Page 75 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“Someone like you?”

“Yeah. I’m mean. I can’t express myself. I don’t really like people.”

I cut her off with a kiss, tired of hearing her disparage herself. She jolts, but soon melts into my touch. When she’s calm enough, I pull away, leaning my forehead against hers.

“I see you, B.” That was all I needed to say for her to get it. “I get you more than anyone in this world.”

After a beat, she responds. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve watched you from the sidelines for the last eight years. Now I’m asking you to let me take charge and lead us to victory.”

Bella lets out a low chuckle before rolling her eyes. Okay, I can admit that maybe a football reference wasn’t the wisest choice, but it’s how I feel.

“What do you say? Are you going to pass me the ball, B?”

“Okay,” she says quietly. I hear it, though. Even over the fireworks sounding off in my brain because she finally agreed to date me.

Act cool, Drew.

I tame down my smile before leaning in to kiss her again. She gladly accepts, and my brain is short-wiring over the fact that Bella Summers is dating me and it’s not a hostage situation.

I can’t help myself. Holding onto her side, I roll onto my back, taking her with me. Her body moves against mine, and I can feel my dick getting hard again.

Shit. We’re going to do it again, aren’t we.

Bella moans into my mouth, clawing at my sides, and I grab her hips, moving her body against my dick.

“Drew,” she wisps out. It’s hungry. It’s breathless. It’s everything.

“Do you have time for another round?” I ask. She skates her nose across mine before nodding her head.

Unfortunately, Jacob’s heavy footsteps upstairs interrupt the moment. Great. He’s up.

Biting her bottom lip, Bella gives me a sympathetic smile. “As much as I’d want to do that, I should probably get back to campus. Don’t want to be late for class.”

“Let me drive you back,” I offer, gently skating my fingers across her arm because I don’t want to lose the connection with her.

“It’s okay. I can walk.”

“Babe, you couldn’t even have sex without being strapped down. Let me drive you. We’ll walk around the back, so no one sees you. The sneaking around will be good practice for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“When I take you out on our first official date.” I’ve been thinking about this moment for years and always wondered what it might feel like to take her out. Now that I have the opportunity, I’m not going to take it for granted.

Her lips curve. “Can’t wait.”

Chapter 19

Bella

“Your form is really improving,” Caroline smiles, admiring my tentative jog on the treadmill. It’s at half my usual warm-up pace, and I can still feel pain radiating through my shin, but I’ve got to believe that it’s getting better every day. My cast has been off for over a month, and even though rehab is going slower than I’d like, things are marginally improving.

“Thanks,” I mumble. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll be able to actually jog.”

She gives me a tight smile while noting something down on her clipboard. “Yeah, I wouldn’t push your luck just yet. Plantar fasciitis from wearing a cast can get even worse if you don’t treat it cautiously. Are you wearing the circulation socks I recommended?”

I nod, subtly cranking up the treadmill pace by one because I’m a rebel like that.

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