Bonus Scene
CASSIUS
While the academy had been updated since I’d been a summer student here, the distinctive smell of sweaty socks and ass hadn’t changed one bit.
I turned at the quiet grunt, taking in Dylan’s pinched expression.
There was no holding back my snort of amusement.
“Jesus, what is that stench?”
I took a deep, elaborate whiff, regretting it immediately.
Fuck me, the locker room was rank.
“That,” I spluttered, “is the scent of desperation, competition, and college players spunking in their socks.”
“For fuck’s sake, Cass, seriously?” My husbutt shivered, the tinge on his handsome face a little green.
“Hey, some of the best weeks of my life were spent psyching myself up for practice in that locker room,” I drawled, earning me an eye roll.
Dylan’s “Uh-huh” floated back to me, only just discernible since he was hightailing it out of the locker room.
“What?” I called out after him with a chuckle, following him out and heading back to the main court in the academy. “At least in my top ten… okay, maybe fifteen.”
Since moments with Dylan made up the majority of my top ten spots, I could grudgingly admit, my time at the academy was closer to number fifteen. However, being here as a college player had been significant.
Did I think I would have still gone pro and made it to the League without a coveted spot at Montview? Damn straight I would have. But Montview had helped me along the way.
The echo of balls being bounced around the court surrounded me, and I stopped on the line next to Dylan.
The current summer students were running drills, preparing for tomorrow’s final game of their training season. It was the reason I was here—courtesy of Pearce calling in a favor to play in the pro-player team against the college rookies.
A bunch of defensive drills were being led by Eddie. Pearce was at the sideline, talking to a couple of the college kids. Gale Sutton and his husband, Jayden, were nowhere to be seen. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they were tucked away in a storage room somewhere hooking up.
“I wish I’d got to see you play when you were here.”
Surprised by Dylan’s comment, I angled toward him. “Really? Why?”
He shrugged a little sheepishly. “Missing out on any of your top fifteen moments sucks ass.”
My grin was immediate, as was my hand on his shoulder as I sidled up to him. “Considering you were involved in the other fourteen in some shape or form, I think you’ll survive.” But fuck if it wasn’t sweet as hell when he got needy like this.
A year on since we’d exchanged vows, add in however many years of being best friends, and his pouting was as surprising as it was awesome.
While I was the possessive asshole in our relationship, every now and then, my hot cop liked to get a bit growly.
I’d never tire of hearing any possessive sounds he sent my way. And a pouty lip? Fuck, I’d happily nibble on the flesh before sucking on his tongue.
“You know…” I wrapped my other arm around him, forcing Dylan to tilt his head back to make eye contact. “We don’t technically need to be here right now. And you know what I never did when I spent a summer here?”
From the amusement in Dylan’s gaze, I suspected he knew the direction of my thoughts. My twitching dick pressing against his was likely a giveaway too.
“Washed your kit?” He quirked his brow. “’Cause based on the stink of that locker room—”
“Fucked anyone’s mouth because they thought they were funny,” I sassed.
His lips parted, breath hitching before he slammed his mouth closed.
Amused that I’d rendered Dylan speechless, I dipped low and pressed a kiss below his ear. “Or anyone’s mouth while I was here. Not even a handie. We could totally knock number fifteen off its spot.”
I pulled away, noting the heat in Dylan’s eyes.
Jesus, seeing him this way, making him hot under the collar, and even better, following through was fucking epic.
“We can totally sneak off and check out the creaky double bed in our assigned room. No one would—” My words cut off with a grunt as a basketball hit me on the ass.
I whirled around, finding a smirking Pearce a few feet away.
“Hey, asshole. You wanna pick up that ball to… fondle rather than giving the kids a show.”
I narrowed my gaze at him, wondering why I ever missed playing on the same team as him.
“Hey, Coach, I don’t mind one bit.”
My attention flicked to the six-foot-eight “kid” whose grin was wide as he stood a few feet away, basketball in hand, and looking highly entertained by the “show” I was apparently putting on.
“Jackson.” Pearce’s groan was immediate, as was the shake of his head.
And since Pearce didn’t look back to check it was Niles Jackson giving me and his coach shit, I suspected this was common for the young player.
“Put your eyeballs back in your sockets and go and give me five laps.”
Amused by Pearce, my lips twitched. Seeing him exasperated was kind of fun and something I hadn’t enjoyed in person for a while.
“Aw, Coach, six weeks of no action… I need to get my kicks where—”
“Make that ten laps.” Pearce turned in Jackson’s direction, no doubt shooting him the stink eye.
Me? I was entertained as fuck.
Not that I wanted anyone eye-fucking my husband, but I understood why.
Dylan Britton was hands down the sexiest asshole on the planet. He quite possibly had the prettiest too.
And damn if the thought didn’t have my dick twitching.
Sensibly, Jackson started doing laps, still sporting a giant grin.
From what I’d seen of the forward, he had some mad skills. I’d taken in enough of his college game replays to know there was real talent there. Apparently, he was a mouthy shit too.
And hell if that wasn’t something I could relate to.
“How’s coaching this camp going?” Dylan didn’t hold back his amused tone, his gaze flicking from Jackson and back to Pearce. “Looks like you have your hands full.”
“I swear I must have done some serious fucked-up shit in a past life,” he grumbled, crossing his arms and staring after Jackson, who’d just done his first pass.
“Karma,” I said with a nod. “I dig it.”
Pearce whipped his narrowed eyes in my direction. “You should totally come on board next summer.”
I snorted out a laugh. “Nuh-huh. That’s never going to happen.” Especially considering the evil glint Pearce shot my way.
Back when we’d played for Minnesota together, we’d regularly pulled pranks on each other. My joining the training crew would open up a whirlwind of opportunities for him to get me back for some of the shit I pulled on him.
“Plus, my husband and my toddler may have something to say if I abandoned them for six weeks. I spend enough time away from them as it is.” My tone was light, but I meant every word.
Playing away was hard.
I missed Dylan and Mikey every single moment I was away. Hell, just these three days away from Mikey, who was with my folks, was difficult enough.
Pearce huffed out a breath. “Fair enough.” He bobbed his head in understanding.
With Eddie on the coaching team and the couple bringing their daughter to camp with them, they didn’t have some of the difficulties we faced. Though I suspected away games were just as tricky for him as they were for me.
Hell, maybe even worse.
Lottie was a tween with a big-ass, awesome personality.
I was relieved as hell that wasn’t something I’d ever have to contend with.
“Anyhow, you good to come out on the court?”
“Cass would love to.” Dylan’s hand went to the small of my back.
So much for sneaking off for a quick handie.
I flicked him a glare as Pearce jogged away with a chuckle. He responded with an amused grin.
“Go and show them how it’s done, babe.”
The fact that his lips twitched told me that he hadn’t been joking on our trip here. The asshole had made wagers with some of the guys on my home team, betting against me.
The fuck I’d let these college kids whoop my ass.
Sure, some of tomorrow’s pro players were former players, like Eddie, but like hell I’d go down without a fight.
“Fine. But I’ll be saving all my skill for tomorrow’s game.
Wouldn’t want to scare them all off.” Ignoring, Pearce’s chuckle behind me, I stepped into Dylan’s space as Pearce left.
“I’m going to need a thorough massage after today’s practice.
” My voice dipped low. “And then tomorrow, when our team wins, you’re going to treat me to something special. ”
Despite the heat in his gaze, Dylan smirked. “Something special, huh?”
“Fuck, yes. You in my jersey, naked from the waist down, on all fours, mouth and ass cheeks wide open.”
The smile slipped from his lips, the heat in his eyes smoldering in their intensity.
My grin was instant.
I ignored my aching cock and slanted my lips over his mouth, swiping my tongue along his, once, twice before pulling away.
“And—” he croaked, and quickly cleared his throat. “And if you lose?”
I arched my brow as I backed up. If I kept my hands on him any longer, I’d be dragging him back into the disgusting locker room, which I suspect will piss him off. “You really want to be sending those negative vibes out into the world?”
The bob of his Adam’s apple was loud. It was the shake of his head that had me wondering why I thought all this teasing was a good idea, though. But at the hitch of his breath and the salacious smile forming, training with a giant hard-on would be totally worth.
Especially when he said, “I’ll call the station with these kids’ names, see if any of them have any unpaid tickets I can get them arrested for.”
My laughter was loud and abrupt. “Well, only playing half a team would help our chances, but the thought of my prize is all the incentive I need.” With those parting words, I winked, turned, and bolted toward Pearce.
It looked like I needed to take this practice and tomorrow’s game seriously.
Dylan open wide like that…. A shuddery breath escaped me at the visual.
Not a chance I wouldn’t be collecting tomorrow.