Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“We’re headed to The End Zone to party,” Rhodes announced as he appeared at my side and leaned against the wall. “You coming?”
I shook my head. “Gonna go get my girl and celebrate. Alone.”
Rhodes laughed and pushed off the wall. “I’d be celebrating your way if I had a woman like Talia, too.”
My brow furrowed, and I shot him a glare, causing him to back up, though a smile still played on his lips. “No need to go caveman on me, Summers. We all know who she belongs to.”
I grunted, only slightly mollified, and felt even more urgent to get up to the family box and retrieve my girl.
Once I dressed, I grabbed my keys, wallet, and duffel, then stalked out the door.
Unfortunately, the press were camped outside the locker room, and the second I walked out, they turned their attention to me. They yelled questions, and cameras flashed, practically blinding me. In the past, I would have put on my most charming smile and indulged them, answered their questions, and acted like I was God’s gift to football. But today, I had only one focus, which involved privacy, not a gaggle of people intent on making every detail of our lives public.
“Not today,” I grunted as I pushed past them.
They trailed after me until I stepped into the elevator to take me up to the box floor. One of them attempted to get on the lift with me, but when I scowled, he froze before scurrying back and allowing the doors to close. It was a good thing that Lennox had suggested that we use the suite in addition to the post-game room to meet with family and friends as the Nighthawks family grew by leaps and bounds. Getting away from the press was easier for me up there.
When I arrived at the family box, I smiled when I saw my girl wearing a genuine smile as she talked to a few other wives and girlfriends. She looked as if they’d made her feel welcome, and I made a mental note to send up an extravagant array of decadent treats for the next game as a thank-you.
I stepped into the room and moved toward Talia, but when she threw her head back and laughed, the sound caused me to pause, so I just listened to the joyous sound. Then one of the women in front of her shifted, and I realized she was laughing at something Gage said to her.
Fury bloomed in my gut, and even though I knew on some level that it was irrational, I wanted to throw my teammate over the balcony for stealing one of her smiles.
I marched over to Talia and slipped my arm around her waist, dragging her against my side. “Hey, baby,” I growled. Then I dipped my head, and when she looked up in surprise, I captured her lips in a deep, possessive kiss. After she had practically melted into me, I raised my head and glowered at Gage. “Find someone else’s woman to flirt with,” I snapped.
Gage just grinned as his eyes slid back to Talia, and I could see him contemplating just how far to push me.
“Don’t,” I warned.
He must have glimpsed the over-the-top Neanderthal inside me because he raised an eyebrow, then nodded at Talia and said, “Nice to meet you, babe,” as he sauntered away.
I took a step forward, but Talia held tightly to my waist. I still considered kicking Gage’s ass, but Jordan walked up to the running back and said something that made him cringe. Gage walked away gingerly, like something was hurting him, and I grinned, knowing Jordan had most likely threatened Gage’s balls.
Jordan lifted his chin at me, and I raised my free hand in thanks.
“He was only talking to me, Brady,” Talia said softly. “Mostly about you.”
“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” I grunted. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. I need to be alone with you.”
To my surprise, Talia didn’t argue. In fact, when I glanced down at her, she looked back up at me with pink cheeks and bit her plump bottom lip. “Okay.”
“Fucking perfect,” I mumbled as I released her waist and took her hand, guiding her out of the box. Although it took a little longer, we took a route to my car that avoided the press because I wasn’t ready to share Talia with the world yet. I didn’t want anything interfering with what I was trying to build between us.
Once we reached my car, I helped her into the passenger seat, then jogged around to the driver’s side and got settled in my seat. As I drove through the parking lot, I glanced at Talia, and my eyes swept over the jersey. “I fucking love seeing you in my clothes,” I told her as I pulled out onto the road. “But seeing you in my jersey makes me hard as hell. One of these days, I’m going to fuck you while you’re on your hands and knees so I can see my name and number branding you as I fill you with my come.”