Page 113 of Bae

Ivy hadn’t noticed at first; she’d been going on about a window display and a pair of sunglasses, but then she realized I wasn’t there.

The family surrounded me. Ivy gently took the handles of Nova’s stroller, Drew angled his body in front of mine so I couldn’t see the circus, and Trent wrapped his arm around me and tugged me into his side.

We ducked into the closest boutique. Drew stood at the door with his arms crossed over his chest, watching out the glass like he would physically deter anyone with a camera from entering this shop, while Trent stayed glued to my side.

I had the best family, and I found myself blinking back tears because I was lucky enough to call them that.

In between the football games, the training, and Romeo’s busy schedule, we managed to take Nova to the beach, go out to dinner, and Romeo and I snuck off to a movie for some alone time.

It felt almost more like a vacation than anything. I was more relaxed now than I’d been in so long. I’d literally forgotten what it had felt like.

I was still lying in bed when I heard the key in the door.

“Smalls!” Romeo called when he walked in. This hotel room was like a small apartment, and his voice echoed through the room to reach me.

“Back here!” I called.

He appeared in the doorway, leaned against the doorjamb, and grinned. The purple Knights T-shirt he wore stretched across his chest and biceps with the team logo dead center on his chest. He kinda looked like a superhero.

It kinda turned me on.

“How was the team meeting?” I asked.

“Endless.” His eyes roamed the bed and blankets covering me.

“That’s it, though, right? You have a little time off now?”

He nodded. “No game this coming weekend. I’m all yours.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“You been in bed this whole time, Smalls?” Romeo half smiled. I liked the way the smirk met his eyes. He was in a playful mood.

“It’s hard work being married to you,” I jested. “I’m tired.”

“Whatcha got on underneath those blankets?” He wagged his eyebrows.

I wagged mine. “Why don’t you come over here and find out.”

I almost bounced off the bed completely when he took a running leap and landed dead center in the mattress. I squealed as my body flew up, but he locked an arm around me, anchoring me in place.

Laughter filled the room as he ripped back the blankets and scowled.

“You led me on, Smalls. You told me you were naked.”

“I did no such thing!” I gasped. “Your dirty mind just assumed I was. I don’t lie around naked, you know.”

“You should,” he muttered and stuck his head beneath the T-shirt I was wearing.

I started to speak, but my mind went blank when his lips grazed up my middle and latched onto my breast.

I groaned as familiar heat pooled between my legs. My fingers yanked at his shirt. Because it was so snug, it didn’t slip off so easily, and I groaned in frustration.

His laugh vibrated against my skin before he appeared from beneath my shirt. “Impatient this morning, are we?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yes, so get naked.”

The sound of his laugh was muffled by the insistent beating on the door.

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