Chapter 3 #2
Her cheeks pinken as her eyelashes flutter quickly.
Ah, yeah, the good ole boy charm gets them every time.
I’ll have to make sure not to give her too much, or she’ll think I’m flirting, and then we’ll have a different type of problem on our hands.
One that will end with me having to gently tell her I’m gay and have no interest in dating her, and might just end our profitable partnership with the team if she takes it badly enough.
“Oh, you can just call me McKenna. It’s so wonderful to have you here after all our conversations, Cami,” she says, once again turning to my sister, but her hand squeezes mine one last time before she moves to pet the puppy in my arms. “He’s such a cutie!
Wow, what a sweet little face he has. I can’t wait to start the name campaign and figure out what he’s going to be called so I can get his jersey made. ”
She’s bending over, face-to-face with the puppy in the crook of my arm, making baby noises as she pets him. I’m starting to think McKenna’s motives for partnering with Combat Companions were a bit self-serving, despite her good intentions.
“How about I put the dog down so you and the kids can play with him?” I say, taking a half-step back and extricating myself from her grasp.
I quickly set the little guy down and slacken the leash so he has some room to move and squat down to eye-level with the kids gathered at my feet.
“He’s just a baby and very small, so we have to be gentle when we touch him.
Soft hands, please, and know he has sharp little teeth that might hurt if you get too close to his mouth,” I tell them as I show what I mean with a finger to the puppy’s lips.
He barely opens his mouth and doesn’t bite me.
I picked this particular puppy for his calm temperament and sweet disposition.
He will be a perfect service companion, and is great for handling already, even at nine weeks old.
The first to hold out his hand is a little boy clutching a well-loved black stuffed dog that looks a lot like the one in front of him.
He very gently pets the puppy and immediately falls to the ground on his stomach to be closer.
The huge smile on his face is the sweetest thing, and I watch carefully to ensure both the puppy and the boy’s safety.
More kids come by and sit around the puppy, taking turns petting and playing with him.
I feel good about their understanding of what it means to be safe and treat the puppy kindly, so I stand back up and give them more room.
McKenna and Cami are talking off to the side, and a group of kids encircles the puppy, so I feel awkward as fuck just standing here in the middle of the room.
I finally take a moment to look around me, and holy fuck is it eye-candy city in here.
I know professional athletes are at their peak of fitness, it’s their literal job, but damn, this is like sending a dieter into a candy shop knowing they can only look and not indulge.
The testosterone flowing in here is enough to get me high.
I obviously don't leave the house enough if just being in the presence of twenty men in my preferred age range and physical type is enough to nearly have me looking for a private spot to really do something with what I’m seeing.
I have so much to tell Callum later, since he’s probably the only one who will understand the struggle.
We have the same taste in men, unfortunately for us both.
He’ll want to tag along to any event I go to in the future, though, which could also make my life harder, since he’s far more flamboyant and theatrical… and just downright messy sometimes.
Maybe I won’t tell him everything.
“I told you this would be a good thing,” Cami says as she sidles up next to me.
“Stop harassing me, woman. I’ve already agreed to do this. And it might not be so bad after all,” I admit begrudgingly.
“I knew you’d think they’re all hot. You have such a thing for athletes.”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “You’re such a brat. I do not find them all hot.”
“Remember when you were so gone over Jay Bradford senior year? Too bad he had a girlfriend and didn’t give you the time of day.” She elbows me conspiratorially.
“For your information, Jay liked me just fine. The back of my truck saw lots of football players who had girlfriends and wanted to experiment with the gay country boy who had no problem keeping things quiet,” I say under my breath so only she can hear.
She gawks at me. “How did I not know this? My mind is blown. You fooled around with Jay? Who else?” she demands.
“You’re lucky I said one name at all when I promised to take them to the grave.”
That, and some hurt more than others when I wound up catching feelings for the backseat hook-ups with the straight boys who wanted to experiment, then couldn’t look me in the eye after.
There’s nothing like blowing a guy with his hands in your hair, or having him balls deep in your ass, calling you baby and saying you’re the best he’s ever had, and then denying he even knows you the next day.
Too many times to count, I’ve been someone’s dirty secret, and I gave that up long ago.
Now, I don’t fuck with men just experimenting or baby bis who still aren't sure about their sexuality. Which means I’m not doing a lot of fucking at all.
I’ve almost come to terms with it.
Cami pouts, but thankfully lets it go, considering the company we’re in. I blow out a breath of relief and return to the eye candy around the room as the puppy frolics on the floor at our feet. No time like being in a room full of straight men for my voracious sexual appetite to come alive again.
Great. Now I have to just keep my shit together while appearing professional around hot athletes who couldn't care less about me. But I have plenty of practice with that.