He chews on his lip for a second, and I watch absently out the window as we join the line of traffic in the left lane of the highway.
“I did it to protect everyone I love,” he finally admits, pressing a kiss to the top of my head when I turn around to face him. The traffic is at a standstill, so he puts the truck in park. “Even if I had thrown the game, Ray would never have stopped. He would’ve always been a threat.”
“And?” Because I’m sensing there’s more.
“You were dealing with your demons, so it was time I dealt with mine.”
“But football and your scholarship…”
He shrugs. “It’s all still up in the air, but they don’t matter in the bigger picture. Maybe I was never meant for the NFL.” He kicks the engine into gear as the traffic starts moving. “The choices I’ve made have led me here so I can’t blame anyone but myself.”
“I’m sorry.” I lift my head, palming one side of his face. I’m having a hard time not touching him too.
“Don’t be, babe. It’s all good. Ray is going down, and I won’t have to do any time.” He kisses my temple. “As long as Phoebe is healthy, Mom isn’t stressing out, and I’ve got you by my side, I can conquer mountains.”
I beam at him, reaching around to peck his lips quickly. “You have me, Adam. You’re stuck with me now.” I laugh, and he grins. “Nothing or no one is taking me away from you again.”
29
Adam - Epilogue
Breathing in the salt air, I stand on the balcony of our condo and watch the waves crash along the shore. The sun is barely up, but I love this time of morning when the world is still asleep and it’s peaceful and quiet. I often get up before Em and come out here and let my mind wander.
It’s been a year since I lost my scholarship and left Cypress University behind. Mom was proud I did the right thing in turning myself in, but I scared her out of her mind at the same time. Since I cooperated with the police and testified against Ray, I didn’t do any jail time. Ray Diaz wasn’t so lucky. Sam had compiled a bunch of evidence on him, and the cops dug up a ton more, so he’s now serving twenty-five years for trafficking Molly.
I take in another dose of salt air when soft hands come around me from behind as Emily presses her body flush with mine.
“Mornin’,” she says in a sleepy voice. “You’re up early again.”
I cover my hands over hers. “You know I love it out here.”
Emily and I now live together in a small beach town on the Gulf Coast of Florida with the ocean outside our building. After the scandal involving President Parker and then the news about my arrest, we were the main topic of conversation around campus. It was clear we couldn’t stay there, and we both wanted a new start.
“You know what I love in the morning.” Her hand slides down to grab hold of my cock. “I want the pleasure machine.” She starts rubbing her hand up and down my growing erection.
“You just hadthe pleasure machinea few hours ago.” I tease, remembering our marathon session last night when we fell into bed. I’m certainly not complaining. I can stay in bed with Emily all day or all week and not come up for air.
She lets go of me, and I spin around and freeze.
She’s shimmying out of her thong with a sultry grin as her big blue eyes hold me prisoner. When her thong is on the floor, she peels off her tank top until her beautiful naked body is on full display. No one can see her. We own a corner unit, and a tall stone wall separates our balcony from our neighbor’s.
I drink her in inch by inch as my cock becomes painfully hard behind my board shorts.
Holding her bottom lip hostage between her teeth, she crooks her finger. “It’s time you kissed me good morning.” Her hand slips down to cup her pussy. “Here.” She dashes inside, giggling.
Fuck me.
I chase after her to find her sprawled out on the bed with her legs open and her finger circling her clit.
I shake my head, pouting. “That’s mine.” I growl, crawling onto the bed and hovering over her.
She giggles again. “Well, take what you own then.”
I chuckle. When Emily wants something, she wants it now.Who am I to disappoint her?
Flicking her hand out of the way, I trail my tongue along her inner thigh, licking a path along her slit before my mouth closes over her swollen clit.
She moans loudly, a sound that sends an electrical charge to grip my balls. I will never get tired of hearing her moan or seeing her squirm or listening to her screaming my name.
