Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
STELLA
At exactly five, Alex knocks on the door.
The boy is prompt; I’ll give him that. He introduces himself to Dad, again, calling him sir.
Dad tells him how impressed he was by the game and his stats.
They continue to talk football on the way out as Alex guides me to the elevator with his hand on the small of my back.
We all ride together in the Emerson’s Suburban.
It’s big enough to hold all of us. When we walk into the popular pizza place, I can see that it’s packed with people.
A lot of the customers are from the team.
The hostess sees Alex and, without a second glance, grabs menus and motions for us to follow her.
My first thought is there’s no way there’s an available table, but I’m wrong.
I hope they didn’t kick anyone out to make room for all of us.
When we reach a large round table, Alex holds a chair out for me, and I sit. Alex sits to my right, my dad to my left next to Jill.
Alex leans down to whisper, “I missed you, Pix.”
I whisper back, “I missed you too.”
“You look perfect in my jersey, babe.”
“Thanks.”
As we place our pizza and salad orders, the conversation turns to today’s game and Alex’s performance.
They also talk about the NFL combine––whatever that is—and the NFL draft.
I try to pick up new pieces of football knowledge, but my mind has turned to mush ever since Alex started rubbing little circles on my thigh with his finger.
It’s very distracting. To make things fair, I place my hand on his inner thigh and rub it back and forth.
He immediately stops touching me and pulls his hand back.
His eyes are closed, and his breathing has picked up speed.
I snicker. He turns toward me and gives me that sexy, heated look.
His lids are hooded, and his eyes have turned to a stormy blue.
I gently pull my hand away from his leg.
I don’t want to give him the wrong idea when my dad is sitting to my left.
He nods and whispers in my ear, “Later, Stella. Paybacks are a bitch.”
My breath hitches, but he just chuckles. The pizza and salads arrive, and I try to stick to just my salad but, of course, that doesn’t fly with my guy. He reaches over me to grab two huge pieces of pizza and puts them on my plate, giving me a look that tells me to eat some damn pizza.
“Alex, please, I can’t eat all of that.” And I mean it.
“I’ll eat what you can’t finish, sweetie.”
Blushing, I look over at my dad. I’m waiting for that look of embarrassment that I’ve seen my whole life, but he’s smiling.
First at me, then at Alex, then back to me.
He nods and digs into his pizza. Alex’s mom is watching too.
Jill and my dad make eye contact, and they smile courteously at each other.
The pizza is delicious. I really can only eat one piece because it’s about the size of my head.
Alex grabs the other one off my plate and eats it in three bites.
He’s already eaten an entire pizza by himself. My goodness the man can eat.
“Stella, what’s your major?” asks Jack Emerson.
“Well, it’s business, sir.”
“Really, do you want to be a small business owner someday?”
“Actually, Dad,” Alex interrupts, “Stella wants to be an artist or an art teacher.”
I take a deep breath and hold it. My dad is going to burst a blood vessel. I look over at him, and he’s grinning at me. Maybe he’s going to wait until we’re alone to let me have it.
“Art, really? What media do you prefer?” asks Jill.
“I love to paint and draw. I also enjoy art history and would love teaching art someday. But I’m focusing on my business degree right now.” I dare a look over at Dad. He doesn’t seem upset.
“Well, if you like art history, you could work toward your Ph.D. and teach at the college level. A friend of mine is an art historian. He actually works as a curator at a big museum out east, but he was a professor for a long time,” says Jill.
“Wow, really? I’ve never thought of that.” Maybe Mom would see the potential of a Ph.D. and think more about it. This is something to consider. As I risk a glance at Dad again, I see him nodding as he chews on his food.
“We should talk more about all of that, sweetie,” my dad says.
“Really?” My heartbeat flutters in my chest.
“Yes. Really.”
I smile so big I think I might burst. I turn that dimpled smile right back to Alex.
He’s the most awesomely spectacular boyfriend in the entire world.
I rub my palm over his thigh under the table again, but I remember what happened earlier and pull my hand back quickly.
I want him to know I appreciate what he did, but it will need to wait.
After dinner, Alex and I walk Dad to his car.
Alex and my dad exchange pleasantries about how happy they are meeting each other and how Alex hopes to see him at future games.
Then the most shocking thing happens. Dad reaches out to hug me and says, “I love you, honey.”
I know that he loves me, but I never hear those words from him.
Nor does he ever hug me first. I hug him.
No matter, I thank him for coming before assuring him that I’ll call him this week.
It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt close to James Matthews.
It’s a good feeling. As he drives away, Alex and I stroll hand in hand back to our dorm.
“Did you have fun today, Pix?”
“Yes, and my dad did too. Thanks for everything! Today was amazing!” And it was. I’m not ready for him to drop me at my door. I don’t think Alex is either. Instead of going up to my room, we walk silently to his.
“Are you tired, Alex?”
“A little but not too tired to be with you tonight, Stella. I have missed having you in my bed this week––even if it’s only to sleep. I seem to sleep much better with you in my arms.” He squeezes my waist. “Did I tell you how good you look in my jersey, Stella?”
“You mean my top?” I laugh at his scowl. “I know it’s a jersey, big man.”
“Big man?” he repeats as we reach his door.
Turning us, he pins me to the wall with his hands on either side of my face. Leaning down slowly, I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to touch mine. When they do, my entire body relaxes into his. My goodness, just a kiss is all I need to make me melt over this guy.
Pulling back slowly, his voice is deep, husky. “I like that you think I’m your big man.” Reaching behind me, he opens his door and pulls me inside. “You know, I love you in my jersey… but I’d prefer you out of it,” he says in a sexy drawl.
“Are you sure you’re not too tired?” There’s slight worry in my voice. I think I know where we’re headed tonight.
“Nah. I’m never too tired to love you, Stella.”
Love me? Huh? “What?”
“You heard me.”
“You, um, love me? We just met.”
“How long do you need to know someone before you know? I didn’t realize there was a set time period.”
“Alex, I’ve never been in love before. I’m not sure how it’s supposed to feel.”
“I think it’s just intended to feel good, feel right, princess.”
That term of endearment sends jolts into my panties.
Standing directly in front of me, he touches my face as we stare into each other’s eyes, his expression revealing his feelings.
He slowly moves his head closer to mine, and when our lips meet, I shiver.
I’m not cold. It’s a different kind of shiver.
It’s one of those that take over your body when you know something good is about to happen.
I reach both arms up around his neck and pull him to me.
He practically has to bend in half at the waist to make it down to me.
There’s static electricity in the air. I want him.
All of him. From the hardness that’s pressing into my stomach, I can tell he wants me too.
“Alex.”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I want you.”
“I want you too.”
“No, I mean I want you now, Alex.”
“You do? Are you sure?”
“Babe, I’ve never been as sure of anything in my entire life.”
“Shit, you called me ‘babe,’ Stella.”
“You like it too?”
“I love it. Say it again.”
“Babe,” I whisper in his ear as he picks me up and strides to his room.
He sits down on the bed with me straddling him.
I look down and wonder what he wants me to do.
When he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him, I feel how excited he is.
I’m shaking with nervous anticipation. I have no idea what to expect.
I’m not worried though; I trust Alex to be the kind of lover that’s caring and gentle when he needs to be.
He leans in and kisses me with so much vigor it makes me dizzy.
I kiss him back with equal force, our tongues intertwining.
Making sure I don’t fall, he moves his hands down to the hem of his jersey and lifts it up over my head, leaving only the white tank top, but that doesn’t last long either.
It’s on the floor before I know it. I reach up and pull his T-shirt from him as well.
His chest and stomach are solid and ripped.
I run my fingers over his pecs and nipples.
He gasps at my touch. “I’ve wanted your hands on me since the second we met.”
This encourages me to explore all of his peaks and valleys. His abdomen is insane. I count the bumps—eight. Damn, he has an eight-pack. I slide my hands lower to the waistband of his cargo shorts and reach for the button, but he stops me.
“Not yet, Stella. I need to make sure you’re taken care of before I get ready.”