Page 11 of Madden

I squeeze my muscles and feel him shiver around me. "We'd better make this quick, so you have time to recover." I begin to move slowly, and then our bodies move together in perfect rhythm, the intensity building with each thrust. I arch my back, meeting his every move with equal passion.

One of his hands slides down my stomach and settles between my legs, his fingers stroking my clit. He presses his mouth to the top of my spine, and I fly, taking Madden with me. Madden grunts in my ear, "Game Day just got a whole lot better." I collapse against him, breathless and contented.

His warm arms wrap around me as he rests his chin on my shoulder. He plants a kiss on my neck and whispers, "You make me happy, Tessa. I couldn't wait to get back from my run and see you. The thought of sex never crossed my mind until I walked in and found you sitting on the sofa looking all sweet and soft."

"I'm happy. I feel safe and secure with you." She giggles. "I feel a lot of other things too, but I think we'd end up in bed if I told you those things."

Madden grabs my waist and helps me off him before he has me snuggled up against him, the blanket covering our nakedness. "About the other shit, are you really, okay?"

"I'm upset and angry." I pause. "I think I'm angrier that people think it's okay to make rude and hurtful comments about me. They hide behind their computers or cell phones. It's not okay. If it doesn't stop, I will retaliate. I hope you know that."

He drops his forehead to mine and says, "We will retaliate, Tess." He blows out a breath. "I need to tell you something."

"Are you referring to the woman being jealous because you didn't choose her?" I ask, hoping my trust is not misplaced.

Madden sighs. "She's thrown herself at me several times. I'm not interested. She pushed harder. I stopped going out with the team because she kept showing up."

"She's stalking you!" I sit up, but Madden pulls me back into his arms.

"Not that bad... Not yet. No matter what you hear, you have to believe me when I say I never even went out with her, nor did I touch her in any way." Pause. "Well, I did push her off my lap once when she just showed up and sat down on me." He winces. "You're the only woman I want, Tess. You make me feel whole."

I curl my body into his, loving how he calls me Tess. "You're mine, Madden. I'll fight for you if I have to, as long as I'm the only one you want."

"No fighting, sweetheart. We belong together."

This ismy first time in a large crowd since my cheek caught a stray bullet. I hadn't told Madden about it because the last thing I want is for him to worry about me when he has a game to concentrate on. Both Rosie and Willow took me in, for which I am grateful. It's scary to be alone in a big crowd. Gemma, Dario's girlfriend, keeps glancing over at me with a worried look on herface. It was Gemma the bullet was meant for. I don't blame her. I blame Julian Michaels, Gemma’s father.

Even though the crowd in the arena makes my stomach churn, I inhale for courage and move to Gemma's side, who looks surprised before giving me a smile. I take her hand and squeeze it gently. "Can we be friends, Gemma?"

Gemma sighs with relief and laughs. "Yes! I want to be friends, but I thought you blamed me for what happened."

"It's not your fault." I shake my head. "I never blamed you. I blamed the shooter."

She opens her mouth to speak, closes it, and finally asks, "How are you?"

"Not too bad. My heart pounds when I hear sudden loud noises. Crowds bother me too." I glance around.

"Still, you're at the game." She smiles. "My advice for tonight is to ignore the women who will no doubt be screaming and flirting with the guys during the game. It bothered me the first time I saw it. It still bothers me. But in the end, I know that Dario only has eyes for me. His heart belongs to me.” She shrugs and gives me a quick hug. "Nash is filling in for Lake tonight. Juniper fainted this afternoon, so she's at the hospital for tests. Her obstetrician says she's a little dehydrated."

"Juniper's tests are fine, and Lake took her home," Rosie adds, listening in. "Dover's getting some time on the ice tonight, too," Rosie waggles her eyebrows at Dodge, who deliberately doesn't meet her gaze. She laughs and walks over to the big man.

"I wish she'd stop teasing him," Gemma says, though her eyes are bright with amusement. "There's a certain attraction between the two men. They ignore each other even though they are aware of the other. It's like a dance, I guess. Dodge is a bit older than Dover, which Rosie thinks is the problem."

I feel more at ease as I listen to Rosie and Gemma talk about their men and what they look like in a towel. I snort. "Madden is hot as hell in a towel. Sweats too, if I'm being honest."

Gemma slides her arm through one of mine and pulls us back to our seats. She whispers, "Does his bulge make your eyes pop?"

My eyes widen in surprise at her question. "He has, um, a considerable bulge." I feel my face turn red and hot.

"Gemma, leave Tessa alone." Rosie rolls her eyes. "Tell her to mind her own business next time she asks you personal questions."

"I'm just curious," Gemma huffs.

"Curiosity killed the cat!" Rosie says with a small smile on her lips.

Gemma snorts.

Rosie smiles.

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