Chapter Twenty-One
Ezra
“I have to say, puppy, I’m not sure your shorts could have gotten much smaller today,” I said as I slung my bag over my shoulder, my phone held in one hand so I could leave Danny a voice note while I made my escape from the stadium.
“I hope you’re going to wear them for every game this season.
Although I am very curious about what you wear underneath. ”
I paused for a second as I ducked around a small group of people, players’ guests by the looks of it, and headed towards the nearest exit.
“Also, I have a question about your socks. Is there a reason some of you wear them long and some short? Because I really like you in long ones, puppy. They suit you. You should wear them like that all the time.”
Another pause as I pushed the door open and headed out in the evening sun, basking in the warmth for a moment. I hadn’t been on holiday since leaving Reed, and I’d missed my yearly ritual of lying in the sun by the sea with cocktails and forgetting all my responsibilities existed.
Danny had mentioned something about going away with his sister…
one of the Greek islands maybe… so it seemed like he enjoyed those sorts of holidays too.
We weren’t anything to each other, so maybe it would be inappropriate to suggest, but I’d always found that having a sexy man to fuck made a trip so much better.
If Danny felt the same, we should take advantage of that.
“Do you have any plans for this evening?” I asked as I crossed the quiet car park, digging my keys out of my pocket.
“If you don’t, or if you get bored, you are very welcome to come over.
I can reward you for your performance today.
After all, a couple of tries deserves at least a couple of orgasms. Let me know. ”
Smirking, I released the button and sent the message, wondering how long it would be until I got a response. And how much swearing it would contain.
If it were me, I’d send teasing nudes and a video of me getting off so I could drive him wild.
But my puppy did lack patience and got wound up very easily, so even if he wanted to tease me, I didn’t think he’d be able to go through with it.
He’d be more likely to get in the car and come and find me.
I did want him to try winding me up, though, because I was desperate to introduce him to the concept of consequences. Sexy ones, obviously. Ones we’d both enjoy.
They could be a reward too, if Danny would prefer. But I knew there was a brat inside him that he was starting to unleash, and I thought if he let go, he’d really enjoy diving into that side of himself.
It could be too much at once, though, especially while figuring out his sexuality, and I didn’t want to overwhelm him.
As I climbed into the car and turned the engine on, I couldn’t resist checking my messages. Danny had seen my voice note. And by the look of it, was recording his own.
There was a message from Shane too, asking how I was doing and how the weekend was going. I’d mentioned I had to work and had a vague memory of telling him I’d call him after. I quickly tapped out something to say I was good and about to drive home, knowing he’d likely call me as soon as he saw it.
Shane loved a good natter, and I was always happy to listen to him. He often left me voice notes the length of mini podcasts, catching me up on everything he could think of while he walked home or pottered around his house, with the occasional aside from Eric when he had something to add.
As predicted, two minutes later his name flashed up on the console screen and I tapped the button to answer. “Hey,” I said. “How’s it going?”
“Ugh, terrible. The kitchen is an absolute mess and I’m really not sure I like the cabinets we picked.
They looked so nice online, but now they’re here I’m convinced the colour is different!
They were supposed to be a lovely cream, but they look white to me and it’s too stark.
Eric thinks I’m overreacting,” Shane said with a dramatic sigh which I knew was directed at his husband.
“Ooh, but you were right. Those glass anal beads are amazing.”
I chuckled. “I’m glad you liked them. And I’m sorry about the cabinets. They might look different when you get everything else and finish decorating. Live with them for a bit before you do anything rash like sand and repaint them.”
“I hadn’t thought about doing that. I was going to rip them out and get new ones.”
“No, you weren’t,” Eric said in the background. “Tell the truth.”
“Fine, I wouldn’t rip them out. I’d live with them… and sulk about it for months.”
“Thank you!”
“Rude!”
“He’s not rude; he’s right. You would sulk,” I said as I stopped at some traffic lights. “You’re such a brat sometimes.”
“As is my right,” Shane said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “You sound like you’re in a good mood. Was work good today?”
“I mean, the team won. Although it was only a preseason friendly and we weren’t playing anyone difficult, so it’s not surprising.”
“Hmm, it’s not that then. Unless you’ve suddenly developed a fondness for men in tiny shorts without telling me.”
I had, but I couldn’t tell Shane that without him asking who I was looking at.
And if I told him it was Danny, that would open up a massive can of worms. I wasn’t sure if there was technically anything wrong with what we were doing, I hadn’t bothered to check any of the employee or player handbooks, but we both had more than a few reasons not to tell anyone.
Danny deserved privacy to explore who he was without having to answer endless questions about himself, what he wanted, or what we were doing.
And me… well, I was an emotionally unstable mess who was fourteen years older than him and going through a bitter divorce with a man who hated me. I was the furthest thing from a good choice for him, but I was the one he’d made. And I was determined not to fuck this up.
If this was the only thing I got right in my life, then I’d be okay with that.
“Not all of their shorts are tiny,” I said. “And you know half of them have partners?”
“So? There’s nothing wrong with looking.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“Are you looking? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone except Eric.”
“Maybe.”
“I knew it! See! They are gorgeous, aren’t they?” He sighed happily. “Mmm, who’s that tall, broad one with the blond hair and pretty eyes? Huge thighs and big chest.”
“West Russell?” I asked, hazarding a guess based on how Shane’s mind worked.
“Yes! Fuck me, he’s gorgeous. I would totally climb him like a tree.”
“He’s got a boyfriend,” I said. West was very open about his sexuality and his relationship with his partner, who was a local drag queen, and had never shied away from including him in posts on his personal social media.
His partner was even hopefully going to be involved in a charity match for Pride that we had coming up.
“Seriously? He’s gay?”
“Bi, I believe.”
“That’s awesome,” Shane said excitedly. “I can’t believe you’ve got an openly queer player on the team.”
“He’s not the only one,” I said. “And, er, the head coach, Clive, has a husband too.”
“I love that.” There was a split-second pause, and I realised exactly what Shane was going to say before the words came out of his mouth. “Do they have any policies against hooking up with players? Because if they don’t and some of them are interested—”
“No,” I said, refusing to let him even finish his thought.
“Why not?”
“Because mixing work and sex is a recipe for disaster, and I’m not fucking up this job just so I can get my dick wet.”
“Nobody would know unless you told people, though.”
“It’s still a no.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” I asked as I stopped at another set of traffic lights, suddenly very uncomfortable despite the fact the air con was on.
In my denial, I’d made another very good point about why I shouldn’t be involved with Danny.
Very few workplace romances ended well, and I couldn’t afford to lose my job if people found out.
And that wasn’t even thinking about what it might do to Danny’s career.
He had his whole future ahead of him. He shouldn’t be putting it at risk by fucking around with me.
“It means, I think you’re lying,” Shane said. “I think you would absolutely fuck one of them if they were interested.”
“Why the hell would you think that?”
“Because I know you, and you love it when people want your attention.”
“Are you calling me an attention whore?”
“Yes, but in a good way.”
“How does that work?” I asked, wondering if there was a way I could distract Shane away from this topic of conversation and onto something else. I’d rather talk about his sex life than mine.
“You love it when men come to you and want someone to explore with. You always have. And you love it when men notice you. It’s not a bad thing, honestly, babe. Just own it.”
I sighed. I loved Shane too much to be upset that he knew me so well. “Shane, these men are in their twenties. I’m too old for them and too”—I waved my hand even though he couldn’t see it—“fucked up.”
“Firstly, age is only a number as long as everyone is legal, consenting, and understands the ramifications. And there is a big difference between you hooking up with someone who is mid-twenties and someone who is eighteen. The first one is fine. If it’s the second, then we’re going to have problems. And also, you’re not fucked up.
You’ve got baggage. Who the fuck hasn’t? It’s about how you deal with it.”
“Is this where you tell me to get therapy or something?”
“I mean, it wouldn’t hurt.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said. I didn’t know if I would, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. He’d probably know I didn’t mean it anyway.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “You know I want you to be happy, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do. You’re about the only person who does, so…”
“That’s not true and you know it. Stop being a morose wanker.”
“Morose?”
Shane laughed. “I know, it’s a good word, isn’t it? I’m trying to use it more often.”
I smiled to myself as I turned onto the street next to mine. “I look forward to hearing what other words you add to your vocabulary.”
“I’ll be sure to find plenty to impress you,” he said. “You do sound happier, though, E. I don’t know what you’re doing or if something changed, but whatever it is, it’s working.”
“I don’t think it’s much. Maybe I’m finally listening to you and not blaming myself completely for what happened with Reed.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I think we were both responsible in different ways, and while he blew it up, neither of us had been happy for a while. He didn’t have to go to such extremes, but I should have been more self-aware. So, maybe it’s more sixty-forty his way than all mine.”
“Bloody hell, you are finally listening! Thank fuck, because I wasn’t sure how many more times I could say it without wanting to throttle you.” There was a pause. Then he added, “Did anyone else say something?”
“No, just you.” I felt bad for lying to him, but I was already in a hole. I might as well stay there.
“Okay,” he said. “What’re your plans for the evening?”
“Not sure,” I said, pulling the car onto my street and frowning when I saw a different car parked outside my flat. But it was one I recognised. “Get some food, watch some TV.”
“E, you okay? Did something happen?”
“No, someone’s parked in my spot.” I glanced along the pavement and smiled, my heart skipping when I caught sight of a familiar figure leaning against the wall in loose shorts, his mullet fluffy from its post-match wash. “Hey, Shane, can I call you back later?”
“Yeah, sure, is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. I’ve just remembered I’ve got the work phone in my bag, and I need to send a load of stuff to Adam for editing. He’s messaging me about it.”
“No worries. Message me later and we’ll catch up. Oh, and I’m going to send you photos of those cabinets because I need your opinion.”
“Sure, sounds good. Love you.”
I hung up once Shane had said goodbye and pulled my car into a free spot a little further down the road, grabbing my bag off the seat and resisting the urge to run back up the street.
Instead I strolled leisurely, my hand shading my face against the low sun, a smile crossing my lips as I watched Danny notice me.
His expression brightened and he stepped away from the wall, hands in his pockets.
If he had a tail, I was sure it would’ve been wagging furiously.
“Fancy seeing you here, puppy,” I said, unable to stop myself from leaning down to give him a kiss.
“Yeah, I got this voice note from this sexy old guy about coming over. Something about a reward?”
“I see, and you’re here to collect it?”
“Duh, I fucking deserve it.”
“Do you now?”
“Yeah.” He grinned and grabbed the front of my shirt, pulling me in for another kiss. “And I know what I want too.”
“And what’s that?” I asked, nipping his lip playfully.
He looked up at me with wide, needy eyes. “Your dick in my arse. I need you to fuck me, Ezra.”