Page 85 of Rookie Attraction

And, my words are gone again.

I’ve kissed a lot of men and women but none of them had me all up in my feels like Finn. And I don’t dare think about why.

Karson whistles. “So, it’s like that? It’s not all you?”

“Yes. No,” I insist. “I don’t know. He’s confused.”

“Why?”

I lower my voice. “He’s only had a girlfriend. I think he’s mistaking our closeness for something more.”

“Did he say that?”

“No,” I admit. “No, in fact, the opposite. He seemed more confident about what happened between us than I did.”

“Knocked you for a loop?”

I can’t help but grin. “And then some.”

“Sounds like he knows how he feels. And I know you, bro. You wouldn’t cross that line just to get off. Finn means more to you than fucking. I’m right, aren’t I?”

I want to deny it, but my silence says it all.

Chapter Sixteen

FINN

Meeting Karson Kirkland and his Toronto teammates at dinner was another experience I’ll never forget. Too bad I was so distracted by Sel. I spent most of the evening surreptitiously watching his handsome face and every expression that crossed it. There was the occasional smile and burst of laughter, especially when Karson teased his brother, but when Sel’s eyes finally locked with mine, I could see the tension too…

And who’s fault is that?

With dinner done and my nerves rattling, I get up and offer my goodbyes, along with Makela, Kuz, and Sorensen. Not surprisingly, Sel stays behind chatting with Karson. I worry that Sel and I aren’t going to have our talk, and I don’t want to wait too long. If we don’t have it out, things will be awkward, and that kind of tension is the last thing we need before a game.

When we walk through the hotel lobby, Makela suggests a quick stop at the bar, but Berg vetoes that. We need an early night since we have a long day tomorrow. With the Kirkland brothers facing off on opposing teams, it should make for an interesting hockey game. Kuz and I head up to our room, where he promptly curls up on his bed, closes his eyes, and begins to snore like a foghorn.

Me? An hour later, sleep isn’t happening.

Not until I have it out with Sel. I take a chance and text him.

Finn: Are you back in your room? We need to talk.

Part of me expects him to say “no” or not reply at all, so I’m shocked when he responds right away.

Sel: Room 706. Come up in five.

Sel got a penthouse, nice, but five minutes feels like an eternity.

While Kuz is snoring away, I quietly change into an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt and slip out of the room and into the hallway. The hotel’s quiet at this time of night and there’s no one near the elevator. I have a story in place in case any of my teammates spot me, but still, by the time I get to room 706, my heart knocks louder than my hand rapping on the door.

Sel appears, hair messy, wearing Rush sweatpants and nothing else. I take it all in, from his bare feet—sexy as fuck—to his broad hairy chest, to those deep dark eyes that have me in a chokehold. I lose my ability to speak but thank fuck my feet know how to move.

Once I’m inside, he closes the door and flips the lock. Before he can turn away, I reach for his bicep and pull him in close. Today was torture, being so close and unable to touch him.

“Wait, Finn, we need to⁠—”

“Quiet,” I tease and seal my lips over his.

Christ, I need his taste so bad. And yes, our first kiss was no fluke. Suddenly, everything’s right again. Sel grabs my waist in his massive hands and pulls me in tight, a move that drives me crazy. I moan as our tongues tangle, hot and desperate. He’s right there with me, groaning, writhing, kissing me until I run out of breath. Panting hard, I push him against the wall and wrap my arms around his neck.