Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 130380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
“You guys really want an ass-whooping that badly, huh?” I teased as I folded the last of my shirts. But the jokes and challenges the guys replied with were blurry in the background, because Leo swung through the door.
My entire body buzzed to life at his nearness, at the sight of him all roughed up and tired from a long day. He dragged himself inside, wearing his full NBU Football sweatsuit, and I didn’t hide the way I ogled how those pants highlighted a very specific part of him. I let my eyes trail the length of him slowly, taking in his messy hair and freshly tan skin and honey eyes that were glinting with amusement as he took in the sight of me, too.
He was biting one of his chains absentmindedly, like it was just a normal habit and not an instant reminder for me of the other things he could do with that mouth.
As if he sensed that seeing that chain in his mouth did something to me, he grinned, his tongue catching the silver before he let it fall to his chest again.
He looked so cozy, like he was made to hold me on the couch in that moment. I wanted nothing more than to have him wrapped around me, to have his scent invading my brain and making my mind fuzzy.
But we hadn’t talked about how we’d handle this with the roommates.
I hesitated, staring at him while he hovered at the door. But he just kicked it shut behind him before dropping his bag to the ground and crossing the room to me in smooth, unbothered strides. He crooked that smile I used to hate to love so much, and then he scooped me up, pulling me into him in a warm, all-encompassing hug that made me tingle from head to toe.
A heavy sigh left him once I was in his arms, like he’d been waiting all day for this moment, and he held me tight for a breath before he pulled back and kissed me — not on the forehead or the cheek or a quick peck to the lips, but a possessive, demanding kiss that I had no choice but to open up to. His tongue against my own sent a different kind of vibration humming through me, but he broke away before either of us lost control.
“How’s my girl?” he asked sleepily.
I smiled, heart skipping a beat. “Better now.”
Leo’s eyes searched mine, and I loved how happy he looked, how happy I felt in that moment. I wanted to bottle it all up, to stash it away somewhere where I could take a shot whenever I wanted to.
“Did I hear we’re playing Madden?” he asked after a beat.
“Apparently the guys want an ass-kicking. Who am I to deny?”
“I hope you’re not looping me in with the guys, because it’ll be me kicking your ass — not the other way around.”
“He talks a big talk, but can he back it up?” I teased, tilting my head and tapping my chin with one finger.
There was a devilish challenge in Leo’s eyes that told me I’d pay for that comment later.
I couldn’t wait.
“Are you going to tell her your big news or just make us watch you two make out all night?” Kyle said.
I arched a brow at Leo. “Big news?”
He grinned, but his cheeks tinged pink. Was Leo Hernandez… blushing?
“You’re looking at NBU’s new Captain.”
My jaw slackened. “Wait… really?!”
I didn’t even think before I leapt at him, and he caught me just in time for another long, deep kiss. When I pulled back, I slapped him on the arm.
“How long have you known? Why didn’t you text me and tell me?”
“Because I wanted to see this face in person,” he said, tapping my nose.
I shook my head, still smiling. “Wow. Congratulations, Leo. I’m… I’m so happy for you.”
He somehow stood even taller, and then he pulled me in for a hug, holding me tight.
“You can show me just how happy you are later,” he said low under the shell of my ear.
I shivered.
With a squeeze of my hip, he skipped upstairs to drop off his stuff and shower. Blake passed him on the way down, and when I moved all our clean clothes to the dining table so we could have the couch, I turned to find the three of them smirking at me with their arms folded over their chests.
I sighed, waving my hand over the space between us. “Alright. Go ahead. Get all your jokes out now.”
“Who, us? We would never,” Blake said, taking a seat on the couch and firing up the Xbox. Palico hopped up on the arm of it, and he pulled her into his lap without a second thought.
“No, no, we’re happy for you,” Braden added, sitting in the armchair.