I stare up at him and fight my growing embarrassment. “Let’s just say this. Don’t be surprised when you see posters of you on my wall when you come to visit me.”
His smile is slow. “You have posters of me on your wall?”
“Well, not just you. Your team.”
He leans closer. “You have pictures of me on your walls?” His voice is deep and low.
“Maybe?” I squeak out.
He leans even closer. “I can’t wait to get that stupid bracelet off, so I can kiss you.”
I draw in a shuddery breath. “We’d better work on that then,” I whisper. “Is that what you’re thinking? That bonding will take care of it?”
He blinks, coming out of his trance. He pulls back slightly, and I already miss his closeness. He’s all business now. “Wedon’t know. Alpha thinks it could work. He thinks that if we could bond, it would break the dark magic that powers the bracelet that keeps me from touching you.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“But until the power is broken, it will hurt, Tess. It could hurt really, really badly.”
I swallow. “Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t want to go through that pain again, but if we could break it? Break the power of the bracelet? And then we could touch each other again? That would be worth it, Slater.” I study his face. “You’re not second-guessing bonding with me, are you?”
He scowls. “Never. But I want you to have time to think about this. This decision is for life, Tess. There’s no changing your mind.”
I stare up at him. I could explain once again that I’m not going to change my mind, but I can see that his mind is made up, at least for now. “Okay. Let’s sit on it and try all other options first.”
He nods. “Yeah. Come on; let’s get you to work.”
We get to the security hut in record time. “Slater.” His complete attention is on me. “Listen, I know there’s a lot going on right now, but I don’t want you to lose focus of what’s important.” He looks at me like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “This weekend is everything. The semifinals and then the finals.”
“Soccer? That‘s what you think is important?” he asks.
I frown. “Slater, you’ve worked so hard this season, and you guys are almost there. You just—”
“Soccer means nothing to me if I don’t have you.”
Chapter 37
Slater
She swallows hard. “You don’t mean that.” Her words are barely a whisper.
I step as close as I can without actually touching her. “I absolutely mean that.”
She shakes her head, unwilling to accept what I’m saying. “You can’t. Soccer—”
I interrupt her. “Tess, soccer has taken a backseat from the moment you came flying into Evie’s room.” I can’t help but smile as I remember the moment she came into my life with the force of a hurricane.
Her mouth drops open. “But you love soccer.”
I shrug. “I do, but I love you more.” The moment the words are out of my mouth, I curse myself. Though I can’t bring myself to regret saying them, I could have probably waited for a more romantic moment. “Sorry, I probably should have waited for—” I stare in horror as her eyes tear up. “Tess, what is it?”
“You love me?”
I go still and study her face. “If it’s really such a shock then I haven’t done a very good job of showing you.” I scowl. “I’m not good with feelings or words; I never have been.”
She closes her eyes tightly. “Please stop.”
I don’t move, trying to figure out how I’m making such a mess of this. “Shorty?”
