Page 39 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“It’s perfect,” I whisper because I’m finally ready to admit my feelings for him and how they’ve grown over the past few days. I’m finally ready to admit that I want him. “Drew, I-”

My mouth immediately clamps shut because as his leg grazes past the bed, realization hits me. He was never planning on taking me there. My chest burns with embarrassment because he’s focused on something else. Thankfully, not my wayward thoughts.

Holding him tighter, I burrow my face into his neck so he can’t see how mortified I am. That was just my imagination running wild. He doesn’t like me now. He may have had a crush on me in high school, but that’s long gone, probably because I stink to high heaven.

Using his left foot, he kicks the bathroom door open, and the music blares. Steam billows in the air, and I can’t tell if the thumping I hear is from my pounding heart or the soft beat of the music.

It doesn’t matter because all of that disappointment has immediately turned into an extreme dose of excitement. Maybe I was too hasty in believing Drew and I weren’t on the same page. Maybe Drew likes a little foreplay.

“This is your bathroom?” I ask, surprised at how nice it is. Black-and-white ombre tiles adorn the walls, and it looks brand new.

He chuckles, low and hearty. I can feel it vibrating in his chest. “Told you it was better than the guest one you’ve been using.” Acharcoal bath sits in the center of the room with bubbles flowing out of it, while dimly lit candles sit on top of the bathroom shelves.

It’s sexy and romantic.

“You didn’t tell me it looked like this.”

“You didn’t ask.”

Drew gently places me on the toilet seat and walks over to the tub. Dipping his hand in the water, he looks over his shoulder and smiles hesitantly at me. “How hot do you like it?”

I shift against the wooden seat because with the grin on his face, I know he’s not referring to the bath.

“Umm,” I pout my lip and sink my teeth into it as I take him in. “I like it really hot.” My face is probably giving the game away; I’m horny and want Drew to help relieve that, but I’m hoping the steam makes me look a little less desperate.

Drew flicks the bubbles back into the bath and stands, making his way back to me. “Okay, well this is pretty hot, but I’ll let you test it before I lower you in there.”

“Oh, that’s nice. What do you think of the temperature?”

He shakes his hand, letting the water spill across the floor. “I prefer ice-cold baths, personally, but maybe I’ll take one after you.”

Hold on a minute.

“After me?”Alone.He’s making me take this bath on my own? Do I stink that badly?

“Yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck, looking down at me with a boyish smile. “Merry Christmas.”

“This is my gift?” He nods, and I try to hide the disappointment that Drew’s dong isn’t on the menu. Damn. I really worked myself up there.

“I know you haven’t toyed with the idea of bathing since the…incident.” Oh, God. He’s bringing that up again, and has given it a name.

“How do you propose I get in there without you seeing me naked?” My voice rises in question. I’m unsettled on the seat, but Drew doesn’t notice. He reaches over his vanity and hands me a black shirt.

“Already thought about that. Figured you could put this on, and I’ll lower you into the bath. Once you’re in and I’m out of the room, you can take the shirt off. That way, I won’t see a thing.”

I’m so embarrassed I can’t speak or even laugh at how stupid I am for thinking he was ever flirting with me. All that sexual tension that I thought was building between us, my throbbing body…It was all just me. I’d made up this whole scenario in my head, and now I have to pretend that I’m not offended that he’s not interested.

He may have suggested he wanted to ask me out as a freshman in high school, but that was over seven years ago. Feelings change, and a lot has happened between us.

Scrunching up the black fabric in my hand, I mumble out a small and barely audible ‘thank you.’ It’s the first one I’ve managed to say since I’ve been held captive by him.

Drew points a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m just going to wait in the bedroom. Call me when you’re ready for my help.” He walks out without giving me a second glance, and I blow out a breath staring at the bathtub for what feels like an hour.

I guess I’ll be taking this bath on my own then. Inhaling the lavender scent, I center myself around the light music, trying to relax and forget about my wayward thoughts. Painfully slowly, I take my clothes off and put the black t-shirt on. Drowning in the fabric, his familiar scent surrounds me, but instead of reminding me of how embarrassed I should be over the fact that I thought he wanted to sleep with me, it offers me a sense of comfort. Something about being wrapped up in him feels familiar.

When I finally get the courage to drop my panties, I hide them in the fabric of my sleep shirt so Drew doesn’t see them andsqueeze my knees together. He can’t know that I was already a little wet thinking about him.

“I’m ready,” I call, and he slowly walks in, taking his time to look at me. I feel his eyes dragging down my body, and they linger on my thighs. My skin instantly pebbles under his scrutiny.

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