Mr. Swoony (The Nest #3)

Chapter 31

Thirty-One

Eloise

“They say I’m going to win the Hart Award this year. It’s like the most valuable player award. I almost got it last year, but I’ve been working my ass off this summer to make sure I get it next.”

Rigby, I think he said his name was, has barely let me get a word in since he introduced himself.

“You said your name is Eloise, right?”

“Yeah.” I sip my wine.

“Family name, I presume?”

“Yes, my gr?—”

“My name is a family name too. Technically, I’m a third, but that sounds so pretentious, you know? My grandpa wasn’t happy, said I should be proud to be a third. I’m not sure if I told you, but I’m from the South. Where did you say you’re from?”

“Chica—”

“Chicago. Do you like it there? I play in Nashville. I’m not sure I could handle the weather in the Windy City.” He sips his drink.

“I should go.” I thumb toward the room, not motioning to anything specific, but it hits a hard chest.

I turn to look over my shoulder, and Conor wraps his arm around my waist, tucking me into his side.

“Rigby,” he says, extending his free arm for a handshake.

“Nilsen.” Rigby shakes Conor’s hand, but his gaze veers to where Conor’s fingers wrap around my hip.

Oh god, does Conor really think I’d go for this guy?

“I see you met Eloise,” Conor says, voice neutral.

I drain the rest of my wine. “I need a refill.” I slide out of Conor’s arms.

“I’ll get you one. Come on.” Conor takes my empty glass. “Have a great year, Rigby.”

“I’m sure you’ll see me. Well, you’ll see my cellys after my pucks get by you.”

Conor huffs, stops, and circles to face him. I place my hand in his free one. Conor stares Rigby down for a second, then gives him a cocky smile. “Can’t wait.”

He doesn’t let Rigby bait him, which I’m glad about. The last thing I want is another fight breaking out to defend my honor.

“Come on. Let’s get you a drink.” Conor tugs me forward.

Once we’re a good distance from Rigby, I pull him into the corner of the room, not interested in another drink. “What are you doing?”

He looks behind him, grabs my hand, and walks us out the doors of the ballroom.

“Conor…”

He doesn’t stop until we’re at the end of the hall. Whirling me around, his hands fall to my hips to stop me. “I’m an idiot. I was being stupid.”

“Okay.”

Conor cocks his head to the side. “No objection?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

He chuckles softly. “I guess I deserve that.” He doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Listen, after I spied on you at the restaurant, Jade forced me to go to her house.”

My forehead wrinkles. “Why?”

“Because she thought I wouldn’t be able to give you space. And she was probably right. I would’ve tried to check something off your list, or take you drinking, or turn you on by smoking a cigarette.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, the smoking thing can end anytime now.”

He gives me one of his wicked smiles that makes my body go all tingly.

“She also mentioned that if I push too hard, too fast, I’ll be your rebound. Just your rebound.”

It all connects now. Why he’s been so hands off and distant and why I feel as if I’ve been the one trying to drag us over the line with him kicking and screaming the whole time.

He takes my hands and squeezes. “I really hope this doesn’t scare you off, but I’ve never felt this way before.” He releases one of my hands and places his palm over his heart. “This chemistry. This desire. And it’s not just sexual before you say that. It’s more. So much more that I can’t explain. So, I don’t want to be your rebound guy. I want to be your guy, period.”

I slide my hands out of his and step closer to him, the scent of his cologne drawing me in. “That’s why you’ve been pushing me away?”

His hands slide down my sides, anchoring to my hips. “I shouldn’t have told you that you weren’t ready. I’ve been schooled by more than one person that it was a stupid thing to say. But I just don’t want to move too fast and have you regret this.”

I wrap my arms around his neck, eliminating the remaining distance between us. “You know, I was there that night too.” I twirl my fingers around the strands at the back of his head, my fingers running down the back of his head and neck. “You weren’t the only one who felt something.”

“But—”

“There isn’t a but, Conor. I want this. I can’t explain the feeling either, but I know I’m ready, and you’re not the rebound guy. You’re the guy who opened my eyes to the possibility of finally having the kind of relationship I want with a man who will make me happy and encourage me and do crazy things like?—”

“Have sex on a washing machine?”

I laugh. “Yeah. And donate blood with me. And do random acts of kindness. There’s something here, Conor, and I understand that the timing isn’t great, but I want to explore this.”

His hands squeeze my hips. My breath catches, but he pauses, his lips hovering over mine, his eyes searching for permission I’ve already given him. My mouth tingles with anticipation, waiting to feel him, to taste him for the first time.

He closes the gap, brushing his lips along mine, feather light and tentative. It’s barely a kiss, but a spark races through me, and my heart pounds so loudly he can probably hear it. Then he pulls back, hesitation still glimmering in his eyes.

“Are you sure?” he murmurs, his voice unsteady, so different from his usual cocky self. His gaze flicks to my mouth and back to my eyes, as if he’s still worried.

“If you ask me one more time, I’m going to find some other guy to fulfill my list with me.” I raise my eyebrows.

A low laugh slips from his lips. I tilt my chin up, his warm breath fanning my face, and I watch the hesitation in his gaze melt away until there is only desire. It steals my breath.

He kisses me again, deeper this time. His hand slides to the small of my back, anchoring me to him, and his erection presses into my stomach, making the space between my thighs hum with pleasure. His mouth moves against mine with hunger and unrestrained energy from having to wait this long to kiss me.

I swallow his moan. I’ve never felt more desired than he’s making me feel in this moment. With only one kiss, I’m dizzy and desperate for him. I can’t imagine how it will feel once I have him naked and under my fingertips.

His grip becomes firmer, as if he can’t bear for there to be any space between us. Our kiss is messy, raw, and full of emotion, building with a relentless intensity I’ve never experienced before. He closes the kiss, and I gasp against his mouth.

“Fuck, Eloise,” he whispers, his teeth grazing my bottom lip and sending a shiver down my spine.

My fingers tangle in his hair, not wanting this moment to end.

“Hey, you two!” Tweetie shouts down the hall. “Oh, sorry.”

I’m not sure what sign Conor gives him behind my back, but his lips capture mine again in a quick kiss. “Sorry, we gotta go.”

He takes my hand and leads me down the hallway but turns the opposite way of the ballroom at the end of the hall.

“It’s that way.” I point.

Conor maneuvers me so my back is pressed against the wall between the elevators, and he presses the button. “If you think I’m not taking you directly up to the room, you’re crazy. Get your list ready because we’re crossing some shit off tonight, and the first one is gonna be you coming all over my fucking face.”

My body warms as if my blood is lava, but I have no time to recover before the elevator dings, and we’re inside, my back to the wall, his hands clasping mine over my head, and his mouth devouring my neck.

“I wore this dress for nothing.” My breath is desperate and near panting.

He draws back, his fingers running over my spine. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been imagining taking it off you since the moment you walked out of that room earlier. You have no idea the amount of restraint I’ve had.”

The elevator dings, and the doors are barely open before Conor has us through them. He rushes down the hall, dragging me along with him. Not that I’m complaining.

He pulls the keycard out of his pocket and glances at me. “Ready to have your world rocked?”

I take the keycard from his grip, scan it over the lock, and push open the door with my back. “For the record, I’m going to rock your world.”

He chuckles, gripping my waist and pulling me into him. “You’ve been rocking my world for weeks, so I have no doubt.”

He kisses me again, and it’s messy, but at the same time, it’s everything. Everything I’ve wanted for so long, and now I’m finally getting it.