Page 6 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin diverted his attention to our audience. In the blink of an eye, his expression transformed from irritated to something more devious. When he turned back to me, I knew this was going to be trouble.

“I know how to fix this, mate. Leave it to me.”

Before I could utter a single word, Colin’s hands went to my face and pulled me into a kiss right in the middle of baggage claim.

Shocked and turned on, I stood there, wide-eyed, until he pulled back. It lasted long enough to jumpstart an erection and cause my face to turn red. He followed it up with a hug like we were lovers, making up after an argument.

“There ya go, fucker,” he whispered into my ear before nipping the lobe. “That should get you some nice airtime.”

My dick continued to inflate as shivers rippled down my spine. This was not happening. “You kiss like my grandma,” I said, wiping my mouth.

Colin, and as if we needed more attention, opened his big goddamn mouth and made an announcement for our audience.

“Forgive me. That’s how we say I’ve missed my man in Australia. Let’s get my bags, baby,” he said loudly, taking my arm. “I can’t wait to get home. And Allister needs to take a wee.”

I wasn’t sure there was a name for the color of red I was seeing. But I was going to kill him.

Colin picked up his bag of clothes, shoved it into my stomach, and grabbed my arm to pull me to the luggage carousel. I was keenly aware that onlookers were watching this train wreck with phones pointed in our direction.

Media training. Just go with it.

So I smiled as we stood at conveyor A. Leaning into him, I whispered into his ear. “You’re going to get us in so much trouble.”

He laughed, unconcerned with the spectacle he’d created, and patted my cheek. “Ya said the people were watching, so I gave’em something sweet to remember. We’re less likely to make the TMZ that way. Had we brawled, it would have been worse.”

I huffed but kept the semblance of a smile on my face. I already hated his accent. “I guess you’d know all about negative press, wouldn’t you?”

Colin smiled endearingly at me, then pinched my ass. I yelped as he leaned in. “You have no idea, but I’ll gladly show you. Want another one? Maybe with tongue this time?”

“No,” I shouted a little too loudly, making him laugh. My face registered a new and uncharted shade of red.

Thank fuck the conveyor started up, catching our attention. We stood side by side in silence as a rainbow of luggage colors descended the shoot. The cat did not like the noise.

What was his name again? Alred? Allen?

“By the way,” he asked casually, turning to me. “Does the team know you like dick? I’m only asking because it wasn’t a problem for mine, and with your teammate shagging the governor…”

My eyes flew open as my heart stopped. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He shrugged nonchalantly as if what he’d asked was no big deal. “When I kissed you, you kissed me back.” He glanced down at my zipper and smirked. “And you got a stiffy in your pants.”

I scoffed and laughed simultaneously. “That’s just…” I leaned in and whispered, “Biology. My body reacting to a stimulus.”

I was full of shit.

It was him.

All him.

Colin laughed, making his Adam’s apple bob. My eyes swept up from his neck to his mouth. His lips were soft and pillowy and spread wide when he smiled.

“Your eyes say you want to kiss me again. Wanna do it here, or wait until we get outside?”

My horrified gaze snapped from his mouth to his now twinkling eyes. “No,” I scoffed. “Why would I want to do that? I don’t kiss my teammates.”

He smirked. “But you did. And it was okay, I suppose, considering I surprised you. I’ll give you a three out of ten.”

Heat rose from my feet like a thermometer in boiling water. “What? No! I kiss better than a three.”

Someone shut me up now.

Colin released a deep chuckle as he alternated between eyeing me and the circling luggage. The fucker had me flustered to the point I wanted to tackle him to the ground and shut him up. But that wouldn’t help the situation.

His eyes roamed over me again as he bit his lip. He was making me so fucking nervous. Leaning in, he whispered in my ear. “Aren’t you a big, delicious snack?”

Choking on the air, I glared at him. “I’m not your snack.”

“You could be.” Colin’s eyes sparkled. He was enjoying my discomfort. The man had been here less than ten minutes and already had my number. He was the fucking enemy, and I had to remember that.

Tensing my jaw, I stared him in the eye. “What’s so funny?”

He shrugged. “You’re fun to stir up. And,” he drew it out, “you were eye-fucking me.”

He raked his eyes over my body with so much heat I had to look away.

“Would you stop that?” I hissed, surveying our audience. I smiled and leaned closer to his ear. “And I did not eye-fuck you. I don’t know how.”

More laughter peeled from him. “I beg to differ. Where I come from, that look you gave me says give it to me, big daddy.”

My pulse raced for the door. I was going to stroke out right here, which caused him to laugh more. “Relax, mate. I don’t bite. Not hard anyway.”

I groaned and rubbed my temples. Another headache was forming.

“Problem, mate?”

Colin’s eyes blazed a trail down to my zipper again.

“No.”

“Better tell your cock, then. But I can definitely lend a hand with that. It’s the least I could do.”

His brown eyes sparkled with mischief. The fucker was doing this on purpose, and I was falling for it hook, line, and sinker. “There’s nothing to help with. Get your stuff and let’s go. You stink and need a shower.”

He swung his arm toward the conveyor belt. “You’re not gonna help me carry them? I can only do so much with Allister.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I had to wonder what I had done to deserve this asshole barging into my life? And why was I standing so close to him?

“Why are you doing this?”

I watched as he tapped his index finger on my chin. “It’s okay, Cappy. But just know your beautiful hazel eyes are telling on ya. You like me, and I’m not gonna tell anyone if ya decide to take me up on my offer. We’ll call it a thank-you gift.”

I slapped his finger away again before I remembered we had onlookers. So I took his hand and laced our fingers together. Moving in close to his mouth, I was low-key concerned he might kiss me again, but I took the chance. “You know nothing about me.”

“Likewise. And whatever put that chip on your shoulder isn’t gonna work. We’re gonna be living together for a long time.”

Fucking hell. He smelled so damn good, even doused in coffee. This situation was even more dangerous than I initially thought. I was going to have to keep him locked in the guest house.

When I didn’t reply, he smiled. “Well, think about it. I appreciate you letting me stay in your little beach house.”

I took a step back and tried to calm my erratic breathing. He was baiting me again. “It’s not little, and the team is paying me. It’s not for you.”

I was not getting into a size war with him. There was no need to compensate for anything or defend my prowess.

Another expression I couldn’t read drained the humor from his face. He curled his lips in and gave me a nod as he glanced down at his cat.

“Either way, we appreciate it. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, whether you swing from my banana tree or not.”

His words caught me off guard again and sounded like something Lennox would say. This time, I laughed, and his face lit up like I’d made him happy.

“There’s something wrong with you.”

Colin shrugged but gave me a half smile. “See there,” he said, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “We’re gonna be just fine, Cappy.”

His arm slipped away when he stepped back and reached for his bag. He smirked and waved his arm as he headed toward the door.

“Be a mate and grab that, eh?”

Rolling my eyes, my good manners kicked in as I picked up his bag and followed him out the door.