Page 75 of Rookie Attraction

“No,” he snaps. “Don’t.”

“I’m not alone here, am I?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t do that, Sel. Not with me.”

The snap in my voice leaves no misunderstanding. Sel stares at my face like he’s never seen me before. Instead of walking out the door—the safe option, the smart move—the surge of adrenaline has me inching closer to him.

“What are you—” he starts.

“There’s a reason I wanted to spend more time with you. A reason I’ve tried to push away, but I can’t do it.”

“Finn,” he warns.

“I want to kiss you,” I confess boldly. “And I think you want to kiss me too.”

Sel’s eyes widen.

“No you don’t,” he replies quickly. “You’re confused.”

That’s not a denial on his part. Now it’s my turn to shake my head.

“I thought you respected me.”

“I do, Finn. Fuck, I do.”

“Then trust me to know my own mind and my body,” I insist. “I’ve only ever felt this way once before and I know what’s going on. I know what I want and it’s you. Tell me you don’t feel the same.”

“Jesus Christ. What the… what the hell is going on?” he whispers. “A minute ago, you were nervously rambling, and now… and now⁠—”

“Now you’re the one babbling because I’m acting like a bossy shit?”

He closes his eyes and lets his head fall back.

“Yes.”

“You already know that once I set my sights on something, there’s no stopping me. I’m determined as fuck,” I insist. “Give me the truth, Sel. If it’s just me, I’ll walk out this door and we can forget this conversation ever happened. But if it’s not⁠—”

His eyes snap open as he lunges forward, caging me against the opposite wall.

“Yes! Goddamn it, yes, I want you⁠—”

His passionate admission gives me a rush that’s headier than any hockey high, and my dick fills so fast I’m in danger of passing out.

Then I notice he’s shaking.

“But we can’t go there,” he insists. “We can’t.”

The resigned expression in his gaze makes my heart clench. I reach up and cup his face, relishing the sharp inhale he makes in response. His stubble’s rough under my fingertips, his eyes glimmering in the darkness.

“Sel,” I whisper, my thumb tracing his full lower lip.

I never imagined a man’s mouth could be so tempting.

“What?” he sighs.

“We’re already here.”