My head snapped up in shock. "Really, you did?"

"Mm-hmm... but I was kicked out for fightin'."

I rolled my eyes. "Why am I not surprised?" He bit my earlobe and mock growled when the door cracked open.

I lifted my head and Ally was there, peeking through a small gap. I waved her through. Cass, Lexi, Austin, and Jimmy-Don followed after, shutting the door, and moved to sit before us on the wooden gym floor.

Romeo heard their heavy feet and saw that we had company. I laid my head on his shoulder, entwining his hand in mine, the touch relaxing us both.

"You okay, Rome?" Ally asked softly, her hand touching his foot.

He shook his head. "My momma and daddy have manipulated the university into hosting the dinner at their plantation a couple of days after the SEC Championship."

"Shit!" Ally hissed, and the others sighed. They all knew what his parents were like.

Romeo brushed a kiss to the centre of my forehead and looked to Austin and Jimmy-Don. "I need you guys to help me keep them from Mol."

"You got it, Bullet."

"Don't need to ask. It's as good as done."

Romeo met my eyes, asking for permission to tell them about the baby. I relented. They were his friends; they should know why he took the news today so badly.

Romeo placed his hand on my stomach. "Guys, I freaked out... 'cause we're pregnant."

I glanced nervously at Austin and Jimmy-Don and watched the shock register on their faces.

"No one knows apart from us. She's only a few months in, but my parents don't know and I won't have them anywhere near, causin' her or the baby stress."

Austin stood, somewhat stunned, and slapped Romeo's hand. "Congratulations, Bullet. And you know we got her back. You're both important to us."

Jimmy-Don did the same and laughed. "Hot damn, Bullet! You go from not dating at all, gals throwing themselves in heaps at your feet, to making your first real girlfriend the envy of the entire female student body and you knocked her up too? You're killin' me, man! Killin' me!" He then scooped me up in his arms and twirled me around.

I held my stomach. "Jimmy-Don, I'm going to puke if you keep going! I'm still struggling with morning sickness-which just so happens to last all bloody day!"

Grimacing, he set me on my feet. "Sorry, darlin'!"

Bending, Jimmy-Don kissed my hand. "Congratulations on your lil' baby. You'll make one helluva sexy MILF!"

"Thank you... I think...?"

Romeo's arms wrapped around me from behind. "She's not only my first real girlfriend, man; she's the reason I fuckin' breathe."

Lexi and Ally aww-ed, watching Rome hold me close, as Cass pretended to stick her fingers down her throat.

Jimmy-Don took off his Stetson and fanned himself, shouting, "You're killin' me, man! Killin' me!"

Rome slapped him on his back, laughing at his antics. "We're headin' out for the night. I need to get away from all this shit. We'll catch y'all tomorrow."

Romeo clasped my hand and headed for the door.

"Romeo, you're shirtless," I complained, almost tripping over as I stared at his lean figure.

He simply shrugged. "I plan to be naked in about forty minutes for a minimum of twelve hours, so what does it matter?"

"Great. Do you realise how many people are out there? How many girls are out there?"

"So fuck. I'm yours. Let's go."

22.

SEC Championship, Georgia Dome, Georgia "I can't go out there into that!" I screeched as Cass and Ally tried to push me to our seats. The seventy thousand-seat stadium was packed to the rafters and the noise was ear splitting under the closed roof.

Cass put her hands on my shoulders and gave me her reprimanding expression. "If you don't kiss Bullet when he runs out, it's not only his parents who'll be gunnin' for your blood. We wanna beat the Gators! You owe it to the fans!"

I dragged my fingers down my face, and Ally yanked them away. "I spent hours on your look today. Don't spoil it!"

My hair was down, curled, full of product, and my makeup was flawless. I sported my "lucky" Prince number seven jersey and my cowboy boots, but I was pretty convinced that it was all a waste as pure fear rendered me motionless. The Tide was ranked number one but was playing the Florida Gators to decide who would be going to the National Championship against Notre Dame in California next month.

I peeked around the corner and gulped at the wall of red-clad supporters and then to the Jumbotrons showing the Tide's successful road to the championship. I couldn't help but melt when Romeo-either moodily swearing at a mistake or happily jumping about in celebration-played across the screen.

Then I looked up.

"Ohmigod! There are flying cameras! I can't do it. I'm going to be sick again."

With a determined nod to one another, Cass and Ally each linked an arm through one of mine and pulled. I saw the cheerleaders run to the respective team's tunnels and knew the guys would be announced soon.

I dug in my heels and Ally groaned, reaching in her pocket. She pulled out a small note.

"Rome anticipated you'd do this, considering you've been almost mute since we got off the plane, and gave me this use this as a last resort."

Bugger. I loved his notes.

I unfolded it and it read: Baby, Get your ass out in the stands and stop freakin' out.

I need my sweet lucky kiss to win.

This isn't a request.

I love you.

Your Romeo x I sighed, tucking the note in my pocket to take home and join all the others in my secret trinket box. Ally and Cass had huge grins on their faces.

"Well played, Romeo, well played," I muttered to myself.

I threw out my hand just as the introductions came through the speakers. "Lead the way, you traitors!"

They laughed at my reluctance, relinked their arms in mine, and we walked to the pitch side and towards our seats. As if the Tide fans weren't loud enough already, one look at me walking past had them going positively insane.

I sat down and tried to ignore the thunderous booms of shouts my way. The fans were euphoric and the cacophony of music from the band only added to the craziness. Pyrotechnics sounded and Alabama was announced, followed by the Florida Gators. The players flooded the pitch, a tapestry of crimson, white and blue, and I rubbed my hands together with nerves.

I knew the focus would be on Romeo. He was first draft potential and that came with some serious hype. He'd had a stupid amount of publicity over the last few weeks-interviews, press, TV. I'd normally be hidden in the back somewhere, well out of sight.

I watched the big screens studiously and trailing at the back of the team, gripping his helmet, was Romeo. The crowd began stomping their feet in the stands when he ran out waving, and then the chants started, the Gator fans booing in response.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss..."

Romeo broke through the curtain of players and jogged in my direction. Cass leaned in, slapping my cheeks affectionately. "Showtime, Momma!"

I couldn't take my attention off my boyfriend as he stopped pitch side and crooked that bloody finger at me, flashing me a hungry, cocky smirk.

I stood on shaky feet, trying to ignore the flash of cameras and the orchestra of cheers and boos. I took the steward's hand as he guided me to the field and walked to Rome. I stood before him as he savoured my very polished appearance.

"Hey, Mol."

"Hey, you."

"You gonna give up that sweet kiss?"

"If that's what you want."

"It definitely is."

We never changed the script, Romeo's superstitions making sure everything was exactly right for every game. He moved in and just before his luscious mouth met mine, I whispered, "Nice move with the note, you bastard!"

He chuckled against my lips, thrusting his tongue through my barrier and stroking it back and forth in long, smooth caresses. I gripped his hair, the real world drifting away, and his hands grabbed my ass as he hoisted me up to straddle his waist. The crowd seemed to enjoy that. I moaned in his mouth and he broke away on a breathless groan. His head pressed against mine. "I love you."

I stroked his cheek with my finger. "I love you, too."

As he lowered me to the floor, he subtly smoothed along my stomach with his hand, swallowing as he met my watery gaze. "I'll play for you both."

Turning, he ran back to the pitch, and as always, I wobbled all the way back, absolutely head over heels for my quarterback.

That had been two days ago.

The Tide had won the SEC Championship and the night we'd been dreading was fast upon us. Romeo arrived through my balcony earlier that afternoon and had never left. His anxiety levels were through the roof and mine, consequently, weren't fairing much better.

The dress code for the evening was white, so I was wearing an empire-waist white maxi dress to hide my slight bump, with silver, flat sandals. Romeo was in a crisp white suit with the required Crimson Tide tie.

He watched me move about the room from his perch on my bed, while I combed my long hair, applied my pink lipstick, and hooked my silver chandelier earrings in my ears.

When I was ready, I walked to the bed and gently straddled his legs, his hands moving to grip my backside. He was looking at me so lovingly that it broke my heart, his fear shining through like a bright warning beacon to the shore.

"You look beautiful, baby. Being pregnant definitely suits you."

I smoothed down his crimson tie. "You look very handsome too."

He tilted his chin for a kiss, which I obliged.

I gently touched his head with my own. "You okay?"

"I will be when tonight is done and I never have to see those people again. I can't wait to go to Birmingham with you for Christmas and be away from their poison."

"Remember, it's only one night."

"I know."

His arms dropped from my behind and he began lifting up my floor-length dress, his hands seductively skirting over my thighs.

"Romeo..." I warned.

Rome's eyes sparkled as his hand dropped to his fly, releasing his hardness without removing his trousers. I closed my eyes as his fingers pushed my panties aside, running along my hot centre, and in one quick thrust, he was inside me.

"Ride me," he commanded with a strained voice.

I shifted so my knees were balanced on the mattress, and Romeo lay flat, watching as I gently rolled my hips back and forth, creating a deep, sensual rhythm.

He'd never given me full control, ever. In our entire time together, he had always led our lovemaking, and I was distracted as to why he was doing this right now.

I bent forward and placed my hands on his broad chest, losing myself in the pleasure.

"You're so fuckin' beautiful, baby," he said with a raspy voice, his cocoa eyes conveying his apprehensive feelings.

I bit my lip and tipped back my head. "Romeo..."

"I'm here, Mol. Just... just take control. Show me how much you want me."

"I do want you. More than you'll ever know."

His fingers gripped my bare thighs as his tongue licked along his bottom lip.

"Why are you doing this?" I panted.

"What?"

"Me... on top... in control?"

"Because I wanted to know what it would feel like to give you all of me, completely. You own me, heart and soul. I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me, in the only way I know how."

I pressed my chest against his and traced the seams of his lips with my tongue, building up speed with my hips, his beautiful words edging me to the brink.