20 #2
She only slightly flinches before falling into it. Not as enthusiastically as last night, but then again she was more pliant thanks to the few drinks. She’s starting to get used to my surprise kisses that I love to spring on her.
When we separate she attempts to appear unaffected, but she has the same look of desire in her eyes.
With her camera ready smile she says, “Hello. Ready for your game?”
Always generic, short and non-sweet with her. I’m beginning to wonder if she is capable of warmth. Is this what she has been like in every relationship? Maybe it’s not so much that she can’t find the right man, but that they can’t seem to find a way into her heart.
“Sure am. I have a ball to deliver to you, so be ready when the camera splashes your gorgeous face across every screen.”
Her face blanches and pales. “No. Nic, don’t you even think about doing that. I will literally murder you.”
I tap the underside of her chin, tilting her head back. “You won’t murder me. You adoreme too much.”
Her eyes narrow and I see her nostrils flare and dammit if my dick doesn’t twitch when she does. Slowly, she glides her hands over my chest that is covered in a sweaty shirt. A buzz begins to flow through my body and chills roll over my hot skin.
This is it. It’s finally happening. She’s giving into what I know is hiding under the stiff exterior.
My hands find her small waist and she lifts just a couple inches on her toes to bring us face to face.
She gets a saucy smile on her face and I arch a brow, matching her energy and readying myself.
Her lips press against mine and a moan escapes them.
I circle my hands around her back and splay my fingers, pulling her close to me.
I’ve been able to break down her wall and now all I have to do is give her a reason to leave it open for me, and only me. But my moment of euphoria turns into surging pain.
The little she-devil takes my nipple between two fingers and she squeezes it until it feels like it may fall off.
She’s ignited a fire all right, but it’s not exactly the kind I was hoping for.
My nub is pinched and twisted until I wince and groan in agony.
I can feel her lips spread into a smile against mine before she gives up the grip on my poor little nipple.
“You better be careful little miss. I’m going to get you back,” I warn when she releases me.
She blinks her long, thick lashes up at me. “What do you mean, sweetheart? Did you not like my little love pat?”
The words seep through her clenched teeth that shine through a sarcastic smile.
“If you call a purple nurple a love pat, then the bite marks I plan to leave on you will be just that.” I wink and reach around to gently smack her butt before running through the tunnel.
She may have meant it as an act of torture, but Valentina has no idea about the beast she is tempting.
“Thirty one. Thirty one.” Rinaldi’s count sounds like a sweet song to his receivers ears. “Blue blue, hike.”
The center snaps the ball and I find my hole, speeding up the field and watching Rinaldi as his eyes search for Burbank like the play calls for.
He’s got tight coverage and Phillips, our running back, hasn’t been able to get past the line of scrimmage.
Burbank is able to put some distance between him and the defender, but I don’t think it will be enough to make the completion.
I see the ball leave Rinaldi’s hands and I break free from my coverage, sprinting towards Burbank and watching the perfect spiral as it nears. He jumps into the air, fingers outstretched, but the ball only tips them. The touch throws the ball off course, and it wobbles clumsily and unbalanced.
My lungs puff and I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, my pulse beating like a drum. The world around me fades into a blur as I watch the ball tumble towards the ground. My feet move at lightning speed and the ball lands safely in my hands.
I tuck it close to me and spin on my heels, juking the guy I practically plow into. My legs move left to right and I high step past a tackle who’s gunning for me with rage in his eyes. I see a path cleared for me by our full back, and I take the lead like the fucking grand marshal of a parade.
In my peripheral I see a guy charging at me with no one around to help me. When he dives I leap, flipping ass over head and land on my back across the goal line, putting up six for my team.
I’m pulled up by my pads by Bash, and he lifts me in the air like the goddamn Hulk. The rest of the guys run over to celebrate with an over the top dance that has fans booing and cheering.
We finish our theatrics and I look out into the end zone, searching for Valentina. It’s not difficult to find her as she’s the most beautiful woman in this stadium and stands out like a diamond amongst coal.
I run towards her and fans hang over the edge, slapping the padded wall and waiting to grab and pull me up. Jumping, I land in the trusting hands of fans and point directly at her standing next to Lucy.
Lucy pushes her forward, practically sending her tumbling to me, and I grab on to her before we both end up on our asses. I hand her the ball, press my lips to hers and say, “I told you I’d get you to hold my balls.”
I leap down with a hard thud and look up to see her with a flushed face and wide smile. She bites her lip and shakes her head, arching her brow as the crowd watches our interaction –teleprompters included.
I waggle my fingers at her and race back to the sidelines before the kicking team can send that ball sailing through the goal posts.
The Drillers end with a W, Valentina leaves with a smile, and I file away her face in my memory for later.
Little by little, I’m chipping away at her concrete heart.