Man Advantage: Red Line Series Novella by TB Mann

Author:TB Mann [Mann, TB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heart Sisters Publishing Inc
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7

Jaedon

“I’m so glad exams are done.” I dropped into the backseat of the rideshare beside Mark. The huff of relief expelled with enough force that he started to laugh, and in the rearview mirror, I caught the chuckle of the cute, young female driver.

“You and me, both. I handed that group project/take-home exam in this afternoon. It was almost as big as a thesis.” Mark tipped his head back against the too-low head rest while his body, too large for the car, sprawled out, pressing his knee and upper thigh against me. His eyes closed.

I sucked in a quick breath at his touch. The man rarely initiated contact with me and now that I understood his reasoning—too concerned that when he touched other guys, they’d think he was flirting with them—the fact that he didn’t move away despite how small the car was, revealed just how exhausted he was. I placed my left hand on my knee, allowing two of my fingers to brush against his leg. “You okay? Not too tired to go out tonight?”

He opened his eyes and stared at me. I fought against getting lost in their chocolaty depths. A battle I rapidly lost as they swallowed me in. Fatigue. Anxiety. Excitement. They were all there along with a hint of lust and desire. Two emotions I never expected to see in his eyes when he looked at me. But after I blinked, they were gone, making me question if I ever saw them in the first place. He had me so torn up inside. The fact that he was a hockey player flashed a massive “keep away” sign in front of my brain, but his compassion, his heart drew me like the loving arms of my grandma who was one of the few family members that knew all my secrets and loved me just the same. I missed seeing her since I didn’t go home too often. But in her hugs, I knew that everything, no matter how hard and difficult things were at the time, would all work out. She was a place of safety and comfort and love. All things I felt with him when I let myself forget for a moment that he played hockey.

“I’m good. Tired, but good.” He pulled his leg away and I mourned the loss of that brief touch. “I really need this night out, so thanks for inviting me out with your friends.”

“Anytime.” I resisted the urge to wink. My natural flirtatious nature wanted to come out and play since we weren’t in the staid academic setting of the library study rooms. Or at least come out more than it did in those rooms. “I’m just glad the timing worked out this time.”

“Me, too. Outside of my teammates and a few fellow classmates, I really haven’t met that many people. I don’t even know my neighbours except for a quick chin nod and hello when we pass in the hall or end up on the elevator together.”

“Yeah, the problem with playing university sports and not joining a frat.

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