“Tate,” she whispered against his lips.

Tate shook his head, reconnecting their lips with desperate need, but just as he went to deepen the kiss again, she pulled back once more.

“Tate, please stop,” she whispered again. His body was on fire, the last thing he wanted to do was stop but he wouldn’t force her into anything. He pulled back, letting her go as he tried to catch his breath. She was breathing just as hard as she ran her hands down her face. When she glanced over at him, his heart stopped. Her face was flushed, her lips were swollen a deep shade of red and, man, she was beyond sexy. Forcing himself to turn away, he took in a deep breath.

“I’m not going to apologize, Audrey. I want you. It’s not a secret,” he said quietly.

She paused before she said, “I kissed Levi today, Tate. I can’t kiss you after I kissed him. That’s wrong, and I threw my slut card away, remember?”

The air rushed out of Tate as he tried to process the information she was giving him. Why was she with him? He glanced back at her over his shoulder, “I thought you were done with him.”

“He came to the office today and tried to get me back,” she whispered.

“So you are with him?” Tate asked, his heart jack hammering against his chest.

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem, Audrey?” Tate said turning to look at her.

“We are friends, Tate, remember? It doesn’t matter how much I want you or you want me, we can’t do this. It isn’t right.”

Tate’s face scrunched up, he didn’t understand, “Why? It feels right to me.”

“Because I’m not the girl for you, believe me. We have a great time together, we do, and yes, I am very much attracted to you, Tate. Just take my word on this; I’m not the girl for you.”

Tate shook his head, “I don’t agree with you.”

Audrey’s shoulders slumped and she brought her legs back up to her chest. “I can only be friends with you, Tate. I’m sorry. I care about you too much to be anything more.”

How in the world did that make sense?

They sat in silence for what seemed like hours, when it was only minutes. He didn’t know what to say to change her mind. He wanted her to agree with him, to feel what he felt. She could forget this asshat and be with him. What was he doing wrong? How could she not see that they were made for each other? They had a blast together. Maybe she needed more time, but how could he be around her and not kiss her? Could he give her the time she needed?

Looking back over his shoulder at her, he knew his answer.

“Okay,” he said folding his hands above his head, “I would rather be friends, then nothing.”

“Tate, that’s not fair to you,” she said sadly.

“Didn’t you just say ‘Life isn’t fair’? I’ll deal and hope that one day, you will come around. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Her face softened and she looked down at her knees, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth, “Someone will come along, Tate, you are a super great guy.”

And she was the girl for him.

“I’m not going to stop, Audrey. If I see a chance to snatch you up and make you mine, I will.”

She looked over at him and smiled, “There won’t be a chance.”

“We’ll see about that,” he said standing up, “so are we still on for tomorrow?”

She stood up too, moving her hands down the front of her shorts, nodding slowly, “Swamp People marathon, same time, I’ll cook dinner.”

“Awesome, I have practice early, so I have to go.”

“Alright,” she said, following him towards the door. He put his jacket and hat over his arm, before looking over at her. He reached out with one arm, wrapping it around her shoulders to bring her close to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his stomach, hugging him tight. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she pulled back, not looking up at him.

“See you,” he said as he went out the door to his condo. He reached into his jeans and pulled out his keys to open his door. When he glanced over to where Audrey stood watching him, he smiled.

“Night, Audrey.”

A small smile came across her face as she leaned against the door, “Night, Tate. I’m really sorry.”

Tate nodded, “Everything is going to work out.”

Walking into his condo, he shut the door behind him and threw his stuff onto the couch before going to the fridge for another beer. Popping the top, he leaned against his fridge and gulped down the cold refreshing brew. Tate wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t going to stop trying. She may think there wouldn’t be a chance, but there would be. There was always a chance to score. After tonight, Tate knew that there would never be anyone like Audrey. He had to have her, and would treat his conquest of her as he would when he was in goal.

Nothing would stand in his way.

Nothing was getting past him.

And then he would protect her heart, like he did his goal.

Chapter 12

“I want you, Audrey, so much.”

Audrey lengthened her neck, giving him more access as her hands moved across his back to his bottom. She pressed herself against him, using her hands to press him harder into her. His impressive, hard length made Audrey gasp as she tightened her grip into his bottom. He moved one hand into her hair, kissing her deeply while the other slid slowly into her panties. Dipping his finger inside her, she gasped into his mouth as she arched her body towards his hand. She was dripping with want, and the smile against her lips told her that he loved it.