Page 53 of Breaking Away

My head shakes. “You are not my knight in shining armor. I… We shouldn’t even be seen together.”

“I’m not. And no, we shouldn’t.”

I should be happy with how easily he agrees, but I’m not.

“You hate Tyler.”

“I do,” he confirms. His hands drag down to my hips. With a push, I’m walked backwards. Lokhov is taking me somewhere again, this time off the dance floor. I don’t look over my shoulder to see where we are heading. Almost like part of me trusts him. That part must be an idiot.

We don’t talk until my back finds a brick wall. We’re no longer surrounded by people, but alone in a side hallway. One that leads to an unmarked door. The music is muffled. Is it another VIP section in the back? One only accessed by filthy rich athletes that this club likes to accommodate?

Tension rolls off of Dmitri in waves.

“Why did you say yes?” I have to know. “To bring me to your game?”

“I haven’t figured it out.”

Hehasn’t figured it out? My stomach clenches. I’m the one whose life was recently unmoored, a wedding broken, and parents pushing reconciliation to a potentially cheating prick.

“Fine.” I don’t know why, but I’m goading. “In the meantime, while you’re figuring it out, do me a favor.”

He doesn’t argue that I’ve racked up too many. He should.

Lokhov palms the space above my head. “Tell me. What is it?”

I’m silent.

“Go on,” he drawls, his tone mocking. “Be brave.”

My back bristles. “You’ll say no.”

Lokhov moves closer, his frame almost enveloping me as his voice goes velvety. “Test me then. Test what I’ll agree to do for you, Princess. I sure would like the answer to that myself.”

Butterflies take flight. I’m overheating, not believing I’m here with someone like him. He’s another hockey player. I shouldn’t trust that species of man. I should only trust myself from now on.

Dark, intrusive eyes fastening on me shouldn’t be flustering.

“Go on. I could stand here all night like this,” says Lokhov.

I couldn’t.My fingers tighten on his shirt. “If you really want to know, I would like… to make… today—” The last word rushes out of me. “Count.”

He blinks. “Count?”

“Count.”

His jaw ripples. “How? What are the rules?”

“No rules. I… want my brain to understand that I’ve got options. Other than him.”Please.

It’s as if inferiority has caught me by the throat. Getting cheated on, potentially or not, hammers down your self-esteem.I’m desperate for a lift. I need to remember my life hasn’t ended. I’ve got options.

Lokhov steps backward. His hands go into fists. They unclench. Clench. Unclench.

I’m about to tell him to stop. That I’m taking back my desperation. He doesn’t need to look so torn and pained right now. Just reject me already.

“Basra,” he hisses, before surging towards me, mouth locked in a sneer. His hand goes around and grabs the back of my hair.

My head tilts, and I gasp. My whole body is now a furnace, lit hotter than ever before. The pinch against my scalp feeds more throbbing between my legs. I’m—wet.When did that happen?

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