Page 107 of The Penalty

“As you may have guessed, this is the pitch I used when I was a kid.”

“When you dreamed of being a striker?”

“You remembered. Impressive, Chase.”

“I pay attention to everything you say, Maddox.”

His throaty laugh slid across the humid, August air. I soaked in every part of him. He stood casually in the goal with his arms up, hands grasping the crossbar. Pieces of the detached, frayed net swayed in the soft breeze.

No designer clothes for him today. Just jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. Tousled hair and bright eyes.

“You look cute. I’m going to put you all over social media.”

“Cute?” An eyebrow went up.

I pointed my phone at him. “Hot. Sexy. Insufferably snobbish. Is that better?” I snapped a few photos when he laughed.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

“Yeah.” He’s perfect. “I did.”

The world saw him as an arrogant, talented athlete. The charmer. The unattainable object of so many desires. And he absolutely was all of those things.

But I got to see him like this.

Unguarded, relaxed, not craving the attention of millions.

Here, he was just Xavier. I could almost see the little boy who wanted to be a striker, and longed to impress his dad.

The air shifted when I looked at him. Playful flirting morphed into something more insistent.

“Come over here, city princess. I have to tell you something.”

“Bossing me around?” I approached him, resting my hand on his chest. “What do you have to tell me that’s so important I needed to be right here.”

“I just like having you close to me.”

“Sneaky flirt.”

“You know you like it.” He studied me for a few seconds. “Enjoying your day so far?”

“I am. Although I’m not entirely sure why you brought me to a soccer field.”

“Football pitch.” Xavier’s devilish smile unfurled a forbidden puff of smoke in my stomach. “Stand against the post and see if you can reach the crossbar, like I’m doing.”

My pulse fluttered. He wouldn’t. “We both know I can’t reach that. What is it? Almost seven feet high?”

“Probably.” He backed me up against it anyway. “Arms up. Hold on where you can.”

I reached over my head, gripping the post. The way he looked at me stole my breath.

“What do you have in mind?”

Xavier leaned close, rasping his fingers down the front of my strapless maxi dress. “I want to tie you to this post. And then I want to see how far I can push your limits.” He watched me carefully, his dark eyes reflecting the sunlight. “Do you want that?”

I nodded without hesitation while trying to control the insistent throbbing between my thighs.

“I can’t hear you.”

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