Page 148 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
SIENNA
After I assureBen I’m not hurt, he pulls out his phone and calls the cops. I should probably call my dad, but he’ll lose his marbles when he hears what happened.
Now that this whole fiasco is over, I’m mostly pissed this asshole wrecked Maggie’s living room.
After the police come, I explain what happened, and they haul Derek away.
Then I call my father and listen to him yell at me.
Ben must be able to hear the tirade, because he frowns and asks for the phone. Hesitantly, I place it in his hand.
“Excuse me, sir, with all due respect, Sienna deserves your praise and not a reprimand. By the time I got here, she’d subdued her attacker in two moves. Now, I’m no expert, but for all intents and purposes, she took care of business. Sienna’s the most capable woman I know. I’m sure that had something to do with your influence, but maybe instead of criticizing her, you should consider her strengths, which are considerable.”
Then he clears his throat and says, “I’m her boyfriend Ben.” He winks at me, and I smile back, my heart fluttering at the look in his eyes.
I don’t know how my father responds, but Ben’s forehead smooths, and he nods. “Yes, sir. I’ll be sure to tell her. Good night.”
When he hangs up, I laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone handle my father like that. What did he say?”
“He said I was right, and he was sorry. And that he’ll apologize to you tomorrow over breakfast. He said something about waffles.”
Guess my dad is getting that breakfast after all, but I’m still too caught up on how Ben came to my defense to be irritated. Plus, there’s that whole boyfriend thing.
“So does this mean you want us to get back together?” I ask, my heart hammering.
He places his hands on my shoulders. “I’m a dumbass, Sienna. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you to the moon and back. You’re my sunshine. Nothing, nothing is worth losing you.”
Fat tears well in my eyes. “I love you too, Ben. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Don’t cry, sunshine.” He kisses me. Once. Twice. “Can you forgive me for not hauling you into my arms the other night after practice and begging you to come home with me? I was just so overwhelmed.” As I nod, he gently wipes my face with his thumbs.
“If you can forgive me for moving. Because we promised we wouldn’t freeze each other out and that’s exactly what I did.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, baby. If I had been in your shoes, I would’ve lost it too.”
“What about that fight with Cal during training camp? Did it have something to do with me? I feel like you’ve been so distant since then.”
Sighing, Ben shakes his head. “He said some rude shit that got in my head, but I’m over it. I swear. And I’m sorry if I took it out on you. I don’t always know how to process things, but I promise to try harder.”
“No more apocalypse-style freezeouts, okay? Because that’s what we both did in our own ways.” I hold up my pinkie, which he hooks with his.
“No more freezeouts. Just sunny days with my sweet mamacita.”
I giggle while he presses kisses to my neck and jaw, but by the time he stands and lifts me into his arms, I’m done laughing.
“Where’s your room?” he asks in between kisses.
I point upstairs with one hand while I clasp his neck with the other. We don’t even make it to the stairs before he leans me up against the wall and we start stripping clothes off each other. He helps me fling off my ripped tank top and bra, and I whip off his suit jacket and tie. At some point, buttons go flying.
He goes to his knees to help me slide off my shorts and undies. When he sees the scratches on my legs, his eyes darken. “I can’t believe that asshole hurt you.”
I thread my fingers through his thick hair. “I’m okay. Everything’s okay now that you’re here.”
He’s on the ground, staring up at me with so much adoration, I can’t believe I ever doubted his affection. “I love you, sunshine. You mean everything to me.”
And then he lifts my leg over his shoulder.
The first swipe of his tongue on my bare skin has me arching back against the wall. He works me over until I’m panting, and then he slips in two thick fingers, and I go off.
