But I make the most of that minute. My hand tangles in her hair, my pulse skimming as I taste her like I've wanted to for years. She gasps every time she comes up for air, and it's everything I can do to swallow those little noises. In a perfect world, where I wasn't her brother's teammate and a reformed fuckboy, I would take everything she's got. Everysingle gasp and moan as I stripped her and made her scream my name.
But I keep my silent promise to myself, for her sake. After a minute, I pull away, chest heaving. She leans closer, chasing my lips, but I still her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Mollie."
She looks at me, her eyes heavy and lips swollen, like she doesn't quite understand. "Thorne?"
I move back again, then climb off of the bed entirely. "We can't do this."
To her credit, she isn't shocked by my words. She doesn't yell or demand any explanations. She just sighs as if carrying the weight of the world, and sinks back. "Okay."
The fact that she has so easily accepted my words is heartbreaking. I’ve confirmed her worst fear, her undesirability. She accepts it on its face.
"If it's not abundantly clear." Picking up the now tepid tea, I hand the mug to her. "If you were anyone else? I wouldn't stop. You're gorgeous. Smart, feisty, funny..."
Mollie sits back and takes a sip. "But I'm Beck's little sister," she finishes.
Even as she says it, I wondering if her forbiddenness even matters that much to me anymore. I had a taste of her. Am I really willing to just let her slip through my fingers?
"Yup," I nod. I mash down the feelings inside.
She pushes out her cheek with her tongue. "So, I guess we just return to normal," she concludes.
I nod. "That would be for the best."
I’m such a dirty liar. I hate myself.
"Fine." She shrugs and starts climbing out of my bed.
Panic floods me and I still her. "Where are you going?"
She gives me a funny look. "I can't stay in your bed, Thorne. I'm not a hookup. I'm just a girl who is crashing with you, temporarily."
I bite my lip. In another life, I'd reassure her that I don't try to keep hookups in my bed. And I don't make them tea before kissing them like it's the goddamn end of the world.
But I don't. Instead, I say, "It's late. Take the bed. I'll take the couch."
"I have my own cabin," she argues.
"Don't make me walk you home. I'm tired." Lies. I'm the opposite, wired and unable to concentrate with her so close.
My whole team is here. There’s a definite risk to keeping her in my cabin. And yet, I absolutely can’t let her sleep by herself.
Mollie pulls a face. "Fine. As long as you admit that there is a vibe between us."
I hesitate, then nod. "You're not imagining it. But you're still you. I'm still me."
She shrugs again. "I'm just drinking my tea."
"Mhm." I head to the couch, plunk down on it and start playing a mindless game on my phone. Mollie drinks her tea, then lies down. After a few minutes, her breathing evens out. She's asleep.
I pad out to the front porch, closing the door quietly behind me. It's long since grown dark, and the very first Fourth of July firework sizzles as it rockets skyward. It's pretty, but my thoughts are elsewhere.
I’m too twisted up over Mollie Tate to even notice.
Chapter Nine
Mollie
