I just smile, completely and utterly, without a doubt, in love with him. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, baby.” His hand brushes my hair behind my ear, giving me a sweet smile I feel tingling all over my body. “I will always protect my girl.”
His eyes flick to my lips, and I know he wants to kiss me—hell, I want to kiss him—but we both know he can’t, so he sighs, grabs his beer and we head to the table where the rest of the team are.
I sit beside my brother, and Ryan slides on the other side, his eyes locked on mine.
Austin slings an arm around the back of the chair and grins at me. “Hey, baby Hayes. Glad you could make it. You’re practically one of us now.”
I raise my glass, letting out a chuckle. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It is one,” he replies. “Best thing Coach did was hire you.”
A smile curls on my face, and I meet Ryan’s eyes, seeing a similar smile on his. It always surprises me how proud he is of me and my achievements.
The guys are talking about… something. I’m not exactly sure what, because all I can focus on is the boy across from me, his thumb brushing casually over the mouth of his bottle and his eyes on me.
My tongue runs over my bottom lip as I watch him, and he watches me. He shifts, adjusting slightly and I track his movements as he brings his bottle to his lips and takes a sip. He grins, chuckling to himself at my blatant ogling, and glances down at his lap.
A second later, I feel my phone buzzing and I take it out of my pocket, my eyes widening when I see a message from Ryan lighting up the screen. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly glance around the table to make sure no one’s paying attention before I swipe it open.
Ryan:
Stop undressing me with your eyes. We’re in public.
I grab my drink to keep from making a noise. My hand slips instinctively over the phone, shielding the screen.
I shift in my seat, crossing my legs, but all it does is make the ache worse.
Ryan notices, and his mouth curves wickedly, and within a few seconds, another text comes through.
Ryan:
You wet for me, baby?
I don’t respond. Can’t. Not with Nathan right here. But Ryan doesn’t need a reply. He knows.
Another message lights up.
Ryan:
You’re lucky this table’s between us, or I’d have you bent over it and take you right here.
(Respectfully)
I bite my lip, my body flushing, and not from the booze.
I quickly type back and hit send.
Me:
You’re all talk, Reed.
His phone buzzes a second later. He picks it up and reads the message, then looks at me like he’s two seconds from climbing across the table.
He shoots me a look and the next thing I know, my phone lights up again.
Ryan:
