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MASON

THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE locker room is tense as we take our seats on the bench. Coach Kennedy enters, adjusting the cap on his head, even though he’s indoors and it’s nighttime. I’ve never seen him without it on. He shaved the scruff he’s been sporting for the past fortnight – Coach always shaves his beard for game night. The boys love to tease him about it.

I sweep the room, noting the anticipation lighting up the faces around me. Panic jolts inside my chest as I realise one of our star players isn’t here.

‘Have you seen Parker?’ I lean over, trying to be surreptitious, and meet the eyes of Zayden, who is fiddling with his boot.

‘He’ll be here,’ he says.

Parker keeps to himself and is the most mysterious player. All I do know: he is an absolute legend on the field, and I feel a hell of a lot more confident playing a game when I know he is there with me.

The sound of a door banging open somewhere down the hallway meets my ears, and Parker appears, looking sweaty and a little breathless. His hair is tousled, and his jacket is hanging off his shoulder, as if he ran all the way here from somewhere and hardly had the time to get dressed. A few of the other players glance up, and Coach gives him a nod of greeting, but doesn’t say anything. If anyone else was this late, they would get their ass kicked. I’m sure Coach and Parker have some understanding about whatever is going on, and I don’t mind if he’s late as long as he makes it to the game.

A week ago, the news of me becoming captain was announced, and thankfully everyone has been supportive. The main offender – Kai Adams – has been removed from the team and is awaiting his court date for what he did to Anya. With everything else that went down recently, I’d almost forgotten about him. In his absence, the team seems so much more cohesive and like a real squad. I didn’t realise how much influence he had over some of the other players. It’s a much better environment with him gone.

After the mess of everything, life has resumed. At first, I wasn’t sure how either Anya or Zayden were going to handle it all, but they have, because life simply keeps going, and they need to move forward with it.

‘You lot are a strong team,’ Coach Kennedy says, voice booming with a level of loudness and confidence that effectively captures the attention of everyone in the room. ‘You’re fast, you’re ethical and you know their weaknesses. This game should be a walk in the park for you. Play fair, listen to your captain, and work together.’ His eyes scan the room, and when they land on mine, I give him a reassuring nod, which he returns. ‘Good. Now get out there and make me proud.’

Whoops and cheers bounce off the walls as everyone leaps to their feet. Zayden claps a hand on my shoulder, grinning at me. His easy smile is back on his face, and he seemed more like his normal self these past two weeks, which is a relief. We’ve been throwing ourselves into training for the game, to keep up our strength and maintain a healthy distraction for Zayden, since falling into partying is something he does all too frequently.

We’ve eased back into our comfortable ways as three best friends. I thought it might make Zayden feel uncomfortable or awkward knowing that Anya and I are together now, but honestly, it feels just like it used to. It’s such a relief, and my anxiety is the best it’s been for as long as I can remember.

‘See you out there.’

My best friend runs ahead of me, catching up with Christian and Parker, who are leading the rest of us out. I hang back, focusing on my breathing for a few moments before I start running. As we jog out onto the field, I see the stands are full, and the roar from the crowd is deafening. I spot her almost immediately. Beaming back at me and dressed in my jersey – as she should be – she blows me a kiss that sends warmth racing through my body.

Exhaling steadily, I returned my focus to the field, as the game is about to begin.

I can’t help but grin as the crowd stamp their feet and scream our names.

We beat them. The South West Stingrays.

No, we annihilated them.

As arms circle around me, pulling me in a bunch of different directions as everyone leaps and bounds in excitement, I track Anya rushing down the steps. I weave in and out of the team as everyone starts spilling onto the field. The place is packed, and there are people everywhere, but all I see is her.

Running towards me, she jumps, and I circle my arm around her waist, yanking her to me. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I dive towards her mouth. My free hand combs her hair from her face as I kiss her passionately, not caring in the slightest that there are probably hundreds of eyes watching us right now.

This is it. This is what I’ve been craving. The longing that’s been building in my chest and climbing up my throat for as long as I remember.

We’re here.

We made it.

Threading her fingers around the back of my neck, she breathlessly pulls back from my lips and presses her forehead against mine.

‘Good game, Captain,’ she purrs, smiling in that slow, sexy way she does so well. She could send me into cardiac arrest with the way my chest feels when I’m around her.

‘Thanks, Blush.’

‘I love you,’ she says, emerald eyes glistening as she blinks up at me under the bright lights of the field.

‘I love you more.’

Setting her on her feet, I let the team drag me back towards them, still celebrating our win.

The next couple hours after the game are a complete blur. We end up back at Christian’s house for a party to celebrate the absolute thrashing we gave the other team. As the new captain, I couldn’t be more thrilled that my first game was that one. Everything went smoothly, we won by a huge amount and the team played together the best they have since I joined.

It hasn’t been a big deal that Anya and I started dating – apparently most people assumed we already were. Since we’re always around each other, that makes sense. Probably no one realises the years of pain we endured, and Zayden’s involvement.

I’m leaning against the wall, sipping my beer and watching Anya as she dances with Cami and Nora. Her long hair cascades down her back as she moves to the beat, her smile lighting up the entire room. With everything that’s happened, seeing her so happy and carefree in this moment feels like breathing in fresh morning air.

‘Yo yo,’ a familiar voice says, and my eyes bounce towards Christian, who strolls over to me. We do the one-armed shake we always do when we see each other.

‘Hey,’ I reply. ‘Your place is awesome.’

‘Thanks. My sister owns it with her husband, but they live out of state,’ he says. ‘I never congratulated you properly, by the way, on becoming captain. Well-deserved, my friend.’

‘Thanks, Christian. Appreciate it.’

‘You’re officially with Anya now, hey?’ He smirks. ‘That was obvious to literally every single person. Ever.’

I roll my eyes. ‘It was not.’

‘Okay. Keep telling yourself that.’

After taking another sip, I lower my voice. ‘Do you know what’s up with Parker?’

Christian shakes his head. ‘Nah. He keeps to himself.’

‘If he didn’t come to practice and the games, I would never see him.’

‘Yeah. I think he works a lot.’

Christian and Parker are the two guys on the team I’d love to hang out with more, but Christian is often away camping on weekends, and Parker is basically a ghost. He has no social media presence, and I don’t even see him on campus or in any of my classes.

Loud cheers break out across the room, and I turn my attention to Zayden and Andy, who are competing for beer funnel records. Zayden has been doing well, considering everything, but he is partying hard these days. He’s always partied hard, but now it seems more frequent and more reckless. Christian makes a sound in the back of his throat and glances at me, as if having read my mind.

‘Is Zayden all good?’ Christian asks, forehead creased as he observes the scene in front of us, much like me.

‘Some days yes, some days no,’ I admit.

‘He seems to be hitting the drinks hard lately.’

‘I was just thinking the same thing.’

Christian and I stand in silence for a few moments longer before we begin mingling once more. After an hour of jumping between groups, I feel myself growing a little bored and tired.

‘Hey, Captain,’ a silky voice murmurs, and I twist to face Anya, who has those pretty lips tilted in a flirtatious smirk. ‘I’m wondering if you’ll escort me to the after-party?’

‘The after-party of the party?’ I raise a brow. ‘Tell me more.’

‘It requires a limited amount of clothes.’

‘I see.’ I grin, glancing around us. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘They’re all playing a game out the back. I’ve already told them we’re heading out.’

‘You just knew I’d agree, did you?’ I ask playfully.

She leans forward, her breasts pressing into my chest, her lips touching my ear. ‘I have some moves I’ve learned recently that I would love to show you.’

Meeting her eyes, I flash her a grin and finish the rest of my drink. Collecting her hand in mine, I drag her towards the front door. It feels surreal to be together out in the open like this, showing the world that we’re partners. It’s been a long time coming, and it feels so right.

The Uber arrives within a few minutes and the ride home is short, as Christian’s house is less than ten minutes from ours. The house is dark and quiet as we stumble through the front door, her arms around my neck, my hands on her waist. We land on something – the lounge – and she straddles my hips, pinning me. We’re both breathing hard as we stare at each other.

‘Don’t move,’ she demands, and her lip twitches as she fights the smile threatening to take over.

‘Yes, Ma’am.’

Pushing to her feet, she drifts towards the cabinet, where the speaker and the light switches are. She flicks on the switch that Zayden set up, which coordinates the TV and the speakers, matching the lighting with the sound. Switching it to red mode, she presses play on her phone. Turning to face me, she unzips her dress, and it falls from her shoulders. My eyes widen and I prop myself up on my elbows as I drink in the lacey red lingerie she has on. It’s a two-piece set; the top half barely covers her breasts, and the lower half is completely see-through. She begins dancing to the beat, moving sensually and slowly. I adjust myself in my pants as I take in every movement.

‘You’re making me lose my damn mind, Blush,’ I whisper, feeling breathless as she drops to the ground, crawling towards me.

Never breaking eye contact, she shifts to sitting and pushes herself back, moving her legs into the air and exposing every inch of delicious skin, plus the part of her that has most certainly put a spell on me. Making a fist with my hand, I bite into it as she moves, her long legs fanning through the air. Moving to get on her knees, she arches and curves her back in ways that has me groaning.

‘Come here,’ I croak out.

‘Not until the end of the song,’ she taunts.

‘You’re killing me.’

My gaze is locked on her as she continues. When the song ends and rolls onto the next, she strides towards me and sinks down between my legs. Reaching for me, she unbuckles my belt, yanking my pants and boxers down my thighs. I hiss when her hands wrap around me, rubbing up and down my length.

‘This is mine,’ she says, moving her hand faster. ‘You’re mine.’

A groan leaves my lips and my head tilts back. ‘Yes,’ I breathe. ‘Take everything, it’s all yours.’

A breathy moan escapes her, and she pushes to her feet. Leaning forward, I circle my arms around her, kissing her bare stomach. Gripping the edge of her panties between my teeth, I inch it down her legs. She gasps when my nose skims the sensitive spot between her legs. I tug her forward, and she falls on top of me, straddling her legs over my waist.

Skating my hands over her hips, I move my finger to her entrance. ‘Fucking soaked.’ I smirk. ‘Always so eager for me, aren’t you Blush?’

She squirms, applying pressure to my finger as she grinds against me, chasing the friction to settle the ache I bet she’s feeling, since I’m feeling it just as strongly.

‘Yes,’ she whispers.

‘I need to get a ...’ I trail off, looking to see where my pants ended up.

‘I’m okay without, if you are,’ she murmurs breathlessly. ‘I’m clean and on birth control.’

My gaze snaps back to hers, and we stare at each other for a moment. My eyes travel down her smooth body. ‘I’m clean, also. I’m game if you are.’

‘Yes,’ she murmurs.

As she raises onto her knees slightly, I shift underneath her, positioning her on top of me. She sinks down my length, and we simultaneously let out a groan. The feel of her clenched around me is otherworldly. She curses, glancing down at where my body meets hers, taking her lip between her teeth as she adjusts to my size. After a moment, she begins to roll her hips, and I move with her, finding the perfect rhythm together.

Securing her with one hand, I bury my face between her breasts and thrust up inside her. She chokes on her breath as she continues to ride me, matching me thrust for thrust. Her hands roam over my chest and slip around my neck as she leans down, kissing me hard. I continue to move inside her, feeling us both grow slick with sweat and breathless from the exertion. Her fingers tangle through my hair as she rocks forwards and back, pulling harshly on my scalp, and it feels fucking amazing. Slipping my thumb against her clit, I rotate it, applying pressure in the way I know will have her crumbling. She quickens her pace, both of us moving feverishly. I feel her tighten around me, and she lets out an incoherent sound. I thrust harder and deeper, and she rides out the wave of the high for a moment. She sags against me, breathless, a dazed expression on her face.

Recovering quickly, her limbs loosen, and she releases her tight hold on me. I use this lack of control on her behalf to yank her off me and flip us off the lounge. We fall to the floor, and I slam back inside her once more. She releases a half-cry, half-moan, arching her back as I pump in and out of her. Leaning forward, I sink my teeth into her shoulder, enjoying her cursing in that breathy way I love so much. My hand moves to her throat, lightly tracing its slender curve. I meet her eyes, and she nods. My hands tighten around her throat as I fuck her hard and relentlessly.

‘Harder,’ she gasps.

‘Of course, Blush,’ I grunt. ‘Anything for you.’

I tighten my hold a little more, and she whimpers, eyes rolling into the back of her head. Seeing how much she loves this is such a turn on.

‘Touch yourself,’ I demand, sweat dripping down the back of my neck. ‘I want you to come again.’

She almost sobs as her hand moves to her sensitive clit. My hips thrust forward one last time and I feel myself explode inside her. A gasp leaves me as she cries out my name, twitching and jerking against me as she also climaxes. I pump again, long and slow, draining every last drop before I pull out of her, and we collapse in a sweaty pile on the floor.

‘Fucking hell,’ she mutters.

‘I’ll say,’ I agree.

Turning to face her, I draw her towards me, and plant a kiss on the side of her head. We both sit in a breathless silence. I feel as if I almost blacked out from the pleasure rolling through me at the end. Curling my arms around her, I bury my face into her neck and hold her to me.

It’s the best feeling in the world.