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We don’t win games because we have an amazing football team; we win because we have Carter Mahoney.
“If you’re looking for Prince Charming and I’m your best shot, you are in a truly dire situation.”
I’m going to die here of asphyxiation with Carter Mahoney’s cock in my throat. And then, because he’s a fucking psycho, he’ll probably fuck my corpse.
I look beyond his stupid broad shoulder and see my mom. Her eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed with pleasure, and I can practically see visions of wealthy, secretly psychopathic grandbabies dancing in her eyes.
“Remember yesterday I said I’m not a tit man? I’m not, but I can’t stop thinking about yours.”
Just places his giant hand down on top of my books and says, “You should join the track team, Ellis.” “I’m not fast unless I’m runnin’ from monsters,” I inform him.
As I’m giving my phone dirty looks, I shift my body, suddenly uncomfortable for reasons I don’t even understand. Then I pick the phone back up, my thumb slips, and the worst possible thing happens—I accidentally ‘like’ the photo. Gasping, I stare, horrified, at the little red heart. “No! No, no, no, no.” I quickly click the button again to unlike it, then I drop the phone like it turned into a tarantula, afraid to even touch the damn thing.
“Was that a passive aggressive like because I posted a picture of a girl, or an accidental like because you’re keeping tabs on me?”
“You could have always hit up your rally girl; I’m sure she’s always around, ready to dirty talk with you to keep up your team spirit. Best rally girl ever and all that.” Carter grins over at me. “Man, you are insanely jealous of my rally girl.”
They need their girl cards suspended until they take a remedial class on girl power or something, I swear.”
Carter chuckles, kissing me softly, like he finds me adorable. “You really haven’t let anyone touch you before, have you? You’ve just been waiting for me to find you.”
“I want to manhandle you, not cheat on you.”
He doesn’t bother to argue with me. I hope it’s because in every other sexual scenario he has been safe, and this was a fluke. I’m going to be really pissed off if he only assumed he was clean, and he actually gives me Chlamydia. I’ll be doubly pissed if he gives me a baby. He’ll never hear the end of it.
“Has telling someone ‘you’re overreacting’ ever stopped someone from overreacting?”
“Getting yelled at sometimes is part of the girlfriend package. I knew what I was signing up for.
Laughing despite himself, he says, “A snug napkin ring?” Looking up at him through my eyelashes, I ask, “Oh, are not all dicks that thick? Sorry, I’ve only seen Carter’s.”
“You see that?” he asks. “I told you I made better passes. A 71-yard touchdown pass to win the game? Not too shabby, right?” His enthusiasm is catching and I can’t help grinning up at him. “You might as well be speaking in Latin, but I’m glad you won.” Carter shakes his head, dark eyes sparkling with amusement. He leans down to give me a kiss, then says, “I need to teach you about football.”
“Well, yeah, since apparently she aspires to be his constantly cheated-on Stepford wife,” Kasey volunteers.
“Anyway, no, I’m not stalking you. We’re married.”
Every night, I curl up with a woman who knows me and likes me anyway, and every night, you get to curl up beside a man who finds you as endlessly fascinating as you find your work.”
“I spend every day of my life with people who like the look of a mask I wear, Zoey. You’re the only person who likes what’s underneath better.”
“Do you want me to fight tonight?” I inquire. Carter shakes his head. “Nah. I want to make love to you tonight.”
I, personally, would never do something like that because it’s desperate, and any man who made me feel desperate to keep him when he’s desperate to get away would be a man better cut loose, anyway.
Carter glances at my plate and smirks. “Hungry?” “I need the extra nourishment,” I inform him, lifting my eyebrows. “I’m probably eatin’ for two.” “Jesus Christ,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Next time you fuck me without a condom, I’m buyin’ myself a ‘baby on board’ maternity shirt, and it’s all I’m ever going to wear around you.” “You are a real pain in my ass, you know that?”
“And my back is already aching from carrying around your spawn. I hope you’re plannin’ to give me a back rub later.” “Are your feet swelling up, too? Maybe I should just buy you a whole spa day.” “I mean, it’s the least you could do for the mother of your child.”
A romantic relationship can be the icing on the life-cake, not the flour in the batter.”
“I think I love you.”
Instead of getting freaked out, though, Carter grins. “Oh yeah? Damn, I must have fucked you good.”
“I’d like to know everything, so feel free to start anywhere—except ‘my favorite color is blue,’ because that doesn’t really tell me anything.” “Tells you what color lingerie you should invest in,” he offers.
“What are you doin’ here, troublemaker?” “Checking out this hot cashier who works here,” he says, letting his gaze travel over my body. “Don’t tell my girlfriend.” I play along, asking, “Is she a real ball-buster?” “She’d kick my ass.”
You can be my partner. All my perks are your perks. It’s not me vs. you, Zoey. We aren’t opponents. When I win, you win.”
I’m surprised when he looks down and I see something like disappointment in his eyes. “You got rid of me that fast, huh? Just the other night, you were saying you loved me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kasey says, apparently ashamed of herself. “I know he just dropped you in a pot full of boiling water. I know it’s not funny, but… damn. That was merciless.”
“Of course, the night I’m in the mood to make love to you, you’re like, ‘just force it inside me.’”
can see why Carter likes you so much now, though. You got a brain in that pretty little head too, don’t ya?”
“The Zoey Ellis package is a pretty good one, I won’t lie,” I tell him, flashing him a playfully boastful smirk. “Sure is,” Carter says, wrapping an arm around me, not appearing to like Cartwright’s praise. “And all mine.” “Nope. Not yours,” I remind him, but don’t bother shrugging off his arm. I like it where it is. “It’s all mine,” he assures the guys, who nod like they understand, and my word means nothing.
I love being the place he puts his darkness. I love being the keeper of the secret of who Carter really is. I love him, dammit. I didn’t entirely mean it when the words slipped out that night in a post-orgasmic bliss bubble, but God help me, I do. I love Carter Mahoney, and that means I am well and truly fucked.
“Erika cost me you,” he states. “That’s a good enough reason for me.”
“Even if I mean it. I would rather you force me than sleep with someone else. I know you’d take care of me after, if something went wrong. Whatever happens between you and me, I can handle. I just don’t want you with anyone else.”
“Do you know what you’ve done, princess? You just gave me the keys to the kingdom. There’s no stopping me now.”
He might like to call me his plaything, but he doesn’t look at me like a toy. He looks at me like a treasure.
Even if his way of loving is sometimes brutal and scarring, even if he is more predator than prince, somehow, he is the perfect fit for me.
“I love you, Zoey.”
You don’t know. Carter does. He knows the answers to all those questions and more. He gives me answers to questions I didn’t even have. Carter gets me, and he likes what’s really there.
“What is wrong with you people? Just leave Zoey alone and Carter will leave you alone. It’s not that hard!”
“Everyone bow, the king has arrived,” Sutton announces, bowing sarcastically as Carter approaches. “Damn right,” Carter says, his hand still at my hip.
“Well, son, don’t keep us all in suspense. Who is going to be your homecoming queen tonight?” Carter leans in to the mic, flashes me a smile, and says lightly, “She’s my queen every day, Mr. Cousins. Zoey Ellis, get up here.”
The former queen leans in to confide, “Your boyfriend ordered ‘em special for you.” Carter leans in to whisper jokingly, “Why are you giving away all my secrets?” She smiles at me. “You’re a lucky girl.”
“I don’t want you to fix it.” “You want me to dance this close with some other girl, then?” I pause to consider, then tell him, “Fine, you can fix it.”
