I can’t even remember how to breathe.
“Excuse me. I need to run to the restroom,” I say, making a beeline down the hallway.
As soon as the bathroom door closes behind me, I brace my hands on the sink and let out a breath. My hands are shaking, and I need to pull it together beforeI’mthe one who fucks this up. Connor’s trusting me, and although I don’t share his rule-following gene, Idoknow what it’s like to not want to disappoint someone. Especially the two people I care about. Who are currently in the same room and are on opposite sides of the fence about whatever is happening between Connor and me.
I lose track of how long I’ve been in here when there’s a knock on the door.
After one more deep breath, I open the door only to find Connor on the other side, holding my gin andtonic.
“Did you wash your hands? There’s no water in the sink,” he says with a smile after a pregnant silence passes between us.
Reaching back for the handle, I flip it on for a few seconds so it coats the inside of the sink bowl.
“Happy?”
“Hardly,” Connor deadpans.
I take a large swallow of the drink, watching Connor the entire time.Hewatches my throat. Dropping my voice, I whisper, “At least you got thehardpart right.” We stare at each other for another couple of breaths, doing an absolutely shit job at hiding our desire.
“We should get back to the others,” I say, leaning in closer.
“Not yet.” Connor catches my forearm and drags me further down the hall away from the kitchen/living room combo, into the doorway of Grey’s office, which is visible from the front door.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask, already frustrated at how my body is responding to this stolen moment with him, knowing it’ll still be hours before we’re alone.
“You once told me to pick a lane, Vox. This is me, picking,” he confesses, placing his hands on my chest. “I’m choosingyou.And right now, I need to touch you simply because I can.”
Chapter 26
Connor
For the last few days, I’ve tried to think about anything else. I’ve tried to rewire my brain into accepting my role as Vox’s coach. One last-ditch effort before I ruin everything with the feelings I’ve developed for him. It was the perfect time. He was busy; the team was gone, and I could sort my shit out with minimal distractions.
But the conclusion I reached is anything but easy. Every solo ride I took down the mountain, I wanted him with me, keeping me calm. Every workout I did, I wanted him next to me, talking shit. I even went to see Sam, who picked up on my sour mood and basically kicked me out, saying what I needed wasn’t in his house.
No kidding. What Ineedis for Vox to bend me the fuck over and rail me until I lose consciousness.
Vox gently removes my hands from his chest. “Of course you can touch me. You have the only all-access pass, baby…just maybe not here.”
“This is going to be complicated,” I say, stating the obvious.
Before Vox can answer, Grey’s voice echoes through the hallway.
“Vox? Connor?”
Without missing a beat, Vox yells, “In here, Grey.” As Grey makes his way toward us, Vox’s hand connects with my lower back, guiding me to a bookshelf with a trophy and a framed photograph of a young Vox standing on the podium.
When Grey enters the room, he chuckles. “I wondered how long it would take you to find your way in here.”
Vox gives him a tight, tired smile. “You know I can’t resist.”
Grey steps between us, and I fight the urge to bite his head off for interrupting.
“Vox’s first first-place finish on the junior professional circuit,” Grey says, the pride clear in his tone.
“That’s a big deal. Shouldn’t that trophy be inyourapartment?” I ask Vox automatically, not pausing to think how rude that sounds.
Grey cuts his eyes at me as Vox answers.
