For 24-year-old tennis player Naya Morgan, all that glittered certainly wasn't gold. In her relentless pursuit of victory, she had strayed far from the joy of simply playing the game she loved.
Naya's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses p...
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"I'm already in love with Brazil, and all we've done is drive from the airport," Naya smiled softly, her bare feet padding along the cool tile of the kitchen floor as she walked into Jude's embrace.
Although there were minutes until the hour of 6 pm, the sun had already begun to set over Rio de Janeiro, casting a warm and golden glow across the city. The vibrant colors of the sunset painted the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple.
Their villa was absolutely perfect. Despite only being a ten-minute drive away from the city, it was completely surrounded by lush trees and green valleys.
Every bedroom in the expansive villa had its own designated corner, ensuring that each resident had their own space and privacy for the duration of their stay.
"Thank you for saying yes to my invitation," Jude mumbled as he hooked a finger beneath Naya's chin, tilting her head back so he could kiss her, his tongue parting her lips as they melted into each other's embrace.
Naya smiled against his lips, feeling the warmth of his adoration enveloping her. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else with anyone else. Thank you for the invitation," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Both Miles and Jermaine had long since gone to their rooms in search of a shower and more appropriate change of clothes from the sweats they wore on the flight over, leaving Jude and Naya to their own devices.
"Come and shower with me, and then we'll decide what we're doing for the evening," Jude said as he took Naya's hand and led her towards the master bedroom.
As well as Naya and his best friends from back home in England, Jude had plans of spending time with his Real Madrid teammates, some who were indigenous to Brazil and others who had flown in for a vacation.
Pushing open the door to their shared bedroom, Naya let go of Jude's hand and took a seat on the edge of the bed to remove her clothes, folding them into a neat pile beside her as Jude watched her with a soft smile, his gaze filled with admiration.
Naya could feel his lingering gaze as she moved from the bed to the bathroom, pulling her hair out of the bun it had been in all day before turning on the shower and getting in.
Jude quickly joined her, stripping off his own clothes before getting into the shower. The warm water cascaded down, enveloping them both in a comforting embrace as they stood under the stream, washing away the weariness of travel.
As they dried off and dressed in fresh underwear, Jude received a call from one of his teammates inviting him and his guests to an impromptu welcome dinner.
Excitement bubbled within Naya as she listened to Jude's conversation, already eager to experience the local cuisine and see a little of the Brazilian nightlife. After hanging up, Jude turned to Naya with a grin.
"We're going to a welcome dinner with some of the team and a few of their people. Are you up for it?" he asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Naya nodded enthusiastically, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing more of the country that already held her heart captive.
