Chapter Eleven Los Angeles
Piper woke before Noah.
Years of early practices and game-day routines had wired his body to rise before the sun, whether he wanted to or not.
Then he remembered where he was.
Fuck, Joan, this is going to complicate everything. I have to fly to Jayson’s compound today.
Noah slept on his stomach beside him, one arm stretched across the bed. The sheets were twisted low around his waist.
The quiet aftermath of the night before still lingered in Piper's mind, almost like a fantasy he had dreamed.
He thought about the contract, and the fact that he was about to get on another plane to Atherton to fulfill his duties, but something felt different.
He swung his legs off the bed carefully and stood, gathering his clothes from the floor. His shirt hung from the back of a chair, ripped beyond saving. His jacket lay near the couch. He dressed slowly, trying not to wake Noah.
“You’re leaving me?”
Piper turned. Noah hadn’t moved much. Just opened one eye, voice rough.
“Yes.”
Piper adjusted his cuff.
“Well, that was a good time. Hopefully you thought so as well.”
Noah rolled onto his back, looking up at him. The light coming through the windows made the room softer, less charged than the night before.
“I have to fly to Atherton to meet with Jayson in a couple hours.”
“What’s up with you and that creepy billionaire?”
Piper looked away.
“He has helped me a lot since my father died and with my mother, well, I don’t want to talk about it.”
The night before hung in the room like something fragile. Piper picked up his Rolex Sky-Dweller from the nightstand and fastened it around his wrist.
“If you ever need to talk, I’m here. I remember reading about it when it happened, and I am so sorry,” Noah said.
Piper nodded. “I appreciate that, Noah.”
Noah swung his legs off the bed, still wrapped loosely in the sheet. He crossed the room slowly, stopping in front of Piper, close enough to connect lips but stopped short.
“You regret last night?”
Piper met his eyes.
“No, but it was a bad idea for our careers.”
“True, but it was really fucking hot,” Noah smiled as he gave Piper a soft kiss on his neck.
“You should go before traffic makes you late,” Noah said.
“I know.”
Piper reached for his jacket. Noah caught his wrist before he could pull away. It wasn’t forceful. Just enough to stop him. “Hey.”
“We’re still rivals,” Noah said.
“Deal.” Piper nodded.
“Sunday doesn’t change, we remain competitive as fuck at work.”
“Agree.”
Noah smiled faintly. “Good.”
Piper nodded. “Good.”
They stood there staring into each other's eyes. Then Piper pulled free. He walked toward the door, paused once with his hand on the handle, and turned his head.
“What are we off the field?”
Noah smiled.
“Us.”