Page 30 of Playmaker

Why would she when you’ve treated her like shit for the past six years?

Pushing the thought out of my head, I grab her hand and relish the smoothness of her palm. How perfectly it fits in mine. “I’d never be ashamed to admit I touched you, Maddie. In fact, when I found you sitting here on your car a few minutes ago, I expected this conversation to go a lot differently.”

“You did?” Her hand tightens around mine. “What did you . . . I mean, how did you think it would go?”

“Well, for starters”—I cage her in again on top of her car, my hands on either side of her thighs—“I thought we’d both admit how fucking amazing our time together was last night, and even though it’d be difficult, we’d find a way to continue it. Explore it.”

Her eyes dip to my lips. “Explore it?”

I’m trying not to think about it, but I can’t. The way she made me feel during that kiss, like I was high when I hadn’t even smoked. The way she moaned my name, practically panting from how badly she wanted me. She wassowet. She made my handsoakingwet.

“If you agreed to, then yes. I’m not ready for a relationship, Maddie. You know how detached I’ve become since my mom passed, and with Ethan in the picture it’s something I’m not sure would ever be able to happen between us. But what happened in that closet is something I want to experience again, and I’d never forgive myself if I wasn’t honest and up front with you about how I’m feeling.”I already made that mistake onceis what I want to add, but I keep that part out. I allowed her to leave my living room bawling her eyes out six years ago knowing I had developed feelings for her, and watching her walk away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“And what happens if I change my mind?” She eyes the chain again before meeting my stare.

My forehead falls against hers, both of our chests rising and falling in an erratic, frantic rhythm. “Then we explore.” My voice is rough and scratchy, seeming to match the desire coursing through me. “We enjoy it until we can’t anymore.”

Both of her hands caress my cheeks, and I close my eyes to savor the feeling. “Cam?”

“Hm?”

“I changed my mind.”

My eyes flutter open to stare into her baby blues. I always knew Maddie was beautiful, but never like this. I fucked up my chance with her before, and I won’t let it happen again.

So this time I crash my lips against hers and tug her off the hood of her car until she has to stand on her tiptoes to continue kissing me, wrapping her arms around my neck to hold on tight. My hands run through her curls, getting caught on the ends, but that only elicits a moan from her when it causes her head to jerk back, allowing me to slip my tongue into her mouth.

I’ve needed her for days.

I’ve needed her foryears, I think.

And that terrifies the living shit out of me.

“So what does this mean?” She gasps, breaking the kiss. “Are we friends with benefits, or . . .”

“Can we talk about it after?” I pant. “I know we’ve got shit to figure out, but right now I just—”

Her fingers wrap around the chain and she tugs me down to her lips again. I thought at first the connection we felt in the closet was because it was so secretive, dark, andhot, but now that we’re in broad daylight I realize that’s not the case at all. If anything, the connection has only intensified.

I pull her into the empty house, my lips never leaving hers as we stumble inside, and I kick the door shut behind me. We left her textbook and pencil on the hood of her car, but I couldn’t care less about them. Problems for later.

Maddie breaks away to slip her shoes off, and I swear, I won’t ever be able to get enough of her. Her cheeks are flushed, eyes wild, and her curls are unruly from my fingers running through them. She looks like a hot, dirty mess, and my only intention is to get her even dirtier.

Maybe we should have discussed what we’re officially doing prior to hooking up again, but her sweatshirt has ridden up from kissing me, and it’s showing her skin. Her perfect, soft, silky skin.

“Oh my god, come here,” I mutter, pulling her into me once more.

I kick my sneakers off and continue pushing her back toward the couch. She doesn’t fight me when I tug the sweatshirt off her and fling it to the floor. We don’t even make it to the couch, though. I can’t. Her tits are pushed up in a red lace bra, and for a second I think I’ll finish right now. I’ve never been this excited.

I unhook her bra with ease, and when it drops to the floor I can tell she’s nervous. She’s biting her lip as I stare at her, almost as if she’s insecure for me to see her this way now that we’re not surrounded by shadows.

“So unbelievably sexy,” I say before reattaching my lips to hers.

We make it to the kitchen, her back pressed against the countertop. I bend down and grab a handful of her breast so I can stick my mouth on her nipple, and she’s squirming as I suck, lick, and gently bite it. She flings my hat to the floor, cursing from the blissful state she’s in.

“Cam, yes.” She sighs and throws her head back, and I groan at how badly I want her. How badly I want to please her.

I grab both breasts now and move my tongue back and forth to cover them while her fingers pull on my curls to try to release her frustration. I’ve never cared about pleasing someone this much, but with Maddie, I want to ensure she’s completely satisfied. Watching her is addicting.

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