Page 115 of The Deception You Weave

"Princess," I say, resting my head down against hers. "I don't want Clara. I don't want any jersey chaser or any other girl."

I don't think she knew she needed to hear that but the second the words are out of my mouth, her entire body relaxes.

"What is this, Kane?" she asks, vulnerability oozing from her. "I keep expecting you to pull the rug out from under me and tell me that this was all one sick joke."

My fingers tighten and I pull her even closer, leaving no question to anyone around us about how I feel, even if she's fucking clueless.

"It's not a joke, Let. It's… I don't know. New. Exciting. The beginning of something?"

"Exciting until you remember you hate me and you change your mind?" I can see the defeat and hurt already in her eyes and I'm not the one who's even saying the words.

"No. Exciting because I'm discovering things, I was too fucking stupid too for all these years."

She nods, accepting what I'm saying, for now at least.

A shadow falls over us forcing me to release her although what I really want to do is throw her in my car once more and take her home.

"As cute as this is, we've got practice, Legend," West says, as he and Brax watch us.

It looks like her bodyguards trust me as much as she does.

"I know, I'm coming." Turning back to Letty, I drop a kiss on her forehead.

"Come on," I say, taking her hand and turning her toward the direction of her dorm building, seeing as my car is in the lot.

West and Brax follow behind us but I block them out as we talk about the assignment Letty is starting while I'm at practice.

"I'll pick you up at seven," I tell her when we come to a stop outside her building. "Be ready and wear something nice."

"You don't need to take me somewhere fancy."

"Shh." I press my fingers over her lips. "Nowhere fancy, just not a diner."

"Okay," she breathes, pulling my hand away from her lips so she can reach up and brush them against mine.

"And pack a bag. You're sleeping in my bed tonight."

A seductive smile curls at her lips making my cock swell at just the thought alone.

She watches me from the edge of the parking lot as I climb in my car and drive away. I can still sense her confusion over what's happening, but I'm determined to prove to her that I'm not playing games.

My cell pings as I'm driving and it's not until I pull up at the training facility that I pull it from my pocket.

My stomach drops when I see the name lighting up my screen.

Alana: Can't wait to see you tomorrow, sweetie x

"Fucking hell," I mutter, scrubbing my hand down my face.

I need to get out of tomorrow night, but I'm not sure anything will work aside from my own death.

I look up at the imposing building before me. This has always been my dream, what I literally used to dream about as a little boy. College football, a chance at the NFL. And despite all the odds, I'm here, I made it. But at what cost?

Is it worth remaining under Victor's control to continue? Kids from the Creek don't get these kinds of opportunities, was it always meant to be an unreachable dream?

I lose myself in my thoughts until someone drums on my car window, scaring the living shit out of me.

"You coming in?" Zayn shouts, pointing at the door.