Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
SYDNEY
I push the button on the keypad, waiting for the gate that surrounds Theo and Finley’s house to swing open.
As soon as it does, I pull through, quickly noticing that I’m somehow the last one here.
Cars and trucks line the circular driveway, one of which still has its parking lights on, indicating that I’m only late by a few seconds.
I pull up behind them, killing the engine just as Steele emerges from the massive luxury SUV, nearly knocking the wind out of me as he does.
Just as I asked, he’s wearing a black hoodie with the subtlest team logo on the sleeve, his last name and number twenty-three stretched across the back.
His jeans were clearly made just for him, the denim hugging his ass and thighs in all the right ways.
But that’s not even what has me swallowing thickly, my mouth going dry like I’ve stuffed it full of cotton balls.
Because turned backwards on his head is a black baseball cap with Rock City Renegades embroidered in purple right above the bill.
Fuck him. How am I supposed to work in these conditions?
It’s bad enough that I know first-hand what he looks like under all those clothes. The hard, defined muscles. The art tattooed all over his arms and shoulders. The piercings that rub just right against mine. Not to mention, he fucks like a god.
I’ve tried to forget, but the more I tell myself that we aren’t sexually compatible, the dumber it all sounds. We shouldn’t have had such explosive chemistry, considering we both hunger for dominance, but we did. The push and pull was everything I never knew I craved.
The cocky motherfucker ruined me, and I want to slap myself for allowing it.
I emerge from my vehicle, righting the dress I spent way too long picking out.
I haven’t hit any clubs, bars, or events in weeks, and I’ve been itching to wear something sexy.
Tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity for that, since the girls usually like to do the same.
We used to have our get-togethers at Club Tilt, but after Finley was fired for no good reason, we decided not to go there anymore.
Sure, we could’ve picked a new place in the city, but there’s something about the privacy of each other’s homes that makes us feel more relaxed—even if some of us still choose to wear body-hugging dresses with five-inch heels.
Hearing my shoes against the driveway, Steele turns in my direction.
“Holy shit,” he mutters under his breath, taking in the black, long-sleeved minidress I’ve got on.
His eyes drag from my feet upward, looking his fill and making heat prickle along my skin.
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, doing everything I can not to preen under his praise, because I don’t want him to know how much I like it.
“Hey” is all I can offer in return. I don’t trust myself not to tell him how good he looks, or—I don’t know—drop to my knees and beg to suck him off in front of God and all our friends.
At this point, anything more than a one-word greeting is dangerous…
at least until we get inside and I can distract myself by taking photos and posting them to his social media.
The timing will be perfect with the way he played today, showing the fans that he still connects with his teammates after the game clock runs out.
They don’t need to know that this is his first time in a non-work situation with them.
The photos sure as fuck won’t look that way, I’ll make sure of it.
“You look”—he pauses, clearing his throat—“really nice.” His voice is full of gravel, his gaze still raking up and down my frame.
To be honest, the fact that he seems like he’s got a death grip on his restraint makes me feel better, like maybe I still have the upper hand.
I falter for a moment whenever he gets too close, and that’s terrifying.
The last thing I want is to lose my edge—the thing that makes me stand out in a crowd of women who have much more to offer the world than I do—especially over a guy.
I didn’t work this hard to become my own person and get out of the shadows just to end up right back there.
“Thank you,” I reply, avoiding eye contact as I ignore the butterflies in my stomach and get down to business.
“How are you feeling about everything? Am I good to take some candid photos of you interacting with the guys? I think it’ll be another tick in your pros column when it comes to the naysayers. ”
He shrugs. “You’re the boss. I just hope it doesn’t look forced. I feel like an outsider. Like Theo and Finley are about to share something important, and I’m here by default.”
I nod in understanding as we slowly make our way toward the door.
“We were all here by default at one time or another. Sometimes I feel out of place, too. Over the last couple of years, everyone has been settling down, but I’m still just the single girl who makes snarky comments and never brings a date. ”
“I think you’re more than that,” he replies, nudging my arm with his. “I bet they do, too.”
I look up at him, a genuine smile breaking free.
He returns it, making my stomach do little flips.
I swear, this guy affects me in ways I’ve never experienced before.
It’s like he sees me—the real me. We may not have gotten off to the best start, but I’m starting to think that the Steele Harlow the world gets isn’t the same person as the Steele Harlow I’ve seen bits and pieces of lately.
There’s more to him than middle fingers and shit-stirring.
I just need to convince him to let his guard down and show it.
He inhales deeply through his nose, letting it out in a rush as we climb the front steps.
It’s clear that he’s nervous, which I get because this is the first time he’s seen anyone outside of work.
He has no idea that I’ve already spoken with the guys and that they agreed to put their differences aside to help me.
I’m hoping that once they get to know Steele, they’ll give him a chance.
Not only for the way it’ll look in photos, but also because I truly think he could use a group of friends like them.
“You’re good,” I mutter in an attempt to reassure him, extending my pinky so it’s touching the back of his hand.
Shocking me completely, he does the same, hooking his finger around mine tightly.
My heart stutters, and I try to hide the hitch in my breath as I reach out and press the doorbell.
We wait in silence, holding onto one another like we’ve done it a million times before.
The tension in his shoulders falls away, and even though we can hear the dog’s barks along with a pair of heeled footsteps approaching, he doesn’t make a move to release me.
If anything, his grip only becomes firmer as he pulls our joined hands behind his back in an attempt to conceal the connection.
I’m grateful, because while I don’t want to let him go, I’d also rather not explain why we showed up looking like we’re a couple.
We’re not a couple. I’m just helping him feel at ease.
That’s it.
“Boner, sit.” Finley’s firm command bleeds through the thick wood right before it swings open.
She looks adorable as ever in a loose-fitting black T-shirt dress, her long, red locks falling in waves over one shoulder.
The dog sits like a good boy a few feet away, his tail swishing across the floor behind him as he tries not to disobey his mama’s orders.
But I can tell he wants to rush over and greet us, introducing himself to the new guy in the most obnoxious way.
“I see you’re still not allowing my nephew to live his truth,” I quip, stepping past her and into the house. Only then does Steele let me go, following me through the door. Finley nods and smiles, welcoming us before turning toward Boner.
“If by living his truth, you mean he can’t act like a maniac and jump all over our guests, then you’re right.
Maddox still hasn’t stopped talking about the way his family plans are up in the air after Boner hit him square in the junk last season.
I’m not about to be held responsible for the lack of future Renegades. Sorry.”
I lift a brow. “Wild that there are men who don’t enjoy having their manhood stepped on. It’s a shame, really.” Steele chokes out a gasp behind me, and I shoot Fin a wink as she tucks her lips between her teeth to stifle a laugh.
“Everyone’s out back,” she says. “But why don’t the two of you grab some drinks from the kitchen first?
Theo is upstairs changing Norah, then we have something to share.
” I’m pretty sure I can guess their announcement, since the poor girl has been fighting a strange stomach bug for at least two weeks, and she’s been extra tired.
It’s not rocket science, especially when the two of them can’t keep their hands off one another.
She disappears through the sliding glass door, leaving us completely alone. I saunter to the refrigerator, perusing the choices and leaning inside to grab a bottle of water. “Do you want anything?” I ask, not bothering to look back at Steele. “There’s beer, water, pop, juice—”
“Water’s good,” he murmurs, his minty breath fanning over my ear.
His front is nearly pressed to my back, and although I can feel the heat radiating off of him through my dress, a full-body shiver rolls through me at the proximity.
I have no idea when he got so close, and the fact that he is should raise a million red flags since the backyard is full of people, but I can’t find a single fuck to give when he reaches over me and wraps his hand around one of the bottles on the shelf.
The motion erases the whisper of space between us, and suddenly, the only thing I can focus on is his thick cock pressing into my lower back.