Page 27 of Trick Shot (Miami Blazers #1)

Chapter thirteen

~JACE~

I wake up to the kind of sounds that make you never want to leave. No alarms, just seagulls, soft voices from outside, and the ocean waves.

Melody’s back is warm against my chest, her hips tucked into mine like we were made to fit that way. My arm’s slung over her, hand splayed low across her bare stomach.

And for the first time in… fuck, I don’t even know how long, I don’t want to move.

I just want to stay. I’m usually out the door the second I get it over with. But that’s the thing—this wasn’t me “getting it over with”. This was me doing something I’ve been craving for over ten months. And it turns out the secret ingredient to great sex is… feelings.

That should scare me. But what really starts clawing at my ribs is something worse.

There’s another man. Who is technically me, but there is another fucking man.

I’m in a damn love triangle with myself . The filtered version of me. The mask, the mystery, the safe little fantasy.

She sends him thoughts she won’t say out loud, confessions, shit that makes my stomach twist when I read it—because she doesn’t know I’m on the other end.

I glance down at her. Her lashes flutter against her cheek, and her lips are slightly parted. She’s still got faint marks on her hips from where I held her down.

Well, I’m definitely ahead of him. Ghost hasn’t had this.

I win.

I beat me.

...Right?

Except that smile dies before it even reaches my mouth. Because the second I think it, another thought hits me like a puck to the chest.

Melody’s split between two people.

Physically with one. Emotionally obsessed with the other.

Is this what she does?

What if next time, Jace is the guy in her phone, not Ghost? What if I’m the one getting the late-night texts—and some other guy is in bed with her?

What if I just played myself into becoming the exact man I swore I’d never be again?

I feel it in my chest, that heat that starts cold. The kind that seeps into your bones when the past sneaks in and takes a seat at the table.

I’ve been here before. I’ve lived this before. Watching a girl lie to my face with lips that taste like another man.

I try my best to remind myself that Melody is not… that. I blink, trying to reason with myself.

Melody shifts a little in her sleep, sighs, and leans back into me. A sleepy little sigh rolls off her lips as she shifts again, spine stretching against me. Her legs tangle with mine and dark eyes blink open, still glazed with that lazy, post-sex daze.

She sees me and her whole body goes still for a second.

Shit. Here it comes. The regret. The panic. The we shouldn’t have done that speech.

But then she blinks again, lets her eyes drag over my face… and gives me the softest fucking smile I’ve ever seen.

“Well, well,” I murmur, voice coming out sleepy. “Look who survived the night.”

“Jace.” She snorts, rolls onto her back, and covers her face with her hands.

“What? You didn’t think you’d wake up next to me?” I prop myself up on my elbow, letting the sheet slip down just enough to be a dick about it.

“You’re unbearable.” She groans into her palms.

“That’s not what you were saying when I had you around my cock.” I grin.

She throws her pillow at my face with a smile. I catch it midair, toss it back, and lean in.

“Are you okay?” I murmur, dropping the teasing.

Her eyes meet mine, searching. Then she nods.

“Yes,” she says softly. “I’m okay.” Her cheeks are flushed, her curls are a mess, and her lips are swollen.

And I’m fighting every urge to fuck her again like my life depends on it.

“Just okay?” I raise a brow. “Damn. I was aiming for phenomenal.”

She rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitch. She hums, stretching again, this time with her arms over her head. She’s doing it to kill me.

“You hungry?” I ask, because if I don’t change the subject, I’m going to flip her over and take her again.

“Starving.”

“You and me both.” I lean down, brush my mouth against her ear.

A knock at the door startles us both.

“Mel?” a familiar voice calls.

Fuck.

Dom.

Melody’s entire body snaps to attention like a deer caught mid-sin. Her eyes go wide, pink blooming across her cheeks like a garden of guilt.

“Shit.” She bolts upright, clutching the sheet to her like we’re in a soap opera.

“Get down!” she whisper-hisses.

“What?” I laugh.

“Hide! I’m serious!”

“You want me to… what, roll under the bed like a side piece?” I try to suppress the laughter crawling up my throat.

She scrambles out of bed, panicking as the knock sounds again.

“Mel? You up?” Dom calls, voice casual. “Breakfast’s downstairs.”

I let out a silent laugh as Melody glares daggers at me.

“Please.”

I roll off the bed, hit the floor, and press against the hardwood like I’m hiding from the goddamn cops.

From where I’m crouched, I can see the bottom half of her legs as she jumps out of bed.

She opens the door a crack.

“Hey,” she says, voice higher than usual.

“Morning,” Dom replies, probably scanning her face. “Everything good?”

“Yeah, I just got up.”

I fight the urge to snort. Technically not a lie.

“Figured. We’re having breakfast downstairs, come down when you’re ready. Jace and you are the only ones not up yet.”

I smile, imagining the look on Melody’s face.

“Oh,” she breathes. “Uh, yeah, I’m coming in a bit.”

“I made you that spinach omelet thing you like.”

“Thanks, Dom.”

A pause.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks.

“Positive.” I see her bare foot shuffle nervously.

And I’m a sick bastard, because this? This is hot.

The way her voice shakes, the way she lied for me—it’s turning me on.

But it should be scaring the hell out of me, because this can’t go on. I can’t keep sneaking around like I’m hiding from my dad.

If Dom finds out, he won’t just be mad. He’ll use my skull like a puck and launch it straight through the wall.

And maybe I deserve it. But even knowing all that… I’d still do it again.

I hear his footsteps fade down the hall before the door clicks shut.

Melody exhales, and I see her footsteps as she walks around the bed.

I’m still on the floor, laid out like a dumbass with a smirk on my face and a hard-on that won’t quit.

“That was close,” she says.

“No shit,” I mutter, standing up and stretching my back.

She turns toward me but doesn’t return my smile. Her eyes lock with mine, and something shifts. The air tightens between us. I know that look—I saw it on her yesterday.

Guilt.

“This can’t happen again,” she says.

There it is.

“It was a mistake,” she continues. “Last night was… reckless and dangerous.”

I don’t argue, I just start moving towards her. She backs up, eyes widening, her body already reacting to mine before her brain catches up.

By the time her back hits the wall, I’m there, crowding her. I dip my head, let my mouth ghost over her cheek, my lips grazing her skin as I speak.

“It is reckless. It is dangerous,” I say, as my hand moves to her hip, then lower. My hand slides down her side, hooking into the hem of the oversized T-shirt she’s wearing. I lift it just enough to touch the inside of her thigh.

“You want safe?” I growl. “That’s your choice.”

My fingers slide higher. She gasps when I press against the heat between her legs.

Her hands clutch my forearms as I rub slow and firm against her.

“But if you want real…” I breathe, “you know exactly where to find me.”

She bites her lip, trying not to make a sound.

“Jace,” she whispers. “Someone could come in.”

“Let them,” I murmur against her throat. “It still won’t change anything.”

Her head falls back. Her mouth parts.

“I’m in you, baby. In your head. In your body.”

I kiss the corner of her lips, then pull back an inch.

“And I’m not fucking going anywhere.”

I open her door slowly. My T-shirt’s slung over my bare chest, and Melody’s fingers are still clutching the edge of the door like she’s debating whether to slam it shut or drag me back in.

“Never thought I’d be sneaking around in my own house.” I smirk at her.

She tries not to smile back and fails before nudging me forward. But then her smile drops as she glances down the hall. I follow her gaze and freeze. Standing outside the door to my room is Zed.

Fuck. Me.

He’s facing the room I’m supposed to be sleeping in, his fist raised mid-knock, but his eyes are locked right on me.

On us.

He doesn’t speak for a second, just drops his tattooed hand and tilts his head slightly like a fucking hawk that just caught two rodents humping in his nest.

“Dom asked me to wake you for breakfast,” he says calmly. Then his gaze flicks to Melody. Then back to me. “But I see… you’re already up.”

His tone is even, almost bored.

My stomach fucking drops. Yeah, message received.

Melody stiffens beside me.

“Oh, we, uh” she starts, already scrambling for an excuse.

But he lifts one brow, and she shuts up.

Good call, sweetheart.

This man doesn’t need excuses. He already knows. Zed’s eyes cut back to me.

“Breakfast is ready,” he says, still pretending this is normal.

“Yeah. Just need to grab something.” I nod slowly.

He doesn’t look impressed.

“Better not let Dominic catch you grabbing the wrong things.”

The Florida heat is already creeping in, sticky and unforgiving, but the iced coffee in my hand makes it a little more bearable. The team is scattered across the patio, laughing and shouting while tossing a football.

I’m leaning against the outdoor bar, sipping my coffee, sunglasses on, watching the soft waves crash the shore.

That’s when my view gets blocked by a girl in a bright purple bikini—with too much implant and the kind of desperate energy I can smell from a hundred yards away.

“Good morning, handsome,” she says, pressing her shoulder against my arm.

“Missed you at the pool last night,” she adds, batting her lashes. “Tanner was fun though. Really fun.” She giggles. “But I’ve been wanting you.”

I take another slow sip of my coffee.

“Yeah?” I say casually. “And how was Tanner?”

“Energetic.” She grins like she’s winning.

“Great.” I set my glass down on the bar. “Then maybe stick with him”

“Come on, don’t be like that.” She tilts her head. “You’ve been avoiding us.”

Meaning: Why aren’t you performing your tricks anymore, circus monkey?

“Let me make this easy for you.” I look at her. “If you wanna party in my house and fuck the rookies, that’s your business.” I lean in closer, my tone sharpening. “But as for me… I’m just not interested.”

Her lips part, stunned.

“You’re nothing like people describe you,” she scoffs, her nose scrunching.

Yeah, sucks to think you have the right to someone’s body and get a reality check, right?

I turn away without answering, and that’s when I see Melody. She’s standing across the patio, eyes locked on me. Her gaze flicks to the girl, then back to me—cool, amused. A smirk plays on her lips before she turns and disappears into the house.

I stare down at my coffee, then leave it on the bar and follow her. Because nothing tastes as good as the look she just gave me.

I find her in the pantry, pretending to rummage through shelves like she wasn’t just watching me like a hawk from across the patio.

“Spying on me?” I murmur, stepping in behind her.

“Please.” She grins, not turning away. “You’re not that interesting.”

I crowd her a little closer. “No?”

She smiles, eyes dancing with amusement. “I was just thinking. If the girls are going to flirt with you while I’m around, I might just start flirting with your teammates.”

That gets my full attention.

“With who exactly?” I ask, voice low.

She lifts a shoulder, all fake innocence. “Maybe that rookie with the curls who keeps checking me out.”

My eyes narrow. “Henderson?”

She grins wider. “Is that his name?”

I shake my head and move in fast, grabbing her waist and backing her into the shelves. She gasps as her back hits the wall, and I cage her in.

“If he even thinks about you like that, I’ll knock him into the next hockey season,” I growl, my mouth brushing her ear.

Her breath hitches—but she’s still smiling.

“You’re insane.”

I grin. “Little bit.”

Then I pause, letting the silence throb between us.

Her eyes widen. Her lips part. I feel her whole body react.

My hand drags up her side, thumb grazing bare skin.

I lean in, my mouth barely touching hers.

“But if I see another man put his hands on you…” My voice drops lower. “I’ll be the last fucker he ever sees.”