His Starr Player (BLP Sports #3)

Chapter 1

The music blared through the speakers of the club.

I was in a VIP section with most of my teammates and their plus ones.

We had bottles coming all night. It was the Friday before practice resumed.

Not only would tonight be a bonding experience with the new girls, but we would have a fun time in the city I’d loved my whole life.

“Jay! Come on over,” Cinnamon called out to the rapper in a section close to ours.

Cinnamon Jones was our point guard. She was a great playmaker and always adjusted calls on the fly.

Her quick wit made her a key player on our roster.

We considered her a veteran on the team.

The Vipers drafted her two years before me.

I looked up to her for mentorship a lot. Plus, she knew how to have a good time.

The man she’d brought into our section was well known in the music industry.

CCG Jay was a successful Cade Cove rapper on the CCG label.

CCG stood for Cade Cove Gangstas. Their origin came from a couple of dope boys wanting to do more in their life than sell drugs.

They were comprised of several rappers, singers, and other musician types.

They brought a lot of attention to our city, especially after Jay’s latest album went viral on social media.

He even had everybody doing a dance to his song.

Jay stood about six feet and some change. I was six feet even, and he had a couple of inches on me. He had his locs styled in neat barrel rolls. His skin was a darker complexion, and he had gold teeth. I think the grills were permanent—not my type of vibe. He was fine as hell regardless, though.

“Ladies, this is my cousin, Jay. Most people know him as the legendary hitmaker, CCG Jay. Couzzo, these are my teammates.” Cinnamon introduced us all.

“What’s happening, ladies? Y’all enjoying the club?” he asked as he licked his lips.

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but I’m having a blast!” Livy shouted drunkenly. She had knocked down six shots and felt every drop of the liquor in her system.

Livy Redd was a rookie on the team. She was a cute, light-skinned girl from Mississippi. She was a country bumpkin but could play ball like a grown ass man. She was a stallion like Meg, with legs that were perfect.

The club was dim, but the colorful lights transitioning to the beat of the music lit up our section perfectly. I could see Jay eyeing us all individually, as if he was trying to choose who he wanted to pursue for the night.

When our eyes locked, he licked his lips and closed the distance between us, completely disregarding the conversations he’d had with the other ladies. As he got closer, I downed the shot in my hands and reapplied my lip gloss.

It had been damn near a year since the last time I’d had some good sex, so if he played his cards right, I might let him put me through the mattress tonight.

“How are you doin’ tonight, beautiful?” he asked. The scent of his minty fresh breath was a welcomed surprise against my cheek.

“I’m good. This isn’t my usual scene, so I’m just going with the vibes.”

“Fa sho. I feel you.”

I chuckled. “You’re always at somebody’s club. You’re always viral on social media.”

He nodded. “Yeah, you right. I got an image to uphold. I’m sure you know a little about that, huh?”

“I do.”

He placed his hand on the small of my back and dipped his head down so I wouldn’t have to strain to hear him over the music. “I can’t lie. You’re beautiful as fuck, mama.”

“Thank you. You’re handsome as well.”

“I ’preciate you. I’m trying to get to know you for the night.”

I laughed. “Is that right? What would you like to know, Jay?”

“How that pussy taste.”

A Gunna song transitioned to a Bigxthaplug song.

Bigxthaplug was one rapper we kept in rotation during practice and played during warmups, so when he came on the beat with his signature “ Aye !” we rapped along to the music.

We went word for word until the DJ transitioned to a song by GloRilla.

I was grateful for the interruption because Jay’s statement had given me the ick.

I hated men who didn’t have any game or finesse.

I could tell he was used to bitches who folded just from his status as a celebrity.

I was a woman who could go years, and had gone years, without a man.

I liked to be romanced and courted—many people in my generation had no clue how to do either.

“You were fine as hell rappin’ like that, mama.”

“Thanks.” I chuckled.

“I don’t know if you heard me earlier, but I’m really feeling you. You want to head out with me after this?” he asked. His hand returned to the small of my back.

I tried to sidestep him, but the section had gotten crowded.

“I don’t think so. I’m not the type to fuck on the first meet,” I explained in the best tone possible.

His smirk had turned into a frown. “You one of them?”

“One of who?” I asked with a frown.

“One of those stuck-up, weird bitches. You think you too good to fuck with a nigga?” he asked.

“First, you need to learn how to talk to women. You might be used to these starstruck bitches, but that ain’t me.

Second, I was feeling you until you talked yourself out of some pussy.

You come off way too aggressive. You’re an attractive man.

Your looks can get you the conversation, but your mouth ruins all chances with a woman like me. ”

“Bitch, you think because your daddy is a legend that you’re too good to fuck with me?” Jay scoffed.

I slid my tongue across my perfect set of white teeth. I folded my hands together. “You sound jealous? I never disrespected you, but I can get real disrespectful.”

“Stupid bit?—”

“Aye, my nigga. You got one more time to call her out her name before I knock them gold teeth out of your mouth.”

The sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine and a signal straight to the bead between my other set of lips.

I craned my neck to see Marcus Hastings standing in all his six feet and five inches in height.

He was the shade of coffee with the perfect amount of creamer.

The smooth complexion made my mouth water.

He was the star of many of my wet dreams, but as my teammate’s brother, I always stayed far away from him.

Tonight, though, was new. He stood right beside me with his fists balled. His chiseled jaw, low-cut beard, and freckled face were deliciously attractive under the hue of the club lights. The gray shirt he wore hugged his muscles perfectly.

“Nigga, what the fuck you say?” Jay asked with a chuckle.

“You heard me. You might be Cin’s cousin, but you acting like a nigga who never been around women with class. If she said she not feeling you, take your L and move on to the next one. Calling her out her name ain’t gon’ do shit but have you swallowin’ your teeth.” Marcus cracked his knuckles.

“Nigga, fuck you. Them swole ass arms ain’t bulletproof.” Jay lifted her shirt to show off the Glock tucked firmly in the waistband of his pants.

Chatter had stopped around us as everybody tuned into the debacle. Cinnamon walked over to defuse the situation.

“Hey! It’s too many bad bitches in this section for the two of you to ruin the night. Jay, you know you on your second strike. Put that shit away and go back to your section. I can pull up on your section in a minute.”

Jay looked at the three of us and nodded. “Don’t let me catch you in these streets, nigga.” Jay checked Marcus before he walked off toward the section he was in before he joined us.

“Sorry about that, Starr. You know how men get when they are off that liquor and horny. Thank you for standing up for Ava, Marcus. I appreciate you for being patient.”

“No worries.”

Cinnamon gave me a hug before she grabbed the bottle and poured another shot into Marnajah’s mouth.

Marnajah Hastings was my best friend and right hand in the basketball world.

We were rivals in college but were both drafted in the same year.

I was the fifth overall pick in the draft, and she was sixteen.

After the draft, several GMs made trades and other deals, which was how we ended up on the same roster.

We found out we had a lot in common and clicked instantly.

She was her brother’s twin, even though he was two years older than her—us.

“Are you okay?” Marcus asked me. He’d placed his hand on my arm and leaned close so I could hear him over the club noise.

“Yes. Thank you for stepping in. I didn’t want to show him what side of the Cove I’m from.”

He showed all his teeth with a laugh deep in his gut. “You from the burbs. Don’t act like you’re from the trenches.”

“Boy, bye! I might have gone to school in the burbs, but while my parents were traveling, I was in the trenches.”

“Yeah?”

“Hell yeah.”

“And here I was thinking I knew everything about Axel Starr and his family.”

I chuckled at the mention of my father. Axel Starr was my father.

He was a fifteen-time all-star player. He held several all-time records, including the most valuable player awards in a career.

He was a power forward who could play any position.

He was a natural playmaker, and his dunks were legendary.

As the daughter of a legend, the media plastered my life and career all over the blogs all the time.

“I’m full of surprises, actually.” I licked my lips.

“I bet you are.”

“Shots! Shots! Shots!” A few of the girls chanted as a bottle girl entered our section with a bottle of Don Julio 1942. We all got our glasses refilled and tossed the shots back in unison. Marcus groaned as he wiped the corners of his mouth.

“Not a drinker?” I asked.

“Not really. I’ll enjoy tequila sometimes, though. I prefer soju and shit like that.”

“Really? I love soju and sake.”

He smirked. “Full of surprises.”

“Definitely.”

Marnajah joined us with a wide grin. She was beyond drunk. She draped her arms over both of our shoulders and serenaded us.

“Please tell me whooooooo, who’s getting all my love.” She sang off key.

“Who’s getting all my love?” I joined in.

Marcus remained stoic as we sang Chris Brown’s song like we were fighting broken hearts too. After the second verse, the DJ switched it to something for the grown and sexy. The slow tempo with the sultry voice had all the couples grinding on each other on the dance floor.

“Well, this isn’t a song I want to sing with my brother in the room,” Marnajah joked.

“Good. I don’t want to see you doing nothing nasty in my presence, bighead.” Marcus chuckled.

“I don’t know. I think we should bump and grind, Najah,” I teased and grabbed her waist. I suggestively danced with her, which resulted in a fit of giggles from the both of us.

I could feel Marcus’s eyes on me. When our gazes met, he raised an eyebrow. I wasn’t sure what the look meant, but I wanted to find out.

“I’m going to get some fresh air,” I announced to the section.

“Do you need someone to go with you?” Livy asked as she bit into a honey hot wing. When did she order food? I did not know, but she was going to town on them.

“Nah, I’m going to be good, boo.” I grabbed my purse and sauntered out of the section.

I went outside to the parking lot, which was ducked off between two buildings.

There were about twenty rows of cars. There were a few drunken fools stumbling along the sidewalk, but nothing suspicious.

I found my car and leaned against the driver’s side door.

I welcomed the cool night air against my skin.

The section was air-conditioned, but all those bodies dancing and screaming in the space had made it stuffy.

Or was it the fine ass, six feet and five inches, brown-skinned man who had made you hot and bothered?

The question only plagued my mind for a split second. The man of my thoughts had made his way over to me. He looked even more delectable under the hue of the streetlights.

“Hey,” he said in a soft tone.

“Hey,” I replied in a similar tone.

“I just wanted to check on you.”

I smiled. “I’m good. Not you were worried about me.”

“Something like that.” He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed me from head to toe and back up.

“What? You like what you see?” I asked in a teasing voice.

“Hell yes.”

I could feel my cheeks burn from the reply. “Well, what are you going to do about it?”

“What do you want me to do about it? I’m down for whatever you are down for.”

I shifted my weight on my feet and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m down for a lot of things.”

“Closed mouths don’t get fed, and I’m not a mind reader, Ava. What do you want?”

I cleared my throat. “I want you.”

“Yeah? You can have me.”

“Right here?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“We’re too tall for car sex,” he answered.

I laughed. “You’re not wrong.”

“Look, here’s what we’ll do: You’ll give me your number, and I’ll text you my address. If you’re not comfortable pulling up on me, I’ll get a hotel for the night.”

“Hmm, I know your sister. If you were a creep, she would have told me. I’ll pull up on you.”

“Perfect. Are you going back inside?” he questioned.

I shook my head. “Ain’t shit left in there for me. I’ll text the group chat to let them know I’m headed home.”

“Cool. Put your number in my phone.” He pulled the granite gray rectangular device out of his pocket and unlocked it. He opened up the contact menu and held it out for me to take.

I tapped the screen to lock in my number. I opened up the camera feature and turned to take a selfie of the two of us. I set it as the contact picture and saved it.

“Boom. Send me the picture too. We’re cute.”

“Got you. Be safe, Ava.”

“I will. You do the same.” I kissed his cheek.

He waited until I had pulled out of the parking spot to head to his car. He’s such a gentleman.

Tonight, I would cross the line with my teammate’s brother. Would it be a one-night stand, a trial for something forever, or a complete disaster? Lord, what did I get myself into?