Page 77 of Cocky Player

“You got off thinking of being tied up?”

A cool breeze kicked on.The air conditioner.Nothing serious.It chilled me to my bones.God, I was so, so very messed up.I could barely swallow over the ball in my throat.

Connor leaned forward, pressed a fingertip to the screen like he was trying to touch me.“There’s nothing wrong with some kink in the bedroom, angel.”

“It’s weird.”

“Not if it helps you face your fears.You want that?”

I so desperately did.Talking about it turned me on, sent a throbbing to my sex.“Yeah.Maybe.”

“We’ll start slow,” he said.He bit his bottom lip, a gesture so damn sexy as hell but something I hadn’t seen him do.“Whenever you’re ready.A knot you can get out of.Maybe at first you holding onto something.Or me holding onto you.We go at your pace.”

That throb increased and I pressed my thighs together.

I love you.

It jumped so suddenly unbidden and without thought, I clamped my teeth together so it didn’t fly out.It was too soon, right?

Way too fast.In the grand scheme of life, we barely knew each other.But in the short time we met, he’d become the guy I didn’tneedmore than any other, he became the man Iwantedwith me more than anyone.

“Connor—”

It must have been written all over my face, this burgeoning love that came from nowhere, planted roots deep and quick, growing wildly.

“I know, angel.I know.”

I spuna slow circle in place, head tilted back, gaping at everything I’d helped Shelly accomplish in a month of working for her.

“We did it!”I exclaimed.“This is incredible.”

It was FanFest Day.The players arrived home from training camp last night.Connor called me as soon as he got in but I was still at work.Shelley and I stayed with the crew she’d hired to get everything ready until two o’clock in the morning and by the time I finally headed home, it was too late to text Connor if I could come to his house.He’d had a hard and rough two weeks.Younger players, faster players…he bitched about them with respect and maybe a hint of fear of losing his spot.

After that night, the rest of camp flew by.We talked more frequently.Not daily, but we somehow connected as often as we could.A text here.A phone call there.A few more video calls that didn’t always end with us naked, but always smiling.

The three words I almost blurted out hadn’t been spoken or alluded and yet there’d been a silent understanding that wefelt it.

Everything else became a matter of time.Waiting to talk to my parents.My family.Introducing Connor to everyone as soon as I could at our next family dinner.Connor had always told me he’d take whatever he could get but I wanted everything from him.

I wanted everything forus.

Shelly walked to me and squeezed my hand.“Now we need to pray everything goes off without a hitch.My goodness, I should have taken an extra anxiety pill this morning.”

Poor Shelly.She was so nervous and yet she’d planned the most amazing signings and events for the fans and players who would flood the stadium in a few short hours.Already outside, the streets were packed with fans sporting Rough Riders gear, a little girl in pigtails bouncing on her father’s shoulders.Boys tossing footballs in the air.Live music.Beer.Lots of plastic beer cups were already littered on the ground.

There was an energetic hum in the air.Of hope.Excitement.Expectation for another season where the Rough Riders earned another Super Bowl.And while I’d never been a fan of football or cared too much, I was certainly highly invested now.

It was impossible not to become enthralled with the game, the love and excitement of it after spending so much time not only at work but around Shannon and Paige and Elizabeth.Gina had met us last weekend for a Saturday brunch where Shannon grumbled at her “virgin” mimosa, earning a snort from Gina.

And tonight, after all this was done and the practice was over and Connor was done doing his signing shift, we were going out to dinner and then back to his place.

I was counting down the hours until I could get my hands on him again.Until Connor could get his hands onme.

“Everything is set up and the players’ buzzers are in their lockers.There’s nothing else we need to do except enjoy the show and revel in your success.”

The players would be buzzed ten minutes prior to their signing times.Some of them had it before practice, others after.It was the most efficient way we could figure out how to work it so we weren’t chasing everyone down.For our part, Shelly and I would be on the field, directing them anyway.During practice, I would watch from my parents’ box.

She dropped her clipboard.Her entire checklist was scratched off.“You are awfully calm.”

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