Page 21 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin grabbed my arm as I tried to walk by. “I’m sorry.”

I jerked it away and turned on him. “Not. Fucking. Here.”

He followed me down the hallway and into an empty meeting room. When he stepped in and closed the door, I slammed him against it and got in his face.

“What in the fuck are you doing? You’ve made me look like a goddamn fool in front of everyone. Again!”

Anger swirled in his eyes as he shoved me back, knocking me off balance. I stumbled back, but Colin reached out to catch my arm.

We stared at one another for a hot second before he spoke. “Shit,” he breathed out, his anger dissipating. “I didn’t mean to push ya so hard. Ya were screaming at me, and I reacted.”

My anger was waning because I wasn’t innocent. I’d gotten in his face and provoked his reaction. It was another one, on a long list of actions, that turned me inside out. That and I wanted to kiss him.

“It’s not just today. Kissing me yesterday, then taking off your helmet today, is unacceptable. We can’t go through the season like this. Something has to give.”

He stared down at the floor where his leg was bouncing.

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“You understand it’s for your safety, right? It might be uncomfortable and hot, but it's not optional. Do you have any idea how many people suffer brain damage playing this sport? It’s dangerous as fuck if you don’t follow the rules.”

Colin rubbed his fingers across his beard, making me want to touch it.

“I read all that. But like ya said, there’s something wrong with me.”

My brows pinched together. “What do you mean?”

He looked over at me with embarrassment in his eyes. “I haven’t seen ya much this week, and I’d rather ya yell at me than ignore me.”

My anger waned a bit as I took a good look at myself. I was letting my attraction to him control the intensity of my reactions on the field.

Stepping back, I sat down on the edge of the table and pinched my brow. “I’m not ignoring you, and I apologize for yelling. That wasn’t the way to handle it. But this is my career. It’s not just a game.”

I let that hang in the air between us before I continued. “If you’re trying to get my attention, you’re wasting your time. You’ve had it since you got here. And after that night, I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you.”

Colin’s eyes snapped up. “Really?”

I rolled my eyes and stood up. “You’re not that oblivious. But we’re not talking about this now.”

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I walked toward him. “We need to go. If anyone says anything, tell them you were just being stupid.”

His cheeks heated.

“What? What else have you done now?”

Colin curled his lips in and smiled. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I might as well tell you now, in case they say something to you.”

“Tell me what?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

He smirked. “Yesterday, when you stormed off the field, Lennox asked if he could help with anything. I kinda told your friends I did it on purpose because I like fucking with you.”

“No the fuck you didn’t.”

“Yes the fuck I did. And…” he dragged out, “I mentioned you needed a pint and a good lay.”

I slapped my hand over my face. “Tell me that’s all you said. You didn’t tell them…”

“No! But… I might have said you were high-strung like a ram… that needs his balls removed.”

Groaning, I sighed and shook my head. “I fucking hate you.”

He gave me that smile that never failed to make me hard. “No, ya don’t. Ya really don’t.”

“Keep thinking that,” I said as I shoved him out of the way. “I’ll see you at home.”

“Okay. I’m heading out to some place called the Squid with a couple of the boys.”

I turned and pointed at him. “Behave yourself. We’ll finish this conversation when you get home.”

I headed to the shower, ready to get the fuck out of there, marveling at how I’d let this happen.

When I got back, Allister was curled up on the sofa next to me, while I watched a re-run of a match between England and Wales, when Colin came looking for him.

It had been a couple of hours, and I’d had time to process the day. As much as I hated what he said about Leland, it put a lot of things into perspective for me.

“Did ya steal my cat again, St. James?” he said, walking in the back door.

Running my hand over Allister’s fur, I smiled. “It’s not stealing when he breaks in. Besides, he’s here to see Bella.”

Colin walked over and sat down on the sofa next to me, taking in his cat. I could smell his cologne and the fruity shampoo he used.

“He likes it here.”

I nodded, rubbing the side of his face as he purred. “Seems that way.”

Colin leaned into me and rubbed a hand down Allister’s back. His heat pressed into my shoulder, bringing us as close to one another as we’d been on the field.

I was tired of the game we were playing.

“I’m sorry I lost my shit on you today, but you scare the shit out of me sometimes.”

He shook his head. “No, I pushed you. Don’t know why I find it so entertaining to shove you out of your comfort zone. Don’t know why I do it.”

Turning, I took a long look at him before I spoke.

“It took me a while to figure out why you act the way you do. But it all makes sense now.”

He sat back and leveled me with a serious expression. “What’s that?”

Shifting on the sofa to face him, I met his brown eyes.

“It’s your defense mechanism. Before you came here, everyone in your life left you.

And the hurt little boy in you thinks it’s something you did or how you act.

Because of them, you only allow yourself to get just so close before you retreat to protect yourself. ”

Colin swallowed. “Maybe.”

I reached for his hand and threaded mine over his. The fear was palpable in his eyes, but I refused to let him slip away. I’d fight for both of us if I needed to.

“Three weeks ago, we dropped all the bullshit pretenses and gave ourselves to one another. And you know what happened? I saw you, Colin. The real you that allowed himself to be vulnerable because we had an expiration date. There was no danger of falling in twenty-four hours, and when the time was up, you could push me away to protect yourself. But neither of us considered we might be wrong because that’s exactly what’s happened.

We’ve taken the first steps toward figuring out what this could be. ”

He squeezed my hand and swallowed thickly again. “Do ya really think you could see me as more?”

Reaching over, I ran my fingers around the back of his neck, but couldn’t stop the smirk on my face. “I hope so. We’ll see how you feel about me if I have to duct tape your helmet to your head.”

“You’d do that?”

“Hell yes, I would. You saddle us with a penalty because it fucks up your hair, and it’s on.”

Colin burst out laughing. “I need to look good.”

“Can you see how this feels like more than sex? I think we’re becoming friends and lovers at the same time.” I pulled our clasped hands to my heart. “You’ve already moved in here, you and your cat.”

“What exactly are you saying here?

“I want to see where this can go while you’re here. I think you’re exactly what I’ve been missing in my life.”

Colin looked down at our hands as his breathing sped up. “Are you sure you want to take a chance with me? I don’t know how to keep people in my life.”

I smiled sweetly and pulled him closer. “Yes, you do. But I think you’ve been trying to keep the wrong people. Just be the man you are, because, for some reason, that’s who I like. And I want to be the person in that guy’s life. I promise to give you whatever you need.”

He blinked at me, eyes wide. “Ya know I’ve never done that before.”

“Neither have I. But I’d really like you to take a chance with me.”

Colin nodded, then smashed his mouth to mine. When our lips met, nothing mattered but that moment.

It was perfect until he pulled back and started complaining. “Can we get naked now? You promised me whatever I needed, and I need your cock.”

I fell back on the sofa and held my arms out wide. “I’m all yours.”