Page 12

Twelve

Hailey

Licking my lips, I looked at the image on my screen. I didn’t think he would actually do that. Not only that, but it was the first real selfie I’d ever seen of Colt. And it was absolutely delicious.

His manly chest, so broad and strong, his huge, bulging shoulders and tanned skin — I didn’t know where to look first. My hand slipped between my legs of its own volition. My fingers slid around my opening, dipped briefly into my wet heat, then spread my lips. I smeared my arousal all over my slit and slowly circled my clit.

I had to reply before he got the wrong idea.

Me: I knew this way would be a better view *winking emoji sticks out tongue*

Colt: Guess I’ll just have to take your word for it. What about my reward, then?

Me: Hmm. Just how creative do you want me to get with this?

Colt: Whatever you feel like saying is cool with me. I like you unfiltered.

Me: You know, I’ve always wanted to go skinny-dipping.

Colt: Just go straight for the jugular, why don’t you?

Me: That’s tamer than anything else going through my head.

Colt: Goddamn.

Gripped by a sudden burst of confidence, I sent him a picture. I was half propped up on my pillows, my tits popping out from the neckline of my top, covered but clearly visible.

Colt: You’re actually trying to kill me.

Me: Nah

Colt: Oh, so this is normal for you, is it?

Me: Not at all.

Me: Back to the topic at hand. The most important thing for me is that you don’t feel lonely. I’ve often seen girls sitting on guys’ laps in hot tubs. Looked like fun .

Colt: You want to sit on my lap?

Me: Sure, let’s say sit *winking emoji*

Colt: You’re killing me, Princess.

Me: We don’t want that.

Colt: I should probably get some sleep … before I start saying things I shouldn’t. Maybe we’ll talk tomorrow?

Me: Sure!

Colt: Good. Sleep tight, Princess.

Colt: Sweet dreams and don’t stay up too late.

I probably would have squealed and kicked my feet under the covers if my hand wasn’t still wedged between my thighs. The thought of sitting in a steamy, secluded hot tub with Colt, naked or on his lap, drove me absolutely wild.

My pussy was literally dripping as I circled my slippery clit. I inched closer and closer to climax as our conversation and the memory of his hands and lips on me replayed in my mind. With a muffled moan, so as not to wake Ella, I came harder than ever. Goddamn, the things this man did to me.

***

Like Colt, I had spent the better part of the summer in training, but unlike him, I had only recently moved into my dorm room a few weeks before the official start of the semester. Being a freshman? Not as glamorous as it sounded — trust me.

Until that point, I’d barely set foot on campus. But now that the season was about to kick off, things were finally starting to feel real. Determined to prove I wasn’t just some spoiled rich girl who coasted her way onto the squad, I pushed myself harder than I ever had during the first week of practices.

Somehow, I even managed to shove thoughts of Colt to the back of my mind — most of the time. I still found myself glancing around between routines, half hoping to catch a glimpse of him somewhere nearby. We usually texted in the evenings, and once in a while, I got him to loosen up enough for a little flirtatious banter.

By the end of the week, after an especially brutal conditioning session that left us drenched and gasping for air on the track, a buzz of excitement rippled through the squad.

“And … here they come,” Kyra, a sophomore with gorgeous mahogany skin and sleek black hair, said softly next to me, waggling her eyebrows and ogling the source of the commotion at the other end of the field.

I turned to see the football team streaming out of one of the exits that lead to the locker room and immediately perked up. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and I tried not to look too eager as I scanned the crowd for Colt’s large frame. Problem was, he wasn’t the only big guy around these days, unlike back in high school where he’d always been easy to spot.

A few of the older cheerleaders sauntered over to the players, and I turned to Kyra. “Is it okay to go say hi to someone real quick?”

“Sure.” She shrugged. “We’re still on a bit of a break anyway. I had no idea you were friends with anyone on the team. ”

I smiled tentatively. “Yeah, actually, my boyfriend’s on the team.”

“Oh, shit, really? Who?”

“Colt Michaels,” I replied, tensing while waiting for her reaction. Her head pulled back ever so slightly, her eyes widening a fraction, but it wasn’t purely incredulous astonishment. Points to Kyra, maybe we could be friends.

“Good for you,” she said, and I nodded, then headed over to the football players as well. The sun beat down on me relentlessly, and I was sure I looked disheveled, but I didn’t care.

I finally had a chance to see Colt, if only for a few minutes, who gave a fuck about a little sweat.

I tugged at the fabric of my shorts, wishing I was wearing more than just them and a sports bra, given the hungry stares of some players, but it was just too hot for much else.

Besides, the cheerleading uniforms didn’t cover much more. I should be used to it by now, but it was different cheering in a group in front of a crowd in the stands than walking alone toward a pack of enormous men.

I eventually spotted Colt, who was standing half-turned toward me, a bottle of water held to his lips, his throat working as he sipped. Damn, why did he look so hot when drinking ?

When I was within a few feet of him, I called his name. He turned so fast I thought he was trying to catch his own shadow, but before he could say a word, I decided to play my part to its fullest.

I ran the last few steps to him and jumped into his arms. Well, more like I leapt at him, and he had the presence of mind to catch and lift me. Guess he had good reflexes off the field too . My face was pressed against his chest, and I inhaled his scent, enjoying the feel of his big hands under my thighs.

He moved one hand away to place it on my lower back while the other effortlessly held me up. Shit, why does that turn me on so much? I leaned back a little to look up at his face.

“Hi,” I said breathlessly, a smile breaking out on my face at the look of astonishment on his.

“Hi?” It sounded more like a question, and I snickered.

“Fancy meeting you here.” I winked at him as someone cleared their throat behind us.

Still in Colt’s arms, I turned my head to the side to see three guys behind me, one of them being Knox, the guy from the stairwell the other day. A quick glance around told me they weren’t the only ones watching us with more than a little interest.

“Michaels, who we got here?” one of the guys behind me asked, looking like the cat that caught the canary.

Carefully, I slid down his body back to my feet and turned to face the group but stood directly in front of Colt. His towering presence behind me was comforting, making me feel like nothing could ever happen as long as he was there.

He cleared his throat, and I could’ve sworn I felt the vibration on my skin.

“Guys, this is Hailey, my girlfriend.” I watched them with eagle eyes, and no one seemed overly taken aback, which I found oddly comforting. It gave me the impression that Colt was surrounded by better people here than he had been back home in high school. He deserved it.

“Hailey, this is Asher and Jax. You already know Knox.”

I waved at Knox and the other two dudes in front of me. “Hey, Knox. And nice to meet both of you.” Asher, the one who’d asked the question, was shorter and leaner than Colt but still very tall compared to me, with beautiful mocha skin, a mop of tight black curls, and a bright-white smile behind a close-cropped beard.

Between him and the broad-shouldered Knox stood Jax, the third of the group. His reddish-blond hair fell almost to his shoulders, but the sides of his head were shaved. His eyes had a piercing, intense brilliance, and his features were rugged.

Asher grinned at me cheekily and spread his arms. “No, it’s nice to finally meet you . We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Have you?” I eyed him skeptically, doubting Colt had suddenly turned into a big talker.

“Nope. That’s why it’s so nice to meet you at last.”

“I see. Too bad I don’t have long.” I jerked my head back to the cheerleaders.

“Good thing I already have a plan. You’ve got to eat, right?” Jax spoke up.

“Shocking, I know — being a mere mortal,” I said deadpan.

“We’re going to the diner tonight after practice. You should bring her, Michaels. We’re dying to get to know her,” Jax said with a mischievous smile.

I fell silent, leaving the decision up to Colt. Would he want me there? Colt leaned closer, the heat of his body warming me further, then a low “Are you free, Princess?” sounded in my ear.

“Ohhh, Princess .” Asher’s smile was all smug again, and Knox and Jax looked quite intrigued as well.

I twisted my head to the side and looked over my shoulder, meeting Colt’s unreadable gaze, and nodded. “I always have time for you. ”

“Excellent,” Jax said.

I let my eyes wander over the people around us again, some still watching us more closely than necessary, and crossed my arms, slightly irritated by some of the looks.

As if Colt had a direct line to my emotions, he stiffened behind me. I literally felt him glaring at them, and fortunately, it seemed to work, so they turned away. While looking back over at my squad, Kyra waved us over.

Without hesitation, I pressed my front flush against Colt’s, rose to my tiptoes, and slid my hands to the back of his neck. With his intense gaze unblinking, I gently pulled his head down and crashed my mouth against his, full of desire.

He returned my kiss passionately, one hand cupping the side of my face tenderly where his thumb brushed along my jaw. His other hand rested possessively on my lower back, and after a moment of hesitation, he tugged me against him. I practically melted into his arms and sucked on his tongue before pulling away.

“Text me the details, I’ll see you later.”

He nodded, and I jogged back to my squad, suddenly feeling eager for the evening ahead.

When I rejoined the other cheerleaders, a strange vibe greeted me. I guess the football players weren’t the only ones who had noticed our interaction. No one said anything outright, but I doubted it would stay that way.

We spent the rest of the afternoon stretching, which left me feeling like a worn-out rubber band. I thought I was already well stretched, but this session had proved me wrong.

At least I caught glimpses of Colt from time to time, which definitely made it more bearable. We all made our way back to the locker room on shaky legs, where I heard whispers in which Michaels , freshman, and pathetic were used, followed by a malicious giggle.

I steeled myself for the impending confrontation, trying hard to keep the anger boiling in my veins contained. A lot of people had the idea that I was a doormat just because I was generally nice to everyone. And maybe I was a doormat sometimes, as I often prioritized other people over myself, giving in even when I didn’t want to or when it made my life more difficult.

But that was the one thing I was not forgiving about. Nobody badmouths the people I care about for no reason, especially behind my back like a coward. If they were brave enough to say it behind my back, I damn well hoped for them that they’d be brave enough to say it to my face.

We would find out soon enough, as I spun around to hunt them down.

It only took me a few seconds to spot a group of four, including, unsurprisingly, two of the girls I’d clicked with the least, but not for lack of trying. I always tried.

There were probably several reasons for this, but the most obvious was that these girls seemed to have a penchant for drama, and I wasn’t the type for that sort of thing. I preferred to keep my circle small and filled with people who were real in every way. Though, at the moment, that circle was woefully empty. Well, that’s something for another day.

As much as I’d like to, I wouldn’t always get along with everyone, and some things never changed. In every team, there were always one or two girls you clashed with.

I kept my gaze fixed on the girls, unwavering and challenging, as I cocked my hip. “Anything you want to say to my face? ”

The two girls, who hadn’t rubbed me the wrong way before, bristled a little but shifted on their feet. They looked like classic hangers-on, and their reaction only confirmed that assessment. The other two, however, returned my gaze with a certain arrogance.

Oh, hey, mean girls, is that you? The two instigators could easily have been Regina George and Gretchen Wieners. Brooke with her long blonde waves and Natalie with her shoulder-length auburn hair, both with disdainful looks on their pretty faces. Even if I didn’t like them, I could appreciate that they were attractive.

“Pretty big talk for someone who lets a beast fuck her just to get her MRS degree.”

I scoffed. Funny, coming from them. They practically had jersey chasers written on their foreheads. Not that there’s anything wrong with having some fun, to each their own, as long as no one gets hurt or taken advantage of. Trouble was, I got the feeling these girls had no problem taking advantage of someone for their own benefit.

“Don’t project your bullshit onto me,” I said coolly. “And don’t call my boyfriend that.”

“Ugh, freshmen,” Brooke said, cringing, “you could have picked anyone else on the team, and it would have been a better choice. Do you need someone to provide for you that desperately?”

I laughed humorlessly. Wow, this escalated quickly. “Again, don’t project your bullshit onto me. I don’t give a fuck what you think, all I ask is that you stop badmouthing Colt. He’s done nothing to you and doesn’t deserve to have you talking shit about him. Find something else to do.”

Without waiting for an answer, I spun around, flipped my hair over my shoulder, and stalked off. Fuck them.

To add insult to injury, my phone buzzed in my hand. My stomach clenched with apprehension, suspecting who the text was from before I even looked down.

Dad: Be at La Mamma on Friday at eight. Wear something special, we need to make an impression.

With an angry scoff, I swiped the notification aside. I knew it was too good to be true. Of course, he wouldn’t leave me alone just because I was out of his reach. He could go fuck himself. I wasn’t going anywhere. This shit was over .

To my surprise, Kyra was waiting for me a little farther down the tunnel, leaning against the wall and playing with her phone.

“Have fun with the mean girls?”

I snorted, apparently I wasn’t the only one who had made that connection in her head. “Oh yeah, so much fun,” I deadpanned.

“I’d say don’t listen to them, but I guess you don’t really care what they think anyway, do you?” She pushed herself off the wall, and we made our way down the hall.

“Nope.”

“Good for you. You know, I think I like you. Most people would have been swayed by their bullshit or just put their heads down.”

I sighed. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen how some people react to Colt over the years.”

“How long have you two been together?”

“Since this summer,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing.

“But then, how did you …?” She looked at me quizzically.

“Long story. Let’s just say Colt and I have known each other for a while. ”

Kyra nodded. We reached the locker room, and she stopped, her hand on the door.

“Maybe one day you’ll tell me.”

“Maybe,” I stated, smiling. It felt like I had just made a friend.