Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“Really?” I ask, surprised. “Not football?”
“You don’t play football,” he says, and my heart about stops dead. Our eyes are locked, my chest tightens, and I don’t know what to say to that. How to react.
“Hey! You made it!”
While I’d rather kiss Benson, I could truly kiss Callie for the distraction. I drag my gaze from his to my best friend, who is truly the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. In a sparkly green dress that hugs her body in all the right ways, she already has her meet hair up, and her makeup is more dark than soft, which is surprising. She doesn’t usually wear makeup for meets, but with this being our last Teal Walk, I get her wanting to show off. Beside her, Evan is the proud fiancé in a beautiful dark suit that complements her perfectly. His blue eyes are blazing, and his grin is unstoppable, only for her, as he holds her close.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Benson asks, and even though he’s holding me, he leans in, kissing Callie’s cheek before he and Evan do a handshake. His other arm never leaves my waist, and while my body loves it, I know that’s not good. It’s easy for him, but for me, it does things to my heart that shouldn’t be happening. “I’d be a numbnut for not escorting this beauty to her last first meet.”
And I’m a numbnut for inviting him.
“She is stunning,” Callie gushes, but I see that knowing look in her eyes. Oh, she makes me stabby. “They’re lining up. Y’all ready?”
We agree, and even though I turn to walk, his hand doesn’t leave my hip. He holds me with such possession that my heart is galloping in my chest. “I’m glad you had fun last night.”
Ignoring the pounding of my heart, I look up at him. “It was a blast. I think your celly celebration was my favorite.”
He grins, his eyes dancing. “I thought you’d love that.”
I press my tongue into the gap of my teeth. “Though, the shooting the puck at us was a bit over the top.”
I notice a tic in his jaw. “Was it now?”
I give him a look. “Yes, you’re selling this perfectly. You don’t have to act like you’re possessive of me.”
He cocks his head as we line up with everyone. “Is that right?”
All the girls turn when we come to a stop, and they look back at us. I notice that Miley and Shantae have looks on their faces that are a mixture of intrigue and confusion. But my other teammates are just grinning, excited for me. While everyone else goes through boyfriends left and right, I don’t do that.
“Looking good, Cammy,” Elise calls back to me, her arm tightly wrapped around her swimmer boyfriend.
I send her a grin as I laugh. I feel Benson’s gaze on me, and when I look up, his eyes are darker than normal. “Yeah, I mean, it was a nice touch but unneeded.”
“I’m pretty sure I said I’d decide what is needed and what isn’t,” he says, his voice so low and rough, I feel it along my skin. “I don’t want some guy talking to my girlfriend.”
My girlfriend.
I bite into my bottom lip at his declaration. “I’m just saying, don’t go out of your way.”
He nods slowly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to go all out. Everyone is already eating up our content. I know I’ll ace the project.”
I can tell he’s fighting back a grin. “I don’t doubt that at all.” His fingers bite into my hip then, pulling me in closer. He splays his hand across my hip, and he begins to move his thumb in a circle across my hip bone. It’s maddening, and my body starts to tingle from the simple stroke of his thumb. When his lips come to my ear once more, I can’t breathe as he whispers, “But like I said, I have needs. And while you may assume those are purely sexual, it’s not all about sex for me, Cameron.” My eyes drift shut as his lips caress my ear. “For me, it’s to let everyone fucking know that you are mine for the next six months, the way you asked for me to be yours. If that means I slam a puck against a sheet of glass to educate some jackass, I will. If that means I hold you so close that we are basically one, I will. If that means bringing such beautiful color to your gorgeous face with my words, I will.” My hands begin to shake, as do my thighs. “I’ll do whatever I want to get you what you want.”
To ace the project, I remind myself. To get him all the money imaginable.
Breathlessly, I say, “I would have gotten you the sponsorships without how awesome this is going.”