Chapter 23
Theodore Knight
F uck.
I’ve lost every thought swirling in my brain, the only thing that remains is Jazmine Allen standing in another man’s jersey. As soon as she came closer to me, I knew it wasn’t mine. Jealousy is something I rarely feel, but at this moment, I want to strip her down and take her right here, so everyone knows Jazmine Allen is mine.
Jaz looks up, her eyes not straying from mine. “Is that a promise, Pretty Boy?”
My cheeks heat at the nickname as well as her evident flirting. Jazmine has never been this bold with me before. This may have started as a game—me flirting with her, Jazmine rolling her eyes and always having a witty come back. Yet right now, it is anything but that.
My tongue runs along my lips. “Yeah, Princess. It’s a fucking promise,”
Jazmine starts to reply, however, the rest of my teammates interrupt. I grit my teeth and bite my tongue. They have the worst timing.
“Coach wants us back in the locker room.” Austin says.
My eyes are still focused on Jaz when I answer. “I’m coming,” The tension between us is blatant, ready to explode at any moment. “I’ll find you, Princess.”
Everyone is riding the high of winning as I enter our change rooms. Heading straight for the showers, I scrub my body and let my mind wander.
Jazmine and I have been dancing around each other over the past couple weeks, it seems she might be giving into the attraction between us. Despite what Jaz thinks, it’s been there since freshman year, but other things disrupted it.
Our competitive natures were the first obstacles, while our busy schedules were the next. The forced proximity we have been thrusted into with our research project has built the tension within inches of shattering.
I don’t know who to thank, whether it’s the universe or some god, but ending up with Jazmine for this project was the best possible outcome .
Cold water shakes me from my thoughts. I turn off the shower, wrap my towel around my waist and head for the locker room. Once all the team has changed into our casual clothes—some people put their suits back on, usually if they aren’t going out after—Coach Morgan clears his throat.
“Congrats boys, that was a great game. I know you are all itching to go celebrate, so I won’t keep you too long. Just wanted to let you guys know, training will be moved to Wednesday this week for extra recovery time.”
Shit.
Jazmine and I are meeting on Wednesday so our project can be finished earlier. I’ll need to postpone our study session, which I know Jaz won’t be happy about, but I’m sure I can make it up to her. The due date for our project is close to a month away, however, we still have an incredible amount of things to do.
“All right, go on. Don’t be idiots otherwise you’ll be running laps,” Coach Morgan says sternly.
As the designated driver, Austin, Zander and Logan pile into my car, barely fitting amongst our bags. Drinking isn’t on my radar during the season, so I am always carting people around to parties. Not that I mind, I’d rather know they are safe and not drink driving than waiting for a call that someone I care about is gone.
“So,” Austin says, dragging the word out. “What’s going on between you and Jazmine?”
My knuckles tighten around the steering wheel. “Nothing,” A mixture of laughs and snorts come from the backseat. “What? ”
“Sure,” Logan starts, “You definitely don’t want to fuck her,”
My knuckles start to turn white. “Don’t talk about her like that,”
I hate that he says it so casually. As if I want to have her in my bed for one night then move on with my life. After three years of being entranced by Jazmine Allen, there is no way I can live my life without her. How will I convince her of this? I have no clue.
Logan’s eyes widened as he looked between Zander and Austin. He swallowed before continuing. “Sorry. Didn’t realise this was serious,”
“It’s—”
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Zander says, unable to hold in his laugh. “You’re obsessed with her. I mean, seriously, when was the last time you had sex?”
My eyebrows furrow as I try to think. When was the last time I got laid? “I—Fuck. I don’t even remember,”
The three boys burst into laughter. “Wow,” Austin clapped. “Another reformed playboy in our friend group,”
I roll my eyes. “Austin you barely even make the cut for a playboy. You looked at Athena once and became a lovesick puppy.”
A pink hue covers Austin’s cheeks. “Are you blushing right now? What has Athena done to you?” I ask.
“Hey, I’m in love. Don’t knock it till you try it,”
“Don’t worry, Theo.” Zander says, patting my shoulder. “You’ll win your girl over eventually,”
My girl .
Yeah. I could get used to that.
** *
The party is alive, music echoing from the lounge room while the spotlights flicker in time with the beat.
Julian agreed to host the first party of the season as long as nothing was trashed. His house is two stories and a pool takes up most of the space in the backyard. Julian said his grandparents left him the house as part of their will, but I think there is more to the story.
I split off from the others in search of a curly blonde-haired girl whose body is seared in my brain. With the amount of people, finding Jazmine could be a near impossible task. I head to the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. Turning around, I see Willow flirting with Logan.
“Willow!” she turns her head to me.
“Theo,” she says, a smirk plastered on her face. “Looking for someone in particular?”
I roll my eyes. “Do you know where she could be?”
“She and Athena went to the dance floor,”
“Okay. Thanks,” I turn on my heels, heading straight to the lounge room which has been changed into a dance floor for the night. After making my way through the swarms of people, I find Jaz and Athena.
“Hey, Theo.” Athena says, before rising on her toes to peer over my shoulder.
“Looking for your boyfriend?” She nods, excitement written all over her face. “I think he went to beer pong,” Athena shakes her head, leaving to find him. She waves to Jazmine, mouthing something before she leaves.
I let my gaze fall onto Jaz’s outfit. She changed. Jazmine is no longer wearing another guy’s jersey. No, this is even worse: she is wearing mine. Licking my lips, I move closer to her. “I see you changed,”
Jazmine’s eyes darken, desire evident by her enlarged pupils. “Oh, this. Yeah, some guy I know gets very jealous. I thought I would ease his peace of mind,”
My blood heats, rushing to my cock. She wore it for me. Fuck me. I’m not going to survive the night at this rate. I lean down, my hands resting on her hips. My thumbs draw small circles above her hip bone and over the jersey. I long to touch Jazmine's ivory skin to see how she will react.
I tug her closer to me. Our bodies clash and I lower my lips to the crevice between Jazmine's neck and head. My breath skates across her skin and I hear her breath hitch. Not letting my lips brush her skin, I move them against Jaz's ear.
“Is that so?” I murmur.
There is no space between us, as Jazmine's arms reach up to my neck. She tightens her grip on me and my heart surges. She wants me to remain this close to her. I can see Jaz's pulse hammering, as her breath reaches my skin.
I can’t believe my restraint is still intact. I’ve never wanted to taste someone this badly. It’s raw and feral, like a wild animal is rattling against my ribs, begging to get out and claim her .
Jazmine tilts her head back from my neck, leaving our lips inches away. My control is close to snapping the longer we remain still.
Jazmine and I jump when someone calls my name. Accidentally, I dig my hands into Jazmine’s hips, holding her tighter.
“Theo,” Julian repeats.
“Sorry, Princess. I’ll find you. Don’t think I will forget,” Jazmine nods quickly, spins on her heels and bolts.
Fuck. Something inside me believes the opportunity to kiss Jazmine may not come again. I tighten my fists and turn to face Julian.
“Someone better be fucking dying,”
“Worse. Some girls just said they saw a guy spike their drinks. I need you to help me throw him out.”
“Fine. Where is he?”
***
After twenty minutes of arguing with this piece of shit, Julian and I got him to leave. He is lucky we didn’t call the cops.
Julian apologised to the girls as if it was his fault. I already knew he wasn’t going to get drunk but he has basically become a bodyguard now.
I, however, went to find Jazmine. Again.
A hand brushes against my back. “Theo,”
Fuck my life. Could this night get any worse. Kierra O’Brien is standing in front of me .
“What’s up, Kierra?”
“Just wanted to see you, want to go upstairs?” she purred.
I hold in my need to gag. “I told you months ago, Kierra, I’m not interested.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t need to give you a reason. No is my answer,”
“Fine,” she stalks away, most likely moving on to the next football player she can find.
I look across the room to see Jazmine’s eyes on me. Shit. Did she see me talking to Kierra? Jaz turns towards the door.
“Jaz, wait up.”
My voice brings her to a halt as I zig zag between the crowds. The dirty looks I earn from others when I accidentally run into them doesn’t deter me.
I pick up my speed so I can catch Jaz before she leaves. Her body is tense when I appear in front of her. Anger written on every crevice of her face.
“What do you want, Theo?”
She definitely saw me talking to Kierra. “I told you I would find you. Are you leaving?”
“Yep,”
Fuck. This is not how I wanted tonight to go. “I’ll drive you home,”
“Don’t you want to go with your friend ?” Her head nodded towards Kierra.
“That wasn’t what it looked like,”
“Sure. It’s fine you don’t owe me an explanation, ”
Jazmine’s cheeks were flushed, her fists tight. I’ve never been a fan of possessive women in the past but right now, Jazmine looks utterly fuckable.
“Jealous looks good on you Princess,”
Her face crinkled. “I’m not jealous,”
I scoff. Yeah, right. “Look me in the eyes and say it,”
Jazmine snaps her attention back to me. "Fuck off. I don't need this. Bye, Theodore.”
And just like that, I’m back to square one.