Page 21 of Tempted

“I am yours.” He wound his arms around my neck, kissing me softly. “I’m so happy.”

“Me too.” Movement at the side of the pitch caught my eye, and I released him reluctantly. “Time for your boyfriend duties. Cheer me on during my match.”

He beamed at me. “I’m going to be the best cheerleader you ever had.” Before I could join the rest of the team, he gripped my hand. “Wait. Selfie. I want to send it to JJ. He got his man, and now I get mine, and he needs to see the proof.”

We took a few photos, and I made him promise to text them to me so I could set one as my phone wallpaper, and after another kiss, I made my way to the centre of the pitch where the teams were lining up.

Ander dipped his head when I reached him, speaking low in my ear. “Did you two sort your shit out?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for, y’know, the talk. We sorted everything out, and he agreed to be my boyfriend.”

“Nice!” He slapped my palm, making Travis raise his brows, but there wasn’t time for questions.

I glanced back over at the side of the pitch, where Niccolò was on his feet, clapping along with the assembled spectators, his gaze fixed on me.

My lips curved upwards as I moved into position.

We had a football match to win.

And I had my boyfriend cheering me on, every step of the way.

EPILOGUE

FIVE YEARS LATER

Letting myself into the house as quietly as I could, I crept down the hallway. I’d managed to get an earlier train back from my week-long work conference, and I couldn’t wait to surprise my boyfriend. I’d missed him so much.

“Bennett.”

“Yeah?” I peered around the corner of the kitchen door to find Niccolò sitting cross-legged on the kitchen island, his laptop open in front of him. He was frowning down at the screen, his curls falling into his eyes as he chewed on the end of a pen. A wide grin spread across my face as I took him in.

“Nic? What is it?”

He blinked, and then his head rose. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open. “You’re really here!”

I dropped my bag to the floor and entered our kitchen, crossing over to the island. “You didn’t realise? You just said my name.”

“I was trying to manifest you being here, and look at that! It worked.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “If you say so. Come here.” Reaching out, I ran my hands up his bare legs, over his shorts and onto his hips, and then pulled him across the counter to me. He screeched, flailing for a moment before he found his balance. Unfolding his legs, he wrapped them around my waist as his arms wound around my neck.

“Hi,” he breathed, burying his head in the crook of my neck. “Missed you.”

I slid my hands under his football shirt—or more accurately, my football shirt that I normally wore in my casual five-a-side league games. Stroking up the warm skin of his back, I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I missed you too. As much as I love my job, an entire week of a sustainability engineering conference is way too much. Especially without you. I’m never going to do that again—or if I have to go, you’re coming with me. Not only that, but being away from you just reminded me that phone sex is nowhere near as good as sex in person with you.”

Niccolò lifted his head, giving me a dirty smile. “I know you loved the private cam show I did for you. It was like a throwback to the days when you used to wank over my old FanBoyzOnly account.”

“Nic…” Despite my warning tone, I couldn’t help my grin widening at the mischievous expression on his face. I really had missed him so much.

“Don’t deny it.” He gave me another bright grin and then darted forwards to lick at my dimple.

“Stop that!”

“Stop smiling, then. You know I can’t resist your dimples when you smile.”

“I guess there are worse things to be obsessed with.” Pulling back a little, I kissed the tip of his nose. “You know I’m obsessed with you, anyway.”

“I know.” Unclasping his hands from around my neck, he ran his blue-tipped fingers up my arm. “You look sexy in this suit, but do you know what? You’d look even better out of it.”