Cupping her face, he asked, “Are you excited for our house?”

Tears stung her eyes as she nodded again. Her throat was tight with emotion as she gazed into his intoxicating eyes. There was no way to express how excited or thankful she was for their new home. They were going to be so happy together, and she couldn’t wait. They would grow old and continually be blissfully happy together.

“Me too, I can’t wait. Hope you are ready for lots of shopping and décor choices. Lord knows, I’m not,” he said with a grin.

She grinned back, her mind filling with all kinds of ideas that she wanted for their home. “Oh, I am. Don’t you worry about that. I got you. I’ll make our home gorgeous.”

“No doubt from my end. Someone as amazingly creative as you couldn’t do anything but make our house exquisite.”

She smiled shyly as her eyes fell shut and she hooked her leg over him, wanting to be closer. She ached in all the right spots but could still go for round two. Opening her eyes to see if Karson felt he same way, she found that his eyebrows were drawn together and he didn’t look like a man who had been thoroughly pleased. More like a man with a lot on his mind.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly, and he turned his head to look at her, a grin pulling his lips.

“Of course, just thinking.”

“About?”

He took in a deep breath and said, “I want to tell you something, but I’m worried it will hurt you.”

Her heart kicked up in speed as she gazed in his eyes. The afterglow of their glorious lovemaking was gone, and now pure panic settled in her chest. “Well, you have to tell me now.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I guess I do,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “The thing is, Lacey, this morning when I was at practice, my coach called me into his office and informed me that Nate Martin had called him, demanding I be benched. Thankfully, Coach told him to fuck off.”

“Really?” she whispered, hoping to God there was another Nate Martin with a grudge against her husband.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want to hurt you, but I need you to know that he is out to get me, and I don’t trust him one bit.”

She nodded, tears gathering in her eyes. He was never going to stop. “I’ll call him in the morning.”

“No, don’t,” he said with a shake of his head. “I don’t want him to know that we know he is out to get me. I want to keep going, but I want you to know what’s going on. I won’t keep things from you.”

Running her hand up his chest, she met his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you dare. It is not your fault. We are going to be fine, but we need to remember what he is capable of. I didn’t have you for nine years, Lacey, and I honestly can’t go on without you.”

“I feel the same way,” she whispered. “Maybe he’ll stop now that your coach wouldn’t do it.”

“I don’t know. I have a weird feeling about him. Let’s just be smart and honest with each other, okay? If you feel like something is up, talk to me, and I’ll do the same. We are in this together.”

As much as she wanted to yell at her dad, she couldn’t ignore the love that was enveloping her. Karson could love for an army, and she felt the blunt force of his love every time she looked into his eyes.

Cupping his face in her hands, she brought her lips a breath from his and whispered, “Forever.”

“Damn right,” he said roughly against her lips. “Forever and always.”

“I feel weird.”

Karson looked over his shoulder and laughed. “But you look so damn hot.”

Lacey made a face as she looked down at the fitted purple and black Assassins jersey that was adorned with a number sixteen and Mrs. King across the back. She was too cute for words, and pride burned in his chest knowing that she was wearing his number and name.

Even if she wasn’t an Assassins fan.

Yet.

“I feel bizarre. This is not my team.”

“The hell you say, woman,” JT said with his hand on the door. They had been about to walk out and head to the arena before Lacey came out in her jersey. “You bleed purple and black now.”

She set him with a look that had all of them laughing. It was funny how in a two short days, JT and Lacey were getting along like old friends. It surprised Karson how quickly JT warmed up to her, but he was thankful for it. He didn’t want his best friend hating his wife. That was awkward.

“It’s so odd,” she said, crossing her arms.

Closing the distance between them, Karson asked, “But doesn’t it feel good to know that you are supporting your man?”

She smiled as she nodded. “Yeah, I guess I should embrace my new team.”

“Yes, you should, and you’ll look hot doing it,” he said with a wink as his arms came around her. “Now, the car service will be here at six. When you get to the arena, find your seats and enjoy the game.”

“Be ready by six in this jersey,” she said with a grin. “And watch my boo thang kick some butt! Who are you guys playing, by the way?”

“The Kings.”

“How fitting, my first game as a King and you’re playing the kings,” she said with a grin that hit him right in the chest.

“Gag. Let’s go, King,” JT groaned from behind them.

Smirking down at her, he said, “I gotta go. The man-child is restless.”