The Romantic Pact (Kings of Football)(72)

As I get lost in Hazel.

Fucking explosive—that’s the only way to describe what that felt like.

I collapse on top of her. Her arms wrap around me and she kisses my forehead while I catch my breath.

Together, we take deep breaths, our bodies settling until we’re completely sated. She strokes my hair and I hold on to her tightly, never wanting to let go.

Finally, I ask, “Are you okay?”

Her hand runs over my hair and she says, “Perfect.”

“I didn’t hurt you?”

“No. Not even a little.”

I lift my head up and press my lips to hers, and we slowly make out for a few seconds, until I finally pull out of her and go to the bathroom where I clean up quickly and then grab a warm washcloth for her. I’m about to take it to her, but instead run into her in the bathroom.

She chuckles and when she sees the warm washcloth, her eyes soften.

“Okay, you just earned brownie points.”

I smile at her and step aside, giving her the washcloth and some privacy in the bathroom.

I return to the bed, where I flop down on the mattress and stare up at the slanted ceiling.

I just had sex with Hazel Allen.

No, not just sex, but mind-blowing, earth-shattering, life-changing sex. Sex that means something. The kind that you’re not supposed to forget about. The kind that alters your life forever.





Chapter Thirteen





HAZEL





Hazel: I had sex with Crew.

Mia: Well . . . Merry Christmas to you.

Hazel: Yes, Merry Christmas, blah, blah, blah. Crew and I did it last night.

Mia: You’re lucky I’m awake right now. What’s Crew doing?

Hazel: He’s sleeping.

Mia: Okay, so are you freaking out? Are you happy? Are you wishing you were anywhere else but sharing a bed with that fine piece off ass?

Hazel: LOL. I’m . . . I don’t know, happy?

Mia: Is that a question or a statement?

Hazel: A statement, I think. I’m still trying to figure it out.

Mia: How many times did you do it?

Hazel: Four.

Mia: Jesus. Okay. Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever done it two times in one night, let alone four. Are you able to walk this morning?

Hazel: Haven’t tested it out yet. From just shifting around, I can tell I’m sore.

Mia: The best kind of sore.

Hazel: What do I do, Mia?

Mia: What do you mean? How did you leave it last night? Was it intimate or just carnal?

Hazel: Both. The last time we did it though, it was really slow, and then he held me until we both drifted off to sleep.

Mia: Well, that right there tells me what happened last night wasn’t just sex. It was so much more.

Hazel: You think so? I honestly don’t know how to act this morning.

Mia: Act normal. When he wakes up, tell him Merry Christmas, and see what he does. If he reaches out to kiss you, that sets the tone.

Hazel: And what if he doesn’t kiss me?

Mia: Uh . . . I don’t know, I’m kind of expecting him to kiss you.

Hazel: That’s not helpful.

Mia: He’s going to kiss you.

Hazel: You don’t know that.

Mia: And you need to stop freaking out. You know Crew better than I do, Haze. It seems as though he’s been tentative with you, so maybe he doesn’t know what you feel for him.

I think about that for a moment. Crew was surprised when I said I’d wanted him for so long, but he wasn’t uncertain when he told me how desperately he’d wanted me. From what he’s mentioned, he’s not a one-night-stand guy. Does he need me to show him that I want more?

Hazel: My heart’s already attached. It has been for a while.

Mia: Then perhaps his has been too.

Crew stirs next me, and setting my phone on the nightstand, I hop out of bed to retrieve my nightgown. I quickly put it on so I’m not walking around naked as I make my way to the bathroom to take care of business and brush my teeth. When I exit, I run right into Crew, who’s wearing his pajama pants now, scratching his chest, and looking adorably cute.

“Oh, hi,” I say, my nerves itching at the back of my neck.

“Morning, Haze.” He gives me a lopsided grin.

We stand there, staring at each other, and I wait.

I wait for him to kiss me, but he doesn’t make that move. Instead, he nods to the bathroom and says, “Uh, can I use the bathroom?”

My heart tumbles in a spiral as I step aside. “Sure, of course.”

“Thanks, Twigs.” He steps into the bathroom and shuts the door.

Well . . .

I consider texting Mia, but I’m honestly stunned and don’t have it in me. He didn’t kiss me, which makes me teary.

You’re being ridiculous. Maybe he needed to pee. Maybe he was tired.

And maybe I’m emotional because I’m tired from not sleeping much last night—thank you, Crew, for sensational sex—and it’s Christmas morning and I’m not with my family. If I was, we’d be sitting around unwrapping presents and listening to A Christmas Story as background noise. But I can’t let Crew see me upset or he’ll worry, and he doesn’t need that this morning. This is a hard day for him too, and his first away from his family.

The door to the bathroom opens, and my heart stills, tears welling in my eyes, and I curse myself for being too sensitive.