Page 126 of On His Team

She squeals and grabs my shoulders while I set her on the counter. “Rowan.”

Her knees open naturally around my hips.

I step between them. “I’m returning the favor.”

Her expression changes. “Oh.”

“That’s four.”

“Stop counting.”

“Can’t.”

“Dick.”

I kiss her. The balance changes immediately. Gianna had been in control a minute ago, watching everything I did and enjoying every reaction she got. Now I get to do the same thing. I like it more than I expected. Her sweatshirt comes off first. The tank underneath follows after I ask, and she lifts her arms to help me without breaking eye contact. When I look at her, some of the confidence leaves her face. She covers it with a joke.

“Do you need a minute?”

“No.”

“You’re staring.”

“I like looking at you.” The words came out without much thought, but the effect they have on her is immediate. Gianna’s entire face softens, and for a second she looks almost shy.

I step closer. She touches my chest. I kiss her slowly. Her bra comes off after that, and she laughs when the clasp takes me longer than I want it to.

“Do you need help?”

“No. I’ve got it.”

“You look like you’re losing a fight.”

I finally get it loose.

Gianna smiles. “Never mind.”

I kiss her before she can keep going.

That works.

Her teasing stops when my mouth moves over her chest. Her hands grip my shoulders, and the little sounds she makes are quieter than I expected. I have to listen for them. I pay attention. I figure out what makes her breathing catch and what makes her fingers tighten. I notice the places she leans into me before she says anything.

By the time my hand moves down to the button of her jeans, she’s breathing hard.

I look up.

Her eyes are already on me.

“Yeah,” she says.

I open them.

She lifts enough to help me slide them down. That’s when she suddenly looks toward the front of the house. I stop.

Her attention snaps back to me. “What?”

I smile. “You checked.”