I'm wound tight, ready to fall over, so I move my hips as much as I can until I see stars. I moan loudly into his lips riding out the waves of the feeling. He enters me without warning. I up his game and let go of my grip on his back, so I sink all the way down on him.

I'm the only fool because it sends me straight into another orgasm. State begins pumping into me slow at first and then quick with punishing desire. He has me all worked up in a matter of no time.

"Go, State, go. Jesus, fall with me."

He works himself faster in me until I feel his whole body tense right before he melts into me. His large frame folds into me, but never eases his grip from me. I'm on my feet. State washes me, dries me, and carries me to bed. It's these memories that will get me through the next two weeks.

Thirty.

"Holy FUUUUUCCCCKKKKK." I clench the bench I'm face down on.

Shayne's cackles fill the tattoo parlor.

"It's not fucking funny." I grit my teeth. "Are you almost done?"

"With the S," the badass tatted guy replies.

"Hold my hand. Sing to me. Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"He's not even done with the S," Shayne says between her laughter.

"Fuck," Trick huffs out. "I need a smoke break."

"Me, too." I carefully stand up.

"You smoke?" Shayne asks.

"No, but I'm about to take it up."

She doubles over in laugher with her cellphone clutched in her hands.

"Asshole, are you recording this?"

"No, not me." She raises her hands up cellphone in tow.

"I'll dice you." I grab it from her hand. "Dude, it fucking hurts."

"I couldn't tell," Shayne replies. "Here."

I look up to her. She has her hand outstretched with two white pills in it. "Take these. It will chill you the fuck out. Will make the video footage dull, but I kind of feel bad."

"What are they?"

"Valium."

"Where did you get these, Shayne?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Chill the hell out. They are my mom's. She uses them during football season."

"Will they kill me?"

"Jesus, for a kid raised on the streets you'd think you'd have more cred. Take them, Pollyanna."

"If I die..."

She interrupts me. "State would crush my spine and kill me. I'm thinking I like my body more than that. They will chill you out."

I drop the pills in my mouth and wash them down with the bottle of water. "Are you a pill popper?"

I blame the blatant question on the pain and fear of the fucking needle about to attack my back again.

"Jesus, no. I stole them from mom. I had a feeling you wouldn't be able to handle it."

The inked devil waltzes back in. The sheer sight of him put the ever-loving fear in me. I swear to God I'll never ever, as long as I live, get another damn tattoo. I was a real badass when this idea drifted in, but now I feel dumb as hell.

I lie back down on the table and have Shayne readjust my shirt. My head soon swims. Panic begins to set in until everything dissolves. I hear the singing of the tattoo gun, but feel nothing. I close my eyes and float away. Shayne must find the scene quite boring as she finally sits down in a chair next to me.

Before I know it, badass tattoo guy stands up and taps me on the shoulder.

"All done. Take a look."

I stand up and expect my legs to feel like rubber, but they don't. My entire body is relaxed with no worries in the world. I grab the hand-held mirror and peer into it. I gasp out loud when the five simple letters come into view. It's my future and worth every single bit of pain.

I'm sent out of the tattoo parlor with strict instructions and feeling fulfilled. I'm no longer a blank canvas. I'm Baylor Jones who is madly in love and ready to face the future.

Thirty-One.

I glance into the rearview mirror. "It's going to be super loud, Rowe."

"I know." She rolls her eyes.

"State has a job to do on the field. You're not going to be able to talk to him much after the game."

"I know." She rolls her eyes again. "He promised he'd do the princess play and that's why I'm going."

Miss Tami places her hand on top of my leg. "She'll be okay. Quit worrying."

I chew on my bottom lip, worried about her reaction to attending a game.

"You know I wouldn't let her go if she'd freak out. I always push you girls for more, but would never force you into something that would scare you."

Her words ease me a bit, but I'm terrified for Rowe. There's no way I can prepare her for how loud this stadium will be or how everything bleeds football. I glance back to her one more time through the rearview mirror. Rowe is in her number seven jersey twirling her blue and orange hearing protection in her fingers. She has her matching bracelet on, completed with a poofy neon orange tutu.

State reserved us four seats near where I'd sit in every other home game. They're just a row down and four seats over. He made sure Shayne had one, too. I pull into his parking spot, make sure everything is safely stowed in our tote bag, and begin to weave through the maze of the stadium.

Shayne is waving from our seats. When Rowe spots her, she squeals, and begins to dart down the stairs. I'm able to snatch the corn dog from her grip before she dashes down. She leaps into Shayne's arms.

I let Miss Tami go before me, making sure she makes it down all the way. She's persistent that she's healthy as a horse and that I'm over reacting. Once all nestled in, I sink into my seat, already exhausted. Miss Tami is right; she's never shoved me into a situation that would hurt me. Of course, she's pressed me to test the limits and has allowed me to grow comfortable in those boundaries.

My damn back itches like the mother of Satan, but like all other times I try to ignore it. The crowd filtering into the stadium erupts in cheers when the home team takes the field to do their warm-ups. Rowe stands on her feet jumping up and down. Her scratchy orange tutu rubs against my face only making the need to itch more intense.

"State," Rowe shrieks.

I look up to see number seven jogging our way. He waves her down. I'm surprised when she leaps over the stadium seats to get down to him. In one quick lift, he pulls her over the guardrail.

"Sit." Miss Tami pushes me down into my seat. "Let her fly."

We watch from the stands as Rowe mimics every one of his stretches. When he goes back for passes, State sets her on the bench and hands her a white board. Rowe's little hand flies over the whiteboard with her black marker. I notice a giant of a man standing at her side, and I know for certain he's standing guard for State's princess.

State finally jogs over to the bench, takes a knee and nods while Rowe schools him on the play. He finally waves over Coach Pete who also takes a knee and studies whatever is on the whiteboard.

Once Rowe is satisfied her message has been received, State hands her a ball, and picks her up. He bends over, whispering something into her ear. State takes the field once again with her in his arms, and begins jogging towards an end zone. He jukes imaginary players. A player from the opposing team jumps in front of them playing along with their game. He falls down on his back when State rushes past him.

The whole stadium erupts in cheers. I look up to see everyone on their feet cheering the duo on. Shayne punches me in the arm and points to the jumbotron. A huge image of State and Rowe's smiling faces fills the screen. I join the crowd cheering them on.

Their feet land in the end zone and he sets her down to perform her own victory dance. The rest of the starting team surrounds them in a victory dance. Rowe finishes her moves and leaps right back up into State's arm. He's saved her, just like he saved me.

Unashamed tears roll down my face. I thought I'd experienced joy until now. It's all too surreal to experience. State trots right back over to us and I stay put, letting Rowe walk back up to us on her own two feet. She's experienced terror and has now looked it in the eye and won.

Everyone below us helps her leap up the rows over the back of the chairs. She could've taken the aisle steps, but in true Rowe fashion she blazes her own trial. Rowe stands on her chair, places her hands on her hips, and talks.

"We've got this. We just ran the winning play."

Everyone around us erupts in cheers, gifting her with high fives. I look back down to the guardrail to see my number seven smiling back at me. He mouths, I love you before jogging back out onto the field.

Rowe eats her corndog while waiting for the home team to come back out to their official introduction. Her personalized blue and orange headphones lie under her seat while she cheers with the rest of the crowd. Our offense takes the field first. She claps along with the rest of the fans.

It's a different story when State takes the field. Rowe hops back up onto her seat giddy with excitement. I have to fight the need to comfort and warn her about what's about to take place. Our gentle giant is about to abuse his body on the field.

I keep my hands poised in front of me. The center hikes the ball to the quarterback and State sprints from his line. It's like magic as he realizes what the play is going to be before the ball leaves the quarterback's hands. He gets through the line and is about three steps away from taking down the quarterback.

"Oh no, Shrek," Rowe yells.

I look up at her standing on her chair. I wait for her reaction. Her face twists in pain and I can only imagine State has just crushed the quarterback. A glorious smile appears on her face and she begins clapping then immediately covers her ears.

Bending down, I grab her hearing protection. I don't offer them to her when the stadium erupts in cheers. She grabs them from my hands and places them on her head. I smile up proudly at her.

Rowe proudly cheers on her State the rest of the game with her hearing protection on. She offers up high fives to the surrounding crowd and nearly leaps out of her seat when State finally completes the princess play. I truly have no idea or can even being to pinpoint the play. It's their secret and she beams with pride.

I'm not the first one scooped into his arms outside the locker-room. It's his princess and it feels even sweeter than I could even imagine. State introduces Rowe and Miss Tami to his father. His mother is nowhere to be found, and I don't ask any questions. Rowe orders her meal with vigor right along State. It's nice to have her as a distraction.

On the drive home, Miss Tami and Rowe are both asleep in the backseat. State keeps my hand in his own on the console.

"You made her day."

"No, Queen, she made my day."

Thirty-Two.

I start a hot shower for State. I know he's showered in the locker room, but I didn't miss his sore muscles when he packed Rowe to her bed snuggling her deep in her blankets. He made sure she was asleep before leaving her.

"Hey, baby." I snag his hips when he walks into my bathroom.

He kisses me before stripping bare to get in shower. "You joining me."

"No, sweetie, enjoy the hot water."

"Okay, stay awake?"

"Of course."

Once he's in the shower and the steam covers the glass, I grab the shirt he was wearing and pull it on. I let him take his time to wash away the game and all the sore muscles. The way he pushes himself on the field, I know there's no way it's possible.

I'm perched on the end of the bed, pretending to read a magazine when he steps out and dries himself off. State flicks the bathroom light off, strides towards me then eases his way onto the bed. He's body covers mine. I kiss his scented skin and roll over on top of him.

"You mean everything to me." I roll my hips on his boxers.

I feel him grow hard underneath me.

"You, too." He picks up my hand and kisses my ring.

My hands run down his chest to his abdomen. I sneak my hand underneath his boxers. I work him from base to tip and then reach over and flick on the lamp on my nightstand. State struggles when I swivel on his hips. With my back to him, I slowly drag up his shirt over my back and rub my core over his. He had no idea I was panty less.

My palms press down on his thighs, then I sit back down with him filling me entirely. I don't have his mouth to stifle my moan this time. It's sheer determination. My teeth sink down into my bottom lip until it's painful. It takes all my strength to sit up tall.