Page 48 of Don't Fall for the Goalie

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And that’s... scary as hell.

13

DALTYN

I pace the floors again, too afraid to sleep.

It’s stupid to be afraid of nightmares.

Even worse, they’re about my past. Something that can’t hurt me anymore, but I’ve never truly escaped it.

I already know another one’s coming tonight. Gram’s bullshit comments about Peyton and me building some fantasy life together triggered something in me.

But it’s not just that. It’s the ease with which Peyton and I functioned tonight. She helped me put away the groceries while we exchanged looks about Gram. Then we made dinner together and followed it up by watching a movie.

It was nice. Easy. Relaxing.

And that’s the problem.

I can’t fall for her. No good will come from it.

I get up and turn on the shower. Maybe that will help me sleep.

Water beads over my skin as I step beneath the warm spray. But instead of a clear head, Peyton’s beautiful facerolls through my mind. And the text where she called me “sir” follows. My dick instantly hardens.

“No,” I tell it. “Absolutely not.”

He ignores me.

I grab the body wash. “Seriously. We arenotdoing this.”

He stands at attention like he’s daring me.

“We’re not.”

I grit my teeth, picturing Peyton in my sweatshirt and those damn black panties.

And my cock gets exactly what it wants as I wrap my hand around him.

This will relax me.

Help me sleep.

Keep the nightmares away.

That’s enough to let my mind wander back to Key West.

The storm rolled in the distance, and Peyton was scared. Though I let her have the bed and was curled up on the floor, her whimper had me sitting up. She rolled over and found my eyes in the darkness.

“Please. Hold me.”

I was already crawling onto the bed, seeing that panic in her eyes again. I hated it. Wanted it gone.

She curled up against me, and I tried to ignore how well she fit against me. How right she felt in my arms.

We focused on her breathing until she settled down.

I’m not sure exactly when it happened. Maybe when the two of us were breathing together. Maybe it was the warmth of her petite body against mine.

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