Page 71 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“I want to know everything, Hails. I want to know about your past.” Her eyes slam closed, but I don’t stop. “I want to know everything about your life right now, and I want to hear all your hopes and dreams for the future.”

“You don’t. You don’t want all that.”

Irritation tightens my muscles, but I force it away again because I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to keep control, trying to keep her walls up.

“I want everything, Hails.” I lift my free hand and gently tap the side of her head. “I want everything that’s in here. And”—I let my hand drop, resting it over her heart, loving the way I can feel it pounding beneath her ribs against my palm— “everything that’s in here.”

“We can’t, Hayden.”

“Why? Give me one good reason why we can’t,” I demand as I spin her around, pushing her back against the wall and pressing my leg between hers, ensuring she can’t run. Not that she can go anywhere.

A self-deprecating laugh tumbles from her lips.

“A million reasons. Because we work together. Because I’m too old for you. Because you’re too good for me. Because⁠—”

“Kiss me,” I demand, cutting her off.

“What?” She blinks up at me, her amber eyes glittering with so much gold.

“You heard me. You want to be in control? Take it. I’m handing it over. All of it.”

A second passes. And then another and another.

Convinced she’s about to turn me down, I prepare myself to step back and do whatever I can to push everything that’s happened in here behind me.

But then her hands land on my chest and I swear my heart stops beating as they slide upwards.

“Hails.”

“No talking,” she demands, and my lips immediately snap closed.

“Do you mean it?”

I nod. I’m not entirely sure what I’m agreeing to, but if she’s going to keep touching me, I’ll agree to anything.

“Anything,” I rasp when she doesn’t respond.

Her eyes hold mine, her tongue peeking out and dragging across her bottom lip.

Fire burns through me. I swear to God, I’m going to fucking combust if she doesn’t do something soon.

But then, she stretches up on her toes, her small hands fisting my shirt. Her breath tickles over my lips a beat before her lips brush against mine.

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck.

Snaking my arm around her, I pin her against me, helping her stretch up as our lips part. Her tongue finds mine, and I’m about to throw myself headfirst into everything this woman is willing to give me when the ground beneath our feet shifts.

“Oh shit,” she gasps, pulling back, her eyes wide. “We’re…we’re moving.”

She shoves at my chest, and I have little choice but to stumble back.

“Oh my god. Fuck. Shit. That⁠—”

“You’re freaking out,” I point out as the screen begins to count down the floors.

“No, I’m not.”