Chapter 25

The Knights have the eight o'clock game this evening, and while I wish I could be there in person, I've got the next best thing. CeCe snuggled under my arm, popcorn to my left on the end table and the sounds of Sunday night football coming from the television.

After she got changed into her pajamas, she suggested we both have matching braids before bed and I couldn't say no to that. And while I'm not the best at braiding my own hair, hers looks photo worthy.

"Look at those shoes," I say, giggling with CeCe.

One of the players is shown on the screen with a pair of bright orange cleats. I know there are many reasons why the players will sometimes wear special cleats, and the ones this guy has on are definitely eye-catching. Bright orange with white stripes, similar to a tiger and bright yellow splatters of color all over them.

"I like them," CeCe declares, taking a sip from her juice.

"Me too." My words are jumbled through my mouthful of popcorn.

The kickoff begins and in typical fashion, they do close ups of a lot of the players. We see Liam right away on the sidelines as the other team won the coin toss so our defense is on the field first. Liam's chiseled jawline stands out and his stoic game face is such a difference from his off the field persona. He's the definition of being on stage and doing his job for sixty minutes every week.

Along the bottom of the screen we see the player introductions coming up. CeCe shouts when Chase shows up, declaring the college he went to while his picture sits in the bottom right corner.

"Go, Daddy!" I yell, mimicking her excitement.

If only she knew that my excitement wasn't solely for her benefit because I do actually love watching Chase play. I have ever since high school. He was good back then, better in college, but he's downright unstoppable in the NFL.

"Why isn't he smiling?" CeCe asks when she notices his blank expression.

"All the good smiles are for you," I say, squeezing her a little tighter.

She giggles at the contact and we continue to watch the first quarter of the game before I glance down and see her eyelids closed, still holding an empty juice box in her hand and head leaning heavily against my shoulder.

"Come on," I whisper, pulling her up into my arms the best I can.

Chase makes this look so effortless when he picks her up and carries her into her bed, and I'm over here trying to maneuver it without tripping over my own feet.

When I get her into her bed, she's awake, but sleepy. I'm certain the moment I leave her room she'll be passed out again.

"Good night, my girl." I run my hand over her back and she makes a small sound before drifting off again.

As the game progresses, I decide to clean up a little bit so there's less for Chase to do tomorrow. There are some dishes in the dishwasher that I unload, and while I'm at it, I take the broom out and clean up some of the crumbs I noticed on the floor in the dining room.

While I'm cleaning up I can still hear the game in the background. Ford just scored a touchdown and the current picture is his obnoxious new end zone dance he's come up with. I'm convinced these are things he and Abby must rehearse at home. He looks like he's attempting some kind of moonwalk, but then he skips and he flexes his arms in front of the camera. Since when is he so showy? I laugh to myself.

That's your husband.

I text Abby with the dancing man emoji.

Abby

Isn't he a dreamboat?

Mia

He's something.

I laugh out loud at the text exchange. I know we're all watching it from our respective couches—or in my case, while holding a broom in Chase's apartment.

I've officially created my own little cozy space for the remainder of the evening. Complete with a lit candle, the fireplace on, and a glass of lemonade while I get comfortable on the couch to watch the final quarter.

The camera pans to Chase and I see him on the sidelines laughing with another one of the defensive players. His hand runs through his sweaty hair and I want so badly to run my own fingers through it. I wanted to kiss him the other night—even though I know it's against his "rules."

"Well, at least the Knights are looking like themselves tonight. I know they didn't anticipate being this low in the standings this late in the season, but let's face it, when you've got Liam Evans as your quarterback and Chase Hunt on the other side of the ball, you're never actually out of it."

I smile to myself at the commentator's mention of Chase as if I have any claim to him, but even still it makes me blush. There's something so attractive about seeing a man excel at what he does, but even more than that—it's exciting. Chase isn't just good at his job, he's exceptional at it. He's an All Pro, he's a Super Bowl Champion, he holds records for the Knights that I doubt will be touched for years to come. And while all of that is admirable, the best thing about him is still his heart. Even if he guards it from most people.

The game comes to an end, leaving the score at an embarrassing fifty-two to fourteen and I know that means the guys will be in a good mood.

My phone dings with a text message nearly an hour after the game has ended, jolting me out of a small cat nap I was apparently taking on his couch.

Chase

Not so bad, Kincaid.

I bite my cheek at his response to the picture I sent him of CeCe's braid and then another one comes through.

Chase

I hope you're up. I'm on my way home.

He hopes I'm up? Why? Thoughts swirl in my mind, but it's probably to make sure I can leave.

I quickly gather up the blankets, organizing them on the couch the same way he keeps them. The coasters are all back in their normal spots and I've wiped up any of the condensation that may have landed on the table. I feel wide awake after that small nap I took and even more so after getting the text from him. Lately, there have been moments, albeit small ones, but times where he's just playful enough to make me think he enjoys being around me.

The front door opens as I'm sitting on the couch scrolling my phone and I hear a grunt as I stand up and walk toward the kitchen. Chase is standing at the island, his bag near his feet and his eyes dark, like the deepest part of the ocean.

"Hi," I quietly say, offering a quick smile.

"Hi." He exhales the word and places his hand on the counter.

My eyes shoot to where it lands and then back up to him. He doesn't say anything more, but he's staring at me so intently, as if he's studying every move I make.

"So, um, CeCe was great. She fell asleep in the first quarter… and I brought her to bed. Boy, you make that look easy."

Still nothing. No words, just him staring at me and his head tilts every so often as I move my hands while I talk. I'd think it to be creepy if I wasn't so insane already and find everything Chase does attractive anyway.

"I know you don't love it when I clean, but I just picked a few things up."

This time his tongue slowly glides between his lips as he watches me and I feel a wave of heat rush through me.

"Great game, by the way. Funny how Jefferson couldn't make a tackle last week, but then tonight he doesn't allow anyone to get past him," I say, trying to get something out of him, but still… crickets. "Tough crowd," I finally blurt out with a shake of my head, reaching for my purse that sits on the stool.

Chase's hand still sits firmly on the counter, but his breathing has increased slightly since I started talking. I'd have to assume my incessant rambling is just raising his blood pressure, though.

"You're probably exhausted, so I'm going to get going. But I'll see you during the week. Have a good night, Chase." I slide the strap of my purse onto my shoulder, inhaling and giving him one more quick smile before I walk by him and toward the door, but finally he speaks.

"Stay."

I jerk my head up to get a better look at him and I see his eyes narrow slightly as he stares down at me.

"Stay? Stay where?" I ask. He's been ignoring everything I've said for the last five minutes and now he asks me to stay?

"Here."

"I'm going to need more than one word answers."

A whiff of his scent makes its way into my nose and I feel myself becoming entranced by him.

His body shifts, turning to face me completely and he takes my purse off of my shoulder and places it on the kitchen island.

"I had fun tonight on the football field for the first time in a long time. Real, true fun."

"Well, that's good," I manage to say.

"I didn't go out there with a running list of things in my head that needed to get done after the game. Or a checklist in my mind of things to accomplish during the game. My mind was clear and I felt… I felt carefree. For the first time in a long fucking time, I focused on more than just the next thing I had to do. I felt present."

"Living in the moment sometimes isn't so bad after all, huh?"

He smiles and the most gorgeous brown eyes shine as he looks at me.

"I thought about you when I walked into the hallway after I left, and again when I got in my truck. A third time when I pulled into the stadium for the game tonight and many, many more moments between kickoff and right now."

My mouth goes dry at his confession and I feel my pulse race as he inches closer, placing a warm palm on my cheek and I instantly sink into his embrace.

"Tell me to stop," he whispers against my skin, but I won't. I don't want him to.

"No," I answer softly.

The most handsome, devilish grin comes out to play on Chase's face and I feel like somehow I've awoken a beast and I'm so eager to meet this side of him.

"I've been trying… So. Fucking. Hard. To get you out of my head, Kincaid. You don't belong there, it's not right to want you the way that I do." His thumb feathers over my lips, and I close my eyes momentarily as the ache between my thighs grows stronger.

"It's okay to give in to what you want," I say in a shaky breath and look up at him.

"I haven't been so good at giving in lately, but…" Chase's hand lands on my hip and I almost crumble at the contact. He gently guides me back until I hit the wall and he presses his body against mine. I can feel his cock against my stomach and I take a deep, stuttered breath as he pushes himself against me.

Feeling Chase's body like this against mine is overwhelming in the best way possible and seeing his eyes darken with desire as he stares down at me makes me ache. For years, I've longed to be the one he looks at this way. And I tremble under his touch when his fingers dip into the waistband of my leggings.

"Fuck, you're beautiful." He gently tugs on the braid in my hair and I whimper, which only causes a sly grin to form on his face before he yanks it a second time and all bets are off. My head falls back at the same time his mouth engulfs mine and we immediately pick up where we left off weeks ago.

My hands pull his hair, grasping at whatever I can to somehow get even closer to him. Both of his hands reach for the back of my thighs and as if I'm weightless, he picks me up and my legs wrap around his waist. He moans into my mouth when I pull his body closer to mine and then walks us to his bedroom, not allowing our lips to part.

Chase quietly closes his bedroom door behind us and I hear him flick the lock before he lays me on my back in his bed. He towers over me, breaking our contact only for the smallest moment before I'm pulling him back to me. His scent instantly covers my body as I'm writhing underneath him, wanting this to go further.

I feel Chase's thigh between my legs and he rocks against me, bringing me an unexpected feeling of so much pleasure and there's still layers between us.

"Fuck," he breathes, lips still just hovering above mine. "I want to touch you."

"I want you to touch me, Chase. I need you to fucking touch me."

His chest rumbles as he takes his fingers and lightly runs them over my collarbone. He's such a damn tease I can't stand it.

"Chase, I've been a patient girl, but…" I begin, bucking my hips at him and feeling his thigh again push into my center.

He sits back on his heels, looking handsome as ever as he pulls his shirt from his body and then brings both hands to my hips as he slides my leggings off, but leaves my underwear in place.

"Patient girls get rewarded."