By His Play

53. Effie

53

EFFIE

K ieran gives me whiplash.

One moment it’s radio silence, and the next, I get messages almost every hour of the day.

I don’t know what changed, but something certainly has.

His anger seems to have gone. Instead, he’s just...horny.

Was I disappointed when he didn’t let himself into my apartment on Monday night and have his way with me?

Yes, okay? Yes.

The whole time I was in the shower, I kept looking over my shoulder.

After I climbed into bed, every noise I heard, I thought it was him.

I wanted it to be him.

I wanted a repeat of the night before, damn it.

Every night since has been the same.

Despite knowing that he’s out of town, I still hold out hope.

Kieran is known to be hot-headed, and the way our messages have been going…yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if he blew off camp and turned up at my door.

He’s still holding firm on the promise that the next time he gets off is going to be with me. I even think he’s being serious.

I mean, the photo he sent me last night leads me to believe him.

He was hard. Really fucking hard.

Just looking at his full frontal shot with his tight abs, V lines, and erection had my core clenching.

I’ve always missed him when he’s been away, but never like this.

My body is craving his. And as tempted as I’ve been to take the edge off myself, I’ve been a good girl.

He told me back in Grams’ house that he owned my pleasure. He told me how he’s the one who decides when and where I orgasm.

Am I torturing myself by keeping to that promise? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Am I going to break it? Only if he tells me to.

But as much as we’re both suffering. I’ve refused to do anything further.

He’s brought up the idea of phone sex numerous times in the last two days, but I’ve turned it down.

A photo of him is one thing, but before anything else happens, we need to have that chat.

I need to know where his head is at. Hell, I need to firmly figure out where mine is, too.

As much as I like to think this could be the beginning of us coming back together, there is also the fear that it could still rip us apart.

He was meant to be heading back today, but he decided to stay another night. The group of kids he’s been working with this week has stolen his heart, by the sounds of it, and he wants to see their game in the morning.

As much as I’d hoped he might surprise me with a late-night visit when he got back into town, it’s clearly not going to happen.

Stop thinking with your pussy and start using your head.

A delirious laugh erupts as I pull into the parking lot outside the dance studio again.

I thought Kieran was good at edging before, but this week is really testing my patience.

I arrive early. I’m not surprised.

I had a couple of appointments this afternoon to ensure I’m ready for the weekend.I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I think big things are going to happen…

After abandoning my bag and slipping on my new dance shoes, I pull my cell from my purse.

Kieran: Is it tomorrow night yet?

Effie: I can’t wait to talk…

Kieran: Me too. It’s gonna be a hot and steamy…talk…

Heat rises, turning my cheeks red.

I’ve booked a table at my favorite Italian. It’s quiet and intimate, but I’m hoping it’s busy enough that anything other than talking will be out of the question.

That’s not to say that I’m hoping the rest of our night will be as subdued...

Assuming we’re on the same page with where we go from here, of course.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach.

Sure, I thought about what it might be like over the years. But it was never a serious thought, just a silly teenage girl musing over things that’ll never happen.

Effie: Be good.

Kieran: Never. The only one here who needs to follow orders is you.

Those butterflies return, but they’re lower this time.

I don’t hear the door open, or anyone enter, but I do sense the shadow that falls over me.

“There can only be one man who makes you smile like that,” Brax teases.

Putting my cell to sleep, I try to smother my grin, but the moment I meet his eyes, it spreads even wider.

“So, things are going well?” he guesses.

Kieran hasn’t been the only one I’ve been messaging this week. Brax is aware that we’ve reconnected, although I haven’t dived into the dirty details. Those are between the two of us.

“Things are…developing.”

Brax raises a brow.“I see.”

Shoving my cell into my purse, I push to my feet, for all the good it does. I still have to crane my neck to look Brax in the eyes.

Being barely five feet, I’m more than used to it, especially after having Kieran in my life for almost as long as I can remember.

I’ve always liked being small, but I’ve never loved it as much as when Kieran throws me around like I’m nothing more than a ragdoll. I love being at his mercy.

As we catch up, or should I say, as Brax probes me for information, the others fill the room along with our teacher, and all too soon, she’s inviting us to join her and start the class.

We run through our waltz before our teacher leads us through the steps for a tango.

It’s a seductive dance, and Brax and I spend the whole time giggling like school kids.

By the time we’re done, my cheeks ache from laughing so hard. Doing this class was the best decision I’ve made in a very long time.

Every time I dance, I feel Grams smiling down at me.

But that’s not the only reason. She might no longer be here, but I know she more than approves of the decision I’ve made to see where this thing goes with Kieran.

It’s what she always wanted.

I might be scared, but what if it’s worth it?

What if we don’t ruin everything between us? What if it only makes it better?

“Drink?” Brax asks as we step out of the building and into the warm summer evening air.

The sun is beginning to set, ducking behind the tall buildings surrounding us.

“I could be persuaded by a cocktail or two.”

“You really are in a good mood,” he teases.

“You know, for the first time in a really long time, I actually feel like things are looking up.”

“I’m glad. You deserve it,” he says, glancing over at me with a smile. “I got a lift here. You good to drive?”

“Nope,” I say, digging into my purse for my key. “But you can. Show me your game, number twenty-eight.”

H e doesn’t drive as far as last time, but the restaurant he takes me to is just as incredible.

We’re seated in a window that looks out over the city. The view just adds to the vibe in the modern tapas restaurant.

Between us, there is a whole range of dishes that we’ve been working our way through for the last thirty minutes. I didn’t stop for lunch, seeing as I was going to disappear early, and after an hour of dancing and laughing, I was famished.

Brax teases me for more details about Kieran, but I hold my tongue. Until the two of us have properly talked, the rest of the world—including him—is going to have to wait.

We’ve already had too much exposure in the media.

I’ve tried to forget about all of that when making my decision about where we go next. Those articles, or more so the comments that came with them, are a huge part of my fear where a relationship with Kieran is concerned.

By the time I’ve finished my third cocktail of the night, my laughter comes even easier and the room around me is a little fuzzy.

“I think it’s time to call it a night,” Brax laughs before requesting the check.

I’m buzzing as we leave the restaurant and make our way down the street to my car.

“My lady,” he teases as he opens my passenger door for me.

“Why, thank you.” Reaching up on my toes, I give him a chaste kiss on the cheek before inelegantly falling onto the seat.

He’s shaking his head as he shuts me in.

Exhaustion hits me as we make our way to my apartment building.

“You can borrow my car if you want,” I offer. “I can get an Uber to work tomorrow.”

“It’s cool. I’ll call one now,” he says, pulling his cell from his pocket after killing my engine. “Twenty minutes.”

“You’re not standing on the street for twenty minutes. You might get abducted by a ravaged group of female fans.”

He smirks. “Here’s hoping. Something tells me that my date tonight isn’t going to put out.”

“Aw, poor little Braxton missing out on all the action,” I tease as I lead him toward the elevator.

When he doesn’t respond, I turn around a little too fast to look at him.

“Whoa,” I cry, reaching for the wall for support.

“I think you’re more of a two-cocktail kind of girl,” he mocks.

I chuckle. “We’ve been so focused on my potential love life, we haven’t even touched on yours,” I say, feeling guilty for not paying him more attention.

“That’s because I don’t have one,” he points out.

“What? But you’re a Chief; you must have at least three girls on your roster.”

He laughs again but doesn’t confirm or deny my statement.

The minute we’re inside my apartment, Brax marches to the kitchen and grabs me a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

“Drink,” he demands. “You’ll thank me tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I say as I take it from him.

Looking up, my eyes meet his, and out of nowhere they start burning while a lump crawls up my throat.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asks, his eyes wide with fear.

I shake my head in an attempt to level myself out.

“Nothing. I’m just…I’m really grateful for your friendship these past few weeks. I need you to know how much I appreciate you.”

He smiles softly, his body shifting as if he’s uncomfortable with the compliment.

It’s weird seeing arrogant and cocky football players being unsure of themselves. It also makes me feel incredibly lucky to be close enough to be able to see it every now and then.

“It’s nothing,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

His phone dings, announcing the arrival of his Uber, and he takes a step back.

“I should go, let you catch up with Kieran.” He waggles his eyebrows telling me exactly what he thinks we’re going to be doing.

My cheeks heat. While I’ll stand firm on the phone sex, I can’t say our upcoming exchange will be entirely innocent.

“Thanks for tonight. It was fun.”

“It was. See you Monday?”

“Monday,” I promise, already excited for our next lesson.

I hesitate as I close the door behind him, wondering if Kieran was lying about returning tomorrow.

Tingles erupt at the thought of him surprising me.

I’m wearing a sappy smile as I walk through my apartment and to my bathroom to shower and get ready for bed.

It’s not until I crawl between the covers that I finally wake up my cell and see what’s waiting for me.

I haven’t turned my social media notifications back on, and to be honest, I prefer it that way.

After the news articles about me and Kieran broke, it was crazy. I never want to experience that again.

Now, I open my socials when I’m ready, not because I’m being bombarded.

A wide grin spreads across my lips when I find a whole stream of messages from Kieran.

I still haven’t confessed to what I was doing tonight, and despite him not really mentioning it, I know it’s driving him crazy.

Kieran: Is it my turn for your attention now?

Effie: I guess that depends on what you have in mind.

Kieran: Seeing as I’ve been waiting hours to hear from you? All kinds of things...

Effie: Kinky Kieran…

Kieran: You have no fucking idea.