Page 28

ARES

L iam hooted, and I tossed the video game controller onto the coffee table in defeat, shoving his shoulder to push him away.

“Stop gloating.” My comment had no bite.

Everything had been fantastic lately. September had come and gone, and we were already into October with talk of playoffs as a sure thing.

Not only that, but the taint of my sex tape had dwindled, as an Ohio State University quarterback had an even bigger scandal of his own to deal with.

Coach had called me into his office to give me the info and also said that he’d been taking meetings with a few NFL scouts who were very interested in me.

Brielle and I saw each other several times a week, when she slept over, and always on Saturday nights after our local games. Life was good.

“You may kick ass on the field, but in Call of Duty, you’re my bitch.” Liam shoved me back. “Wanna go again?”

“Nah.” I had about fifteen minutes before picking up Brielle for dinner.

Kylian kicked his feet onto the coffee table and leaned back against the couch. “Heard anything from Coach? ”

“About scouts?” Liam started another game, and his focus was back on the screen. “Minnesota’s looking at me. What about you?”

“Texas, Florida, and a couple of others, but those two are at the top of my list.” Kylian smacked my leg. “What about you?”

“Coach hasn’t said specifics, only that he’s taking meetings about me. I’m just staying positive about it after everything that’s happened this year.”

“I hear you on that.” Kylian sighed.

He’d gone through hell last year, putting an end to going into the draft early. It’d all worked out for him, though. But it seemed senior year was my gauntlet to run, and I was ready for it.

“What’s going on with you and Brielle?” Kylian asked. “Is that turning into a more permanent thing?”

“Come on,” Liam grumbled. “Stay single. I already lost Kylian as a wingman, not you too.”

His comments would have annoyed me if I didn’t know Liam as well as I did.

There was more to him than people saw when they hadn’t known him for years.

The attitude was real, as was his rivalry with the hockey star Maverick Davis.

It was his mistrust of relationships, the love-’em-and-leave-’em motto that hid a painful past not many were privy to.

I ignored Liam’s comments. He didn’t expect an answer anyway. “Honestly, I don’t miss the drama of hookups. Hanging with Brielle these past few months has added clarity and happiness I never expected to have.”

“She’s not too bad,” Liam agreed. “Aurora’s the best, though.”

Kylian threw a pillow at his head. “She’s not your personal chef, asshole.”

Liam winked at me before baiting Kylian again. “I wasn’t talking about her cooking.”

Kylian reached across me and punched him in the shoulder. “Get a girlfriend already. ”

I pushed to my feet and cracked Liam across the back of the head for good measure. “I’m out. Meeting Brielle for dinner. I’ll catch you guys later.”

Traffic was light as I drove the few blocks to her dorm.

Mist dusted the windshield, and the soft glow of the street lamps reflected on the wet pavement.

She’d messaged that she was running late from teaching, so I’d waited an additional five minutes before I left the condo.

Even with that, I would probably get there at the same time she did.

It didn’t take long before I was parked in front of Brielle’s dorm.

I opened the door and stepped out into the cool night that worked to coat me in a fine sheen of moisture.

As I rounded the car, I caught sight of Brielle hurrying to her front door, umbrella open, her head bent as she avoided puddles.

A tall man in a black hoodie shadowed her steps.

Something about the way he moved gave me pause.

As she reached for the door, his arm extended—not to hold it open for her, but to grab her arm.

“Hey!” I shouted and broke into a sprint.

Brielle paused, the door partially open. As she turned toward me, the guy pivoted. Head down, he hurried around the corner of the building. His behavior confirmed that something had almost happened.

“Ares.” Brielle grinned. “I thought I would beat you here. I just need to drop my stuff in my room before we leave.”

I grunted in response, my gaze fixed on where the guy had disappeared. I ushered her in, waiting while she got her umbrella situated before we entered the stairwell to her second-floor dorm room. “Do you know that guy behind you?”

“What?” Her gaze jumped to mine, and her foot came down awkwardly on the step. “What are you talking about?”

“It looked like he reached for you.” I described his height and what he was wearing. “I got a bad read on the guy. That’s why I yelled.”

Brielle grabbed my hand. “Come on. I’ll explain in my room. ”

I raced up the stairs with her. She unlocked her door and slammed it behind us, startling Mal, who was hunched over her computer, furiously typing.

“Hi, guys.” Mal noticed our serious faces and mirrored them. “What’s wrong?”

“Remember the guy I told you about at the park and the game?” Brielle rushed in after dropping her bag by her bed. “He followed me to the dorm. I didn’t realize it with the rain until Ares interrupted whatever he intended to do.”

“He was about to grab you.” I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. “Tell me what’s going on, then we need to call the police.”

“I don’t think we should involve the police…

yet. I—uh—I need to talk to my dad before we do that.

” Brielle paced in the small space of the suite’s shared room.

“It’s just that, um, my mom’s been going on and on about being followed.

She swore my dad owed money to the mob, but I didn’t believe her until recently.

” She paused and faced me. “I think they’re going to do something.

My dad can’t pay them. He’s in jail. That leaves my mom. ”

“Or you,” I growled. “You can’t stay here. Move in with me. We have a doorman and security. It’s safer.”

She worried her lip with her teeth before coming to a decision. “Okay, if you’re sure.” Then her gaze found Mal’s. “But… Ser.”

“Your mom and Serena can stay at my family’s cottage in Michigan.

” Mal got up and rummaged around in her purse before pulling out her keys.

She twisted a key off the ring and handed it to Brielle.

“Tell them to go now. I’ll let my parents know some friends needed a place to stay while their house is having the floors redone or something. ”

“Will you be okay?” Brielle worried her hands, glancing at Mal then me .

“You can stay with us, too, if you want,” I offered. The guys would be okay with it. And I knew Aurora would gladly take them in once I explained what was happening.

“No, they’re not after me. I’ll be fine.” Mal ushered Brielle into Brie’s room. “We’ll just be a minute while she packs.”

It took ten. I spent the time messaging the guys to give them a heads-up. Dinner would have to wait. We could eat something at home, and during that time, I planned to get the whole story from her.

Brie got on the phone immediately, trying to reach her mom and sister. She paced frantically when her mom’s phone continued to ring. I waited, hating that I could do nothing to help other than be there for her.

When she called Serena, Brie collapsed against the wall, sliding to the floor as she frantically attempted to orchestrate her family’s safety.

“Ser, you and Mom have to leave tonight. Mom wasn’t being paranoid.

The mob is coming for us.” She glanced at me then switched the call to speaker so I could hear too.

“I’m at Tricia’s tonight. Mom won’t be back until late.

She went out with friends, and I doubt either of us will be able to get ahold of her.

You know how she is with her three best friends and a few bottles of champagne.

I think they planned to go to the spa, and I don’t know what else from there. ”

“Okay.” Brie’s leg bounced. “Stay there. Don’t go home or leave Tricia’s house. I’ll leave a message for Mom that she has to pick you up from wherever she is first thing in the morning.”

“I’ll get the key to Ser,” Mal offered. “I doubt I’ll be followed.”

Brie’s shoulders dropped, some of the tension melting away. “That’s perfect. Thanks, Mal.” She let her head fall back against the wall, her eyes closing briefly. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Ser.”

“I will. What about you? Will you meet us there? ”

“No. I’ll be with Ares at his place. I’ll be fine. I love you, sis. Please let me know when you make it to Mal’s parents’ place, okay?”

“Love you too. And yeah, I will.”

Brie blinked tears away then left a detailed voicemail for her mom, followed by an urgent text. Then she gave the key back to Mal along with Tricia’s address. Only then, after a teary hug goodbye, were we on our way.

When we got back to my place, I took her hand in mine and led her to my bedroom. I couldn’t wait to have her alone, not after what had almost happened.

I cradled Brie to me as the reality that I could have lost her crashed like a tidal wave through my mind and body, ripping emotions open in its wake. If something had happened to her… “I need to touch you. To be inside you after what almost happened.”

The small nod against my chest was all the permission I needed from the woman I’d fallen deeply in love with. Cupping the back of her head, I leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss, coaxing her to open for me. Her lips parted, and I explored the feel and taste of her slowly.

Moonlight spilled through the windows, and I broke the kiss, tilting her head to the side and following the silvery light along the gentle curve of her neck and the pulse that fluttered erratically there. I trailed kisses along her soft skin, leisurely exploring her curves.

Slipping my fingers beneath her shirt, I eased it up, tracing the indent of her waist as I guided it over her ribs and along the sides of her full breasts, reveling in the hitch of her breath, before I removed the blouse.

I took my time with the rest of her clothes, pausing to press open-mouthed kisses along her bare flesh.

She turned when I guided her, and I explored every inch of her body until her breath crashed in the air between us, matching my barely leashed control. I promised myself I would take things slow, worship her body, tell her with every caress how much she meant to me.

Later, I would give in to my need for fast and furious.