Hunter (Campus Kings): A Football Secret Baby Novel by Celia Loren Page B

leans in and frowns at me. "Bull. You never came
back to the party a couple weeks ago, and now you're gonna sneak off and not
come tonight? You've got a piece on the side."
    "I've got a paper," I insist.
    "What's the problem? She ugly or something? Don’t want
to bring her around?" Devon asks. He's come up behind us and has been
listening. My neck muscles tense and I practically growl at him. He throws up
his hands apologetically. "Damn, alright. Everybody's so sensitive around
here. Made of porcelain or something."
    Adam is still staring at me, and I look back at him as I
grab a towel and head for the showers. "Just let it go, man," I
advise him, and he shrugs.
    In the showers, I try to go as fast as possible while also
making sure I don't fucking stink for my date tonight. It's my first date with
Britt, and I don't want it to be my last. On my way out, I grab my phone and
shoot her a text with my address.
    I'd like to be able to beat her there, but I doubt that will
be possible. My fears are confirmed as I'm swarmed again as I come out of the
stadium. I sign a few autographs, and then put my head down and just begin to
barrel ahead. At my size, it's impossible to try to go around anyone.
    I hop in my car, and in ten minutes, with the post-game
traffic, I'm pulling into the underground parking lot in my building. I hurry
up to the lobby, and sure enough, Britt is standing right outside. I give her a
wave and open the door. She smiles at me, but I detect a nervousness, fear
even. I slip my hand as comfortingly as I can around her waist, and place a
soft kiss on her cheek. She's wearing a t-shirt that stretches over her
breasts, and jeans that hug her in all the right places. If she's got any
makeup on at all, I can't tell.
    "You look beautiful," I
murmur.
    "Thanks," she replies. "You sure you don't
just want to rest tonight? I bet you need to ice your arm."
    I look at her in surprise. "No, I'm good. Maybe I'll
ice during dinner," I tell her as we head up in the elevator.
    "Dinner?"
    "Yeah, of course, what'd you think?" She looks
down at her feet, and I can guess. "Oh, you thought this might have been a
booty call."
    "I don't mean to be rude, but...you do have a certain
reputation."
    "No, that's okay, I get it," I tell her, unlocking
my apartment door and ushering her inside.
    "Woah," she says, spotting the dining room table
that I set before I headed out to the game this afternoon.
    "I thought about taking you somewhere outside the city
for dinner, where I wouldn't get recognized, but honestly…"
    "You're super famous?" she finishes for me with a
laugh.
    "Hey, you said it," I reply with a smile.
"I'll have to reheat everything, but I got us a feast from this barbecue
place on Belmont. It's supposed to be the best."
    "Oh yeah, I know that place. I went there all the time
growing up," she says. "It's my favorite."
    In short order we're sitting down at the table, and I even
light the candles in the center that my mom insisted on getting to decorate the
place. Britt insists on getting an ice pack from the freezer and helping me
wrap it around my right shoulder. I eat like a ravenous animal, and Britt
watches me in amazement.
    "Sorry," I finally realize, and lean back, the
food almost gone.
    "No, that's okay. I can't imagine how many calories you
burn. How's the ice? Do you need a new pack?" she reaches over and places
her delicate fingers on the blue plastic cover.
    I take her hand. It practically disappears in mine. Her eyes
widen a little, but she stands as I pull her toward me while I push my chair
out from the table. She lands in my lap, and I wrap my arms around her. I can
almost reach my fingers all the way around her tiny waist.
    "Hunter?" she whispers, as I lean my head toward
hers. Her lips look so enticing...like fresh berries I want to dig my teeth
into.
    "Mm?" I murmur, brushing my lips softly against
hers.
    "Never mind," she breathes, and wraps her arms
around my neck. She opens her mouth wide to mine, and it's like