, Van Doren? Are you bringing a date to this mandatory shindig?”
“Nope.” I pull my phone out of my bag and glance at the screen.
Zane smirks. “He’s bringing his prayers. Cuz he’ll need ’em to pull half of what I do.”
I ignore him and focus on the keyboard.
Me: Have I mentioned how much I like the taste of you on my lips?
No reply.
No bubbles.
There’s absolutely nothing.
Even though I should wait, I don’t.
Can’t.
My thumbs get twitchy.
Me: Next time, I’m not stopping until you scream my name. And I don’t give a damn who hears.
Send.
I lean back and wait as a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. She’s probably in her office, shifting in her chair, trying not to think about me.
Seconds crawl by.
Steele drops onto the bench across from me. “What’s with the creepy grin, Van Doren?”
I school my expression. “Nothing.”
“Uh-huh.” Jax cranes his neck, trying to peek at my screen. “Who are you sexting? Please don’t tell me it’s Gabby. That girl’s probably already named her next yacht after you.”
“Fuck no,” I blurt.
Knox grabs his sweatshirt, casual as ever. “Then who is it?”
I let the silence stretch before saying, “None of your damn business. That’s who.”