Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“That what was going on over there?” I pull my pads over my head, swiping a towel across my forehead. “It sounded like you were getting reamed for that short route they scored on us with last week.”
“That was how it began. Then we started running some of the new plays, and that little fucker was flying off the line like there was an actual offense across from us and not just a damn bag. And early. Like seven fucking times in two dozen snaps. Coach made us do a million bear crawls and I’m too buff for that shit.”
We chuckle, going silent a moment to catch our breath as most of the field clears, our teammates heading into the locker room. But it’s almost always like this, me and my boys being the last on the field at the end of the day, give or take a few, depending.
Brady cracks an eye open, squinting up at me. “So what’s up, man? You gonna do it or what?”
“Do what?”
“You know, christen the spot like the rest of us did, Noah included.”
My brows pull, not following, and I look between my friends. It’s clear Mason gets it, his grin growing by the second.
Brady kicks me, and I scowl. He jerks his head toward the stands. “She’s still sitting there.”
My eyes fly up, and sure enough, she’s there, leaning on her elbows, staring this way. They’re all there, in fact, and I realize what he’s referring to.
Would she want that? Me to make a scene out here, for all to see, where everyone would find out all at once what we’ve become?
That she’s mine.
Heat spreads low in my core at the thought.
Slowly, Paige leans forward, her hand popping up so her chin can rest in it.
Are you waiting on me, Angel?
My tongue slides along my lower lip and I push to my feet.
The guys don’t try to quiet their celebration behind me, their excitement spreading my way. It hums in my veins, the desire to do exactly what they’re telling me to—to claim my little blond for anyone to see.
The closer I get, the more her smile spreads. She knows what’s coming and she’s anticipating it.
When I reach her, I don’t hop up or leap over.
No, I hold my arms out. “Come here, Shortcake.”
There isn’t a moment’s hesitation from her. Paige climbs right up and slides into my arms.
She squeals as my hands grasp her hips, drawing her in, her legs locking around me as I wrap one arm under her ass, the other coming up and pressing against her back to flatten her to me. The need to feel her all over is heavy.
I stare into her big blue eyes, leaning in and using my lips to push her hair from her cheek.
Her chest rises and her smile—it’s a sexy kind of shy.
My focus falls to where that plump lower lip is tucked between her teeth, ready to replace it with my own.
“Fucking kiss her already!” Brady shouts.
“Jesus.” I huff a laugh, my grin curving against her mouth and an airy, little chuckle spills into my lips just as I take hers.
I swallow the sound, catching that lip just like I wanted. Teasing with a nip before I kiss her for real, deep, slow, and dirty, like I’ve got all damn day to stand here. Like no one is watching and hoping everyone around is.
Her fingers tighten in my hair, her soft, little moan, only loud enough for me to hear, swallowed by my smirk against her mouth.
I want to hear those sounds at a higher pitch, want ’em to ring in my ears so loud my eardrums burn.
I want her to forget everything she’s ever known about being with a man until I’m the only one she remembers.
I want her to whine and shake and beg and—
“Uncle Chaser!”
We tear apart so fast, I almost fall on my ass, Paige still in my arms. Both our heads yank to the stands, eyes wide like we’re kids who’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t, rather than being caught by a kid.
Deaton rubs his eyes, looking from me to Paige, his mama and Ari both standing there with their hands covering their mouths, Ari’s free one wrapped tight around Cameron’s. Still, their laughter is obvious.
“Hey, D,” I say at the same time that Paige says, “You woke up.”
We both cut off, looking to Payton for help.
She shakes her head, waiting to see how this plays out with humor written all over her.
Slowly, I lower Paige to her feet, hauling her up so she can slide over into the stands.
“Uh…” I start lamely. Shit.
Deaton climbs up on the cement, his mom holding on to his sides, and he waves me closer.
I step up, turning my head when he cups his mouth as if to tell me a secret.