Chapter Seven #2
He pulls back slightly, meeting my gaze again. "Why?"
"I…" I briefly consider making something up—telling him that being all over the internet right now doesn't bother me because I had fun—but I don't want to lie to him. "Because I was with you," I whisper instead. It feels like the most significant thing I've ever said.
It's not about the photos. It's not about what we were doing.
It's, quite simply, about him. I'm happy that the whole world thinks he's mine right now.
Even if it's only temporary, even if I end up heartbroken…
right now, Sidney Hawkes, giant grump and the unknowing star of my fantasies, is mine. That feels good.
Heck, it feels like winning the life lottery.
"Christ," he growls, something hot and wild and possessive flaring in his gaze. I only catch a glimpse of it before his mouth is on mine, his kiss fierce. He steals my breath, claiming it as his own. His hand slips from the shelf and then down my body, searing a line of fire everywhere he touches.
But when I gasp his name, he breaks the kiss with a growl, breathing hard. "I hit your brother today, butterfly."
I blink, sure I heard him wrong. "What?"
His jaw pulses. "I hit him today. Didn't fucking mean to do it, but he said something that pissed me off, so I hit him. I…fuck," he growls. "There were reporters at the field when it happened."
My stomach sinks into my shoes. "They saw what happened, didn't they?"
He jerks his chin in a nod.
"What did he say?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It matters to me, Sidney."
"Dammit." He shoves a hand through his hair, blowing out a breath. "He made a fucked up comment about me not even waiting a full day before I had you bent over the nearest surface."
"Oh." I bite my lip, but a giggle slips out anyway.
Sidney isn't amused. He growls at me, actually growls. "It's not funny, Hattie. He was running his mouth and being disrespectful."
"It's a little funny," I whisper.
He glowers at me.
"He isn't wrong, Cranky Bear. We slept together on the first date," I remind him.
"And we didn't even wait until we got back to your place.
I'm not saying he wasn't gross for saying it like that or that he should get a free pass for being disrespectful, but when has Tye ever been anything less than blunt and mouthy? "
He's crude, even when he doesn't mean to be. He says shit he doesn't mean, or that comes out all wrong, especially when he's upset. He's been the same way my entire life.
Sidney mutters a curse, looking like he doesn't want to let it go. And part of me adores him for that. No one aside from my brothers has ever cared enough to defend me so fiercely. But…maybe I don't need to be defended this time.
Tye is an idiot, but I know how much he loves me. Will I give him a hard time for what he said? Absolutely. But I know Tye…and I'm guessing he probably already feels awful for what he said.
"He doesn't get to disrespect you, butterfly," Sidney finally says, meeting my gaze. "Don't care if he is your brother. It's not acceptable."
My lips quirk into a grin. "Tye is an idiot, but he loves me, Sidney. He also says a lot of dumb stuff. This probably won't be the last time. Maybe try not to hit him next time?"
"Next time?" Hope grows in Sidney's eyes, brighter than the sun. "You aren't kicking me out of your life?"
"For hitting my brother?" I laugh softly. "Please. I want to hit him at least seven days a week. I mean, I probably wouldn't do it in front of reporters or witnesses, but he has a very punchable face."
Sidney's lips quirk, his hands sinking into my hips again. "I don't deserve you, you know that?"
"You do," I whisper, absolutely certain of that fact. Is it great that he punched my brother in front of reporters? Definitely not. But I'm not mad at him about it. In a weird way, it's sweet. "Thank you for trying to defend my honor."
He groans, tugging me closer. "You don't thank me for doing the bare minimum, Hattie. It's what any man should do when his woman is insulted."
"Are you in trouble?" I ask, peeking up at him.
"Shit, probably," he mutters. "Coach is pissed, but he's not suspending me or yanking me from the starting lineup for tomorrow. Your brother told him that he deserved it." Sidney looks surprised by that.
"Tye isn't a bad guy, Cranky Bear. Like I said, he's just an idiot." I bite my lip. "But I'm going to need you two to hash it out. I refuse to choose between two of my favorite men."
"You think I'd ask you to do that?"
"No."
"Good," he grunts, backing me up against the shelf again. "Because that shit won't happen. You're mine." His hand slips beneath my skirt.
"What are you doing?" I ask, my breath hitching when his rough fingertips glide up my thigh.
"Proving that I can be an obedient little toy for you, butterfly," he rasps.
I gasp when he shoves his hand into my panties.
"Be quiet," he growls. "Don't let anyone hear you."
"I…" I nod, and then he's giving me a whole new reason to feel like I won the lottery. He keeps his eyes locked with mine as he strokes my clit, ruthlessly driving me toward an orgasm.
It feels massive—bigger than anything. I fight it, terrified I'm going to scream the dang library down around us, but he isn't having any of that.
"Fall," he growls, biting my bottom lip. "Right now."
I try to tell him no. I try to resist. But there is no resisting Sidney Hawkes. I don't think there ever was. All those months of running and hiding and pretending he could never be my type. They were just lies I told myself so I didn't have to admit the truth.
This man is the only thing I want.
I fall with a soft cry, my legs threatening to buckle. He scoops me up against his chest with an arm around my waist and his lips locked with mine, silencing my sounds and keeping me grounded even while teaching me to fly.
"The only thing better than the whole world knowing you're mine is the way you say my name when you're coming," he rasps against my ear, holding me tightly.
"I'll apologize to Tye if it makes you happy, Hattie.
I'll do whatever you want me to do." He pauses.
"But I won't allow the world to tear you down or make you feel like you're less than, and I won't allow you to believe you are, either.
" He cups my jaw in his hand, forcing me to look at him.
"I won't allow you to be hurt, not even by your brother. "
I tip my head back, meeting his gaze. And I have absolutely nothing to say to that because he means it.
This grumpy mountain of a wide receiver is going to steal every little piece of my heart. I think he already is.