Page 67 of Sporting Goods

“Josh, what time tonight?” I called over the others.

He popped his head up and gave me a wide smile. “Seven. I’m still on Lake Drive.”

“Count him in. He’ll be thrilled.”

“Awesome. See you then.”

“Oh, I’ll ask Sam to drop him off.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Max watching our exchange, so I tossed him a glance. “I have plans tonight.”

That ache I’d been feeling since I met Logan. That growing ache for him to touch and kiss me everywhere, was going away tonight.

23

Within secondsof Rayne knocking on my door tonight, our lips were connected. It had felt like forever, us not being alone. My hands gripped her ass and her fingers dug into my hair.

There was a fire in her tonight.

A hell of a fire.

Hell did I care what sparked it because I had to put my desire for her naked in my arms on hold for too long.

But it gnawed at me. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it.

I slid my hands up from her back and cupped her face pulling us apart like a stubborn magnet.

Her eyes flew open. There was a question in her expression she couldn’t voice.

“What’s going on Rayne?” It was the best I could put it, but she had to know what it meant.

For a second she tried to act like my words confused her. But I knew her better. She was smarter than that.

Her shoulders deflated and she walked around me. “My life’s been a mess for the past five years. Too focused on doing what’s right even when it's not right for me.” She paused to walk further into my apartment, paced the living area.

“I’m tired of holding back on what I want…because it wouldn’t be right. Or moral. Or too selfish. I want you. I’ve wanted you when I shouldn’t.”

I walked up to her. “Why shouldn’t you want me? Are you ashamed of who I am in this town?”

Her eyes welled. “I’m ashamed of whoIam in this town.” It was as honest an answer as I knew I’d get.

And I accepted it. At least for now.

I held her cheeks in my hands and lowered my head to hers. “You’ll give me more when you’re ready?”

Her eyes dropped but she nodded.

Again. Take what I can get.

I moved my lips to her ear. She’d come in here with a spark I’d been dying for and I was crushing it instead of igniting it. “There’s so much I’ve been wanting to do, Rayne.”

“You have me now,” she whispered with a shiver.

“All of you?”

“Every inch,” she confirmed for me. “Show me what you’ve been wanting to do.” She raised her arms and held them up there, watching and waiting for me.

My fingers trailed to her sides, clutching the hem of her shirt, and pulling it over her head.

I trailed more kisses down her collarbone to her chest. Her heartbeat was racing and she breathed my name when I put my hand to it to calm her.

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