Fumbled (Playbook #2)(73)
Thirty-one
I roll off TK, my curls fanning across my pillow and my chest moving up and down as I try to catch my breath.
Seeing as TK is injured, I took it upon myself to do most of the work tonight.
“Jesus, Sparks,” TK says, also out of breath, even though he just got to lie back and enjoy the ride. “That was fucking incredible.”
“Glad you liked it.”
“No, I loved it,” he corrects me. “From now on, after every game, I’m gonna need you riding me.”
My insides and my thighs clench at his words. So much so, I almost climb right back on top of him.
“Fuck,” TK groans, and rolls on top of me. He pushes his hips down and I bite my lip so I don’t moan as I feel him harden against me. “You can’t look at me like that and not expect me to need to bury myself inside of you again.”
I don’t fight the moan this time.
TK stopped fighting with me about turning off the lights, so even though the only light in the room is from the streetlights filtering in through my curtains, I still see his eyes darken.
“You’re gonna kill me.” He drops his head and covers my nipple with his mouth.
My back arches and my nails dig into his back.
“Wouldn’t be a bad way to go,” I tease once I can speak actual words again.
“You got that right.” He laughs, but the laughter is cut short when he cringes in pain and rolls off me.
And I know as much as I don’t want to have this conversation, I have to get it over with.
Maybe being naked and sated will help. I dive right into it. “I don’t know if we can keep coming to your games.”
“What?” he asks.
“Ace and me,” I clarify. “I don’t know if we can keep coming.”
“Yeah, Sparks,” he says with fire in his voice. “I got that part. Why the fuck not?”
So maybe postcoital wasn’t the best decision?
“I told you how I feel about football. I don’t like it.” I lay all my cards on the table. “It’s dangerous and unnecessary and I feel physically ill every time someone gets hit.”
“You didn’t seem to have a problem with it at training camp.” He stares at me, and even though his expression doesn’t change, I swear I can see shutters go over his eyes.
“I got caught up.” I reach for his hand and intertwine our fingers, even though TK’s fingers are stiff and not giving in to me at all. “You were out there living the dream you told me about when we were kids. Ace got to run around, making new friends and watching his dad transform into a real-life superhero out on the field. I felt special watching you, knowing all these people worship you and want you and you’re mine.”
His fingers finally start to curl around my hand.
“But then, tonight, when I heard that hit and saw you go down so freaking hard, all I could think was, we just found each other again and it could all end because of a fucking game.” I climb on top of him when I feel him start to stiffen again. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, I looked to my side and saw Ace with tears in his eyes as his hero wobbled to the sideline and the guys behind us rattled off all the ways you’ll probably die because of football. It was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on my head.”
“I’m not going to die because of football,” he says with an authority he doesn’t have. “The helmets are better now than ever and the league is really coming down on concussion safety. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t know that.” I run my fingers through his hair. “I don’t want to make you choose us over football, but I also don’t want you to make me watch you go out there and get tackled into an early grave.”
“Poppy—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“No, let me finish.” I lie down on his chest, not wanting to have to look in his eyes as I say what I have to say. “Ace wasn’t lying when he told you I’m a worrier. And you weren’t wrong when you said Moore men make me crazy. I am crazy about you and that’s why I cringe seeing you get hit. I don’t want to, but every time it happens, the stats for CTE and ALS and every other brain-injury-related disease run through my mind. I can’t handle being at the stadium again.” I lift up my chin. “I cussed out some random dudes! I clearly need some football girlfriend training before I’m released with the general public again.”
His body starts bouncing beneath me even though I don’t think I said anything funny.
“Oh yeah, Donny left me a very detailed voicemail telling me about the two guys.”
“Are you laughing at me?” I slap his arm before he can answer.
“Marlee’s my girl,” TK informs me somewhat mysteriously. “She caused so many problems in the stands, Gavin started buying the tickets directly surrounding her seats since she refuses to sit in a box. You yelling at those guys? You’re not the only girlfriend to do it. And I think it’s hot.”
Oh.
Well then.
“Hot or not, I can’t yell at strangers in front of Ace!” My voice rises. “That’s a terrible example to set for him. Plus, you know I can’t fight. One day I’m gonna get slapped and then what?”