As the door opens, Daren’s hand returns to the small of my back and ushers me in. Wide-eyed, I take in the executive suite, complete with a living room, a small kitchen, and at least two rooms off the main area. “Wow, this is the VIP treatment.”

“My father called ahead and reserved it for us.”

My synapses must be fried from all the crying. Otherwise I’d remember that Daren’s father owns this hotel.

Daren’s father.

I pause, horror settling in my stomach for the millionth time today.

“What’s wrong?” Daren pauses next to me.

My shoulders slump, and I shake my head. “Your father knows what happened. Has he seen our photos?”

“Yes, he knows, but I’m sure he’d rather have an extremity removed than check them out, so I think you can look him in the eye when we meet for dinner soon.”

A gasp leaves my throat. “Dinner?”

“Yes, dinner. And before you go getting all weird about meeting my parents, you should know they’re totally on your side. For the record, my mom has been your biggest fan since we started taping those segments this summer. She was damn near tickled pink to find out we were dating. Granted, I’m sure she’d prefer to forgo the sex gifs, but she’ll recover.”

Daren rubs my back, and I nod, still feeling shellshocked from the whole ordeal. “I’d like to meet your parents. If they aren’t too horrified by the situation, that is.”

Two big hands settle on my shoulders and turn me to face him. “My dad is an executive of a Fortune 500 company. I’m pretty sure he’s been around the block. Nothing that you and I can cook up will shock him.” Daren squeezes my arm. “I promise.”

He heads into one of the bedrooms before he calls out to me. “I had Sheri pack some of your stuff and drop it off earlier. We’re going to be staying here this week. I hope that’s okay. I figured the security is a lot tighter at the hotel, and with a private elevator, we won’t have the press breathing down our backs.”

I wander in behind Daren and look around. Although this isn’t the master, it’s still a lovely room with a queen-sized bed, fluffy white bedding, and a mahogany dresser. My bags are already waiting for me.

“Daren, why do we have two bedrooms?”

He turns slowly to face me and tucks his hands into his pockets. “I wasn’t sure where you and I were at. I didn’t want to assume we were getting back together.” He grins and looks embarrassed. “Okay, I hoped like hell we were getting back together, but if you needed some space, I wanted you to have it. So I got us a suite with two bedrooms.”

Heat burns my eyes, and I roll my lips to keep them from quivering. “Of course I want us to be together. I don’t want separate rooms.”

We stand there staring at each other a beat, and Daren’s eyes crinkle in the corners, a smile teasing his lips. And then his arms wrap around me.

I’m feeling like such a basket case, but he seems to understand.

Goosebumps break out on my arms as he rubs my shoulders. “Baby, you’re freezing. Do you want to take a bath, and I’ll call up some room service?”

Nodding, I smile. Just then, it hits me. “How were you with me today? Didn’t you have practice?”

“Yeah. I went. To most of it at least. I’m taking the next two days off. I promised Coach I’d work out here, and he agreed that I needed the time to deal with this.”

“You took time off? Can you do that?”

“I just did.”

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath because I know he’s never taken a break like this before. He was known for being one of the most die-hard players at the collegiate level, and yet here he is taking time away from the game to help sort out this drama.

“Thank you, Daren. So much. You have no idea how much this means to me.” I stare at him, trying to absorb how much he must care for me to make that kind of sacrifice. The feelings I have for him overwhelm me, and right now, there’s only one way I can think of to show him the extent of my feelings.

I lean up and whisper, “Want to join me in the tub?”

Those mesmerizing eyes stare back, all the tension from us being apart this last week radiating off him. I step closer, just a fraction, hoping he’ll give in, needing him to give in.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls. His hands grip my hips as his mouth crashes to mine.

The stubble on his jaw nicks my lips, and all I can think about is pressing his face to my body, to feel that burn on my skin, on my breasts, between my thighs. The thought makes me weak, and I think I’d stumble if he weren’t holding me up.

He pulls away, and I want to protest, except the next thing I know, he’s tossing me over his shoulder.

I let out a squeal, and he slaps my ass, which is on display in this skirt.

“You’ve been a bad girl, Wildcat.” That big hand comes down again, and I gasp, the sensation sending a deep throb to my core. “Fucking call me back when I leave you a dozen messages,” he grumbles, stalking out into the living room and into the master suite.

In a whir, we move past an enormous bed with a mountain of lace linen and into the bathroom. Then he stops and lets me slide down his hard body. When my feet touch the floor, he flexes his hips, pressing his length into my belly, and I’m so overcome with need, everything aches.

Those fingers dip beneath my skirt and grip my ass, hard, almost painfully, but I’m so turned on that pain and pleasure meld together into the same thing. I glance up to find Daren staring behind me, into the mirror above the vanity.

“Goddamn, I love that you wear garters.”

My breath leaves me, the idea of him watching us setting my skin on fire.

I lean forward, anchoring my hands on his chest and arching my back so he can get a better view. I look over my shoulder to see what he sees. Those big, calloused hands grip me and spread me apart, my black thong doing little to cover me.

“Baby.” His gruff voice makes my body pulse, and it’s all I can do to restrain myself. Because I want to let him control the pace. I want to please him. So much.

Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I say the words I know he loves to hear. “Fuck me, Daren.” I lick my bottom lip. “Hurry.” I reach between my legs, my fingers connecting with the damp, lacy material.

His hands tighten around me, and then in a flash, my butt hits the cold marble counter. He rucks up my black skirt and moves between my thighs as he grips my hips. Those hazel eyes blaze with hunger. “I’ve missed you, Maddie.”

Before I can return those words, before I can tell him how much I love him, his mouth is on me, scalding me. His tongue slides across my lips, and I open to him, shuddering when those deep licks glide across my tongue. He grips my hair, tugging back until I open wider as he angles that massive body over me.

I pull up his t-shirt, and he reaches back with one hand to yank it off before he tugs my butt to the edge of the vanity and presses his hips into mine.

When his mouth connects with me again, I snake my hand down to stroke the erection that’s straining against his jeans.

Daren brushes my hair off my shoulder, and his lips drift down my neck. As I stroke down on him, he sucks and licks.

“Harder,” I pant. He’s usually so careful to not leave a mark, but right now, I want to be branded. I want his lips and teeth and tongue to press into my skin and make me his.

He sucks that tender skin in a dangerous rhythm that matches the pulse between my legs, and as I’m about to yank open his jeans, he bites down, stilling me.

I moan, my hands gripping his body. The rest of me writhes, nearly convulses, and when he releases me, his tongue darts out to soothe his mark.

“Yes.” It’s all I can utter because words fail me.

My hands can’t move fast enough to unbutton his jeans and reach into his boxer briefs. His hot erection juts into my hand, and I grip that velvety thickness.

He lets out a strangled moan as I stroke down, and I’m so desperate to feel him push into me, I can barely breathe.

And then his mouth is on me. Ravenous. Unrelenting. He grabs my wrists and pins them behind me as he thrusts his hips against mine.

My head drops back as my chest arches. I want this. Need this. Am desperate to feel his hard body against my delicate skin. But then he pulls away to kick off his jeans and boxers.

That’s when I see it. The black marks along his rib.

“What is that?” I’m pretty sure my eyes are huge. Because the last time I was with this man, he did not have a tattoo.

His eyebrows lift, obviously not understanding.

“This?” I push him back so I can look at it more carefully.

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.

He clears his throat. “Do you like it?”

“I love it. I mean, oh my God.” My fingers skate across his skin. “But Jesus, Daren. What if we hadn’t worked out? Your future girlfriend would be so pissed.”

He chuckles, and all I can do is stare at the ink.

It’s a gesture so sweet, heat burns my eyes.

I suck in a breath, mesmerized by this marvelously sculpted man in front of me. Sinewed muscle wraps down his arms and chest. Ripped abs draw me to that delectable V-shaped path I know well, that I’ve tasted and licked and long to do again.

And there, marking his skin, is the shape of his rib, outlined in ink, with the words This one belongs to Maddie written over it.

I suck in a breath. “You’re not afraid you’ll regret it? It’s… it's forever.” The weight of those words hang between us, and his lips pull up.

“That's kind of the point. I love you, Maddie.”

I try to say something, but emotion overwhelms me. “I… I love you, too, Daren.”

As his lips sweep across mine tenderly, my chest fills with new emotions I didn’t even know existed. Those fingers thread through my hair, and I’m so lost in love with this man, he owns me, heart and soul.

Our touches grow feverish, the desire to have him fill me overwhelming as I claw my way closer to him. He breaks away for a moment and glances down.

“Babe, you look so fucking gorgeous like that.”

I look down to realize I’m sitting with my legs splayed open and skirt scrunched at my waist. My blouse is hanging off my shoulder, and desperation toys with my self control.

When I look up, he’s stroking his thick length. Eyes hooded, stomach clenched, he palms himself in slow, even strokes as my body throbs for more.

Slicking my lower lip with my tongue, I watch him, captivated. Slowly, I reach down to unbutton my shirt, loving the way his eyes widen as I strip off the material to reveal a pale pink lace bra that I unsnap.

“We have to make up for lost time,” I say as the material falls away. “And I need to feel you bare.”

We’ve never gone without condoms. And the thought of having him in me skin to skin is enough to make me combust.

His nostrils flare, and he works his jaw back and forth. “I got tested when you and I started getting together. I’m clean.”

I nod. “I trust you’d tell me if you weren’t.” Scooting to the edge of the counter, I hike up my leg. “I’m good too. Got tested this summer, and you already know I’m on the pill.”

He nods slowly, his eyes burning my skin as they trail over my breasts and down to my thighs. He’s gripping himself harder, his cock huge in his hand, and all I want is to make him fall apart, so I reach between my legs and slide my fingers under the thin lace of my panties to rub myself.

“Fuck, Maddie.”

I pull the material over farther so he can watch. Because I plan to take care of him better than any stranger, better than any of those girls with their cheap thrills. Because I know him. And I know his body. And I know what he likes.

Right now, that’s watching me get off.

I spread my legs wider, and a moment later, he’s on me, pushing my thighs as far open as they’ll go and stroking me through the lace of my thong. “You’re so wet, so fucking wet.” He grips himself and pushes past the lace to nudge my bare skin with his cock.

Leaning back on my elbows, I push my hips out. His hand grips my shoulder to hold me in place. Then he whispers, “I’ve never gone bare before. You’re my first. And if I’m being honest, I hope my last.” He pulls me close for a kiss, my heart fluttering in a way that makes me wonder if I’ll float away from euphoria because that’s the second time tonight he’s told me he wants something long-term.

He rests his forehead against mine, and our breaths mingle. As he pushes closer, I say the words I think I’ve always known. “I’m all yours.”

His mouth ticks up in a sexy grin as I grip his hips and revel in the strength of the muscles flexing under my hands.

And then he’s pushing into me. It’s so good. He’s so big and thick and hot. My head falls back, so that I’m half leaning on the mirror, and I glance down to see us connect. In this bright bathroom light, our every move is unmistakable.

He feels huge like this. I’m clenching down and his tip bumps into that spot as he pulls back, and I’m moaning and writhing for more.

Grabbing my knee, he pulls my leg over his shoulder and thrusts deeper.

I’m barely able to hang on, the fullness too much, too good. My head drifts back, and… Oh, God… “Daren.” Every thrust has me gasping and clenching.

“Baby, fuck.” His breath is hot in my ear, his fingers digging into my skin.

All of my muscles tighten, and I grip him closer. I’d inhale him right now if I could, his touch is so addictive.

His lips ghost against mine, and my hands fist in his hair and bring him to me. As we kiss, I suck on his tongue.

And then he’s somehow surging bigger inside me. I gasp, “Holy shit. Holy shit. God. I… Ah… Please…”

He swivels us sideways so I can lie all the way back on the vanity, and he pushes hard, sending shockwaves through me. I start to quake, the sensation so fierce.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I shout, arching into the cool marble beneath me.

“Right there with you, babe,” he grunts as he pulses inside me, and we unravel together.

When the sensations subside, his head drops to my chest, and my fingers tangle in his soft hair, and we lie in a sweaty heap, panting and spent.

“That was…”

“Yeah…”

Then we laugh, and he grunts again from the sensation because he’s still inside me. He kisses my collarbone and helps me sit up.

I watch in a sleepy daze as he turns on the faucet and fills the enormous bath tub. He drizzles something pink into it, and the room starts to fill with steam and the scent of cherry blossoms.

“Baby, come here.”

Sliding off the counter, I pad over to him. He crouches in front of me and unhooks my garters to slide them down my legs until I’m just standing in a pleated, short black skirt.

His eyes drift down my body in a slow, appreciative perusal. “That’s a good look. You should prance around topless more often.”

I grin and reach for him, helping him to stand, before I let the skirt slide down my hips. “Food for thought.” I wink and head into the delightfully hot bath. I sink into the water and turn around to see my huge football player watching me.

“Get in. I’m not going to soak in a bubble bath all by myself.”

His lips tip up on one side and he steps in, making the water swish around me. Once in, he hooks a finger. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to be soaking in this tub and have you way over there.”

I laugh, the release feeling so good after such an agonizing day. But having Daren here makes my chest flutter and stretch, and I realize how much I want this and how close I got to losing the best thing that’s ever happened to me.