Page 59 of Through the Flames
The ball was secured; their victory prevented.
Crashing to the turf, my knees scraping across the ground and my lungs burning, I glanced up again. There she was, her hands over her mouth, but then she raised them to cheer.
The final whistle blew, and teammates poured onto the field, shouting and clapping their helmets together.
My personal sense of triumph was measured differently.
It wasn’t determined by the scoreboard. It was seeing her there. Knowing she was watching me, even if she didn’t know she was mine yet.
***
The buzz of an incoming call was reverberating through the wooden desk, my girl’s name flashing across the screen.
Ella. I loved the way her name just melted right on my tongue, a bite-sized morsel to devour, delicious and so fucking mine.
She was calling me. Not texting.
Calling.
That was new, but the beast inside me reared its head, thrashing and purring. It loved when she came to us and couldn’t wait to see her crawling for us.
Clenching my hands into fists, I let it ring once. Twice. It wouldn’t do to come across as eager. Pretending to debate on whether to answer her call gave me more of an edge.
With methodical movements, I picked up the device, my fingers curling around it like it was a fucking lifeline.
Blowing out a breath, I answered the call with practiced interest.
“Yeah?”
Cool. Collected. As if I hadn’t imagined this call every day forweeks.
“Hey, Hunter! It’s Ella.” My name on her lips short-circuited my brain, my dick instantly standing at attention. Fucker already knew who we belonged to.
“This is kind of random, but are you still looking for a roommate?” She sounded hesitant, a little breathless.
Fuck. I couldn’t wait to find out if that’s what she sounded like when I made her come.
You’re not going anywhere, baby. You just don’t know it yet.
“Wasn’t really looking in the first place. I don’t like people in my space,” I answered dryly.
I wanted her even more desperate than she already was. She needed to think this was what she wanted, so I couldn’t give in too easily.
Never mind that my cock was already throbbing so hard, I had to reach down and press my hand against the prominent bulge to stave off some of my need.
“Right. This was a bad idea, sorry, I’m-”
Nope. Wrong way, baby. “What do you need?”
“I just, um, well, it’s kind of a big favor, so I’m just gonna come right out with it. I need a place to stay for one semester, and I’m pretty desperate. Hailey mentioned Colt’s old room might still be available, but I know that’s probably not something you’re interested in.” Her words were rushed, like she couldn’t wait to end this conversation.
“What do I get out of it?” I’d gotten up and was pacing the room now, with long and measured strides.
“Umm … rent?”
“I don’t need money.”
“Riiight. What do you want, then?”
