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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

GAME TIME

ADELINE

Penn is on edge when we get to our room that night.

“Is Mrs. Murphy always so intense?” I ask.

He nods grimly. “Pretty much. She’s nice, and yet I’m beginning to feel like she’s looking for a way to catch me in a lie…or to come up with another reason Sam can’t be with me.”

“Maybe that’s your guilty conscience about the whole fake wedding thing we’ve got going here.”

“Good point.” He makes a face. “It’s obvious he’s so happy here.

I don’t understand why it’s still an issue.

But Sutton, the judge I was talking about, he reassured me.

He looked at the papers David has drawn up and he seems to think we can make this move quickly.

Once it’s official, she won’t have a say in any of this anymore. ”

I put my hands on his waist and he leans his forehead on mine.

“I can’t wait for that day,” he says.

My hands move up his arms and to his shoulders. I frown when I feel how tight they are and start massaging them. “I think we should take a bath.”

“Yeah?” he says, starting to grin.

I back away and hold up my hand. “A relaxing bath. With bath oil and a little massage…”

“Now we’re talking. I love the sound of that.”

I shake my head, moving past him. “I think you’re hearing something I’m not saying.”

“We’ll see about that.”

I snort and go into the bathroom, running the water and adding the drops of oil that I love. My favorite has hints of vanilla and citrus. It’s not too sweet but just enough to feel comforting and indulgent. Any time I use it, Penn mentions how delicious I smell and how soft I feel.

I light a few candles and dim the lights. When I turn the water off, Penn walks in behind me.

“You getting in, or are you just gonna stand there brooding?” I ask.

His mouth twitches, the smallest hint of a smile before he shakes his head. “I don’t brood.”

“You totally brood.” I flick a bit of water in his direction. “I feel like brooding after that surprise visit myself. I think we’ll have to intentionally unbrood ourselves.” I pull my shirt over my head and his eyes light with interest. “Strip.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He watches me as he slowly pulls his shirt over his head.

As he exhales, and I see some of the tension already leaving his body, mine tightens up in anticipation.

The way his muscles shift as he steps out of his pants…

he is the most beautiful man. His chest is sculpted with precision, his arms are lined with muscle, his tattoos are beautiful, his skin sun-kissed, and his abs are cut with deep lines, a testament to the work he’s put into his body.

His waist is lean and his thighs are thick and powerful, and even when he’s still, there’s an energy about him, like he’s about to spring into action.

And his face…I love his face so much. So masculine and yet beautiful, a rugged charm despite his pretty eyes and full lips.

His eyes are full of mischief, like he knows the effect he has on people.

I’m pretty sure he knows the effect he has on me.

And when I see the stubble on his face, I imagine the scrape of it between my legs.

When he finally tugs his boxer briefs down, a quick intake of breath escapes my lips. He’s long and hard and thick and he absolutely knows how to use what he’s been given. He smirks before turning around and I admire his ass. There really is no place on his body that isn’t perfect.

He steps into the tub, the heat of the water making him groan low in his throat. He lowers himself into the water and looks up at me. “Okay. This was the perfect idea.”

I grin smugly.

He points at me. “Your turn. You didn’t finish stripping for me. And I’m not taking this bath alone.”

I’m not as deliberate with my striptease, hurriedly getting out of my clothes, but he watches like I am putting on a delicious show.

When I’m completely undressed, he holds out his hand and I take it as I step into the bath.

I sit in front of him, and his arms come around my waist, his chest pressing against my back.

I hum in approval. “Told you.”

His lips brush against my shoulder, warm and lazy. “You like telling me you’re right…”

“I really do.” I lean back against him, letting my head rest on his shoulder. “You okay?”

“I will be.” His fingers trace light patterns along my hip under the water. “It’s just…I want this to all work out so much. I want Sam to be okay, I want you to be okay…”

“I’m okay.” I turn slightly, enough that I can see the edge of his jaw and the way his gaze is fixed on my chest as he reaches up to cup my breast. “And we’re figuring it out together. You don’t have to carry this by yourself anymore.”

He gives my nipple a slight pinch and my head falls back again. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

I shift, turning fully so I can straddle his lap, and the water sloshes with the movement. His eyes lift to mine and they soften.

I smile, cupping his face in my hands. “You know what helps?”

He leans close and wraps his mouth around my bud. His tongue swirls around the peak. “What?” he asks.

My lips brush against his head as I whisper, “Distraction.”

I feel his lips lift against my skin and his voice is playful. “Is that so?”

He’s so hard underneath me and it’s hitting me just right. I lean into him.

“Mm-hmm.” I press a kiss on his cheek and then a light, lingering kiss on his lips. “You, me, a hot bath…seems like the perfect opportunity for a little stress relief.”

His hands slide up my back, pulling me flush against him. “I think I might like unbrooding.”

“See? I can be very persuasive.”

“I love it when you use your powers for good,” he says.

I laugh against his lips and then he kisses me, deep and slow, stealing the breath right from my lungs.

We make very good use out of the bathtub.

His fingers slide under the water and between my legs and when I’m squirming and desperate for him, he seats himself into me so deep, there’s no space whatsoever between us.

“God, you’re the best thing I’ve ever felt,” he groans.

“Can’t possibly be any better than how you feel,” I shudder against him.

My phone starts dinging like crazy the next day, mid-morning. I glance down and grin when I see a text thread going on with the girls. We exchanged numbers the other night at the party.

Sadie

We’ve tried to give you a little time since technically you’re on your honeymoon. But it’s killing us. LOL

Tru

^Truth! We’re dying to hear more deets than what we got at the party the other night! I propose a girls’ night out.

Poppy

I’d LOVE a girls’ night out. I’m getting bigger by the second and Jonas is into everything! The thought of chatting with you girls without interruption for more than five minutes sounds like a dream.

I’d love this more than anything!

I can’t stop grinning, as I watch more texts pop up.

Sadie

I don’t know what your schedule is like during the game, but if you get a chance, come say hi! Or it might be easier if we come to you.

Elle

It would definitely be easier if we went to her. Are you working your head off, Addy?

Totally. But we’ve been working toward today all week, so I’m happy that it’s finally here. I’ll be going pretty much nonstop during the game, but afterward, if you want to, meet me in the family area. There will be plenty of food there and we could celebrate the Mustangs’ win.

Elle

YES. I love that positivity. Okay, we’ll see you then! And maybe a little before the game too, just for a quick hug.

Tru

Oh, and Sadie gave me a great tip when I started dating Henley. If you have Penn’s jersey…let’s just say, good things tend to happen when they see their jerseys on the woman they love.

I put my hand on my hot cheek.

Jersey, check. Consider it done. Thank you for the tip.

Elle

That’s what she said. Sorry, channeling my husband.

LOL

Sadie

See you tonight!

Tru

Poppy

Can’t wait.

It’s cutting it close, but since I worked hard to prepare everything before, Toby goes to the stadium ahead of me and I’m able to pick up Sam from school so he won’t miss anything.

It’s the most hyper I’ve seen him; he chats nonstop the whole drive to the stadium.

Right before we arrive, I tell him what we’ll need to do to have everything ready for the team.

“I’m excited to help,” he says, as we’re walking inside.

“You need to do homework first, so it’s done.”

“I already finished it at school.”

I glance at him suspiciously and he laughs.

“I promise!” he says. “You think I’d miss out on any of this? I’ve been waiting for this day for months . And I didn’t even know I’d get to be here! This is the best. I’ve gotten to go to a lot of Penn’s games, but this is my first preseason game.”

His excitement is contagious. Toby’s still lining food up in the cafeteria, and Sam and I each lug huge coolers into the locker room so we can replenish those refrigerators. I take a little note out of my pocket when I pass Penn’s locker and slip it on his top shelf.

Play hard, Preacher Man.

I’ll be cheering you on.

XX,

Siren

Sam notices and grins at me, happy to be in on the secret.

“Whoa, I’ve never seen so many Uncrustables ever!” Sam says when we get back to the cafeteria. “And bananas! So much of everything!”

“These players have huge appetites,” I tell him. His eyes are round as he stares at all we still have to set up. “There’s plenty. If you’re hungry, help yourself.”

“Thank you, Addy,” he says. He picks up a package of Uncrustables and carefully unwraps it, nodding happily as he eats it. “That’s really good.”

“You’ve never had one?”

He shakes his head.

“Well, you’re not the only one who likes them. I can’t keep enough of them around here! Here’s the smoothie stuff too, if you want any of that.” I point out the smoothie station that Toby’s working on, and Sam jogs over there to help him.

From there, he meticulously arranges the protein bars on the table, while I make the Mustangs Magic.

“I love this job,” he calls, glancing over at me. “What are you doing?”

“Making my secret concoction.”

“Ooo, does it make the players really strong?” He jogs over to see what I’m doing. I wink at him when I pour certain things in and his eyes crinkle as he grins up at me.

Then I show him my notebook of all the guys’ requests.

What they want before the game, what they want brought out to them during the game, what they want afterward, and Toby, Sam, and I prepare all that as best we can.

And then we start on the hot dishes. Once things are close, I pull Sam aside and take him to the room where I’ve set our things.

I hold up our jerseys, both with Hudson #1 on the back.

“Oh man, Penn’s gonna love seeing you in that,” Sam says, laughing. “Sometimes I’ve worn Rhodes’ or Weston’s jersey just to irritate him.”

We’re both laughing now. “I’m sure that goes over really well,” I snort.

He slips the jersey over his head and smooths it out. “I think he still knows he’s my favorite, don’t you?”

I wrap my arm around his shoulder and nod. “I think he does. If he doesn’t, this should help tonight. That boy’s so vain, his head is gonna blow up when he sees us both wearing his jersey,” I tease.

“Penn says, ‘If you’ve got it, there’s no need to hide it…’” He tilts his head. “I’m not sure what it is, but…I think Penn’s got whatever it is.”

I crack up and nuzzle his head for a second before I let go to tighten my ponytail. “You are so right, my man. And you know what? You’ve got it too. It,” I draw the word out, “is charisma and magnetism, and you have got it in spades.”

Sam’s posture straightens and he gets taller right before my eyes. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Well, Penn was right when he said you’re the prettiest woman on Earth. But I like that you’re nice too.”

I swear, I think this boy has made my eyes well up at least once a day, if not more, since I met him.

“Thank you, Mister Samson Cole. You sure know how to make a girl’s day.”

He sighs. “Tell that to Cassidy. She ignored me today. We passed in the hall and she acted like she didn’t even see me.”

“Ugh. What are we gonna do about that? Maybe she didn’t see you. I bet that’s it.”

He brightens. “Do you think she’ll be here tonight?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll show you where she’ll probably be, if so. You can sit there if you want.”

His shoulders sag slightly. “You don’t want me to keep helping?”

“Well, I thought you’d probably want to see the game.”

“If I help you carry stuff out to the players during the game, I’ll be seeing the game and helping…” He waggles his eyebrows.

I put the lid on the massive pile of chicken breasts and laugh under my breath. “One day, I have no doubt you’ll be out on the sidelines if that’s what you want to do. For today, you’ll have to stay back here with me or sit in that area I’m talking about…”

“You don’t get to see the game?”

“I’ll watch some of it from the TV there,” I point at the TV on the wall, “and I’ll be running back and forth the rest of the time.”

I glance over at Toby, who’s deep into getting the post-game meal ready for the players.

“How are you doing over there, Toby?” I call.

He lifts both hands in the air, doing a little booty shake. “We are slaying,” he says. “Sam, can you come help every time?”

Sam beams proudly. “Absolutely.”

“Amazing,” Toby says. “Then we’ll be golden.”

The way Penn’s eyes glisten with lust when he sees me in his jersey.

One hundred percent worth the time it took me to find it.

While Sam is busy chatting with Cassidy and her sisters, Penn tugs me into the kitchen and then into the little closet off to the side.

“Great game. I knew you’d win.”

He grins and his eyes rake up and down me.

“What are we doing in here?” I ask, breathless.

“Couldn’t wait until we got home to do this,” he says, kissing me until my toes curl.

I lift to my tiptoes and kiss him back, and then we’re a tangle of arms and clothes tugged down, just enough so he slides my underwear to the side and impales me. So deep, I gasp and whimper his name.

“So good,” I whisper.

“Were you ready for me all night or was it just that kiss?” he asks, thrusting hard and fast.

“I’ve been ready for you since the minute you pulled out of me this morning.”

He moans. “I love that answer.”

He picks up the tempo and I hold on for the ride as he lifts me until my legs are wrapped around his waist. His hands hold onto my hips, slamming me down, and I see stars.

“Touch yourself,” he says. “Touch yourself, Addy. I’ll take my time with you later, but I need you to come now.”

He doesn’t have to ask twice. We both groan when my fingers circle faster and faster, and we both sag into each other as we fall apart.

When our heartbeats slow, he gives me a languid kiss and places me carefully on the ground.

“I’ll see you at home, Mrs. Hudson.”

“Can’t wait, Mr. Hudson.”