Page 15

“He has it so bad,” Emilia says from beside me, giggling.

I blush, peeking over at her. We met a few hours ago. I really like her. She gave Jordan all kinds of shit. He acted like it annoyed him, but I know better. He likes her.

Seeing that was relieving. I’ve been worried that he shut down and shut everyone out after what happened with the Bucks. It’s good to see that he has friends here, people he cares about, who care about him, too. He deserves that more than anything.

“He’s way less grumpy with you around,” she says, grinning at me.

I smile back, not sure what to say…mostly because she’s right.

He has been a lot less grumpy lately. Certainly less cranky than he was when I first tracked him down at the arena.

He was mad as hell that day. Now, he’s just…

calm. Well, calmer. I don’t think he’ll ever be truly calm.

The man is a lightning storm. But he seems more at peace now, maybe? I don’t know.

I just know that it looks good on him. And if I had something to do with it, then yay for me. Actually, yay for me anyway. I’m getting regular orgasms from the man I’ve been crazy about for years. Obviously, my life feels a little bit like a fairytale right now.

Emilia, Peyton, and I don’t wait around for the teams to shake hands before trudging back to wait for the guys. Security doesn’t even blink in our direction as we slip down the tunnel, heading toward their locker room. I guess they know Emilia and Peyton on sight by now.

“Are you guys coming out to celebrate tonight?” Emilia asks.

“We are,” Peyton says.

“I don’t think we are,” I murmur. “Jordan didn’t say anything about it.” I know he usually goes out with the team at least for a little while after a game, but I haven’t really tagged along. I’m not entirely sure he’s ready to be that public yet.

I’m trying not to rush it because we’re still new, still trying to find our footing. And unlike a lot of new couples, we have a whole lot of baggage along for the ride. Sometimes, perfection takes patience. It takes time.

But I’d be lying if I said feeling like we’re hiding doesn’t sting a little.

Part of me worries that he still feels like he’s doing something wrong by being with me.

We aren’t the same as we were five years ago.

I’m not eighteen anymore. He’s not Jamison’s best friend any longer.

But…he’s a public figure, one who has spent years being bashed and battered by the media.

People are going to have thoughts about the two of us together. They’re going to criticize and judge him. Hell, they’re going to do it to me, too. They’ll say I chose him over my brother, that I have no loyalty. But they don’t know either of us, and they don’t know our story.

I don’t care what the world thinks. But part of me worries that Jordan still does, though.

And I’m not really sure what to do about that.

I want to be patient and give us time. But when you’ve spent so long wishing for something…

patience is hard to come by when it’s right there and you still can’t quite reach it.

“Maybe next time,” I murmur to Emilia.

Half an hour later, the team arrives in a wall of sound. Most of the guys file right on by, ducking into the locker room to shower and change. Jordan doesn’t. He walks right up to me, his eyes scanning my face.

“What’s wrong?” he demands.

“What? Nothing.” I paste a bright smile on my face. “Maybe I’m just admiring the view. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all dressed up in your gear and sweaty, you know.”

He narrows his eyes on me and then grunts, hauling me into his arms. My heart races as his lips come down on mine in a hard kiss in front of everyone in the hall.

“Holy shit!” one of his teammates shouts as several others whoop and catcall.

Jordan ignores them like they don’t exist, pulling me into a little alcove across from the locker room.

“You just kissed me,” I mumble, staring up at him with what I’m sure is a stupid look on my face.

“Fuck yeah, I needed that,” he growls, nipping at my bottom lip.

“You kissed me in front of your teammates.”

“Yeah, so?”

“I thought…never mind, it’s not important.”

“What? Tell me.”

“I thought you weren’t ready for anyone to know about us.”

He snorts like I’m talking nonsense, tugging me closer to his sweaty body. “Yeah, fuck that noise. You’re mine.”

I beam up at him, feeling like my heart might actually burst. But all I manage to say in response is, “Okay.”

Stellar response, I know. But half an hour ago, I was convinced he wanted to keep our relationship private. Now, he’s kissing me in front of half the team. My mind is all over the place, but in a good way.

“Spending a whole game staring at you in my jersey but not able to touch you is hell on my cock, princess,” he rumbles, plucking at his number stretched across my tits.

“Oh, yeah?” I glance down at my jersey. “Maybe I should skip it next time.”

His eyes narrow to slits. “Maybe I should spank you for even suggesting it.”

I laugh, pressing my face up against his sweaty throat. And then I grimace and pull away. “You smell like you just played a hockey game, handsome.”

“You mean won a game. Get it right.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He yanks me into him, pressing his lips against my ear. “Call me sir like that again, princess, and see how fast I have you bent over, making you scream it.”

I groan quietly, pressing my legs together. “Can we skip to that part?”

“No can do.” He brushes his lips across my forehead. “We have shit to do once we’re finished here.”

“We do?” I eye him sideways. “Uh, what are we doing?”

“Going out.”

I blink at him. “What?”

“You’re going out with me and the team, Sutton.”

“I am? I mean, are you sure?”

“Fuck, yeah, I’m sure. I’m not going without you. And since I need to show up, you’re going.” He cups my cheek, scanning my expression. “Do you not want to go?”

“No. I mean, it’s not that,” I explain when his brows immediately pull down. “I just…never mind.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s probably stupid.”

“Nothing you say is stupid. Tell me.”

“I guess I’ve just been worried that maybe you weren’t ready to introduce me to everyone yet because you still feel a certain type of way about being with me.” I shrug, glancing down. “It’s not a big deal. I’m willing to wait until you’re ready. We’re still new. This is new.”

“I’m not ashamed of you, Sutton. I don’t regret a goddamn thing about being with you. And I’m damn sure not going to hide you,” he says, his voice an intense rumble. “You’re mine, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my heart pulsing the same way it always does when he says I’m his.

He tips my head back, his steely eyes locked on mine. “We’ve hidden for too long already, princess, and look where it led. I’m not going to fuck up like that again. I’m done pretending I don’t feel the way I do. I was done with that shit a long time ago.”

My heart leaps into my throat, pounding like a war hammer. I shouldn’t ask. I know I shouldn’t, but… “H-How do you feel about me?”

He stares at me for a long moment, his expression somber, before he tips his head forward, pressing his lips to my ear. “Ask me that question again when I’m inside you tonight. I’ll tell you exactly what you want to know, but not until you’re wrapped around me where you belong.”

I groan softly, my core clenching.

He presses his lips to my throat and then steps back. “Wait with Emilia and Peyton, baby. I’ll come get you as soon as I’m finished.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

He starts to walk away, stops, and turns back to me. He doesn’t say anything, though. He just stares for the longest time. And then his lips curve into a grin before he shakes his head.

“So fucking perfect,” he mumbles as he walks away, taking my whole heart with him.