Page 50

Adriana, pink, tipsy, and bursting with happiness, a few hours later, stops Maeve from topping up her Champagne.

‘I want to remember tonight,’ Adriana smiles. ‘But Kira has been staring at you hungrily for the past hour. Wanna go put her out her misery?’

Maeve grins and waves Kira over, not trying to hide their changed relationship dynamic from anyone else. Kira, taking this permission, slinks an arm around Maeve’s waist, and Maeve leans happily into her.

‘So the secret’s out?’ Kira smiles.

‘All the cats are out of all the bags,’ Adriana laughs. ‘I don’t want to say I told you so but… you guys are a ridiculously gorgeous couple!’

Maeve’s ears go pink.

‘Or–’ Adriana corrects herself quickly. ‘You know, whatever it is that you two decide– sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a random label.’

‘It feels good to just be seeing where it goes, right?’ says Maeve, looking more laidback than Adriana would have expected from her friend. ‘We’re in no rush.

Kira grins back at her. ‘You’re right. No rush. Feels good to take things one step at a time. But… I would like to be able to show you off to the team.’

Even Maeve, trying to match Kira’s cockiness, looks a little dazed at this. ‘Do you really want to?’

‘Are you kidding me?’ says Kira. ‘If you’re cool with it, I don’t want to keep hiding that I’m snogging the hottest woman in the world.’

Maeve’s ears go red, but she tries to match Kira’s energy. ‘Sure,’ she laughs. ‘I’ll be out of training for a few months anyway, so… I’ve always wanted to be a WAG.’

Kira kisses her – and then taps a fork enthusiastically on the side of her Champagne flute.

‘Hey everyone! I have some more incredible news to announce! Me and Murphy are shagging! I’m super into her!’

Maeve goes crimson. Kira wraps her arm confidently round Maeve, kisses her cheek, and gazes at her with such obvious pride that there could be no question of whether this is real of not.

Everyone exchanges significant looks – some look surprised, having only recently been on the receiving end of their animosity, but Adriana is sure she hears Charlie mutter to Elisa, ‘Alright, I owe you a fiver.’

‘Hooray!’ Adriana leads in a cheer, and the whole team join in with her, clapping them both on the back. Maeve looks round in astonishment at her team taking this in their stride. Adriana knows that even as she’s trying to keep up a confident front with Kira, this is a big moment for her.

Then, Maeve’s eyes looking a little teary, she lets out a bashful laugh, and shrugs. She turns to Kira, and, with a single movement of her arms, dips Kira, Hollywood style, into an extravagant low kiss.

But then, across the room, Adriana sees a terrifying sight. Jacob, backing into a corner, being approached by… her parents.

‘Shit,’ she says, hurriedly handing her glass to a teammate and running over, just in time to hear her mother say, ‘And what exactly are your intentions with our daughter?’

‘Mum!’ Adriana cringes. ‘Sorry, Jacob, ignore her.’

‘Ignore your own mother-in-law?’ Adriana’s dad huffs playfully. ‘How dare you.’

Adriana groans. ‘Jacob, they’re messing with you, please don’t worry, they just don’t have a sense of what it’s okay to joke about! I’ll see you guys for Sunday roast, okay ?’

‘Bring your boyfriend along, why don’t you? But only if he’s already put a ring on it by then!’

She manoeuvres Jacob away from them, as he hurriedly says, ‘Lovely to meet you Mr Summers, Mrs Summers.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Adriana mumbles, eager to avoid any more awkwardness.

When Jacob is safely away, Adriana looks up at him.

‘Sooo,’ she fiddles with his tie. ‘Wanna go home with the captain of the Manchester Tigresses?’

Jacob blinks at her in surprise.

‘Well of course,’ he says. ‘But the night’s still young? Or at least–’ He glances at his watch. ‘Wow, it’s definitely not young, but your friends are all still here to celebrate you.’

‘I know,’ smiles Adriana contentedly. ‘But sometimes it’s nice to have an early night. And I like having you to go home with.’

He kisses the tip of her nose.

‘You really are full of surprises, Adriana Summers. Come on then, let’s get you home.’

Jacob hums to himself as he slips his keys into his key bowl when they arrive at his flat.

‘Are you humming Chappell Roan?’ Adriana laughs. He surprises her by then singing it loud and proud, with the lyrics that her teammates had invented for her, his voice a smooth baritone.

Adriana automatically slips off her shoes and puts them in the same gap in his shoe rack that she suspects he has made for her.

She hangs her jacket neatly next to his, on two brass hooks.

She has a moment of wondering where all her hundreds of colourful coats and clothes would fit in his sleek apartment if she were to ever move in…

Adriana has never looked at a man’s house for storage capacity before, normally it was just checking where the nearest exit was for her early morning dash.

Meanwhile, Jacob has flicked the kettle on. He starts clipping them some fresh mint from his windowsill herb garden. Adriana swings herself up onto his kitchen counter and kicks her feet.

‘I’m so happy,’ she sighs.

Jacob looks round at her, his smile soft and gentle. ‘I’m glad to hear it. Me too.’

‘Honestly, since all of this crazy wonderful party tonight, and being back in the team, and Captain, and having therapy lined up, the only thing worrying me anymore is what other changes might be happening to the squad and if any players come or go.’

Jacob nods seriously, pouring the water over the mint in a pot.

‘And I don’t have any insider info on that anymore, I’m afraid. But–’

‘La la la–’ Adriana sticks her fingers in her ears. ‘I don’t wanna know anything I shouldn’t know anymore! No secrets, ever again!’

Jacob brings her a round sienna-glazed ceramic mug, one that he has noticed is her favourite.

‘Hungry?’ He asks.

She shakes her head smiling. ‘You?’

‘Food isn’t on my mind right now.’ He steps forward and she wraps her legs around him and pulls him towards her. Sat on the counter is the only way she is ever taller than him, and she likes the way he looks, as she is able to tilt her face down and study his serious expression.

‘This is nice,’ he kisses her neck. ‘I like it here.’

‘Would be even nicer if we didn’t have any clothes on,’ she whispers in his ear.

Adriana barely has time to catch her breath before Jacob is pressing her against the cool surface of his kitchen counter. Her back arches as his large hands grip her thighs, positioning her with confident ease.

He slowly undoes the buttons of her dress, tracing a path of kisses down her bare skin.

‘Why did I wear a dress with so many goddamn buttons?’ she tuts. ‘I can just slide it off over my head.’

She gestures to do so, and Jacob puts one of his huge hands over hers, pinning her to the table.

‘I’m in no rush at all,’ he says, as he ever so slowly toys with the button over her bra. ‘I want to take my time with you tonight.’

Then his fingers are tracing along the lace at the top of her bra, and Adriana gasps as his thumb brushes teasingly over her nipple.

‘Please,’ she whimpers.

He keeps playing with her chest, softly stroking, the sensation building and building in her until she needs more.

‘ Please ,’ she moans again.

‘You know I can’t say no to you.’

Suddenly he pinches her harder. She cries out in pleasure, and he seems to know exactly what works for her, slowly increasing the pressure.

Adriana feels blissfully overwhelmed with sensation.

She thinks it can’t get better than this – and then his mouth is on her other nipple.

His tongue circles, his teeth ever so carefully pinch her, and the sensation from them both at the same time lights up her whole body.

She whispers, ‘I’m so wet for you.’

He kisses her neck, his fingers on her thighs gripping hard.

His fingers have undone her dress now, and he parts it, sliding its soft fabric along her legs, over her arms, and off over her shoulders. He throws the dress and her bra on the floor and now she’s only wearing her pink lace pants. As if he can’t resist, he steps back to take her in.

‘God, Adriana,’ he says, his voice low and amazed. ‘You look… unbelievably hot like that.’

Adriana’s too turned on to reply, too desperate for him to touch her to say anything. And then he’s there, playing with the lace at her hipbones, and she’s lifting her hips to be closer to his touch, not afraid to tell him what she wants him to do next.

‘You want this?’ he asks.

She nods, gasping, grinding her fingers against him, trying to take her pants off for him, but he gently keeps her hands down, clasping both her hands against the counter with his broad left hand, while his right roams along the soft of her stomach and downwards.

‘Like this?’ he asks, tracing a long slow finger down inside the lace, moving the obstacle aside. She’s so turned on that the material is completely wet. ‘Or like this?’ He presses a thumb to her clit, firm, then circling her.

‘God, yes,’ she cries out. ‘Right there .’

Adriana grinds into him.

‘Is this how you want it?’ And he carries on what he’s doing, stroking harder and faster.

‘Oh God, I’m going to come,’ she gasps. ‘Yes, there– th–’

She throws her head back, holding his head to her chest, gripping his hair as she feels the tension burst into release, and his thumb still on her, keeping his hold on the waves of her pleasure, extending it even longer, harder.

‘Jesus Christ,’ she pants, still clutching onto him. ‘I’m still–’

He responds to her cries with a groan, and she reaches desperately out, unclasping his thick belt, tugging at his zip, feeling how hard he is for her.

She looks at him. ‘I need you to fuck me.’

He grabs his wallet from his trousers, and, because he doesn’t seem to be fast enough for how much she wants this right now, she grabs it from him, pulling out the condom she knows is there because she teasingly replaced the last one.

Jacob watches her as she rips open the packet, pinching the tip and then, meeting Jacob’s eyes, rolls the condom down over his long shaft.

He closes his eyes in the pleasure of feeling her hands on him.

And then he’s kissing her, and lifting her from the counter, carrying her to his bedroom.

She’s still seeing stars when she finds herself on his bed, pulling him to her, lying back as she guides his cock into her.

She wants him all, but he holds back, still teasing her even now to not give her everything she wants straight away, starting with just the tip, until even he seems unable to resist more, and more, and more, until he’s gripping the headboard to thrust deep inside her and they’re both crying out.

‘Oh fuck–’ he gasps. ‘That feels so– that’s too– shit you’re so fucking good, I’m not going to be able to keep doing that for much longer–’

‘I want you to,’ she commands. She grips his shoulders, pulling him into her, feeling him fill her up. ‘Please, come for me.’

With a shuddering gasp, he obeys.

His glistening body becomes heavy and she guides him, both panting, down onto the pillows. Their bodies entangle together, and she kisses his stubbled cheek as he wraps his arms around her, settling into her favourite position.

After, he gets up and gets them both water.

‘Nice bum,’ she calls after him. He salutes.

She raises an eyebrow on his return. ‘Even better from the front,’ she laughs. He shakes his head as she openly oogles him, then returns back into the bed to cuddle up to her.

‘You’ve already had your wicked way with me,’ he says. ‘I thought you had some kind of “no repeats rule”?’

They chuckle together, and Adriana kisses him, then lies her head on his chest, nuzzling as close as she can.

‘You know, about what your parents asked,’ says Jacob, stroking her hair. ‘About what my intentions are with you?’

‘Oh God, please don’t worry about that,’ Adriana buries her cheeks into his chest. ‘They just think they’re funny.’

‘Well…’ says Jacob. ‘I just wanted to say… I don’t know where your set of dating rules stand on having a boyfriend…’

Adriana looks up at him.

‘You know I have never been very good at seeing dating you as something casual,’ he tells her. ‘But I just wanted to be explicit. I’m in no rush, but whenever – or, if -ever you want I’d love to be your boyfriend.’

‘Jacob,’ Adriana sits up. ‘I would love to officially throw all of my old rules out the window for you. I would love to be your girlfriend.’

They kiss, softly and tenderly, and Adriana decides that she rather likes being serious after all. Then she giggles suddenly.

‘I can’t believe I just kissed my boyfriend ,’ she pokes his chest.

‘What has happened to you?’ Jacob teases.

She leans in to kiss him again and again.