Page 69 of Tempting the Player
OMG please tell me he’s moving in. Felix will lose his mind. He hasn’t stopped talking about Hendrick since he met him at our party.
Me
No, not exactly. He has a family thing going on, so I’m crashing at his place for the rest of the week.
No new messages come in for so long I question if my last message sent. Then it’s a barrage of messages all at once.
Dahlia
YOU’RE MOVING IN WITH HIM?! OMG.
Daisy
Violet
I am so here for this. You and your hottie bodyguard shacked up together.
Me
It’s just for a few days. And I’ve barely seen him this morning even though we’re under the same roof.
About an hour ago he said he was going to work out and went into the garage. Flynn is in his room with the music going, but otherwise the house is completely silent. Knox is at work, Brogan and Archer on campus.
Dahlia
The circumstances are shitty, but I’m thankful you have him.
Daisy
Ditto. Let us know if you need anything. <3
When the messages die down, I set my phone on the table and decide to wander around a bit. Hendrick cleaned up this morning, so I can see a little more of the house. The kitchen, living and dining rooms are all open. It’s not a huge house, but the ceilings are tall and it feels very airy and open. There’s a loft above the dining room, but the stairs to get up there look a little rickety so I don’t venture up.
The bedrooms are all on the first floor, along with a bathroom. Hendrick’s room is the closest to the living room, sort of in the middle of the others.
I’m bored already. I’m not used to so much alone time. All my professors were really cool about me doing my classes online for the week, though. A silver lining.
I’m inching toward the garage, listening for Hendrick as I step quietly. Access is off the kitchen and the dishwasher is going. The thing is seriously loud. I saw Knox kick it several times to get it going this morning.
When I’m close enough I could reach out and grab the doorknob, I lean forward and listen closer for any sound of him. Is he just sitting out there to avoid being in the same room with me?
I get my answer when the door unexpectedly flies open. I jump back in time not to get smacked in the face, but Hendrick is moving forward and doesn’t see me until it’s too late. We collide.
My face is buried in his bare, sweaty chest, and his arms circle my waist to keep me upright.
“Shit, sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I rest my hands on his biceps to steady myself. He’s slick with sweat everywhere. He definitely wasn’t just sitting out there then.
When he pulls back, I’m flushed and out of sorts and I can’t stop staring at his chest. “I was bored and checking out the house, then I thought I’d come see what you were up to.”
He stands in front of me, hands on his hips now. The pose pulls his athletic shorts down slightly, revealing a hint of black boxer briefs. My body always has a strong reaction to Hendrick, but I’m damn near panting as hard as him. Staring at him should be a sport. I’d place first every single time.
* * *
As soon as I’m done with classes, I text with the girls some more and then do a little reading in front of the TV. I have claimed the remote and banned ESPN from playing non-stop. I swear it’s the same five stories repeated all day long.
