Stay with Me: The Moran Brothers Series

Chapter 21

AFriendly Game

Reminisce

Someone hatesme because this isn’t fair. Knight, his brothers, and a few cousins have all decided to play a game of touch football. Shirtless.

There is so much fine around me, I’m fighting not to fan myself. I take a sip of my lemonade to cool down as I watch Knight’s back flex. He rolls his shoulders and runs a hand through his damp hair.

I bite my lip as I think of the last time I had my hands in his hair. As if knowing that my eyes are on him, he turns to look over his shoulder at me. A sexy grin turns up his lips.

Ugh, friends my ass.

“Girl, you have it bad.” Saga bursts into laughter.

I still can’t believe I revealed so much to her last weekend. At the time, I really needed to do something with all my thoughts. Since that talk, she has been relentless. I get a call almost every day asking me what I plan to do.

“Make it stop,” I say, covering my eyes.

“You sure? Because I’m enjoying all this sexy in my backyard. Damn, the Moran men are hot as fuck. Is it me or is my husband getting finer with time?”

She fans her face as Bishop turns to give her a heated look. Lord tosses the football at Bishop’s back and everyone but Bishop bursts into laughter. Bishop’s back bucks but you can tell the ball didn’t hit him too hard.

He turns and runs after his brother as Lord takes off laughing. I shake my head as I watch them horse around. Knight jogs over and digs into the cooler of drinks.

“You guys good over here?” he says as he cracks the bottle of water open.

I watch as he chugs the drink down. Even the movement of his throat is sexy as hell. I lick my own lips before my sister’s voice brings me out of my trance.

“You guys are a mess. Y’all fight and argue more than you play,” she teases.

He replaces the cap on the now empty bottle of water. “You guys should join us. It’s not tackle. We promise to be gentle.”

“I don’t have the right kind of shoes,” I say hoping to get out of this.

“You can play barefoot or borrow a pair of your sister’s socks or something.”

I look down at his bare feet. Most of the guys don’t have on shoes. I get ready to use my nephews as an excuse until I remember my mother picked them up twenty minutes ago.

“Come on, it will be fun,” he says and winks at me.

My cheeks heat. Those winks are killing me. Knight’s eyes are just so mesmerizing.

“I’m in,” Saga says with a mischievous grin on her lips.

I’m going to kill her. I wanted to leave hours ago. Much like last weekend, I’ve been held hostage here at my sister’s. Between her and Knight, every time I start inching toward the door, they pull me right back in.

Friends. I remind myself.

“Fine,” I mutter, slipping off my sandals.

“You guys are going to play?” Lord drones.

“Looks like it,” I say.

“Awesome, why don’t you come play with my team, sweetheart,” he replies with a smug grin.

I peek at Knight to see he has a scowl on his face. However, something crosses his eyes, and he starts to grin once again. I get a chill. This doesn’t look safe for me.

I get ready to beg off and carry my butt home when their cousin, Dwayne wraps an arm around my shoulders. I lean into the big teddy bear. He smells like smoke and cologne, but it’s not offensive.

“Oh, this should be fun. Saga you have to play on our team so we can watch you kick your husband’s ass,” Kegan, Dwayne’s brother says.

“Bring that bullshit if you want,” Bishop snorts.

“Oh, it’s on,” my sister purrs with her hands on her hips, while she glares at Bishop.

“Too much talking, let’s play,” Dwayne booms.

We all take our places, and the game begins. A new competitive spirit fills the air, but the playful aura remains. Not for nothing, I’m pretty good at football.

Growing up with Legend, his friends were always around to play, and I wanted to be cool and hang with them. The guys find out soon enough that both Saga and I can play. Saga is fast, but I have great hands.

Dwayne launches the ball toward me, and I catch it. I take off for the end zone, but strong arms wrap my waist and lift me off my feet. Knight’s laugh rumbles through me as he holds me to his chest.

“Hey, I thought we were playing touch football,” I holler when he finally places me on my feet, and I spin to face him.

He lifts his brow. “I did touch you,” he says and turns to saunter off.

“Oh, this is how we’re playing,” I mumble to myself.

The next time I’m tossed the ball, I know exactly where Knight is. I take off running as fast as my legs will carry me. I know he’s coming for me, but I move at top speed.

When his long legs bring him within arm’s reach, I pause, reverse directions and spin around him causing him to fall on his face when he goes to grab me again. I get to the end zone and can’t stop laughing. If he were playing touch football like we’re supposed to be, he more than likely would have stopped me.

My team surrounds me, and we have a celebration. I find Knight standing with a salty ass expression on his face and his arms folded over his chest. I toss him one of those winks he’s been giving me, and a tiny smile turns up one corner of his mouth.

I guess we can be friends.

* * *

Knight

I’m so fuckingglad this game is over. It was all fun and games, plenty of laughs until Rem’s sweat started to make her T-shirt see through. She’s always talked that shit about having small tits.

Small my ass, they’re big enough to have a bounce and her nipples have been straining against the yellow bikini top she has on under that shirt. And here, I thought those tiny shorts were going to drive me crazy. I still don’t know what made me ask them to play.

“Knight,” she squeals when I wrap my arms around her and lift her off her feet.

Her laugh warms my soul. I’ll admit, other than being turned on the entire game and being pissed that my brothers and cousins could see through her shirt, I had a great time. I haven’t heard Rem laugh this much in … way too long.

Yet another reason I’m beginning to realize how much I resent being an undercover cop. My life gets so lonely, and I get lost in the person I have to become for the job. There are times I question myself and who I am.

Rem is my reminder. When I’m with her, I’m always who I want to be. The woman grounds me. I need that now more than I knew.

I’ve had time to reflect on my chat with my mom. She had a point. I need to be me with Rem and show her how I really feel.

“Come have a few beers with me. We can drop off our rides and take an Uber someplace.”

The words are out before I can think about it. I place her on her feet and watch her face as she chews on her lip. I know the moment she’s about to say yes.

“I’ll meet you somewhere. I need to go home and shower first,” she replies.

“Cool, I’ll send you a text when I’m heading out.”

She looks into my eyes, a war happening within hers again. I’m probably pushing too fast, too soon. I hold my breath, not saying a word. I need this time with her.

“Cool.”

I blow out a relieved breath and nod. Now, not to fuck this up tonight. We’re friends.