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Had he said the word love? My heart constricted almost painfully as I struggled to digest that word. It was so much bigger than what I’d anticipated when I’d left the voicemail.
“I know.”
“I mean it. You don’t get to change your mind without talking to me first.”
“I won’t.” I was shaking my head without fully realizing it.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Theo promised, stepping closer. “Every goddamn day. So take all the time you need, Rhodes, but if you want this… if you say you want me… then promise me right now that you won’t run away from me. Promise me that you’ll talk to me, and we’ll figure it out. I need you to promise me.”
The request hung heavy in the air between us. He wasn’t asking the world of me. He wasn’t demanding I be all-in and work through all my shit right here. He just wanted honesty and effort from me.
“Rhodes?” he whispered, his voice breaking a little at the end of my name. It was a desperate plea to pull me out of my head long enough to answer him.
I could do honesty and effort. In time, I was determined to give him everything he wanted and needed from me, but for now, that would have to be enough.
“I promise,” I replied with conviction.
“Good.” In two quick steps, he closed the distance between us, his mouth crashing into mine as he grabbed my face. The force of it knocked every coherent thought from my head. Months of longing collided with relief in a coming together I desperately needed. I kissed him like I was drowning, and he was the air I needed to breathe.
My hands shot out, catching him around the waist and dragging his body flush to mine. I felt every inch of him pressed into me—chest, hips, half-hard cock. His fingers slid into my hair, tugging slightly as if he needed me closer. As if there was still too much space between us. His lips parted, and my tongue met his in a hungry battle that drew a deep moan from me.
I couldn’t get enough of him. I kissed him harder, my fingers digging into every inch of skin I could. Every kiss and touch was a reminder that I wanted this—that he was mine.
I pulled him tighter to me, and my hands slid down to grip the curve of his ass, lifting him on his toes. My hips rolled against his, so that he could feel how goddamn hard he made me. He gasped into my mouth, and the sound made me grin. I dragged my teeth over his lower lip and enjoyed the broken moan he let out.
Before I could do it again, he stepped back, just enough to create some space between us. I instantly hated it and reached for him.
“Shirt off, Rhodes,” Theo ordered breathlessly as he pulled his sweatshirt over his head. His words were like cold water, tamping down the desire raging through me. My intention wasn’t another hookup. The last thing I wanted was for him to think that, not after everything I’d said.
His hands found their way back into my hair without hesitation, and he dragged my mouth back to his. I stopped short of kissing him, my fingers digging into his hips for control.
“I didn’t make that call for this,” I told him.
“I know.”
“I think we should talk—”
“And we will,” he interrupted with a grin. “But I just had the best night of my life, and I want to celebrate with you.”
“Football?” I guessed, but I still wanted to hear him say it. That smile softened as his gaze drifted over my face.
“Football… and you,” Theo said. “We will talk, Rhodes, but I’d really like you to fuck me senseless to celebrate, and then we can talk.”
That logic I could reconcile with. Stepping back, I peeled off my shirt and headed toward my bedroom.
“That’s the last order you give me tonight, little wolf,” I called over my shoulder. “Get your ass to the bedroom.”
I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know he was hurrying after me.
CHAPTER 42
Theo
Adino nugget? Really?” Rhodes asked. His thumb brushed along the inside of my knee as he stared at the fresh tattoo on my left thigh. He’d overlooked it earlier, but as we relaxed on his bed, it was the focus of his attention. Granted, it was hard to ignore, considering it was the size of his palm. The design was whimsical, with a pterodactyl dino nugget nestled in bright green leaves in front of a gate reminiscent of the one in the Jurassic Park movies. The only big difference was the use of the Hammerhead team colors in the stone design.
I sat with a pizza in front of me—because apparently, not eating after a game was a sin—along with a bag of Sour Patch Kids and a bottle of water. Rhodes was sprawled out on his side perpendicular to me with my ankle tucked under his arm, keeping me close while still giving me space to eat.
Unfortunately, him just lying there was one hell of a distraction. All he wore was a pair of black boxer briefs with little planets all over them. The choice left every inch of glorious muscle on display for me to stare at. And if that wasn’t enough, his hair was pulled back in a loose tail. Something about his hair up was stupidly attractive to me.
