Page 10

Nash

I was exhausted, but adrenaline surged through me at Porter’s greeting. I turned, reversing our positions, and pressed him to the wall, taking over the hungry kiss, My tongue demanding entrance to his mouth, and taking everything I could give.

“You’re not leaving me,” Porter muttered, his hand grasping my shirt at my neck.

“No, I’m not,” I agreed, so relieved to be home and with him. I didn’t know what our future held with my responsibilities to my brother and the veiled threat from Porter’s dad, but I wasn’t giving up my man without a fight.

“Geez, dude, I’m right here. I know you told me you have a boyfriend but fuck’s sake.”

I leaned my forehead to Porter’s looking down into his turbulent eyes. “Porter meet my little brother, Knox. This is my boyfriend Porter. For now you’ll be using my room, on the right side of the hallway. Why don’t you go check it out while I talk to Porter, then we’ll take you for burgers in a little bit.”

Porter pulled back slightly to look over my shoulder, but his grip on me didn’t loosen. “Hi, Knox. Nice to meet you.”

Knox said something but I was focused on Porter. I hugged him tight to me, enjoying the bare skin of his torso against my hands, and loving the way he snuggled into me, though he was more powerful.

“I thought you left,” he muttered. “That being with me was too much and you ran.”

“No. Being with you will never be too much. I’m sorry I scared you. I ran out of here so fast to get to Knox that I forgot my phone. I don’t have your number memorized. I tried to get someone to come over here to explain, but my friends are out of town at a seminar. I’m so sorry,” I said again, feeling like I needed to say it a million times after upsetting him. “Knox’s foster family kicked him out because he turned eighteen, and they decided their responsibility to him was done. He was all alone in the city. Then it took forever to deal with bullshit with his school so he could get his diploma. He already had all the credits he needed for graduation, and he was just biding his time before the convocation.”

“So he’s smart like you.”

“Smarter. Has a full ride here next year—combo for scholastics and diving, believe it or not.” Closing my eyes, I buried my nose in his neck and breathed him in. “Fuck, I missed you so much. I was worried about you all alone here without me. But most of all, I just missed you.” I trailed my lips to his ear. “I want to drag you to the bedroom and show you how much, make you feel how much.”

Porter made a soft sound, pressing closer, his cock jabbing into my hip through his soft gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. “You can show me later, sweetheart.”

I sniffed a laugh. “I know it’s early for dinner, but you feel like grabbing a late lunch. Knox gets hangry if he’s not fed on the regular.”

“So we’re parenting a teenager, huh?”

“Only for the summer until he moves into his dorm. If it’s too much, I can—”

“Don’t you dare suggest moving out,” Porter growled, grabbing the front of my shirt again and giving me a little shake. “If nothing else, this three days proved I need my roommate here. I missed you too much.”

“Roommate?”

“Boyfriend. Lover. Pain in my ass. Pick one,” he said.

“You like when I’m a pain in your ass, princess,” I teased, gathering him back against me.

“Shut up,” he whispered, glancing toward my bedroom. “So he’s about four years younger than you?”

“Yeah. He’s…um… I probably need to tell you about my father.”

“My father told me a little about him.”

“Oh. Which brings us back to another problem.”

“The only problem is my dad shouldn’t use the phone without supervision. Makes me seriously question how he’s successful in business. He wasn’t calling to warn you off. He was calling to tell you that our family has your back.”

I wasn’t sure how to process that. Warmth filled my chest and something burned my eyes. Blinking it away, I took a bracing breath. No one had had my back in…well, ever that I could think of. Maybe, my mom had before she disappeared. I couldn’t remember. I’d been so little then. And I’d been taking care of myself since the morning I’d last seen her.

“But your career—” I asked weakly.

“Has nothing to do with it. The sins of your father don’t reflect on you, and if it’s going to be an issue with anyone, I’ll choose you first. Even over hockey.”

“Porter…” I gasped.

His eyes looked glossy and I could see how much that choice would rip him up. “Even hockey,’ he repeated, more determination in his voice. “Look, I… I know it’s too soon to have big feelings, forever feelings, but you have to admit—”

“I have big feelings for you, too,” I interrupted. He’d just told me he’d pick me over the sport he’d played since he was four. I would throw him any God damn rope he needed. I’d give him whatever he wanted.

His lips rolled together, and he nodded, capturing my hand and lacing our fingers together. Our locked gazes spoke what we couldn’t put into words. Porter might have needed me for a one-night deal, but it was turning out to be the deal of a lifetime. We couldn’t say it out loud yet, but this was…this could be…forever.

“Let’s take your brother out then get him settled. You can tell me all about your feelings tonight.”

“I’m a guy. We don’t talk about feelings.”

“Fine,” he smirked. “I guess you’ll just have to show me. What do you say?”

I shook my head, smiling, overwhelmed by how much my life had changed in just a week. I had my family here. I had my boyfriend, the hottest jock on campus in my opinion. And I had a future I never dared imagine.

I brushed my lips over his, then hugged him to me, swaying as I held him, bringing us both comfort.

“I say… Deal, Porter. You have a deal.”