Page 39 of The Pass Protection
In slow, calculated steps, Crew starts erasing the space between us. “I think maybe you should start living your life, Rebel.”
My heartbeat rapidly increases. My blood pumps in a drumming noise as if I was still standing in front of the band playing in the other room. Each beat and pulse feels like it will bounce right out of my chest as the nerves and excitement of having Crew this close to me escalate. The air becomes thick as tension swirls around us. My breaths become ragged as I watch his warm eyes darken, the rich hue intensifying, almost taking on a black intensity as desire flashes through his irises.
Fuck it.
Reaching out, I grip the cotton material of his moss-green T-shirt and tug him toward me. Stretching on my tiptoes, our lips meet as fireworks explode behind my closed eyes, and I melt into his touch. Without hesitation, our kiss turns heated as our mouths part, and he plunges his tongue into mine. His hands grip onto the back of my legs as he hoists me into the air. Instinctively, my legs wrap around his waist as he shoves me against the wall. Our tongues duel fervently as I grind my center against the denim of his jeans where I feel how affected he is.
Crew’s mouth leaves mine as he leaves a trail of nips and open-mouthed kisses along my jaw and down my neck, where he sucks my skin into his mouth. His hands roam over my body as his thumb flicks the metal piercing through my nipple. Tilting my head back, I let out a moan, as I don’t bother being quiet as I knew the music from the band would drown out the noise.
Wetness gathers between my legs as I feel my panties dampen. I want more, but realization comes crashing into me. Squeezing my legs around Crew’s waist, I push my body away from him. His lips leavemy neck as dark, hooded eyes find mine. Our chests heaves, and our lips are swollen from the rough kisses.
“Fuck, Rebel,” his voice is husky and raw. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “Everything is perfect.”
“Then why’d you stop?”
Tipping my head down, I rest it on his shoulder as my lips find his neck for a peck. “As much as I want to see where this goes, I don’t need my brother to come looking for us.”
Crew groans as he lowers me. He starts to step away but I reach out and grab his arm, stopping him. “I want to continue this, but we need to be more careful right now. My brother’s Bret-senses are at an all-time high, and there’s the whole you-play-for-my-dad’s-team. But what if we…”
Crew quirks his brow while I pause, mulling over the words. Chewing on my lip, I look up at him through my lashes. “I have a proposition for you.”
“I’m listening, Rebel.”
That damn nickname. I swear it does something to me every time it leaves his lips. It’s like he can see me and while it touches on my rebellious streak, he knows that by me rebelling, I’m trying to find myself.
“Things are a little complicated between us being roommates and you being on the football team, but I can’t deny that there’s a connection between us. Right?” Crew nods, a mask falling over his face where I can’t read him. “Okay, I think we should explore that connection. But there’s a catch.”
“And what’s the catch, Bret.” Reaching up, he trails a finger down my cheek eliciting goose bumps to break across my skin.
“The catch is we do it exclusively and…secretively. It has to stay between us. I don’twant drama with—”
My words are cut off as his lips crush into mine with a searing kiss. It’s short but impactful. “You think we can pull it off?”
“I think if we want this, we have to.”
He hums. “If that’s what it will take for me to be with you, then let’s do it. You, me, us, we’re the only ones that have to know.”
“Us,” I murmur. “I like the sound of that. Now get out of here, and I’ll be behind you shortly.”
His lips find mine one last time before he sneaks out of the closet door.
A boyfriend wasn’t on my plans for this school year, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
The first home game of the season always hits differently. As I stand in the tunnel waiting for our time to run onto the field, the crowd’s roar vibrating with the energy radiating from my teammates seeps into my skin. It’s a sea of red, white, and powder blue as I look out at the sold-out crowd.
Coach Campbell stands in front of us as he fires us up with one last pep talk. But I barely hear him. My mind is already on the field as I wait for the marching band to play our introduction song which we run out to each week. Tilting my helmet-covered head, I welcome the cracks in my neck as my gloved fingers itch at my sides. Adrenaline courses through my veins, and I can’t wait to be on the turf.
Cannons sound as smoke fills the air in front of the tunnel. Harris, Grant, and JP lead us out of the opening. The roar of the crowd only grows as we jog out. Once we reach our sidelines, my eyes scan the fans, taking in the blur of faces. I fight the urge to look at the end zone where the student section is, knowing my eyes will latch on to familiar green eyes. As much as my mind drifts to Bret, now is not the time to think about my girlfriend.
Girlfriend.
It still feels weird to think she made things official with us two days ago. Keeping it a secret isn’t something I wanted to do. I hate that I’m hiding her because a girl like Bret shouldn’t be kept behind closeddoors. She deserves to be seen. But I get her hesitancy. Not only is she my roommate, which could potentially cause issues between all the roommates, but there are also issues with the whole team.
Could I have picked a more complicated girl to fall for? Not only is she my teammate’s sister, a teammate who has made it abundantly clear that she’s off limits, but she’s my coach’s daughter.
If you look up complicated in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Bret and a picture of me.
