Page 33 of The Draft
“Trying to stop your delusional thinking.”
“Delusional thinking?” I pouted my bottom lip out, pretending to be stronger in my conviction than I was. This was right. We both needed this. Dash just needed a little push, and I was more than happy to provide one. “Maybe you need to think outside of the net for once.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Delusional thinking is at ten years old imagining you can make it to the NHL against so many other people. Delusional thinking is believing that you and your best friend will be able to play for the same team for the restof your lives. Delusional thinking has gotten you further in life than you think. Do you really call the chemistry between us delusional? Because the way your hand gripped me earlier says otherwise. You feel it. I know you do.”
Dash made an incoherent noise. Not unusual for him, but the way his lips were pressed together made me think I might have been winning him over.
“One night, Dash. Get me out of your system. I’ll get you out of mine, and we can move on with our lives. No one has to know. Not even Cade. You can go on like normal because all of that tension between us will disappear.”
“How much did you drink with Cade before you came in here?”
“Nothing. I’m sober as a nun, and I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Dash stood. I was losing him, but I was a fighter, and I wasn’t going to give up. Not when what I wanted was in reach. He wanted me. I felt it in that kiss.
I just needed this. For my own sanity.
Pushing myself off the vanity, I jumped in front of the bathroom door before he could get to it. Dash nearly stumbled into me when I created a human-sized barrier to this conversation ending. In this position, he was towering over me, watching me in disbelief. I was lost for words. “Dash. Please.”
He was silent, but when his hands swept across my shoulders and I felt tingles, there was a tiny bit of hope that he was about to make all my dreams come true.
He bent down, his face coming closer to mine. I was losing my breath and my sanity the longer he made me wait.
“Madison. This isn’t happening. You’re Cade’s sister.”
His eyes softened as my chest heaved.
Cade. Cade. Cade.
He was always talking about Cade, but when was he going to shut up and finally talk about me?
I glared at him, trying to silently communicate that, but he didn’t get it. I was losing hope, but I just had to try one more time.
“If that’s your only excuse for not going through with it, then it’spathetic.” He moved back, almost surprised at my outburst. I seemed to be doing that a lot with him recently. Maybe I was just tired of sitting around, waiting for something to happen with him. “That feeling in the pit of your chest whenever you think about me, I have it too.”
Dash trained his eyes to the floor, and that was when I knew I was going in the right direction.
“This tension won’t end between us unless we get it out of our system.”
“So you keep saying.”
Dash could easily pick me up and move me out of the way if he wanted to, but he hadn’t. He chose to stand, hovering over me, giving me that sexy, snarly scowl and expecting my panties not to get wet over it.
“You’re his best friend. His teammate. You’re going to be around him forever. Therefore, you’re going to be aroundmeforever. What’s worse? Having to explain why there’s all this sexual tension between us, or getting rid of it, so we can be normal with each other?” His jaw was tight, and I felt his fingers flex against my shoulders, almost like he agreed.
“Let me think about it over the next few days.”
“No.” I was adamant it had to happen tonight, otherwise it wouldn’t happen at all. I wasn’t stupid. I knew that Dash was acting on instinct and with his dick right now. If his brain got involved and started thinking about the consequences, nothing would happen, and I’d forever wonder what could have been.
“Tonight. Give us one night. Get me out of your system.”
His breath was labored now, but I let it sink in because my logic was starting to make sense. So much so that even I believed it was the best course of action. If we got it out of the way, then maybe we could both move on from it. Not that I wanted to move on, but again, if all I was supposed to be was a ‘hit and quit’ then I’d take it.
Dash’s hands were still curled around my arms, and I laughed to myself because here I was again, pinned to a door, waiting for him to make a move. It wasn’t going to happen, so I needed to take destiny into my own hands. Cupping his cheeks, I stood on my toes and brushed my nose against his. “You’ve already kissed me.”
Slowly, I swept my nose across his face until I got to his cheek, then I kissed the corner of his lips. His body tensed, but he didn’t move me away.Again, a good sign. Moving to his other side, I kissed the corner of his mouth. Still no movement, but I persevered. “It will be our little secret,” I whispered before swiping my tongue across my lips, preparing to kiss Dash one final time.