Page 27 of Tight End
Marissa spit out the toothpaste and rinsed her mouth, then put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at me. “It’s too soon.”
I stood and stepped around behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder.
“Too soon for what?” My tone was all innocence.
She sighed, but it ended with a cute giggle. “Too early to prove you’ve done your manly duty and knocked me up.”
I tried to look offended, but I couldn’t stop the shit-eating grin that spread across my face. “I’m just excited to see your belly grow.”
Marissa huffed. “Stop wishing for me to get big faster!”
“Why? You’ll look every bit as beautiful and fucking sexy as you do right now,” I murmured, sliding one hand down to splay across her belly. “Maybe more.”
Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and something soft bloomed in her gaze.
My lips brushed over her temple before I whispered, “I can’t wait to meet the little troublemaker we made.”
She blinked fast and nodded. “Me neither.”
I almost blurted it out and told her how much I loved her, but I stopped myself at the last second.
Are you sure you’re waiting for the right time, Shaffer? Or are you just scared?
I wasn’t ready to answer that question.
The next night, I was relaxing on the couch, watching an old game, when I caught myself daydreaming about baby names.
Ridiculous, maybe. But I couldn’t help it.
Names. Nurseries. Game days with our kids in my jersey. Teaching them how to throw a spiral. Marissa and I tucking them in at night. I was so fucking ready to build this life with her. Hell, I’d never been more ready for anything before.
When I glanced at her on the other end of the sofa—her legs curled under her, her lips curved around the rim of a tea mug, her eyes flicking over some article on her tablet—I felt something click into place.
She looked up and caught me staring. Not that this was unusual for me.
Still, she arched her brow and asked, “What?”
I just shook my head. “Nothing. Just…I like having you here.”
She smiled, slow and sweet, and set her mug down. “I like being here.”
I reached out and grabbed her legs, dragging her over to me, then bent to kiss her, and whispered against her lips, “Good. ’Cause I’m not letting you go.”
This was mine.
She was mine.
11
MARISSA
Stirring beside me, Raiden woke me before my alarm did. The time since I’d returned to New York had passed in a blur of sleep and nausea while Raiden quietly reorganized his entire life around me without making it feel overwhelming. I still felt tired, but not bone-deep exhausted like I had overseas, which I owed to him because he’d made sure I followed the doctor’s instructions.
His arm was slung around my waist, pinning me comfortably to the bed. Although I needed to get up soon, I didn’t feel the urge to ease out from under him. Instead, I shifted carefully until I faced him.
He was out cold. Totally relaxed with his dark lashes resting on his cheeks and looking unfairly angelic considering how sinful he’d been last night. And the night before.
I leaned in and brushed a soft kiss against his lips.
