I pass Archie’s small overnight bag to Dolly, then send her a text, telling her I’m on the fifth floor in room 508. Archie gives me a kiss goodbye, and moments later, Tanner appears, wrapping his sweaty body around mine in an excited hug.
“Mom,” he breathes, still out of breath from the post-win commotion on the field. “Did you see that last touchdown? One-handed catch in tight coverage?” He smirks. “It was awesome.”
“I saw, you were incredible. Seriously, Tanner, I’m so proud of you,” I tell him honestly, fighting the emotional cramp creeping up my chest. If I start crying now, he’ll be so annoyed and I wouldn’t blame him. I change gears, because while I was in awe of him, I also worried about how he was feeling. “How’s your head? Sore? What about your collarbone and shoulder? Is anything overworked? Are you icing here even though it's an away game?”
Tanner laughs, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “I’m okay, mom. I mean, I’m sore, but I’m gonna go ice for 30 minutes, then the buses are going to the hotel. There’s a spa, and coach said we could use it, so I’m gonna soak and binge on pizza then go to bed.”
I believe him, because he’s given me no reason not to. Ikiss his slippery cheek. “Good. Don’t forget the Tylenol, though. Do you need me to text you and remind you?”
He shakes his head.
“What floor is the team on?” I ask, wanting to know if we’re on the same floor. I’d like that, but I’m sure Tanner wouldn’t.
“Three.” He collects a high five from a student passing through the crowded field, and tips his head at another kid who says his name, then tells him good game. “What floor are you and Dean on? What room?”
Mentally, I stumble back. “We’re not staying in the same room.”
Tanner’s forehead rumples with confusion. “Why not?” His face morphs from questioning to happy, and I turn to see Dean approaching, the stadium lights and cowboy hat combo casting shadows over his face, making my chest flutter.
“Hi there, mama,” Dean greets me, tipping his hat back and holding it there as he bends down, placing a kiss first on my lips, then one on my cheek, right in front of Tanner.
And Tanner, when my eyes veer to him, has no reaction. “Coach, what room are you guys in?”
Dean takes my hand in his, and my insides go electrical, a spark of desire sweeping through every inch of me. “We’re in 509.” His hand is warm and so much bigger than mine, and the feel of him at my side again is almost dizzying.
“I’m in 508,” I explain, confused.
Dean looks between myself and Tanner. “We have 508 and 509. They’re adjoining,” he explains. “Archie’s got his own room, and me and Mama have ours,” he says simply.
Tanner nods. “Cool.” He faces me again. “Okay, gotta ice. The weight room here isn’t open much longer.”
Dean shakes Tanner’s hand. “Proud of you out there tonight, kid.” I can feel Tanner’s smile in my chest. He givesme a kiss on the cheek, and jogs off, disappearing into the sea of sweaty football players.
Dean links our other hands together, bringing our bodies flush. He kisses the end of my nose. “I hope you don’t mind I did that, you know, with our rooms.” He looks around us, but keeps me rightly pressed to him. “Where’s Arch?”
“He’s sleeping in Bear’s room, with Dolly and Hudson. They got adjoining rooms, too.”
Dean’s eyes flash with something sinister, and desire blooms in my groin, making my stomach clench. “So we have a hotel room, just me and you, for the entire night? Am I hearing that right? And we don’t gotta worry about Arch hearin’ us?”
I almost faint at the reality of it all. That’s how much I want him. I lick my lips and push to my toes to get my mouth closer to his ear. “You’ve been so good to me. Maybe tonight I can be good to you, too.”
The night he draped his dick over my face, letting his orgasm pour into my mouth without being able to actually lay my eyes on him—I think of that moment on the field, I think of having more than that. Having him inside me. Having all that cum oozing out of me instead of dripping off of me.
All he does is wink, then tell me we’re gonna go say hi to some folks then get some late dinner. And I go with him, only partially tuned into the people he introduces me to, more excited to hear him call me his girlfriend than anything.
Then it’s just me and Dean in his truck, heading for the hotel. The engine is quiet, and the radio is off. He slides his hand across the seat and finds my thigh. “How about we order room service?” he suggests, his dark eyes traversing my body before coming to meet my gaze. “I want you in that room all to myself for as long as possible.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
CLARA JUNE
We orderfilet mignon and baked potatoes, and a bottle of red wine to split. I try to tell Dean that I don’t need that fancy meal, that I’m used to a sandwich or cold chicken tenders. That food isn’t that big of a deal.
But he orders the filet and wine regardless, and it’s so delicious. The combination of the flavorful, buttersoft meat and the cherry and pepper notes in the red is otherworldly. I moan like I’m having an orgasm, which causes Dean to groan, adjusting in his seat. He teases that he’s likely a masochist, ordering such a good meal then forcing himself to listen to me enjoy it.
When the plates are cleared and the tray is pushed into the hall, when I’ve checked on all three boys one last time for the night, and when there is nothing else that needs to be done, Dean puts the do not disturb sign on the door handle, and starts the shower.
