6: Gage.


    Bringing Ste to practice was a mistake. A huge one.


    That much bes obvious the second we arrive.


    I''ve never had a girlfriend before, so I didn''t recognize the error in judgment I made until now, when it''s toote. When every single one of my teammates is gawking at her from the field. All of the groupies that watch from the stands zero in on her like vultures. I have the urge to pick her up again and leave.


    Take her home, lock the door and block out the world.


    I''ve put her under a microscope.


    Everyone is curious about her now. I''ve barged into her ss and dered her my girlfriend. News has probably already traveled about that. And now I''ve towed her along to the football field, her delicate little hand trembling in mine because of all the staring. I''m such an asshole. I didn''t even stop to consider how terrifying this would be for her. For a hundred men, including yers and staff and physical therapists, to be openly specting about her.


    "Ste..." I pivot at the edge of the field, blocking her from everyone''s view. "I''


    m sorry. I didn''t think this through. I''ll bring you home."


    She steels herself. "No, it''s okay. Once you''re out on the field, they''ll s-stop staring."


    I frown. "Why?"


    "Because their attention is for you."


    "No, it''s not, Ste. They''re looking at you."


    She blinks. "Why?"


    "Why?" I take her face in my hands. Is she serious? “Because you''re fucking gorgeous, that''s why. And damn, honey, you''re glowing from the head I gave you."


    Her puzzlement shows. "No one ever stared at me before."


    "You were hiding. But now..." Dread churns in my stomach. "Now, I''ve made them all aware of you. I didn''t consider what I was doing."


    ncing back over my shoulder, I curse myself to hell. In the space of an hour, I''ve made everyone on this campus aware that Ste is amodity. I know what they''re thinking. She must be something special, something hot, if the NFL-bound quarterback has taken himself off the market—and they want to know more. Fuck that. She''s mine and mine alone.


    God, I want to go back in time and...


    And what?


    There''s no way to make this situation better. I''m a nationally ranked collegiate athlete with a barrage of recent troubles. Yet I''m still being scouted for next season''s NFL draft. All eyes are on me all the time. And now they''re on her, too. I can''t escape the limelight and neither can she. I didn''t give her a choice, did I? I can''t. There''s only one option and it''s being together, so I guess I have to get used to this?


    One of the yer''s girlfriends approaches cautiously.


    I''ve met her before but can''t remember her name.


    "Uh, Gage?" The girlfriend''s gaze is fastened on my hands. My fingers are buried in Ste''s hair and I''m holding her face to my chest. When did I start breathing so hard? you want to introduce me too your...friend?"  s?novel


    "Girlfriend," I correct, hoarsely. I can''t help iming her.


    Mine, mine, mine.


    "Girlfriend. Wow." Her interest grows. "Well, I''m watching practice from the stands. She cane sit with me and the others while you''re on the field, if you want."


    I scrutinize the girl, trying to figure out if she''s being friendly or if she has an ulterior motive. Of course she does. She wants to be the first to meet Ste, the girl who locked down Gage Weston for life. But since I can''t leave Ste alone without worrying, this girlmight be the lesser of two evils. "Yeah." I kiss Ste''s forehead, absorbing her scent. Her warmth. The goodness she permeates me with. "That okay with you, honey?"


    "Yes." She smiles up at me, brighter than sunshine. "Go. I''ll be fine."


    No. No, she''s going to disappear or fall and get hurt or get swallowed up by a sinkhole. A million other possibilities bombard me at once. She''s so fragile.


    She''s not going to be safe anywhere but in my arms. But I''m on thin ice with the team as it is, since my status for the championship game is questionable, due to my failing grade in Western Civilization.


    “Later, it''ll just be you and me," I whisper against her mouth, unable to resist kissing her. A long, slow indulging of her sweet mouth, turned on by the way she gasps when our tongues lick together. "Later."


    Her eyes are a little dazed as they search mine. "I was thinking..."


    I tilt her face up, eager to hear what she''s going to say. "Yeah?"


    "There''s a ce off campus where I go sometimes. To study. To block out the noise." She drops her voice to a whisper. "I could bring you there after practice."


    In that moment, something urs to me. Something incredible. I''ve imed Ste without even asking if I''m what she wants. Maybe I was afraid to ask.


    But this? Her wanting to share her secrets with me? It''s proof our rtionship isn''t one-sided. She wants me back. Thank God. The dread in my stomach dissipates and I can breathe again. "I''ll go anywhere you go. Anywhere." "Same,” she says, going up on her toes to kiss my chin shyly. "Anywhere."


    There''s a fucking grapefruit in my throat when she walks away to join the other girl. "Keep her where I can see her," I bark, already missing the feel of her skin in my hands.