Page 38 of Under the Lights (The Big Boys of BRU #2)

Thirty One

Sierra

“Oof!” The air whooshed out of my lungs as I rounded the corner and slammed straight into a wall.

A moving wall. A moving, tattooed wall, grinning like it was a good thing to be alive on a Monday morning.

Disgusting .

Behind us, weights clinked and shoes squeaked on polished floors, the usual low buzz of the athletic center humming in the background.

“I don’t even know why I’m surprised.” I sighed.

Dom winked at me and sucked his teeth. “I’ve been looking for you, Darlin’.”

I gave my head a slight shake before pushing past him, only for him to fall into step beside me, an easy grin playing around his lips.

“Of course you have.”

He was always there, lingering, watching me, glowering at any guy in my vicinity … making me scream at night. The worst part?

Instead of finding it creepy, it turned me on. Ugh . He was so fucking possessive, it did weird things to my insides … and my lady parts. Highly inconvenient.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t like it.” He chuckled, burying his hands in his pockets.

“How do you always manage to pop up like I said your name three times in a mirror?” I glanced at him sideways, watching him snort with laughter. Damn. He made even that look attractive.

“Probably because you did.” He bumped his shoulder into mine carefully. “Come on, I know you’re writing ’Sierra Kincaid’ in your diary allllll the time. With hearts around it and everything.”

I scoffed. “You’re delusional.”

“You’re right. I should totally take your last name. Johansson makes me sound like a Viking. Do you think there were ginger Vikings?”

“ What? ”

“My people have been persecuted in history way too often.” He shrugged.

“ Your people?”

“Yes. The gingers. The redheads. Ye with the locks of flame.”

“Why the fuck would I know?” I stared at him in disbelief, then muttered under my breath, “And why am I even surprised about any of this?”

“No idea,” he said happily. “I thought maybe you’ve done some light reading, considering the chances our kids end up being red-headed are at least 50%.”

I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at him in horror. “ Our kids?” My voice pitched a little higher than intended. A beat passed. “Wait, what do you mean at least ?”

He shrugged, completely oblivious. “Eh, could be closer to 75% considering you’re blonde and might carry the gene as well. Bumps up the odds.”

He was dead serious.

“ Our kids?” I asked again, exasperated.

He booped my nose. “Of course, silly goose. We’re gonna have fucking D1 babies.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

Just stay calm, Sierra. It’s not worth it, not like it’s actually going to happen.

Exhaling slowly, I looked at him, pasting on my most placating smile. “Of course we will.”

He snorted again, shaking his head. “For the record — I’m well aware you’re just humoring me. You’re a terrible actress. But I know you’re gonna eat your words, Darlin’. Pretend all you want. I don’t care.”

A voice calling out behind us had both of us turning around. “Kincaid! Yo, wait up.”

A guy who I’m pretty sure was one of Dom’s teammates came jogging up to us.

“Hey, thought that was you. Not that many gingers around here.” He chuckled as he caught up, clapping Dom on the back.

He was a couple of inches shorter than Dom and a lot less bulky. Familiar, too. I was almost sure I’d seen him before, though I couldn’t place the where or the when. Or the name.

“Never heard that one before.” Dom deadpanned, pursing his lips.

I decided that now wasn’t the right time to remind him that he had once said those very words to me.

““Yo, Dom—” the guy started, then did a double take when he noticed me. “Oh. Didn’t realize you had company.”

He gave me a once-over. Nothing dramatic, but enough to make my eyebrows lift. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my tattooed giant’s perpetual grin waver for a fraction of a second.

Huh .

“Eyes over here, Rodriguez.” Dom snapped, jaw ticking.

“Damn, Kincaid. You always bark this loud when someone talks to your girl, or am I just special?”

Dom’s smirk had a dark, dangerous edge to it now. “Wanna find out?”

“Is this where I’m supposed to clutch my pearls?” I interjected lightly.

“Nah, I know better than to get between Kincaid and whatever he’s obsessed with.” Rodriguez winked at me, prompting a low growl from Dom.

He clamped one of his big hands around my waist and pulled me to his side.

Goddamn. I should not find this hot, should not be experiencing this warmth pooling at my core, like liquid desire.

Rodriguez just chuckled, highly amused by the looks of it, threw Dom a two-finger salute, and scampered off. “Catch you later, man.”

Dom stared after his retreating figure, eyes blazing, brows angry slashes, as though he was planning his funeral.

I patted the arm still wrapped around my waist. “Subtle.”

“Yeah, thing is, subtle isn’t really my style. You should know that by now.” Dom peered down at me, his gaze immediately softening.

He turned me so I was pressed against his front, feeling the heat of his body seep into mine, his hand curling around my neck.

A shiver ran down my spine when his thumb softly stroked the skin under my jaw. You’d never think a man this big would be capable of the level of tenderness he was usually handling me with.

“So territorial,” I muttered under my breath.

“Damn right. I know you can handle yourself. Hell, that’s half the reason I can’t stay away. But that doesn’t mean I won’t make it crystal clear you’re not available.” His voice was quiet, intense.

“Sounds like a you problem.” I’d meant to sound all haughty, but my traitorous voice came out kind of breathy.

Christ, my body was now actively working against me.

Dom leaned in, the tip of his nose brushing against mine.

“Nah, Darlin’. That’s a him problem. Because he can’t have you. Matter of fact, no one can, ever again. Might as well get used to it now.”

His tongue darted out, licking across the seam of my lips, before he used his hand to slightly tilt my head to the side and went in for the kill.

His lips moved against mine in a sensuous kiss, robbing me of all thought, and I found myself just … giving in .

Just letting myself savor the feeling of his bulky frame against mine, the rough pads of his thumb brushing over my skin, and the way his tongue flicked against mine.

As his movements began to slow, I pulled back, my chest heaving. Slightly dazed, I looked up at him, our heated gazes meeting. There was a thrill of anticipation crackling between us.

My tongue darted out, licking his taste from my bottom lip, and his eyes followed it hungrily.

Trying to take control of the situation, I blurted out the first thing that came into my head that wasn’t begging him to fuck me. “Is this where you beat your chest and drag me off by my hair?”

Dom’s answering smirk was devastating, filled with dark and dirty promises.

“No, Darlin’. I just pin you against a wall and make you forget anyone else exists.”

Looking back in the direction his teammate went off, he gritted his jaw. His hand still cradling my neck, slipped around to grip my throat, putting pressure on my neck with his thumb and index finger.

My breathing deepened as everything around me slowed down, leaving him as my sole point of focus.

A tiny moan slipped through my parted lips.

“I need you — now,” he said through clenched teeth, his voice low and rough, filled with raw desire.

“W-what?” I stuttered, too distracted by the delicious pressure of his palm to comprehend his words.

“We’re leaving, Darlin’. No arguments.”

His usually light hazel eyes were dark, like a storm was brewing in them. His hand slowly loosened around my neck before dropping down to intertwine our fingers and pull me with him.

“Bu-but that’s the wrong way. My class is—”

“You’re skipping it today.” He looked back at me, an amused smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “Why did I even think you’d listen to that ’ no arguments ’ part?”

“Beats me,” I sassed, although my voice was still breathy.

With quick steps, he led me to his abomination of a truck, parked not far from the athletic center. Wordlessly, he helped me climb into my seat, once again making sure I was buckled in.

Which was so over-the-top and overbearing, not at all endearing or butterfly-inducing. Nope .

With every minute spent in the confinement of his truck, the air grew thicker. He’d put his hand on my thigh as soon as he’d pulled out of the parking lot, and it hasn’t moved … well, barely moved.

Every stop at a red light seemed to signify a green light to start foreplay to him. He was driving me wild with his barely there touches, the firm kneading of my thigh, and his pinky finger flicking over my denim-covered pussy every so often.

I had zero recollection of the walk from his truck to my apartment. His brooding presence and his unapologetic, raw need for me eclipsed anything else.

The second the door clicked shut behind me, he was pushing me against it, hands tearing at my clothes. His lips wandered down my neck, leaving a trail of hot kisses, accentuated by sharp nips into my sensitive skin.

His hands were roaming up and down my body, unable to choose a place to settle. Gripping my hip, palming my ass, skimming over the strip of exposed skin just over the waistband of my shorts. Arching my back, I pushed against his big frame.

I loved how big he was all over. Everything about him was solid and thick, making me feel small and dainty next to him — something that seldom happened for a tall girl out in the wild.

“Didn’t know jealousy got you going like that,” I moaned, my lips pulled up in a taunting smirk.

“It does when it’s you.” His voice carried zero shame. Why was it so hot when a man owned up to his feelings?

“Aw, your ego that fragile?” I tried to bait him.

He chuckled, clamping an arm around my waist to carry me to the bed. I landed with a bounce, and he was on me in a flash. Catching my wrists in one hand, he pinned them over my head.