Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
JAYDEN
I hadn’t expected to be so excited about heading to the academy. But over the past few days, as Sutton and I organized ourselves, each step hadn’t been a drag.
Sutton had been feeling more upbeat the past twenty-four hours, but it was harder work than I thought either of us expected it to be.
He was nervous. I got it. What neither of us anticipated was these role reversals of support. Sure, we both supported each other, but Sutton, being the caretaker he was, was so used to taking control and taking care of everyone and never needing anyone to step in to actually care for him.
Uncertainty had bounced around his gaze and almost every decision he’d made. It meant he sought out my support and wanted me to lead the way. After our initial surprise, I jumped all over the task.
Looking after Sutton? Heck yes, I was so up for it. Perhaps I exhausted him in the process with my overabundance of enthusiasm, but by his soft smiles and the way we wrapped ourselves up in each other whenever we could, he was taking it in his stride.
Something else we’d discussed was involving Pearce. Neither of us wanted to leave him in the lurch. We’d gone from a quick chat during practice or after a game with the man last season to speaking to each other on the phone at least three times a week.
He was fun. A little eager, maybe a little too much like me from what I knew about him, but he was easy to get along with.
I glanced over at Pearce as we stepped into the staff quarters. “You doing all right over there, Malcolm?”
He shot me a grin, and if he was nervous, it didn’t show. “Sure am.” He looked at the piece of paper in his hand. “Number fourteen. This is me.” Pearce indicated toward the door of the room he’d been assigned to over the next six weeks.
When I’d spoken to Coach Jenkins, asking him if Pearce could be involved, he jumped at the chance.
Understandable since the guy had been a first draft pick and was only three years into being in the League.
He was a hot commodity. Honestly, I wasn’t quite sure how the Eagles had managed to keep their hands on him.
I didn’t expect he’d stay for long, though. Not based on his skills on the court.
Being young meant that joining the academy for a guest spot was a pretty rare and big deal. Young hotshots at the top of their game, earning the sort of cash they were, didn’t seem to want to give back so much to the athletic community.
Traditionally off-season was all about blowing off steam. I totally understood that and had lived it. And peeking into Pearce’s single room, it was clear that this wasn’t a five-star hotel.
There was a shared kitchen for the staff and lounge and eating area. Honestly, at this point, I was just relieved we’d been promised a double room, and all came with en suites.
“See you in an hour,” I said once he’d dumped his bag on the bed.
He looked over at us and nodded. “Sounds good.”
Sutton and I carried on until we found our room. We unlocked the door and stepped into the space.
It was bigger than I’d expected, and thank Christ, there was a full-size bed. I muttered as much.
“I suppose they have to accommodate the above-average man.”
I kicked the door closed and turned toward him, grinning. “I am totally up for accommodating an above-average man.” I stepped into his space and wrapped my arms around his waist, rubbing up him to hit my point home.
Quirking a brow, he held on to me. “That right?”
“Have you not been making notes on my exceptional skills when sucking you off?”
“Exceptional?”
“The best you’ve ever had.”
“That right?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You blew your load in under three minutes yesterday, so damn straight I’m claiming that title.”
“You want a badge?” he sassed, eyes lit up with amusement.
“Fuck no. I want a trophy. ‘Number One Cock Sucker.’”
His laughter was loud and abrupt. “Really, that’s what you want on your trophy?”
I scrunched my nose. “Maybe I didn’t think this through. Okay, maybe somehow make it clear that it’s only your cock I suck, and I’m fucking awesome at it.”
Humor sparkled in his gaze. “How about you leave it with me, and I’ll see what I can do?”
“Sweet,” I said happily, following up with a smack of a kiss to his lips. Pulling back, I took a good look at him.
After the initial agreement to come here, post-mini meltdown, Sutton had been clearly trying to take control of his emotions and his reaction to our relationship.
No word of a lie, I’d been freaked the fuck out myself at his reaction, agreeing wholeheartedly that if I had to put money on who’d be losing it, hands down, I would have bet on myself.
In the days following, he’d been calmer, and we’d talked more. He’d also had a proper conversation with his parents since being back on American soil. While I wasn’t sure of every word exchanged, he’d ended the call a little happier, his shoulders less tense.
Having the focus on Pearce as well was a good thing.
While I didn’t want Sutton to sweep aside his feelings, having something or someone else to focus on helped him. Admittedly, Pearce being here was also for that reason as far as I was concerned. Not that I’d admit that to anyone.
“You glad you’re here?” I asked.
With his gaze on mine, he remained quiet for a beat, clearly thinking through his response. My chest warmed up that he took such good care trying to make sure he gave me his truth. “Yeah. It feels right to be here.”
“I think so too. Shall we check out the shower? Get the stink of the flight off us before we head to the meeting?”
Heat flooded his gaze, and I barely held back from squirming from the need that one look shot through me. “Seeing you naked is one of my favorite things.”
“One?” I asked, not giving a shit at the gruff desire in my tone. Sutton seeing me desperate and how much I wanted him would never be an issue.
“One of many involving you.”
I grinned and eased back, tugging off my T-shirt. “Let’s see how many other of your favorites we can tick off in the next forty-five minutes.” I waggled my brows, grabbed his shirt, and got lost in his heat and touch.
“No fucking way,” I said, far too loudly for my words to be subtle. “Milo Henderson is here.”
There was nothing quite like stumbling upon your unicorn basketball player. Add in that Milo Henderson was a fucking legend, and he was a guest coach, and I was close to hyperventilating.
“Oh fuck.”
“Huh?” I angled toward Sutton, who was shaking his head and pressing his lips together.
“No pissing yourself, humping his leg, offering to be his ball boy—”
“You know, they all sound seriously sexual. How did I not think of the hundreds of innuendoes I could have been having so much fun with?” Genuine disappointment colored my words.
“—no telling dad jokes”—I attempted to intervene at that. I so did not tell dad jokes. My jokes were freakin’ spectacular. Sutton’s raised brows stopped me as he didn’t pause in his list of rules—“no asking him to demonstrate a spin jump sky hook—”
“Hey, now that surely will be something he’ll be showing these college kids…” I trailed off, thinking.
“No way. You are not asking the guy for private lessons.”
I pouted. He was no fun and took all of my awesome ideas away.
“Oh shit, and no asking him to sign your boxers,” he tagged on quickly.
Pearce stood at our side, cracking up at our exchange. I rolled my eyes at him and refocused on Sutton. “Fine. For that, I’m totally introducing you to him as my fiancé. He probably won’t even know who you are. Ooh, maybe we should practice, and we can start calling you Gale Moore.”
Pearce snorted, and Sutton gaped.
“What?” I asked, oh so innocently. “Keep opening your mouth like that and I’ll assume you want me to pop something inside.”
“Oh hell, I’m out of here,” Pearce said with a groan, quickly moving away from us and into the communal lounge.
While I wasn’t sure how Sutton would respond, I didn’t expect him to get all up in my business.
“You want to introduce me as your fiancé and give me your name? You can go right ahead. It’s not a hardship.
In fact, it would make me so fucking proud.
” I gulped hard, heat sweeping through me at the intensity of his words and the emotion in his eyes.
“And your cock in my mouth? I’m going to blow your fucking brains out later.
Then we’ll see if you contain yourself and not tell anyone who will listen just how fucking good I am with ball play. ”
He punctuated his words by a swift press of his lips against mine, just enough to leave his mark and my lips buzzing. Then the asshole smirked and walked away, leaving me breathless and with a giant boner.
I groaned, took a surreptitious look around, and adjusted myself.
That was one way to stop me from carrying on in front of Henderson. “Touché, asshole,” I mumbled, my grin quickly following.
Once I moved into the room, I was introduced to Milo Henderson, the former All-Star player and MVP for four years in a row. Somehow I managed not to hump his leg or stare for too long.
At college, one wall may have been dedicated to posters of this man. There was no guarantee my cool could remain.
The additional two guest coaches were also former League players. Paul Carton had retired three years back with an impressive score average after twelve years playing pro. There was no shame in admitting his stats rivaled my own.
The final coach was Eddie Phelps. I grinned when I saw him, going in for a handshake and a bro-hug. “Eddie, hell, it’s good to see you.”
He smiled down at me as he pulled back. He was six-eight from memory and had always been a big, friendly guy. “Jay-bomb, I wasn’t sure whether to believe Sid or not. Maybe questioned his sanity too.”
“You and me both,” I answered. “Damn, man, it’s been what, five years?”