Page 93 of Hard Pass

I exhale sharply.

Yeah. That helped.

Why don’t we talk about sports growing up?

That’s a hard no. Not going there.

I turn the corner—and stop. Dublin. She’s standing halfway down the hallway talking to our film coordinator. Professional and composed, her demeanor the same as every other time I’ve seen her here at the Rebels facility.

And just like most other times, I’ve wanted to strip her of that armor . . . like I did the other night.

She glances over and our eyes lock.

And I’m immediately back in my bedroom.

Her head tipped back, neck arched.

Her breath catching on a moan.

Her hands gripping my shoulders like she didn’t know how to let go.

The feel of her pussy wrapped tight around me.

“Hey, Valor.”

I blink. Hard. Reality snaps back into place and I look away immediately. If I don’t, if I let myself stand here even a second longer, I’m going to walk over there. Say something. Do something.

Hell, I almost called her this morning. I had my phone in my hand, her name right there. All I had to do was hit call.

I didn’t. She said this couldn’t happen. And for once, I listened. Sure it was against my better judgment and left me with a raging hard-on . . . but Christ, will the woman get out of my goddamn head already? This is pure torture.

“Earth to Valor?”

I shake my head and look the opposite way of Dublin to the hulk of a man calling my name.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“They need you on the field in ten. Coach is already out there,” our kicker Dionte says.

“Yeah. Heading there now. Gotta stop by my locker first.”

As I catch up to him, he looks over my shoulder.

“Damn,” he mutters. “That her? The investigator lady?”

“Mm-hmm.” I don’t trust myself to look.

“She’s . . .” He whistles low. “If I had someone like that digging into my life, I’d be giving her full access.” He chuckles, his intention more than understood.

My jaw tightens. “Shut up.”

He laughs, backing off like it’s nothing.

But it isn’t nothing. She’s not just some other woman. And that thought alone should be a problem. Women have never been that complicated for me. I want. I take. I walk away when it’s done or run its course. No overthinking.

Clean.

Easy.