I sit up behind her, pressing my lips to the top of her bare shoulder. She smells like sex and candy.
“What will it ruin?” I slide my hand around her waist,thinking how easy it would be to lift her onto my lap and fuck her again.
She removes my hand, standing out of the bed and searching all around for her clothes. I watch her smiling as she jerks those short shorts over her hips. They show off her shapely legs in a way I like a lot.
Then she pulls my shirt over her head, which I like even more. “I need to get you one of my jerseys to wear.”
Her blue eyes widen, and her voice is exasperated. “I can’t wear your jersey!”
It makes me laugh to see her so flustered. “Not to the games, but you could wear it around the house. You’d be hot in Number 6.”
“I’m going on Chet’s show again for the Vikings game.” She gathers her hair in both hands, wrapping it up in a scrunchie on top of her head in a cute, messy way. “I’ve got to salvage my reputation.”
I slide out of the bed and walk over to where she’s standing. She’s so tiny, she leans her head back to look up up up at me.
“Or not,” I quip, placing my hand on the top of her shoulder, tracing my thumb along her throat. “Reputations evolve, much like players evolve. We can be together, and you can still give me shit. I can take it.”
“But I’m not mad at you anymore.” It’s a plaintive little cry, and she’s so adorably stumped.
“Good.” I smile, leaning down to trace my lips along the top of her brow. “I’ll still make mistakes, though. And I’ll need you to call me out for them so I can play better.”
Her shoulders drop with her heavy exhale, and she shakes her head as she steps out of my arms. “I don’t know. I just don’t have it in me to hurt you now.”
Warmth spreads across my chest, and I go to her, taking both hands in mine. “Why not, QP?”
She blinks up at me, her pretty blue eyes gleaming. “Because yes, I might be falling for you. Happy?”
Fuck. The warmth in my chest ignites, and I catch her cheeks in both my hands, holding her eyes with mine.
“Yes,” I say, smiling down into her face before I slide my lips across hers, sealing them with a new kind of kiss.
Up to now, our kisses have been fueled by lust. Now, when I catch her tongue with mine, when I pull her body to mine, when I turn her and sit her in a straddle on my lap, I’ve got so many new visions in my mind.
She looks up at me, and I see them in hers as well. It’s a tentative little dream, but it’s intensely addictive.
She huffs a laugh, turning and stepping away, toward the kitchen. “Who’s watching Cricket right now?”
“My cousin Edward.”
“Oh, yeah, you wanted me to meet him. The kicker for Baltimore.”
“He’s the best guy, pretty much a self-made man.” I rub my hand over my chin thinking my aunts would let me have it for that crack. “With the help of a village of Bradfords. Still, all my life, he’s always had the answers to any problem. And he’s great with kids. Like preternaturally great.”
“He’s got practice.”
“What do you mean?” My brow furrows, and she starts for the living room.
I quickly pull my jeans over my hips and slip my arms into the hoodie, zipping it all the way up over my bare torso. I don’t mind leaving my shirt with her. I actually kind of like the thought of her wearing my clothes.
“He was older when you were born, right? He was also there when all your cousins were born. How many babies did he help wrangle?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. You’re right.” My brow quirks, and I nod. “Cricket loves him. I swear she knowswhat he’s saying. He told her not to spit food on him, and guess what?”
Melody’s eyes narrow, and her lips twist. “She didn’t?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “After hosing us both down with sweet potatoes.”
“I guess she’s growing up.” Melody sighs, shaking her head. “She’s adorable. I love how you can make her laugh.”
