4. Salem
SALEM
LAST SEASON
“ W hy would I let you near him when you both just got ejected cause he tried to pummel you?” the security guard asks.
I grin. “Yeah…he’s a pistol isn’t he?”
“A ‘pistol,’” the guard scoffs. “You two are strange.”
“I just need five minutes.”
“No. It’s a liability.”
“Isn’t he alone in there?” I slide him the hundred-dollar bill I brought to sweeten the deal. “The minute it goes left, I’ll leave. Promise.”
He stares at the bill and sighs before pocketing it. Scanning the halls, he nods toward the doors. “I’ll have a nurse on standby.”
I rush past him and pull open the locker-room door.
Back turned to me, Blue’s bent forward, buck naked, shoving his foot in his briefs.
The sudden urge to eat a cherry off that taut peach has me swallowing hard.
Leaning back on the door, I whistle.
Most people would show a hint of surprise, but not him. He’s too on guard to ever be surprised.
Head turning to the side, he stops chewing the gum in his mouth, only for a second, before his fist tightens around the waistband of his briefs, and he pulls them up.
It takes everything in me to keep my eyes trained on his face. If he caught me looking down, he’d know, and…yeah…not ready for that.
“Do I need to get a restraining order?” he asks.
“What’s with the shades?” Except when he’s on the court, I’ve never seen him without them.
He pauses before reaching for his jeans. “Just kick rocks, man.”
“No one’s around. You can stop pretending you hate me.”
“Who said I give a fuck about you?” He wrestles the jeans on, pulling up the zipper, but not bothering to button them.
“Take ’em off. Let me see your eyes.”
“No.” He folds into a chair and bends over, tugging on his socks.
“Why? It’s just us.”
His jaw comes down hard, the sharp sound of gum being masticated filling the silence.
It’s either a rubber band or gum being assaulted by him every time I see him.
“You know they surge to life when you hit a beyond-the-arc, step-back three or when you son dudes bigger than you on the court?” I ask.
His tatted hands fidget with his laces.
“But when I catch you watching me…that’s my favor?—”
He flies across the room and snarls in my face, “Stop talking.”
“Or what?” I taunt.
His hand wraps around my neck. It’s clammy.
I nudge my neck forward into his grasp, choking myself.
My gaze drops down to his hardened nipples.
He catches me looking and shoves me back. “Fuck you,” he sneers, his minty breath ghosting my lips. My body seizes for a breath, trapping in the “When?” trying to spring off my tongue.
I reach up and remove his shades, and to my surprise, the little monster doesn’t try to headbutt me.
There’s a bang on the door.
“We’re good,” I call out.
“Time’s up,” the guard says.
I twist the lock. “Heard about the trade rumors.”
He steps back, glaring at me. “So?”
“Good. Your coach is a jackass. You’re their best shot at making it to the finals, and he doesn’t even have you starting.”
“Yeah, well.” He shrugs. “Some men fear glory.”
I nod. Or what it demands. “Heard LA wants you. They’re rebuilding their team.”
He leans against the opposite wall and crosses his arms. The rhythm of his chewing betrays the calm he’s trying to sell.
“Jones!” The banging gets louder. “Open the door!”
“You’ll do well in LA.” Philly doesn’t deserve him.
“Coach Derek was in our shoes just a few seasons ago. He’s smart and hungry.
And remembers what it takes to win. He’ll know that the best way to handle all your fire is not to try to handle it.
” Some fires you fuel instead of trying to put out.
“Maybe don’t punch your teammate in the face, though. ”
“Says the asshole who elbowed me in the ribs less than an hour ago,” he fires back.
My gaze travels down to the deep grooves emanating from his abs to his obliques. Every inch of him hammered into armor.
Like his chewing, the banging on the other side of the door intensifies.
“It was a peace offering.” I turn my head and call out over my shoulder, “Yo, we’re good. Chill.”
“Open the goddamn door!” the guard demands.
“See? Right there.” I nod to Blue’s eyes when I turn back and catch him watching me. “They’re spilling with light. Puddles and puddles.”
He straightens up.
“Watch me anytime.”
The chewing stops.
“I like what it does to your face.” I flip the lock and push back on the door. “Later, Kitten.” I toss him his shades. “See you in LA.”