Page 61 of Against The Boards

“Damn right, you don’t,” he grinned, and he bent down to press another kiss to my lips.

This kiss differed from all the others. Those had been passionate, aggressive kisses between two people at odds with their feelings. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us, but I melted into him every time his lips touched mine. Chills went down my spine when he touched me, and my heart was getting big foolish ideas when he brushed my hair behind my ear and looked deep into my eyes. His dark brown eyes stared back at me like he was reaching into my soul. Like he knew every fear and thought inside my head, and he wanted to kiss them all away. I wanted him to do that. I never wanted to leave the comfort of his arms...but he was asking for a trade, so I couldn’t let my heart get any ideas.

“Rox, why did it take us this long?” he asked in between kisses.

I tangled my hand in his hair. “Because I’m a bitch?”

He nipped at my neck in anger. “You’re not. You’re stubborn, difficult even, but not that. I never thought that about you.”

My heart softened at his kind words, but I wasn’t sure why he never thought of me that way. I made his life difficult every time our paths crossed. I was a Grade-A bitch to him while he had been patient with me.

Something had shifted in my heart since the first night we spent together, and now it was on a path of destruction. When he looked at me hungrily, I stared back with a mirrored look. Maybe there was a fine line between hate and passion, but thinking about what we were doing right now, I couldn’t process it. I only knew that I wanted to be wrapped up in this man’s arms, and I didn’t want him to let go.

“Why not?” I asked. “I was so mean to you. But I was in a relationship the entire time we knew each other. She hurt me.”

He shifted, so he was no longer on top of me but lying on his side next to me. “I’m sorry she hurt you, but I’m not sorry you aren’t with her anymore. I gotta ask you something, though.”

“What?”

“She doesn’t like that you’re bisexual, does she?”

I had a feeling he overheard her ask me if I was straight today. I had to admit, it surprised me that Benny accepted my identity quicker than she did.

I shook my head. “She was fine with me being bi; she just didn’t like that it meant I also liked men.”

He tucked my hair behind my ear. “You deserve someone who respects you for you. Who respects that no matter who you’re with that doesn’t change that you’re bisexual. I have to admit, I’ve always been attracted to you. You were this mystery I wanted to unwrap.”

I shook my head. “Bullshit.”

“Why else would I stare at you so much?”

He had a point there.

He turned off the hockey game and pulled back the comforter while scooping me up effortlessly to tuck me underneath. “Come on. Let’s get some sleep.”

He got up to check the door was locked and turn off the lights, then removed his t-shirt before sliding into the bed beside me. His muscular arm wrapped around my waist, and he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck.

I leaned up to look at him. “Thanks for coming with me today. Even though I didn’t want you to, I needed a friend here.”

“Oh, are we friends now?”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “Maybe with some benefits?”

“Are these secret benefits? Or ones our friends can know about?”

I paused and mulled it over. I wanted to keep kissing this man; I didn’t want to stop. But if he was asking for a trade to another city, this couldn’t be serious. I was down for some hot off-season sex, but it had to be a secret fling until my brother got home. Tristan could never know about this.

“Can we keep it to ourselves? For now?” I asked.

He kissed my neck, and I felt him nod into it, but he didn’t say anything.

Chapter Eighteen

BENNY

I woke to a weight on my arm and soft wisps of breath tickling my chest hair. I slid my eyes open and looked down at Rox curled up against me. Her leg was thrown over my thigh, and her head rested against my chest. Waking up with her wrapped up in my arms after a night of animalistic fucking was a dream come true.

We had sex four times last night; that was a record for me. Watching her come in the bathroom mirror while I fucked her from behind had been especially hot. It was definitely spank bank material I’d save for later.