Chapter Twenty-Six
Braden
We were on fire.
Seattle was well on its way to the playoffs if we kept winning the way we did — and it didn’t feel like anything, or any team, could stop us presently.
The Vikings had put up a hell of a fight, but we’d just played better. Our offense was working like a well-oiled machine, our defense an impenetrable wall, and our special teams delivering impeccable field position after every return.
I knew Leo had to be fuming. It was one thing to lose a game — that shit happened and we were used to taking it on the chin and moving on. But losing to a team two of your college teammates played on?
Brutal.
Kyle was so giddy he barely made it through a shower before he was running out into the hallway to meet up with Leo, itching to rub it in. I took my time running through my post-game rituals before I joined them.
A new part of that ritual, apparently, was Emily.
If it were a home game, I’d be rushing just the same as Kyle, desperate to get out of the stadium and back to my place with her. I’d be anxiously awaiting whatever freaky item on her checklist she was ready to check off. I’d be savoring every minute of her in my house, in my bed, in my arms.
Typically, during an away game, I’d be texting her, reveling in the banter she served like she was an all-star tennis player.
But tonight was a special kind of torture. It was an away game where she had traveled with the team for promotion and media — which meant she was close enough to see, to touch, to taste…
And yet I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
We flew on different planes, traveled to the stadium on different busses, and even staying at the same hotel, there’d been no way to sneak time with her without it being too risky. Now, we were about to load up on two different busses again.
I pulled out my phone once my bag was packed and ready.
Me: It’s going to fucking kill me to watch you load onto another bus again.
Trouble: Don’t worry, Boss. You can spend the flight back thinking about that touchdown you scored. I know that’s what I’ll be thinking of…
Me: Nothing could distract me from how much I want you right now.
Trouble: You can have me when we’re home.
Fuck, those words made my chest tighten.
You can have me.
Home.
Me: Not soon enough.
I waited for a text to come through, but when it didn’t after a moment and I realized the guys were all loading out, I tucked my phone away, wanting to have a little time with Leo before we had to go.
Kyle caught me just outside the visitors’ locker room, his duffle slung over one shoulder and his grin already loaded with shit I was sure would annoy me.
Fortunately, he must have already annoyed Leo, because I showed up just in time to watch our friend slug Kyle in the arm.
“You got lucky,” he said. “And don’t go thinking this means you’re heading to the big game because your offense is still too soft.”
“What was that?” Kyle put a hand up to his ear before turning to me. “Braden, did you hear something? Sounded almost like a running back who got less than sixty yards today.”
Leo flattened his lips before shaking his head and turning to me with his arms outstretched for a hug. “Please tell me I don’t have to listen to you gloat, too.”
“Have you ever known me to be the type?” I asked as I clapped him on the back.
“You should be after tonight,” Kyle said. “Hell of a game, man.”
I huffed a laugh. “That’s rich coming from you. You had two touchdowns.”
“Yeah, but yours was sexier.”
“Please never say that to me again.”
“Nope, I can’t agree to that. The one hand reach and tuck into your chest? The toe drag to seal the inbound play?” Kyle whistled, cracking his fingers in a whip of his wrist. “That shit was fire.”
“Yeah, I have to admit… that one hurt to watch from the sidelines,” Leo agreed. “Mary is already asking if our wide receivers took notes.”
“God, I love her,” I said.
Leo narrowed his gaze. “Careful. I know she was all of our roommate but she’s my…”
At that, Kyle and I blinked and egged him on. “Go on. Having regrets that you haven’t wifed her up yet?” Kyle asked.
Leo flipped him off, and then turned the attention back to me — which was a weird sensation I wasn’t used to. I much preferred to be the friend on the sideline, cheering everyone else on while quietly doing what I needed to play my part on the team.
But for the last month, I’d had some pretty monstrous games.
I had a feeling I knew why.
Having Emily’s attention, having her hands on me, her mouth… it fired me up like nothing in my life ever had. I knew I was playing differently because I was carrying myself differently — my shoulders squared, chin high, a permanent grin on my face.
It helped that everything was going great back home. My parents had taken a weekend vacation at my insistence, and Ginny had a great weekend with the nurse and all her video game friends. Knowing all was well at home made it easy to relax.
Knowing Emily would be in my bed made it easy to act a fool.
I was bordering on cocky when I hit that field because I wanted to show out. I felt unstoppable, getting away with having everything I wanted.
Maybe because I’d never had the pleasure before.
“Seriously though; Seattle got your ass acting different,” Leo said, arching a brow at me. “This is far from the Braden I knew at NBU. The touchdowns were there but… I don’t know. It’s like you’ve got this swagger now.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Kyle muttered.
Leo shook his head, eyes narrowing like he was studying me. “You’ve got that look about you.”
I frowned. “What look?”
“The one that says you’re getting laid and feeling confident as fuck, so you bring all that energy onto the field.”
The blood must have drained from my face, because a laugh fizzed out of Kyle, who swatted Leo’s chest, and Leo crossed his arms with a smile like he had me pinned.
“I’m just locked in,” I said. “Got a contract to renew.”
“Sure this doesn’t have anything to do with that dancer Kyle was teasing you about at the start of the season?” Leo asked.
“You guys are fucking insufferable.”
That just made them laugh again.
“Well, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” Kyle said, clapping a hand hard on my shoulder. “I don’t care if it’s a dancer or a blow-up doll. This is the Braden we need to make the playoffs — and it’s the Braden we all knew you could be. So keep it up.”
“Your game, he means. Not your dick. Although, I have a feeling that’s what’s been up more than anything lately,” Leo shot.
I shook my head, but my phone buzzed in my hand before I could come up with a comeback.
And just like that, everything else faded.
Trouble: North suite stairwell. 2 mins.
My pulse kicked.
Leo’s grin sharpened. “Who’s the text from, Lock?”
“Mind your business.” I had already tucked my phone away, was already looking at the signs overhead to figure out where the fuck she was.
Kyle burst out laughing before he nudged Leo. “Hey, did I tell you we have a special guest with us on this road trip?” He paused when Leo arched a brow, then shot me a grin. “Yeah, apparently Emily Huxley is here for some media. So convenient, huh?”
“Hmmm. Couldn’t possibly be her texting, could it?” Leo asked, tapping his chin in mock thoughtfulness.
“Shut the fuck up,” I hissed at both of them, looking around to make sure no one had heard. “I gotta go.”
They were still laughing as I shoved past them. “I bet you do,” Leo said, waving his fingers. “Bye, Romeo! Love you!”
“Hey, if you miss the bus, I’m not explaining your ass to Coach,” Kyle shot. “Unless you need me to cover for you? For something? You need only say it.”
Without looking back, I lifted a hand and flipped him off.
“Love you, too!” he yelled at my back.
My heart was racing, all the razzing from the guys parked right where I’d left them standing. All I could think about now was getting to Emily.
Even as I walked quickly through the guts of the stadium to find her, my body was humming with a warning.
Don’t be stupid.
Don’t do anything that could jeopardize your contract.
But where that voice had been a loud scream at the start of the season, it was a low whisper now, so quiet I could ignore it.
And I did.
I found the stairwell she’d texted me about, and I pushed through the door after a quick glance in each direction to make sure no one was paying attention.
The door thudded shut behind me, and I found Emily halfway down the landing between floors, one shoulder against the concrete wall.
Jesus, she was stunning.
She had one leg bent, boot propped against the step behind her, that black wrist brace strapped on like it belonged with the rest of her outfit instead of in a doctor’s office.
Her hair was loose around her shoulders, makeup still game-day perfect, mouth painted in that shade that always made me want to make bad decisions.
She smiled when she saw me, slow and satisfied.
Like she knew exactly what she’d done to me with one text.
I flew down the steps to her, and as soon as I was close enough, her hand shot out and grabbed me by the hoodie, hauling me right into that sweet, full mouth I’d become obsessed with.
I groaned at the contact, catching Emily in my arms and meeting her urgency as I backed her into the wall. She scrambled up into my arms, hooking her legs around me and already reaching between us to rub against my cock.
“Fuck,” I cursed against her lips, shaking my head even as I was dropping her to the ground so I could help her get my dick free. “This is dangerous, Em.”
“It’s on the list,” she panted, tugging at the hem of my sweats.
They came down easily, my hands working with hers to shove them to the middle of my thighs along with my briefs.
She spit on her palm and took my cock in her hand as soon as it was free, making me see stars when I thrust into her slick grip.
“What, getting me fired?” I managed on a groan.
“Fucking in public.”