4. Michael
I neededto keep my head in the game, but it was elsewhere during the entire practice.
Which at least gave me an excuse for why Patrick got a few good hits on Liam.
The guy deserved a little bit of it anyway.
But as I sat at the pub, nursing my pint, I knew it wasn’t just the game or Liam and my sister that was distracting me.
It was Ava.
Of course, I noticed she was attractive from the moment I met her with those curves for days and that gorgeous red hair.
But I always thought she was off-limits. Too whip-smart and savvy to ever be interested in a young rookie like me.
But I couldn’t deny the electricity now sparking between us.
I had to hold back my moans as I stroked my cock thinking about her washing that beautiful body in the other room this morning.
When I heard Patrick in her office, a protective instinct took over, and all I wanted to do was rush to her, take her in my arms, and protect her.
But I held back, keeping my fists at my side and resisting the urge to touch her.
But then she had to grab my bicep, and all of the blood went straight to my dick, imagining those slender fingers wrapped tightly around me. Pumping me to completion as she ran those cherry-red lips all over my body.
Fuck.
I had to stop thinking about her, especially when I was in the pub with my teammates.
As if the glorious goddess knew I was thinking about her, the pub door opened, and she floated in like an angel.
Her green eyes met mine as she smiled and made a beeline right for the seat next to mine.
Shit, I had to mentally tell my cock to stay down, especially when her bare legs brushed against mine as she got on the stool.
“Heard you let Liam get hit a few times during practice. Was that for your benefit?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Guess news travels fast around the stadium.”
She bumped her shoulder with mine. “It’s my job to know everyone’s business. Literally.”
“Yeah, what about your business? I saw your social media. You don’t post anything but highly edited photos of yourself at games. And pictures of baked goods.”
She blinked hard. “You’re social stalking me now?”
I shrugged, trying to hide my smile. “Hey, I had to know who I was living with. Apparently, it’s a psycho who posts things like ‘Have you ever cooked and eaten a rugby team, it was scrummy!’ and it’s just breakfast.”
Her cheeks flushed as red as her hair, and it was damn adorable. “Now you’re memorizing my posts too?”
“Only the good ones,” I said, taking a sip of my pint.
“Hmmm, maybe we need to see what you’ve posted lately. I’m sure it’s just as eloquent.” She pulled out her phone, long nails tapping at the screen as a smile spread across those cherry-red lips.
“Current physique thanks to Lucky Charm supplements.”
I leaned forward, trying to ignore the way her citrusy shampoo took over my senses.
“Hey, that’s a sponsored post. What? You don’t think I should show off my abs for the cause?”
“Is that what it is, for the cause?” she said, looking over her shoulder. Her breath now came in short bursts, so I could almost taste the sweet mint on her lips.
Fuck now; my cock was definitely hard.
“Why are you checking me out on that little screen anyway when I’m just across the living room from you, and you can see the real thing?”
She cleared her throat. “This was work research. Making sure you weren’t posting anything inappropriate.”
“So what would be inappropriate? A dick pic?” I asked, leaning closer, knowing I was toeing the line, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get closer to her. watching her cheeks turn crimson.
“That would definitely not be appropriate.”
“What about the real thing?” I whispered, making sure no one else could hear us.
She shivered, goosebumps prickling on the side of her neck, begging for me to run my lips and tongue across them.
Pushing a strand of her dark red hair behind her ear, I let my fingers travel down her sensitive skin, watching as her eyes slid closed, and her plump cherry lips slightly parted.
“Michael,” she whispered my name like a prayer.
“I love when you say my name like that.”
“Can I get ya something to drink, sweet thing?” the heavily tattooed bartender asked.
Cara was always one of my favorite bartenders. Not just because the dark-haired stunner liked to flirt with the guys and always gave us an extra shot in our drinks but because she was genuine, no shit-taking kind of girl.
One, I might have actually tried to get to know better if all my attention hadn’t been occupied by the redhead next to me.
“I’ll have a Lagavulin. Neat,” Ava said, clearing her throat and sitting a little straighter.
Cara’s dark eyes glanced in my direction. “And this eejit isn’t giving you a hard time, is he? Because I have no problem kicking his arse out, no matter how well he tips.”
Ava laughed, sitting up a little straighter. “No, everything’s fine. Michael here is actually my new flatmate.”
Cara’s eyes widened as she poured three fingers of whiskey into a rocks glass before sliding it across the wooden bar to Ava. “Well, then I’ll leave you two flatmates back to what you’re doing.”
She nodded, but I didn’t miss the glare she threw in my direction before heading to the other end of the bar.
“What was that about?” I asked, watching the way Ava’s lips pursed around the glass.
“What was what? Cara giving you a talking to?”
I nodded. “That, and I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a woman order straight whiskey at the bar.”
“I’m full of surprises,” she said with a smile.
“You really are,” I said, taking the chance and placing my hand on her knee. This time, I did not pull away when I felt the electricity zipping between us.
“What are you doing after you finish your drink?” I asked, running my fingers along her bare skin and noticing the little goosebumps popping up everywhere I touched.
“Well, I planned on going back to my flat.”
I smiled. “Funny, that’s where I was going too.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Michael…”
“Ava…”
I let my fingers tip-toe up her knee, pushing her skirt up with my hand.
She didn’t stop me; instead, she put her head back and downed the rest of her drink.
She let out a deep breath and turned to face me, a smile on her cherry-red lips. “So, are you going to walk me home?”
I grinned in return. “I thought you’d never ask.”