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I almost press my lips against the top of her head but stop before I can and inhale her citrusy-vanilla scent instead.
She’s not mine to kiss. Not yet . . .
Instead, I relax into the stolen moment.
At least until I hear the damn knock again. “Dude.” Fuck me, that pissed-off voice belongs to Easton Hayes, my teammate and Grace’s best friend’s husband.
Shit.I look around for the time, but don’t see a clock anywhere before Grace sits up and rubs her eyes.
I cup her face in my hands. “Don’t move.”
Her sleepy eyes blink up at me, and she yawns, looking utterly fuckable.
Noted—this girl doesn’t function on no sleep.
I cross the room and crack open the door, then move so I’m blocking any view Hayes may have of my bed. “What the hell, man?”
Easton’s brows raise in question. “Late night, Wilder?”
When I don’t answer, he crosses his arms over his chest and grins.
Cocky fucker.
“Got some company in there?”
Yeah. Still not answering.
“Well, tell them you’re on a schedule here. You’ve got to be downstairs in an hour so we can meet the team plane. We’re all heading down for breakfast now.”
I run my hand through my hair and grip the door. “I’m good, man. My bag and Cross’s are both in the truck already. I’ll be down soon.”
“Hope she was worth it.” The stupid fucking grin on his face grows right along with my urge to knock it right off his smug face. “One hour, Ares. Don’t make the team wait over a piece of ass.”
“Fuck off, Easton.” Anger burns just under my skin as my grip on the damn door threatens to splinter the wood beneath my fingers.
I shut the fucking thing slowly, knowing Grace heard every word.
When I turn, I find her standing next to the bed in my dress shirt. Her long, toned legs are bare and beautiful and would look so fucking good wrapped around my face.Damn...
Grace’s arms are wrapped tightly over her chest as if she’s protecting herself. And I hope like hell I’m not who she thinks she needs protecting from.
“Wow.” She fidgets from foot to foot. “I feel like I need to do the walk of shame, and we didn’t even have sex.”
Well, now I feel like a piece of fucking shit. “Ignore him, Grace. He thinks you’re?—”
“Like every other woman he’s probably known was in one of your many,manyhotel rooms. It’s okay, Ares. I know what this is.”
I cross the room in two long strides, fucking annoyed that she’d ever think she wasn’t more thananyone else. “You don’t know a damn thing if you think you’re anything like any other woman, Grace.” I cup her face in my hands, and she sucks in a quiet breath. “You are so much more.”
Her lids close, and long black lashes flutter against her pale pink cheeks. “Last night,” she whispers, then opens her eyes and swallows. “I had a really nice night, Ares.”
There’s no misunderstanding the brush-off she’s about to give me, so I run my thumb over her pouty bottom lip and counter before she can. “Last night was one of the best nights I’ve had in years, Grace.”
“Then why didn’t you kiss me?” Her words are whispered but pack a powerful punch. One I wasn’t expecting. So, I do what I do best and answer with brutal honesty.
“Because when I kiss you, it’s going to be the start of something great, Grace. And you’re not ready for that. You’re leaving. You haven’t talked to your family about it. And it’s obvious you’re already torn. I’m not going to be a factor in your decision. I can’t be your excuse. Go do this thing. Be great, and I’ll be here when you come back.”
She runs her teeth over her bottom lip, and tears pool in her sparkling eyes. “You can’t promise that. I don’t know when I’m coming home.” Gracie wipes at her cheeks and lifts her chin. “I don’t even knowifI’m coming home... My God. I’m not even sure if I’m going.”
