Chapter Twenty-Five

Reed

Tate: Does this make you my boyfriend now?

Tate: ‘Cause I've been thinking of ways to reward my boyfriend for his big win.

"Earth to Reed. You good over there?" Zane hollers, snapping me on the leg with his towel.

"Agh, dammit. Yes, I'm good. Why the hell did you do that, though?"

Zane grins. "We've been trying to pull your head out of your ass—er, phone—for like two minutes, but you were too busy staring doe-eyed at the screen. What's Tate textin' you anyway?"

"Nothing," I grumble, shoving my phone into my pocket.

"What's the status between you two?" Beckham chimes in. "Is this getting serious?"

I shrug. "Feels pretty damn serious to me. She said she loved me before the game." I try to keep my smile in check, but it's impossible.

"Wait, are you serious?" Hayes asks, and I nod.

"She didn't mean to say it. She quickly tried to cover it up, but I told her I loved her too."

"Well, damn, I'm happy for you guys," Beckham adds. Zane and Hayes nod in agreement. "If I were you, though, I wouldn't hold off on telling her brother for too long. The longer you keep him in the dark, the more pissed he'll be."

Tate mentioned wanting to see her brother over fall break, and I planned to talk to him then. I wanted to do it face-to-face.

She hasn't said anything more about their plans, and I know she's hesitant about returning to Rixton because she's afraid of running into anyone. I don't blame her.

We just arrived back in Braysen. I was waiting for Tate to let me know she's in town too.

I pull out my phone again to another unread message from Tate.

Tate: I'll be waiting for you outside your locker room.

Me: Mmm, reward me how?

I quickly finish packing up, pull on some sweats and a hoodie, and splash on a little cologne, knowing Tate will probably steal this one too. She returned my other hoodie a few days ago, saying it no longer smelled like me.

I wave to Zane and Beckham. Hayes already took off.

Tate is leaning against the wall outside the locker room when I step out. Her eyes light up when she sees me, and it hits me hard in the chest.

I extend my hand out to her. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

The media and reporters are waiting to ask me a few questions about the game, but I'm not sticking around today.

"You kicked ass in the second half." Tate grins. "Two touchdowns. I thought I was gonna lose my voice the way I was screaming my head off."

She's not lying. A few times, I caught glimpses of her, Everly, and Wyatt in the stands, waving pom poms and chanting with the band.

My truck is parked in its usual spot at the back. Tate's been driving the Mustang lately while she's considering getting her own car. So, for now, I've been taking my truck.

I told her she could use it whenever she needed. She promised to take good care of it, and she has.

When we're away from the crowd, I stop and push her against the side of the truck, leaning in to kiss her.

"Mmm," she hums. "You're wearing your cologne."

I nod. "You noticed."

"Of course I did. It's like your very own form of foreplay."

Tate runs her hands over my chest to my shoulders. She smiles, dragging her lip between her teeth, and wags her brows.

"Get in the damn truck," I grumble, reaching for the door handle.

Tate giggles, reaching for the oh-shit handle to hoist herself into the seat. She makes sure to wave her ass in my face, and I swat it, earning me a loud yelp.

"I'm gonna get you back for that, Reed Andrew," she warns.

"Yeah, yeah, sweetheart. I'm looking forward to it too." I don't bother waiting for her reply before I slam the door.

She slides across the bench seat when I climb in next to her. After pushing the center console up for more space, she curls against my side, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Sweetheart, I don't think this is safe."

Her hand slides along my thigh, dangerously close to my dick, and I release a low growl.

"Remember how I said I was thinking of ways to celebrate your win?"

I put the truck in reverse and pull out, trying to keep my head clear, but her touch makes it hard to focus on anything but pulling over and hauling her ass into my lap.

"Yes, baby, how could I forget it?"

Her hand continues its path up higher, brushing over my dick before slipping beneath my hoodie.

"What are you thinking?" My voice is low, hoarse. Her breathing quickens as she tries not to laugh.

She knows exactly what she's doing, and it's driving me crazy.

"Why don't you pull off here?" She points toward a road splitting off, one leading into town and the other toward Greencastle.

I don't bother waiting for her explanation, hitting the gas and taking us out of town.

"I've been coming out here for my daily runs."

"You do?" She leans her head against my shoulder again.

"Yeah. There's a beautiful trail with a view of the beach and the water. Sometimes I take a break and listen to the waves. It leads down to Black Rock Cove."

I'm familiar with the trails. We dragged Hallyn's ex back there after discovering he'd been creeping around and following her. We set him straight and warned him to stay away. As far as I know, he hasn't shown up anywhere since. He can stay on his side of the Savannah River.

Tate directs me to pull over, and I park the truck. A few cars pass by us, and I glance in the rearview mirror, making sure none of them are stopping. If someone thought I was pulled over with a flat, I'd have someone stopping to offer help in no time.

Especially if they know I play for the Bulldogs. It's just the way it is.

"C'mon. Follow me."

"What the hell have you been doing?"

She snickers. "You'll see, let's go."

We climb out, and I join her at the front of the truck and follow her along the trail. She takes my hand, and we walk for a few minutes.

"It's so peaceful out here." Tate inhales a deep breath and exhales a sigh.

The air is cool and fresh, with the earthy scent of leaves rustling in the wind. Sunlight filters through the trees, making it the perfect weather for a walk.

The trees thin out, revealing a bridge ahead. We continue to a small creek and climb the stairs to the side of the bridge. I step behind Tate, pinning her between my arms and pressing my mouth against the curve of her neck.

She turns to face me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I'm tempted to ask her about her confession at the game, but the mischievous look in her eyes suggests holding off.

"What do you have up your sleeve?" I quirk my brow.

She giggles, pushing away from me. I reach for her hand, and she pulls me with her to the center of the bridge.

"I was thinking…"

"Mm-hmm," I hum, narrowing my eyes on hers.

She reaches for the hem of her sweatshirt and lifts it over her head, along with the tank top she's wearing underneath. She's careful as she drapes it along the side of the bridge, leaving her standing in her jeans and bra.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I watch her leisurely unhook the clasp of her bra, and when her breasts bounce free, my dick rages in my pants to make an appearance too.

"I was thinking about how you told me you've pictured fucking my mouth."

My nostrils flare at the sinful words passing her sweet lips. I nod, unable to form a coherent thought.

"Well…" She sighs, slowly lowering herself to her knees. Her eyes have a playful glint when she stares up at me. Her lashes are long against her sun-kissed skin, with a hint of freckles along her cheeks.

She cups her breasts in her hands, flicking her finger over her nipple, and sighs.

"My God, baby. You have no idea what you do to me."

"Unzip your pants, Reed, and come here."

I follow her orders and take a few steps toward her. She runs her hands anxiously up my thighs while she waits.

I quickly step away, pulling my hoodie over my head, and add it to hers on the wooden ledge. She doesn't hesitate to pull my pants down, and at the sight of my hard cock pointed toward her, she licks her lips.

She cups my balls in her hand, her other hand tightening around me. She's slow at first, measured in her movements, and it's driving me out of my damn mind.

"Open your mouth, baby," I grunt. "Let me feel your lips tighten around me."

She hums, sucking me deep. The sight of her staring up at me, her cheeks hollowed, with tears filling her eyes as she struggles to take in every inch, is likely to kill me.

I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself to breathe slowly in through my nose and out through my mouth. My chest heaves, my heart on overdrive.

Slipping my fingers into her hair, I increase my tempo, testing how much she can take. It takes her by surprise at first, but she moans around me, signaling that she likes it.

"God, baby, do you know how fuckin' sexy you look taking my dick? On your fuckin' knees for me like a good girl, pleasuring me."

She hums again.

"Are you wet for me?" She tries to nod but doesn't move to pull off. "I bet your thighs are slick with how turned on you are."

She groans, but this time, it comes out more of a cry.

"I want to come all over those pretty tits, baby. All over your lips and chin."

Her eyes flick up to mine again, almost as if she's pleading with me to do it. My balls tighten at the image of her. My cum smeared all over her.

I can't hold myself back now. My pace increases again, and her hands grip my thighs, never letting up. She takes everything I give her.

When stars start to dance in front of my eyes, the rush of pleasure races through me. Right as I'm about to come, I pull off and grip my dick, fisting it hard as I aim it at her chest.

"Oh fuck," I groan, and she hums. The first part shoots on her chest, dripping between her breasts.

Tate sticks out her tongue for me, and I aim it at her mouth and her chin.

She moans when she tastes me, leaning forward to lick the tip and suck the rest into her mouth.

I don't know how I remain standing by the time I finish and come down from the euphoric high. When I slowly blink my eyes open, Tate smiles. Using her thumb, she brushes off the cum dripping on her chin and sucks it into her mouth.

I growl, wondering how the hell I got so lucky with her.

"You're fuckin' perfect."