I kept my face as impassive as possible, shrugging. “It was something to do.”
Preston chuckled under his breath as I laid the precious cap on the nightstand.
“I’m surprised you had time for such a long trip. For a football game, no less.”
Something in the undertone of his voice had me suddenly on alert.
“As far as I was aware, you’ve had your hands full with the most important case of your career.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, straightening my spine so he wouldn’t notice the pang of fear his tone sent through me. “I’ve been putting everything I have into this case.”
He glowered as he ate up the space between us.
I forced myself not to flinch back as he plucked at my jersey, the worn fabric straining as he did so.
“Doesn’t seem like it,” he said, his voice a soft hiss. “You seem…distracted, Carpenter.”
My cheeks heated. I gave him my hardest glare, but I was only met with a smirk.
“I am not distracted, Preston,” I said, tone as icy as my stare.
Preston’s smirk widened. “No?” he said.
I realized for the first time just how close he was as he leaned in. The potent smell of his cologne burned my nose.
“Do youwantto be?” He ran a hand along my shoulder and up the side of my neck. The entire mood shifted.
I bit back a cringe as he fisted the hair at the nape of my neck, forcing my face up toward his. I snapped my jaw closed tight, but I knew that look on his face. His eyes were like hot coals, hungry and wanting.
My knees started to tremble.
“It’s been a long time, Quinn,” he whispered in my ear, his minty breath sending chills down my spine. “I think I’ve almost forgotten what you taste like.”
I didn’t have a chance to protest before his mouth was on mine, kissing me so hard I flinched.
I froze, my body locking up as my mind spiraled into panic.
Preston and I had been together before. I knew how this worked. I knew howheworked. I had always known what was expected of me in moments like this, and I had taken on that duty because of where I wanted to go in my career.
Earning his favor had its benefits, like getting placed on the biggest cases. Like I was now.
But somehow, things were different.
As Preston’s lips moved over mine, hard and demanding, I couldn’t force myself to reciprocate. I couldn’t make a muscle move. This was all blaringly not worth it.
Preston didn’t seem dissuaded by my reaction to him—or lack of one. He kept going, kept taking. His hands moved down from my hair and started tugging at my jacket. My pulse spiked even more, and the moment his lips moved from my mouth, biting and sucking nauseatingly down my neck, I gasped.
Breathe. I needed to breathe.
Though I’d been practicing the breath techniques Graham had taught me, I couldn’t focus. It was too much.
I froze.
“P-Preston,” I stuttered, my wobbling lips fumbling the words. “You need to stop.”
He didn’t seem to hear me, though, as he finally tugged off my jacket and started pulling at the hem of my jersey. I cried out as he bit down on the juncture of my neck and shoulder so hard pain lanced across my skin.
The sound of tearing broke through my frozen, shocked mind. I jerked back and looked down. His hand was fisted into the bottom of the jersey; a large rip in the fabric made it hang loose as he tried to get it off of me.
