Chapter 14 #2
“Tomorrow, no distractions. You wake up to your alarm and follow your usual routine, or as much as you can since you’re playing in Indiana.”
Surprised by the seriousness in his voice, my brows dipped low.
“You will not break your routine, something I know you rely on, because we’re here.”
Not sure how to respond to his tone, I quirked my brow at him, maybe forcing a little bit of challenge into that one move.
“I mean it, Pearce.”
My smile was instant. “You know, I kinda like it when you’re being all growly.” I bounced my brows up and down. “Never thought I’d like this domineering side, but it’s hot.”
Rather than joining in, Eddie tilted his head back and sighed. While a reaction I was used to from others, I wasn’t from Eddie. I didn’t like it one bit. Eddie always took my shit, my jesting with soft smiles and amusement.
“Pearce,” he finally said, gaze back on me again.
That one look had me sitting up. He stepped back a little so he could see my face.
The distance felt wider than the few inches it was.
“I need you to be serious about this. You’re playing the best games of your life. Distraction right now is not okay.”
He studied me, and for a second, dread landed in my gut, only disappearing when he edged closer and settled on his knees between my thighs. When his palms found purchase on the fabric of my shorts, I exhaled, the unsteadiness unfamiliar.
“I can’t be the reason something goes wrong. If Lottie and me being here puts you off your game, I’ll nev—”
“No.” I shook my head quickly, clamping my hands on his shoulders. “You’re not a distraction.”
His pursed lips told me enough. He didn’t believe me.
“I like you being here,” I continued. “And if I screw up or we don’t make it any further or don’t win the championship, then that’s on me and the team.
” The intensity of his stare didn’t waver.
Fuck. I forced my muscles to relax and pulled out a smirk.
“You know, some studies have shown orgasms help improve a player’s game.
Something about endorphins and relaxation or something. ”
He still wasn’t buying it, but me followIng up with how he and Lottie being here made my house feel like a home for the first time ever, and me wanting to win for him and to make Lottie proud didn’t seem like the best idea.
While for me, we had been in the making for years, I knew it was different for him.
“What studies?” The arched brow called bullshit.
“Studies from smart-as-fuck sciency people.” I edged closer, only stopping so I didn’t fall off the bed.
“I promise I’ll go running and stick to my routine,” I relented.
Not that it was a hardship. Did I want as many moments with Eddie as possible?
Of course I did. I also wanted to win the championship.
He studied me, his warm breath brushing across my skin, his mouth deliciously close to mine. “You promise?”
“I promise. And I have fifteen minutes before I have to leave, so I’m happy to seal it with a bj.”
He snorted, finally, and my heart raced for a different reason when he leaned in, captured my mouth, and his deft fingers dipped beneath the waistband of my training shorts.
Between practice, traveling, kicking ass at games, the buildup to our final round one game, and spending time with Lottie and Eddie whenever I got the chance, I went to bed exhausted each night.
Admittedly it was the best type of exhausted, one where I smirked in post-orgasm glow the nights I was home.
What didn’t happen, though, was sleeping next to the man I was desperate to curl around.
And while I understood his reluctance to share our new, still-yet-to-be-clarified relationship status, it didn’t stop me pouting every night when Eddie skulked to his room. It didn’t help that he and Lottie were flying back home tomorrow either.
Lottie’s temp was right on the normal mark, too, which meant she’d joined her dad for tonight’s game. They were courtside. I figured there’d be less chance of her getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the crowd.
I dragged the towel over my face while listening to Coach. We were in the final time-out of overtime. Perhaps League fans loved the thrill of this extra time in a playoff game, but fuck, I hated it.
The pressure was on, and with sweat rolling down my back and my pulse pounding loudly in my ears, it took every ounce of control I had to focus on Coach’s words.
“—let Bradshaw get a touch. Marlow, stick to Hender like glue. You’ve got a minute to make this happen.”
“We’ve got this, Coach.” Ollie’s tone left no room for doubt. Like the man, his voice was firm, solid. Damn, our captain held a conviction that was enviable. He scanned our team, making the briefest of eye contact with all of us, then it was game on.
We headed back onto the court. I cracked my neck and focused on Johnstone on the opposing team. The fucker would not be racking up more points if I had any say in it.
The whistle blew, and I moved. The sound of the crowd became white noise as I zoned in on the play, the ball. Seeing my chance, I stole the ball, a rush of adrenaline jolting me into action when my hands connected with leather.
With no time to hesitate, I shifted, dribbled, half of my attention on the pass, the other on Hender, who was coming at me. Cassius opened for me, and I passed, fast and smooth, a leap in my chest turning to fucking joy when he caught, shifted, and shot a three-pointer.
I was already all over Bradshaw like white on rice as their swingman bound ahead.
The turn of his shoulder told me his plan, and thank Christ Cassius intercepted.
Spinning so fast the room blurred, I met Cassius step for step, covering him as much as possible.
Joel broke free, and the sweet fucking genius Cassius was all but flew in Joel’s direction, feet barely touching the floor.
A split second later, Joel had the ball in hand and scored.
Fifteen seconds, give or take. There was no time to check the clock.
And we were moving, feet hammering, hearts blazing, desperate for the ball. A rebound, a miss, and we had possession. With each step, each move I made, I counted down, sure any second now, the game would be called.
And we lost the ball, Hender grabbing two points in the next breath.
But we were still up. Like hell would I let them score again.
Duncan made the pass, and I swiped the ball from the air, long strides taking me toward our basket.
Blue jerseys were everywhere, blocking my path.
They could blur my vision in color all they wanted.
The longer the ball was in my hands, the closer we were to time.
Yellow appeared at my side. Ollie. The ball was in his grip before I could rethink my options, and the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game and the Eagles officially in the semis.
I whooped, hollered, Ollie crashing into me, Cassius a second later. “Fuck, man.” I ruffled Cassius’s hair, grinning wide as we parted. He didn’t even swat me away, his own exuberance rivalling my own.
We clapped, and cheered, and did the obligatory rounds. It was at least three long minutes before I sought out Eddie. Still seated, his gaze was already on me, a wide smile on his face. He held Lottie’s hand, and I kinda expected that was to make her stay in her seat.
“Where you going?”
Cassius’s voice caught me short, not having realized I’d started to move away and in Eddie’s direction.
I didn’t have time to answer before his attention moved, clocking Eddie, and he snorted and shook his head. “Fuck, man, I really hope you’re getting some since you’re so damn whipped.”
The urge to flip him off rode me, but that was the sort of shit that would end up in the media and get me in trouble with PR. “Screw you,” I mouthed, earning me a laugh.
“You wish, Malcolm.”
I rolled my eyes. “As much as I wish my ass was on fire from explosive diarrhea.”
Disgust colored Cassius’s face, as I anticipated. The guy paled at any mention of shit. It was fucking hilarious.
“What?” My tone took on a sugary sweetness. “You’re looking a little peaky there, Cass. Need the bathroom? Imodium?”
“Dude, not cool, man. Not cool.”
Did I feel even a little guilty knowing what his kryptonite was? Hell no. The fucker gave it back just as hard.
I blew him a kiss, smirking at the thought of the gift I’d left him in his locker. The asshole was going to flip his shit. With that thought, and chuckling to myself, I left Cassius and finally made my way to Eddie.
As much as I want a victory kiss with the man, I settled for a tight hug and a quick inhalation of his familiar scent.
“You were incredible.” He squeezed me hard before easing away. “Congratulations, Pearce. The Bulldogs next.” Bright-eyed and looking so proud my gut clenched, Eddie grinned widely.
“Thanks,” I said, emotion clogging my throat.
It wasn’t like he’d never greeted me this way before, but now, with everything, his words, the way he stared at me, it felt a whole heap more meaningful.
I coughed lightly and focused on Lottie.
All but vibrating at her dad’s side, she launched at me.
I reacted quickly, trying to slow her movement and be careful with how I hugged her back.
“Pearce,” she said a little breathlessly, “that three-pointer in the third, and the way you owned Barry, kept blocking his shots….” She pulled away, eyes wide and words trailing off.
“Got your seal of approval, huh?”
She bobbed her head. “Dad got it right. You were incredible.”
My heart stumbled at the passion in her tone, and once again, emotion settled in my chest. Jesus, between the two Phelpses, I was going to be ruined.
Instead of answering straight away, I hugged her carefully, my gaze traveling to Eddie.
His unwavering stare filled with emotion I felt deep inside was something I’d never tire of.
As if seeing my struggle to get my emotions in check, he tapped on Lottie’s arm. “Come on. Let Pearce up for air. He needs to go and change so we can head home.”
Our eyes connected, and I desperately wished there was more truth to his words. With their flight tomorrow, it was a brutal reminder that they had a life miles away from my own.
Brushing away the ache unsettling my gut, I plastered on a smile and eased away. “Give me fifteen and I’ll be right out.”
“Okay.” Lottie followed up with a loud yawn, not surprising since it was way past her bedtime, and settled her butt back down.
Making my way to the locker room, I tried to focus on the win, and how once Lottie was fast asleep, Eddie and I could have our own celebration.
The thought was enough to have my dick taking interest. Since that first night, we hadn’t tried to fuck again.
Sure, bjs and handies were fucking spectacular, and I was so not complaining, but hell, I wanted to get inside his ass.
The volume in the locker room had me grinning when I stepped inside. Energy vibrated around the room, my teammates talking animatedly and laughing. It was enough to stop me thinking with my dick for a few seconds and instead focus on Cassius.
Standing by his locker, he tugged off his jersey, laughing at something Joel said. Like clockwork, he reached in a tugged out his towel, anal douches springing out and landing at his feet. The one smacking him in his face on the way down, though, had me roaring.
“The fuck?”
About five seconds passed before understanding registered, and the douche he was inspecting flew through the air, smacking Joel on the forehead.
Dead. I was going to die from laughter, but if that didn’t kill me, the daggers Cassius shot my way would do it.
“You fucking wankstain.” He narrowed his gaze and took a step in my direction.
“Hey,” I managed, despite my overspilling laughter. “Hygiene is important. I was being generous. Thoughtful, even, by sharing.”
He froze, paling. “For the love of God, tell me they weren’t—” He swallowed hard and for a moment there I thought he was going to spew. “—used.”
I bit the inside of my cheeks before saying, “They’re new.
” And then he was on me, getting me in a headlock and twisting my nipple.
Between my laughter, I gasped for air, tears trickling down my cheeks.
“They’re new,” I grunted, trying to twist away from his bruising fingers, and doing a piss-poor job at reining in my amusement.
“They better fucking be.” He loosened his grip and shoved me away, his gaze narrowing. He didn’t do a great job at hiding the humor in them, though.
“Yep, and all yours. Have fun with them.” I wiped at my eyes, still chuckling.
“You can clear them the fuck up,” he ordered, heading back to his locker just as Joel leaned down and picked up one of the douches.
“What you got these for? My sister has one of these, said they’re for turkey basting or something.” Joel stared at the object in his hand and squeezed the bulb, a whoosh of air seeping from it.
And I lost it for a second time, having no choice but to sit down rather than collapsing, my shaking body struggling to keep me upright.
“What?” he asked incredulously, Joel never seeming more like the sweet, na?ve soul he was than in this moment, and glancing around confused as fuck as the whole room overflowed with raucous laughter.
“I swear this is not my job.” Ollie peered up at the ceiling, hands on hips. But I knew our captain would step up and stop the kid from squirting himself in the face with the anal douche. He was a good guy like that.