Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“He claims to love football,” I say.
An elbow comes out of nowhere, cutting through the air and jabbing into my side. I grit my teeth, wanting to elbow the patron back but instead keep my eyes trained on the field, not wanting to miss a single moment.
“Maybe he does, but today is just a bad day.”
I consider what she’s saying, and we watch the game for a little while longer. North Woods scores a touchdown, but Blackthorn is already ahead by three scores, and there isn’t enough time on the clock for them to make up the loss.
As the time on the clock ticks down, Zeke, who is standing beside Mia, leans into her side and whispers into her ear.
“Zeke wants to get going,” she says, turning to me.
I nod in agreement, knowing traffic out of this place is going to be a total and epic nightmare. Interlocking hands so we don’t lose each other, we move through the stands, descending the steps. Zeke leads us to a door that says personnel only.
Where the hell are we going?
We walk into a stairwell and down another flight of stairs. Zeke opens another door and ushers us out into a huge tunnel.
“We’re in the tunnel that leads to the locker rooms,” Mia exclaims. “Maybe we’ll see some goodies.”
The pounding of feet ahead echoes through the space, each step as heavy as the thump of my heart in my chest. Mia gives my hand a squeeze, and we’re walking again. Zeke is practically dragging us behind him.
Out of nowhere, I hear someone calling my name. I freeze mid-step, which causes Mia to stop as well. It takes a moment for Zeke to realize we’ve stopped, and I stumble over my feet another step.
“Blair?” Cage’s deep voice wraps around me like a vine cutting off oxygen to my lungs.
Slowly, I turn around and face him. He wasn’t supposed to know I was here. God, this was a bad idea. I never should’ve come.
“Oh hey,” I say like I’m surprised to see him here.
Idiot, you came here with him.
“I didn’t know you were coming to see me.” He smirks, sweat clinging to his forehead. He looks devilishly handsome like the kind of handsome that keeps you up at night, that makes you wish for happily ever afters and sweet nothings. Cage is none of those things, though.
His midnight-black hair appears wet, and he smells of sweat and man, and it makes me shiver. His firm, yet huge body looks even bigger in his football gear and like a bow pulled too tight, my entire body tightens at the sight before me. My ovaries are seconds from exploding. I’ve never reacted to a man like this before, and I don’t know what it is about Cage at this moment that makes me want to jump him. It terrifies me and excites me all at once. It’s completely unacceptable and morally wrong, and yet I want to lift a middle finger and say fuck you to my brain for five seconds.
“I wasn’t,” I lie, my face feels like it’s on fire. I look down at the concrete floor, but not before I catch his eyes roaming my body. There is a primal hunger in their depths like he wants to tear the dress from my body and devour me whole.
Would you let him? No! No, you would not. Maybe… maybe not.
“She just came with me,” Mia cuts in, “I wanted to see Blackthorn play and… there is a guy I kind of like, so I made her come with me.”
“Ah, gotcha.” He nods, but somehow, he doesn’t look convinced. That changes in zero point two seconds when Mia continues.
“We’re actually going to his house for a party now. I would invite you, but it’s for the Blackthorn team only. You understand, right?”
Cage’s whole body stiffens, and his hands curl up into tight fists at his sides, the veins in his arms bulge, and his eyes turn stormy, dark. He’s like a hurricane making landfall and gaining strength with each mile he destroys.
Why is he so furious all of a sudden? Why does he even care what I’m doing?
I open my mouth to ask what’s wrong, but Mia tugs on my arm. “Time to go, Blair.”
For one brief second, I stand there watching. I see the unhinged animal inside of him, and I want to lift the lock, to release him and see what it’s like to be the prey. I want to feel his lips on mine. For one single moment, I want to be free of the restraint that I put on myself.
Mia gives my hand another tug, her gaze saying hurry it up, and this time, I let her pull me away. I don’t look back as I’m dragged down and out of the tunnel, my lungs burning and my thighs rubbing together with every step I take.