Page 87 of Restricted List

The doors open when we arrive on her floor, so we step out, and I follow Rory to her room. “I didn’t know about any of that, but he’s wrong.” We stop outside the door to her hotel room. “Yes, there are guys like that, but not all of us.” I look right into her deep brown eyes. “Notme.”

Longing flashes across her face, and she thinks over my words. She reaches out, placing a hand on my forearm, my body alive with electricity.

“Cole,” she says, her voice sultry and sweet. “Would you like to come inside?”

My smile is wide. “I would.”

Rory lets us in, and we walk into her room. I lean back against the wall as she sits on the bed, turning to face me.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” I say, filling the silence and finally just getting the words out in the open. “I’ve wanted you since I met you, Ror. I don’t want to be your friend.”

“Cole…”

I reach out my hand, taking hers in mine and helping her stand. “I mean it, baby. I want so much more. You are fucking phenomenal, and all I want is to show you that.”

“Your career is at stake here.” Rory looks at me, clearly conflicted in the battle between her heart and her brain.

“I don’t care,” I admit.

“You could be in the Hall of Fame, though. You shouldn’t ruin your chance at that for a girl.”

I grab her other hand and bring them both to my chest, pulling her closer to me. “You’re not a girl. You’re my fuckingdream. I can’t keep pretending that you aren’t.”

“I-I… I don’t know. I’m not sure I can do that to you, Cole.”

“Rory, I know you feel this, too. There’s something between us.Wecould be something, Rory.”

She’s fighting with herself right now. I know she wants me, and I know she wants to save my career. Right now, I’m just waiting to see which side wins. My heart is in her fucking hands.

Her eyes are full of so much emotion. “I- we-” She takes a deep breath. “We can’t. My dad…” She looks over my face before settling on my eyes as she bores right into me, holding me hostage. And in that moment, everything aligns. “Oh my God,fuck it.”

Before I can process her words, Rory’s lips are on mine, capturing me in a searing and desperate kiss.

As soon as my brain catches up with reality, my hands are in her hair, tugging at the strands while I slip my tongue into her mouth. She moans as I do.

I lay her back on the bed, enveloping her body with mine as I use one hand to prop myself up and the other to caress her body.

“Fuck…”I say, lips brushing against hers. “Fuck, baby.”

“Cole,” she sighs as my hand cups her breast. “I want you.”

“What do you want me to do, Rory?”

Her smile is devious as she looks at me and says,“Fuck me.”

I capture her lips again, kissing her hard. “Rory,” I say, cupping her jaw and rubbing my thumb over the column of her throat. “If I climb into your bed tonight, it won’t be as your friend. If I’m going to be with you, I’m all fucking in. Anything less won’t be enough.”

“What exactly does that mean?” she asks, pressing her forehead against mine.

“That if I fuck you tonight, I’m going to keep fucking you. I’m going to take care of you—your body and your heart. I know this is a risk, but it’s one I’m willing to take. You’re worth it.”

Her smile is beautiful. It stretches to her eyes, and she looks even more stunning than she did ten seconds ago.

I didn’t know that was possible.

Rory leans up and kisses me again, her lips conveying the promise her words say after.“Then let’s risk it.”

twenty-seven

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