arches a questioning brow.
“They are?”
“Wow.” Another laugh escapes me. “You really didn’t see them? Livi was sitting next to me on the couch.”
“Nope.” He shakes his head. “You’re like end zone for me—I focus on you like I do when I’m running for a touchdown.”
“I adore when you use football metaphors to describe our relationship.” I’m only partially sarcastic, knowing I’m guilty of doing the same. I blame our corniness on my affinity for punny t-shirts. “Okay, hotshot.” I tap his shoulder, my hand squeezing the ball of muscle under his U of J football hoodie. “Time for you to catch a bus.”
He grinds his hips against me instead of releasing me, and the hardness behind his zipper presses against my hot center, the friction causing me to bite back a moan. My red Soffe shorts don’t provide much of a barrier against the feel of denim and an erection.
He steals another kiss before finally lowering me to the ground. I watch him as he steps onto the elevator.
“Make sure you send me a pic of your shirt before the game,” he calls out before the doors finish sliding shut.
Picking out my Nova-boasting shirt for today is going to be fun.
#Chapter35
Game day.
The Cotton Bowl.
The final game between us and the national championship.
Game on, baby.
As the higher seed, the Hawks are considered the home team today. The Fighting Irish are going down.
This entire day—hell, the entire week—has been a whirlwind of activity. Most people would be drained by the grueling schedule of workouts, practices, and media requirements, but D1 athletes are not most people, and athletes who play for the U of J could even be said to be a cut above the rest. The school is known for having some of the highest number of students turn pro in basketball and football compared to any other major university in the country. We’ve made this week our bitch.
Getting to play in a pro stadium today is a preview of what my future will be like. It’s not ego talking; it’s fact. All the experts discuss where they think I’ll fall in the draft, and not one has me placed lower than the top five. Yeah, I’m the man.
The biggest downfall of not playing at home is that Kay isn’t able to come down to give me my pregame kiss. Honestly, I’m sure she could have swung it, but with all the extra press around, it’s probably a good thing she didn’t.
Not wanting to give up my good luck kiss completely, I risked the wrath of Coach Knight—and in case you were wondering, yes he did rip me a new asshole when I got on the bus four minutes late—to claim my kiss before I left the hotel. I gave it to her extra good to make sure it carried me through the five-plus hours until kickoff.
God, I’m so happy I did too. My baby looked so damn cute in her pajamas: one of my football shirts that’s pretty much a nightgown and thus hits below her knees if she doesn’t tie it at her hip, a pair of those tiny shorts that always manage to have me hard faster than it takes the center to snap the ball, and classic white tube socks with matching red stripes.
Her natural riot of curls was back, looking all bedhead messy, provoking thoughts of what it looks like after sex. Shit! There I go chubbing up again.
Fuck, Nova, get that shit under control. Think of the smell of Trav’s gym socks, us losing today, anything to get your erection under control. The locker room is the last place you should be getting a boner.
The scolding from my inner coach works until I start to think of how she tasted, all minty toothpaste and sugary sweet from her coffee…
God I wanted to eat her for breakfast.
I’m fucking kicking Trav’s ass out of the room tonight to spend it buried between my girl’s legs…hopefully in celebration.
“Stop thinking dirty thoughts about my little sis.” Trav plops down beside me.
“How’d you know?” I try and fail to wipe the smile from my face.
“You always make this dumbass smirk when you do.” He circles a finger in front of my face.
“Can’t help it, bro. She’s very…inspiring.” He mimes gagging. “You never had a problem with hearing about my sex life before,” I say, reaching inside my locker for my phone.
“None of your girls have lasted long enough to feel like family to me before. How would you feel hearing about