Page 225 of Hard Pass

For so long I kept waiting for everything to fall apart, fearing that one bad throw would define me, and that one man’s words could make or break me.

But standing here with her in my arms? It doesn’t feel like that anymore.

She wiggles against my body, igniting every nerve already hyped up with adrenaline.

“Dublin.” My voice is a low warning. “What are you doing?”

She bats her lashes coyly at me. “Just thinking how this victor might want to enjoy his spoils.”

My grin is fast and fierce as I flash back to the suite. To the blind spot. To the things her mouth did to me,

Oh. Shit.

A groan grinds from my throat.

Her laugh is pure fucking trouble.

“You realize there are cameras everywhere right now,” I murmur against her ear.

“Mmm.” Her fingers toy with the front of my jersey. “Sounds like a you problem, QB1.”

I grin as I tighten my arms around her waist. “You trying to kill me out here?”

“Maybe.” Her eyes sparkle as she leans closer. “Depends on how fast you can get me out of this stadium.”

My pulse kicks hard as I lean forward and kiss her.

I’ve spent a lifetime surviving.

Now I plan on thriving and enjoying every damn minute.

“You’re trouble,” I murmur against her mouth.

Her smile curves, slow and wicked. “Yeah . . . but I’m your trouble.”

“Good.” I steal another kiss before grabbing her hand in mine and leading us toward the tunnel. “Forget leaving the stadium, there’s a box suite upstairs waiting for us.”

EPILOGUE

Dublin

Sixteen Months Later

“Valor.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re acting weird.”

Cole looks over at me from where he stands at the edge of the infinity pool, all sun-warmed skin, damp hair, and feigned innocence.

“I’m not acting weird.”

“You absolutely are.”

He lifts his drink to his mouth. “Maybe Bali makes me weird.”

“Bali is supposed to make you relaxed. This”—I wave a hand toward him— “is not relaxed. This is suspicious.”