Page 26 of Blocked Shot
That’s all it takes.
His pulse slams in his throat, hot and unsteady. He’s balancing on the edge of a moment they won’t be able to take back—nevertheless, he leans closer, helpless against it.
“Jake…” she whispers, his name barely a breath on her lips.
He doesn’t move away. Doesn’t blink. Just hovers there, heart pounding, lips a fraction from hers.
“Tell me to stop,” he says again, though his body is already betraying him, already imagining the feel of her mouth on his.
A chorus of whoops and curses shatters their reverie, followed by a thunk and explosive laughter. Fast footsteps. The slap of socked feet on the hardwood floor.
Jake yanks himself back like he’s been burned just as Pavel walks into the kitchen, scratching the back of his neck and heading straight for the fridge. He’s wearing sweats and a stretched-out T-shirt, video game controller dangling from his hand.
He doesn’t look at them at first, too busy rummaging for a drink. Jake sidesteps quickly, putting more distance between them. He stares down at the sink, trying to will away the ache in his cock and the growl in his throat.
Natalie stands frozen against the counter, trying—and failing—not to look guilty as hell.
Pavel finally turns around with a soda can in hand and pauses, eyes flicking between the two of them. His brows lift slightly.
“You… uhh… okay?” he says, gesturing vaguely between them.
Jake clears his throat, voice tight. “Yeah. Just talking.”
Pavel narrows his eyes, suspicious. “You talk very… close.”
Natalie lets out a nervous laugh. “We were—uh—just in the middle of something.”
Pavel pops the tab on the soda and takes a sip, eyeing them both over the rim of the can. “Okay.”
Jake winces. Natalie covers her mouth, looking away.
Pavel shrugs and turns back toward the living room. “I win game. Jesse very mad. Throw controller. Is good time.”
Jake exhales hard as soon as he’s gone, gripping the counter with both hands, staring at the floor.
She’s his teammate’s sister. She’s the one woman he can’t want.
He can’t tell Natalie about the filth running through his head. He can’t tell her that every time she laughs or brushes against him, she’s feeding the fire in his chest. The one that saystake.
“Fuck, I’m an idiot,” he mutters. “That was reckless. I shouldn’t have?—”
He shakes his head, shame crawling up the back of his neck. “I lost control.”
Natalie says nothing. When Jake looks up, she’s watching him, arms folded tightly across her chest.
“Jake—” Natalie starts. “I’m sorry. I wish it were different.”
“But it’s not,” Jake answers softly.
She opens her mouth to speak—then closes it again.
Jake nods slowly. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.” He pushes away from the counter and turns back toward the sink, needing air. Needing distance. But mostly, needing not to want her the way he does.
Natalie lingers for a second longer, as if she might change her mind. But then she turns, hurrying out of the kitchen.
Jake exhales, his fingers curling tight around the edge of the counter as she slips out of sight. Relief should come next—gratitude, even, that they were interrupted before he made a terrible mistake. But all that fills him is the hollow throb of her absence, a dull ache that settles deep and refuses to let go.
CHAPTER 14
