Page 19

Eighteen. Friends

Elias

W e won.

I’d never say it out loud, but I saved the Renegades from another loss.

After the meeting yesterday, I was convinced they didn’t think I was ready. Clearing me to train was a big step and I didn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. Maybe if I could prove my strength, they’d let me play. But one day of batting practice led to another and I figured that was all I’d get to do. Vera’s encouragement and belief kept me going, even if it wasn’t going to be enough to get me back on the pitch.

Dr. Theo didn’t relent during PT, but it helped distract from the fact that I spent a year working so hard for nothing. Plus, having the Lucky Shot team hanging around was quite fun. In the weeks they’d been travelling with us, we’d gotten familiar with each other, so it was like hanging out with friends. Even with their inquisitive questions and prying eyes, it felt comforting. Especially since I knew Vera would see all that footage later.

An hour before the match started, Coach Kumaran walked into the medical room with a deep frown. “Why aren’t you in uniform yet?”

“For what, Coach?”

“To play tonight, Joseph. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

With wide eyes I looked between the doctor and my coach. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, suit up. You go on fifth.”

And that was it.

Trust the team to keep me on tenterhooks for months only to tell me that I could play minutes before the match was about to start. In the locker room, surrounded by my friends and teammates, I changed into my uniform with shaky hands. I texted my family and called Vera, but couldn’t get through, so I sent her a bunch of texts. Then I was on the pitch, reminding myself to block out the cheering fans and the bright lights as I focused on the task at hand. Every muscle tightened at the realisation where I was and nodded dumbly at everything my teammate was saying. When the announcer said my name again, I did the needful and raised my bat to the stadium. Their response blew me away and I finally let myself relax.

Pounding on my front door startles me awake. I got home after the match, had a shower and collapsed on the couch while watching the highlights. Blinking through the haze of sleep, I rub my eyes and stand. Every inch of me protests as I straighten up, my body having forgotten what it’s like to play for as long as I did tonight. The knocking stops and the bell rings a few times as I twist and stretch myself. On bare feet, I shuffle to the door and pull it open.

Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute vision on my stoop.

“Are you going to invite me in, superstar?”

Her hair is pulled up and a light sheen coats her exposed skin in a shimmery black dress. It’s being held up with barely there straps, but hugs her breasts beautifully and flows down to her knees. Thinking about how a whole bunch of other people saw her like this before I did makes me irrationally jealous. Then I remember she came home to me and I inhale deeply, her peaches and vanilla scent sinking into me.

Kuriakose peeks out from the side and smiles sheepishly. “Thought about calling, but she insisted it be a surprise.”

Vera grins and pats his shoulder. “Thank you, Kuriakose.”

“Of course. Good night.”

He walks away and at her arched eyebrow, I step aside to let her in. I close the door and lean against it as she spins in place and I watch as her dress flares, flaunting the stretch marks along the back of her thighs. Her bangles are back, jingling as they bump each other. And when she turns to me, I shove my hands into my pockets to admire her. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen her, every time our eyes meet it’s like the first time.

She takes my breath away and makes my heart ricochet all over the place.

“Congratulations,” she rasps and a pleasant tingle shoots up my spine.

“Thank you.”

She hums and takes a step forward. “You were so beautiful on the field. It was so fucking hot.”

Holy shit . I swallow hard as I stare at her, hands fisting in my pockets as she moves closer. “You watched the match?”

Vera nods, her scent drifting over like coloured smoke in cartoons. “I’m sorry I missed all your texts and calls today. But I’m so proud of you.”

“You don’t have to apologise,” I say softly, not needing to talk at my usual volume because of how close she is.

“I wanted to be there for you. But I was out with my girlfriends, regular catch up. The screens were playing the match and when I first laid eyes on you, I couldn’t look away.”

That’s how I’ve felt about you since the moment we met .

“The way you swing so effortlessly every single time? How you look so relaxed at the crease, like this isn’t your career on the line and it’s only gully cricket. God, you’re spectacular. So fucking sexy.”

The gap between us gets smaller and I’ve lost the ability to think straight. I can now smell the alcohol on her breath, but it doesn’t take away from the moment we’re sharing. Her hand lands on my chest and the warmth of her touch seeps through my T-shirt.

“And how about that half-century from seventeen balls, huh?”

“Couldn’t break the record unfortunately,” I reply, because that’s what bothers me. I took some risks during the tenth ball and lost the chance to get those fifty runs earlier.

She grips my freshly shaved jaw. “Don’t belittle what you did. It was incredible. So what if you didn’t break the record tonight, there’s more games, right?”

“Matches,” I correct with a smile and she rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe you watched cricket.” For me, I add silently as my heart presses too firmly against my ribs, it might rip itself open.

“I knew you were good, but there isn’t a word in the English language that expresses how good.”

“Vera…”

“You blew me away.”

“Thank you,” I force the words out.

She drags her hand up my chest and around my neck. I dip my head to press our foreheads together and she sighs. “The footage I’ve seen shows your talent. But you didn’t tell me you’re really a superstar.”

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“You matter,” she whispers and her mouth is on mine.

You matter, you matter, you matter, you matter. It plays like a mantra as I wrap my arms around her waist and drag her body against mine. From the day we met, she’s seen my insecurities and reminded me I’m so much more than the ugly voices in my head. The past year has been so hard on my self-esteem and I’ve kept it so close to my chest even my family doesn’t know I’ve been second guessing everything. The Renegades management only sees someone who can score big points, Dr. Theo sees an injured player he needs to fix, but Vera knows exactly how broken I’ve been since my injury. She’s seen my potential and pushed me to chase what I want. Including her .

I break the kiss, laughing softly at how sweaty she is.

“Never had someone laugh at me after a kiss.”

“There’s nothing funny about the way you kiss. It sets every inch of me on fire,” I tell her and she hums, playfully nipping at my bottom lip. “But being set on fire also means sweat and we’re both a little gross.”

“Speak for yourself, superstar. I’m never gross.”

“Sexily gross?”

She leans back and cocks an eyebrow. “Did that sound positive in your head?”

“Didn’t think before I spoke, so no.”

“If you wanted to see me wet, you could have asked.”

“Dripping, preferably.”

She steps away and licks her lips, hands going around her back. I hold my breath as she twists her body slightly and the dress comes loose. It slides to the floor leaving her in a thin scrap of lace that covers her crotch and nothing else. My breath comes out in a whoosh and for every step I take towards her, Vera takes a step back.

“Bathroom?”

“Down the hall, third door on the right.”

She spins around and I groan, biting my fist at the sight of her ass and tattooed back. I follow her and stop to admire Vera at the mirror as she switches her ponytail into a bun. I don’t know where to look first—the lacy dental floss between her ass cheeks, the bumps and folds at her back, the heaviness of her breasts reflected in the mirror or the sparkling mischief in her eyes.

“Too many clothes,” she tells me and I strip, leaving me in my underwear.

I flex my fingers as I step right up behind her, my chest pressing against her back. She leans into me, pushes her fingers into my hair and my hands landing on her hips as I look her over in the mirror.

She’s unreal.

She’s mine and she doesn’t know it yet.

“What happened to the friendship bands?”

Holding an arm out, she smiles. “Bangles are better, right?”

“I like both. Thought you weren’t supposed to take them off once they’re tied on?”

“Well, it didn’t match my dress tonight.”

I chuckle and kiss behind her ear, sliding down her neck as goosebumps spread across her skin.

“What do you want, peaches?”

“Everything,” she whispers.

I toy with the waistband of her pointless underwear and press my dick against her ass. She bites her bottom lip as I continue to rock into her. My other hand drags up her stomach, between her breasts and wraps around her throat. Her head falls back, pulse fluttering against the tips of my fingers. Even hooded, her gaze stays on me. I slip my hand between her soft thighs and Vera parts her legs. Her hips jolt and the fingers in my hair tugging gently. Her wet heat drips through the flimsy material of her underwear and she whines when I press a finger against her.

“Patience.”

“ No ,” she gasps, her grip on my hair tightening. “Not when you’re going so slow.”

“What do you need, Vera?”

“You.”

“ What do you need?” I repeat gruffly.

Her free hand covers mine and she presses my fingers against her pussy. “Fuck me with your fingers, your tongue, your cock. Give me all of you, Elias. Inside me, outside me, everywhere.”

My dick jumps at the words, but I slide her thong to the side so I can slip my fingers through her wet slit. She gasps again, her breath coming in soft pants as I play with her. Her legs part some more and I spread her pussy open. There’s something about being able to only see her face that makes this experience much more heightened.

“E…” she whimpers and using only my initial is what makes me plunge two fingers inside her. Her body arches and I grip her a little tighter around the throat. She relaxes, hips undulating slowly. Her perfect ass brushes against my dick and sends sparks of pleasure up my spine.

“Behave and I’ll give you what you want.”

“Promise?”

“I promise, baby.”

She grips the wrist wrapped around her throat and I fuck her with my fingers, pumping them as deep as I can go. Pressing against her more, I brush my lips over her bare shoulder, gently nipping at her skin. The taste of sweat and everything Vera mingles together on my tongue and I can’t get enough. Her pussy pulses and clenches around me briefly, making me drag my fingers out of her because I can. She huffs in annoyance and I add a third finger when I thrust back into her. She cries out, nails digging into my arm and tugging on my hair.

“Told you to behave,” I growl into her ear and she pushes back, my very hard dick settling in the cleft between her ass cheeks. “ Vera .”

“I need more.”

“Three fingers not enough for you?” I ask as I twist my hand and push so deep, her head falls back as she moans loudly. I smile as I take in her reflection—eyes rolled back in her head, mouth open. She squeezes around me again and I finally give her what she wants by pressing my thumb to her clit.

“Fuck yes ,” she moans, quivering as I shift pressure against the bundle of nerves and continue to fuck her. She’s soft and languid in my arms, a playful smile tugging at her mouth as I squeeze my fingers around her throat. Our eyes meet in the mirror as I suck hard on her shoulder. When she tugs her bottom lip into her mouth, I spread my fingers inside her and press against her walls.

Vera comes on a loud moan, pussy clenching. I’m not even a little embarrassed that I come in my underwear at the sight, because it would have been a miracle if I could hold back at all. My fingers are soaked, but I don’t stop fucking her. She shudders and I release the grip around her neck so I can pepper her skin with kisses.

“You made a mess of me,” she whispers, lust filled eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

“Just how I like you.” I slide my hand out and raise my fingers to her mouth. She doesn’t hesitate to suck them clean. Her tongue swirls around the digits, lapping up every last drop and I growl as I watch her. “Come on, we need to clean up.”

In a sleepy tone, she says, “You know, the plan was to congratulate you for playing a good game while on my knees.”

“We’ve got all night.”

“You fucked me into exhaustion, though.”

I kiss her jaw and she sighs happily. “Watching you come is congratulations enough, Vera.”

“I’m so impressed. So proud of you.”

I smile and slide her underwear off, and do the same with mine. I toss them out of the bathroom and turn on the shower. If I focus too much on her sex drunk feelings, I might get carried away. I like that she’s proud and impressed by me, but I don’t need any of those things from this woman. I only want her.

“Come on, peaches.”

I guide her into the shower and help wash her up. I make sure to not touch the parts of her that will rile us both up.

“Thank you for showing up tonight,” I tell her as we dry off and she shakes her head. “I’m serious. Vera, look at me.” I gently turn her to face me and she blows a strand of hair out of her face. “Nobody has ever shown up for me that wasn’t my family. But you did. You’re here.”

“That’s what friends do for each other.”

My heart shatters, but because I’m staring at her, I catch the wince before she walks out of the bathroom. Staring at my reflection, I convince myself it was a slip and she didn’t mean to say that. I’ve never hated the word friends before, but I despise it now. I agreed to this friends with benefits arrangement, but I didn’t know how much it would affect me.

And I won’t stop until I show her we’re so much more.