Page 45 of If You Love Me

“Coach has a point,” I say.

Flip’s defensive posture deflates.

“Think about it. And in the meantime, go enjoy your night.”

“Yes, Coach.” Flip heads toward the boys, rubbing the back of his neck as he goes.

“You’re fucking gorgeous when you’re schooling these boys,” I say.

Her head snaps in my direction. “I need to use the ladies’ room.” She skirts around me and moves toward the hall.

And like the obsessed, completely out-of-control man I am, I leave my scotch on the bar and follow her. We’re alone in the hall, so I grab her hand, tugging her in the opposite direction of the bathrooms.

“What are you doing?”

That’s a great fucking question. “We need to discuss a few things.”

“This is not the time.”

“It’s never the time, Lexi.” I try the handle on a conference room door. It opens, so I push my way inside, but drop her hand.

The lights flicker on automatically. She crosses the threshold, eyes on fire, and the door falls shut behind her. Energy crackles between us, familiar and heavy and desperate.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Roman.” She crosses her arms.

For you to give in to this horrible, awful, unreal draw we both feel. “I don’t know if you’re ready for what I want.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I wish like hell I had an ounce of self-restraint when it comes to you, Lexi, but I really fucking don’t.” I drink her in. She’s stunning and heated and all I can think about is how good it would feel to snap this wire of tension between us.

Like every other time we’ve found ourselves alone together, we’ve gravitated closer. One step on either of our parts and the toes of our shoes will touch.

She tips her head up. “We can’t be alone together like this. There is too much at stake for me. I have everything to lose.”

“You think I don’t know that? Messing up this opportunity for you is the last thing I want. I’m trying to stay away, but I’m powerless against the draw. You’re everything I want and can’t have. It’s killing me, Lexi.You’rekilling me,” I grind out.

“You think it’s any different for me? You think I wouldn’t love to spend hours talking game strategy with you? Or that I don’t love it when I see the pride on your face after I make a good call? I miss the way your arms feel around me. And I desperately miss the way the world would fall away when it’s just you and me. You being right in front of me, but untouchable is torture, Roman.”

We’re both so worked up. So frustrated. “I’m at my breaking point. You should walk away.”

Her tongue sweeps along her bottom lip. “I should.”

I clench my fists at my side. “Tell me kissing you is a bad idea.”

“The absolute worst,” she whispers.

I give in to the urge to skim the edge of her jaw.

She whimpers, and that one sound nearly brings me to my knees.

Her hand settles on my chest.

“You should go.”

“I can’t.” She grips my lapel and tips her chin up. “Please.”

“What do you want, angel?” I curve my hand against her delicate cheek, the relief in being able to touch her overwhelming.

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