Page 36 of Hard to Take

Miles holds me, coaxing sensation after sensation from my body until I sag against the wall.

He holds me up with an arm behind the small of my back, leaning his forehead against mine as our heart rates recover.

“Can I see the rest of it?”

I have to blink to remember what he means. I reach up to the low neckline of the dress, tugging it down enough to expose the low demi-cups of my bra.

He rubs a hand across his jaw. “I hate it.”

“What?!”

“Yeah. It’s got to go.” He glances over his shoulder before returning to me. “Meet me at the Range Rover in five.”

It takes me a second to appreciate the hunger in his slow grin. “You want to leave?”

“I’ve been on the road all week and just carried five guys to a W against the top team in the league. There’s only one thing I want to do.”

“Sleep?”

He brushes a quick kiss across my mouth that’s as hungry as it is gentle.

“Save my roommate from some bad lingerie.”

10

MILES

“Can’t believe you used your dog as an excuse,” Brooke laughs as I swipe the keycard at the door.

“Think they suspected anything?”

“Nova did,” she answers as we step inside.

Waffles yips at us.

When I got back from our road trip, I was disappointed she wasn’t at the condo when I walked in.

All I could think about before was getting my hands on her. Back at Clay’s in that dark room, it was just her and me and a pile of need that’s been building up for what feels like a lifetime.

But now that we’re here in this place where we’re also roommates, it feels different.

"Want a drink?" I ask, already moving toward the kitchen. Familiar rhythms start to take over.

“Like a coffee?” She smiles.

“Told you my work was elite. But tonight, I was thinking something more grown up.”

I pour us each a glass of whiskey, no ice. We stand in the kitchen, close enough to touch, but not touching.

Her clothing is tidily back in place, but her lips are swollen from mine.

Our eyes meet, and there’s desire and anticipation mirrored back at me.

"Hi, Roomie," Brooke murmurs.

"Hi," I answer.

She pivots to face away from me, glancing over her shoulder. “You only a scorer or can I get an assist?”

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