Playing Hard to Get(104)

Life is fucking good.

Once we’re in her room, she sags against me, and I can feel her weariness. That argument with Bryan and our life-changing conversation took everything out of her. With gentle hands, I begin to remove her clothing, stripping her of her coat and hat. Smiling when I trace the eighty-eight on her right cheek. It’s faded, smeared from her tears, but it still feels good, knowing she wore my number today. Representing me.

I hope I made her proud. We almost lost that game.

“I’m going to take care of you,” I murmur, tugging at the hem of her jersey T-shirt. “Let’s get you undressed, baby.”

“Are you trying to get into my pants, Maguire?” She’s half-joking, her lips curved into a barely-there smile.

“Definitely.” I grin. “But only so we can climb into bed and fall asleep.”

Her disappointment is palpable. “Please tell me you’re going to strip too.”

“Hell yeah.”

Once she’s down to her panties and that’s it, I’m guiding her beneath the covers, pulling the comforter up to her chin. She watches me with wide eyes as I efficiently strip, until I’m wearing nothing but my boxers and climbing into bed with her. I grab hold of her by the waist and haul her in close, spooning her from behind, my face buried in her fragrant hair. She snuggles against me, resting her arms over mine, her ass nudging my cock.

It stirs to life, the horny fuck.

“I still can’t believe Bryan showed up.” Her voice is scratchy. “Why would he try to convince me we should get back together?”

“Because he realized he lost you and he regretted his every choice.” I squeeze her tight. “I understand where he’s coming from. Now that you’re mine, I never want to lose you.”

“I’m glad we broke up. If not, I would’ve never met you.”

I push her hair aside to rain tiny kisses along her nape. “The best thing that ever happened to me is Bryan ending it with you.”

She keeps her head bent, her breathing shallow. “You really mean that?”

“When it comes to you, I mean everything I say. You’re the best thing to happen to me. I’m on top of the fucking world this semester, and that’s all thanks to you.”

“You had something to do with it,” she says wryly, and I tickle her ribs, making her squeal. “What? It’s true.”

“Yeah, but only because of you. You inspire me.” I kiss her hair. “You believe in me when I don’t even believe in myself sometimes.”

She glances back at me, confusion in her gaze. “Knox. You are the most confident person I’ve ever met. What did I do to help you believe in yourself?”

“School. My reading. Writing those papers. You make me strong, Jo Jo.” It was so much easier to fake it when we were younger. Even in high school. My coaches always had my back, would somehow make it easier for me to pass classes, and now I realize it’s because they couldn’t afford to lose me on the field.

They’d do whatever it took to keep me there, even cheat for me.

College is where it got tough. Now I’m glad I didn’t take English my freshman year like I was supposed to. I would’ve never met Joanna.

Everything happened as if it was supposed to end up like this.

“Your mom shouldn’t feel guilty. I think what happened to you is pretty normal.” A sigh leaves her. “It’s not right though. From what I understand, schools are getting better at identifying reading disorders and offering help. I hope that’s the case.”

“You don’t want to be a teacher, huh? You’d be really good at it.” I love that she wants to help others. She’s such a natural.

“I realized I didn’t have the passion for teaching.” Her voice is soft. Even a little hesitant. “I’ve been writing lately. Little scenes here and there.”

“Really?” I know she said she wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t know she was actually doing it. “What are you working on?”

“Um…it’s a romance.” She laughs nervously. “About a hot football player who falls for the nerdy girl.”

“Nerdy girl? I don’t know if I’d describe you like that.” I give her a squeeze, my hands wandering.

She shoves my hand away from her breast, her laughter growing. “I didn’t say it was about us, Knox.”

“You gotta admit it sounds familiar.” I kiss her shoulder. “Is the story hot?”

“It will be.”

“Like that book of yours I listened to?”

Jo goes quiet. “Hopefully.”

“Guess I’ll have to read it then.”

“That’s what it takes to get you to read, some sexy stuff?” She glances over her shoulder at me, her smile soft and sweet.

I kiss her, murmuring against her lips, “I’ll read anything you write, Jo Jo. That’s how much I love you.”

“I love you too.” She faces forward once more, snuggling up close, and we remain quiet for a few minutes, both of us lost in thought.

Until finally I slide my hand over her stomach, then lower, my fingertips teasing the waistband of her panties. “Are you tired?”

She nods. “You can keep doing what you’re doing though.”