The Key (Heartfire) by Celeste Davis

though, she felt sure her mother would have understood.
    It was probably just wishful thinking, but it felt right.
    True somehow.
    She served another gin and tonic and a plate of spicy wings, shifting her eyes to the screen as Dylan threw the ball in a high arc. He even looked larger than usual on the tiny screen as the game progressed. She watched in awe as his strides took him through the line of scrimmage and further than any other player on the field. He shouldered them out of his way without visible effort and into the end zone.
    Her mouth opened in surprise. Goodness. He was incredible. Unbelievabley strong and yet somehow graceful and precise. As if he'd been born to do this.
    She knew she shouldn't have been surprised. She knew he was talented. She just hadn't expect him to dominate the field, making the other players seem like children against a giant.  
    Her giant.
    Kaylia spent the rest of the game with her eyes trained on his broad back, barely able to tear her eyes away to serve drinks.

Chapter Fourteen
    Dylan
      ♆

    Dylan's blood was pumping, even more than it had during the game. The game he'd crushed, making his debut as starting quarterback more than memorable.
    It was fucking epic.
    But that was just the icing on the cake.
    The main event was after the game. When he got to see his sweet girl. Tasty, young, tender Kaylia. He was going to see her now.
    He was going to claim her.
    Dylan shook his head. He didn't know when he had started thinking about Kaylia as his, but his possessiveness was overwhelming. He was thinking in archaic terms.
    Like a knight. Or a caveman. He was turning into a full blown Neanderthal.
    No. He was thinking like an animal.
    Basically he wanted to throw her up in a tower and piss in a circle around her. Then he would challenge anyone who came near her. He'd do more than that.
    He'd tear their fucking heads off.
    That wasn't the normal way to feel about your girlfriend, was it?
    And that's what she was. Starting now. He'd tell her as soon as he got there. He picked up the pace, jogging towards the front entrance of the stadium. It was quiet now, but he'd made sure she wouldn't be standing there alone for long.
    He checked his phone again. Kaylia hadn't written him back but he knew she'd be waiting, exactly where he told her to. He could feel her nearby, sense her presence. He could practically smell her.
    "What do we have here?"
    Dylan's head jerked up. He was hearing something. The voices were far off, nearly halfway around the stadium from the players exit. But it sounded as if it were happening right beside him.
    He scanned the darkened exterior of the stadium. About a hundred feet away there was a small crowd. Guys in a semi-circle. Staring at something.  
    Kaylia.
    He knew it.
    Dylan started running.
    Before he even got there he could see the fear radiating off of Kaylia. She had her shoulders hunched forward and her back pressed up against the wall. There were seven or eight guys surrounding her. They were older. Not students. Local football fans. One of them reached out and touched her shoulder.
    "Come on cutie, don't be shy."
    The guy was wearing a red shirt.
    Without even breaking stride Dylan's feet left the ground. A split second later his fist connected with the back of the guys head. All of the power and momentum he'd built up went into that punch. He hit the wall behind Kaylia and stopped, swinging around.
    Red shirt down.
    Kaylia's eyes widened as Dylan stepped in front of her.
    "Leave her alone. She's mine."
    Red shirt was moaning and holding his head but blue shirt and striped shirt cracked their knuckles.
    "Yeah, says who?"
    "Says fucking me."
    Blue shirt drew back to throw a punch. To Dylan it all looked slow motion. He was on the guy before he even started to swing, crushing his fist with one hand. A pathetic scream was the only sound as the guy crumpled, clutching his hand in agony.
    Blue shirt down.
    "I said leave her the fuck alone."
    He didn't recognize the