Page 92 of See You at the Finish Line

“Really.”

“Then it’s a shame we woke up,” she says, stifling another laugh.

“It really is a shame.” I sigh, dropping my head on the pillow and dragging a hand down my face. I’m trying to think of anything to get my hard-on to go away, but it’s still there, insistent.

“You know what I’m thinking of right now?”

“God, I hope you’re not about to say something sexy,” I mumble. She laughs.

“Well, it’s your own fault. I’m thinking back to the ultra when you told me your hotel room ceiling would be romantic. And here we are, in a hotel room.”

I flip her over onto her back in one swift motion. I hold my body above hers so I don’t suffocate her but press in a little and bury my head in her neck.

“That was not helpful, Paige,” I say through gritted teeth. Her breathing comes faster, and she shifts her legs, rubbing them against mine. I press my body into hers a little more, unable to help myself. I’m craving the contact of her body.

“Paige,” I groan, and her shaking laughter brings her closer. “I don’t know what kind of restraint you think I have, but it’s not as much as you’re currently giving me credit for.” My lips graze herneck to prove my point. I may become addicted to the taste of her skin on my mouth.

“And what if I don’t want restraint?” she whispers, arching into me.

I open my mouth, placing my teeth right on the tender spot and bite, softly. She inhales. I guess I’m not making it easier for myself either because I want all her sounds, the small ones, the loud ones, all of them. I curse whatever god is up there that these are not the right circumstances. Again.

Our timing is always off.

“Adam?” she asks, her voice sultry. I can barely stand it.

“Mm-hmm?” I say, not able to form coherent words as I breathe her in. She’s in my shirt so her smell is mingling with mine, driving me crazy.

“If I asked you to touch me ... If I asked you to lose control, would you?”

“You do hate me, don’t you?”

She laughs. I rip myself away from her neck and meet her eyes. They’re dark and full of lust. Her gaze moves to my mouth and my control almost snaps.

“I don’t hate you,” she whispers.

“I don’t hate you either.”

“Adam?”

“Yeah?”

“Lose control,” she whispers, pressing into me, dragging her arms up around my back. I lean in, arms shaking.

“Paige?”

“Yeah?” Her eyes flutter closed and I grit my teeth.

“Not like this.”

Her eyes fly open in surprise, her body dropping to the bed. It’s both a relief and a huge regret that her heat is gone.

“What?” All the heat is gone from her voice too.

I don’t move, needing to make sure she understands because there’s hurt and embarrassment creeping onto her face. She can’t meet my eyes.

“I don’t wantyouto regret it. I don’t want this—us—to be something that keeps you from your sister.” She still doesn’t look at me. “Damn it, Paige.” I drop my body onto her so she can feel me, all of me. “I want you so fucking bad. Ineedyou. But I won’t have you unless I can have all of you, and right now there are more important things that need your attention.”

She lets out a long, slow breath and finally meets my stare. I hope she can see everything in my eyes. I hope she can see how much I mean these words.

---