Part 7 (1/2)

Tuck chuckled a bit, and then collapsed back down into the p.r.o.ne position on the bed.

”Alright, I'll let you get some rest,” I said, backing up toward the door. ”See ya later.”

”Thanks for the stuff, bro. I appreciate it.”

I closed the door and headed back out the way I'd come.

”Later,” I shouted to the gamers.

Their responses followed me out the door.

I hopped on my bike and headed out to meet the guys for some celebratory drinks.

Dad had left the stadium happy about the win. Well, as happy as Dad got these days. I could barely remember the way he'd been before Mom died, but it seemed that he used to laugh all of the time. I felt bad that he was so unhappy now, but I envied the relations.h.i.+p he had with my mom. What they'd had was a true and lasting love. That was why he was having such a hard time moving on.

I shook those thoughts from my head as I neared the bar, thinking back to my kiss with Sam instead. d.a.m.n, that kiss had been hot. I remembered the feel of her hair fisted in my hand, and the way her lips had opened for me, letting me taste the sweet heat of her mouth.

s.h.i.+t, I was going to have to think of something else or I'd have to cool down before entering the bar.

I managed to walk in without issue, and found the guys already in our spot by the bar. I stopped and grabbed a beer before going over to meet them.

A round of greetings was yelled as I approached my teammates. I walked around, slapping hands and shoulders, saying hi to everyone before finding an empty spot next to Chris.

”How's Tuck?” he asked.

”Looks like s.h.i.+t,” I replied with a chuckle before taking a pull of my beer as I surveyed the bar. ”Looks like the usual groupies are in attendance.”

”Oh yeah,” Chris said, leaning back in his chair. He had dark skin and dark eyes, and his brown hair always seemed to be in a state of disarray. The girls went crazy for him. I guess he'd be what they called tall, dark, and handsome. ”That hot little number in the short red skirt over there was asking about you earlier.”

”Oh yeah?” I responded, my eyes finding the tiny blonde he was talking about.

”Yeah. Wanted to know if you were coming tonight, if you were looking to hook upathat kind of stuff.”

There was never a shortage of groupies around, looking to hang out with players and hook up. I really never got what was in it for them a” maybe the status of f.u.c.king one of the guys on the team a” but I found myself looking at them in a new light.

These girls would do anything and I mean anything, to spend the night with me.

I realized I much preferred Sam's mystique. I enjoyed the fact that I didn't know when I was going to see her next, that I didn't have her number, and that I didn't know where she lived. Sure, I wanted her to eventually trust me enough to let me in, but for now I was content to not have her act like every other chick on the prowl.

I took another pull of my beer and shook my head at Chris. ”Not interested.”

Chris raised his eyebrow. ”No?”

”Nah.”

”Does that have anything to do with that redhead you were sucking face with before the game?”

He chuckled at the look I gave him.

”It might.”

He put his empty beer bottle on the table and stood up, cracking his knuckles and giving me a c.o.c.ky grin. ”More for me.”

Chris started toward the bar, and then turned back to me. ”Want to split a pitcher?”

”Absolutely.”

I thought about what James said all night. I didn't want to hurt Judd, because that certainly wasn't my intention, but I felt like I had to protect Karrie as well as myself.

Plus, now that I was really starting to like him, I was afraid of what his reaction would be. We'd only been on one date and shared a couple of brief kisses.

Hotabut brief.

There was nothing to keep him from walking if the thought of dating a single mom freaked him out.

I didn't think I could take that reaction from him.

I kissed Karrie and said goodbye to Molly before I began my walk to the coffee shop. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to start running. I was beyond excited about seeing Judd again.

I concentrated on my steps and played with my braid as I whistled down the sidewalk. My head was down, so I didn't realize someone was in front of me until I collided with another body. I looked up and grinned when I saw Judd peering down at me.

He caught me by the arms and I grabbed onto the fabric of his T-s.h.i.+rt. I looked up into his smiling face and lost myself in the gold flecks that surrounded his green eyes.

”Hey,” he said.

”Hey,” I replied softly, my eyes zeroing in on his mouth.

Neither of us let go. We just stood there, caught in the moment.

”Let's see whether or not yesterday was just a fluke,” Judd murmured as he lowered his head.

I kept my eyes open until our lips touched, and it was then that I closed my eyes and let my senses take over. I loosened my grip and splayed my hands across his chest, loving the feel of his muscles underneath.

His arms came around my body and pulled me closer to him, causing our kiss to deepen and our bodies to meld.

He felt wonderful.

I felt wonderful.

I wanted to stay in this moment indefinitely.

His lips felt sinfully soft, and I trailed my tongue slowly across his lower lip, chills racking my body when Judd groaned in response. I felt his body harden, and I rolled against him instinctively.

He pulled his body away, leaving a few inches of s.p.a.ce between us as his mouth continued to ravage mine. I tried to close the gap, causing him to chuckle against my lips.

”Are you trying to kill me, or is s.e.x in public on your bucket list?”

His words sank in and I realized where we were a”a few feet away from the coffee shop. In the middle of campus. With students walking around everywhere.

I couldn't believe I'd been so carried away that I'd forgotten where we were.