Page 58 of Hat Trick
"But she's not yours. And don't ever look at her again like she might be."
"Gabe!"
Gabe's shoulder slouch half an inch. "Sorry, Rookie." Gabe says, somewhat unconvincingly.
"You're a neandertal." I admonish, turning back towards the island.
He crowds in behind me, pressing his front to my back and wrapping a thick arm around my waist. "Gabe!" I whisper-shout. We haven't had the conversation yet about going public, even though I kind of admitted to Ben that we're all together.
"I'll just..." Ben says awkwardly as he makes his escape.
I spin around and smack Gabe in his hard pec. "You didn't need to mark your territory like that." I try to frown at him, but I can't seem to make my mouth make the shape when he's touching me.
"Rookie needs to learn his place." He growls, running his nose up my neck.
"His place would have been my bed if he'd been a few months earlier." I can't help pushing Gabe's buttons. It's too much fun.
"If we didn't have a hoard of people outside, I would take you over my knee right now for that comment." My cheeks flush at the idea. "My girl likes that, does she? Noted. You'll be paying me back for that little comment of yours later."
I squirm involuntarily and squeeze my thighs together. I spin back around before he can rile me up anymore. "You just scared away my sous chef, so either you get to slicing or send Ben back in here." He wraps his hand around my throat, bending my neck to the left to give him better access, before biting down on my right shoulder. Hard.
"Gabe!" I scream loud enough I'm sure people outside heard it. My hand flies to my shoulder. No doubt there's going to be a mark leftthere. I shoot a glance out the back slider and see four Titans staring at us.
I try to slide to the side to distance myself from Gabe, but he's having none of it. He wraps his arm around my waist before kissing my hair and taking up the abandoned knife.
Carter's sitting at a picnic table with Luca, Nancy, and Annie when I plate a few brats from the grill, some corn on the cob and potato salad. I set the plates down in front of Nancy and Luca when Carter suddenly grabs me by the hips and pulls me to sit on his lap. My hands fly to his shoulders to steady myself.
"Carter!"
My face flushes hot and I suddenly feel like every eye is on us.
He ignores me, but I don't miss the grin that Nancy's struggling to hide.
"Did you get anything to eat, baby girl?" He asks before placing a kiss on my shoulder.
"I was going to get you and I dinner next." I whisper, shifting uncomfortably on his lap.
He senses my discomfort before pinching my chin gently with his thumb. "I'm tired of hiding this. Of hiding us. I'm tired of not being able to touch you when I want. If it were up to me, I'd broadcast our relationship to every news network out there." My eyes widen. "But I know you're not comfortable with that. But here? With our friends and family? You're mine."
I sink into him further. He's right. This feels...good. It feels right. I chance a glance at Nancy, who is enjoying her corn on the cob, but can't stop the smile on her face. Something tells me she's not all that surprised about this development.
I glance around us and a few of the players are giving us questioning glances, but no one seems to be judging. No one seems to be angry. And isn't this what I wanted? Isn't this different than Chad? Carter wants people to know we're together. Carter wants to show us off.
There's no public. No paparazzi. So, I give in. I can be his for today. His teammates might give him shit, but he doesn't seem to be worried about it.
I'm worried about what Nancy might think, but both Carter and Nancy seem happy as hell. So, I let myself be happy too.
I cup his cheek before giving him a kiss on the other one.
"Lemme go get us some food, too, sweetheart."
He pinches my hip quickly before letting me up. I set up two more plates and join the rest and eat comfortably.
On more than one occasion, I glance up to see Ben or Jonesy watching us but ignore them. This is our home, our backyard, our little oasis away from the rest of the world. If I can't love them openly here, I can't love them anywhere.
It's well into evening as the party wraps up and Nancy's the last to leave. We're on the front porch with Carter and Annie when she pulls me in for a fierce hug.
"I'm so grateful Carter has you. It's about time he got his head out of his ass and claimed you. You might be the best thing that's ever happened to him." She pulls back, holding me by the shoulders, as she stares into my stunned face.
