Chapter 9
NINE
MALIK
Was this real? Since coming here, I’d had more orgasms than I’d had in the last month.
Or so it felt. And it was all because of Grey.
Even though we’d been tired as fuck after yesterday’s practice, we’d snuck off into the woods again when the other guys had nodded off.
Jerking us both off against a tree had become our favorite pastime.
Okay, and me sucking his dick. I’d wait until he asked to suck mine in the moment and not push him.
He was still adjusting to being with a guy.
Sitting at a long table in the mess hall, I ate my breakfast of egg, sausage and pancakes, my bare thigh firmly stuck to Grey’s as he sat next to me.
With a glance at me, his cheeks pinked, and a coy grin crept across his lips.
The devious bastard was planning when or how we could run off together again. I knew it. I had to keep us focused on football, though. As I cut a bite of pancake and stuffed it in my mouth, my gaze swung to Tex, sitting across from us. I had to talk to him. Maybe he’d be free after breakfast?
Grey patted my thigh. “I’m going back for more eggs. You want anything?” He focused on my lips while licking his own.
“Nah, I’m good.” Yeah, I was right. The dude had an insatiable appetite for sex. Who knew? And how fucking lucky was I?
He rose from the bench seat with his empty plate and strolled toward the platters of food laid out along the wall.
My gaze chased his muscled ass as he walked, and my dick woke. Fuck, hold it together. My attention drew to Tex. “Hey, Tex.”
He bit the end of a sausage and chewed. “Yeah?”
“Can I have a word with you after breakfast?” We’d have an hour to let our food digest before hitting the field. Most guys talked football tactics in their cabins, read playbooks or hiked some easier trails.
“Sure.” His eyes lit and he leaned across the table. “Will you finally tell me what the hell is going on between you and Grey?”
“Yes.” I cut more pancake. Should I give him a hint? I peeked at the food table.
Grey strolled toward us.
“Don’t say a word. I’ll meet you at your cabin, and we’ll take a little walk.” I threw Grey a smile as he sat beside me again.
After breakfast, I’d informed Grey of my intentions and strolled to Tex’s cabin.
As I approached, my gaze caught on him, standing on the landing in front of the door.
Had he been waiting for me? “Hey, Tex.” I waved him over to me and spied a little path meandering behind the cabins.
The sun was bright this morning, painting the scrubby grass with patches of light between the trees.
Birds sang high overhead, and a green hummingbird whirred past me.
“Hey.” He sauntered from the landing and met me on the path, falling into stride with me. “So, are you two officially fooling around? Are there wedding bells in your future?” He snickered.
“Wedding bells?” I laughed a scoff and shook my head. He had to take it there. “We’re friends with benefits. He has optics to keep with his dad.” My stomach twisted. It wasn’t so bad now, but how would it be when we got home and he resumed texting with Ella?
“Benefits? With how close you two are?” He hooked a brow. “So, you’re hooking up and free to date?”
I stopped, hanging my head and planting my hands on my hips.
“No, not exactly.” How the hell could I explain this?
It was unconventional, for sure. With my gaze meeting his, I said, “Look, he’s afraid his dad will literally disown him if he finds out about…
well, about us.” My heart twinged. “So, we’re hooking up, but not taking it public.
We agreed not to see other people, except he has to continue chatting with this girl his dad set him up with back in New York. ”
“What? You’re allowing him to continue a relationship with a woman back home, while you have to be exclusive? That doesn’t sound fair, Malik.” His gaze turned hard. “It doesn’t sound fair to this woman or to you.”
With a huff, I worried my lower lip. I hadn’t considered it much. Hell, I’d barely had to time to think about football after this started. “Understand, his situation is unique. There’s a lot at stake for him. It’s just how it has to be.” For now? Hell, would it ever change?
“And what if you fall in love—romantic love—with him?” Tex narrowed his eyes. “What if he falls in love with you?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll cross that bridge if we come to it.” As my brain imagined Grey FaceTiming Ella, him giving sweet smiles to her, a heavy ache filled my chest. Did I already love him? No, I loved him as a friend, and my dick enjoyed his. That was all this was.
“What’s going on in your head? You don’t look so good.” Tex’s gaze softened, and he grabbed my arm. “Malik, I don’t like this. I’m not sure it’s healthy for you.”
“I…I have to see this through. It’ll be okay. Our friendship is solid.” It was too new between us to push him into more. “I know what I’m doing.”
“I sure as hell hope so. You’ll be sharing hotel rooms on the road and living together. If there’s fallout, it could affect your game and your position in the draft.” He tensed his mouth. “How will you handle it if he chooses the girl back home over you when the school year ends?”
Pain swept across my chest, and I grimaced, fisting my hands.
Fuck, he had to say it out loud. Yeah, the thought had lingered, but I’d refused to acknowledge it.
“He won’t. He doesn’t like her that much.
” I’d shove this thought back into the recesses of my mind.
I had faith in him. He’d never lie to me.
Planting his big hand on my shoulder, Tex said, “Malik, I trust you know what you’re doing. But watch yourself. Keep your wits about you and don’t lead with your dick.” He kissed my cheek. “I love you, man, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I took a deep breath, letting it wash away the tension. “Hey, Grey’s a little sensitive about what we’re doing right now, so can you tone down the teasing?”
“Teasing?” He eyed me. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“Thanks, bro. This is all new to him.” I glanced toward the cabins—guys dressed in their practice jerseys walking along paths. Was there anything else?
“Malik? Why was he avoiding you last week?” Tex pursed his lips.
“He, uh…” I chuckled. “He knew if he got close to me again, he wouldn’t be able to resist my charms.” My mind replayed our conversation at the top of the hill and the explosive orgasms against the tree trunk.
“Fuck, Tex, being with him is mind-blowing. It’s like our attraction has a mind of its own. ”
“I see.” He lifted the edge of his mouth. “Well, maybe your attraction will win over his family obligations. I wish you the best of luck, Malik, and if you need me, you know I’ll be there for you.”
“Thanks, man.” I patted his shoulder, and we returned to his cabin.
After practice, Grey and I had agreed to try the creek instead of hitting the ice baths.
Coley and Bailey swore by it, and my legs were hella sore after yesterday’s drills.
In a more secluded spot along the creek, I crept along boulders behind Grey.
“I don’t know if it’s deep enough here to work.
” I’d need to submerge my entire lower half.
The creek bubbled along over a rocky bottom, meandering through fallen trees and under a grassy bank. The pine trees overhead swayed in the warm breeze.
“I think it gets deeper over there.” He stopped and pointed to a wider section of creek where the water wasn’t gurgling.
“Okay.” I stepped up behind him, placing my hand on his hips to steady myself. This would feel great if we ever got in.
“Want to skinny dip? No one’s around.” Peeking back at me, he swiped his teeth across his lower lip.
“Are you having dirty thoughts again, Moore?” My dick stirred. Goddamn it, we couldn’t be alone together at all without fooling around.
“Maybe.” He turned and cupped my junk through my athletic shorts. “Watching you on the field is so hot.” He pressed a soft kiss against my lips and hummed, his fingers outlining my swelling dick through my shorts.
Heat flared across my skin, and goosebumps prickled my thigh.
“Jesus, Grey…” We were supposed to be bathing in the damn creek.
I stepped back, threading my fingers through my bangs.
“Let’s get in the creek first.” I twisted past him to the edge of the open area, a small sandy spot underfoot.
How could I drag my mind off messing with his dick? “Tex knows all about our arrangement.”
“Yeah? So, your talk with him went well?” He joined me on the patch of sand, shucked off his jersey and dropped his shorts and briefs, his dick bobbing tall between his thighs. Giving himself a light stroke, he dipped his toes into the water. “Fuck, it’s cold.”
My gaze planted on his thick fingers, sliding up his shaft and circling the crown.
Fuck me, how was I supposed to keep my mind on the current conversation?
“Uh, yeah…” No, it hadn’t gone well, but I couldn’t tell him that.
“Tex understands, and he won’t tease us anymore.
Okay?” I undressed, hanging my clothing on a bush, my cock stretching toward my navel.
Was there poison oak or ivy around here?
I’d never heard of anyone getting it while at camp.
He ambled into the creek, up to his knees, and stopped. “Come here.” He slowly stroked his dick, now leaking with precum.
Wading to him, I fixated on his long, thick cock, the vein almost pulsing along his shaft. My mouth watered. I wanted to suck him, but the water would freeze my balls off when I crouched down. As I met him, he stepped closer.
His throat dipped, and his breath grew quicker. “Want you.” Hooking his arm around my waist, he pressed his hot cock against mine. “Thought about this all day.” Claiming my mouth in a hungry kiss, he grabbed my ass and rutted against me.