Chapter 11
ELEVEN
EDDIE
With the taste of Pearce on my lips, I relied on autopilot to get me to Lottie. After keeping away from the man for the past few days in an attempt to not distract him, I’d done a piss-poor job of that by mauling the guy. And a few hours before his game, no less.
If it wasn’t for the fact he’d melted in my arms and kissed me back, I would have felt guilty. Perhaps I should have anyway, but how could I when his kiss was the best I’d ever had?
By the time I reached Lottie’s side, the players she’d been with were on the court and Tony was next to her. Guilt barreled into me. Not only had I abandoned her, but with the way Tony was looking at me, he had a fair idea of why I’d dragged Pearce away from him.
“I’m so sorry,” I rushed to say, my gaze first on Lottie and then on Tony. “I didn’t mean to be so long and—”
“Dad, Tony was just telling me about an interview he did with Josie Spellman.”
It took me a moment to catch up and redirect my focus to my daughter. Excitement filled her features, making me realize that she hadn’t even noticed I’d been gone.
“He said he’d reach out to her and see if she’d be interested in talking to me. That would be so awesome.” She peered up at Tony with stars in her eyes, and he chuckled.
“I think Josie would be more than happy to chat with someone so dedicated to the game and looking at following in her shoes.” Flicking his attention to me, he smiled. “I hope that’s okay?”
My brain finally cleared from its kiss-drunk fog, and I smiled back, this time remembering my manners and reaching out my hand.
Tony took it and shook as I said, “Tony, that would be incredible. Thanks.” When I dropped his hand, I cleared my throat, trying to will heat from spreading in my cheeks. “And thanks for looking after her.”
Still with the same friendly smile on his face, Tony shrugged. “It’s more than okay. It gave us an opportunity to talk about tonight’s game. Lottie said you guys aren’t watching?”
“Well, we are, but at home… uhm… I mean at Pearce’s place.”
Tony glanced at my girl, concern dipping his brows. “How are you healing? Pearce said you were recovering brilliantly.”
“I am,” Lottie said with the confidence of a girl who knew exactly who she was. “Dad said we can definitely attend Pearce’s next game, which will be another win.”
“You’re that confident about tonight’s win, huh?” he asked.
“Absolutely. Pearce is going to kick ass.”
I winced, wondering how it was my ten-year-old was making excellent progress at sounding like a sailor. “Lottie, no cussing.”
Her pursed lips told me she was fighting to not roll her eyes at me. “Sorry, Dad. Butt, I meant butt.” She grinned.
“I actually have to get back to work,” Tony said. He focused on me, saying, “I don’t have your details. Should I get in touch via Pearce?”
The embarrassment I’d been trying hard to hold on to spread quickly to my cheeks. “Yeah, sure, thanks.”
“No problem at all.”
After our goodbyes, he headed away, and I peered down at my girl. “How are you feeling? You ready to get out of here?” She looked a little peaky.
“I still haven’t spoken to Pearce.”
Just the sound of his name had my pulse picking up speed.
“Okay, let’s quickly find him again, then we’ll grab something for dinner tonight to eat before the game.
” I turned and searched for Pearce. It took barely a beat for me to spot him.
He was in the middle of doing some basic ball work with Cassius and Ollie.
While we waited for him to finish, Lottie talked nonstop about Josie, a super successful agent. Sure, my kiddo was only ten, but she knew her own mind and had ambition. And from everything I knew about Josie, she’d be a pretty impressive role model.
A good ten minutes of Lottie’s gushing later, I snagged Pearce’s gaze.
It wasn’t necessary to indicate I needed to go or that Lottie wanted to wish him luck, as he immediately said something to Cassius, which he followed up with a smack to his teammate’s gut when he laughed.
Then he was jogging over to us. Each footfall of him getting closer, heat licked over my skin.
Who knew unwavering eye contact could be so damn intense?
By the time he reached us, my body vibrated with the need to scoop him close and lay one on him. It took everything in me to keep my hands to myself, but one kiss did not make a relationship.
“Hey,” he greeted. “You guys heading home?”
There went my crazy pulse again. “Yeah.” I bobbed my head, aware that I hadn’t blinked yet.
I cleared my throat and forced myself to look away and take a much-needed blink.
Fuck, I needed to get myself under control, but Pearce running toward me had been the start of what dreams were made from.
It was kinda sad he was strapped down so I couldn’t see his swinging dick.
“Uhm… yeah, so Lottie just wanted to wish you luck,” I said, the thought of his dick taking up residence in my overactive imagination.
At the slight widening of his eyes and then the quirk of his brow, it was clear he knew my thoughts weren’t perhaps suitable for public sharing. When he flicked his attention to Lottie and lowered to a knee, I took a steadying breath.
Pearce Malcolm was tying me in knots or simply turning me on, and while I was on board with that as he was fucking hot and one of my favorite people in the world, I didn’t know how to behave.
Not when we had so much to say and explore.
My hands twitched at my sides as they carried on chatting, tempted to haul him into me. Somehow, I resisted.
“—got this.”
“Thanks, Lottie girl. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I can stay up so we can celebrate.”
Pearce grinned, his gaze briefly flicking to mine.
In the short connection, warmth brushed across my skin at the promise obvious in that one look.
He was absolutely wanting a follow-up to what I started earlier.
I dragged my bottom lip in my mouth, releasing it slowly and being as subtle as a wrecking ball. Pink hit his cheeks, and I grinned.
“I think it’s best if you go straight to bed after the game. You’ll need to be as healthy as possible if you want to be here for the next game, right?”
I smirked at his save and would make sure she was sound asleep by the time Pearce got home. Thoughts of how to celebrate bubbled to life. “Pearce is right, Lottie, so no arguing, okay?”
Despite her loud sigh, she bobbed her head. “Okay.”
With a wink, Pearce leaned forward and gently hugged Lottie. “Love you, kiddo. Cheer hard for me, okay?”
“Always,” she answered seriously, and my heart squeezed when she followed up with “Love you.”
Emotion colored Pearce’s face as he squeezed her and stood. He didn’t give me time to hesitate or overthink. In the space of a breath, he was in my space and wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug, his nose buried against my neck.
Hugging him back, I barely held back the ripple of longing racing through me, but when his lips pressed against my neck, I gulped.
“You’ll do brilliantly,” I finally whispered.
“Focus,” I managed to say, a reminder to the both of us that in this moment, the game was everything. “Keep your eye on Lemington.”
Before he angled back, he placed another kiss to my neck. Goose bumps broke free, and I eased away.
“I’ve got this.”
“You do.” I squeezed his arms, reluctant to fully let go but knew I must.
“I wish you could stay.” Guilt attempted to spark to life. But before it could take shape, Pearce continued, “But you both at my place is an awesome close second. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“You don’t have to rush b—”
The incredulous look on his face had me cutting myself off.
“Or you can get home as quickly as you can, and I’ll be up waiting for you.”
My words earned me a heart-flipping grin. He leaned forward once again, his mouth moving close to my ear. “Feel free to look in the second drawer in my bedside table. You know,” he said, pulling away to make eye contact, “if you get bored.”
With those final words, he winked, ruffled Lottie’s hair, and jogged back to the court.
Dishes done and Lottie in bed, I couldn’t wait any longer. Curiosity had a reputation for sure, but it had been Pearce’s tone that did it for me. I didn’t expect anything but heat and orgasms.
Still buzzing from the Eagles’ win, I opened the door to the room I’d never spent any time in, for all the obvious reasons.
The scent of Pearce’s bodywash greeted me, familiar and doing nothing to reduce the electricity zipping through me.
From the doorway, I easily spotted the bedside table.
I gulped as a flush of anticipation raced to my chest.
Fuck, this was really happening. Pearce and me. I was about to rifle through his drawers, and even though it was with his permission, it was another step in the direction of something so much more than I’d anticipated with him.
With each step closer, my dick throbbed, swelling in my pants. Tempted to squeeze myself, I zeroed in on the drawer instead, welcoming the rush of anticipation. If the evening went as I hoped, the only hand touching my dick would be Pearce’s.
I opened the drawer, my eyes widening before a soft chuckle escaped.
There were enough toys and lube in the oversized drawer to rival a sex shop, and what was even better was several were still in their packages.
Sitting on Pearce’s unmade bed, I pulled out the four different bottles of lube.
One I was familiar with, my favorite brand.
The other three had me snorting. Who knew lube could add an extra tingle to my prostate?
I placed them back in the drawer, all except for my favorite brand, and smirked at the varying dildos.
It seemed like Pearce liked to have fun and enjoyed variety.
As soon as that thought settled in my mind, I blanched.
Variety was awesome, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t after something more or not interested in monogamy, right?
Rubbing a hand over my face and pissed off that I was getting way ahead of myself, I cracked my neck and peered once again inside the drawer.
I snagged a plastic-wrapped package, mouth lifting immediately and my ass clenching in anticipation. Now this I could totally get onboard with, and I half expected it was what Pearce may have had in mind too.
I stood and made my way to close his bedroom door, creating an additional barrier should Lottie come hunting for me. As I closed it, a text alert made me jump. I chuckled as I tugged my phone out of my pocket, then read Pearce’s response to my congratulatory text.
My already hard cock turned to steel, my breath picking up as his words sank in.
Pearce:
That last point all I thought about was sucking you off. On my way.
Fuck, Pearce teasing like this was a whole new side that I was eager to see more of. My grip tightened on the sealed package, and my pulse fluttered.
Back at the bed, I threw my phone on the mattress and tore the package open after a couple of attempts.
The glue or whatever the hell it was that they sealed the damn thing shut with was stupidly secure.
Finally freed, the plug felt smooth in my hand.
Only once had I tried a plug before, and after I’d gotten over my initial embarrassment, it had been sexy as hell and had done the prep work nicely.
Me doing this now with Pearce not only on my mind but on his way home? Heck yes, I was absolutely up for it.
Snagging my phone, I reopened the messages and flicked on the camera symbol. I aimed at the plug, the empty packaging in the background. With the photo taken, I typed: That last point all I thought about was you in me. I best put this to good use.
I hit Send before I could second-guess, barely hearing the whoosh of the message being sent over the pounding in my ears. Taking a deep breath, I placed my cell back down and focused on the smooth black plug. “Right,” I said into the empty room. “I’ve got this.”