Page 46

NYLAH

My dress is emerald green and shimmers when I walk.

I can’t wear anything cute and short like Sienna. She looks freaking amazing in this tight little number that hugs her curves and accentuates her bust. Zander’s practically drooling and can’t keep his hands off her. She’s been secured to his side ever since they walked into the party.

My dress, on the other hand, is long and floats down to my ankles.

It covers my scars perfectly, as long as I don’t go flashing my leg through the split up the side.

The strappy heels Mom bought me for my birthday give me a few more inches, and I’m feeling pretty damn sexy as I wander into the ballroom of the Winston Hotel.

It’s like the only fancy hotel in Nolan, and it gets rented out the Saturday night after Thanksgiving every year for a donors’ dinner.

And because this year’s is to honor the families who contribute to the football program, we all have to be here.

The entire team is expected, and their job is to schmooze the moneymakers and ensure the Cougars are well funded for next season.

Wily’s doing a perfect job, as usual. The guy has got people skills.

Grady is out there with him. I look around for his girlfriend, Teah, but don’t see her. She’s probably away with her family for the break. Glancing around the rest of the room, I try to find my caveman while also keeping an eye on where my parents are.

Mom’s in good form, laughing at the college dean’s joke while probably not finding it funny at all.

She’ll be working the room and thoroughly distracted, which is exactly what I need.

Dad’s standing beside her, his hand resting on her lower back, and I smile at the two of them.

They’ve always been in love, even after all these years together.

I want to be like that.

I want to be like that with Carson.

My insides flutter at the idea, and I should tell myself to calm down and not jump too far ahead, but I’m amped up after that game and Carson’s beautiful touchdown.

When we finally got away from all the postgame partying, we met in my dorm room, and I made sure he felt like the luckiest guy on the planet.

Let’s just say that the noises coming out of him throughout that sensation made me feel pretty damn triumphant.

We repeated events this morning, and having to watch him walk out my door after we showered together was damn depressing.

I just love being with him.

The sex is epic, yes, but it’s all the in-between times that I love as well.

Those meaningless conversations before we drift off to sleep in each other’s arms. Those moments I catch him off guard and make him laugh out loud.

Time disappears when I’m with him. He makes me feel safe, seen…

like I could tell him anything and he’d get it.

I’m desperate to talk to him, make him smile, look into those eyes of his… give him a little sugar.

If I can just find him.

The room is filling up fast, and I weave around the tables.

The formal dinner and speeches are due to start in about forty-five minutes, which is plenty of time to have a little flirt with my fella before we have to sit apart from each other.

Seriously, midnight can’t come fast enough.

As soon as this thing is over, I’m kidnapping him back to my dorm and we’re gonna spend the night naked, along with most of tomorrow, because Jolie doesn’t get back until the afternoon—I texted to confirm and was even bold enough to tell her why.

She sent me heart emojis back with demands of needing to know every detail upon her return.

I countered with a demand of my own, and she’s promised to tell me everything about Mr. Mystery Tutor and what went down at the paper.

Is it weird how much I’m looking forward to the conversation?

I’m desperate to connect with my roomie, and maybe this is another step in the right direction.

But for now…

Where are you, caveman?

I look at the upper tier and feel that zing when I spot him leaning against the railing.

His eyes are on me, and I wonder how long he’s been watching.

Trying to keep my smile in check is impossible, and not running toward him is also freaking hard.

Thankfully, my leg has been behaving itself for the last two days, so I’m able to walk in these heels with minimal effort and can almost glide up the stairs. I have to take it slow, which is killing me, but I eventually reach that upper tier, nodding and smiling at people along the way.

I get caught near the top for a few minutes, talking to some old guy who thinks my dad’s the best coach on the planet.

I wax eloquently like I’m supposed to and finally break free.

After that, I screw pleasantries and make a beeline for the table in the corner, where Carson is nursing a drink and looking a little bleary-eyed.

“Drunk already?” I place my clutch on the table and steal a sip of his drink. “Rum and Coke? How’d you get away with that? Dad never lets his players drink at these things.”

Carson snickers and downs the last of his liquor. “Why do you think I’m up here? The bartender’s a softy. He knows I need a kick to get through this thing. I’m shit at small talk.” He eyes the room, his jaw clenching as I move around the table to stand beside him.

I take in his sexy body in that suit, my insides fluttering with desire. He’s already ditched his jacket, so he’s just in dress pants and a crisp white shirt that shows off his hot figure.

Damn. My caveman is a looker.

“I’m not totally drunk,” he murmurs. “I just had a couple shots before I left the house, and I’m only on my first rum and Coke. It’s just enough to take the edge off.”

I nod and scan the room. I can see why he chose to come up here. Most people are still downstairs, the lower bar getting most of the action as people arrive. There’s only a smattering of people up here, probably all the introverts, standing in small huddles and hanging with the people they know.

“You should really move away from me.” Carson’s voice is a husky warning. “You look way too hot, and I might not be able to control myself.”

There goes that thrill again, dancing through me as I play this dangerous game of “We might get caught.”

A smile tugs at my lips as I gaze at my surroundings. Eyeing the lower floor, I spot my parents still fully distracted, so I nudge my hip against his. “So, I know I already delivered last night, but… that was quite the touchdown yesterday afternoon.”

He leans a little closer, his rum breath fanning across my face before he whispers, “You asked me to get one for you, so I did.”

“And you know how much I appreciate that, right?” I wiggle my eyebrows at him and am rewarded with a soft snicker and a half smile that is all things sexy.

“If you’re wondering about how much of a statement that blow job made… you don’t have anything to worry about. It spoke volumes, kitty cat.”

“I know it did.” I smirk. “I’m just standing here wondering if you need a little more proof of just how grateful I am. I’m quite happy to describe in detail the shit I want to do to your body later.”

I giggle, about to map out how this night’s gonna go once we’re free of this place, when he surprises me by quickly shifting and nestling his body behind mine.

“Seriously, kitten,” he practically growls. “It’s pure evil to wear this thing around me. It’s not fair to this silky fabric I want to rip off your body, and it’s not fair to me having to see your sexy ass wrapped in this shit and knowing I’m not allowed to touch it.”

“Patience,” I tease him. “Your time will come.”

“I can’t wait.” His warm breath splays over my neck as he skims his hand around my waist and brushes over my pussy.

I immediately tense. “What are you doing?”

“I scored a touchdown for you, kitty cat.” He nudges his pelvis into my backside, and I can feel his hard length pressing against me.

My body catches fire while I try to play it cool, keeping his wandering hand hidden beneath the table while fighting the urge to beg him to take me.

“You’re drunk,” I murmur.

“I’m horny,” he whispers back. “For you.”

His hand glides down my leg, finding that split and wriggling his fingers underneath it. The fabric bunches over his wrist, and then those magic fingers of his are teasing the front of my thong.

“You’re seriously doing this? Right here? Right now?”

Why am I not slapping his hand away?

Because this is the hottest thing that’s ever happened to you!

“Do you have any idea how sexy you look tonight?” He rests his other hand on the table, and I glance sideways at him while he looks around the room.

I follow his gaze, noticing that everyone’s distracted, yet this is still the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. It’s so thrilling I can barely stand it.

“You can’t wear this and expect me not to have a reaction.”

He nudges into me again, and I can feel the purr rising in my throat.

“The things I want to do to you right now…” His finger skims the edge of my panty line, pulling it to the side while my insides dance in a way I’ve never felt before.

“We’re in public,” I squeak.

“I can stop if you want to.” His breath tickles my cheek. He smells of alcohol and temptation and… and I can’t tell him to stop.

I don’t want to.

I’m lightheaded with desire. With need.

And so I let him skim his finger over my clit. I even raise my foot, resting it on the bar at the bottom of the table so he has better access.

What the hell am I doing?

My heart’s racing a mile a minute. Screw that, it’s racing ten thousand miles a minute, and I feel like my brain’s gonna explode. But this thrill is addictive.

I clench my jaw, trying to act chill and praying no one looks our way. My eyes jerk around the room as a groan builds in my throat.

Shit, he feels so good!

Closing my eyes for a second, I suck in a breath, trying not to give myself away as I dig my fingers into the tablecloth. My body’s on fire, this white heat spreading through me as I squirm against the table.

“You gonna come, kitten? You gonna come right here for me?” Carson’s whisper is gruff and ragged. I feel it travel done my spine and arch my back, nudging my ass into his erection.

“You’re so fucking hot.” He starts to pant against my neck, and my eyes dart to the bottom floor. My father’s looking around the room, maybe searching for me.

Shit. Don’t you dare look up, Dad.

If he sees my face, sees Carson standing this close, I’m done.

We both are.

I should pull away.

I should bail.

But—

Ahhhhhhh. The cry echoes through my brain as the orgasm builds. Carson’s hitting just the right spot, and I’m struggling to breathe, to contain myself.

“I’m gonna get you back for this.” I punch out the words as a shudder races through my body. I start to shake, pushing myself against the table to hide it. Carson steadies me from behind, cupping my pussy while I ride out the last of my orgasm.

Gently stroking my clit one last time, he mercifully pulls away, straightening my thong before skimming his fingers down my inner thigh. He then pulls my dress back into place. I’m still reeling, my heart thundering as my jelly limbs pulse with a fire I can’t ignore.

Carson starts to laugh, then quickly stops and jerks away from me, moving to the other side of the table.

I glance back down to the bottom tier and notice my father just as he turns, looking up this way. He spots me and I put on a bright smile, daring to wave at him.

Carson’s slinking away from the table, but there’s no way in hell he’s disappearing on me now.

Dad flicks his hands for me to come down, and I hold up my hand. “Five minutes,” I mouth, then add, “Bathroom” for good measure.

He nods and gives me a thumbs-up, and I take this chance, chasing after Carson and snatching his wrist.

He resists me, pulling me toward the bar… about to order another drink.

“No way,” I firmly instruct him. “See that door over there? It leads to the upstairs bathroom, and just beyond that is an empty conference room. You are going to stay here, and in exactly two minutes, you will meet me in there, because we are not finished.”

Before he can respond, I dart away from him and hope he doesn’t waste the two minutes getting a little more drunk. I need him sober enough to lift me against a wall and plunge into me, because I can’t wait until midnight anymore.