Page 50 of Triple Power Play 3
I told her I wanted her, told her I’d take whatever she was willing to give, even friendship, to be a part of her life. She asked me if I was sure repeatedly, and I said yes—every damn time.
Then, she tells me she wants me to stay, and I snap at her?
Jesus fucking Christ, I have issues.
I know Aurora. She’s affectionate, speaks better with her body than words, and hates to feel rejected. She’ll never give me another chance, never put herself out there again.
From the kitchen table, I watch her in my periphery as I work on my laptop. She clings to Ethan on the couch, her head on his shoulder, her arms around him. Her gaze is glued to the TV, but her eyes are emotionless. She still wears the forlorn expression I left her with.
I’m a total fucking dick.
Maybe she was excited to tell me she wanted me to stay, excited to have me here, excited about the sleepover, excited everyone was getting along. Maybe she wasn’t playing me but being playful, and I ruined it by being jealous of Jackson.
Who isn’t jealous of Jackson?
I bury myself in work, researching Kyle’s former partner and reassigning my team. Movement catches my eye, and I glance up. She approaches with her head down, making a beeline for the fridge, and I take my chance.
Recklessly, I reach for her, my fingers close around her waist, and pull her to me. She stumbles between my legs, her hands finding purchase on my shoulders, her eyes wide and searching with an intensity that takes my breath away.
“Lo siento.” Expressing the apology in Spanish isn’t necessary, since I’m not at all being cautious, but it sounds romantic.
She swallows. “Está bien. No te preocupes.” Of course she would say it’s okay.
I have no idea what the last phrase means, but it’s provocative rolling off her tongue.
Jackson and Ethan must think so too. Both of them are staring at us with their mouths hanging open. That, or I’m about to be killed.
I know the word ‘stay’ only as a command used during arrests. I haven’t a clue how to say ‘I’ll stay,’ but I try anyway. “No te muevas.”
She furrows her brow and tilts her head in confusion.
It’s cute, and I smirk. “What did I say?”
She grins. “Don’t move.”
So close—just not in this instance.
“Manos arriba…?”Hands up? I joke.
She flashes a gentle smile and obeys—and, holy shit, new kink unlocked.
“Um, how about handsoff?” Jax interrupts, glaring daggers my way.
She steps back, and my arms drop to my lap, feeling empty.
He scoots to the edge of the couch. “So we’re using secret languages now?”
She walks away, going to the fridge for a bottle of water.
I meet his annoyance head-on. “It’s called Spanish.”
“No fuck,” he says at the same time Ethan asks Aurora, “You speak Spanish?”
She takes her seat beside him. “Rarely, but I grew up speaking both languages.”
He directs his scowl my way. “And you know Spanish?”
“A little. For the job.”
