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“It’s a romance novel,” I say.
“Oh, yeah? A steamy one?” Liam asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
I narrow my eyes, remember way too many stupid jokes I’ve heard about the kinds of books I like. “Something wrong with that?”
Liam must catch the edge in my voice, because he shakes his head disarmingly. “No way. I think it’s totally stupid how people act like watching movies or reading books with all kinds of violence and destruction is totally normal, but then there’s supposed to be something wrong with reading books that have a little bit of sex I them.”
My brow arches in surprise. Actually, I’m more than surprised—I’m impressed. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
“You should never be embarrassed about something you enjoy, about something that makes you happy, right?” His words are accompanied by a sad, knowing smile, as we’re both aware that, as smart and absolutely correct as that statement is, he doesn’t follow it himself.
Yet.
“You think you wouldn’t feel embarrassed reading a spicy romance book in public?” I ask, chuckling at the thought. “Imagine you’re back in the locker room and all the guys could see.”
Liam tilts his head, a thoughtful expression spreading over his sharp features. “You know what, I would be. And that’s not right. So, I’m going to do exactly that just to prove a point.”
I let out a laugh. “You’re going to read a steamy romance book for all the guys to see?”
Liam nods. “That’s right. No one would think twice about playing a violent video game in full view of anyone who walks by, so why should I think twice about reading a hot romance book? I’m gonna do it. Do you have a paperback I can borrow? One with averynon-discreet cover?”
Blush colors my face as I think through the options, deepening into crimson red as I imagine handing off one of my smuttier books to Liam, knowing that it would then be impossible to keep myself from fantasizing about him doing to me all the things the male main character did to the female main character.
“I do,” I say.
“Give it to me next Psych class. I’ll start it on the bus on the way to Ohio,” he winks at me.
That simple motion, just a wink from one of his deep-set eyes, is enough to make heat pulse between my thighs.
“Be careful what you ask for,” I say.
His brow lowers, his emerald green eyes smoldering with sudden heat. Being on the receiving end of this glare could make me melt faster than an ice cube sitting on asphalt on a hot summer day. “When it comes to you, Zoey, I know I have to be very careful about what I ask for.”
I can feel the fine hairs on the nape of my neck stand at attention; I’m buzzing so much all over from those words that if feels like I’m coated in static.
I try to swallow, but my throat is too dry. Liam hasn’t ripped that sizzling hot gaze from me. The backs of my fingers suddenly tingle, right where his hand brushed against mine at the library.
It hits me for the first time that, this weekend, we’re going to be staying at the same hotel overnight. And I’m going to have a room all to myself. The thought suddenly rushes into my head just how easy it would be for Liam to slip out of his room and …
I can’t let my mind wander down that path. We put too much as risk just the other day when we almost kissed in the hallway of this very arena.
It would be an absolute disaster if we tried to hook up at the hotel during an away game, and then got caught. It’s irresponsible to even entertain the thought of a second.
But under the weight of his glare, I’m finding myself doing more than just entertaining it.
I’m finding myself imagining every minute of it, imagining the rush as I crack my door open and he slips inside, imagining the dangerous thrill as he ravishes me against the wall when we both know his teammates or other team staff are on the other side of it, imagining the aching anticipation of him stripping me of my clothes, imagining feeling his whole, completely bare body pressed against mine, something that wasn't possible at the club on Halloween ...
“Oh, there you are!” The bubble we’re both locked in pops as we hear Ryder call out; he and the other Hot Shots guys walk over to us.
Liam’s face is flushed, an unusual sight on a guy who’s so collected and casual even under pressure.
I get up from the couch, but immediately feel a head rush that makes me reach for the armrest to steady myself. Being under Liam’s gaze for so long and letting my mind wander to where it did must have made me lightheaded; standing up so fast was a bad move.
“You alright?” Liam pops up, grabbing my arm to help steady me.
I wish I could tell him that touching me isn’t exactly going tohelpwith the lightheadedness. Tendrils of heat crawl over me, radiating from his grip.
I recover my balance and gently pull my arm away from him. I immediately feel the cold absence of his touch.
