Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"Looks like me?" He brushed his fingers by mine and smiled, but didn't take my hand. "How do I look?"

"Incredible," I whispered and licked at my lips. "Get up. Seriously."

His expression changed a little, his confidence was back into place and the silly, playful guy he was moments earlier completely gone.

"Sure. For a kiss." He gripped my hand and tugged me down, rolling us and pressing himself to the top of me as he held me tightly. "No sex. No lust. Just a kiss between new friends."

I couldn't breathe. It felt like the first time I'd been pressed to a bed, and yet nothing could have been farther from the truth.

"No kiss. Get up." I ran my hands by his side as I lay contently trapped beneath him. The thick press of his erection against my stomach liquefied my insides. I wanted the lust. The sex. Fuck, I wanted the kiss.

"One kiss. Just a peck like you'd give your grandmother at Christmas." He smiled and moved down brushing his nose by mine. "Come on, Cora. Just a sweet little-”

I leaned up and pressed my lips to his roughly. The minute I did, he moved his hand up to cup my jaw and turned his head a little, rolling his tongue past my lips and driving deeply into me. A groan left me as the taste of beer and vanilla rolled over my taste buds. Combined with the smell of his skin and the heavy press of his body against mine, I was having trouble remembering why the hell I was fighting against him so hard.

He kissed me a few times, and I returned the actions, opening myself up to his assault and taking the passion he offered. My fingers dug into his sides as we made love to each other's mouths fervently.

"Um, guys?" Emily knocked at the door. "We're going outside for walk. You wanna come?"

He jerked up and moved to stand as we both panted softly, staring at each other intently.

"No, I'm tired, but thanks." I couldn't take my eyes off of him. "I'll see you Wednesday. You got your kiss, so get out."

He smirked and walked to the door as Emily disappeared.

I dropped down on the bed and closed my eyes, memorizing how good the moment felt.

"Yeah," he whispered. "I want more, too."

"Get out, and close the door behind you." I tossed a pillow at him as he laughed and closed the door. I rolled onto my side and curled up into a ball as pleasure danced around in the pit of my stomach and my imagination went wild with the possibilities. All of them so damning and yet so right.

I wasn't going to get out of having something with Brody, so rather than run from it, I would just avoid it as best I could—or maybe just go down trying.

Chapter Fifteen

Two Days Later

Brody

"Two days. Two fucking days and nothing." I ran my fingers through my hair as I paced the old wooden steps on our porch.

"Dude, just go over there." Clay crushed a soda can and sat up from his reclined position. His chest was burnt from us hanging out at the island most of the day before.

"No. We have a date tonight, and honestly, I don't want to appear needy. It's not my style." I ran my fingers through my hair before pausing and growling. "What is it with this fucking chick?"

"I don't know, but I love it," Clay laughed and pointed at me. "You're going to go bald if you're not careful."

"Don't mention this to anyone. Alright?" I gave him a look before turning out to the lake. The front door opened and the other guys walked out, laughing about something. Everyone was chill but me. I was playing it off as best I could in front of Daniel and Derek, but Clay and I had been friends too long to pull anything over on him.

I was a mess. A fucking hot mess over this girl. I hadn't stopped thinking about how good it felt to press her to her cold sheets and lick at her like she was the last bit of pleasure I might experience. I was almost embarrassed to think through all the things I'd done to her in my head, the ways I'd brought her to come for me.

"Hey, man. We hitting the water?" Derek slapped a hand down on my shoulder, causing me to jump as he jerked me from yet another wicked thought.

"Yep. Let me grab my shades and a cooler for us to load up." I turned and walked toward the house, keeping my eyes adverted. I'd slept like shit for the last two nights and it was starting to show on my face. I needed my glasses just to make sure I didn't have to play 20 Questions with everyone all fucking day.

"What time is your date?" Daniel stood at the entrance to the kitchen as I pulled my glasses and cologne out of the cabinet.

"Around six or so tonight, I guess. I need to get Cora's number from Clay and make sure she's still up for it." I shrugged and put my glasses on.