Page 50 of The Thorne at My Side
She looks at me with curiosity in her eyes. Did she expect me to make fun of her for that? Did she want me to berate any past men she's been with? Because, actually, the idea that there have been other men who haven't satisfied her brings a rage to the surface I'm not sure I can control.
I can see the internal war she’s waging over thisconversation. I focus on keeping myself settled because the way she’s biting her lip is stirring the desire in me.
"It was intense," she finally admits. "I felt like I was falling."
My jeans are on all the way now so I step forward and run my hands up her arms. I grip her shoulders and hold her there in front of me. I’ve never seen her so vulnerable. I knew there were greater depths to her but this is the first time she’s exposed them to me. Granted, I’ve only known her a week but look at all the ground we’ve covered so far.
"I've got you," is what comes out when the words finally reach my lips. That desire to cuddle her returns as I watch her feelings unfold across her face. Her honey blonde hair falls around her shoulders, as her sapphire eyes search mine. She might be looking for derision from me, since we’ve established this relationship on teasing, but all I see is bravery and strength.
When her eyes soften to show gratitude, my mind trips over the idea that maybe she doesn’t hate me as much as I thought.
I pull her against my chest and wrap her in my arms. My nose lands in the soft waves of her hair and I inhale the floral scent. She doesn't respond right away but when she wraps her arms around my ribs I feel warmth travel through my body. After an indulgent beat, I squeeze her a little tighter, leave a delicate kiss in the crook of her neck, and then release her. Quickly I step over to my shirt, afraid of what I will see in her eyes if I go looking for it.
Afraid of what I might not see but want to.
"Have a good day Maggie," I manage as I get to the door and grab my skateboard.
"Um, yeah, you too Austin," she says as she crosses over to the door. She watches me walk down the hallway and I catch her still looking at me as the elevator doorcloses between us.
I might as well admit it to myself. I don't want Maggie Collins to hate me at all.
???
"You got hereearly?" Felix calls to me from the floor as I reach the angled section of the wall. My grip slips because he distracted me. Truthfully, I've been distracted all morning, but let's blame him.
"Fuck," I hiss as the harness catches me and I belay myself down to the floor.
"Hello to you, too," he mutters as he clips in next to me. Felix Fournier and I met at a charity event a few years ago. He had just moved to D.C. and the Renegades owner introduced us, telling Felix that I could help him navigate the world of D.C. as a wealthy young man. I shared a few of my favorite spots. When I told him that I rock climb for exercise he asked only one question.
“How hard does it hurt your balls?"
When I laughed and said that it didn't hurt any more than riding a bike he clapped his hands and said "I'm gonna be fit as fuck next season."
We've been coming to First Ascent twice a week for five years now. When he went back to training camp that first August his trainer asked him what he did in the off season to stay so well conditioned and when he said rock climbing the trainer recommended it to the whole team.
So now, instead of seeing just one professional hockey player here I usually see three or four. I've also noticed an uptick in really pretty women around the gym.
"Seriously though, why are you here so early?"
"I had an earlystart to the day," I say but I have to turn my head away so he doesn't catch the smirk or the fucking twinkle in my eyes that I can feel when I think about Maggie from this morning.
"Usually that makes you more grumpy, unless," he stretches the word out as he walks closer to me. I have to meet his gaze head on or he'll definitely know something is up. He leans in and narrows his eyes and inspects my face before stepping back slightly and glancing down my body. "You fucked."
"What?" I try to laugh it off. Maggie doesn't want anyone knowing about our arrangement and I've come to respect her in a way that makes me want to do dirty, dirty things to her.
"Ha! For sure you fucked," Felix says loudly, I quickly scan the gym for anyone who might have heard. "Wait, did you get with someone here?"
"No," I laugh again but then stop abruptly because the idea of being with anyone but Maggie sent a shiver of distaste through me.
"What was that?"
"What?"
"That shiver." Felix points at me.
"I just, umm, it's cold in here, right?" I ask as I also pull on my collar to release some of the heat.
"Holy shit. You actually like a girl. I've never seen you so flustered over a hookup before."
