Page 55 of Facing the Line

“That doesn’t sound like just the heat.” Jonas blinks. “I think it was close.”

“Is it finally raining?”

As soon as I speak, the drum of droplets sounds on the roof.

“It’s been so long, I forgot that could happen,” Jonas says, frowning. Pulling out his phone, he holds up the weather map to show me. The entire center of Indiana is covered by red and orange storms. “But bad news—we walked here.”

“Aw, Joe, where’s your sense of adventure?” Grabbing his hand, I tug him towards the exit. “So we’ll get a little wet. No big deal.”

A little wetdoesn’t begin to describe what happens when we step outside. I’m glad I’m still holding onto Jonas or else the force of the rain might propel me off the sidewalk. Hurricanescan’t happen inland, right? The wind whips through the trees, scattering leaves everywhere, and I’m instantly drenched.

I blink, trying to clear the drops from my eyes, and turn to Jonas. His mouth drops open as he surveys the rivers forming along our path. He shrugs.

“We were going to shower anyway, right?” he yells over the storm.

I shrug. “Yep.”

“Then let’s go! Wanna see who can jump in the most puddles?”

His smile is so gorgeous, my heart cracks a little. I probably resemble a drowned rat, but Jonas’s white t-shirt has molded to his torso. I’ve seen him shirtless before, so why is this somehow sexier? It shouldn’t be, and yet, here I am.

I also can’t help but stare at his athletic shorts as they cling to everything, too. And yeah, he’s got it going on. Heat rises inside me that has nothing to do with the temperature.

Tossing strands of hair out of my face, I turn my head to the sky and let the rain pelt me. It’s cool but not cold. Goosebumps break out along my arms and heighten my senses. A jolt of lightning flashes in the sky, illuminating everything in the gloomy dusk.

“You’re on.” Laughing, I keep my grip on his fingers as we run home, leaping and splashing in the streams of rain.

We’re still giggling when we make it into Hockey Hall. The relative quiet after the noise of the storm outside is shocking, and the blast of air conditioning makes me shiver. Our wet shoes squeak on the linoleum floor as we hurry to the elevator.

We’re not going to get separated by the rain at this point, but I don’t let go of Jonas’s hand as he pushes the button for our floor. It’s not until another shake racks my body as the doors close that he drops my fingers and wraps his arms around me in a hug.

“To keep you warm,” he explains against my hair.

I nod. “Bet you didn’t think you’d say that today.”

I’m engulfed in his clean, piney scent. Too bad we’re both sopping wet, but this must be what it would be like to be pressed against him, naked. My mouth waters and my blood thrums in my veins. The elevator dings all too soon, and he releases me.

“Warm shower. Dry clothes,” I say as I head down the hallway towards our door. He’s scrambled my brain, and I can’t form complete sentences anymore.

“Yeah.”

But I stop when I get inside and turn and face him. Droplets still cling to his eyelashes, entirely too pretty to belong to a boy. His brows and freckles stand out in stark contrast in his face, and his expression is unreadable.

He swallows, and I take a step closer, drawn to him like a magnet. My eyes bounce from his gaze to his lips. I know how soft they are. I know what he tastes like. I want him, more than ice cream or a manicure. More than I’ve wanted a guy in my entire life.

Jonas slides his hand along my cheek, eliminating the space between us. His mouth is inches away from mine when I grab the back of his neck and pull his lips to me. Fire races down my spine and coalesces in my lower belly as we kiss. I let out a moan as his fingers dig into my hip, our bodies pressed together. Could all our clothes just disappear?

His tongue dances with mine, firm yet gentle. Tightening my grip on him, I jump and wrap my legs around his waist. He catches me, moving his hand to my ass to support me.

“Oh, god, Hadley,” he pants, dropping kisses along my jawline. I tilt my head to give him better access, and he reads my mind, kissing my neck and the spot under my ear that makes me wild.

I’m going to spontaneously combust. This is how I die. I need more, so much more. I want him naked, underneath me.

“Jonas, let’s—” I freeze before I can invite him back to my bedroom. The lock on the door beeps, signaling someone entering their code on the other side.

Shit. I jump out of his arms and spring away, my breath still ragged. All he can do is blink.

The door swings open, and Caleb stares at us. His black hair is wet and stuck to his forehead. “Uh, hey guys. What’s going on?” He glances from me to Jonas.

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