I disappear down a hallway, deciding at the last second to take the elevator down a floor to a different bathroom, wanting to get as far as possible from Serena so I can catch my breath. But by the time I emerge, I feel even more on edge because I can’t conjure a single thought that’s not of her.
I’m spiraling, completely losing my sanity.
She’s right here, right within reach, and I feel like I’m in a fucking cage with a bit between my teeth.
I can’t talk to her; I can’t touch her.
Sure, the hockey player in me could greet her with a light hug and a smile, but I wouldn’t be able to stop there. Not until her body was flush with mine, my tongue intertwining with hers, showing everyone in the room who she belonged to.
Nothing I ever do with Serena would bejusta touch,justa hug; everything ismore,and I don’t think I could hideit well enough tonight to keep my secret if I got another inch closer to her.
So, instead, I’ll loiter in this hallway until the event starts, keeping myself as far away from her as possible.
That’s a good, rational plan. One that goes out the window not a second later when I look up and find her walking down the long hallway in my direction.
Oh, you have to be kidding me.
Did she hear my thoughts? Did she sense that her proximity nearly had me on my knees?
She’s typing into her phone, not bothering to look up as her heels click down the hallway, growing louder with each step.
My willpower is a goddamn joke tonight, and every stride she takes toward me has me closer and closer to saying,Fuck it, and telling her everything with her pinned against the wall, her delicious, pliable body filling my hands.
Her eyes flick up, genuine shock in her gaze, and she freezes in place. “Oh.” She glances at the wall to my right, where the sign for the women’s restroom hangs. “Excuse me.”
The tips of my fingers twitch as she steps forward, inches from me as her body passes right beside mine.
If I just stretched my hand ever so slightly, I could graze her hip, feel how silky the satin of her dress was.
But I don’t, sucking my cheek between my teeth to stay strong. Blood bursts in my mouth, and I curse under my breath at the sting of pain that follows.
“Fuck.”
Her head swivels back my way, and for a split second, her eyes soften with vulnerability. “What?”
I react with thought, my skin humming beneath her gaze and attention.
“You look so beautiful tonight.” I force my voice to a slightly higher tone than normal, trying to keep my two worlds apart for a little longer. But I fail.
I can’t hide the emotion in my words, meaning them from the deepest parts of my heart, where only she exists.
It’s not the right time, certainly not when we’re at an event with so many people. But even if we were alone right now, I know I wouldn’t tell her the truth because I’m not ready to face it … the fear that comes with taking the mask off.
It’s not just my career on the line—I’d get over that eventually—but my heart too. I’m fucking terrified that she’ll reject me, that I’ll shrink to the floor, breaking apart at the seams, never to recover.
Because that’s what would happen if she shut me out—I’d crawl into a hole and fucking die.
Her lips part, like she’s going to say something, but she doesn’t say anything at all before turning on her heel and disappearing into the women’s restroom.
My body is moving of its own accord—at least, that’s what I’d like to believe as I quickly walk down the hallway she came from and park myself around the corner to wait.
My body is in control because, certainly, my mind would stop myself from being so reckless if it were at the wheel.
I don’t know what I’m going to do or say. Nothing atall would be best. I should run back to the event with my tail between my legs, but I just can’t stop myself.
She’s consuming me whole.
I could grab my mask from its hiding place and slip it on, making good on my words from last night. But I decide against it, not wanting to risk losing her while I would waste time fetching it.
