It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t know this was how my love story would be written, but it was.

“Bella, please.” Sergio and Paulo looked genuinely sad.

“Stop. Stop, you two. You’re going to find another trainer.” I stood on the tips of my toes to hug each of them.

They were still wearing their bronze medals. They had an excellent run the rest of the games despite how things started against the American team.

“But we’ll miss you, bella.”

“I know. Who is going to rub your stinkin’ leg, Paulo?” I put my hands on my hips. His calf hadn’t cramped all week. I started adding potassium to his water and it seemed to do the trick.

“No one like you.” He kissed me on the top of the head, and I thought maybe they did like me more than I realized.

I stood outside the airport. It was chaos. Thousands of people were trying to fly home. And home could be anywhere in the world.

“Will you come see us when you pack up?”

“Yes. I will definitely come do that.”

I didn’t know exactly when I was going to make it back to clear out my little Italian apartment, but I wasn’t about to abandon the things I had there, especially the Italian leather I had collected in my closet.

I turned around when I felt a strong hand slide along my shoulder. It was Pierce.

“Ready, babe?”

I nodded.

Sergio and Paulo shook hands with Pierce. “Be good to Bella.”

“I’ve got her.” He eyed each of them. He was tired of people telling him what to do when it came to me. We had a pretty good thing worked out without all of the interference.

It was what we both wanted. It was fast and furious. So hot I thought there was no way it could last, but then the days led to another night and another morning I’d wake up in his arms and it didn’t stop. I was completely smitten. Completely head over heels. Completely in love.

Instead of flying back to Italy, I was headed home with Pierce in a couple of days. He had press to do for the next two weeks. After that maybe we would go to Europe for my things.

I hugged the guys one last time. “Ciao.” I waved.

Pierce led me to the car.

“You ok?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes. I didn’t want to go back to Italy.” He closed the car door behind me and walked around to the other side. He gave the driver our hotel address.

“I didn’t want you to go back to Italy.”

“It was never home. Six months in and I still couldn’t find my way there.”

“Because you were supposed to be with me.”

I smiled. In some kind of weird game of fate, exactly what Eric and my brother hadn’t wanted to happen is exactly what happened. Maybe if I had been the trainer for Team USA, things would have ended differently. We’ll never know.

“I guess so.” I looked out the window.

“I know so. You are mine, Sierra.” He pulled me into his lap. Shit, he was hard.

“Oh no.” I shook my head.

He laughed. “I can wait until we get to the hotel.” His hand slid up my skirt and I gasped. “But you can’t.”

I gave him a warning look, but he didn’t care. His fingers moved with sinful magic, until my head was buried on his shoulder, gasping silently for air while he fucked me quietly and artfully with his strong hands.

The driver pulled up to the hotel.

“Thanks.” Pierce paid him while I straightened my skirt and tried to find my balance.

He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into the hotel.

“I’m glad the Olympics are over,” he growled against my neck, tugging me into the elevator. He pushed the button for our floor.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Because ever since I got that gold I wanted to put it around your neck and fuck you with nothing else on.”

I gulped. Holy shit.

“That ok with you?” he asked, chuckling.

I nodded. The elevator dinged as the doors retracted and we walked down the hall.

As we walked in the suite, I dropped my skirt and peeled my shirt over my head. Pierce’s lips landed on my mouth. “I fucking love you,” he growled.

My eyes widened. “You do?”

He nodded. “I do. I love you.”

I giggled, walking to the bed. “Go get that medal, because I fucking love you too.”

* * *

Thank you so much for reading the Alpha Athletes series!

Keep reading for a preview of UNDER THE LIGHTS (a full-length football romance).

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