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SEVENTEEN

XAVIER

ONE MONTH LATER

“ A re you nervous about the next match?” Arianna asked in a whisper, tracing circles on my sweaty, naked chest, her head resting on my shoulder.

I was in her bedroom, and we had tried to make as little noise as possible, given that her mother and daughter were in the same house. It was the third time this month we had found ourselves in a situation like this. She had refused to let me pay for a hotel every time I had come to visit because, and I quote, “You spend enough money flying here.” I had tried to cross her once, and she had refused to speak to me the entire time I was there.

Her question floated in my mind. I was never nervous before a game. I knew what my team and I could do. The truth was, we had made it so far that losing would still be a win, since it was our first time playing in a championship. We were still young, unlike many of our adversaries who felt they had to win. Because, as a football player, you realistically had an expiration date. Yet with what we had achieved so far, I had no doubt the future held great things for us.

“No,” I responded, playing with her hair as the first rays of sunshine painted the room. “There are things much greater than winning.”

Arianna looked up at me, frowning. “Like what?”

I smiled. “It’s about the thrill of playing; it’s about growing as a team and as individual players. When we qualified as a playing team in the championship, I didn’t once think we’d get this far. I only wanted to learn, because knowledge is power. So even if we lose next week, we’ll know more than we did before.”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. “I like that.”

I kissed her forehead, inhaling her scent with a groan. We were still naked under the sheets, and if I could, I would never leave her bed. But I had to.

A sigh escaped my lips, and before I could say anything, Arianna’s hand curled around my cock. Her lips found my ear.

“Five more minutes,” she whispered.

My jaw ticked. “I have to go before your mother’s up.”

She traced kisses down my jaw. “Then let’s make sure I’m done before she wakes up.”

With those last words, she snuck under the sheets with a smirk on her face, and positioned my rock-hard dick between her lips.

I closed the door behind me as quietly as possible, squinting as the floor creaked under my weight. I walked away with slow movements and easy steps, holding my breath. It wasn’t my first time doing this, yet I still felt like someone was watching me the entire time.

When I got to the living room and spotted the door, I let out a sigh of relief. I was a mere few steps from freedom and leaving without being caught.

As I stepped onto the living room rug, someone cleared their throat. I stood up straight, cursing my days.

“Where do you think you’re going, young man?” My eyes darted to the source of the voice, and I wanted to die when they found her mother, with Giulia resting in her arms.

“Hi, um,” I stumbled. “We—Arianna and I— we didn’t want to,” I started, but had no idea what I actually wanted to say.

Her mother had on a nightgown, and her white hair was tied up. She raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile taking over her face.

“Who are you?” Giulia asked, and my body warmed at the sight of her. Her red hair was so curly, and her green eyes scanned me from head to toe.

Arianna’s mother sat up, and ushered Giulia to go to her mother. Once the little girl was gone, she stepped closer to me. “You must be Xavier, vero?”

“Si,” I said, for God knows what reason. She had asked the question in English for fuck’s sake, but the woman had caused me to lose all sense.

She nodded, a flicker of amusement burning in her eyes. “Come, Xavier.”

I froze. “Where?”

The woman glanced at me from over her shoulder. “We’re having breakfast. Can’t let you leave my house without food in your stomach.” She smiled. “Plus, I want to know the man who’s been keeping my daughter’s bed warm.”