I frowned down at him, hating when he put himself down. “But you graduated, Ax. Do you know how many athletes never make it across that graduation stage? You could have gone pro last year, but you stuck it out for your senior year to get your degree, and I love that about you. And your GPA would have been much higher if you didn’t have football practice and games all the time, while I spent all my free time studying in the library.” I punctuated my next words with smacking kisses against his lips. “I. Am. Proud. Of. You. Axel. Broxton.”

“You’re so good for me, Blaire Atwood.” He let my body slide down his until my feet touched the floor, but his arms stayed around me. “I’m so glad you encouraged me to stick around for my senior year,” he said, running his fingers through my long golden-red ponytail as I lay my head on his muscular chest. Axel had been predicted to go late in the second or early in the third round of the NFL draft if he’d chosen to forgo his fourth year. I had talked him out of it, wanting him to earn his degree instead of entering the draft a year early.

“And you made a name for yourself as the best tight end in college football this year,” I said, smiling up at his gorgeous face. Axel’s decision to stay in college had benefited him in more ways than just earning his degree.

Ax kissed the tip of my nose. “So, instead, I got drafted by Boston in the first round, increasing my salary and earning me a hefty signing bonus.” His bright-blue eyes sparkled down at me.

Ax stood at six foot five and was a wall of solid hunky muscle, so I had to look up at him when I was standing flat-footed like I was now. “How did you escape the parental units so early? I wasn’t expecting you for at least another hour.” He had gone to a post-graduation dinner with his family at a fancy steakhouse, while I went with my only family, my brother Beau, to Koppe Bridge Bar & Grill, a not-so-fancy restaurant with the best burgers in town.

“I told them I was cutting out early because I was horny as fuck and needed to dip my wick in your sweet little candle holder.”

I winced at the thought of Axel saying that to his uptight parents. “Jesus, Ax. I’m sure your father loved that. How many times did he call me a gold digger tonight?”