**Marked Territory**

The night wore on, and Maya found herself growing more and more accustomed to Joe's possessive behavior. At first, it was flattering to have him constantly by her side, his eyes never leaving hers as he introduced her to his friends and teammates. But as the hours passed, she began to feel a little suffocated by his constant attention. As they sat on the couch, watching TV and laughing together, Maya tried to subtly shift away from him, just a little bit. But Joe's arm was always there, wrapped around her waist or slung over her shoulders, holding her close. It wasn't until they stepped outside for some fresh air that Maya finally felt like she could breathe again. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the stifling heat of the house, and she took a deep lungful, feeling her lungs expand. Joe followed close behind her, his eyes never leaving hers as he stood beside her on the porch. "So, what do you think of my friends?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. Maya smiled, trying to play it cool. "They're great," she said. "I'm glad I got to meet them." Joe's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze boring into hers. "I'm glad you came tonight," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I feel like I can trust you, Maya." Maya felt a shiver run down her spine as Joe's words sent a thrill through her. She didn't know what it was about him, but he had a way of making her feel like she was the only person in the world. As they stood there, the tension between them grew thicker than the summer air. Maya could feel Joe's eyes on her, burning with an intensity that made her skin prickle. Just as she thought he was going to kiss her again, Joe's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his eyes flicking to the screen before he turned back to her. "I have to take this," he said, his voice apologetic. "It's my coach. I'll be right back." Maya nodded, feeling a little relieved to have some space. As Joe walked back into the house, she took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. But as she stood there, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was in over her head. Joe Burrow was a superstar, a man who had millions of fans and a life that was constantly under scrutiny. And yet, as she stood there on his porch, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. The sound of the front door opening brought her back to reality. Joe walked out, his eyes locked on hers as he approached her. "Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I have to go to a team meeting tomorrow. But I was thinking... maybe we could grab breakfast together afterwards?" Maya's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. She knew she should be careful, that getting involved with a celebrity was complicated. But as she looked into Joe's eyes, she couldn't help but feel like she was already in too deep. "Sure," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Joe's face broke into a slow smile as he reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll pick you up at 8," he said, his voice sending shivers down her spine. As he walked her to her car, Maya couldn't help but wonder what she had just gotten herself into. She knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine, all because of one chance encounter with the star quarterback.