Page 24 of Offside Rule

I smiled. “It’s about the thrill of playing; it’s about growing as a team and as individual players. When we qualified as a playing team in the championship, I didn’t once think we’d get this far. I only wanted to learn, because knowledge is power. So even if we lose next week, we’ll know more than we did before.”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. “I like that.”

I kissed her forehead, inhaling her scent with a groan. We were still naked under the sheets, and if I could, I would never leave her bed. But I had to.

A sigh escaped my lips, and before I could say anything, Arianna’s hand curled around my cock. Her lips found my ear.

“Five more minutes,” she whispered.

My jaw ticked. “I have to go before your mother’s up.”

She traced kisses down my jaw. “Then let’s make sure I’m done before she wakes up.”

With those last words, she snuck under the sheets with a smirk on her face, and positioned my rock-hard dick between her lips.

I closed the door behind me as quietly as possible, squinting as the floor creaked under my weight. I walked away with slow movements and easy steps, holding my breath. It wasn’t my first time doing this, yet I still felt like someone was watching me the entire time.

When I got to the living room and spotted the door, I let out a sigh of relief. I was a mere few steps from freedom and leaving without being caught.

As I stepped onto the living room rug, someone cleared their throat. I stood up straight, cursing my days.

“Where do you think you’re going, young man?” My eyes darted to the source of the voice, and I wanted to die when they found her mother, with Giulia resting in her arms.

“Hi, um,” I stumbled. “We—Arianna and I— we didn’t want to,” I started, but had no idea what I actually wanted to say.

Her mother had on a nightgown, and her white hair was tied up. She raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile taking over her face.

“Who are you?” Giulia asked, and my body warmed at the sight of her. Her red hair was so curly, and her green eyes scanned me from head to toe.

Arianna’s mother sat up, and ushered Giulia to go to her mother. Once the little girl was gone, she stepped closer to me. “You must be Xavier, vero?”

“Si,” I said, for God knows what reason. She had asked the question in English for fuck’s sake, but the woman had caused me to lose all sense.

She nodded, a flicker of amusement burning in her eyes. “Come, Xavier.”

I froze. “Where?”

The woman glanced at me from over her shoulder. “We’re having breakfast. Can’t let you leave my house without food in your stomach.” She smiled. “Plus, I want to know the man who’s been keeping my daughter’s bed warm.”

EIGHTEEN

ARIANNA

“Mamma?” I heard my daughter from the other side of the bed, but I ignored her and acted like I was in a deep sleep.

One day, I would wake up and regret not taking advantage of every second with her, but I was too tired to contemplate that right now.

I held my breath, hoping she would leave if I didn't move.

Why is she awake so early in the morning, anyway?

Of course, she didn't leave. She was my daughter, and therefore incredibly hard-headed. Giulia jumped on the bed, and positioned her lips right next to my ear as she spoke.

“There's a man in our kitchen.”

At that, my eyes popped open, and I threw my blanket off me—thank God I had put my clothes on after Xavier had left.

I took my daughter’s face between my palms. “What do you mean, Giuli? What man?”

---