Page 61 of Pick Six

“Put the shirt on.”

“If I don’t want to?”

“I can make you.”

Her eyes light at that.

“Fuck, Saint, please just have some mercy on me and behave for a fucking minute.”

“Fine,” she sighs, setting her water down and putting the shirt on. She sits down on the table then, and spreads her legs just enough, kicking her feet as she grins at me and sips her water.

“As much as I want you… it’s late. You’ve got work. I’ve got practice. Hard practice because we’ve got a game to be ready for this weekend. I need some energy left for that.”

Her lip rolls a touch and her shoulders slouch, but she relents. “Fine. I guess I can take one for the team.”

I laugh a bit and then look her over one last time. My eyes land heavy on her gorgeous face as she watches me back.

“What?” she asks.

I close the distance between us and take her lips with mine, kissing her softly and loving the lingering taste of me on her mouth.

“You’re just so fucking beautiful.” I grin against her lips, kissing her again.

“Do you want to stay here?” she asks softly like she’s unsure.

“Do you want me to stay?”

“Yes.”

“All right. I have to set a super early alarm to get back in time but if you don’t mind…”

“I don’t mind.” A sweet smile lights her face, and I nearly have to press my hand to my chest with the way it goes tight.

She’s had me for a long time, but in shattered pieces—memories and desires that I’ve kept bottled up. This new reality where I get to taste and feel her, where she reciprocates the same desperation in the way she touches and kisses me… It’s already quickly becoming an addiction for me. A version of her I already know I’m not going to be willing to give up when the time comes. I just have to hope she feels the same way when the game we’re playing is over.

THIRTY-THREE

Harper

I don’t getto see or talk to Alex much for the rest of the week. He’d left in the early hours of the next morning, kissing me on the forehead before leaving for practice. We’d exchanged a few texts back and forth, but we’d both been so busy this week that we’d crashed most nights as soon as we were home from work.

I’d promised that I’d be at opening game night, and he’d convinced me to sit up in the box with the other wives and girlfriends. Now that I’m here, it feels surreal. Like this is the last place I belong, with this view and these women. They’re all married, most of them with families, and the few exceptions are all long-term girlfriends. Violet had introduced me to everyone, and they’d all been incredibly kind. But still, I’m the fraud in here, the pretender because my guy isn’t really mine.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as she comes up next to me, handing me a beer.

“I just don’t feel like I belong here I guess, with all the families and fanciness.” I give her a crumpled smile. I stare out the window pulling my lips to the side as they continue to get the field ready and the crowds funnel into the stadium seats.

“You’re a girlfriend. That counts.” Violet smiles at me.

I make a face at her, and she exchanges the look.

“Have things progressed on that front?” She raises an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I saw you two in that bathroom. I saw the way you were flirting at the charity event. And I definitely saw the way he looked at you in that dress. Plus, Xander has a temper, but there’s no way he puts his whole career on the line like that for just anyone. Punching a teammate? That would be out of bounds even for him.”

“I still feel guilty about it.” I stare down at the floor. “That’s why I’m doing this, even if it feels wrong.”