She smirked faintly, taking another shot, finally flinching before she sucked on the lime. “Alright, Fraser. My turn. What’s your biggest turn-on?”
I nearly choked. Straight to the sexually-charged questions, then. “Fucking hell,Dubois.”
Her smile deepened. What a mischievous little brat. “Answer the question.”
I shifted, my jeans suddenly too tight, my thoughts too vivid. “The way someone looks right before they break. That split second where they’re fighting it—and losing.”
Her breath hitched. So did mine.
“And?” she asked, voice softer now but no less dangerous. “If I hadn’t opened the door in Miami—what would you have done?”
Boom. Time stopped.
The world went silent. No bar. No lights. Just her.
My fingers twitched like they needed to be on her—any part of her—now.I curled them into a fist, refraining. I stared at her parted lips, soft and waiting. The shift between us was charged, desperate, and brutally honest.
“I didn’t come for a maybe,” I said slowly. “But I would’ve left if you told me to.” I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “But you didn’t. You opened the door, Auri.You let me in.You wanted it as much as I did.”
Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her glass again, but she didn’t lift it. Neither of us moved.
Before I could stop myself, I added, “As much as Ido.”
Silence stretched. Our breathing synced. Her lashes fluttered, her gaze falling to my mouth—then snapping back up, and fuck, I needed her.
She swallowed, voice unsteady. “Your turn again.”
“What’s your favorite color?” I asked, shifting away from dangerous territory as I tipped another shot back. I'd rather feel blissfully numb instead of furiously horny in case tonight didn’t go the way I hoped it would.
She blinked. “What?”
“Color. You know—simple question, low stakes. Trying to give us a break before one of us spontaneously combusts.” I paused. Then, more softly, “Should I ask it in French?Quelleest tacouleurpréférée?”
Auréliegasped, not answering right away—just gawking at me as though I’d peeled back a layer she wasn’t ready to bare. Maybe seeing me differently now. I didn’t know if it was the accent, or the fact that I’d said it at all. But it did something to her.
And yeah—I was almost fluent in French. I’d been holding this card close. I had also been paying attention to her. Always to her.
Finally, when her brain seemed to catch up, she snorted. She shook her head, hair moving around her in a mesmerizing way. “Pink.”
“Pink?” I repeated, laughing. “I’ve never seen you wear pink. Well, except forpre-seasontesting. And Miami.”
Her cheeks turned rosy, and I wondered if it was from my words or the alcohol. I hoped it was me. “So, basically, youhaveseen me wear pink. I’m just usually in my team kit. But, I will say, almost all of my underwear is pink.”
I froze, the laugh catching in my throat as her words sank in. “Is that so?” I murmured, my voice dropping an octave. Then again… the bra she was wearing when I showed up at her room in Miami had been pink…
The air between us grew warmer, the banter shifting once again into something charged. I forgot how to breathe when my eyes dipped down to her low-cut black spaghetti-strap top, where I spotted palepink lace adorning her breasts. I swallowed, knowing I was close to losing my grip.
Her next question broke the silence, drawing my attention away from the danger of her cleavage. “What’s your biggest regret?”
“Not saying yes when I should have,” I said, impressed my brain was still functioning. “What about you?”
“Letting other people’s doubts get in my head,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.
I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. So instead, I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, letting my fingers trail down her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. Her skin was hot to the touch. I wanted to grab handfuls of her, pull her into me, kiss her senseless and then fuck her into the middle of next week. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder, take her upstairs, and remind her exactly what she’d been running from for weeks.
I wanted to ruin her so thoroughly she’d forget anyone came before me.
I didn’t move my hand right away. I physically couldn't. Not when she looked like that—when she let me touch her the way I have. Her gaze dropped to my mouth, and I swore the entire bar disappeared around us.
