I was enjoying one of my favourite past times which was annoying Winston. He is so easy to fluster that I can't help but say things to make him sputter and argue with me.

"Tom Holland is definitely the best spiderman," I say flatly, shrugging. Warner snorts at my back, only vaguely following the argument. He is simply here as a pillow behind me while I work on my paper. He is also my own personal masseuse, his hands move to my shoulders and I almost drop my textbook when they begin massaging me, loosening the muscles that have apparently grown tense during my long studying session.

But Winston gasps in offense. "How can you say that? You take that back! Have you even watched the other spiderman movies?" He protests, looking up in sudden shock from his laptop screen.

I resist the urge to groan as Warner works away the last of the tension that has gathered in my shoulders. My head lulls back as I soak into his touch.

Sooner than I would like Warner slips out from behind me, kissing my temple. "I've got to get to pregame warmup," He says, hands slipping over my shoulders and down my arms. He has become touch greedy since we had sex, and I was five-thousand percent into it.

"Kiss first," I murmur, tipping my head back.

He grins briefly and delivers a gentle kiss on my lips. "Be good," he whispers in my ear before rising and leaving me to torment Winston alone.

I twist onto my belly on the couch, peering over at Winston. His laptop is open, but his eyes are on me. "You guys are disgusting." He fake gags.

"You are just jealous you didn't get a kiss. It's okay Winston you can have a kiss too. Come here, big boy." Warner wriggles his eyebrows at Winston who throws a cushion his way.

"No thank you I have a girlfriend!"

"It's okay you have my permission." Abby chimes in from the kitchen where she is making some sort of study snack.

"Make sure to use tongue." I add in, wriggling my eyebrows like Warner did.

Winston focuses back on his laptop screen shaking his head and muttering something about us being freaks.

"Don't you have to get to cheer warm up?" I ask Abby who is still in her pyjamas.

It was the quarter-finals today and the game was against Sierra's University. Normally I would be anxious and scared about seeing her but after having a gun held to my head, a confrontation with Sierra felt less scary.

"I was thinking of sitting today's game out so I could sit with you guys." Abby smiles at me and I raise my eyebrow in suspicion.

Amy still hasn't given me the okay to start cheering again but I don't mind sitting with Tracey and Winston in the stands.

Abby has attached herself to my hip since the hospital and although I love having her around I don't want her to miss out on anything because of me.

"It's the quarter-finals! Surely you want to cheer?" I ask her and Winston looks up from his laptop. They exchange some sort of telepathic look.

"I want her company in the stands. You and Tracey are embarrassing with your yelling and your foam fingers. This way I can pretend I'm with Abby and not you two hecklers." Winston states and Abby sits in his lap, moving the laptop out of the way completely.

"That's rude! I only heckled once, and the asshole deserved it!"

It was true. Last game there was some man in the stands taunting Warner about his dad. I let it go the first few times but once I saw Tracey start to get upset, I lost it on him. I might have thrown a drink at his head and yelled a few choice words but like I said it was well deserved.

Warner had been taking a lot of heat for his dad, who still hadn't been found by the police. The news stations have continued to run stories on the betting and questioned Warner's integrity as a player. His cooperation with the police exempted him from any real punishment but I was worried that scouts and professional teams might cut him off because of backlash.

_____

Since it was the quarter-finals the game was being held at the biggest stadiums in the city. The stadium was rapidly filling with fans all decked out in conflicting colours for both teams. I put on a jersey with Warner's number and even did my hair in cute pigtails with team-coloured ribbons.

Energy sparks through the stadium like fireworks and my own anticipation is bubbling through me. I'm squished between Tracey and Abby, with Winston sitting to Abby's left and Adam's dad sitting next to Tracey.

I hadn't seen Adam's dad before today. He is quite the intimidating man, at first sight, well over six feet tall with tattoo sleeves on both of his arms. I spot more poking out the top of his t-shirt but I try not to stare too hard. I thought he would be terrifying like Warner's dad but after spending a few minutes together I realized he was a huge teddy bear. He hasn't stopped smiling since he arrived and I notice that a lot of those smiles are directed at Tracey.

I notice Tracey watching with what looks like a bit of longing and give her a small nudge in the side. "Adam's dad is quite the hottie...and I don't spot a wedding ring." I peer over at his empty ring finger and shoot Tracey a devilish grin.

She sputters like I'm ridiculous almost knocking over her drink but Adam's dad's hand catches it before it tips and he slides it back in her hand. I notice his hand lingers on hers just a tad longer than necessary.

"You're grounded for that." She teases.

"Grounded? So are you officially my mother-in-law now? Is Adam's dad going to be my new father-in-law?" I whisper so he can't overhear and it's worth it to see Tracey get more flustered.

Luckily for Tracey the announcers' boom over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen it's time to welcome Westshore University!"

The stadium flares with screams and camera crews swarm. It's showtime and I'm on the edge of my seat.

And there they are.

Warner emerges first with the team on his heels. They sprint through the fog with a self-confidence that shivers over everyone's skin. Some players are fist-pumping and air-kicking their way across the field to their bench.

Warner is being serious game-time Warner. He runs out with steel in his veins, unflappable as always on the field. When he's at the centre of the field, he stops and tilts his head up. I can feel his eyes on me as if his fingers were trailing across my skin. He smiles for the first time and lifts his arm to wave at me.

And then he points. The universal gesture of This is for you. I feign shock and then blow him a kiss. He catches it. Fans turn and zero their laser-beam eyes on me – but all I care about is Warner.

____

We've all been holding our breath for the last ten minutes. This game is so tight. Currently, the score is 2-1 for Westshore. There are only thirty seconds left in the game and at this point, all they have to do is play defence and keep the ball out of their own net. The stress in this stadium is palpable and I can't imagine the pressure Warner has on his shoulders right now.

Finally, the final whistle blows and I jump up and down like a maniac cheering. Tracey and Adam's dad are both on their feet as well and the next thing I know Tracey is squeezing Adam's dad into one of her excited bear hugs.

I don't even give myself even a moment to search for Warner's face on the field, because all I want to do is wrap my arms around him as soon as possible. So I use this time to hustle down the stairs and to the media entrance. Security guards check my badge at the gate and then I am herded with the rest of the player's family members through a dark tunnel that leads to the field.

Oops. I just realized I moved so fast out of the stands that I accidentally left Tracey and Abby in my dust. Too bad. Got to hustle ladies.

I emerge from the tunnel just in time to see Warner in the middle of the field, sharing a quick handshake with a few players on the losing team. He has worked so hard to get to this moment. I hope the media focuses on the way he played and not what his father did because that man played a hell of a game and it deserves to be noted.

Cameras are all over the place as players congratulate each other and show good sportsmanship. I lose sight of Warner for a moment and feel slightly panicky. Standing on my toes I crane my neck to see, but it's difficult with so many other bodies on the field. I consider asking one of these giants to lift me on their shoulders but I'm saved when I finally spot Warner on the sidelines being interviewed by the media.

I don't want to interrupt so I stop myself from throwing my arms around him and wait for the interview to end first. That is until I hear the questions being asked. It wasn't about the game, or the team or how Warner played. Instead, I hear the reporter ask, "What are your thoughts on your dad still being missing with a warrant for his arrest?"

Warner's face falls and he looks extremely uncomfortable. "Uh.." he seems at a loss of what to say.

The interviewer presses on "What do you have to say to rumours that you are involved in illegal sports betting and will be throwing the final game to make a profit?"

Warner glances at the camera and then back to the interviewer like a deer caught in headlights. I can't watch this anymore. I am saving him.

"Warner!" I shout over at him and his face goes from frowning to a huge dazzling grin. I see him twitch to move closer to me but I make the decision for him and run into his arms. He pulls me into him and spins me around.

"You played Amazing! Didn't he play amazing?" I ask the reporter.

"Yes. That goal in the first half was something special." The reporter gives us a fake smile but I know he is pissed I interrupted his interrogation.

"Okay, so you did watch the game! I guess I wasn't sure since you didn't ask a single question about the game or how Warner played. Isn't that what you are supposed to ask about? Not stupid rumours about something he knows nothing about?" I smile sweetly at the reporter and use a sickly sweet voice.

The reporter looks embarrassed and I'm glad.

He looks like he is going to apologize but I turn my back on him and Warners' fingers tangle in the back of my hair. He slams his lips against mine, kissing me hard and possessively. I hear the reporter mumble something and then walk away from our PDA.

"Thank you" Warner murmurs between kisses. "I love you my little guard dog." He squeezes my ass and I pull back to grin at him.

I am about to respond when I hear the last person I want to see. I knew they were playing her University team but I was hoping she would keep her distance.

"Hey, guys! Juliet, you never commented on that post I made of you! I tagged you and everything, you could've at least given the post a like!" Sierra's voice makes Warner's whole body tense up. His hands on me freeze but when I try to pull away to turn towards Sierra he holds me tighter.

I give him a look and he reluctantly lets go of me.

I am stronger now than I was when that post went up. I had a goddamn gun held to my head. Dealing with a mean girl like Sierra seems easy compared to that.

I smile at her and she frowns not expecting that reaction. "Oh, Sierra I feel sorry for you I really do." I walk over and pat her head condescendingly like she is a child in need of consoling.

"Why on earth would someone like you feel sorry for me?" she asks, swatting my hand away.

"Because you are obsessed with me! You have been obsessed with me since high school. Do you truly have nothing better to do? Are you that jealous of me?" I ask her and she makes a face like I hit her.

"I am not jealous of you!" She sputters.

Warner stays silent behind me and when I look at him expecting him to butt in he says nothing. In fact, I see the corner of his mouth tilt up in a smile, he is enjoying watching me finally stand up for myself.

"I have an amazing boyfriend; I have genuine friends who love me and who do you have? Look around Sierra, you have nobody and it's your own fault. This mean girl shit might have worked in high school but it doesn't work anymore. Grow up. Seriously. I'm not scared of you anymore because I see you for what you really are! You are just a miserable, insecure mean girl who likes to bring everyone else down to make yourself feel better. I'm sorry your life is so sad that your only source of entertainment is hurting others but I'm done letting you try to hurt me. I don't care what you think about me, Sierra. You are pathetic."

In all my years of knowing Sierra, it felt good to finally stand up for myself. Was I being harsh? Yes. Did she deserve it? YES

The best part is Sierra seems to be at a loss for words. Without her minions she is nothing. So I simply step around her, towing Warner behind me in hand. When we get a good distance away from her I look up at Warner who is beaming at me.

"Is it bad that seeing you stand up for yourself like that turned me on?" He grins at me and I feel a blush rise to my cheeks.

"Are you saying that you are turned on by me yelling at people? Or is it me being mean?"

"I'm turned on by you standing up for yourself. Watching you give her shit was one of the highlights of my entire year." He pulls me into his chest and holds me to him like he doesn't want to let go. "I'm proud of you Juliet." He murmurs in my ear and I can feel how proud he is from where the bulge in his shorts presses against me.

He really was turned on by me standing up for myself.

This man is wild.

____

We had only been at the post-game celebration for about twenty minutes and I was already anxious to get home. Warner has not stopped looking at me since we got here. Normally that would be fine but these were not normal glances they were heated glances. He was mentally undressing me with his eyes every time I caught him looking.

I am about to ask him to stop so I can focus on something other than him fucking me in one of the nearby closets when a guy steps in front of me. He must be someone on the team's brother or friend because I don't recognize him as a player.

"Hi sorry to bother you," his eyes flick down to the water in my hands "I was wondering if you knew where the bar was to get a drink." He not so subtly checks me out but I ignore it because he doesn't give creeper vibes.

"It's just down the hall and to the right." I point out where he should go instead of walking there with him.

"Do you have any recommendations for drinks?" He asks me, not making any move to actually start walking to where I told him the bar was.

"I don't think you would like my taste in drinks. Unless you enjoy a nice fruity passionfruit martini." I smile at him.

He doesn't get a chance to answer because an icy voice slices through us, "You're in my way."

Warner is standing behind the guy, pinning him with a glare so dark I am surprised the poor guy doesn't disintegrate on the spot.

"Oh, sorry—"

"Why are you getting my girlfriend's drink order?"

The guy sends me a nervous glance, and I shrug at him and try to give him a look that says 'I'm sorry my boyfriend is a jealous caveman'.

"Thanks for the recommendation. I'll go get myself a drink now." The guy backs away and Warner doesn't fully relax until he is gone.

"What was that?" I demand.

"He was flirting with you." Warner says matter of factly,

"Oh my god, we were just talking. He wasn't flirting he just wanted to know where the bar was!"

Okay fine maybe he was flirting a little but I definitely wasn't flirting back.

His face changes as he leans into me. "You're too nice Juliet. He was flirting with you. He knows where the bar is, he was just there."

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway because I didn't flirt back! I don't know if you know this but I have a boyfriend." I emphasize boyfriend, placing a hand on his chest and dragging it down to his belt buckle.

"Baby, I know damn well you weren't flirting. If I ever saw you flirt with somebody I would have to kill the poor bastard."

"Warner!"

He ignores me and pulls me into him, pressing a light kiss to the top of my head. "Between helping me with that reporter and the way you stood up for yourself against Sierra, I am barely managing to keep my hands off you in front of everyone, it is killing me. We are lucky I got us here, driving with my dick this hard."

Well, now I know why he was looking at me the way he was.

"I wouldn't be opposed to finding a room to celebrate in. You did just win the quarter-finals! I think that deserves a reward."

"Thank fuck." Warner tosses me over his shoulder startling a laugh out of me. He walks casually through the party with me over his shoulder, smiling along the way at any reporter or player who looks at us.

I don't know where we are going but he seems to because he finds some sort of private lounge and locks the door behind us.

He grins wickedly at me. "Now, that's better."

I smile back. "Better would be naked."

"That can be arranged," Warner says crashing his lips against me. We crash into the wall and he pushes my skirt up around my hips.

I wrap my leg around him, pressing myself against him, needing to be touching every single part of him. He growls and grabs hold of my ass, lifting me.

I wrap my legs around his waist.

His tongue plunders my mouth. I match him stroke for stroke. My fingers wind in his hair and yank. He chuckles a dark sound against my lips.

"You want me to fuck you right now?"

My birth control was working overtime these days. I got the implant in my arm last week just to be extra safe with Warner and we have certainly taken advantage of it.

I stare at him through heavily lidded eyes. "What do you think?"

He puts his mouth to my ear. Lips grazing my skin. "I think you want me to fuck you against this wall."

"Say it. Tell me you want me to fuck you. Tell me how much you want me inside you." His hands tighten on me. Fingers biting into my ass.

His eyes come back to mine, and I stare into them. Eyes that are cloudy with lust. For me. Seeing Warner like this always gives me such a high. Knowing the sexual power I have over him is thrilling.

I lean forward and touch my nose to his. My stare on him never wavers. "Stop talking. And just fuck me."

His eyes flash a seductive promise.

I feel his fingers curl into the waistband of my panties. Then, I hear the telltale snap of elastic and feel the thrill-inducing cool air hit my heated parts.

"Those were my favourite." I scowl at him.

"I'll buy you some new ones." He gently brushes his lips over mine. "Tell me you love me, and I'll give you what you want. My dick deep inside you." He thrusts up, pressing against my pussy, and I know I've soaked through the material of his pants.

I curl my hands around the back of his head and yank him back to me. I fiercely kiss him.

I shove my hands up inside his shirt and rake my nails down his chest. He pushes up my shirt and yanks down the cup of my bra. Bending his head down, he takes my breast in his mouth.

Teeth dragging over the delicate skin, he bites my nipple at the exact same time that he shoves a thick finger deep inside me from behind. "Ahh," I moan.