CHAPTER 27

EMMA

Life fell into a busy pace for Jackson and me. He spent a lot of time at practice and between school and my own work, I was rarely home. I was determined to keep my grades up through this and studied hard, collapsing in bed every night with Jackson. He still traveled for a couple of games, and we would join the team for support, so we were still together during those times.

He always had a room with Nick and I shared with Bella, but we would sneak into each other’s room sometimes for a few hours. I had a hard time sleeping without him now and looked forward to being home.

Greg came to visit for the next game, staying with us again. He seemed to be fine with the relationship now and we went out to dinner together the night before the game.

Bella joined us and I noticed a little flirting between her and Greg. I nudged Jackson and he chuckled.

Bella warned me against relationships with players though she did acknowledge that Jackson seemed to be completely into me. We also traveled together a lot so there was no time for shenanigans even though I knew that Jackson would never hurt me by cheating.

Besides, we’d known each other for so long and been through a lot in the beginning of our relationship. A little distance wasn’t going to break us.

We headed home, and Bella went on to her apartment, telling me that she’d see me the following afternoon for the game. She blushed as she looked at my brother and I raised an eyebrow at him as I closed the apartment door. “Going to do a little long-distance thing?” I teased.

“Leave him alone,” Jackson said with a grin as Greg excused himself to take a shower.

“How long do his showers usually last?”

“He takes a while. Why?” I asked as Jackson approached me and gripped my ass.

“We have time,” he said as he lifted my body and placed me on the kitchen counter. I was wearing a skirt today, and he pushed it up easily.

“Didn’t we agree to try to keep our hands off each other with company here?” I hissed as Jackson spread my legs and positioned himself in front of me. He slipped inside, and I gasped as I glanced down the hall. The water was going, and I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms around Jackson. We rocked together as I held him closer, losing myself in the sensations.

“I want to be like this forever,” I murmured as he slid deeper inside me.

“I think that can be arranged,” he assured me before kissing me and continuing to make love to me.

I moaned against him as he moved harder, easing me closer to a release. I listened for the water as I came, holding my cries inside as the orgasm rocked through me. I blushed as he pulled away from me, dressing as I slid down to the floor and let my skirt fall.

I flipped on a fan before I reached into the fridge for a bottle of water. The shower turned off, but I knew that we still had some time before Greg would be out. We settled on the couch and turned on the TV to catch a college game, looking like we’d been there for a while when he walked out dressed in sweats and a T-shirt.

“There’s beer in the fridge,” Jackson said as he held up his own bottle. I flushed as my brother walked into the kitchen past the counter that I was just having sex on.

I was so inexperienced sometimes. Jackson was grinning as I glanced at him. I elbowed him, and he stared at me.

“Stop it.”

Jackson chuckled as Greg sat down and glanced at the TV. I listened to them talk as the game went on, happy to know that their friendship didn’t end because of me.

It was a narrow call there for a moment and I still wasn’t certain that everything was fine, but I could see their closeness just looking at them. We went to bed before Greg did, snuggling together under the blankets as Jackson laughed about how clueless my brother was.

“The last thing he wants to know is what we did in the kitchen,” I murmured as he kissed my neck. I closed my eyes and smiled, losing myself in the feeling of his full lips brushing against my skin. I could live like this forever and I turned to face him, so our lips met.

We got up the next morning in time to make some breakfast before Jackson headed to the stadium. I kissed him goodbye and took a shower before French braiding my hair into two that hung over my shoulders. I did my eyes dark today, with smoky liner and mascara and went with a nude lip. I loved experimenting and I smiled in the mirror as I took a final look.

I went to the living room and saw Greg talking to Bella, who had arrived to ride with us. They looked chummy, and I smiled as Bella saw me.

“You look so cute!” she said, coming over to give me a hug.

She had her hair in loose curls today with make-up done in the team colors.

“So do you. I’m so excited for this game. Jackson is going to be starting!”

I still remembered the game that he messed up and I silently hoped that it wouldn’t happen again. His head seemed to be in such a better place now and I grabbed my purse and walked to the car with the others.

I couldn’t help but think of the argument that happened last time we were here together. It still made me wince, but I looked forward and tried to focus on the future. We arrived and got Greg his ticket and walked him to the box seats before going to get ready. We didn’t have too much to do other than get our outfits on.

I was so pumped for this game and it felt good to walk out before kickoff and kiss Jackson without worrying about who would see us. We were out in the open now that the people who I loved the most knew all about us. I heard the whistles and catcalls from the guys as I slipped my arms around Jackson’s waist.

“Go out there and show them what you got,” I murmured to him as I pulled back and looked into his eyes. I could see that he was nervous but mostly excited and I smiled at him.

“I will. There’s a party after the game celebrating our win,” Jackson said.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“You’re confident about it,” I teased as he leaned down to kiss me again.

“We all are. We’re going to go all the way to the Super Bowl, baby.” Jackson looked up and nodded. “I have to get out there. Send some luck my way.”

“I love you,” I whispered, and he smiled.

He joined the others to hit the field. I went with Bella to meet our group and we prepared the cannons with shirts, draping a couple of spare ones over our arms. The announcer started to speak, and we started running out cheering and getting the crowd pumped up.

It was packed tonight and got lost in the sounds of the fans. We returned to the area we watched the game from as the team was announced and the cheerleaders took over for us.

Jackson played hard and I could see that he was back in the moment. I took a few peeks at the coach who was beaming as he talked to the guys on the sidelines. I was so proud of Jackson for getting it together, and I yelled his name as Bella smiled at me.

“You’re in deep,” she teased me.

I blushed and smiled.

“I have been for years,” I confessed, and her eyes sparkled.

She looked back down at the field. We ran out in front of the crowd a few more times, shooting shirts into the crowd and interacting with them. Most of the people were just fans having a good time.

Tonight, everyone was especially amped especially when the team got a fourteen-point lead in a matter of moments. They held it, adding to that score fifteen minutes later as I jumped around and yelled. The cheerleaders were going constantly.

The Trojans won, and I gave the crowd some extra shirts before they slowly made their way out of the stadium.

I hurried to change into the skinny jeans and button-up shirt I’d packed, slipping the lace-edged black camisole underneath before I put the over shirt on and buttoned it up enough to leave a hint of cleavage.

Jackson came out in black slacks and a burgundy shirt with a tie which was normal for gameday. They needed to look professional for the fans, but I knew that the tie would be coming off later.

I blushed as I waited for him to finish with the lingering fans, watching with a dreamy smile. He headed over to me and we went to get Greg from the box seats and take him to the party with us. We piled into Jackson’s car with him and Bella in the back.

“Your ass was hanging out of those shorts, ladies. You’re cool with that, Jackson?”

“She’s safe, Greg. There are so many people around the entire time,” Jackson chuckled as he started the engine. “I’ve staked my claim on her, anyway.”

“Oh my God,” I murmured, resting my face in my hand. “I’m not a piece of property.”

“Of course not, darling,” Jackson drawled as I looked over at him. I loved when he exaggerated his accent and he winked at me at the stoplight. We found the house where the party was being held and Jackson took my hand before leading me inside.

Everyone cheered when he walked in with Nick behind us since they were a deadly duo out there tonight. Jackson raised his other hand in the air and let out a roar as I giggled beside him. This was the big time, and I recognized several local celebrities as we made our way through the house.

I caught Bella and Greg dancing a few hours later as I took a breather on a balcony. This was exhausting but so exciting and I smiled widely as I looked at them through the window. Jackson was talking to some people a few feet away, and I listened to his voice as I looked down into the massive living room, feeling the need to pinch myself to make sure this was real.

Jackson walked over to me after he was done and wrapped his arms around me.

“C’mere,” he said as I felt him take my hand and pull me to the side of the balcony. He led the way to a door, slipping inside before he closed it and turned to face me.

“What is this room?” I asked, staring at his face in the moonlight that shone through the window at the top of the wall.

“I think it’s for storage for outdoor stuff. Right now, it’s where I am going to kiss you,” he said, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. “I am so happy right now. Everything’s falling into place.”

“It is,” I agreed, reaching around his neck to pull him back down to me. The kiss was slow, deepening as he slipped his tongue between my lips. I held him tight as he slipped one hand down to cup my ass, wrapping his other arm around me as he lifted me. I kissed him harder as desire washed through me, making my lace thong damp as Jackson squeezed his hand around me.

We started ripping our pants off at the same time, and I wriggled out of my underwear. Jackson unbuttoned my shirt and slid the camisole down to reveal a bare breast. He leaned down to suck it into his mouth as I moaned softly. He moved back up to find my lips again and lifted me against the smooth wall before his fingers found my slick folds.

“Jackson,” I whispered as he slipped one inside, groaning as my pussy wrapped around him. He fingered me until I was shaking with need, then turned me around.

“Em, lay across the small table.”

I did as he asked and raised my ass for him as his finger traced me, teasing and probing before he rolled on a condom and positioned himself behind me.

Jackson took me hard, making it a struggle not to cry out as I gripped the sides of the table. He moved back and took me again, gripping my hips painfully as I bit my lip. This was intense and perfect as he filled me, stretching me wider as I closed my eyes. Jackson fucked me until I was coming for him, making him do the same for me as I grimaced. I wanted to scream, but that wasn’t going to happen here or at home later tonight.

We finished, and he dropped over me to kiss the back of my neck. I took a slow breath. My heart was racing, and my body was tingling in every nerve ending as I relaxed, knowing that we had to make an appearance out there again eventually.

I found a bathroom to clean up in, touching myself up so it wouldn’t be obvious what we’d been doing. Bella could still tell a few feet away and she raised an eyebrow as she shimmied with Greg on the dance floor. We finished out the party and headed home, dropping Bella off before we stumbled into the apartment and to bed.

I was exhausted in all the best ways possible.