Page 27 of Knotted Laces

Before she can leave.

“Adrenaline rush,” she says, and it’s not a question. “I feel that.”

I bet she does.

Especially since she’s spent the last decade navigating a career that’s far more dangerous and adrenaline-inducing than mine.

“So, what do you do to wind down then?” she asks a moment later.

I shrug, feeling my own cheeks going pink. “Play video games, drink a beer—though tonight I’ll have more than one—” I pause, realizing belatedly how that sounds.

She raises her hands, palms out. “Hey. No judgment here. I absolutely know the medicinal purposes of tying one on.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, not sure I believe that.

She nudges the turnover my direction. Plunks another beer in front of me. “So we eat. We drink.” Then she winks. “And then…we video game.”

“No!”she shouts. “No. No.No!Ugh.” She drops the controller to the couch and flops onto the cushions.

Normally, losing a raid would be frustrating, but…

Fuck, she’s beautiful.

Fuck, I’m drunk.

Fuck, I want to kiss her, to hold her, to tell her how I feel.

How I’vefeltfor so long.

But…

Her feelings for Lex.

And Christ, she’s just trying to do something nice for me.

She doesn’t need my shit.

Evenifshe’s beautiful in the pale light of the den, her curls a riot around her face, her brows furrowed in concentration as she picks up her controller and begins again.

I love her.

I want her.

I—

Fuck, I’m pathetic.

I exhale and scrub a hand over my face, something that draws her attention.

She pauses the game, glances over at me. “You ready for bed yet?”

Only if you come with me.

Jesus, Cam.

“I’m fine,” I say, shoving that thought out of my head and picking up my beer, taking a long sip. It’s number…well,numberenough that the edges of my focus are blurred, that these thoughts—dreams, fantasies—about Athena are coming free and loose. “Let’s finish this first,” I say. “You’re finally getting the hang of it.”

“Finally, huh?” she teases.

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