Page 31 of Touchdown
Her smile faltered, just a fraction, before she reached for her coffee and took a long sip. “This, being here with you, last night and this morning. It’s really nice.” She cocked her head to the side, her expression contemplative. “I don’t want to overthink it.”
I’d moved to the stove to work on the eggs, so I glanced back at her over my shoulder. “Then don’t.”
She toyed with her cup for a second. “I’m just saying…I don’t want you to think I’m making more of this than it is. We can keep things casual.”
I stopped, the spatula in my hand freezing along with the rest of my body. Then I turned slowly and looked at her, deadpan. “No.”
Her brows shot up. “No? What do you mean, no?”
“You heard me.” I turned back to the stove, done with this conversation.
She sputtered. “You can’t just say no.”
I shut off the stove, no longer caring about breakfast, and pivoted around to watch her with my typical intensity. “You gave me that right when you agreed to be mine. I won’t do temporary, Ivy.”
She blinked a few times, seemingly at a loss for words. Before she could say anything, I leaned across the island, wrapped my hand around her wrist, and yanked her gently to her feet.
“Saxon—”
I didn’t let her finish, tossing her over my shoulder like she weighed nothing and stalking toward the bathroom.
Her laughter was breathless and sputtering. “Are you serious right now?”
“Never been more serious,” I muttered, stepping into the shower and kicking the water on with my free hand.
She was still laughing as I set her down under the spray and stripped my shirt from her body. I pressed her back into the tile with a growl and kissed her like it was the only thing tethering me to the earth.
By the time I got her dressed in clothes—I’d had them delivered by calling in a favor with Lennox, the billionaire owner of the Nighthawks—and out the door, the sun had climbed high in the sky, casting shadows across the sidewalk. I drove her out to Long Island, my hand resting on her thigh the entire ride. Every once in a while, she would shift as if she were trying to find a more comfortable position. I was a big guy, and after taking my dick three times last night and twice this morning, she was gonna feel me inside her all day. I didn’t even pretend not to be smug about it.
When we pulled up to The Color Loft, I killed the engine, went around to help her out of the car, and walked her inside without a word.
Lorna looked up and grinned wide.
“She on the clock yet?” I inquired.
Lorna shook her head, her eyes twinkling merrily.
I turned Ivy toward me, dipped my head. “No need to be professional then,” I murmured before I kissed her like no one was watching. Her hands curled around the ends of my scarf, pulling me closer. I let the kiss linger just long enough to make my point, then pulled back and brushed her cheek with my thumb.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
She double blinked. “You’re just gonna leave me like this?”
“Yup.”
“Tease.”
I leaned down and put my mouth right next to her ear. “Not when I intend to follow through tonight. And I want your panties wet all day just thinking about what I’m going to do to you.”
She stared up at me, flushed and in a daze. After giving her one more quick kiss, I turned and walked out, feeling her gaze burning into my back.
At home,I settled in at my desk with a cup of coffee and the kind of grim determination that came with offseason work. Film breakdowns, workout schedules, mental reps. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary.
Before getting to work, I decided to send Ivy her favorite coffee. Americano with two pumps of caramel and one of hazelnut.
With a chuckle at my own cheesiness, I added a cupcake—shaped and iced to look like a football.
Shortly after the delivery alert came through, my phone vibrated.
