Page 14 of Flag On The Play (Gridiron Warriors #5)

FINLAY

F inal seconds on the clock.

We’re up by three, and we could play it safe, take a knee, run it down, but where’s the fun in that?

My fingers twitch with energy as I shout the play.

Then I see her.

Up in the stands, standing at the front of the section in my jersey. My fucking jersey .

She’s biting her lip, arms crossed like she doesn’t care, but I know better. She’s here. That’s everything.

Two weeks ago, she told me she wanted to try. Since then, we’ve actually been trying. Dinners. Late-night texts that start dirty and end with me smiling like an idiot. We went out with Roxy, Delaney, Jace, and Theo, and for once, she didn’t flinch when I had my arm around her all night.

She hasn’t said she loves football. But she shows up. And that’s more than I could ask for.

I grip the ball, smile to myself, and take three steps back. I spot my receiver, wide open.

Perfect spiral. Clean catch.

Touchdown.

The stadium erupts, but all I hear is that damn heartbeat in my ears. All I see is her, jumping and screaming, hands in the air.

Fuck. I promised I wouldn’t call her my lucky charm, but come on. Since her? Every single game is a huge win.

But it’s not about the wins.

It’s her. Showing up. Trying. Choosing me.

Coach is yelling something about post-game interviews, but I slap hands with the guys and head for the locker room. Knox throws his arm around me as I strip off my pads.

“Jesus, Reed. You’ve been on fire lately. What the hell are you eating before games?”

Jace smirks. “It’s not what he’s eating. It’s who.”

Laughter erupts around me, but I just shake my head and grin like an idiot.

“Bunch of jealous assholes,” I say, slinging my gear into my bag.

Theo claps me on the back. “We hitting the bar?”

“Nah,” I say, grabbing my phone. “I’ve got plans.”

“Ooooh, plans,” Jace teases, dragging the word out. “Say hi to Lux for us.”

I flip him off, still grinning. “She’s not Lux with me. She’s Nova.”

That shuts them up.

She’s standing just outside the stadium, coat wrapped around her and hair pulled up in that sexy, messy twist that drives me fucking insane. She’s wearing sneakers with a dress, and I don’t know why that makes my chest squeeze, but it does.

I drop my bag to the ground and reach her in three long strides.

I don’t say a word. Just grab her face and kiss the ever-loving hell out of her. Her hands fist in my jacket, and I swear the world could end right now, and I wouldn’t care.

When I finally pull back, she’s breathless, flushed, beautiful.

“Come to my place,” I murmur, forehead against hers.

“Finlay.”

“No games, Nova. No crowd. No noise. Just us.”

She studies me for a second, and I can tell she’s fighting that little voice in her head. The one that tells her not to trust, not to hope.

But she nods.

And just like that, the real game begins.

The elevator doors glide open, and she steps out ahead of me into my penthouse. The skyline stretches out in front of her, the city glowing like it knows she’s here.

She moves softly on the hardwood. She pauses, just one step in, like she needs to process what she’s seeing.

Candles flicker on every surface.

Roses. Everywhere.

Wine, already chilled, waiting on the counter with two glasses.

Her breath catches. I hear it, even from behind.

She turns slowly to face me. “You did all this?”

I shrug, shutting the door behind me. “You said you wanted to try. I figured I’d make it really damn clear I’m trying too.”

Her eyes move over everything again, that soft, guarded look starting to melt. “You’re not subtle.”

“Not when it comes to you.”

She laughs. It’s nervous or maybe surprised. “You sure this isn’t too much?”

“I played one of the best games of my career an hour ago. Threw the winning touchdown. And all I could think about was getting back here to you.”

Her throat works as she swallows. I take a step toward her.

“I meant what I said. I don’t want this to be confusing anymore. I don’t want to be drunk or mad or trying to prove a point.”

She nods slowly. “And what are you trying to prove now?”

“That I don’t just want to fuck you. I want you.”

The look she gives me could level any grown man.

I close the space between us and brush a strand of hair from her cheek. “But we’re definitely gonna fuck too. That hasn’t changed.”

That gets a low and husky laugh from her. “You’re a menace.”

“Only for you.”

She steps forward then, and it’s like the world holds its breath. Her fingers tangle in the front of my shirt. “I don’t want to overthink this tonight.”

“Then don’t.”

I kiss her again, slower this time. No heat behind it yet, just us. Her lips part, and she lets me in, soft and warm and familiar in the best kind of way. She’s not pushing me away. She’s letting me in.

My hands settle on her hips, and hers glide up to my shoulders.

This kiss doesn’t spiral into something frenzied. It simmers.

By the time I pull back, we’re both breathing harder. “Hungry?” I ask, nodding toward the wine.

She shakes her head. “I’m good right here.”

I tug her closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Good. Because this time, I want to take my time with you.”

Her eyes darken, and I feel the tension shift again. That pulse between us building, but underneath it now, there’s something that feels an awful lot like trust.

She touches my face, just lightly. “Then start slow, QB.”

I guide her to the couch, and we fall into each other like gravity’s been pulling us closer for years. Only this time, we’re not fighting it.

I grab the bottom of her dress and peel it off slowly, as my eyes devour every inch of her skin. She’s stunning. Every curve, every inch of soft golden skin, every inch of that hard-earned control she tries to keep over me.

Her bra hits the floor next. Then my shirt. Her hands slide across my chest, fingertips trailing over every line of muscle like she’s mapping me out, too.

“You’ve got the perfect body,” she says, biting her lip.

“You’re just noticing?”

She rolls her eyes, but stops quickly when I lift her into my arms and carry her to the bedroom, kissing her all the way there.

I sit her on the bed and step back, unbuttoning my jeans. She’s watching me like I’m the one on stage.

This time, we aren’t going to rush.

This time, we’ll get to know each other’s bodies.

My jeans hit the floor, and I step closer, removing my boxers as I do.

She swallows roughly, taking me in. My hard dick jets out in front of me, and I grin when her eyes snap up to mine.

“Damn, QB, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

I chuckle, grabbing my cock and pumping slowly as I move until my legs are touching hers. “This is what you do to me. This is what you’ve always done to me.”

Her eyes soften as I drop to my knees. I slide my hands up her soft thighs and hook my fingers into her black lace panties. My eyes lift to hers, seeking permission without words. She gives a subtle nod, and I slowly pull her panties off, tossing them behind me.

“Fuck, Nova. You’re goddamn perfection.” I push her legs wide, and as my fingers dig into her thighs, my thumb brushes against her pussy.

Her very wet pussy. I lick my lips as I pull my eyes away from the view that I will forever fantasize about and lock my eyes with hers. “And this is what I do to you.”

She bites her lip, nodding as her hands run up my arms. “It is what you do to me. I just haven’t decided if I love it or hate it.”

I press a few soft kisses on her inner thighs and peek up at her.

“You’re gonna love it. I fucking promise you that.

” I kiss along her thighs until I’m right at her pussy.

Right where I want, no, right where I need to be.

“You can watch, which would be fucking hot, but either way, I’m going to see what heaven tastes like finally. ”

I don’t give her time to decide. My tongue drags up her wet pussy, and her taste is nothing like I imagined. It’s so much better. It’s fucking addictive. It’s something I know I will forever crave.

My fingers dig into her soft thighs as my mouth devours her like the treat she is.

My lips move against her while I suck, nip, and lick.

“Oh yes,” she moans, sinking her fingers into my hair and pulling.

I peek up and see she’s still sitting up, watching. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed.

It only spurs me on.

My tongue circles her clit, and I unleash on it. Hard. Fast. Frantic.

Her hips are moving. Her moans are getting louder. Her fingers are pulling harder at my hair.

“Don’t stop. God, don’t stop,” she cries out.

I couldn’t stop if my life depended on it, but hearing her beg for it makes this so much more intense.

She’s close, I know she is. As much as I want to continue to worship her pussy, she needs the relief.

I continue my punishing pace on her clit as I slam two fingers into her tight, wet pussy.

“Yes!”

My dick is rock hard, getting worse with every sound and movement she makes.

As my fingers fuck her hard and fast, my tongue continues to lash out against her sensitive clit. I hum against her, and she cries out, overwhelmed with everything she’s feeling.

“I can’t hold off.”

She’s trembling, trying to fight the inevitable. Always wanting to be in control.

But this time she’s not.

She can’t fight it.

“Oh my God, Finlay!”

I continue to lick at her while she moans as wave after wave of her release crashes over her.

Once she’s settled, I kiss my way up her body until my lips are right above hers.

“Nova Wilde, I’ve never tasted anything sweeter in my life.”

“I’m not sweet.”

I grin and press my lips to hers. Our tongues tangle as I move onto the bed and we make our way up it. When I break the kiss, I smile down at her, searching her heated eyes.

“Maybe on the outside you try not to be sweet, but believe me, inside, you are.”

And I don’t just mean how she tastes.

She has a sweet side to her that she buries deep down.

Her hand touches my cheek as she searches my eyes. “You don’t need to lay it on thick, Finlay. I’m naked in your bed.”

“I’m not saying anything that’s not true. Just like if I don’t bury myself deep inside your tight, wet pussy, I might fucking die.”

She reaches between us and wraps her hand around my hard cock. “So what are you waiting for?”

I let out a hiss and wrap my hand over hers. “If you do that, this will be over before it starts.”

She giggles as I reach over and pull a condom out of the nightstand. I rip it open and hand it to her. “Roll it on me.”

She takes it from me, her eyes bouncing from mine to my cock and back. With a shaky hand, she rolls the condom on, and I swear I could come from her gentle touch alone.

Her legs drop wider as I move into position, my cock pressing at her entrance.

“You do things to me that no one else is capable of, Nova.”

I push inside her, not giving her a chance to reply with anything but a deep moan.

We move in sync. Her body arching into mine, my mouth exploring every part of her I’ve dreamed about since high school. Her slender neck, her perfect tits. And as I slam into her, picking up the pace, there’s nothing but her name in my head, in my mouth, in my chest.

She cries out, nails digging into my back, and it feels like a brand. One I’ll wear proudly.

I drive into her, fucking her like I’ve always fantasized about. Memorizing every sound, every touch, every feeling.

“Oh my God,” she cries out, digging her nails deeper into my skin.

We both hold on tighter, moving faster, as we chase our release.

“You feel so good, Nova. So fucking good wrapped around me. Your hot, tight pussy is going to make me come hard,” I groan out.

“Fuck!”

Her soft skin against mine.

Her loud moans echoing around us.

Her pussy tightening as she gets closer.

I’ve never felt anything like it. Never felt like I was connecting with someone on a deeper level.

But right now, I do.

And I know she feels it too. I can see it in her eyes that are fluttering closed.

“Look at me,” I whisper, slowing my pace, cupping her jaw. “I need to see you.”

Her eyes flutter open, and in them I see everything. Lust, vulnerability, confusion, and something dangerously close to wanting.

Not just this. Not just me.

More.

I grip her tighter, grounding us both. “I’m not going anywhere,” I say against her lips.

She doesn’t answer, but she doesn’t look away either.

I slam into her as I reach between us and rub her clit. She cries out in pleasure as she squeezes my cock harder. I’m not going to last much longer, but I know she’s just as close.

We keep moving harder and faster. Needing relief.

“I’m so close,” she moans, arching her back.

“Let go, Nova. Stop always fighting everything.”

Our eyes lock, and I swear she can see into my soul.

And when she comes undone around me, trembling in my arms, I know no matter how much she fights it, this means something to both of us.

And I’ll be damned if I let it go.

“Nova,” I groan as my release rips me in two.

We both hold on to each other, breathing heavily as we come back to reality.

After a few minutes, we are lying in bed, wrapped around each other. Her head is on my chest, and I kiss the top of her head.

“You okay?” I ask, voice low.

She lets out a breathy laugh. “That’s a dangerous question to ask a woman who walked into a candlelit penthouse and had mindblowing sex like she stepped into a damn movie.”

“I meant it in a good way,” I say, tightening my hold on her. “Unless you hate flowers and wine and a guy trying way too hard.”

Her lips quirk. “I don’t hate it. I just don’t know what to do with it.”

“You don’t have to do anything,” I say. “You’re already here. That’s enough.”

She nods, her gaze dropping to her hands for a beat. Then, slowly, she leans her head on my shoulder.

Her hair brushes my jaw, and I breathe her in. She smells like vanilla and sin.

“You know,” I murmur, “when you’re not yelling at me or threatening to knee me in the balls, you are sweet.”

She lifts her head and raises an eyebrow. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Never,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear. “But I’ll take it when I can.”

She smiles, and damn, it hits me harder than a blindside tackle. That smile is real, and for a second, I believe that this is too.

“And Nova, I already told you, I’m not going anywhere.”