I need to hate him again. Throw him out. Now!

I kicked off my flip-flops, fisting my hands and close to hyperventilating. “Go ahead. Mock me.” Please. I could process that. That was familiar. That I could resent and cling to.

“I’m not here to make fun of you.”

Pity was worse than mockery, but there was something in his low tone that made me shiver. Goosebumps rippled over my bare chest, still damp in the cool air. My nipples were hard, and my groin throbbed.

“We agree we have to keep this separate from competing.” Theo stepped closer in the little foyer. The red light from the rice cooker illuminated the space just enough. Esmeralda appeared to investigate before disappearing again.

“I haven’t told anyone about our dinners. Have you?”

I shook my head.

“And I know no one at the rink has a clue or my mother would have found out, flown to Toronto, and banged down your door during House Hunters to drag me out of here.”

I almost smiled at that.

Theo did smile, a devilish grin in the red glow. I could only stare as he closed in. Slowly, he loosened my towel and tugged it free.

“It’s always the quiet ones. Or what’s that other saying? Still waters run deep? I bet you run really deep.” Biting his lip, he ran a fingertip down the center of my chest. My breath seized, my cock swelling fully again simply from that. “No one has to know about what we do together. And we’ll stop before we go to Calgary. It’ll be all business during the Olympics.”

I panted shallowly through my mouth, torn between squirming away and throwing myself into his arms.

He drew his index finger down over my sensitive belly, making me flinch, the muscles jumping. Then over my shaft through the wet, clingy material. All I could do was tremble, biting my tongue so I didn’t make any embarrassing noises.

“You really are a dark horse. That’s another saying, right? I bet that’s been an answer in one of your crosswords.” Without warning, he grasped me with his whole hand, rubbing and sending shockingly pure bolts of pleasure through my whole body.

Somehow, he was still talking about crosswords. “You know, I tried the Monday one the other day. It’s the easiest, right?”

My knees were weak as he stroked me, and without the wall behind me, I would have collapsed. He was laughing now, but not with derision, and as he leaned in, I almost let him kiss me.

I turned my face at the last moment, fear surging through the pleasure. It would be too much. I’d come as soon as his lips met mine, and it was too humiliating. Too exposing. If I let him kiss me, all the walls would crumble. There’d be no protection left.

Hand on my shaft, he stilled. I blinked at the red-lit coat closet, my face turned, his gaze hot on my cheek. He murmured, “It’s okay.” With his free hand, he caressed my arm, sending more goosebumps rippling. “Have you done this before?’