Page 100 of Offside Attraction

Rhonda bit her lip. She knew him, now. Knew that he flipped his fork upside down when he ate. That he only checked his phone once an hour so he didn’t get distracted at work. That he kept a flosser in his pocket just in case.

Her heart felt like a pool pump. She took a step farther into the space, scanning the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the Rocky Mountains against the darkening sky. But it was the details that made her breath catch. The low-profile coffee table had a bucket with champagne on ice sitting ready to be popped. She glanced around and noticed the fake, glowing candles scattered across the countertops and shelves.

“They wouldn’t let me use real ones.” Jordan’s voice was right behind her, a low rumble vibrating through her bones. His movements were fluid, like a shadow coming to life, wrapping over her so slowly, she was absorbed pixel by pixel.

His arms finally made contact and snaked around her middle. "I heard I'm your boyfriend."

Rhonda grinned, her breath hitching. "Oh? Who told you that?" She turned her head to the side, her hair sticking to his cheek like Velcro.

Jordan lowered his head, nudging her shirt to the side so his lips could find skin. "Your friends.”

“You’re a sneaky bastard.”

He chuckled. “You love it.” His hand traced over hers, and he took her bag from her hands, setting it on the floor.

She turned to face him, not able to slow the breaths filling and rushing from her lungs. She searched his face. “Didn’t you work a night shift?”

He nodded. “I slept a few hours this morning.”

Rhonda pressed a hand to his chest and heat flashing through her. “I swear, if you tell me you only want to cuddle tonight?—”

Jordan threw back his head and laughed. He pulled her flush against him, his hand cupping her jaw. “I want to wreck you tonight.”

Rhonda’s spirit left her body at the mental image of him taking her apart piece by piece, then putting her back together. “Mmm.”

“I think we’ve spent enough time taking it slow.” His eyes locked on hers.

She didn’t know if it was possible for a human to purr, but she was about to find out. “Agreed.”

Jordan’s face sobered. His grip tightened. “I want this with you. I’m choosing this with you.”

His words were intentional, and Rhonda swirled them around in her head. Choosing. Not reacting. Not just giving in.

That was the difference.

The first time she’d shown up at his door, she was scrabbling for control. For release. She held the paddle, but was trying to push against the current. Now she was learning to lift it and travel faster. To give in to the flow and only choose where she directed the boat.

Jordan’s thumb brushed over her jaw, his lips grazing her forehead, and her eyes fluttered closed. “Do I need to stop? Am I influencing your response?”

Rhonda gripped onto his hand. “Don’t you dare stop.” She blinked her eyes open and looked straight at him. “I chose you in the hall. At the Founder’s Event.”

That moment had been one of the scariest of her life. To admit she wanted more, but that she didn’t know how to get it.

Jordan dropped his forehead to hers. “I know.”

“But I’m glad we took our time. I didn’t know if I could be that person.” With that, every nerve in her body came to life in a rush.

“Now you know?”

Rhonda laughed. “Hell, no.”

Jordan brushed her lips to his. “Good. I think that’s good.”

“How is that good?”

“Because I want to figure that out together.”

The flickering light of the candles threw golden ovals the walls as her breath fanned out over his collarbone. She wanted to devour him. To tear of his shirt and bite into him. “I’m so turned on, my thoughts are turning vampiric.”

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