The next thing I knew, weak light was filtering through the window at the side of my bed, haloing the man beside me, his even breathing telling me he was still asleep. Carefully raising my head, I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. He’d mentioned he needed to be at the field early, but he didn’t say how early, so I didn’t know if 7:30 a.m. was early, late, or on time. When I gazed back at him, though his eyes remained closed, a devilish smile was playing over his lips.
A second later, I was on my back staring up into a pair of silver-gray eyes that had heated to molten steel.
“Good morning, T. Sleep well?”
“Surprisingly well. You?”
“Like I told you. I sleep best when I’m next to you. But something needs to be done about all this squirming when you wake up.”
“Excuse me?” But I lost my indignation on a moan when he lowered his head and kissed my breast through the thin satin knit of my camisole.
“Mmm, I could stay right here all day,” he mumbled. “But that’s not going to impress my coach.” He pressed a kiss to my lips and rolled to the edge of the bed.
Pushing up on my elbows, I asked, “Are you going to be late?”
“Nah. I need to be at the field in an hour, but I have to stop by the house to change into dress clothes.” He stood and stretched.
My eyes rounded at the sight of his morning erection tenting his boxers impressively.
“As I pointed out last night, we don’t have time for that, T. Not yet. So you can stop looking at me like I’m dessert.” His grin was positively naughty.
As he strutted into the bathroom, I called after him, “Why do you have to wear dress clothes? It’s a home game.”
I heard the toilet flush and then he poked his head out the door. “It’s about discipline. And respect for the game. Though I imagine Bax is still going to try to sneak in wearing one of his signature T-shirts.” The spray of the shower drowned out his laughter.
Throwing off the covers, I shivered in the cool of my room. Usually, the first thing I did when I returned to my apartment after a few days away was turn up the heat. Last night someone had distracted me from the routine. I grinned as I threw on a set of sweats and padded out into the great room. First, I adjusted the thermostat, then I checked my fridge for eggs.
When Danny joined me in my thumbnail of a kitchen, I had a fried-egg sandwich with cheese and greens wrapped in a napkin for him. His face lit up when he spied it.
“Aw, babe. You are the best.” Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled me close and kissed me.
Seriously, a girl could get used to all the kissing he liked to do.
“Hold that thought.”
Wait.Did I say thataloud?
He slid his feet into his shoes and let himself out of my studio. About a minute later I heard his car door slam and then the pounding of his feet on the wooden stairs leading up to my place.
Handing me a shopping bag, he said, “You’re going to need this today.”
Gingerly, I peeked inside. “What is it?”
Shooting me a look from beneath his brows, he said, “Nothing that’s going to bite.”
I reached in and pulled out a hoodie with a Wildcats logo on the front. The number eighty-two took up most of the back, with “Chambers” in block letters above it.
“Ooh!” I squealed. “I can’t believe you’re letting me wear this.”
“I’m giving it to you, Taryn.” His tone was so serious, my eyes flew to his. “You’re my cheering section, so you need this.”
What he left out was how he had no one from his family to be there for him at the biggest game of his life so far. He’d downplayed it when he told me before Thanksgiving, but his behavior said he was equal parts nervous and excited about his opportunity to start. The part he didn’t say was that having neither of his parents attend the game to support him hurt.
I hugged the hoodie to my chest. “When you score your first touchdown today, I’m going to mug so hard the camera will have to pan to me. Then I’m going to turn around and show off.”
A chuckle escaped him, and the mood in my kitchen lightened. Sliding his arm around my shoulders, he tugged me in and kissed my forehead.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m crazy about you. It means everything that you’re going to be in the stands watching me.”
