Page 30 of Forecheck
“Where’s Berkley?” I heard him ask Kimber, and she must have gestured instead of saying out loud, because a moment later, Brent appeared in the doorway to the balcony.
I stood to meet him, Lexie joining me.
“I’ll just let you two…” Without finishing her sentence, she disappeared inside.
As though it was the most natural thing in the world, I closed the distance between us and flung myself into his arms. Without missing a beat, he scooped me up into a hug and swung me around, planting a kiss on my still smiling mouth when he returned me to my feet. Happily, I leaned into him, letting him keep me circled in his embrace.
This familiarity between was…new, but not unwelcome. My heart pounded joyfully in my chest, and a sense of calmness settled over me. I tilted my head back so he could give me a more thorough kiss.
I hoped I never got used to the way he captured my lips, the way he applied perfect pressure, how easily we opened for each other, our tongues dancing together. I would forever crave the way simple kisses with this man had my toes curling in my shoes.
“You were amazing!” I breathed when we parted. “I’m so proud of you!”
Brent grinned down at me, his eyes bright. That stubborn curl sprung onto his forehead, still damp from his shower, and I reached up to push it back, my hand lingering on his cheek.
“I might have been showing off again,” he whispered, and I blushed. “I’m just sad I didn’t get my Gordie.”
“I’m not!” I said, pulling away to glare at him. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about how that Bears’ bastard kept running our goalie over, and I was sick of his shit!”
I continued to glare.
Brent cupped my face in his hands, running a thumb over my bottom lip, attempting to loosen my pout. “What happened to being proud of me?” he asked, voice low and husky. He dropped a kiss to my forehead, then my nose, then the corner of my mouth. When he leaned in to whisper in my ear, his warm breath on my neck rose goosebumps on my arms. “And has anyone told you how fucking sexy you look in that jersey?”
“Not lately,” I quipped, then sighed, giving in and wrapping my arms around his waist. “Next time, don’t be such a pest.” I tapped him on the nose. “I’d hate for someone to ruin that pretty face of yours.”
“Nah,” he said. “You’re the pretty one.”
I giggled. “Oh, my God. We’re becoming one of those nausea-inducing couples.”
Brent cocked his head to the side. “Is that what we are? A couple?”
Anxiety spiked my blood, and I—poorly—attempted to backpedal. “I mean…that’s not what I meant. We’re just hanging out, right? Nothing serious.”
“Riiiiiight,” Brent said, giving me a knowing smirk. “Tell me, Berkley. Are you seeing anyone else? Or, excuse me,just hanging outwith anyone else?”
“No.”
“Do you want to be spending time with other people?”
“No.”
“Neither do I,” he growled. “I’m greedy for you, and only you. Can you trust me when I tell you this is a lot more thanjust hanging outfor me?”
Greedy,he’d said.
I knew the feeling, and his words once again had my cheeks heating.
“Yes,” I said at least. “I trust you. I’m sorry I said that. I didn’t think—I wasn’t sure…”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said, wrapping his arms tighter around me. “I want you to talk to me if something is bothering you, okay? Especially if it directly concernsus.”
I tipped my head back to look at him, those depthless blue eyes boring into mine. “As long as you promise to do the same.”
“Deal.” He grinned and kissed me again, lingering long enough that gagging noises sounded from behind me.
Brent broke away with a sigh. “Hi Lexie. Kimber, Amelia. What’s up?”
