Page 173 of Skate the Line

His forehead wrinkles. The grip on my hips becomes steadier, like he’s trusting that I’m going to stay put. “Scattered?”

I slowly nod and spill the truth. “When we’re this close, it’s hard for me to think rationally.” He scoots me closer, and my entire body flushes with heat. His bare chest presses against the jersey he bought me, and he tenses his jaw. “Last night was supposed to be a one-time thing,” I say.

I swear he can touch me with his gaze alone.

“But then you had to go off and tempt me to score some goals topunishyou,” he chides.

My heart stops with the flick of his feverish glare.

“Do you remember how many times I scored?”

Of course I do.I start to shake my head but stop when he opens his mouth.

“Don’t do it,” he warns, digging his fingers into my sides. “Don’t lie to me.”

My mouth slowly opens, and my answer falls in between us. “Three.”

“You know what that means?” His voice is throaty and hot, like he’s trying to hold himself back.

“What?” I’m breathless.

“I score three times…”—he dips his head—“youscore three times.”

My breasts grow heavy. To settle myself, I press my fingernails into his bare shoulders slightly. “That doesn’t sound like a punishment.”

The look on his face darkens, and I’m pretty sure the thoughts in his head are just as filthy as mine. He sighs. “You’re supposed to tell me no, Sunshine, not tempt me further.”

I shift over him, and he grits his teeth. His forehead falls to my chest, and my lungs beg for air.

“Your heart is racing.” His voice is muffled, strained even.

“That’s what you do to me when you touch me,” I admit quietly.

I have never been like this with someone before. The way he touches me does something to my body. It’s addictive, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s the first person I’ve let touch me in a very long time, or if it’s just Rhodes himself.

He stares at me.

I suck in a breath.

“That’s what you do to me when Ithinkabout you, Sunny.”

Neither of us say anything for a few seconds. He shifts his eyes back and forth between mine, and I can't help it. I break.

My heart skips a beat when I press my mouth to his.

It surprises him, but as soon as I slip my tongue inside, his hand cups the side of my cheek, and he pulls my face closer.

I kiss him with an urgency I can’t control, and he kisses me back just the same. Our mouths are glued. Not even a breath can pass through. I whimper when he moves me against him, bringing our bodies closer.

God, it feels so good to be possessed by him. He calls the shots without even speaking. My tongue mimics his, my body doing whatever he makes it do. We kiss until we get our fill of each other, and when he pulls apart, we’re both out of breath.

I don’t feel like myself, and I think that may be a good thing.

“It still means nothing,” he presses. “This is just me helping you get over those fears you have of men, okay?”

His nostrils flare, and I nod quickly.

Both of us know this is just an excuse to touch, but I don’t think either of us care.

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