The Game Changer(46)

Seeing her beautiful face bruised and beaten in my mind caused my blood to start boiling. I promised her that night that I’d never let anyone hurt her again, and I meant it. The thought alone could make me come completely unglued. No one could fuck with my Kitten like that ever again.

“You going to tell me what’s wrong?” I pressed again and she avoided my eyes.

“Really it’s nothing. I just want to go home. I’m exhausted.”

I leaned my head toward her, my lips grazing over her ear as I whispered, “I know you’re lying. Tell me in the car.” I kissed her ear before pulling my lips away and throwing my arm around her shoulder.

I relaxed the moment she pulled her body into mine and confessed, “I love you. I’m so fucking happy that you’re here. That we’re here together. You know that, right?” She smiled as the words left her lips.

God I loved that smile. I loved everything about this woman.

“I am too. I love you.”

I refused to stop for any fan autographs or pictures, instead walking straight to the car, my arm around my girl. Cassie’s body tensed as small flashes of light exploded around us. I was used to this, but she wasn’t. I squeezed her tighter, longing to reassure whatever bothered her.

“Hey, Matteo.”

“Hi, Jack. Cassie.” His smile quickly faded when he said her name. He sensed it too. Something was wrong.

Once in the privacy of our car, I reached for Cassie’s hand, stroking the top with my thumb. “Tell me what’s wrong, Kitten.”

The car sped forward and Matteo glanced at us in the rearview.

“I’m just really tired, Jack. It’s a long day when I come straight here after work, you know?”

She had a point. Cass was gone in the mornings before I woke up, and we didn’t get home until well after eleven.

“You don’t have to come to all the games.” I offered her a way out. Did I want her there? Of course I did. I wanted that girl everywhere I was. But maybe I was being unreasonable by asking her to come to the games when I don’t even play.

Her eyes softened, and I had to touch her. I cupped her chin in my palm, her eyes closing. “I want to be at your games, Jack. I’ll miss plenty of them because of work. I want to watch every one that I can.”

I sighed.

Actually fucking sighed.

Matteo was probably thinking about what a giant pussy I was. Hell, I was thinking about what a giant pussy I was.

I changed the subject. She was avoiding my question for a reason, and I refused to push her about it in the car. I’d ask her again once we were home…and alone. I handed her a manila envelope filled with paperwork.

“What is this?” She scrunched up her nose, and it was so goddamned cute that I instantly hardened.

“It’s my travel schedule for the next three weeks.”

Her eyes widened, “Oh! I meant to ask you about that the other night, but I completely forgot.”

“Well here it is.” I slid my hand up her thigh. “Part of it anyway,” I added before she swatted my hand away.

“Stop it,” she whispered, her cheeks turning pink.

I loved the way I affected her. It made me even harder, and I adjusted my jeans, attempting to relieve the pressure. She flipped through the papers, pausing to read some pages more thoroughly than others. I leaned into her neck, the smell of her skin overwhelming my senses. I kissed her softly, allowing my tongue to glide up her neck as she released a slight gasp.

“I’m going to fuck you in the back of this car while Matteo watches if you don’t stop making those noises.”

Her jaw dropped open, her eyes falling to the bulge in my pants before widening with embarrassment. “Jack!”

“Screaming my name isn’t going to help you,” I teased, my tongue sliding around her earlobe as I sucked it in my mouth gently.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Stop.” She adjusted her body, moving my face away with her hands. “Wait ’til we get home,” she begged, casting a glance in Matteo’s direction.

I moved my hand up her thigh again, stopping before I reached her spot. Want filled her eyes, even through her constant pleading for me to stop. I pulled away swiftly, putting my hands behind my head and leaning back into them. “OK. I can wait.”

Her chest heaved, her breathing uneven.

Fuck. I couldn’t wait, but teasing her was worth it.

She attempted to distract herself by flicking through the paperwork again, her hands shaking. “So this is all your travel information. Flight, hotel, bus, and game times?”

“Yep. It’s all there.” I tried to ignore the throbbing between my legs.

“I have a question.”