Page 19

Purple lace bra – Tate McRae

Declan

T eammates tap my helmet and offer congratulations as I fly off the field and into the locker room. Jack, Deon, and Henry are right behind, and when we make it into the locker room, I strip my equipment with speed.

I’ve never had any reason to rush out. I’ve always dragged my feet to the family room to avoid witnessing the outpouring of affection and feeling like a fly on the wall.

I could never desensitize to the sharp sting of loneliness.

But now, unbridled excitement floods my veins, and I can’t get to the family room quickly enough.

Henry laughs as he drops into the seat at his locker. “Someone’s in a rush.”

Jack clasps my shoulder, and his smile is knowing. “There are people he wants to see.”

Emotions wage war in my chest—disbelief, joy, trepidation.

Tears flooded my eyes when I heard Nora’s voice, and it was like a boulder was lifted from my chest when she leaned over the railing and threw her arms around my shoulders.

I’ve never felt anything as unique as seeing Nora in the stands. It was like being called home.

The coaching staff offers a blessedly short post-game speech, and I waste no time in the shower.

I want to see my girls.

My friends can barely keep up as I barrel down the hallway and into the chaos.

The family room is packed like sardines, and I weave my way through the crowd toward the back left corner—the agreed-upon meeting spot for my friends. They’re standing in a circle, back turned to the door, and I falter a step when I read my name on Nora’s back.

I couldn’t see the number on the front as she dangled over the railing, but knowing she wore my jersey—it warms my heart like homemade soup when you’re sick.

I creep up behind them and swoop Nora off the ground and into a spin.

She screams, and it quickly turns into a fit of giggles as her arms wrap around my neck. Her hot pink dress billows, and she kicks her feet, sparkly pink sneakers acting as weapons as she hits Jack’s shoulder.

He groans and side steps before she hits him again.

Her smile fills my vision as we spin, and longing for this moment to last forever slams into my chest.

I stop spinning, but Nora screams, “Again!” and I oblige her—three times before I grow dizzy.

A hand caresses my back, and a shiver travels along my spine as a plume of tropical fruit fills the air. Addie’s hair falls on her shoulders, the auburn strands wavy from the braid she had it in earlier in the day. Her smile is soft, and she squeezes my bicep when Nora drops her head onto my shoulder.

“Hi, Mommy.”

“Hi, baby,” Addie says quietly, “Did you have fun today?”

Addie pushes Nora’s hair from her face, allowing her blue eyes and eye-black to shine in the fluorescent lights of the room. The love she has for her daughter pours out of her, and it's a stark difference to anything I’ve ever been witness to or been the recipient of.

It’s a love that defies logic and transcends time.

Alan was the closest thing I’ve ever come to a love like that.

“Maren and Sawyer got me nachos and topped them with a hot dog!” She cheers. Addie barely hides a look of disgust and peers over to the chefs. They shrug.

“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Sawyer says, “It’s amazing.”

Maren appears from the bathroom, and Nora’s eyes light up. She wiggles in my grip, and I let her down. She runs over to Nathalie and tugs on her hand to force her to crouch down.

The interaction is adorable until Nathalie pulls a wad of cash out of her purse and hands it to Nora.

Oh, god. Which one of them swore?

Addie gasps as Nora returns.

Maren bites her lip to hide a scowl. Well, that answers my question.

“How much?” Jack asks. There’s no bite in the question, just defeat, like he’s resigned himself to paying a five-year-old a salary because his wife has the mouth of a sailor.

“Are you sure you want to know the answer?” Maren asks coyly. Jack raises a brow, and she deflates. “Five hundred.” Jack gasps. “The first half.”

“Oh, dear god,” Deon mutters, watching with horror as Nora zooms back over, clutching hundred-dollar bills. “You’re going to pay her college tuition.”

Maren glares, but Jack’s lips tick upward. “I do support higher education.”

“Look!” Nora holds out her hands, “More for our trip!”

She smiles brightly, proud of her plunder, and pinches the sides of her skirt to sway the fabric back and forth.

Addie takes the cash and when Nora isn't looking, shoves it toward Jack.

“Keep it," he says, but she shakes her head.

"Donate it to EndZone if you want to do something with it."

Jack's head tilts, and as Addie is pulled to the side by Nathalie, he whispers, "She's the one."

Yeah, I think so.

“Can we go on the field?” Nora asks, bouncing on her toes. Her focus darts between Addie and me, as if she’s unsure who may be easier to convince. The fact that she even looks to me for an answer makes my chest constrict.

“I think we might be able to sneak in,” Addie says as she takes Nora’s hand, then mine.

Our friends follow us out to the field. The stadium is empty except for the maintenance staff working their way through the sections to pick up trash.

Nora runs around on the scuffed grass, twirling her arms in the air and spinning in circles like she’s the main character in a princess movie. She does a small skip, then a jump, and continues her run toward the fifty-yard line. Henry chases her, and her giggles fill the air.

Deon joins in, then Nathalie, until all of us are chasing her around, letting her evade tackles.

“I’m a football princess!” she screeches as she slips Jack’s grip.

Her joy is infectious, and she barrels toward Addie and me, crashing into us and taking us to the ground. She kicks and laughs, and to my shock, plants a sloppy kiss on my forehead, then Addie’s.

Addie’s lips curl as she wipes the spit dripping down her cheek.

“Do you guys want a family photo?” Nathalie asks, lifting her phone.

My friends stand on the sidelines, each watching us with open expressions of wonder.

Nora takes my hand, then Addie’s, and stands between us, her tiara high on her head, and my jersey covering the top half of her sparkly dress.

“Smile!” Nora says, and I glance over at Addie, who looks down at her daughter lovingly.

Is this what family feels like? Like your heart no longer exists in your chest, but is split into pieces and resides in others?

Nathalie takes a few photos and gives a thumbs up when she finishes.

“I have one more surprise,” Addie whispers, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I lift a brow. “Nora’s spending the night with Henry and Sawyer.”

I glance over to my friends, who are already corralling Nora toward the exit.

Henry spins and winks.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Henry: Step seven.

The car ride was consumed with nervous energy, as is the walk to Addie’s apartment from the visitor parking. Her hand brushes mine, and I swallow the nerves and lace our fingers together. Her eyes fly to our intertwined hands, and a pink hue climbs the column of her neck, turning her skin into a soft shade of coral.

“I didn’t have time to clean,” she admits as she unlocks the door.

“It can’t be…” The words die on my tongue.

It’s worse than I imagined. Stuffed animals litter the worn wooden floorboards, and dishes cover the table and countertops. The living room looks like a glitter bomb exploded, and there are slivers of construction paper everywhere.

Makeup spills from a bag in the center of the kitchen, and there’s a half eaten sandwich on a dining chair.

Addie falters a step at the look of horror on my face.

“Just give me a minute.” The words come out quickly and jumbled. “I can pick up.”

She darts around the entryway, scooping things into her arms, and shoving them into a closet and slamming the door shut.

A laugh rips from my chest, and I wrap my arms around her shoulders and pull her against me. “I’m just surprised how messy you two are.”

She melts into the embrace, and the nerves between us flutter away. I sweep her hair to the side and place a soft kiss behind her ear. The soft moan that she emits sends a shiver of lust down my spine, and I harden in my joggers.

“Let’s clean up,” I offer, “So we don’t have to worry about it later.”

She spins to protest, but I slide a hand down the curve of her waist, and pull her tightly against my chest and my erection digs into her ass. Her breath leaves as a sharp exhale.

“O-Okay.”

I release her and take a deep breath to cool the desire setting fire to my veins. “I’ll do the dishes. You tackle the living room nightmare.” She blinks a few times, eyebrows crinkling, and makes no move toward the glitter bomb disaster. “Addie?”

“I hate doing the dishes,” she blurts out, then slaps her hand over her mouth like she confessed to committing a crime.

“Okay?”

“You like doing the dishes?”

“I don’t mind it.” No one loves to do dishes, but as menial tasks go, it’s not my least favorite. “But I hate changing bed sheets. Fuck duvet covers.”

She releases a surprised laugh. “I like making the bed.”

There’s something questioning and uncovering in her gaze, and I could watch her work though her thoughts for a lifetime.

“Sounds like we were made for each other.” I tap her ass and she jolts, “Get to work.”

She bites her lips, but leans over to pick stuffed animals and toys from the floor and return them to bins.

I diligently work on the dishes and wipe down the counters and stove when I’m finished loading the washer. The same pang of grief strikes when I place the glasses into the rack, but it’s dull, rather than the sharp, debilitating grief I’m used to.

“Done!” Addie yells, moments before she launches onto me, arms wrapped around my neck and legs wrapped around my waist.

The air shifts, and lust crackles through the air as our gaze connects and silence lingers on. Her fingers dance along my skin and tangle into the hair at the nape of my neck. She pulls my head down until our lips hover inches away.

“I’m ready for the life-changing kiss you were referring to.”

Her tongue darts out to coat her lips, and I dash in and crash my lips to hers, stealing the gasp that escapes. The kiss deepens immediately into something rushed, and she molds her body against mine, peaked nipples pressed against my chest.

She captures my groan, and I aimlessly walk down a small hallway as she consumes me. I was right.

Life will never be the same now that I know how Addie kisses—with total and unwavering dedication. I memorize the curve of her hips with my touch before trailing my hands along her ass and hiking her up on my waist. She releases small, breathy sounds as I nibble at her lower lip and then kiss the corner of her mouth.

I place feather-soft kisses along the slope of her jaw and down the smooth column of her neck. I linger on her collarbone, right above the collar of her polo.

“ Declan ,” she says in a breath.

My name on her tongue is nearly my undoing and my cock twitches beneath my boxers. She shifts her hips and grazes along my shaft, and I falter a step.

Fuck, I’m going to cum before we even get started.

“Where’s your room?”

She throws a hand out and points to the left door, and I kick it open and drop her on the bed. She lands with a bounce, and then her hands reach out and she pulls me by my hoodie and drags me onto the bed with her.

Her lips are back on mine in an instant. This kiss is softer, questioning, slow. Addie’s hands explore my body, down the planes of my back and over the muscles flexing from the exertion of holding back my impending orgasm.

I rise on my knees and tug my sweatshirt over my head, offering her unfettered access to explore the way she wants. Her eyes dilate, and she drags her lower lip between her teeth.

“Oh. Wow.” A cocky smile tugs at my lips. “Hot.”

It’s not quite a full sentence, but I understand her meaning, and male pride floods my chest. I press a knee between her legs, and she opens them slightly.

I gesture to her top. “Can I?”

Her eyes fall to my waistband, eyes widening, but she nods, and I drag the polo over her head. My throat dries at the sight of her. Soft, pale skin covered in freckles and a lavender lacy bra that barely covers her breasts.

What’s your favorite color?

It feels like something I should know.

I step closer, and small white flowers decorate the purple lace. Tiny daisies.

“Tell me,” I trail my finger along the strap of her bra, “Did you pick this color out for me?”

She peers up beneath hooded lashes and nods.

Fuck. Me.

“ Did you wear this pretty little thing all day knowing I would take it off of you tonight?”

“It did cross my mind,” she says shyly.

“And if I were to take these off,” I trail a finger along the waistband of her leggings, “would I find a matching set?”

“Why don’t you find out?” she counters, lifting her hips. I tear her pants off with little grace, and I groan at the small strip of lace covering her, and the tiny flowers that decorate the fabric. A small patch of the lace is a deep purple from her arousal.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” I say, coasting a hand up and down the outside of her thighs. She lifts up onto her elbows and assesses herself, frowning at her lower stomach.

“They never truly faded,” she says quietly. It takes me a beat to comprehend she’s referring to the stretch marks along her abdomen, a darker shade of pink against her pale skin.

I lean down and press a gentle kiss beneath her belly button, directly on a stretch mark.

“These don’t bother me,” I murmur against her skin, peppering kisses along her stomach. I know she said it out of self-consciousness and fear it would dampen my attraction to her, but she couldn’t be any more beautiful in my eyes. “You created a life, Addie. All on your own. These are nothing to be ashamed of.”

She bites the inside of her cheek, and I press on to my palms to take her lips between mine. When she finally sheds the weight on her shoulders, I play with her waistband again.

“Take them off,” she demands.

I do as I’m told, and I slide the strip of lace down her legs and drop them onto the floor. I slide my hands up her thighs and spread her knees open as I drop to mine. Pleasure compounds at the base of my spine, coiling tighter until it’s a grenade with the pin nearly pulled loose.

Her pupils are blown, hazel faded to black, and I keep my eyes locked with hers as I lower my mouth and drag my tongue along her slit. The muscles in her body give out, and she falls back onto the ivory sheets, and her fingers grip the duvet, wrinkles forming in the linen.

“Oh, fuck ,” she moans as I slide a finger inside her, curving it towards me.

I suck at her clit, then add a second finger, and when she groans, and her legs shake slightly, the pin keeping my orgasm at bay loosens a bit more.

Her hand flies out and tangles into the strands of my hair, pressing me closer to her core.

I’m going to come in my pants.

I resign myself to the embarrassing reality, and work my fingers in and out, focusing on the sounds she offers, changing my pace when her breath hitches, and swirling my tongue around her clit when her fingers tighten around my hair.

“Declan, I—” Her words fizzle away when I tug her swollen clit between my teeth.

She tightens around my fingers, thighs twitching as she barrels toward an orgasm.

“ Oh.” The word is breathy, and full of desire, and it’s all it takes for my orgasm to race through me. I spill into my boxers, but don’t falter on my pace.

I groan against her, and she flies off the handle and rides through her pleasure. I don’t stop until she’s fully sated and falls limp against the sheets. Her chest rises and falls at a rapid pace.

She cracks an eye open, and her hazel iris shines. “Holy shit.” Her hair is plastered to the side of her face, and she shoves it away. “Five stars.”

“Did you just rate my performance?” A surprised laugh escapes me, but when I shift, I’m reminded of the orgasm coating my boxers, and I force away the slight discomfort.

“Yes.” She smiles brightly. “I’ll even give you a sticker later for your hard work.” She pushes onto her knees and crawls across the bed, eyes locked on me. Her hands reach out toward my waistband. “My turn,” she says, tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“Yeah, you don’t need to worry about that,” I admit.

Her brows furrow, and her eyes dart down to where my hand covers my crotch.

“Did you just—”

“Come in my pants from eating you out?” Her eyes widen, “Yeah.”

Her features are stunned, before she lets out a booming laugh and falls back onto the sheets, kicking her feet. “You know how to make a girl feel special,” she forces out between giggles. “I might have to lower your rating.”

“Don’t you dare.” I leap on top of her, peppering her face in kisses as she wiggles beneath me.

The air quiets, and she rolls her lips between her teeth. “Did you need to go change?”

She’s deriving far too much enjoyment from my predicament. I roll my eyes, but slip out of her room to change into the extra pair of shorts I have in my workout bag. When I return to the room, her gaze roams over my chest, and she’s changed into a pair of pajamas. Another purple set, this time with unicorns and rainbows on the fabric.

I lift a brow. “Nora also has a pair. They’re all that’s clean.”

“Very cute.”

She lifts the covers, and I slide in beside her, settling into the mattress. There’s something incredibly mundane about our night. Clean up the house. Have some fun. Fall asleep beside each other.

I could spend the rest of my life completing the simple tasks with her.

She nestles against my chest, and my breathing slows as sleep starts to drag me under. When I’m on the cusp of oblivion, she presses something tacky on my forehead.

Her chest rumbles with laughter as I peel the sticker off. It’s a small teal circle with three gold stars at the center and “good work!” written along the top. On the quote, she added with Sharpie a small carrot that adds “tongue” to the phrase.

“You think you’re real fucking funny, don’t you?” Her responding cackle in answer enough. I press the sticker to the headboard. “Goodnight, Adeline.”

“Goodnight.”

She falls asleep on my chest, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like I’m home.