Chapter 31 #2
“Welcome to EBS and our coverage of the European championship, where this afternoon we will see the opening game between the home nation, Spain, against Croatia. With me, Lily Chambers, we have England’s leading goal scorer and advocate for the women’s game, Jenna Dillan.
Alongside her, Frank Dubois, France’s most decorated star with no less than twelve championship medals to his name in all major trophies.
And then there is Marcus Diaz. Some say he is one of Spain’s best with his own accolades, such as two Premier League trophies and one World Cup, but to me, he is the thorn in my side and the reason I constantly have to remind myself I need this job and not punch him in the face. ”
Both Jenna and Frank, along with the crew, chuckle at Lily’s introduction.
“You love my face too much to punch it, Chambers.”
“Definitely not. I just have bills to pay,” she quips before turning her attention to Frank. “So, tell me, Frank, how do you see this first match playing out? Who are you backing this afternoon?”
“That game was pretty intense,” Frank says before taking a pull on his beer.
We have split up in the bar Leanne hired, and I have found myself in the corner with Frank.
He is fascinating to talk to after all his time in the game, and when he retired, he has remained very active and is currently managing one of the top teams in France.
“It definitely was and the ref I think made some pretty bad calls. Like I said on the show, even though my heart will always be with Spain, that tackle from Perez was definitely a penalty. And I reckon if that had been given that the game could have turned out differently. Croatia backed off too soon.”
“I have to agree.”
Laughter catches my attention from across the bar, pulling me away from my conversation.
“She is pretty captivating, isn’t she?” Frank says.
“Sorry?” Bringing my gaze back, I try to keep my attention on Frank.
“Lily. She has this presence about her. I felt it today in the studio. Everyone listens to her, don’t they? I can see why they’ve put you two together.”
“Really?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He chuckles.
“Other than we both enjoy the game and have extensive knowledge?”
“There is that. But the other thing.”
“Other thing?”
“Yes. Everyone loves a love story. And one that unfolds in front of people's eyes. They love to be a part of something like that. Makes it feel real to them, you know?”
“Me and Lily aren’t a couple.” I huff out a humorless laugh. "You saw today how we are. We rub each other up the wrong way.”
“You aren’t a couple, but I see that spark. There is something there.”
“Trust me, there is no spark, other than the spark of Lily thinking of another way she can make fun of me.”
“I knew a woman like that once.” His voice is soft as the corners of his mouth lift. “We worked together too. She was on the sports medical team. We used to argue constantly, tried to trip each other up every chance we got, and would scream we hated each other until we were blue in the face.”
“How did that end up for you?”
“I married her.” He claps me on the shoulder as he leaves.
And I find myself staring at Lily again, and when she sees me, staring she fucking winks at me, a coy smile on her face.
I can’t help myself, I wink back. She tilts her head to the side and excuses herself from the group she’s with, heading out the back of the bar.
Pushing out into the cool evening air, I find her leaning against the wall of the bar, staring up at the clear night sky. “Today was a good day.” She sighs.
“Yeah, it was.” I lean against the wall next to her. She seems a little subdued this evening. I thought she was signaling me out here for something else.
“You know, when Damen first said that we were doing this, I thought it was a joke. And that actually, I would end up being behind the scenes or doing little bits on the side. Sitting in that studio today felt like I was in someone else’s body. I…" She trails off as she shakes her head.
Standing in front of her, bracketing her against the wall, I place my palms flat on the wall next to her head, so she has to crane her neck to look at me. “You what, Petardo?”
“I don’t deserve it.”
“Well, we both know that’s bullshit.”
“Is it? You don’t really know me. Sometimes I question if I should be here.”
“I know more than you think.” I cradle the back of her head, entwining my fingers in the strands of hair at her nape. “You’re meant to be exactly where you are.”
“Exactly?” She raises an eyebrow.
“Exactly.” We’re smiling like damn fools before I lean down, taking her plump lips in mine, I tease hers open, and our tongues glide over one another.
Her soft breasts push against my chest, and I hook an arm around her back, pulling her even closer and angling her face as I grasp her neck, slightly squeezing on her pulse point, and she groans into my mouth.
The sound makes my dick twitch and strain against the zipper of my suit pants.
“Fuck I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” she mumbles against my lips.
“Then stop.” I nip at her lips, and she takes mine again, this time with more passion and fire.
Her hands trace a path from my shoulders, down my back until the tips of her fingers tease the hem of my shirt before sinking underneath.
Her soft palms glide over my heated skin, and our kiss becomes more desperate, as the grip we have on each other tightens, feeding our need.
Laughter echoes from somewhere behind us, and we break apart. Our breaths are ragged. And I know the look in her eyes, wide deep pools of lust are mirrors of my own.
“I better get back inside.” Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she tries to regain her composure.
“Later?”
“Later.”
“Good.” I wipe the stray mark of lipstick that has smudged on her face. “Because I told you yesterday, I wasn’t done with you, and you didn’t come find me. You have a debt to repay.”
“My door wasn’t locked,” she challenges as she pushes off the wall.
“Unless it’s open, I will wait for you to walk through it.” Her steps falter at my words, and she turns to look back at me over her shoulder. “I’ll wait, Chambers.”