As I ran the pad of my finger along her collarbone, over her chest, and down to pet a pretty nipple, I casually remarked, “I like studying with you.” Watching her nipple harden beneath my touch, I said, “I mean, I’ve always enjoyed studying with you, but these new study breaks are the best.”
With a sigh she batted my hand away from her gorgeous body. Then, with a bit of gymnastics, she managed to snag her camisole. With a stern expression, she pulled it down over my hands, which had found their way to her pretty tits all on their own, pushing them off as she re-dressed herself.
“I need to finish writing my paper and pack for the weekend,” she said as she slid back off my lap.
“Are you kicking me out?” I tried to keep my tone light, but damn, I wasn’t ready to leave her.
“Nope. Only reminding you what you just said.” At my look of confusion, she clarified. “Study break is over.”
I stood and reluctantly pulled my boxers and jeans up. “Does that mean we can take another study break in a little while?” I asked hopefully.
Over her shoulder she glanced at the clock on the microwave, which read 11:00 p.m. and back at me. “I don’t think so—not with what I’ve yet to do tonight so I can be on the road tomorrow morning when Mom expects me to be.”
I pulled out my chair where my laptop rested on her dinette and sat down. “Wish I was going home with you.”
“You’re also dang happy to be playing in a college playoff game, yeah?” she said as she took her seat across from me.
A self-deprecating chuckle slipped out. “Definitely on my bucket list.”
“Along with having a shot at playing in the NFL.”
I blinked at her, shocked she remembered me talking about that particular dream.
Shrugging as though it were a done deal, she said, “Playoff games always draw pro scouts, so you need to be on it on Saturday afternoon.” Her lips tipped up in a sunshiny smile. “When they see what you do when you come off the bench, they’re going to be adding your number to their watch list.”
I cleared my throat. “Um, Coach told me in practice today that I’ll be starting on Saturday.”
Her chair screeched on the linoleum as she shoved it back from the table. “Daniel Thomas Chambers.” Her tone became more ominous on each enunciated syllable. “Exactly when were you going to tell me this?” Through narrowed eyes she glared at me. “You know my whole family will want to be at the game now.” Her hands dropped to her hips. “Only, I think it’s sold out.” How she could look so tough while still seated in her chair was a wonder.
Putting my hands up in surrender, I said again, “I only found out myself today, T. I wasn’t keeping it from you or your family.”
Her expression softened, and she stood and walked around the table to park her ass on my lap. Looping her arms around my neck, she leaned in and brushed a soft kiss over my lips. “This is congratulations. Don’t get any big ideas.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I whispered against her mouth before kissing her back.
Right as things started heating up again, she pulled away and let go with a long sigh. Didn’t take a genius to anticipate what was coming next.
“For sure I don’t want homework this weekend. Neither do you.” She swept a lock of my hair from my forehead, brushed one last soft kiss over my lips, and pushed herself off my lap.
I didn’t let her go easily, and she play-slapped my hands away when I tried to tug her back down before she stepped over to the fridge. She pulled out two cans of a veggie drink she liked and handed me one. I could have done better with a beer, but I guessed she was trying to look out for me.
For the next hour, we actually worked. When she tipped back in her chair and lifted her arms above her head, innocently showing off that gorgeous rack of hers, my day caught up to me too. My jaw popped when I yawned, and she giggled.
“Guess it’s time to call it a night. Did you finish?”
“Pretty close. You?”
She tapped a couple of keys on her laptop and closed the lid with a flourish. “Done!”
As she put away her books and laptop, she kept stealing glances at me doing the same. At last I said, “What?”
Ducking her head, her eyes skittered from me. Then she sucked in a long breath, let it out slowly, and said, “I’m not quite ready for more than what happened tonight.” Her eyes slid to the couch and back. “But it’s late, we’re both tired, and maybe you want to stay—”
I most definitely wanted to stay, but I didn’t want to crowd her. “I thought you still needed to pack.”
“I do.” She shrugged. “But I can do that quick in the morning.”
Shooting her a sly grin, I asked, “Will you let me borrow your toothbrush?”
