Page 67 of Total Shutdown

“Baby,” I whisper into her hair, “I gotta head to skate.”

She shifts, releasing a muffled yawn that fans across my chest.

Jesus Christ, I’m so done for.

“Like, right now?”

The hand resting on my stomach descends toward my naked lower half, and I roll over to face her, cupping her bare ass in my palm and pulling up so we’re face-to-face, heads resting on the same pillow.

“I have a few minutes to spare.”

Collins wraps her leg over mine, asking me to come closer even though we’re only inches apart.

“Do you know how different this morning looks from the first time I had you in my bed?”

She giggles softly, happiness radiating from her. “Yeah, well, this time, the sex was at least an eight.”

“You’re going to be the death of me—you know that?” I say, kissing her shoulder. “Either that or you’re going to make me really late for skate.”

She palms my already-hard dick. “What can I do to convince you to fuck me again?”

An incredulous laugh bursts out of me, and I roll on top of her, bracketing her head between my forearms. “Baby, you’ve already got me wrapped around every finger you possess. If you can convince my coach that his captain’s time is better spent working out with his girl in bed, then I’ll slide inside you right now.”

Maybe I’m still drunk on lust or semiconscious from the best sleep I’ve ever had, but when the wordshis girlleave my mouth, her eyes bug out.

I pull back a couple of inches, trying to work out what’s going through her head. “I … I didn’t mean to assume you and I are—shit, I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself for a second.”

You call her your girl just in your head, Sawyer.

Her eyes scan my face. She doesn’t look freaked out, but I can tell there’s something eating at her.

“Are you going to Jack and Kendra’s tonight?” Collins switches the subject, and I feel a combination of relief and anxiety, wondering what she’s thinking.

Still hovering above her, I kiss the end of her nose. “That was the plan, although Ezra spent last night with Alyssa and Dom and will stay there again tonight, so I want to spend some time with him today.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to invite her out with us when she clears her throat and the spell of last night is broken.

She looks around the room—maybe for a way out, possibly for her clothes. I’m not sure. All I know is, I’m not ready for her to leave.

“Are you going tonight?” I ask, feeling like a teenager asking if his crush is going to the school dance.

Collins looks at me like that’s exactly how I sound—a lovesick puppy desperate to know when he’ll see her again.

“I am, but I have to work overtime today at the garage, so I might be late.”

“Want me to pick you up?” I rush out. “From work, your place, wherever you’re going to be?”

She cups my face, a smile pulling at her lips. “I can make my own way to Kendra’s, although”—she pauses and smirks—“if you’re a good boy, I might let you give me a ride home.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

SAWYER

“I’m so fucking proud of you, Kitten. I genuinely can’t think of anyone more deserving of their place on Team USA, and I know you’re going to kill it.”

Standing in front of the fireplace in their living area, Jack sets a kiss on his girlfriend’s forehead. The entire friend group is here—me, Collins, Jenna, and Archer.

Jenna pumps her fist in the air, ready to make a run toward Kendra, but Jack holds his hand up, asking her to wait a second.