Page 12 of Delay of Game

“Maybe,” he says, dropping his gaze and taking off my high heeled sandals.

I let out an embarrassing moan as the tension in my foot eases and he takes off my other shoe. Then his fingers dig into the arch of my foot, and I collapse back on the bed.

Fuck. All he’s doing is giving me a foot massage and I’m a moaning mess. I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on than this.

“Where do you keep your pajamas?” he asks, standing over me.

“I don’t usually wear any.”

“Jesus Christ,” he huffs. I smile, and even though I’m lying down and my eyes are closed, I can picture the exact shade of pink on his cheeks.

“Okay,” he says shakily. “Do you need anything else before I go?”

“Stay,” I say, my eyes flying open. Shit, did I say that out loud?

I slowly rise up on my elbows and look at the disheveled sight in front of me. Jordan’s white T-shirt is snug, and I let my eyes roam over his broad chest and narrow waist. His hair is longer than usual, missing his usual side fade. The curly black hair makes him look unruly.Fuck, he’s so pretty.

“I don’t think I should,” Jordan says hesitantly.

“Please.”

Jordan

It’sthe goddamnpleasethat does me in. I don’t think I could say no to this girl if I tried.

On the one hand, I’m glad she called me when she didn’t know what to do or how to get home. I want her to be safe. But on the other hand, did she have to callme? I’m trying my damnedest to put some distance between us, but somehow she always pulls me back in.

Being around her so often has made it hard to ignore the growing crush I have on her. A crush that I know for a fact is reciprocated. The way she looks at me sometimes—like I’m her whole world—drives me crazy. I don’t deserve that look.

Even now, laying on the bed in her high-waisted shorts and yellow crop top, Alice looks up at me with those big blue eyes, begging me to stay.

I swallow hard and walk over to her closet, pulling out a soft pair of shorts and a plain white T-shirt for her to change into.

“Okay, but you need to change. You can’t sleep in your party clothes,” I say, reaching down and helping her stand. She wobbles on her feet and holds on to my bicep to steady herself. My pompous fucking ego decides now is the time to flex. I try to bite back my smile as she stares at the muscles shifting under my short sleeve.

I hand her the clothes and turn to face her bookshelves as she changes. The white shelves are tall enough that they almost reach the ceiling, and each shelf is carefully organized by what looks like genre and author. My eyes snag on a cute cover—blue, with ice skates and headphones on it—and I pick it up to read the back.

“All done,” Alice says, and I turn to her with a grin.

“Is this a hockey romance?” I ask, already knowing the answer isyes.

The blush that overtakes her cheeks is so fucking cute that I have a strong urge to reach out and pinch her. I grip the booktight in my hands to refrain from touching her.That would be bad.

“Careful,” Alice says, taking a step towards me and forcing me to loosen my grip on the book by placing her hands on top of mine. “That’s the indie edition that is no longer available.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, and gently place the book back on the shelf. “You have multiple editions of the same book?” I ask, noticing the same title in a different shade of blue.

“Duh,” she says, swatting at my chest.

“Why?” I chuckle.

“Because,” she groans. “You’re gonna think it’s dumb.”

“I won’t,” I insist, and follow her to the queen-sized bed, where she lays on top of the comforter.

“If I really like a book, I want to have it in all formats. Special editions especially, but also audiobooks and ebooks,” she says, looking up at me and biting her lip, waiting for my judgment.

I lay down next to her even though I don’t plan to spend the whole night here. Just until she falls asleep.

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