Is love

''Is it all over?''

''No.''

Darryl's brown eyes move to his hands and then back to my face.

''I can't let you go back backstage. It's too risky with Donny lurking around.''

''Like hell.''

Jake yells.

''I want her in my room.''

Darryl steps forward, incorporating himself to his full height. He stands his ground and won't budge.

''What happened tonight will never happen again. Do you understand how close you came to losing everything? And over some petty nonsense.''

He shakes his head.

''What would your dad say? Hm? That's why you're doing this, isn't it because of your dad?''

Jake tries to pull me away from him, but I hold on to his hands as tightly as I can. I turn my head as far as I can to see his face.

''It's okay.''

I tell him.

''I can sit in the crowd for the next two games. It's no big deal.''

''For the next two games, until Donny is no longer in the game.''

Jackson assures Jake.

Jake snorts.

''Okay. That's it?''

''Yeah. Now let me check that damn eyebrow.''

I slide off Jake as Darryl approaches him.

He gestures to a team member to hand him a small box. Darryl pulls out creams and small pieces of material and starts working on Jake's eyebrow. All the while Darryl is cursing and complaining about his position, I go to find Jackson, who pours himself a large glass of bourbon in the kitchen. I pull a tray of ice cubes out of the freezer and hand them to him.

''Thank you.''

''Why is Darryl so angry? It's a small cut...''

''It's on his forehead, though.''

He takes a big sip of bourbon, which spills a little on his red shirt.

''Red Donskov will use that against Jake. The forehead is a delicate place to get cut. Once he gets a punch, an elbow, even a slap, he could reopen it. If it bleeds too much and leaks into the eye, they'll intervene the fight.''

''How can we stop that from happening?''

He laughs.

''We can't do anything except lather it with Vaseline and hope Red's fists slip. The rest is up to Jake, he'll have to guard that eyebrow with his life.''

Panic rises in the pit of my stomach as I realize the gravity of the situation, of the cut. Damn.

''Wow, you look like you're going to throw up.''

He slides his glass toward me and I pick it up, taking a big mouthful. I swallow it, gritting my teeth against the burn.

''Relax. He's a big boy. He knows what he's doing.''

That's comforting...sort of.

''I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable with the stripper. I did it just for harmless fun, I swear.''

Her green eyes flash in an apologetic tone.

''It's okay. I didn't mean to freak out, but I've never been to a strip club before, let alone had a girl make a pass at me. That's more Olivia's thing.''

Her tan eyebrows reach up to her hairline. Fuck. I hope I just scare him away from her.

''I look up at him with a gasp.''

I look at him with a gasp, trying to take back what I said and a huge, wide grin crosses his face.

''That's good to know. Thank you.''

Jackson looks over my shoulder and I turn around to see Jake's half-naked body leaning against the door frame. Darryl pokes his head into the kitchen.

''Come on, Jackson. Time for bed, we've got a big day tomorrow. You too, Jake. I'd tell them not to have sex, but we already know they recently disobeyed that rule.''

Darryl looks at me with narrowed eyes before smiling broadly.

''Good night, Sandra.''

I greet him shyly, blushing to the tenth power. I look up at Jake from under my eyelashes and he looks down at me with a cocky, remorseless little smile, his eyes sparkling.

Jackson pats me on the shoulder as he walks past me and elbows Jake in the ribs. Jake pats Jackson on the back of the head and they exchange a manly hug. It's admirable to watch.

When everyone has left, Jake and I head upstairs.

The cold sheets wrap around us, making my skin crawl with goose bumps. Jake's arms reach out for me, pulling me in and I happily pull myself closer to him. He places a light kiss on my jaw and I feel him undo the ropes holding my pants. He pushes down on the side of them and I lift my hips, helping him slide them down. I kick them off and throw them to the floor. My legs brush against Jake's and my pulse quickens as I realize he's naked. He pulls me on top of him without breaking a sweat and his hands roam my stomach and hips. I'm too aroused to feel the pain of the bruise. He pushes my shirt higher and I pull it over my head.

''You need to sleep.''

I whisper.

''Not yet.''

In the darkness, I can make out his silhouette beneath me, rekindling the desire inside me. Then again, does it ever really go away when he's around? His fingers curl around the edge of my bra, and there is no hint of hesitation as he quickly pulls it down, forcing my breasts to spill over the now useless cups. My skin doesn't have a chance to register the sensation of being free before it is suddenly engulfed by his hot, wet mouth.

''Jake!''

I gasp as my body begins to tremble.

His hands grab my shoulder blades and he roughly pulls me towards him, forcing my breasts even closer to his face. My back arches sharply and I groan towards the ceiling as my head falls limply. I can feel his arousal pressing against my ass cheek and I shudder at the thought of him entering me again.

He moves his hips, rolling off of him and into me. His mouth bites my bottom lip, before sliding his tongue inside. His hands slide down my sides, grabbing my wrists and holding them above my head. My breathing instantly becomes instantaneous as his wet tongue runs along my jaw and down my neck. It pierces my collarbone and I tremble at the tingling line it leaves in its wake. Right now, I'm in heaven and loving every second of it. Jake makes me feel wanted, beautiful and a million other things. Lust is the obvious call, but it's so much more than that. It's love. I know it is. I've loved him for a while, I just had no idea how to describe it or if it was love, but now I know it is. I am certain. I have the kind of certainty that makes people swear on their children's lives or bet entire college funds on a hand of poker. I've never felt anything so strong and it's love, real love. Heart wrenching, stomach churning, love that curls.

It had consumed me completely and I didn't even know it.