Page 25 of Her Second Chance

He clears his throat, looking away. “Fuck me,” he whispers, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Please don’t say anything.” How can being eighteen again be such a mess? I should be able to navigate this better, seeing how I’m actually thirty-one. Instead, I’m back to being the awkward young girl from years ago.

He rubs the back of his neck. “Hannah, I’ve thought of little else since I met you, and that’s saying something because my dream came true last night on that field. I know you’re rebounding from a relationship and think you want that other dude, but you can’t deny you want me just as much as I want you.” His eyes lock on mine as if daring me to argue.

“Wanting you is not the issue. I know how this plays out. We hook up, you get bored, and then I miss the chance at a stable relationship. Next thing I know, I wake up thirty-one, hungover, and alone.”

He huffs out a frustrated breath. “Why are you so insistent we can’t work out? What is it about me that makes you unable to see a future for us?”

“Brock, you’re the world's sexiest man alive, and I’m just. . . me. You wind up with a freaking supermodel. How can I compete? Jason is the reason I’m back here. I can’t mess that up. Stop tempting me.”

“What does that even mean? Do you hear yourself?”

I shake my head. “It means we can be friends, but that’s it. I can’t allow you to break my heart and leave me all alone.”

He stands, then drops to his knees in front of me, grabbing my hands. “I won’t give up without a fight. Please, just open your eyes.”

Before I can argue, his lips are on mine. He tosses Grace’s pillow aside and pulls me onto his lap. This is the kiss to end all kisses. My entire body comes alive as he hardens beneath me. I rub my pussy on his denim-covered erection and moan, feeling like a wanton sex goddess. He grips my hips, holding me still, but doesn’t let up on the kiss.

I thread my hands through his thick hair and tug, wanting to crawl inside him so we can become one. He’s rough, biting my lower lip. I’ve never been kissed like this before and doubt I ever will be again. Brock isn’t an eighteen-year-old boy. He’s a man, one who makes every cell in my body quiver.

Just when I’m ready to throw all caution to the wind and give in to my desire to be with him, he pulls away and rests his forehead on mine. “I knew it would be like this.”

“Like what?” I gulp a quick breath to keep my heart from busting out of my chest.

“Perfect.” The reverence in his voice would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already sitting on his lap.

A knock on the door has me jumping off him. “We can’t do that again.” I don’t look at him when I say this for fear he’ll see how much I want him.

Brock stands, tugging at his hair and letting out a frustrated groan. There’s no mistaking the steel rod in his pants or the wet spot my pussy left down the length of it. He makes zero effort to hide any of it.

“Cover that,” I hiss, pointing to his tented pants.

“Are you serious right now, Hannah? Do you really not feel what’s happening between us?”

Not answering, I open the door and find Jason standing with his arms crossed. He looks at me, then Brock behind me, his lips firm. “Just friends?”

“It’s not like that.” I can feel Brock tense behind me. Without looking, I know he’s glaring at me as well. Fuck. This is not how my second chance was supposed to go. Why can’t I stop messing up?

“Hannah, you’re practically naked, and it’s obvious you two have been making out.” Jason raises his eyebrow, waiting for me to tell him Brock means nothing to me, but I can’t.

I stand torn between two different futures, tears stinging my eyes. This is my one chance at a happily ever after, and I’ve ruined everything. “Just wait,” I say when Jason turns to leave. “Let me explain.”

He turns back around. “I’m all ears.”

I turn to Brock. “Can we talk later?”

His mouth drops open, but he snaps it shut. Shaking his head, he pushes past me, knocking his shoulder hard into Jason’s, almost knocking him off his feet. Jason is at least six feet tall, but Brock dwarfs him.

“Brock–“

He turns to face me. His eyes are devoid of any emotion. “I need to go to practice and watch footage of last night’s game. I’ll see you around.” I don’t miss the defeated look on his face or the way his shoulders sag as he walks to the elevator.

Jason clears his throat as I watch Brock go. As much as I want to run to him, I can’t. I’m not here for him. I’m here because of the angry guy in front of me. How am I ever going to fix this?

Jason clears his throat. “Well? I’m waiting. What was he doing here?”

I sigh. “Brock came over to talk and woke me up. I crashed after my shower, which is why I look like this.” I sniffle, reaching up to smooth my hair. “I fell asleep with wet hair.” My sniffles turn into tears.

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