27. Austin
TWENTY-SEVEN
AUSTIN
ME:
On my way with Len’s pool floaty and sun hat. Not sure if you left the kitchen lights on purposely, but I shut them off. Be there in ten.
PARIS:
OMG, thank you. We were in a rush to get out of the house. The boys heard the word ‘pool’ and nothing else after that. I’ve got Len sitting in the shade with Norah until you get here. I was just worried about her head getting sunburned.
ME:
I don’t blame you. A few days of chilly weather and rain, now we’re right back to the pits of hell. Welcome to Ohio, I guess.
PARIS:
Truest statement I’ve ever heard. See you in a few.
ME:
Can’t wait, Baby Girl.
I toss my phone into the passenger seat, turning my head as I back out of Paris’ driveway.
Theo and Finley put together a last-minute barbecue to celebrate the beginning of the Renegades’ season.
While training camp started two weeks ago, this is technically everyone’s last weekend of relaxation before the season begins and they’re unavailable for the next six months, maybe more.
Hopefully more.
Things with Paris and me have been amazing since my talk with Memphis.
It’s been about two weeks, and she and I have spent as much time as possible together.
It’s a little tricky to be affectionate with the kids around, but we’re making it work.
At this point, we’re still moving slowly, which means we’ve decided not to let them in on the fact that we’re dating just yet.
It’s not that we want to lie to them, but this is a delicate subject that neither of us has ever experienced before, and we want to make sure we’re doing it right.
For now, my main priority is showing her that I’m not planning on going anywhere—that she can trust me to stick around when shit gets muddy.
When she’s ready to take the next step and have a discussion with the kids, I’ll be right there to hold her hand and remind them of the same.
The ride to Theo and Finley’s is short, and before I know it, I’m pulling my truck through the gates at the end of their driveway.
I’m surprised by all the vehicles that line the path as I pull up, although I shouldn’t be.
Our group is as tight as they come, but we seem to grow every single year.
The thought of how we’ve become one crazy family over the last four years makes my heart swell because it’s not something I’ve really gotten to experience since my parents passed.
Sure, I had teammates and friends. I had Bianca until I didn’t.
But none of them felt like home the way the Renegades do—the way Paris and the kids do.
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for this group, and I’m just so fucking grateful that they took me in even when I was injured and had nothing left to offer them.
Before I even kill the engine, I can hear the music and commotion coming from the backyard.
Rhys’ happy scream projects, followed by the sound of skin hitting water.
I’d bet any amount of money that he just did a cannonball, probably competing with Rowan for the day’s biggest splash.
That’s one thing about those two boys…everything is a contest, on and off the field.
It makes them better athletes, especially since they’re such good sports about it.
They always congratulate each other and the other kids, even when the game doesn’t go the way they hoped.
I grab my phone, pulling up Paris’ contact info and hitting the call button. She answers after one ring, her soft, excited voice warming me from the inside out. “Hello?”
“Hey, baby,” I say. “Can you see if Finley or one of the other girls can keep an eye on the kids for a few minutes? I brought some snacks, and I’m going to need help carrying them inside.”
“Yeah, of course,” she replies without hesitation. “Len is in the playpen under the oak tree with Norah, and the boys are playing pool basketball with Maddox and Theo. They probably won’t even notice I’m gone.”
“Perfect. Now, get that fine ass out here.”
She chuckles. “Yes, Coach.”
This fucking girl is going to be the death of me.
I step out as I anxiously await her arrival, opening the back door and gathering the items I brought with me.
The late summer air is hot against my skin, with a gentle breeze that blows just enough to make it bearable.
I’m sure it’ll be in the fifties again next week, because the weather here in Cleveland is, without a doubt, unpredictable and really fucking confusing.
We can have all four seasons in one day, and the lifelong residents stay completely unruffled by it.
“Hey there, handsome. Come here often?” a familiar, sultry voice asks, causing a wicked grin to spread across my face.
I turn, nearly choking on my own tongue as I take in the sight before me.
Paris is in a red two-piece bathing suit, a sheer white sarong wrapped loosely around her hips.
The stretch marks she was so self-conscious about the first night we were together peek through the fabric, making my chest swell with pride.
Her supple tits are settled into the cups of her top like the thing was made just for her, daring me to suck big, dark marks across them so every motherfucker in this city knows that she belongs to me.
“Holy shit,” I growl, wrapping a possessive hand around her waist and turning us so that she’s pressed up against the edge of the back seat.
My lips are on hers before she has a chance to protest, my tongue rough and demanding as it hungrily plunges into her mouth.
She moans, the vibration going straight to my dick as it begins pushing against the inside of my swim trunks.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” I say into the kiss. “Look at you, out here with your gorgeous curves on display for me. If I didn’t think Theo would see it on the security cameras, I’d fuck you right here.”
“So what if he does?” she breathes when I move down to her neck, nipping and licking at the salty skin. The question stops me in my tracks, my entire body going rigid as I find her darkened gaze with mine. Her lips are swollen, her chest heaving as she looks at me with those hypnotic brown eyes.
“Would you like that, bad girl?” I ask, my hands sliding down her body until her ass is firmly in my grasp. “You want someone to watch you take my fat cock like only you can? Does that turn you on?”
She bites her lower lip coyly, that gorgeous blush I love so much creeping across her cheeks.
“I don’t know. I mean, I wouldn’t want to do it in front of people I’d ever see again, but maybe it would be fun to fool around where strangers could catch us.
All I know about being adventurous is what I’ve read in books, so I guess it would be trial and error to find out what I really like. ”
“That’s what I’m here for, baby,” I tell her.
“I just want to make you feel good. Why don’t you think about it and tell me what you want to try.
If we get there and you don’t like it, or change your mind for whatever reason, that’s perfectly fine.
This is about you finding yourself, right?
And I’m just the lucky asshole who gets to help. ”
She giggles, looking up at me through her lashes. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Anything you want to do right away? We’ll start small and work our way up to exhibitionism.” I smirk when she rolls her eyes and shoves at my chest playfully.
“I…” She pauses, and I wait, knowing that it isn’t always easy for her to vocalize her wants and needs when she’s been shot down so many times.
My thumbs gently move back and forth across her skin, my softened expression telling her that I’ll give her all the time she needs.
But my beautiful, brave girl swallows, lifting her chin confidently.
“I don’t have any toys. I think I want to buy some… and you can show me how to use them.”
I beam proudly, trying not to groan out loud at the thought, because this isn’t the time for that.
She’s ready to explore, and that’s a huge step for someone who was raised to think that embracing her sexuality was wrong.
“That’s a great idea. You can do it on your own, or if you want, we can pick some out together.
Either way, I’m paying, and I don’t want to hear a single argument.
They’re your toys, but I’ll be the one reaping the benefits when I get to make you come with them. ”
She nods slowly, a gorgeous smile reaching her eyes. “Okay.”
“Good girl,” I reply, dropping a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Now, let’s get inside before I change my mind and bend you over my back seat.” A cavalier grin plays at one corner of my mouth. “Speaking of my back seat…”
Reaching inside, I pull out the two dozen red roses I picked up on my way to get Len’s things from her house. A new florist opened up right down the street, and these were screaming at me from the window. “These are for you.”
Her jaw drops, a hand lying over her heart as she gasps quietly.
“Austin, they’re beautiful,” she whispers, unable to tear her gaze away from the deep crimson flowers.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Taking the offering, she inhales deeply, the most peaceful look melting across her face.
The wrapper crinkles when she hugs the bouquet to her chest, the sparkle in her eyes settling something deep within me.
“I wanted to,” I reassure her. “Pretty girls like you deserve pretty flowers, so get used to it.”
“You’re too good to me,” she replies, smelling the bunch again before turning her attention to the grocery bags in my back seat. “I thought you had a lot of stuff. There’s like, five things here.”
I shrug, grinning cockily. “Maybe I exaggerated a little in order to get you alone. How else would I get my fill of kisses for the day?” I dip down, cradling her cheek in my palm and taking her lips with mine once again.
I savor her taste, unsure of when I’ll be able to have her like this again.
Every kiss is intoxicating, and no matter how much I try, I just can’t seem to get enough.
It would’ve killed me to be here with her all day and not be able to touch her or feel her soft curves against my fingertips.
If that makes me a dirty liar, then guilty as charged.
Reluctantly, I pull away, loving the way her cheeks and chest are flushed pink from the heat that radiates between us every time we’re close.
“We should probably go, but will you sneak away with me later? There’s no way I’ll be able to look at you in this bikini all day without putting my hands on you. ”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, but we’re keeping it PG-13. Unless Theo’s house also has some weird unspoken club for deviants that I don’t know about.”
I pretend to think for a moment before waggling my eyebrows suggestively. “Not that I’m aware of, but we can start one if you want to. Just say the word.”
She shakes her head, but the smile she bites back as she turns and walks toward the house, her giant bouquet of flowers still tight to her chest, tells me everything I need to know.
Paris Bellamy is having as much fun with me as I’m having with her, and I can’t wait to see where this thing takes us next.