Page 132 of Lose You Twice

I should think about my job, the rink, the fact that this man is my ex, my best friend’s brother, the captain of the team I work for, and he is currently standing in front of me wearing one very unreliable towel.

Instead, I hear myself say, “Do you want me to?”

His hand flexes at his side. “No.”

The word is immediate.

Rough.

Honest.

My chest tightens.

Kai takes one step closer. “But if you stay,” he says, voice low, “I need you to know I’m not feeling careful right now.”

My breath catches. “You’re always careful.”

“Not tonight.”

The words go straight through me.

The door is behind me. My phone is in my hand. I have every chance to leave.

I set my phone on the bench, Kai’s eyes following the movement.

When they come back to mine, the last inch of air between us disappears.

“Wren.” He lets out a breath that sounds almost like a laugh, except nothing about his face is amused.

I take one step toward him.

His entire body goes still.

“Careful.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “Your eyes are telling me you want me to kiss you just about as bad as I need to.”

His words only embolden me more. I stop right in front of him, close enough to feel the damp heat rolling off his skin. Close enough that if I breathe too deeply, my sweatshirt will brush his chest.

But he doesn’t touch me.

That might be the hottest thing about him.

The way I can see the want in every locked muscle, every ragged breath, every flicker of his eyes, and he still waits. Still lets the choice sit in my hands.

I lift my chin. “Then touch me.”

His control breaks.

He catches my face in both hands and kisses me hard enough that I stumble back a step. He follows, one arm sliding around my waist before I can hit the lockers, his palm flattening against my lower back, pulling me into the heat of him.

His mouth opens over mine, wet and hungry, and I answer like I’ve been starving all week. My hands go to his shoulders, slick under my palms, then into his hair, and the sound he makes against my mouth is low enough to make my whole body clench.

“Wren,” he breathes, like he’s relieved. Like he has no idea what to do with all the ways he wants me.

I pull him closer, one hand staying locked in his hair while the other goes exploring.

The towel shifts under my wrist.

Kai freezes.