Page 24 of Caught from Behind

It’s anticipatory and it’s fearful, and…it’s a gnawing worry that I might have seriously fucked up.

I mean…no, I couldn’t have fucked her, not like that.

But—

I’m not charming. I’m not smooth. I’m not a talker like Knox, who’s blabbering next to me, and hasn’t stopped since the moment we got in the car together after practice and headed to Lake’s for a game night.

“…and that’s when I flipped her over and?—”

“Asked her to paddle your ass like the bad little boy you are?” I say, switching into locker room banter without really thinking about it.

Conversation cuts out.

Knox gapes at me.

And…well, fuck, that just slipped out.

Ella’s eyes are wide and she freezes, mid-sip of her honey-rosemary mule, and then she’s choking.

And then I’m filing that away.

Is it the paddling? Or the dirty talk?

She’d certainly been ready when I told her that underwear was optional.

One drink. She’s only had one and?—

I pause, listen to my body, to the memories clinging to the edges of my brain always, and…

I can work with one drink.

“How’d you know?” Knox croons, battling his eyelashes up at me and leaning close.

I scowl at him.

Drunk idiot—something I don’t want to work with.

“Those strong arms”—Knox strokes his hand down my biceps—“those rock-hard abs”—he waggles his brows at me then at Nova, Lake, Leo, and Jolie, soliciting a round of chuckles and giggles—“however am I going to control myself?” He sighs and flops against me, and I don’t know if it’s the same devil in me that had me writing on the puck, or just a need to wipe that smirk off Knox’s face, but I wrap my arm around his chest, draw him tightly against me, and, fuck it, I press my lips to his.

He freezes.

Nova and Jolie cackle.

I pull back, shoving him into his own chair again.

“What the fuck?” he snaps.

I lift an eyebrow. “You play with the bull…”

Lake smirks.

Knox glares.

Leo collapses into a puddle of laughter.

“So, this is what you boys do on the road?” Nova teases.

Lake hauls her close, nips at her bottom lip. “Some of us.”

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