Page 80 of In It to Win It

“It sucks balls. And not the fun ones.”

She chokes out a little laugh. “Thanks for listening to me.”

“Anytime.” Having her nestled against me, her soft, warm curves, the fragrance of her hair teasing my nose, is making me . . . hard. Pressure builds inside me, pushing at my chest wall. It’s wanting. I want her. I want to comfort her every way I know, make her feel good, take her away from all the shitty stuff that’s happening in her life and make her happy.

I give her a little squeeze with the arm around her, and she sighs.

“Taylor?”

“Mmm?”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure.”

“Why didn’t you go to Anthony?” I get that she loves her dog, but wouldn’t it make sense that she go to her boyfriend for comfort when something so significant has happened in her life?

She doesn’t answer. Her fingers drift to a button on my shirt and she rubs it. My abs contract in anticipation, imagining her opening the button . . . and another . . . and another . . . until her fingers are on my bare skin. Barely breathing, I wait for her answer. See how good I’m getting at being patient?

Finally she says, “I’m not seeing him anymore.”

My body tightens. My breathing shuts down. My mind empties. “Oh.” I take in a shallow respiration and let it out. Then another. “When did that happen?”

“A couple of weeks ago.”

I think back. Last time I saw her . . . she wasn’t with him. And the time before that. And . . .

Christ.

“Why?” I croak.

She shifts against me in a little shrug. “I wasn’t feeling it.”

I nod slowly.

“He’s a nice guy. It wasn’t going anywhere, for me, anyway. I tried.” She sighs.

I suck my bottom lip in between my teeth.

A wave of emotion rolls through me, a feeling that’s totally caveman—possessive, claiming, protective.

I’ve wanted her for so long. Since that night at the rehearsal. I’ve tried to turn it off and tune her out, knowing I couldn’t go there, but now . . . there’s no reason not to.

Or is there?

I’m not sure how much time passes as I wrestle with myself internally.

I know she felt the chemistry too, when we were together. If it hadn’t been for that tool Martinez starting a fight at the wedding, we would have spent another night together . . . and another . . . Hell, we’d probably be married by now.

Whoa. That’s crazy thinking.

I know she felt it that night at Théo’s place, the night of his birthday party.

I don’t know if she still feels it.

Do I go for it? Or wait?

Fuck this being a “good boy.” I just want to go with my impulses. I want to do something fucking bad.

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