Page 37 of Restricted List

I sigh as I rub a hand over the back of my neck. “I think you know exactly what I’m saying.”

“Don’t say something you don’t mean.” She looks at me, unease clear on her face.

I let out a breath and reply, “Rory, when have I ever said something I don’t mean?”

The words hang heavy in the air between us, the implication clear, and Rory doesn’t seem to be able to make sense of what I’m telling her.

Has she never had a man fall at her feet, ready to worship her? Ready to caress and touch every inch of her body before he buries his head between her legs? Ready to give her every goddamn thing she deserves?

The thought of her not having had that before makes me want to do it all the more.

Three and a half years, I’ve been strong.

Three and a half years, I’ve kept my hands and my feelings to myself.

But I can feel the thread between us thinning with each passing day, ready to snap with the slightest bit of pressure.

I’m trying so fucking hard to keep it together, but I know I’m about to break.

I’m so close to risking my entire career because keeping away is the worst fucking form of torture.

Before either of us can speak, a knock sounds at the door across the room.

“I don’t know what I’m going to find,” Knox bellows, “so I’m not opening the door.”

“You’re going to find both of us completely dressed, having just woken up, asshole,” I scoff. The sound of raucous laughter on the other side of the door is all we can hear.

“Better to be sure,” he says, still fighting a laugh. “But we have bagels and coffee out here ready to go. And to quote your sister—‘Get your asses up and come fucking eat.’”

“We’ll be right out, Fort Knox,” Rory chuckles.

“Never going to escape that fucking nickname,” we hear him grumble as he pads off down the hallway.

“Hey,” I say, smiling. “Looks like hecanstill be grumpy after all.”

Rory swings her legs over the side of the bed, quickly moving to her feet before reaching a hand out to help me up. “Come on. Let’s get a move on. Don’t really want to piss your sister off first thing in the morning.”

“Her bark is worse than her bite,” I laugh, my feet hitting the floor as I sit up. I don’t let Rory move away, though. I keep her hand in mine and turn her around to face me again as she tries to move.

“What are you doing, Pierce?” She raises her eyebrow.

“I want to talk to you before we go out there.”

“Oh.”

Her smile wavers, worry taking over her features.

Rory clearly doesn’t want to talk about what I implied. And I don’t want to make her more uncomfortable.

So, instead of addressing it, I skip the topic altogether.

“What are your plans today?” I ask, taking my hand from hers and gripping the edge of the bed.

“None,” she replies. “I don’t have anything planned for today.”

“Let’s do something then. Asfriends.”

God, I’m really starting to fucking hate that word.

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