Page 23 of Quarterback Keeper

He stayed quiet for a moment. His eyes closed briefly, and a puff of air left his firm lips. “It’s bullshit. There’s no evidence because I didn’t do a damned thing. I had to go to the fundraiser?—”

“I’m not a fool. I know what I saw.” Through gritted teeth, I spelled it out for him. “She may have kissed you, but you didn’t push her away. And she hung all over you. There are so many pictures.” I clamped my lips shut, horrified at how my voice wavered toward the end.What was that?

Softer, he said, “You have no reason to be insecure or jealous.”

I held up my hand against the absurdity of his assumption. “I’m not either of those things. I don’t like being made a fool of.” I shook my head, working hard to maintain composure. “You don’t belong to me anyway, despite stupid paragraph three. We can dissolve the contract. Go get Science-Nerd Barbie. I’m sure she would happily be in a fake relationship with you. All you need to do is pay me the money you owe me, and I’m gone.”

He moved fast. Steel arms wrapped around me. I gasped at the feel of his body flush against mine as he pulled me onto the bed with him.

I’d sworn off men for good.Why does he have to affect me so much that I want to toss my prior vow to the curb?The weight of the ring on my finger and the near kiss at his mom’s taunted me.Do I care about him more than I thought?How did that happen?

“We’re in this together. I’m sorry about what happened with Melanie. It was a tricky situation, one I’ll avoid in the future by making sure you’re by my side if I have to go to any more of those events.”

“That’s not the only thing. You told a blogger you were in a relationship with me. You gave her my name after I’d told you not to do that.”

“Technically, I didn’t go against what you said, which was to not announce our engagement.”

“It still counts.” I needed to check again to make sure Dayton was where he needed to stay—back in California. I would do a deep internet dive when I was alone.

He studied my face, his gaze bouncing between my eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I was trying to handle a few situations, and it was the wrong way to go about it.”

I worried my lip for a few seconds before shrugging. “Fine. But know I’m not happy about it. Not at all.”

His big hand smoothed down my back, and I slowly relaxed into his touch, the sucker that I was. His other hand tilted my chin so our eyes met. As his fingers traced the side of my cheek, those unwanted tingles erupted, and I couldn’t suppress the shiver that time. Shoving aside what I’d witnessed on TV, I thought about how he showed he cared.

“I do belong to you, for now. I’m yours, and you’re mine. Period.”

Despite the noted time restraint, my traitorous mind and body melted. I was too tired to fight how he made me ache every time he touched me. My hungry gaze locked on his lips. Maybe it was time to find out what it would be like to kiss him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

KYLIAN

Gia’s gaze found my lips, and I couldn’t deny how much I wanted her. Each day with her, it was harder than the last to keep my hands to myself. She was still angry. I couldn’t blame her. I was too. Part of me longed for jealousy to be what had prompted her strong reaction to Melanie. I didn’t know what I would have done if the roles were reversed. Probably smashed the guy’s face in.

I slid my hand along the slender curve of her neck to cup her nape, drawing her closer, testing for resistance. There was none. She came willingly, and I felt like I’d won.

A shiver of anticipation raced through me as I lifted my head toward hers. I wanted to taste her lips more than my next breath. Her eyelids fluttered closed as my lips grazed hers. She returned my kiss. Soft at first, tentative. When her arms wrapped around my neck, her fingers buried in my hair, I deepened the kiss, devouring her lips, reveling in her taste. Her response was instantaneous. The passion between us was electric, explosive. I angled her head, tasting her fully.So fucking sweet.When she shifted her hips, creating friction, I strained to push into her, hating the clothing barrier.

A moan slipped from her throat, reverberating through me and unleashing any restraint I thought I had. I needed her, and my control was threadbare. But it was our first kiss, and I fought my insatiable hunger and eased back. My breath crashed against hers.

I traced the curve of her soft cheek, a swell of possessiveness flaring in me at the sight of her kiss-swollen lips. Her lids rose, gifting me a view of her dazed bright-blue eyes.

“I’ve tried to deny how you make me feel. Gia, after that kiss, I can’t. I want you, but I won’t push you to do more than you’re ready for.”

Gia

Itrembled at the way Kylian looked at me. Butterflies erupted in my stomach. I’d wanted to do this for myself, and the way he made me feel could keep me warm at night when I had to move on eventually. I trusted him. The decision was made, and I eased back on the mattress, creating much-needed distance between us. He reluctantly released me.

On shaky legs, I stood at the edge of the bed and whipped off my shirt then shimmied out of my leggings, needing the control. It was my decision, and making it sent a wave of power surging through me. “I want you too.”

He practically levitated off the bed and was in front of me in a flash. I sucked in a breath and willed my body’s fight-or-flight to cease and desist.

He noted my flinch and paused. “What is it?” His hands stilled from undoing his shirt’s buttons.

I shook my head, hating how specific movements brought unbridled fear. It was a learned behavior bestowed on me from Dayton. But he wasn’t there, and I wasn’t afraid of Kylian—not like that. He wouldn’t hurt me physically. The uncontrollable learned response just hit me at times. Intimacy didn’t scare me, only certain fast movements that triggered me. I straightened my spine and shoved away the remnants of my urge to flee as I lost myself in the sight of the incredible man and athlete before me. Concern swam through his expressive eyes.

“You just startled me. I’m okay.” I laid my hand on his chest, refusing to let Dayton come between us or my decision to be with Kylian. “Promise.”

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