Hooking - Kristine Allen Page 0,21

to watch you and Halvorson play since I’d be working closely with you both

I winced at how ridiculous that sounded.

Alexander: Ouch. And here I thought maybe you couldn’t resist my charm

A smile crept over my face. He really was pretty charming when he wasn’t being cocky, but even when he was cocky, he was sexy as hell.

Me: What charm would that be?

Teasing him had me feeling a little giddy, and it shouldn’t. Because I shouldn’t be encouraging him. We had to work together.

Alexander: Double ouch

Me: How do I know this is really you?

Alexander: Every surface of my room at the Four Seasons

My face heated and between my legs tingled. That fast. Lying frozen on my bed staring at my screen, I was unable to reply.

Alexander: Give me your phone number so I can call you?

Me: Alex, I don’t know if that’s smart.

Alexander: Please?

I debated. It was probably the dumbest thing I could do, but I found myself sending him my number.

I’d barely hit the send button before my phone was ringing. Nervously, I glanced at my closed door. My parents had gone to bed earlier, but I didn’t want them to hear me talking to Alex.

“Hello?” I answered softly. God, I needed my own place.

“Sydney.” My name sounded like a prayer coming from his mouth, and it sent my insides flipping crazily. No matter how bad of an idea I tried to tell myself this was, I reveled in the sexy rasp of his voice coming through my phone. It was definitely the real Alex.

“Alex, I told you we couldn’t have a relationship.”

“Who said anything about a relationship?” It was my turn to think ouch. Which then had me questioning whether I was capable of having a strictly sexual relationship with him even if we weren’t employed by the same franchise. It wasn’t my norm, but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t at least tempted.

I sighed. “Alex, why are you calling me?”

“Can I come over?” No sweet words or placating bullshit.

“No!” The thought of him showing up at my parents’ door was enough to bring me to the side of my bed. My feet hit the floor, and I began to pace. “Why would you want to come over at this time of night anyway?”

“Because I want a repeat of that night.” He had no shame whatsoever. Brutally to the point.

“Oh my God. Alex,” I said as my body rebelled against my protestations. My heart was working overtime, wetness pooled between my legs to the point my inner thighs were damp, I trembled, and my voice wavered.

“I’d be willing to bet you’re already wet for me.” His sultry tone poured through the line like warm honey. My face was on fire, and I was thankful he couldn’t see me at that moment.

“Alex, you can’t talk to me like that.”

“Why not? Would you rather I discuss the weather? Maybe lie to you?”

“No, but I’m not losing my job because of your craziness. Besides, we don’t really know each other.”

“Now there’s where I’d have to disagree with you. I’d say we know each other very well and in the most important way—the biblical sense.” A smile was evident in the tone of his voice. My hand palmed my face as I growled in frustration.

“That doesn’t mean we actually know each other. That just means we fucked,” I bluntly announced.

“Stop talking dirty to me. You’re getting me all worked up, and you’re probably going to leave me hanging. Am I right?” His voice sounded suddenly pained, and I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out.

“I’m not going to see you tonight,” I firmly agreed. If I was honest, the biggest reason was because I was living in my parents’ home. The problem with that was it should’ve been because I knew it was wrong and would end badly.

He sighed. “You’re killing me here, Syd.”

“Oh, please. I’m sure a big hockey star like you could easily find someone to join you in bed. You certainly don’t need me.” Though I sounded confident, as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I hated them. I hated the truth in them, and I hated how badly it hurt to think of him finding someone else to screw.

It shouldn’t, because we were nothing to each other. Any relationship between us was likely forbidden. Yet the thought of him with someone else the way he’d been with me that night made my stomach churn.

Stupid, because I wasn’t the only woman he’d been with,