Page 87 of Rookie Attraction

Sel leans his forehead against mine.

“I should call this off,” he admits with a flush on his face. “Keep my distance. Do the right thing and protect you.”

My body tenses, but Sel doesn’t let go.

“We’re risking a lot,” he continues. “If anyone finds out… You have to know that, Finn.”

“I do. But it doesn’t change how I feel.”

“You say that now⁠—”

Sel pulls me in tight again, notching my head into his neck. I hug him back just as hard, protective and possessive all at once, breathing in his scent. Both of us pant, shaking with need, heady with anticipation. My blood pounds hot, my cock growing so hard it’s painful.

“Sel, you feel so damn good.”

I kick things up a notch by placing a teasing kiss below his ear, licking and sucking his skin, savoring the salty, musky taste that hits my tongue and makes me high. Sel moans my name and nothing’s sounded better.

“You… we… need to… stop,” he warns.

“You’re the one who won’t let go.”

“Finn.”

I ease back and Sel looks like he wants to devour me. I’m more than ready for it, and ready to return the favor.

“You have no idea what you’re about to unleash,” Sel confesses. “Want you so bad, and I’m intense when it comes to sex.”

“I can’t wait.”

Sel squeezes me one last time and cups my face in his rough hands, staring into my eyes with a look that I can’t define. There’s heat and longing and… something else. Something like fear?

“But maybe it’s best that we do. That we wait.”

“Because we’ve got a game to win tomorrow. But as soon as we get back to New York—” I offer.

His pained expression makes me pause.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I hate to say this but… waiting a few days will be good, yeah? You might change your mind.” Sel shakes his head before I can utter a protest. “I mean it, Finn. There’s a lot to consider. If you’ve never been with a guy before⁠—”

My defensive instinct rears up. “I know what I want.”

“You’ve discovered something new about your sexuality, which is amazing, but this is all kinds of complicated. We work together, and hockey players are under a lot of pressure and public scrutiny. If people find out⁠—”

“What the fuck, Sel? It seems like you’re the one who’s questioning, not me.”

“I’m trying to think of what’s best for you.” He pauses. “And there’s something else to consider. I just came out of the closet, and honestly, I didn’t foresee going back in.”

That’s exactly what we’d be doing. Or what Sel would be doing with me. Not like what it would be with some other guy who’s already out. Someone who isn’t his teammate. Someone like that football player he’s been set up with. It hits me like a bucket of icy Gatorade; this isn’t about me and my wants. I need to think of Sel first. I’m shivering thanks to reality biting me on the ass.

Luckily, I manage to speak past the lump in my throat. “Maybe you’re right.”

Did I really believe this could happen between us? That he’d want to risk his job to have sex with me?

“I better go,” I whisper.

Sel steps back as I pull away, and I don’t like the separation. Forcing my feet to move, I slowly head for the door.