Page 81 of Topping the Jock
“Tell me what the hell’s going on.” I slapped the wall beside his head. “Why do you think you’ll lose me?”
“Because I love you,” Quinn blurted out. His eyes watered, and he said again, but much softer, “I love you, Monty. And I’m terrified of you not feeling the same. I—”
I cut off his words with a hard kiss. His lips trembled against mine as he whimpered and looped an arm around my neck. A tear fell down his cheek, followed by another. Relief had me shaking a little. I had been so worried that he’d break things off between us.
“I love you too,” I said, tearing from his lips and resting my forehead on his. “So fucking much.”
Quinn made a soft sound in his throat before kissing me again and holding me closer. “I’ve never been in love before,” he whispered against my lips. “This is new for me.”
“I haven’t either.” I cupped his cheek with an unsteady hand. “It’s new for us both.”
“But we will figure it out together,” he said.
Fuck if my heart didn’t swell at that. Something else swelled too, but I’d save that for later when I could properly show Quinn how much I loved him. “Yeah, we will.”
“Thank you for not giving up on me again.” Quinn leaned forward and nuzzled my neck.
“This is how it’ll be forever, I think,” I responded, running my hands up and down his sides. “You’ll get all pissy about something, and I’ll let you cool off before making you laugh at something stupid I say.”
“You have the patience of a saint. Are you sure I’m worth the trouble? I’m not easy to love.”
“Love isn’t easy,” I said. “Relationships are hard work. I’m willing to try if you are.”
Quinn nodded and tightened the hold on the back of my neck. “So. About what Sherry said earlier. How doyoufeel about people knowing?”
“I want to shout from the rooftops that you’re mine,” I responded. “But I know it’s tricky because of your dad.”
“He has no reason to be upset,” he said. “I just found out this morning that he’s dating Principal Peterson.”
“No shit?” I asked.
“Yes.” Quinn played with the back of my hair and smiled up at me. “I want to shout from the rooftops that you’re mine too by the way. But I’ll settle with telling my dad for now and introducing you to Reed. He really wants to meet you.”
“Introducing me as your friend?” I teased.
Quinn pushed me backward and switched places with me as he pressedmeagainst the wall. I fucking loved when he took control.
“No,” he said, gliding his lips up my neck. “As my boyfriend. Is that okay with you?”
Holy shit. Blood rushed to my cock, and my body felt like a furnace. Heat poured off him too, matching the fire in his eyes, like green embers that burned just for me. “Hell yeah it’s okay with me.”
The end of lunch bell rang, and soon, students would fill the halls as they headed to class.
“Come over to my house for dinner,” Quinn said, not moving from his spot against me. “And bring clothes, because you’re staying the night.”
“Like a sleepover? I’m so excited. Should I bring any board games? Or are we gonna stay up all night talking about boys and painting each other’s nails?”
“Idiot,” Quinn said before kissing me one last time and stepping away.
I smiled as I walked back to my classroom.
Quinn had given me a lot of names since I’d known him: meathead, moron, and idiot. But my favorite, by far, was boyfriend.
***
“What do you want for dinner?” I asked Quinn over the phone as I hopped in my truck to drive over to his house. “I can pick up something on my way.”
“Forget about the food,” he responded. “Get over here as soon as possible.”
