The Romantic Pact (Kings of Football)(73)

Pull it together, Hazel.

“There’s my girl,” Crew says. He charges toward the bed and pushes me back on the mattress, shocking me as he cups my cheek and presses his lips to mine. “Mm, Merry Christmas, Haze.”

“M-merry Christmas,” I say as a tear slips down my cheek.

“Hey, why are you crying?”

I wipe it away and take a deep breath. Everything is fine.

Stop with the emotions.

“Nothing.” I smile up at him. “Did you sleep okay?”

His brow is still pulled together as he studies me. “Yeah, but I want to talk about what has you upset.”

“It’s really stupid and I’d rather not say.”

“When has that ever gotten you out of telling me the truth?” He presses another kiss to my lips, his minty breath matching mine. “Talk to me, Haze.”

“It’s really, really stupid.” Another tear falls and I curse myself.

“Clearly not stupid enough. Spill.”

Sighing, I press my palm to my eye, rubbing it. “I expected you to, I don’t know, be all kissy this morning.”

“Uh, I thought I was kissing you. Shit, have I been kissing you wrong this whole time?”

“See, I told you this was stupid.”

“No, it’s not. I won’t joke. Go on.”

I bite on the corner of my lip, looking to the side, and decide to just go with the truth. “Last night meant a lot to me and I wasn’t sure if it meant the same to you. I thought if you woke up this morning and acted as if nothing happened that maybe it was just a night to you. When we ran into each other outside the bathroom, I guess I expected you to kiss me is all, and you didn’t, which made me think that last night was just fun for you, and that’s fine. It was fun for me too—”

He presses his hand to my mouth, silencing me. Looking me in the eyes, he says, “It meant so much to me, Hazel. Last night, was . . . fuck, I don’t even know how to describe it. It shifted my whole world on its axis, and I woke up this morning fucking happy. Excited. Thrilled. I didn’t kiss you right away because I wanted to brush my teeth first. But tomorrow morning, when you wake up in my arms, I’ll be sure to just go for it, minty mouth or not.”

His thumb strokes my cheek, and I swear, in that moment, something cracks opens in me. I can feel it in my chest, a burst of . . . of . . . hell, of love.

I love him.

I know I do. It’s so easy for me to admit that to myself. I think I’ve loved him for a very long time, and this moment right here, with him staring at me, touching me intimately as if I’m the most precious thing he’s ever held—it confirms those feelings.

I’m not just infatuated with Crew Smith, but I’m in love with him.

“You okay, now?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes. Sorry for being a girl.”

“I’m not sorry you’re a girl. Pretty happy about it, actually.” He chuckles. “You know, because of your amazing tits.”

I push at him but he pins my hands to the sides of my head, and he moves his body so it lines up with mine. He lowers and presses his mouth to mine. I open up, accepting, enjoying every aspect of this man.

“Why did you get dressed?” he asks, moving his mouth to my jaw and then my neck. “You know I’m going to need you naked for the remainder of this trip.”

“I’m not going outside naked,” I protest as he lets go of my hands and drags my nightgown up and over my head, exposing my naked body.

“That’s what I like to see. I still can’t believe I’m getting to see you naked, Haze. You’re so goddamn gorgeous.” His large hand starts at my neck and slowly drags down my body until it reaches the spot between my legs.

I don’t even have to think about it at this point. My legs just fall open for him, and he presses his palm to my pubic bone.

“Do you want to open presents first, or do you want to come first?”

“You let me come first every time last night.”

His dark eyes turn into molten lava as they sear me with lust. “Ladies first always,” he says, right before lowering his hand and fitting two fingers inside of me. “Already wet for me. You’re making this too easy, Haze.”

“I’ll remember that for next time.”

He strokes me leisurely, building me up slowly, but enough that if he stops, I wouldn’t know what to do with the ache he’d leave behind.

“Do you realize how amazingly gorgeous you are?” He brings his mouth to my stomach, where he presses a few light kisses. “You don’t even know how much you affect me. How much I’ve wanted to kiss you. I’ve wanted to strip you down and worship every last inch of you.”

My thoughts tumble aimlessly out of my head as his mouth lowers farther and his other hand spreads me.

“You’ve been driving me crazy. But what’s been driving me the craziest is that I had a chance at feeling your soft lips. I had the opportunity to taste you, and like the fool I am, I chickened out.” He flicks my clit a few times. “Fucking stupid man.” His fingers curve up and his tongue rapidly fires between my legs, shocking me as my orgasm bursts out of nowhere.

“Oh my God,” I moan, pressing my hand into his hair and riding his tongue, my hips rocking with him, seeking out every last bit of pleasure.