Page 12 of Fumble

Chapter Four

HUNTER

What a disaster.I can’t believe I called out that kid in the middle of a Q&A, but the way he was looking at Faith made me so goddamn angry. I’ve had plenty of girls give me a boner in public before, but I had the good sense to hide it. Only a cocky little shit would be so brazen, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone like that anywhere near Faith.

The startled look in her eyes when I demanded she go to my car sent a thrill of excitement running through my veins. The moment my glare caught the quarterback, he scampered like the little pup he is. I may be retired, but I’m still the alpha dog in this game.

Malcolm has plenty to say about my little outburst, but to be honest, I don’t care. His thoughts on my sex life are well documented. If he got laid more often, I think he’d be less obsessed with my nighttime activities.

“The best thing that could happen to you right now is seeing that girl hook up with a college kid. Maybe you’d get some perspective.”

“I already told you nothing has happened. Do you need a statement in blood or something?”

“Then why did I just see her getting in your car? She should be with the other employees.”

“But, she’s not like them, is she? She’s right out of college, and Coach sheltered her from this side of the business her whole life. She needs some guidance.” The twisted grin that pulls at the thin corners of his lips irks me.

“And you’re the person to be her work daddy?”

“You make me sound like a dirty old man. If I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it. As far as I’m aware, you work for me.”

“It’s your funeral, Vaughn, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I leave him talking to himself, breathing in the warm New York air to calm myself before getting in the car. Am I annoyed because he’s making assumptions or because they could easily be right? I feel like a creepy old man, skulking in the back row of an X-rated movie theater. The moment I open the back door, her voice filters out in a hurried garble of expletives.

“Shit… fuck… bugger. I have to go, Zee. Talk later.” Sliding in too close, I take an unhealthy pleasure in her discomfort—I make her nervous.

“You have the mouth of a sailor. I didn’t think Stanford encouraged cursing. Isn’t there some saying about curse words being due to a lack of vocabulary?”

“Well, you graduated from there, so I guess they lowered their standards long ago.” Her cheeks erupt in chagrin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m not usually so…”

“Defensive?”

“Yes. In truth, I get called out on my predilection for cursing quite often, but I grew up around my dad. Football players aren’t exactly known for clean speech. Wouldn’t you agree?” There’s a hint of mischief in the sparkle of her eyes, and it’s sexy as hell.

“You got me there. Look, about what happened earlier…” She cuts me off as her hand slides over my thigh. “What are you doing, Miss Fairchild?”

“You were jealous…” Although it pains me, I rest my hand over hers, stopping her gradual descent to the promised land.

“I… yeah, I was, and I shouldn’t be.”

“Maybe not, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you were. I hated seeing you leave with that shrew last night.” The scent of her perfume is intoxicating. If she were anyone else, I’d already have her spread across the back seat with my face buried between her legs. I lean in, close enough to feel the warmth of her breath and smell a hint of strawberry lip gloss. My pulse is racing, but I know a kiss won’t be enough for me.

“We can’t do this. I don’t sleep with employees.” She searches my eyes for a chink in my armor.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to break your own rules?”

“Trust me, I want to break every last one of them right now, but you’re Coach’s daughter.” All evidence of nerves disappears as she straightens my tie, running her fingers down my chest.

“I’m not asking you to marry me. We’re both consenting adults. What’s wrong with some harmless fun, no strings attached? What happens on the road stays on the road.” God, she’s testing every ounce of willpower I possess. My dick is aching.

“You don’t strike me as a no-strings kind of girl. I’ll make an educated guess that you’ve not had a one-night stand before.” I’ve hit a nerve. She pushes against my chest, sliding herself to the opposite end of the backseat.

“And look where that’s gotten me…” Her words hang in the air without clarification.

“Safe from scumbags like that little prick in the locker room.”

“From what I saw, there was nothing little about him.” She’s goading me, holding up her palm to show me a phone number scrawled in black pen. “I bet he’s up for some no-strings fun.” Without thinking, I grab her hand and hold it to my crotch, bulging and hard as a rock.

“Bigger than this? He couldn’t satisfy you.” Her breath catches, labored, as she struggles to hide how turned on she is.

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