He nods, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. Not in that sexy way of his, but in thought. After a moment, he says, “Every Christmas, my mom made homemade cinnamon rolls. I think I looked forward to those more than the presents.”
I imagine Camden as a child, all long limbs and huge appetite, gorging himself on his mother’s cinnamon rolls.
“I was thinking we should do that. Start a tradition…or continue it.”
“I could find a recipe. I’ve only ever made them out of a can, but I’m sure we could do it. All of us, you and Paisley included, because I’m not going to be the only one baking.”
“Agreed.” He grins. “What traditions do you want?”
“I was a big fan of countdowns. Remember those construction paper chains? My mom made them for everything. Countdown to Halloween, countdown to vacation, countdown to first day of school. Whatever it was, she’d have us write down things we were looking forward to, and I always loved that.”
His smile grows even bigger. “Yes. I want to do that. And game nights.”
“No Monopoly.”
He jerks back. “Are you serious right now? You made me fall in love with you, andnowyou’re telling me you don’t play Monopoly?”
“It is the absolute worst.”
His mouth hangs open. “I…truly don’t know who you are.” He shakes his head, his outrage pulling a few giggles out of me, which makes him give it up. “I love your laugh. Talking to you. Everything. I love it all.”
I burrow down into the covers, nestle against his pillow that does indeed still hold his lingering scent. “And I love you. All of you, even the parts you’d rather forget about.”
He lifts his fingers to the screen, moving them as if he’s touching my face on it, though I can’t be sure. “I think we should hang up now, because if we don’t, I’ll want to stay on the phone with you, and I need to get to sleep.”
“Okay.” I yawn. “I’ll be watching tomorrow. Play hard.”
“I will.”
“And then I’ll be waiting for you when you come home.”
“Like the sound of that.” He offers me a half smile. “Gives me a reason to win. Make you proud.”
We hang up then, but even if he doesn’t win, I’ll still be proud of him. No matter what.
Though that touchdown he scores in the third quarter pulls them ahead. And that sign he makes at the camera during his celebration? It means “river.”
CHAPTER 27
CAMDEN
After our win in Chicago,I’m riding high, the entire team celebrating our near-perfect record this season. We’re in position to carry this momentum through to clinch the division title. Made all the better knowing I have Nadine in my corner.
And in my bed.
It’s almost three in the morning, and she’s asleep, on my side of the bed, a small lump under the covers. I don’t bother with the lights, tiptoeing to the mattress, and when my eyes adjust to the darkness, I think she’s wearing my jersey. The outline of my number has a sheen, and when I reach for it, lightly pinching the fabric between my fingers, my guess is proven correct.
My already-excited cock becomes ramrod straight in my pants, and I quietly strip naked then grab the bottle of lube from the nightstand, hoping I don’t wake her.
Not yet.
Because this is what I’ve been waiting for. What I know she’s allowing me to take.
Carefully, I pull back the comforter and climb on the bed, wrapping around her body from behind. I roam my hand over her hip, realizing she’s not wearing any underwear.
She really is perfect.
Permitting me to live out my fantasy.
