Page 27 of Game Day

Nova’s gasping, approaching an invisible edge I know by her sounds, her feel, the way her fingers dig into my shoulders.

She tightens around me, her collarbone damp with sweat as she arches, eyes closed in pleasure.

Watching her come is too much. There’s no way I can witness her giving herself to me like that without reciprocating. It’s like asking a man to resist breathing.

My muscles clench and I come inside her, shuddering out the last of my need.

"This is the most fun I've had at this table tonight,” she says when we can speak again.

I pull back an inch to look at her, smug. "Only tonight?"

Her fingers trail along my arm. "Let's just stay here a minute.”

I pull her against me so our sweaty skin is flush.

"How was practice?"she asks.

I think about the mayor stopping by to talk with James. The lack of progress finding the perfect house.

"Not as good as this," I say honestly.

Her lips curve, and I swear I see my happiness in this woman’s face every damn time.

“We should do some wedding planning tonight,” Nova murmurs.

I nuzzle into her neck. “That’s what we’re doing.”

“How do you figure?” Suspicion has her pulling back.

“I’m planning for our wedding night.”

The next round, I roll her on top.

9

CLAY

Four days until the wedding

"Go hard. Like a lion. A tiger. A shark.”

The passionate requests sound oddly dry in the photographer’s British accent.

I'm wearing my Kodiaks uniform and shoes, but there's no court in sight, only a setup of lights flashing white and gold over our mini-set in the basement studio at the stadium.

“Faster,” he urges as his flash clicks away. “Now turn. I want more of these feral tattoos.”

I slide a look toward Chloe, who's bent over her iPad in one corner and fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

This shoot was a late addition to my calendar. Though we normally have our share of team commitments heading into the season, this was an unwelcome distraction.

Not least because something’s eating Nova.

Touching her last night—holding her, giving us both a release—took the edge off physically, but even as we fell asleep, she wasn’t totally relaxed.

My parents showing up early, and unannounced, was a surprise. I reminded my fiancée she doesn’t need to cater to them, particularly given she’s thrown herself into planning what was supposed to be an easy, low-key wedding.

Remembering Kat’s words, I texted my mom this morning to remind her to be nice to Nova. She promised she would and insisted any shortness last night was in my imagination.

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