Tanner

We won the game! We now have a shot at the championship. And on top of that, my girl got her job back, and Max got what he deserved.

Things are going fantastic. Everyone is feeding off of the joyous energy in the bar. People are drinking, laughing, and celebrating. My girl got her smile back. She looks beautiful- weightless even- as she glides across the bar chatting with people, congratulating the team. She is beaming, and she is walking right toward me.

She, Lindsey, and her friend Mel pull Chase, Liam, myself, and the other guys out to the dancefloor. The atmosphere is terrific; even Val and Jenna D. are playing nice with everyone.

Jenna is dancing with the girls in the middle of the dance floor, and the rest of us are scattered around them. That's when I notice the new guy, Ben, trying to join the girls in the middle of the crowd. I see he's drunker than he should be, and he's starting to get bold. He gets a little too close and handsy with Jenna for my liking- grabbing her hips and running his hands down her arms. Before she has a chance to react, I pull him back to one of the tables forcefully. It's a miracle I didn't knock his ass out.

No one puts their hands on her- no one but me.

Ben is trashed. "Heyyyy, man! What the hell? I waz tryna hav summ fun. You git that, right? Mizter playboyyy." He waggles a finger in my face.

He's trashed, Tanner. Let it go.

I try to keep calm. "You can't go around grabbing her like that! Hands to yourself, newbie!"

He looks at me through glassy eyes. "Whyyy? You got dibbbz er sumthin?"

I glare at him, trying not to lose my shit. I should be out on the dancefloor with my girl, not here babysitting this drunk asshole.

Ben just smiles at me, then looks back out to the center of the crowd- right at Jenna. "Mmmmm. Sheee'z a smoke show, hmmm. Wat I wudn't do to that."

Don't do it. Don't hit him. He's drunk.

I clench and unclench my fists a few times before looking out to the dancefloor. Jenna catches my eye and smiles; I smile back. When she looks away, I turn back to Ben. I grab his face and point it toward Jenna. "You see her?"

Ben nods. "You. Don't. Fucking. Touch. Her. Got it?" I continue.

He pulls his face out of my grasp. "Fuk, dude! Ya don hav to git all in ma face bout it. Fine, I'll leeve yer gurl alone."

Shit, maybe I took it too far. I look around to make sure no one else heard our exchange. Luckily, no one else is around. I really need to reel myself in.

I have the waitress bring Ben some water and situate him on one of the booths. Andre comes over to grab a drink, so I leave him with the hammered newb while I head to the crowd to find Jenna.

Everyone is ecstatic, and fans cheer and serenade us with songs of victory. The whole place is packed, and the dancefloor is full of bodies. I manage to find who I'm looking for right next to her friend Mel, who's being spun in circles by Liam. Jenna is watching them laughing and clapping along to the beat.

Everyone seems to have partnered up, so I take my opportunity to get closer to my girl. I strut up behind her and pull her at the waist; her back comes right up against my front. She startles until she looks back and sees it's me, then she relaxes and resumes dancing.

No one is paying attention to us, so I press my hips into her, letting her feel what she does to me. She gasps as she continues swaying her hips against me, making me grow even harder. I run my left hand across her hipbone, stroking the skin that's exposed, feeling her delicate flesh beneath my fingers. My breathing speeds up, as does the tempo of the music around us.

The lights grow dim, and we dance away from the rest of the team. Now, we're surrounded by strangers. No one here knows our history. I feel like letting loose.

I take my right hand and drag it up her side, briefly grazing her breast as I work my way toward her shoulder. Then, I slowly brush my fingertips over her collar bone as her head falls back against my chest.

I know what I'm doing to her, I know this is risky, but I can't stop. I need to touch her. After quickly scanning the crowd to make sure I won't be seen, I slide my hand down Jenna's chest, softly cupping her perky tits as I make my descent.

When my hand reaches her hip, I grab her and spin her to face me. Her hands wrap around my neck, and she arches her chest against me. She's just as turned on as I am. Fuck, I want her! I smirk, taking my lower lip between my teeth as I slowly draw both hands lower and lower down her backside.

Just as they come to rest over Jenna's juicy ass, I hear Lindsey. "Where's Tay?"

Shit! She sounds close.

Jenna freezes. I know where this is going.

She gives me a sad smile, and I drop my arms. She drops hers as we hear Chase and Liam. "Tay! Tay, where are you!?"

I grab her hand and help her through the crowd after adjusting myself, taking her back to where the rest of the group is. "I'm here. Sorry, the crowd got a little wild. We got separated," she explains. They don't seem to notice Jenna's hand in mine as we rejoin them, but too soon, she lets go and starts dancing with Mel and Lindsey.

The rest of the night, I stay close. Close enough to watch her, to make sure none of the drunk bar patrons try anything. Close enough to see her smile and feel her eyes on me, and she rocked her hips to the music. Close enough, but still not as close as I want to be.

Before we know it, it's closing time. As everyone is leaving, I follow Jenna. She's saying goodbye to Mel and a few other people. I approach her where she is currently standing with Liam, Chase, and Lindsey.

Chase and Lindsey are beaming at each other, oblivious to everyone around them. Liam is chatting with Dan and his wife, as he helps Mel get into the back seat of her ride. No one is watching as Jenna comes up to me, says another congratulations, and gives me a quick wink. I want nothing more than to sweep her away and take her home with me, but we are still keeping everything quiet for now. Though, I am sorely tempted to grab her and dip her into a passionate kiss right here, right now.

The rest of her roommates announce they're ready to leave. We all say our goodbyes, and I subtly give Jenna's hand a quick squeeze before they take off, desperately wishing it was me she was going home with.

~

I get home, and after a while of tossing and turning, finding myself unable to sleep. I yearn to have Jenna here with me, celebrating the victory here in my arms even if the most we do is fall asleep. Maybe soon, we'll be able to tell everyone about us.

I roll over, trying to get comfortable when my phone rings with an incoming text message. It's from Jenna.

My Girl 😍: Open the door. 

I reread the text, making sure I haven't imagined it. Then, I race to the door, nearly tripping over my tangled sheets. I fling my door wide open, and behind it is my gorgeous girl.

I pull her into my arms and whisk her away to my bedroom, showering her with sweet, soft kisses. She tells me she didn't want to spend tonight apart. She left when she knew everyone else was asleep or otherwise occupied, and she came straight here. I've needed this more than I knew. With her here, I feel so much more relaxed.

I feel perfectly content as she looks at me with her loving eyes. Nothing can take away the peace I feel with having her in my arms. As we lay here on my bed, looking fondly at one another, I feel an intense need to tell her exactly what she makes me feel. So, I do just that.

I trace down her jaw, across her lips, and down her neck, as I softly confess the only secret I've kept from her since we started our relationship. "Jenna." She looks into my eyes as I set free the words. "I love you."

She stares at me for a moment, looking shocked. My heart is pounding in my chest. I think she isn't going to respond when, finally, she says, "I love you too, Tanner."

I think my heart just exploded. I've never been happier. She loves me! My girl, my goddess, my life- she loves me too!

Our lips meet, and the kiss we share is filled with more love and passion than ever before. Then, she curls up close to me, laying her head on my chest and her hand on my heart.

I smile as peace washes over me, and I finally find my rest with my girl tucked safely by my side.