GRAYSON

Nessa was staring at me like I'd lost my mind. And maybe I had. Because I couldn't figure out why the hell she was upset. I knew she wasn't overly fond of football players, but at this point, it shouldn't exactly be a surprise that she was dating one. After all, we did meet at my game. Did she think I would quit once we got together?

She sucked in, taking slow breaths to calm herself. Which, incidentally, was only freaking me out more.

"I didn't think you would be playing this year," she said eventually, and I frowned.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Nessa's eyes bugged out even more, and I immediately realized my question was not the right one.

"You had a stroke, remember?" she hissed. "For crying out loud, you had heart surgery a few months ago."

I swallowed as the realization sank in that she wasn't upset I was playing for any reason other than worry. My chest ached.

"Nessa...I know that was scary, but I promise I'm fine."

She mouthed the word scary as though testing out the truth of it. As if it was a ridiculous description.

"You told me yourself that you have to keep a close eye on your blood pressure," she argued. "I don't think that sprinting across a football field and getting tackled is a great way to combat that."

I grinned wolfishly, hoping a little teasing might snap her out of this. "I think we've more than tested my physical endurance throughout the last few weeks, don't you? I didn't see you worrying then."

Quite the opposite, actually. Adler had met and surpassed all my expectations of how wild she could get in bed, and I felt like I was out here living the dream.

But my quip was met with a stony glare, and my smile quickly dimmed. She clearly wasn't amused. Shit.

I sighed. "Listen, Adler. I'm good at listening to my body. I'm really good at it. I've been doing this for years, and—"

"If you're so good at it, then how did you end up in a coma, Grayson?"

"Because—fuck." Her sharp words were making my pulse tick up. She didn't understand half of what I'd gone through in all my years playing football. She didn't realize that this was the norm for me. The one thing that hadn't been normal over these past months, though? Her. And everything she meant to me.

I lowered my voice. "Because even though I felt the warning signs, I had more important things on my mind, okay? One thing, in particular. And it had nothing to do with football."

"No, it's not okay," she insisted. "What could possibly be more important than your heart, Grayson?"

Shit.

You, Nessa. It has always been you.

But I couldn't tell her that. I refused to give her that information because I knew what she would do with it. And that was the last thing I wanted for her.

Clearing my throat, I looked down and shook my head. "Forget about it, Nessa."

"Answer the question," she demanded through gritted teeth.

"I won't." I shook my head again, regretting everything about this conversation. "I won't answer it."

"Answer the goddamn question."

Fuck, I didn't know how to ignore her when her eyes were blazing that hot and beautiful. I didn't know how to resist her, didn't know how to deny her.

"Fine," I snapped. My fist fell onto the table, my gaze finding hers. And then it spilled out. "It's you, Adler. It's you. You're what's more important. You're more important than anything. And don't you dare tell me that you don't understand that. Because I've already told you how much I fucking love you. How much I'm in love with you."

Nessa covered her mouth with a shaky hand before saying the worst words I'd ever heard.

"I have to...."

The go was silent, but I heard it in how she immediately scrambled up from the table and pushed her way through the cafe.

"Nessa!"

She kept going, and I swore loudly enough to gather attention. My goddamn heart pounded as I stood and wove around the table, chasing her. Ahead of me, Bren tried to reach for her, and I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I couldn't decide if I was grateful she brushed him off or if I was frustrated. I didn't like his fucking hands on her, but now she was outside. Outside and disappearing around the corner.

I fought harder to navigate the crowd, pushing after her, following her path.

"Nessa?"

And then there she was, trailing her fingers along the brick wall of the cafe, facing me.

"Jesus Christ." I nearly grabbed my chest, but I knew that might worry her. "Don't disappear like that on me."

"Take it back," she sobbed, her expression crumbling. "Take back what you said."

I shook my head, slowing my steps as I approached her. Relief flooded me as I took her face between my hands, knowing that we would figure this out as long as she didn't walk away from me.

"I can't take it back, baby."

I didn't know how to lie. And I couldn't tell her that this was one.

"Then don't do that." She tried to push me away, her hand pressing against my chest, but I caught it. Held it there. "Don't you ever do that again," she said, her voice low.

"Do what?"

"Don't you dare choose me over your own goddamn heart."

God, didn't she know?

"You are my heart, Adler."

Nessa snuck away from me, and I felt a ripping sensation in my chest. She walked along the wall, dragging her fingers on the brick again.

"Nessa," I called, needing her to get her ass back here. She couldn't walk away every time it got a little bit heavy. We were in this together now.

She surprised me, spinning on her heel and pinning me with a sudden, hot glare. "I'm serious, Grayson Everett," she scolded. "You're not doing that shit again. And for fuck's sake, you're not playing football."

I recognized it, then. The fear that came with the possibility of losing someone you love. Nessa might not understand what she was feeling, but I did. And suddenly, I was soaring.

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I walked toward her.

"I'm not playing football, huh?"

Her scowl deepened. "Not even a chance."

I nodded. I was willing to have a conversation about football, but truth be told, I didn't want to have it now. There were much more important things at play here. "I talked with Dr. Martinez about it, and she said—"

"I don't really give a shit what she said," Nessa retorted, all fiery and protective.

It was making my insides swim in heat, and it caused me to fight down a smile. "Why?"

When Nessa took in my expression, she swore beneath her breath. Part of me felt terrible for riling her up this much, but I needed her to get it out. I needed to hear the words she was holding back. I needed her to know it, to understand it.

It's okay, baby. It's okay to love.

"You wanna know why?" she cried, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

A shiver ran through me. Nessa was so emotionally powerful, and she didn't even realize it. She was a lover and a fighter. I wanted her to own that. And I selfishly wanted her love and her fight.

"Yeah," I said as steadily as I could. "I do, baby."

"Because I love you, you annoying, ridiculous man," she released. "I'm in love with you, and even though I have this silly picture in my head of wearing your jersey and going to your games and kissing you on a field in front of far too many people, it also terrifies me. It terrifies me that something is going to happen to you again, and I won't survive that."

Nessa's cries echoed off the alleyway's walls with a background of distant traffic. She shut her eyes immediately, as if afraid of watching my reaction. But damn, I wanted her to see it. Because I'd never smiled so fucking bright, and I'd never felt so complete.

If anyone in the world could heal my heart with words alone, it was Nessa Elez.

Nessa slowly opened her eyes again, peeking up at me. "I won't survive losing you again," she choked, breaking.

I stepped in, and she scowled at my expression. God, I loved her. And I couldn't hold myself back any longer, wrapping her in my arms.

"Would you stop smiling?" she mumbled into my chest. "I'm being serious."

"You never lost me," I told her.

I was with her the entire time. Even when I was in my coma, Nessa was there. She was in my head, in my dreams. And I was with her. Even if maybe she didn't realize it, I was with her the entire time.

Nessa wiggled her hand between us and grabbed me, bringing my palm to her chest. Right over her heart.

It was beating wildly.

That for me, darling?

My gaze roamed her face, fully taking her in—from the puffy, beautiful eyes to the strands of hair blowing in the slight breeze. And lips. I wanted to kiss those lips for saying the best damn thing I'd ever heard.

But mostly I wanted to memorize Nessa's heartbeat, so I'd never forget this moment.

"I love you, okay?" she whispered. "That's why I don't care what your doctor says. That's why you're not playing football. That's why I won't let you risk your life. That's why, and it's the only reason I've got."

With a widespread grin, I swept Nessa off her feet, tucking her legs around my waist. She grabbed my neck when I tangled my fingers in her hair and guided her head down.

"Best fucking reason," I breathed before covering her lips with mine and kissing her with abandon.

Didn't she realize? All that mattered was that she loved me. Nothing else compared, and nothing else ever would.

Nessa immediately parted her lips for me, letting me sweep my tongue into her mouth. She tasted sweet, and I couldn't help but devour her. I couldn't help but pour everything into this kiss. Because I'd already told her my words. Already made her feel them. And now I wanted her to feel the weight of both of ours—her words and mine.

"I love you," she whimpered into my mouth, setting my pulse on a race. One without a finish line.

Forever, Nessa.

I groaned loudly and backed her into the wall, caging her between my body and the bricks. "God, Adler." My voice sounded gruff against her lips, but she was absolutely killing me. "If you keep saying you love me like that, I might not make it. My heart is going to explode."

Nessa yanked on my hair, and I smiled against her mouth.

"And if you keep saying shit like that about your heart, I'm going to kick your ass." I chuckled, and she nipped my lip before adding, "It's not funny, Wilder."

God, Nessa.

When she called me that.

"Maybe I want to see you try to kick my ass. You're kinda hot like this."

She kissed me harder, like she couldn't get enough and wanted more. I felt exactly the same.

"Shit, I was wrong," I groaned when she pulled back. "You're really hot."

It was hot how she was kissing me. Hot how she was loving me. Hot how she was touching me everywhere.

I tilted my hips up, trapping her against the building with them. "I'll schedule an appointment with Dr. Martinez this week. You can come and duke it out with her. Just no ass-kicking, okay?"

"Okay." She laughed, resting her forehead against mine, letting heavy pants mingle between us. She breathed that she loved me, and I closed my eyes, soaking it in.

"I love you, too," I said. Opening my eyes again, I found her gaze and drank it eagerly. "Fuck, I love you, too."

All that love coursing through my body, all the emotions and the energy—my hands couldn't stay still. I needed to move. I ran my palm up her leg, sneaking beneath her skirt. Needed her. I needed her.

"Where the hell is the car parked?" I looked around. "I need you, Adler. I need you now."

"God, yes," she gasped as I palmed her bare ass. "The rush..." She spoke through spurts of short breaths. "It's intoxicating, Grayson."

"Don't I fucking know," I said, pulling her away from the wall with one of my hands gripping her hips.

"Is this what it's like when you win a game?" she asked.

I smiled. She still had no idea, did she?

"Nah, baby. This is so much better."

Nessa smiled before whipping her head around in search of—

"Car?"

Someone was suddenly eager.

"Right," I muttered, regretfully lowering her to her feet. I would have loved to carry her straight to the car, but we still had to find it, and suddenly I felt drunk.

Luckily, Nessa took charge, grabbing my hand and dragging me around the corner. And there it was—thank fucking God. She walked around to the passenger side door, checked to make sure the alley was empty, and then yanked the door open. With a wave of her hand, she invited me to sit down first.

I gladly accepted that invitation.

Nessa was about to climb on top of me when I stopped her. "If you don't want me ripping your underwear, take them off now."

I expected her to argue, but she only flashed a heated smile at me, did another look around the alley, and discreetly shimmied her underwear out from beneath her skirt. By the time she jumped on me, I was sure I'd never been so turned on in my life. She flung the underwear in the back seat, and I slammed the door behind her before abruptly reclining our position.

Nessa squealed and then pressed her giggles against my lips.

"I need to be inside you," I breathed. "Please."

At this point, I was absolutely not against begging. My entire body vibrated with the desire to feel Nessa from the inside out.

"Yes," she gasped, fumbling between us with my belt buckle and pants' zipper. "Yes."

I had to fight off an immediate orgasm when Nessa wrapped her hand around my cock, releasing it from my pants. Thank God she didn't waste any time positioning me between her legs. Fuck, I could feel her damp heat against my tip.

"Grayson." Her voice was soft in my ear, her head tucked beside mine. She smelled so good, so much like home. "Grayson, you were right."

"What?"

I didn't care about being right at the moment—all I cared about was being inside her.

"You were right," she repeated breathlessly. "I knew from the beginning that I wanted a hell of a lot more than a kiss. We both knew. And you were right that we wouldn't be able to resist it."

I sucked in. "I can't resist you."

That had been the goddamn truth since the beginning.

"I can't resist you, either," she confessed, kissing and sucking along my neck. "But if you want more than a kiss, you'll have to claim it, Grayson."

"Fuck," I groaned, grabbing onto her hips to stabilize them. I'd been waiting to claim her since the moment I saw her, and she better get ready for what that would feel like. "Only if you think you can take it."

"I can," she murmured, and I immediately thrust into her. So hot and wet, goddamn. Nessa froze in my arms, whimpering into the crook of my neck. And then she wrapped her arms around me and melted against my body. Welcoming me as I stilled. "I can take it," she whispered—like she thought that was why I was hesitating.

I pulled out and dove inside her again. "I know you can."

Nessa smiled against my skin.

And then she took it. I bucked up into her repeatedly while she held on. Over and over, just sampling what it felt like to be wholly consumed by this girl. She was amazing, and she was mine. No one else's.

My name was the one on her lips as she cried out with every thrust. My name was the one she said after the words I love you. My name was the one she was going to take as her own one day.

My name she screamed when she finally came on top of me.

"I love you," I breathed before I followed her. Such fucking bliss.

"This is why...." She sucked in, trying to catch her breath. "This is why you like the skirts, isn't it?"

I lowered my hand to her ass and slid it beneath her skirt. Round, smooth, goddamn. Perfect just to give a little pinch.

Nessa jolted in my lap, causing her to tighten around my dick in response. "God, baby."

"I take that as a yes?" she laughed.

"The easy access definitely doesn't hurt," I admitted.

Smile on her face, Nessa relaxed into me, and I held her.

I didn't know what would happen with the football season or the upcoming college semester. But I knew I had her.

And that was all I'd ever fucking need.