Page 12 of Breaking Rules

“How long have you been sleeping?”

With a yawn, I shrug. “I don’t know. When did you wake up?”

“Twenty minutes ago. I fell asleep on the couch last night.” With his meaty hands gripping my sides, he hauls me to his chest. Instantly, I’m engulfed in the scent of stale alcohol and sweat.

“Yeah, I found you when I went downstairs for coffee.” I put my hands to his chest and push back, my nose wrinkled. “You stink.”

“I do?” He laughs, adding a bit of pressure, pulling me into him with ease. A second later, he’s flipped over onto his back, and I’m straddling his legs. “It’s the best thing in the world to wake up and find my girl waiting for me at home.”

I wouldn’t call my experiencethe best. Finding my boyfriend passed out drunk after a night of partying isn’t exactly a dream come true.

“How was the club?”

“It was fine.” He runs his hands up and down my sides absentmindedly. “I’m glad you came to the party with me. It would’ve been awkward if you weren’t there, since the rest of the guys brought their wives and girlfriends.”

“Don’t get used to it. You know how I feel about…all the fancy events, being in the spotlight. I don’t like it.”

“But you’re stunning. Literally every time our photos show up online, the captions call you ‘Miller’s gorgeous girlfriend.’”

Annoyance singes my veins, and a dash of sadness finds its way under my skin. What’s the point of being beautiful if my soul is ugly? If it’s so damaged that anyone who gets too close will see right through me?

“I wish you’d join me for team events and parties more often. They’re important to me.”

Defeat washes over me, but I force a smile. “I know. I’ll try harder, I promise.”

With a hand on the back of my neck, he pulls my face down for a kiss. He runs his tongue over the seam of my lips, urging me to open for him. Persistent and pushy, just like he always is.

Instead of giving in, I straighten my back and frown down at him. “I told you, you stink. I have no desire to kiss a bottle of…rum?”

“Whiskey.” His face splits into a smile. In a swish, I’m on my back, and he’s hovering over me. “Let’s take a shower.”

“I already did.” I hold his gaze and watch the way his pupils dilate as he zeroes in on my lips. “Go. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Isabella,” he whines, grinding his erection against my leg. “I kinda have a problem here.”

“Yeah? It’s probably not as bad as the problemIhad downstairs, when a half-naked guy strolled into the kitchen.”

Jake’s face contorts in confusion.

“Xander,” I clarify.

He blinks twice, then bursts out laughing. Rearing back, he hops off the bed. “Xander is something else. Where is he?”

“In the guest room, I think.”

“I told him he could stay,” he says, shedding his clothes. “With that motherfucker, the Super Bowl will be ours. I’m a hundred percent sure of it. His stats are fantastic, and his dedication on the field is spectacular.”

“Never seen you so enthusiastic about another player.”

“Walker is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. I just appreciate talent when I see it. Besides, he’s my buddy.”

“Uh-huh…he told me you were best friends in college.” I scratch my cheek.

“We were.” A strange glint flashes behind his eyes, but it instantly disappears. There’s more to the story than he’s letting on, but I’m not about to ask him. For now, I just want him to take a shower so we can go downstairs and eat. I don’t want to go alone.

“Hurry up. I’m starving.”

“My shower offer still stands.” He takes off his briefs and straightens proudly.

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