Chapter 55
GRAYSON
It seems like the entire school is celebrating with us. The whole fucking city!
We go from the dugout to the clubhouse to Kitty’s Cavern and end up at The Lions Den, celebrating at each stop with different people. Students and fans and even faculty want to buy us drinks and meals, but Big Mike is busy reminding them that not everyone on the team is of legal drinking age.
“We have one freshman and two sophomores under twenty-one,” he warns. One of those sophomores is Troy, who is currently doing shots with a group of cheerleaders over by the pool tables.
Trevor is on the phone with his girlfriend, and though they should be celebrating our win, it’s clear by his expression that they’re arguing again. Sammy’s already drunk and on the dance floor with the girl he broke up with a few months ago.
I’m leaning against the bar—not drinking—watching the girl I can’t wait to have all to myself. Selena’s not drinking either, instead she’s currently on the opposite end of the dance floor from her brother, dancing with her friends and teammates.
I’m not sure we’ll be able to sit down and talk more tonight. I’m not complaining though. Because watching her move, admiring the sway of her hips and watching her ass bounce might be my favorite way to pass the time.
When the song finishes, she saunters over to me. Still wearing my jersey. Still looking like a fucking dream.
The top two buttons have come undone and the white, tight tank top underneath is clearly visible. Her crystal butterfly pendant hangs on a thin gold chain kissing the top of her gorgeous tits. My mouth goes dry.
She only wears that tiny butterfly on special occasions. As I wonder what that might be, my heart rate speeds up the closer she gets.
“Rhodes,” she smiles, twisting her hair up into a messy bun.
“Alvarez.” I cannot hide how happy I am that she’s here.
“I’ve been thinking...” Her smile grows.
“About?”
“About the fact that you owe me.”
I’d forgotten all about that. Seems a lifetime ago. I promised Selena whatever she wanted if she went on a fake date with me. She did her part.
“I remember,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist and bringing her flush against my chest. She blushes so prettily while I hold her.
Fucking missed this, missed her. It’s only been a couple of songs, but the need to have her close is insatiable.
“What do I owe you?” I ask, running my nose along her jaw, loving the little gasp that escapes her. She smells good enough to eat.
“My car?” I kiss the spot behind her ear. She melts into me.
“My hoodies?” I suck on the area where her neck meets her shoulder. She sinks her fingers into my hair.
“I’ll let you have anything you want, princess. All you have to do is ask.” I spoke those words before and I wonder if she remembers the first time I said that to her.
“Did you mean it then?”
My chest swells because she remembers. “I meant it then. I mean it now.”
Her smile is fucking adorable.
“In that case, you owe me…a dance,” she replies and I groan, but only because I think she enjoys trying to annoy me. “Come on, pretty boy,” she tugs on my hand, “it’s time to pay up.”
There’s no way I can say no. Not because I owe her, but because she asked. And so long as I’m able, I’ll do anything and everything she wants. Today and tomorrow and every day after for as long as she lets me take care of her.
SELENA
Grayson Rhodes can dance! I don’t know why I’m surprised, but I am, pleasantly so.
The moment I saw my brother Sammy slip into a booth and fall asleep, I wasted no time approaching Grayson at the bar. While I was standing there fanning the back of my neck, the heat in his eyes made me feel even hotter.
“Rhodes.”
“Alvarez,” he smirked and his voice was the low, growly tone that my body responded to so willingly. I loved it. I loved the way that he was watching me since we got here. I loved the way he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me flush against his body. I loved that he called me his.
Earlier, when I first danced with Jess and our teammates, his gaze was solely on me, ravenous and promising the type of fun I want to have with him tonight.
I moved to the music and it was almost like I was dancing for his eyes alone, swinging my hips side to side, running my hands along my body, everywhere I wanted him to touch me.
It was crowded, people all around enjoying themselves. I felt overheated and out of control. Because of him. Because he was here and I wanted him. Because he was making it obvious that he wanted me too.
Now, we’re in the middle of The Lion’s Den, dancing together, touching each other in a bar full of people. And yet, Grayson makes me feel like it's just us, just him and me. Everything and everyone else fades away.
While he moves with the beat, his hands never leave me. They’re on my waist, up my ribcage, down my hips. His touch isn’t subtle, but grows increasingly brazen. Behind me, he inches closer, both of his hands on my hips, grinding against my ass.
I lean into him and he ghosts his lips along my neck. When he grabs my chin, he tilts my head to the side so he can kiss me. I let him guide me, savoring his tongue in my mouth, loving the slow, drugging kisses that make my nipples hard and my pussy flutter.
Whispering his name, I arch my back into him. His groan is lost to the music swirling around us.
When there’s a lull in the song playing, I turn in place to say, “I thought you didn’t know how to dance.”
His blue eyes are full of the things he wants to do to me. I can’t wait.
“I never said I didn’t.”
The heat between us keeps burning brighter the more we dance, the closer we get. We sway to the music in a way I never imagined myself moving, it’s sensual and intimate, almost indecent.
“What’s the special occasion?” he asks the next time there’s a slow song.
I blink up at him, not understanding. But, my cheeks warm up and butterflies soar in my stomach as he reaches for the crystal butterfly pendant I’m wearing. His knuckles brush past the top of my breasts causing a delicious series of shivers to run through me.
It’s my lucky necklace and I wore it because I wanted him to have a good game. And because I wanted the courage to be honest with him.
I’m ready to tell him how I feel. About him. About us.
Why am I so nervous though?
Maybe because I can barely wrap my head around everything’s that happened? Maybe because he doesn’t do relationships and that’s what I want? Maybe because I’ve never been part of a couple and what if I mess this up?
“Can we go outside?” I yell, heart racing, hands trembling.
With an intensity only he can make look good, Grayson takes my hand, easing some apprehension when he laces his fingers with my own. My heart is fluttering as he leads me through the crowd, down the hallway, and out the back exit toward the parking lot. We don’t talk until we get to his car.
He opens the passenger side door, but stops me before I get in, cupping my face with one hand, while the other slides to my waist. The blue in his eyes is dark and beautiful, deep and unfathomable like the ocean at night.
Grayson presses me against his car. His warm breath tickles and heat pools low in my belly. When he runs his thumb along my bottom lip, a wicked smile curves his mouth.
“Wanted me all to yourself, princess?”
Inhaling, I lick the path he just traced and my tongue swipes against his thumb. His nostrils flare and the hand at my waist tightens.
“Yes,” I reply, heart in my throat. “But not just tonight.”
When he smiles, I don’t even know what to do with myself. I want to grab him and kiss him and tell him how I feel. And that’s what I do.
Carefully, I cup his jaw in my palms. Then, I go on my tiptoes to press my mouth to his. Grayson is eager, kissing me back, like he’s starving for this too.
“Can I tell you something?” I say between kisses.
“You can tell me anything,” he replies, giving me a soft, patient smile, giving me all his attention while he waits for me to speak.
Even though I try not to make him wait long, I do anyway.
"Hey, there's no rush,” he whispers against my lips. “Tell me when you’re ready.”
Another shiver runs through me when his hands slide under his jersey to touch my bare skin.
“I don’t know if you want to hear this or not, but it turns out I like you. A lot. I think there might be some love involved, too,” I admit and hold my breath, feeling lightheaded and dizzy.
“You think? Then, that means I’m not doing my job,” he smirks and I pull away.
“What do you mean?” I ask, worry infiltrating my thoughts.
Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I try to calm my breaths.
“I don’t want you to think, Selena, I want you to know.”
Oh. I fight back a smile. “And you know?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Really?”
His smile is contagious.
“Really.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you know, Rhodes?”
He chuckles and the sound would make anyone smile. The heat in his gaze shoots straight to the spot between my legs.
“I know that you look so fucking sexy in my jersey, I’m about to come in my pants.” I giggle as he continues. “I know that you’re the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. And, I know that you’re going to do amazing things with your life and I will cheer you on every step of the way—”
“Won’t you miss everything you’re giving up?” I interrupt. Because Letty told me that his walking away from the future his dad had planned includes giving up homes around the world, businesses worth billions, and a level of comfort and security that most people will never know.
Grayson shakes his head. “You and me, princess. That’s all I need.”
Tears swell in my eyes, but every part of me wants to hold him and take care of him and make sure nothing ever hurts him. Smiling at me, he caresses my cheek with such tenderness it steals my breath away.
“I love you,” he whispers. “All of you. And I want to be with you for as long as you’ll let me.”
“What if I want forever?”
My favorite two-dimpled smile blooms on his face. “Then, I’ll give you forever.”
The tears fall, but they’re happy ones. Grayson wipes them away before I can.
“You promise?” I say.
“I promise.”
He leans down to kiss me and it’s the best kiss of my life. Full of warmth and desire and love.
“Does that mean you’ll dance with me whenever I want?” I ask, teasing him because I love his expressions when he gets all serious and grumpy.
“Everyday,” Grayson replies as he wraps me up in his arms. “Anytime, anywhere you want.”
Feeling giddy, I shower kisses on his handsome face. I kiss his lips and his dimples, his temple and his chin. Laughing, I take his hand and lead him back inside The Lion’s Den.
“You know, princess, my name looks really good on you,” he says suddenly and I stop at the door to look at him over my shoulder.
The lust and love swirling in his eyes gives me the courage to say, “Then maybe you should do something about it, pretty boy.”
I smirk at him and try to walk away, but he stops me, wrapping me up in his strong arms and kissing me senseless. I admit, the kiss is amazing, but even better? About a year later, he does do something about it and we end up sharing not only our lives, but the same last name as well.