Page 52 of The Way We Win

Sliding my thumb along her tightened jaw, I tilt my head. “That makes you unhappy?”

“Yes,” she answers flatly.

“Why?”

“She didn’t know you.”

“I’d say she did. She was the first person I’d ever been honest with about my needs. She was my wife.”

“She wasn’t your wife.” Allie’s pretty lips are a straight line of anger, and it does something to me.

Leaning down, I cover those lips with mine. Again they part, and I sweep my tongue to hers firmly, curling them together.

A soft whimper slips from her throat, and I hiss. “Those little noises…” I kiss her again, more forceful, more demanding. “They make me so hard.”

Stepping back, I study her. Her head is waist-high to me. Her cheeks are flushed, she’s breathing fast, and her eyes are dark with desire.

“You want to touch me?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You want to do whatever I say?”

“Yes.”

I smile at her quick responses, sliding my fingers along her cheek. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t wait to play with you.”

Her pink tongue slips out to wet her bottom lip, and it takes all my strength to hold back. “We have to lay some ground rules first.”

“Okay.”

Going to the door, I pause before leaving. “You can get up now—and arm the security system.”

It’sour first home game. The stands are packed with parents and friends. Rachel is at the 50-yard line with Miss Gina. Mybrothers are on the sidelines with me, arms crossed. Buddy is in the box, and I have a headset around my neck.

The cheerleaders hold a tall sign under a red-and-white balloon arch, and once the national anthem finishes, the players burst through it, running onto the field where a roar of cheers greets them.

We win the coin toss and give the Broncos first possession. A crash of helmets, and low grunts of boys running, pushing. A hole opens in our defensive line, and the Broncos quarterback runs straight through it for a thirty-yard first down.

The visitors’ side goes wild.

“Come on, Darnell!” Garrett roars from the sideline. “Where you at?”

My jaw is tight, arms crossed. Bright lights blast onto the dark green field, and the cheerleaders drop one by one off the shoulders of their bases.

Allie is on her knees, looking up at me with blue eyes full of trust and desire. I push the memory away, but the girls chant on the sidelines, drawing my eyes to hers. It’s a shot of pure adrenaline.

Josh dives to the side for a near-interception, and it’s pandemonium in the stands. The home spectators stomp their feet to the beat of “We Will Rock You” by Queen as the boys line up again.

Flynn Barnes comes out of nowhere to sack the Broncos’ quarterback, and the screams turn deafening.

Their kicker runs out to try for the field goal and makes it by a hair, putting the Broncos on the board.

It’s our turn to lead, and the boys run out onto the field. Austin speaks quickly to the huddle, and they clap, heading to the line.

On the snap, he falls back searching for a receiver. My throat tightens as he searches, searches… then barely avoids the sack by firing a tight pass to Rich for the first down.

This is my world.

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