Page 124 of Through the Flames
“You watching me, baby?” My voice sounded rough and gravelly.
She sank her teeth into her lower lip and tilted her head to one side. “Little bit.”
“Good.” I leaned closer, close enough to see her pulse jump. “Because this was for you.”
The corners of her mouth curled up as if she knew exactly what I meant.
I wanted to kiss her stupid right there, make the whole NFL watch, but this moment was ours, not theirs.
Then, before I could think, before the roar in my chest could be tamed, it slipped out:
“I love you.”
Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. “You … just said that.”
“Couldn’t help it,” I admitted, voice hoarse, thumb brushing her cheek. “I love you, Ella. I think I have for a long time.”
She laughed, breathless, leaning into me. “I love you too.”
“Good,” I replied, grinning despite myself. “Because you’re kinda stuck with me now.”
Security started herding players toward the exit, and I pressed a quick kiss to her lips before jogging back to grab my stuff.
My throat felt like sandpaper and sweat was sliding down my spine. I cracked open a water bottle and took a gulp, but it barely cut the heat.
As I jogged toward the locker room, I knew one thing for certain: Every drop of sweat, every sprint, and every ounce of pain had been worth it because they were all for her.
Thirty Six
Ella
The suite was packed tight with players, agents, and wannabe influencers, each one radiating ego like toxic waste.
Hunter guided me through the swarm, his hand just grazing my back, that trademark silent intensity simmering under his calm.
I brought one of my best dresses for this — a slip of black silk with a high thigh split — and for once I got to wear the matching heels too. In a room filled with football players, even a girl standing over six feet could wear heels without standing out.
Fucking score.
Hunter was dressed in black-on-black, his shoulders broad enough to make furniture nervous. His clean-shaven jaw was sharp enough to cut glass, and right now, it was locked hard enough to break teeth.
“Rhodes,” a familiar voice said, low and smooth.
We both turned. Colt was leaning against the bar, stoic as ever, and yet more at ease than he used to be when I first met him. Hailey was at his side, her presence sharp and confident.
I threw my arms around my friends, having to bend even further with the bigger height difference. “Fancy seeing you here.”
She smiled, eyes sparkling knowingly. “Thought I’d come check on my favorite troublemaker.”
Hunter gave me that look again, like I was seriously testing his patience with this dress.
“You said to pack something nice,” I said, grinning like I wasn’t acutely aware of the way he was looking at me.
Like he was debating whether to throw his jacket over my body or simply throw me over his shoulder and get me the fuck out of here.
“I did,” he growled.
I tilted my head. “And?”
