Page 94 of Boys of Brayshaw High (Brayshaw High 1)

Once everyone’s done, I offer to collect the plates and run downstairs for snacks to give the three a few minutes to talk in case they need to.

With everyone's shit in hand, I snag the blanket off my bed on the way back.

I pass everyone their stuff, then drop beside Maddoc.

“Ew, get your nasty ass feet off me,” I laugh, shoving Royce away.

“I have socks on!” he defends.

“So, feet nasty.”

“Not mine, look at these babies?” He wiggles his toes and I cringe.

“You’ve got some big ass feet.”

“And a big ass dick.”

I laugh, rolling my eyes and Maddoc throws a pillow at him.

He reaches in his bowl, then cuts me a glance my way.

I wink, turning back to the screen. I sneak my hand into his bowl and stuff my mouth.

Cheese on popcorn isn’t half bad.Everyone is standing, biting at their fingernails as the final seconds on the clock tick by. The boys are up by one, but the other team has the ball and there’s still seven seconds on the clock – seven seconds is a lifetime in basketball.

The play gets down the court and Maddoc goes on the attack, but the one with the ball throws an elbow and he’s jarred to the side, an angry growl leaving him, but he starts running after the guy in the next second.

The guy rounds the court, hopping up to attempt a shot, but Royce flies up behind him, his vertical jump a little better, his reach a little longer, and he smacks the ball away. The final buzzer sounds and the crowd grows wild, celebrating yet another win for the Wolves.

But I keep my eyes locked on Maddoc who shoves his face in the guy who fouled him and didn’t get called on it. Their foreheads are touching and Maddoc drives him back with his.

The guy doesn’t want none. He takes it.

Maddoc gives him a hard shove and he flies back into his teammates. They don’t dare step closer.

In fact, they hold their hands out to shake his in apology, but he gives them his back.

Some might call it bad sportsmanship, but they did him dirty first.

They don’t deserve his hand.

With a grin, I make my way out of the gym to wait for them to get cleaned up.

Fifteen minutes or so pass and almost all the cars are out of the lot when a blue Jeep pulls up in front of me. The window rolls down revealing Collins and a few of his Graven buddies.

“Rae. How you doin’?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Like that now, huh?” He attempts a grin but his tone is laced with malice.

I scoff. “What, you thought different?”

“Still mad about that little incident?” He smirks like a dick.

I ignore him.

“That’s a damn shame, Raven. Damn shame.” The window rolls up slowly and they take off.

Not a minute later Royce’s loud ass is yelling behind me.

I spin around with a grin.

Running full speed at me, he swiftly dips down and lifts me up. “How’d you like that ending, RaeRae?” He drops me to my feet just as quick, planting a sweaty kiss to my cheek.

I laugh and look to Captain who has his phone to his ear, he smiles my way then goes back to his conversation.

Maddoc steps right in front of me.

“Good game.” When he doesn’t say anything, I tease, “You waiting for a reward for all your hard work, big man?”

He pushes against me now, so my head has to fall back on the hood in order to look him in the eye. His hands find my hips and slowly slide up the curve of my waist to my ribs – something he seems to love doing. Those full lips of his tip up in satisfaction when a shiver runs through me. He knew it was coming. He was waiting for it. “That all it takes to get those lips on mine, a good game on the court?”

“Hmm.” I try to grin, but my body’s so heated it only holds for a few seconds. He knows it, senses it, and his tongue runs along his bottom lip. “Only one way to find out.”

“That’s exactly what you want, isn’t it?” he whispers, his thumbs moving to skim beneath my chest. “Me to take what I want. Me to bite into that lip you keep sucking between your teeth. Me pullin’ on this hair.” He slides his fingertips into my hair at the base of my neck and my core muscles clench. He tugs too gently on purpose, and a harsh breath leaves me. “Me all over you.” He leans forward and my eyes close when he blows against the hollow of my ear. “Me in you.”

I’d swear my eyes rolled back if they weren’t already squeezed shut.

“It would be so good,” he breathes and fuck, my toes curl in my boots. But in the next second the warmth of his body slips some and my eyes peel open. “But not until you stop trying to convince yourself it ain’t you and me.”