Headstrong Quarterback: A New Adult Sports Romance Read Online Free PDF

foolish. I pulled the menu back up to shield myself.
    Steel glanced over the specials and menu, then asked, “Pancakes, again?”
    “Probably,” I answered.
    Within a few minutes, the waitress stopped by and took our order. My shield was whisked away with her, and without the menu to offer me a veil of invisibility, I couldn’t hide.
    “I know the look in your eyes. The distant one. It’s pain, I get that. I promise I do, but I’m not trying to hurt you. You’re safe with me.” His sincerity was undeniable.
    “I’m not sure how to get past it anymore,” I admitted quietly.
    He reached over, looking for my hand. “You take one block of your wall down at a time. Each day, you let more light in.”
    I let him hold my hand. “What makes you an expert?”
    “Between my mom and my sister, I’ve had to figure a few things out.”
    I knew about his mother. I didn’t know he had a sister. “Your sister?”
    “She went through something,” he said, not filling in details.
    “I’m sorry.”
    When the food arrived, I was thankful for the break in tension. I could focus on the food. I squirmed in my seat, torn. On one hand, I wanted to bathe in Steel’s warm kisses. On the other, I wanted to run and hide; get the hell out of there. I wanted to rush home, throw my deadbolt on, and hide. And yet, his kisses… warm and wet, I knew they would be heaven.
    I wanted his touch, and yet feared it. I wasn’t afraid of Steel. I was afraid of my memories. I didn’t want to swim in the past and re-open a closed wound.
    We managed to find conversation about other topics. He spoke of the football team, Seattle, and I talked of school. It didn’t matter what words came out, the sexual tension was thick. His gaze lingered on me. I watched his lips as he spoke. The way he let his tongue lick the lower portion, almost daring me to taste him.
    He was confident, in charge of life. He knew what direction he was headed and seemed to have leadership qualities. Steel Brickman set the pace of those around him. He knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. This time what he wanted was me.
    After we finished, together we made our way to the parking lot. He reached down and took my hand. He offered an air of protection. I felt safe around him. He wasn’t the kind of guy you messed with. He owned his space and set the rules.
    We stopped in front of his truck. He lifted my hand to his soft, sweet lips and kissed my fingertips. I melted, then found the strength to climb into the truck. He closed the door behind me, then walked around to the other side. I needed to touch him, but that meant letting him touch me back.
    I wanted to slide my hands over his rippled and well-muscled body, one inch at a time. I wanted to slide my fingers over his stone-hard biceps, and wrap them around his chest, taste the saltiness of his neck, and so much more. I closed my eyes, trying to chase the image away. I hadn’t intended… I wasn’t ready. Or was I? I drew a deep breath as he climbed into the truck. 
    Steel turned to me. “You up for a ride?”
    “Sure,” I had nowhere else to be. I trusted him to get me home safely. That was the thing, I trusted him… I just wasn’t sure I trusted myself.
    Classic rock played quietly in the background.
    As he drove, he asked, “Who hurt you?”
    “Too many people.” I stared out the window into the dark night.
    He tried again. “Will you tell me?”
    I wasn’t ready. “I don’t think I can.”
    “Have you told anyone?”
    “The people I told shut me down. Why would I put myself through that again?”
    His voice was soft. “You can talk to me.”
    “I barely know you.”
    “You don’t have anyone else left, do you?” he asked.
    I choked on my words, hearing the last question. “It’s more than you want to hear.”
    “I can handle it, Avery. I’ve got big shoulders.” He pulled the car into the parking lot of a grocery store that was closed for the evening.
    “My step-brother,” was all I could