by HJ Bellus
My stomach growls and the sugar shakes kick in quickly, so I plug in the waffle iron to get breakfast going. I set the table with all the toppings, waiting for it to warm up. On my last trip to the table I nearly get caught up in the Rapunzel scene playing out on the floor.
Strong arms catch me before tumbling face first, smearing the front of me with butter. The plate trembles in my hand while State stands me back up.
“Well, good morning to you too, my Queen.”
I look up at him and smile. Last night bonded us together forever. His touch feels different, sending chills all over my skin. I don’t have a chance to analyze it before Rowe is up on her feet throwing her hands up to State.
“Shreeeeekkkkk.” She squeezes her arms around his neck as he hoists her up to him.
“Princess,” he sings right back out to her.
“I made you waffles,” she fires right back.
“Oh, you did?” I quirk an eyebrow, pouring the batter onto the greased iron.
“Yep.” She claps her hands together.
Miss Tami joins us. “One day you won’t be able to be held like that Rowe.”
She taps her nose as she walks by her. Miss Tami is always scolding me when I pick her up. It will be a sad day when she is too big for that. I bring the first plate of waffles to the table as State places Rowe down in her chair.
“I’ll get the drinks,” he offers.
He opens the refrigerator, pulling out the milk and orange juice. He comes to me before going to the table. He blows air down on the crook of my neck. His front pressed to my back.
“You look so amazing this morning.”
“It’s your glow.” I turn my head enough to kiss him.
Rowe and State devour their breakfast. He coaxes her into helping me wash the dishes while he takes a hot shower. She’s like a puppet on strings with State. As soon as he’s out of the shower in a clean pair of gym shorts and a workout tank, Rowe bounds to him in the living room. Hell, I didn’t even notice him bring in a bag last night.
“Your car?” Miss Tami’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
“Uh?”
“Your car?”
“Oh, it’s at the stadium. State is going to drive me back to it later this evening. We wanted to spend a lazy Sunday with you guys.”
“How was it?” She asks stepping closer.
“You have no idea. It was amazing. State is phenomenal. He was the star. It was so fun.”
I chose to leave out his mother and the fact Burnett was there. She doesn’t push any harder and only smiles. We join State and Rowe on the couch. He has his hat on backwards with the mandatory tiara sitting crooked on top. He has Rowe and a whiteboard on his lap explaining football plays to her.
“See when they’re lined up like this you have to watch for the screen. It’s like a trick play.”
“Ohhhhh, like the villain in the castle.”
“Yes, and it’s my job to take the dragon.”
“The guy throwing the ball?” She asks.
“Yes.”
“And you can’t get burned by the fire.” Rowe plucks the marker from his hand. “What if you did this.”
She draws lines all over the board with X’s just like State had. He scratches his head for a few moments trying to decipher the play she’s drawn out.
“I see.” He rubs his chin. “I’ll try that next game.”
“It will work. I promise you.” she looks up at him. “Do you think I’d like to go to a game?”
His eyes soften and I can practically see his heart swell with pride.
“I think you’d love a game, but let’s check in with the fun police, okay?”
“Okay?” She nods her head and then looks up at us. “He called you the fun police.”
Rowe giggles and points at us. I roll my eyes at State letting him know he’s not playing fair. We settle in for a movie, but end up wrestling around on the ground and playing a game with Rowe. Miss Tami heads out to her weekly girl group. They knit and mainly gossip. It’s good for her to get out.
“I’m hungry.”
I look over to State. “There’s no way you can be hungry.”
“I’m starving. Let’s go get pizza.”
“Pizza,” Rowe sings out rubbing her belly.
The two of them are up and waiting for me at the door. I’m still lying on my back studying their excited faces. State shifts his cap so it sits backwards on his head.
“Let’s roll,” he offers.
“Yeah, let’s get our pizza on.” Rowe wiggles her waist.
I groan pulling myself up to my feet. As usual Rowe is not impressed with the backseat, but State whispers something into her ear as he buckles her into her spare booster seat. I give him the stink eye, knowing he’s just promised her ice cream. It’s his signature move and he knows all too well, that I won’t complain.
“Bubblegum,” he winks at me and clutches my hand as he drives.
Twenty-Two
“Want to see my dorm?” State asks, tucking his hands in his pocket.
I fell asleep on the drive over and I’m feeling sheepish again. Rowe ran us around like crazy, from pizza, to ice cream and the park. I have no idea where State and Rowe mustered up the energy to not stop once today. Me? I crashed in the car on the drive.
“Yeah, I’ll follow you.” I reach up to kiss him quickly. “Can’t stay the night though.”
“Ball buster.” He pulls me in closer to him.
“I have to drop off Rowe at school in the morning and have some early massage appointments.”
“Mr. Moore?” He raises his eyebrows.
“Shut-up.”
I follow the back of State’s sexy car until we pull into a parking lot. It’s full and buzzing with college students. So this is dorm life, I think to myself. There’s four large brick towers that I pass and before I can turn off the engine, State is at my door.
“Is this okay?” I gesture to my parking spot.
“Perfect. It’s Ryder’s and he’s not here tonight.”
“Oh?” It comes out as a question.
“Shayne. They meet up every Sunday night. I have no clue where they go. It’s all a damn secret. The boy is going to get his balls busted.”
“Oh.” This time it’s a statement.
He clutches my hand, leading me into the middle tower on our right. We pass a guard station and the man sitting behind the desk beams up at State. It’s clear he’s a hero, even here. We ride the elevator with some drunk, giggly girls who don’t seem to care State has me at his side and we’re hand in hand.
“State,” one of them purrs.
He squeezes my hand tighter and he nods, acknowledging her.
“We missed you at the after party,” she says.
“Lindsey was really looking forward to riding you after that victory.”
I try to let go of his hand, but State refuses. My stomach drops with the rise of the elevator. I’m going to be sick.
“Excuse me?” He snarls. “That never happens.”
The girl who has giggled the whole time pipes up. “We thought it was worth a try.”
“I’m taken and not into that shit.”
We step off the elevator and I gasp for air.
“You okay?” He looks down at me.
“I’m good as I can be.”
“It’s all bullshit. I hope you know.”
“I do. You told them.”
He unlocks his door and we step in. He has me whirled around and backed up against the door. His palms plant against the wood, trapping me in. His stare is even more determined than last night with his parents. It hurts to see how hard he’s fighting for us. Before he can get a word out, I run my finger down his jawline.
“State, I believe you. It was hard to hear, but that’s life.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be!” I grin wide.
“Don’t be? That was fucking horrible.”
“Not that bad, I guess now that I think about it.�
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“Have you lost your damn mind, Queen?”
“Nope.” I cup his face in my palms. The light stubble peppering his face tickles my skin. “Look at it this way, I have the hottest, most talented football player in the nation, and none of those skanks can do a damn thing about it.”
He processes my words for a minute and then offers up a half smile. “You are so right.”
His stomach growls and I roll my eyes. “No damn way you can be hungry again, State.”
“I’m a growing boy,” he smirks pressing his hips into mine.
“In more than one way,” I laugh at the corny-ass joke.
But the raging erection pushing into my abdomen is anything but a joke. He wants me. I press his chest back. He entertains me and moves. I eye the two beds and wait for him to answer me. He nods to the left, and I back him up all the way to it until the backs of his legs hit the mattress. State goes down easily onto his ass, spreading his legs wide for me to stand between.
He glides my shirt off and then pulls down my shorts. His lips trail kisses underneath my bra while his fingers fumble with the straps of it. The lacy material tumbles to the ground effortlessly. He pays very close attention to each perked up bud of need.
My head goes back when whimpers escape me. His fingers dip low into my panties. I adjust my legs wider, giving him better access.
“God, I need you right fucking now,” he moans into my flesh.
I push my panties to the floor and then shove his chest until he’s laying back on the bed. He tries to protest, but the sound of his zipper shuts him right up. I much prefer the gym shorts he was in earlier. Easy access. But in a matter of moments, some tugging, and hip shakes from State, he’s bared to me.
I waste no time wrapping my hand around his thick cock. We keep eye contact while I work him from base to tip, only stopping to massage the head. I lick my lips and then take him in my mouth with no warning.
“Baylor, Jesus Christ.” He thrusts up into my mouth.
I smile around him, loving the sensation coursing through me, knowing I’m driving the man mad. I’m more adventurous this time, taking long strokes and working him at the base with my hand.
“Ahhh, fuck,” he groans and then pulls me off him.
Our connection is lost with one loud pop. He pulls me up to his chest and attacks my mouth. It’s passionate and raw. His teeth sink into my bottom lip until I whimper out in pain. He catches the sound and then massages the same area with his tongue.
“God, I want you,” he whispers.
I roll off him onto my back and hold my arms open.
“What’s this?” He asks.
“Take me.”
He turns his head to the side in question.
“I feel safe when you’re on me.”
State rolls on top of me, settling between my spread legs.
“I like your dorm room,” I grin up at him remembering why we came here.
“You haven’t even got the grand tour yet.”
“Don’t need one. I came for you.”
He slowly enters me. I keep my eyes open the entire time. His face contorts through a rainbow of emotions making my knees go weak. Watching him enjoy the feeling, nearly brings me to climax. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
He begins moving slowly at first, but then something breaks between us. My hands race up and down his back. My hips buck for him. State picks up on the urgency and begins pounding into me. A strange combination of pain and desire pool inside me.
“I’m close.” He drops his elbow to the mattress, relaxing his forehead on mine.
“Me too.”
“Let go, Queen. Fall into me.”
With his last words, my insides clench and I tumble. The free-falling sensation low in my belly bursts until my head spins. When the sensation is about to vanish State grunts low once, then thrusts three more times before he releases in me. He coaxes the tail end of my orgasm sending me straight into another one. I flex up into him riding out the final sensation.
“Hell of a tour.” I brush my lips against his.
His stomach responds with a loud growl that vibrates to the back of my spine. We both erupt in laughter.
“You’re a pig!”
He leans around and smiles at me.
“A very hot, sexy, and talented pig,” I correct.
State leans up, beaming with pride, and rubbing his belly. He ushers me to the bathroom in his room and goes to order, what I’m presuming, is pizza. The man really needs to invest in a large chain with as much as he eats.
When I finally make my way back into his room. I take it all in. Ryder’s side of the room is plain, actually bare. No pictures or posters on his side. It’s a mess, too. Papers, dirty clothes, and wrappers are the only decorations strewn around.
State catches me eyeing Ryder’s side and points to the ceiling above his bed. I crane my neck to look where he’s pointing. There’s a so not classy nude picture of a blonde straddling a motorcycle. She has one finger dangling from her lips and the other hand cupping her private parts.
“Gross.” I cover my eyes. “Did you really have to?”
State’s deep chuckle is contagious and I finally join in. His side of the bedroom is stark contrast from Ryder’s. It’s tidy and organized. His desk matches the chair. He also has a cork board plastered with notes and pictures. I step up to it and cover my mouth.
“Printed them off from my phone. They get me through the week.”
There are pictures of me, Rowe, and Miss Tami. In some, I’m sleeping or staring off, while others I’m staring shocked at the camera. There are several selfies of Rowe and him, and even one of him and Miss Tami.
I turn to look at a shelf with several trophies and plaques. But it’s the few family pictures that catch my attention. State through the years with his two proud parents by his side. Martha looks kind, caring, and proud of her son. It makes me feel like shit.
“Stop,” he warns.
I stick my tongue out at him while running my fingers along the edge of his desk. He’s written a quote on the top in a thick black sharpie maker. I trace the outline of each letter. “I will love you, even if I never see you again.”
He responds, even though I don’t ask a question. “That got me through the endless years without you.”
My eyes water and I don’t stop the tears. They’re happy and thankful ones that I kindly embrace. My eyes catch an unopened box of UNO cards next to the retro lamp on his desk. I look over at him and raise my eyebrows.
“Those were for our rematch, if I ever found you. No rigging the deck this time.”
I laugh through the tears, then pluck them up and plop down on his bed.
“May I? Or are you too chicken number seven?” I raise an eyebrow.
“I’ve waited years to kick your ass.”
I rip the box trying to pry open the fresh pack of cards and take several moments shuffling them. I don’t want to hear any moaning about this epic rematch of proportion, so I shuffle the cards a few extra times.. I fling a few cards out of my shuffling hands every few times just to give me an excuse to reach over into his lap to grab them. I’m a bad girl and let my fingers graze him a little too long.
By the time I have all the cards shuffled, the pizza has arrived. I’m thankful to see he ordered a salad and wings as well. He warns me that I better grab what I want before it’s gone, so I tuck a package of buffalo wings under my knee.
“I’d suggest strip UNO, but then I’d have you naked and under me again. I need to focus on this shit.”
“Chicken,” I taunt him.
“Chelsea Cheater Pants.”
I roll my eyes at him, deal the seven cards, and then review our rules. He agrees to everything and the match begins. He devours his pizza while playing, making some of the cards greasy. It doesn’t bother me.
We take turns almost going out with one card left, but then the inevitable Draw Four shows up. I’ll hand it to the man, he never lets me get away wi
th shouting UNO first for a long time. His phone buzzes several times, but he chooses to ignore it.
When he finally looks down at the screen filled with text message notifications, I strike.
“UNO,” I scream.
The word comes out so loud I scare myself. He quirks an eyebrow up at me and shakes his head.
“That’s cheating.”
“Whatever, you chose to look down at your phone.”
“Cheating,” he repeats.
He fans his cards deciding what to play. It’s hard to keep a poker face, so I nervously bite down on the end of my finger to throw him off his game. He eyes me carefully before laying down a Wild Draw Four card. He relaxes back down on his elbow and gives me A Gotcha Sucker look.
“State,” I whine.
“Told you I’ve been waiting on this rematch for years.”
“You’re a jerk.” My voice is filled with defeat.
“Some people just aren’t made for cut-throat UNO.”
I drop my hand to pull from the draw pile, but in a swift change of movement I lay down my Wild Draw Four on his.
“Sucka.” I throw both hands up over my head.
“No fucking way.” He slams his hand down on the bed.
“Way!” I brush a shoulder off and then the other. “Ain’t nobody taking down the Queen of UNO.”
“You little cheat.”
He pounces up from his relaxed state on his side and attacks me in upright cross-legged position. We both fall back onto the bed. He peeks down my shirt, then runs his hands up my shirt cupping my bra. He squeezes my boobs and even dips a finger down low, running it along the cups.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding where you hid all the good cards, Chelsea Cheater.”
“State,” I giggle and squirm under him.
He runs his hands down the front of my panties and then rolls me over. He does the same, running his palms over my bare ass.
“Did you kiester them?”
“Stop.” I giggle even harder.
He finally settles down next to me.
“The best out of five?” He asks with a hopeful expression.