Page 41 of The Air I Breathe

I'm standing with CeCe, doing my best to stay out of the way. CeCe is saying something when the door leading into the room opens, and here come the guys. I don't think anyone has ever looked as hot as Blake does right after a football game. He's freshly showered, wearing comfortable clothes, and makes a beeline right for me.

"Did you see me get the touchdown?" he questions, wrapping me up in his arms and twirling me around.

No man has ever picked me up like this and twirled me. It's a reminder of how strong he is. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hang on tight, burying my face into his where his shoulder mees his neck. "I did! It was exciting, and I'm so proud of you."

"The booing was pretty exciting too. When they boo, you know you're doing something right. I hope they put that on my highlight reel."

I shake my head. Only someone of his caliber would feel like booing is a sign of respect. "You're a mess. So, you all are okay to go out with us?"

"Yeah, it's a bye week and we're free as of now. A few guys are leaving from here to go on vacation. So, what's the plan?" He looks around at his friends, and me.

"I'm good for whatever y'all wanna do." I hook my arm around the front of his stomach.

It takes a few minutes, but it's finally confirmed that we're going to head to a nearby rooftop restaurant, with the rooftop reserved for us. Somehow, Blake and I end up alone in the black Tahoe that brought me and CeCe to the game.

"Did you plan this?" I ask, giving him a look.

"What do you mean?" He pulls a hand to his chest.

"Us being alone. It's felt like a long while since we've been able to do that."

He scoots over so that we're sitting right next to one another. "Way too fucking long. I wanted to be alone with you, needed to talk to just you for a few minutes, and decompress. What I want more than anything, though, is to see if your lips still taste the same."

I lick them, tilting my face toward him. "Maybe you should give it a shot and find out for yourself."

That big hand of his cups my jawline, putting it where he wants it before I lean in, and our lips meet. It's not our first kiss, and it won't be our last, but there's a sweetness and sultriness to it that I don't expect. Slowly, he coaxes my lips apart, taking the taste of both of us with him against his tongue. It's aggressive, passionate, and every single thing I want a first kiss after a few days apart to be. My fingers dig into his shirt, pulling him closer. We're wrapped up in each other's arms, and before I know it, he's pressing me against the back of the seat. I sigh, breaking the seal of our kiss, leaning my head back. He takes the invitation to smear his lips along the column of my throat and connect to the pulse point. Dragging my nails across the top of his head, I sigh.

"That feels good," I whisper, afraid to be any louder in the quiet of the back seat.

"Fuck yeah, it does. I’ve missed this. Missed you," he murmurs against my neck.

"It's only been a couple of days," I remind him.

"Could've been a couple of years for how long it seemed." He pulls away and I try to level my breathing.

"We're in deep, Blake."

His blue eyes are so dark they could be black in the muted light of the back seat. "Fuck yeah, we're in deep, and there's no other way I'd rather be with you, Willa. I hope you realize that."

I did before, or at least I thought I did, but the look on his face right now? It's frightening in its intensity, but only because of what it could do to my heart.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Blake

She realizes it—I can see it in the depth of her eyes, as the overhead light comes on. But she can't say anything because right then the Tahoe stops, and the driver gets out. I glance out, seeing the front of one of my favorite restaurants here in New York. "We're here. That was a lot quicker ride than I’d thought it would be." I take a deep breath and try to calm my pounding heart.

"Yeah, that's what happens when you're kissing the fuck outta me, Mr. Whitfield."

I roll my lips together, a smirk playing against the edges of an almost smile. "I always want to be the person kissing the fuck outta you so hard that you look disheveled."

Willa smiles, reaching up and wiping my lips. "My lipstick has slightly stained your lips. Everyone is going to know what we've been doing in here."

I shrug. "I mean, I'm okay with that." I'm a grown-ass man, and I don't care what other people think about me. But she's much more in the public eye than I am, and there are other things she has to think about. "If you're okay with it. This doesn't put you in a bad situation, does it?"

"No." She shakes her head. "At one point I'd have been worried about it, but I'm in my early thirties, and I'm sick of apologizing for things I want to do and things I'm old enough to do."

"Fuck yeah." I give her a wink.