Page 18 of Fast Break

Eighteen

Charlie

I've sent Palmerthree texts with no response.

Maybe she's pissed I left her at thebarand I wouldn't blame her.

It was a chickenshitmove on my part. I'm the one who kept pushing the line, who kept touching and flirting in front of everyone, who nearly fucked her against the wall in public despite her desire to keep things between us private.

Of course she doesn't want everyone to know her business.

I know my reputation,shit, I lean into it.

Why would she want to risk her reputation among theteamgetting involved with a horny asshole like me?

Shit. I fucked up. I left her there to face the consequences of us getting caught, byLibertyof all people.

If it were one of herteammatesor anyone else in the office, there'd have been some snickers and teasing, I'm sure, and then everyone would have forgotten about it by next week.

I don't trustLiberty, though. Especially after I've been denying anything going on betweenPalmerand me. Liberty will take thatshitpersonally.

Matt's staying with my parents for a few days to help Dad out on a custom job, so I have the apartment to myself.

I take a hot shower, finishing with a blast of cold water, grab a Natty Boh from the fridge, and settle into my favorite corner of our leather sectional with the remote.

I throw on theTopGear channel and try to lose myself in the inanity of the original Clarkson, Hammond, and May trio.

But my mind keeps going back toPalmer. Not only am I going to have to make up fortonight, I'm going to need to step up mygame.

It's hard during theseasontoplanaround practices and games.

The few days the players have off aren't enough to do something big, like fly her down to Mexico tomeetmy Abue and Abu.

But I can bring Mexico to her. I'm checking the calendar for a good time to make herdinnerwhen the doorbell rings.

I frown at the clock. No one comes over this late. I switch to the camera app and leap to my feet, rushing to the door.

"Hey,"I say when I open the door.

"Hi."Palmerstands on the stoop, her hands fisted around the strap of the purse she wears across herchest. She cranes her neck to see behind me."Is it okay if I come in?"

I find my voice and swing the door open."Yeah, of course. Come in, come in."

She steps inside and does a small circle while I shut and bolt the door.

I glance around, looking at the apartment through her eyes.

Our place takes up the ground floor of a two-level townhome.

Like Palmer's, there's only a square of entryway before you're in the living room, and I'm gratefulMattand I haven't left a mess lying around.

Except for my can ofbeerresting in the cupholder of the pull-down armrest and a few pairs of sneakers kicked into the corner by the door, everything is tidy.

"It's nice,"she remarks finally. Shemovesfurther into the room and notices the flatscreen taking up half a wall, the shelves underneath holding a videogameconsole and an assortment of cartridges and accessories. Her eyes widen, amusement dancing in her eyes."Definitely a bachelor pad."

"Oh, come on,"I scoff."I'm sure there are plenty of women with 100"plasma screens taking up most of their wall space."

"I'm sure there aren't,"she says with a giggle. Her eyes drift to my barechestand her throat works noticeably before she turns herattentionelsewhere.

"Is your brother home?"

"No, he's in Annapolis for the weekend working with my dad."I gesture to the couch."Have a seat. Can I get you adrink?"

Shesitson the other side of the armrest and lifts my can."National Bohemian? Really? You only everdrinkimport or craftbeerwhen we go out."

I shrug."Natty Boh's our comfortbeer, what can I say? Always reliable. Want one?"

She grimaces."I'm still feeling the cocktail from earlier. But water would be great."

I fetch her a glass with filteredicewater and take the seat next to her."How was the rest of your night?"

She drinks half the water in one gulp before answering with a tiny shrug."Fine."

"Did anyone give you a hard time?"I take a small sip ofbeer, watching her closely. There's a small flinch, but shegivesa half-smile.

"A little teasing."She sets the glass down and removes her purse, resting it on the table.

"Palmer, I'm sorry."I put mybeeron the table so I can raise the armrest andslidecloser to her."I shouldn't have put you in that position, and I really shouldn't have just left."

"It's okay."

"It's not,"I stress. I put my arm on the cushion behind her and lean in, searching her eyes."I should have respected your decision to keep things between us quiet."

"No, you're right,"she says, dragging her hand down mychestand scratching across my abs. My heart races and the lightweight gray sweats I'mwearingcan't hide what the hungry expression on her face is doing to mycock.

"Who cares if people know, right? We're consenting adults having somefun."She licks her lips andstaresup at me."Right?"

I swallow back the fierce protest. I want to tell her no, it's not just somefun. Not for me. I catch the way she glances at me sometimes, and I believe it's not only about having a good time for her, either. There's something here, something more than chemistry, more than a simple spark.

But she isn't ready to hear it yet. She has aplanand it's too soon to sway her to make some changes. So all I can do is agree."Right."

Her eyes travel over mychestand lower, flashing with heat when she reaches my thickening steel.

She roams my face, biting herlip, begging me with a flick of hertongueacross her bottomliptokissher.

So I do. I take her face between my palms and slant my mouth over hers, giving gentle sippingkisses, the softslideof mytonguebetween her lips neither desperate nor harsh. Exploring, tasting, deepening.

On a sigh, she pushes me away."Can we move to your bedroom? It's my turn to explore all of you."

Istandandpullher up from the couch. Before she can protest, I bend and scoop her into my arms. Her mouth flops open, but she quickly recovers and hangs an arm around my neck for support. She takes off her shoes and lets themdropalong the way.

"No one has ever carried me before,"she says in wonder."I'm too tall, too?—"

"Shh."I peck her lips and march down the hall to my room."You're too perfect. That's the only adjective I'll accept after the word 'too' when it comes to you. Besides, are you questioning my strength? I may not be a bodybuilder, but I can carry my girl."

Her cheeks pinken, but she doesn't say anything else. When we reach my room, I set her down on the edge of my bed andstandback, lifting my arms out to the side."How do you want me?"

She bites herlipand grabs the waist of my sweats to tug me into her.

Iclosemy eyes as she licks around my belly button and places open-mouthkissesall along my abs.

She lightly traces the tattoo inked on the left side of my ribcage, a purplish-blue passionflower, tickling a shiver up my spine before tracing the Mexican eagle tattooed on the right side of my ribs.

She looks up at me through her lashes, arching one brow.

"One for my mother, one for my father,"I rasp in reply to her silent question, my arousal growing heavier with every light pass of her fingertips over my skin.

My head drops forward. Irunmy hands down her hair, the silky strands flowing through my fingers while she continues to explore with her lips and fingers, following the thin trail of hair leading into my pants.

She eases them over myhips, freeing my pulsing steel, swirling hertongueand spreading the beaded precum around the head.

My breaths turn ragged, my muscles straining from resisting the urge topushbetween her pillowy lips into her hot, wet mouth.

When shewantsme, she'll take me. This is her calltonight.

"Lie down,"she commands in a soft but firm voice.

I climb onto the bed next to her and lie on my back.

Mycockbobs against mystomachas she shifts on the bed, rising to her knees next to me and removing hertop.

Herchestheaves, those glorious tits rising and falling, and when she reaches behind to unclasp her bra, I bite my fist to stifle a groan as theyfallfree.

"Touchme."

She doesn't have to ask twice. I palm her mounds, her nipples already hard as I twist andpullthem.

She closes her eyes and moans, leaning over and bracing her hand on the pillow next to my head.

I keep working one tit with my hand while I suck the other into my mouth, stroking her stiff peak with mytongue.

Islidemy free hand up her skirt, her arousal coating my fingers with a pass through her slick heat.

She answers with adeepgroan and bucks against my hand.

I take the hint and she's so wet it takes nothing to breach her entrance with my middle and ring finger.

I press the heel of my palm against her bud while I curl my digits, looking for the button that makes her scream.

I pinch her tit and suck her swollen nipples.

It's not long before her pussy clenches around me, her keening turning into loud, long moans until at last she detonates around me, screaming my name along with a litany of pleas to every known God and Goddess in existence.

She collapses, quivering and boneless, ontopof me. I roll her under me and tug off her skirt, the breath knocked out of my lungs at the spectacular beauty before me.

Ivory skin glowing, lit only by the moonlight drifting in through the partially open blinds. She'sfuckingflawless. I pepper her face and neck with tinykisses, my dick throbbing, weeping for release. But it'll be on her terms. Whatever shewants. I'm hers. Totally and completely hers.

"Coco,"I say, my voice gravelly with desire."What do you want? I'll do anything you want. Name it."

She caresses my jaw, her eyes twin blue flames."Fuckme,Charlie. I want you tofuckme."