Page 50 of Run the Play
Her mouth opens as if she’s going to speak and then quickly closes. I watch her throat as she swallows hard, licks her lips, and tries again. “For me?” Her question is softly spoken and filled with uncertainty.
I step closer, and she opens her thighs, allowing room for me. I’m in full pads, but I can still feel her heat. Lifting my hand, Irest it against her cheek. “Who else would they be for, Roe?” I want to kiss her. Fuck me, Iwantto kiss her. I don’t want our first kiss to be in a stinky locker room, but the urge is so fucking intense. I’ve never wanted the taste of a kiss this badly. My need for her grows stronger every damn day.
“That’s a lot of pressure,” she murmurs.
“Nah, no pressure. Just me showing my girl she’s important.”
“We’re pretending,” she murmurs.
I lean in closer. I’m so close there is barely any space between her lips and mine. Just a little more and my lips would be pressed to hers. “Are we, though?” I ask. She sucks in a breath, and I can’t stop myself as I close the remaining distance and press my lips to hers. It’s just a quick peck, but the meaning is the same.
I’m not pretending.
Not anymore.
I’m not sure I ever really was. I don’t know what’s going on with me or with us, but I know that I want to give us the time to figure it out. Not because her ex is here, but because she’s all I can think about, and that small little peck of her lips, it’s not enough. Not for me.
This isn’t how our first kiss should have happened, but this is who we are. I’m a professional athlete, and she’s a part of the physical therapy team. This is our life, our jobs, and honestly, I’ll take any piece of this woman, any way that I can have her. I’ll just have to make it up to her later when we celebrate our win and all of her touchdowns.
Dropping my hand from her cheek, I take her hand in mine. “Now, this handshake. We have to have something to celebrate because I’m sure that Coach Warner will have my ass if I run to the sidelines to kiss my girl after each of my touchdowns.”
“Multiple?” she asks.
“When they’re all for you, yes.” I nod.
“You kissed me.”
I chuckle. “I did. Was that okay?”
She nods. “I didn’t expect it.”
“But you wanted it?”
“I wasn’t sure. It’s been so long. I assumed I’d freak out, but I didn’t. Not when it’s you.”
I stand a little taller at her words. “That’s my girl.” Needing more of her, I lean in and peck her lips for the second time. I hate that this is where we are, surrounded by smelly teammates and gear, but it feels right.
Right for us.
“Now, give me your hand.” I take her hand in mine. Fuck, her skin is so soft. “Let’s do this. We bump knuckles, then fist each other’s hands, lean in for a hug, kind of like a chest bump, and then we’ll blow it up.” I release my hand and spray out my fingers. “Boom!” I say, and she tosses her head back in laughter. It’s pure, genuine, and completely intoxicating.
“I’m going to need you to go through that again.” She’s smiling. Those beautiful blue eyes of hers are sparkling, and I swear, I feel as though I’m ten feet fucking tall with the way she’s looking at me right now.
“All right, here we go.” We run through the handshake three more times, and by the time we’re done, she’s giggling, and I’m smiling so hard, my face might crack.
“Reynolds!” Coach Warner booms. “Stop flirting with your girlfriend, and get over here.” He’s not mad. It’s not his angry voice.
“All eyes are on us,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” she agrees.
“I’m going to kiss you again,” I warn her.
“Because they’re watching.” She nods solemnly.
“No, baby. Because I have to.” Leaning down, I kiss her again. It’s a peck, innocent enough, but it still lights my soul onfire. “I’ll see you out there.” With a grin and a wink, I move back to the main part of the locker room.
“Nice of you to join us.” Coach smirks.
