By His Play

63. Kieran

63

KIERAN

D espite being busy all day, it’s fucking dragged.

I was still sitting out the front of the KC Foundation office when I pulled my cell out to message her.

The elevator doors had barely closed on her, and I already missed her.

As much as I love being back here, I’m mourning our time in St. Louis where it was just us with no other commitments or distractions.

Before sending her a message, I opened the ones I’d received from Brax both last night and this morning.

Brax: Smug motherfucker

Brax: Do don’t anything I wouldn’t do.

Brax: Are you still alive?

Brax: Kieran, you need to let her go to work…

Kieran: You’re a funny motherfucker. Heading to the gym. See you soon.

Brax: Surprised you have the energy for that.

When I eventually pull out of the space I shouldn’t have been parked in, I’ve got a huge smile on my face, and just like I told Effie in my message, my boner is tenting my sweats.

Fuck.

How the hell am I meant to get rid of that when my head is full of her?

The drive to the stadium is short, and after having a few firm words with myself, I’m able to climb out of the car without giving anyone an eyeful.

“Ah, there he is,” Brax says loudly as I walk into the gym.

He turns all eyes on me, letting everyone see the sappy smile that I know is playing on my lips. I can’t fucking help it.

Brax walks over and gives me a guy hug, his fist slamming against my back.

“I’m so fucking happy and relieved for you, man.”

“What’s going on?” Easton asks, stepping up to us with a curious look on his face.

“Kieran and Effie, that’s what’s going on,” Brax explains for me.

“Oh, shit. Really?” he asks, his eyes wide.

“Yeah,” I confess, rubbing the back of my neck.

“That’s awesome, man. So, is the next engagement announcement going to be legit?”

“Yep,” I state confidently.

“Oh my god, you’re already planning it,” Brax says as a few others come over to join us.

“Might be,” I say nonchalantly.

“Congrats, man,” Jamie says with what almost looks like a smile on his face. “I hope it works out for you.”

I nod at him, and he retreats again to the weights bench.

“I can’t believe after everything you’ve said about relationships and being tied down that you’re about to dive in headfirst,” Easton points out.

He’s not wrong. Watching other teammates with wives and girlfriends is terrifying. The thought of being one of them is equally scary. But knowing that it’s Effie who’s going to be by my side makes it so much easier to picture.

She knows me better than anyone. She knows my job, my schedule, and everything that’s expected of me. She’s always aware of what the media is capable of.

Unease twists in my gut.

There have been some brutal things said about her online since the news broke about our fake engagement and then the “truth” that followed.

I can only imagine what this next chapter of our lives is going to cause.

But I’ll protect her with everything I have.

Once the guys have had their fill of gossip, we get to work.

Preseason is still a while away, but they’re all as eager to have an even stronger season as I am.

We made the playoffs last year. But this year…with Effie by my side, we’re going to go all the way. I can feel it.

I spend the morning at the gym before Brax, Easton, Jamie and I hit up a local coffee shop for lunch. We get more than a few stares when we walk in together, something that some of us embrace better than others.

I then head back to talk to Kat about the new development in my life and my desire for any talk about my girlfriend to be squashed before heading home.

My steps falter as I step into my apartment.

I love it here. I always have. But suddenly, everything feels wrong.

This place is no longer my home.

Before I can think too much about it, I stalk through to my bedroom, drag a suitcase from my closet, and begin filling it.

My apartment might be bigger, but it’s not where I want us to be.

As soon as I have everything I think I’m going to need, I head back to Effie’s apartment. I don’t have any regrets; although, I am a little anxious.

I know we’re on the same page with where we want our relationship to go, but we didn’t specifically talk about plans for moving in together.

I spend the afternoon unpacking. Thankfully, I’ve spent almost as much time in Effie’s apartment as I have on my own, so I find homes for everything without much effort.

By the time the end of Effie’s workday rolls around, I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous.

What if she’s had a reality check during the day and decided that being with me will be too much for her?

Did I come on too heavy?

I told her that she’s coming to all my games, and I’ve just moved myself into her apartment.

Refusing to second-guess my actions and focus on how right everything feels when we’re together, I focus on her, on the future, on everything I want to experience with her.

I pull back up outside the building with ten minutes to spare and head inside.

My heart crashes against my ribs as the elevator takes me toward her floor.

As I step out and walk through the office, all eyes turn my way.

It’s not unusual, but I feel it more than normal.

They’ll have all read the articles about us in the media, no doubt.

The sight of her name on her door brings a smile to my lips, although I can’t help feeling like it’s wrong.

Effie Callahan would look so much better.

I knock once and then step inside.

It’s empty, and my heart drops.

Taking a seat at her desk, I spread my thighs and rest my head back as I wait.

My knee bounces as my nerves build again.

She’s still here; her purse is under her desk.

It only takes a few minutes before there’s movement outside her office and her soft voice floats through to me.

My fists clench, and I force my leg to still.

“Okay, great. See you tomorrow,” she says before pushing her door handle down and letting herself inside.

She doesn’t see me for a few seconds, too lost in her own thoughts, but then she looks up.

“Oh my god, Kieran,” she gasps as her notebook flutters to the ground.

“Is it my turn now?” I ask simply.

“Y-yeah,” she stutters, bending down to collect everything she dropped.

“Don’t do that,” I warn, watching her with her ass in the air. “Unless you want to get fucked over your desk.”

She stands and shoots a heated look over her shoulder.

“Oh, you do.”

“Kieran,” she warns, trying to cover up her thoughts.

“You’re right. Maybe another time,” I force out. “I’ve got plans.”

“Oh?” she asks.

“Yep. Grab your things. Let’s go.”

She studies me for a beat, and I wonder if she can see my apprehension.

If she can, she doesn’t say anything.

“Okay,” she agrees before closing down her computer and grabbing her purse.

With her hand locked in mine, I drag her out of the office, uncaring about anyone seeing us.

I’d shout it from the rooftops if I could.

After holding the passenger door for her, I jog around the driver’s side of my car.

“Where are we—” I cut off her question with my lips the minute my ass hits the seat.

My hand wraps around the side of her neck, and my tongue sweeps into her mouth.

She kisses me back just as eagerly, and it settles some of the unease I’ve been battling all afternoon.

She still wants this.

The beep of a horn behind us finally puts an end to our kiss.

“So, you missed me?” Effie guesses with a laugh.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” I state as I start the engine and pull away.

“What are we doing?”

“Open the glove box,” I demand.

She glances over at me as I pull up to a stop sign.

“Okay,” she whispers as she leans forward, doing as she’s told.

Her gasp lets me know that she’s found it.

“Put it on.”

Hesitantly, she pulls the blindfold out and holds it in front of her for a few seconds.

“Effie?” I question when she doesn’t immediately follow orders.

But then, her hands move and she slips it over her head.

“Good girl.”

Reaching over, I place my hand on her thigh, needing some kind of connection with her as I drive us to our next destination.

Effie

My breathing is erratic and my heart is racing.

I trust Kieran with my life, but he’s blindsided me with this.

I was expecting him to maybe take me for dinner before going home and continuing what we started this morning.

I squirm in my seat. All I’ve done all day is clock watch. And I swear that every hour has been slower than the last.

I knew he was picking me up, and all I wanted was to slip my hand into his and leave for the night.

“You okay there, Luck?” His teasing tone washes over me.

“Wonderful.”

“Have you been thinking about me today?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

“From the way you’re rubbing your thighs together, I’d say no. Tell me what you’ve been picturing?”

“E-everything,” I stutter, my mouth running dry and my cheeks heating.

“Like…” he prompts.

“You fucking me.” It won’t be enough, but I’m just as willing to tease him as he is me.

A warning growl is all I get in response.

“I thought about what you’d do to me when we get home.”

“Better.”

“I pictured you demanding I get on my knees the second we step inside my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” he questions.

I frown. In all my fantasies, we’re never at his place.

“Yeah.”

“Go on.”

So I do. I tell him about him fucking me over the sofa, eating me out in front of the windows again, and then all the other places we could make use of as we make our way to the bathroom to clean up before starting all over again.

I have never been this brazen before. But Kieran makes me brave. Knowing that he’s opened himself up to me with what he likes has given me the strength to do the same.

I know his secret and I’ll treasure it forever. Just like I know he will with all of mine.

The car comes to a stop, and he kills the engine.

“The last time you brought me somewhere blindfolded, it was the beginning of the end,” I say. The words and the memories of our stay at The Cove make my heart ache. It was so bittersweet.

“We’re having a do-over. This time, it’s just the beginning.”

“Okay,” I muse as he opens the door, allowing a rush of hot air to flow over me.

My skin prickles with goosebumps as I wait for him to get me.

In seconds, I’m on my feet and being guided somewhere with his arm around my shoulder.

Birds sing above us, and there are the unmistakable sounds of rush hour in the city.

I wrack my brain for where he might have brought me but come up short.

It could be anywhere.

In only a minute, we move inside a building. But there are no clues as to where.

After the doors close behind us, it’s silent, and other than the faint smell of cleaning products, there is nothing else to go on.

“Come on, nearly there. “

We walk for a few more minutes and pass through a number of doors before fresh air hits me again.

I frown.

Surely, he hasn’t walked me through a building only to bring me back out again?

We continue moving, and after a few steps, the ground beneath me changes. It gets softer.

Understanding dawns, and I can’t keep the smile off my face.

We walk for another minute before he brings me to a stop.

My hands tremble as he spins me toward him and cups my face in his hands.

“What are you doing, Kieran?” I whisper.

His fingers press against my lips, stopping me from saying anything else.

Slowly, his hands lift and he slips the blindfold from my face.

I blink against the bright sunlight and discover that my prediction was right.

We’re standing right in the middle of the Chiefs field.

“Effie, a few weeks ago, you wore a ring that made Grams the happiest woman in the world. It made all her dreams come true, and I want to do exactly the same for you.

“Some might say this is fast, but honestly, it’s not.I’m pretty sure I’ve been falling deeper and deeper in love with you for years. I just needed a little help to figure it out.”

“Kieran,” I whimper as tears blur my vision of him.

He quirks a brow, reminding me that I shouldn’t be talking.

“Seeing that ring on your finger did things to me. It annoyed me because it wasn’t anywhere near good enough for you. It frustrated me because I wasn’t the one who put it there. And it terrified me because it made me realize that one day, someone would put one there, and I couldn’t stand the thought of it not being me.”

Suddenly, he sinks to one knee right there in the middle of the stadium and pulls a small black box from his pocket.

“I thought my dream had come true the first day I ran out onto this field with your birth date stamped on my front and back.”

I squeeze my eyes closed for a second, fighting the tears.

Kieran Callahan chose number eleven for his jersey because it’s my birthday.

A sob erupts, and I rip my eyes open, staring down at him as he opens the box.

But I don’t see the jewelry; all I see is him.

“But it didn't. It turns out my dream has always been you.

“Effie Campbell, my lucky charm, will you be my wife?”

An emotional laugh falls from my lips.

This is crazy.

We made up last night. It’s ridiculously fast.

But then, I think about what he just said, and he’s right.

We’ve been building toward this for over a decade now.

I nod, unable to speak through the lump in my throat.

Kieran’s brows lift, silently demanding that I use my words.

“Yes, Kieran. Yes.”

He’s off the ground in a heartbeat, his arms around me and his lips on mine.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulder, I stretch up on my toes and kiss him back.

Time stands still, and we lose ourselves in the moment.

“I love you, Luck. I love you so much.” His voice is barely a whisper and cracked with emotion. When I pull back and look into his eyes, I find that they’re flooded with unshed tears. The sight completely undoes me.

“Shit,” he suddenly gasps. “The ring.”

I laugh when he releases me to pick it up off the ground.

“Oh my god, Kieran,” I breathe when I finally see the size of it.

“This is the kind of engagement ring you deserve, Effie. I can’t believe Grams thought I’d ever buy you that tiny diamond.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper as he slides the huge platinum brilliant-cut diamond onto my ring finger.

“No, you’re beautiful,” he breathes before claiming my lips again. “There’s one other thing,” he says when he pulls back and rests his brow against mine.

“Oh?” I pant, barely able to catch my breath.

“I’ve moved into your apartment.”

I laugh, although I’m not really surprised.

When Kieran Callahan wants something, he does everything he can to get it.

Including me.