Don't Promise (Don't 3)

“Oh, right. There’s one behind the pinball machine.” I pointed.

Luke hopped off the table and returned a few minutes later.

“This is naked football, right?” he asked before turning to lift me off the pool table.

I would never be able to play a game here without blushing to my toes. We had officially christened and tarnished that L W logo at the same time.

“What?” My feet dangled over his arm. I felt petite and tiny in his massive arms.

There were no clothes in this room. There was a trail leading here like bread crumbs in the forest.

“You don’t know about naked football? You’re missing out on such an education.”

“Really?” I twisted my lips together.

“Point me to the TV,” he directed.

“Back to the front door and then off to the other wing.”

He shook his head. “This is a fucking maze, you know that, right?”

“It’s a little spacious.”

“It’s big enough for five kids and then some.”

The smile dropped from his face. And we stared in each other’s eyes.

24

Luke

Fuck. Why did I say that? Why did I bring up kids?

And at the same time I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This woman was mine, and it was becoming more clear to me that I wanted her to be mine in every way. Maybe even with my baby inside her.

“Which way?” I asked, dodging her probing eyes.

“If you insist on carrying me like this it’s going to take a while.”

“Just tell me.”

I wasn’t going to let her go. I wanted to hold her to my chest. Carry her. Protect her. And the fact that I had taken her the way I wanted, claimed her body once again, made this feel right.

“Ok, out of this room and then left. Down the hall and right to the front door.”

I retraced our original path, stepping over pictures I had knocked to the floor.

Alexa’s house was fucking ridiculous. It sprawled in every direction. From the front it was deceiving. I couldn’t tell that beyond the front door was where the labyrinth started. And she was here alone. I guessed this was what number one songs bought you.

I heard the sounds of a referee’s whistle. The game was on in a nearby room.

It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago I was doing the same thing. I was on the field, looking for James to get open. I was arguing with refs. I was yelling at my line.

And now I was holding a sexy beautiful woman in my arms. I had flown hours to see her. To surprise her. To do the unexpected.

And yet we were living in the shadows. Keeping it a secret. Hiding each other from the world. I didn’t know how long I could keep it up. I’d always lived my life wide open.

I looked up to see Brian Ross get sacked. I chuckled. Never liked the guy.