She looked up to see Thatcher walking back towards her with a pair of those athletic shorts that were clingy enough to see the outline of his cock underneath them. Not that she hadn't already seen it, but there was something about men wearing those shorts that kind of turned her on. The fact that they were on Thatcher's body just made them that much more delicious.
He walked over and stood in front of her, his head cocked to one side. "You look good here."
"In this blanket?" she asked skeptically.
"In my apartment." His voice was still low and husky in a way that made her want to jump him again. "I think you should stay so I can see you like this in every room of my place."
Willow leaned back to try and take him in. "You don't really want me to stay, do you?"
Wow. Even after all that, even after Thatcher made it clear that he liked having her here, it still wasn't registering in her brain.
He stepped closer, the hunger in his eyes starting to pool again as his hand reached under the blanket for her bare hip. "I wanted you to stay that night back in February and I want you to stay tonight. Or do you want to leave like you did last time?"
His eyes were almost pleading with her not to go. Maybe she wasn't the only one who didn't feel like they were on solid ground right now. Gone was the man who had just taken her for all she had on his living room rug, replaced with someone who wanted her approval, who wanted her to stay. He actually cared about what she thought of him. He cared that she would feel safe and protected here.
"I want to stay."
A flirtatious smile broke across his face. "Good. And in the morning, I promise to make you the best pancakes you ever had, and we can talk about the new J.D. Robb book." His arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her against him. Her hold on his blanket tightened just a little as his chest pressed against the back of her hands with his lips close to her ear. "And then I'm going to fuck you so hard that you'll be howling my name like the wolf that you are."
Normally, she might laugh at a cheesy line like that. Men had told her to howl their names before. It was the whole wolf thing, she got it. But none of them reacted the way Thatcher did when she said his name. None of them thrust into her so hard that she had her mind erased for a moment.
"You like it when it I say your name, don't you?"
She meant for that to sound flirty or fun, but it came out more sweet and soft. Thatcher didn't seem to mind.
"I like it very much." He kissed her neck tenderly. "No one says it the way you do."
"Then I have to tell you, Thatcher, that I haven't read the new J.D. Robb book."
The hair on his chest teased her hands as his warm laughter rumbled through her skin. He pulled away a little, looking down at her with an amused smile.
"I'll loan you my copy." Then he reached out and gently pulled the blanket away, leaving her standing naked in his living room. "Come to bed."
He threaded his fingers through hers and gave her hand a little tug. She was more than happy to follow his instructions.
In the morning, he made her the best pancakes she had ever had, fucked her hard, and let her leave with a few of his books tucked in her purse.
Epilogue
"Thunder!"
The crowd yelled as the AC/DC song played over the speakers. The stadium's crew always had it ready to go whenever Thatcher had a good game. He never got sick of it. Never.
"Thunder!"
He looked up and watched as some of the stragglers in the stadium danced around in a half-drunken stupor. They looked like they were having fun screaming his name. To be fair, he had fun too that night, making a huge play to stop Portland's momentum right at the end of the game. They didn't call him Thunder for nothing.
"Thunder!"
And this was just the pre-season. It was still August. He couldn't imagine how great things would be for him once they got to the fall and the real games started.
He waved to a few more fans and headed down the tunnel. Yeah, it was nice hearing the fans scream his name, but there was still nothing like hearing his name tumble from Willow's lips – his real name – when he made her come.
*** *** ***
Tonight was the first game of Thatcher's that Willow ever attended. This was the first time since they got together that she was going home with a football player and not just Thatcher. He had warned her that he wasn't much fun after a game. He wishedhe could be, especially for her, but his body was going to need a break. He appreciated that she at least said she understood, and he promised he would make it up to her another night. He intended to keep that promise.
Thatcher had changed back into his dress pants and button-down shirt by the time he emerged from the locker room. Some of the guys were still hanging around in the hallway catching up.
