Page 73 of Passed Ball

I glance to the side, catching his gaze. "That's not going to be my nickname. But to answer your question, I had a meeting with Piper this morning."

"Interesting. I didn't think anyone else was here besides Xavier and I."

My steps falter and I turn to look at him head on. His smile has gone from sweet to sly. It's a struggle to keep the unbridled excitement under wraps when I ask, "Xavier's here?"

"In the locker room. Murphy just left. It's completely empty." He pauses and looks around. "Want me to walk you out?"

No.

Instead of screaming that at him andrunningto the locker room like I want to, I slip my phone from my purse pretending to check it. "Oh, shoot. I left my notes in Piper's office. I'm going to go grab them."

"Uh, huh." He grins at me like the cheshire fucking cat, all bright white teeth and knowing. "I'll leave you to it then."

Please do, I think. My heartbeat thunders, abusing my ribs, and I fear I might lose my nerve if he doesn't leave right now. And that would be truly tragic.

Dom's back retreats and I forgo the pretense of pretending I'm leaving. There's nothing and no one around but me and my doubts. This is so out of character for me, but it's been a week since I've seen Xavier. Knowing he's here, within my reach, is more than I can handle. I refuse to wait another second to see him.

I wait for the click of the heavy metal doors to signal I'm alone and push through the door to the locker room before I chicken out. The sound of a shower running echoes through the empty space. Stepping further inside, I scan the room. It's as empty as Dom said it would be, save for the one open locker with the nameKingsleyhanging above it.

With all the grace of a baby giraffe, I fumble with my heels and dress. Goosebumps pebble my skin from the jitters, because as I strip out of my bra and panties, I grab the rolled-up towel on the bench, wrapping it around my body and securing it at my chest. If someone walks in and catches me, there is no explaining this away, but at least I'll keep a shred of my dignity.

What a lie. I'm in the men's locker room, uninvited. There's no saving anything if someone finds me standing here wearing only this pathetic towel and flushed cheeks. All the more reason to hurry the hell up.

I follow the sound of the running water to the far end of the locker room, the tile floor cool on my feet. It's jarring against my otherwise heated skin as I approach the only occupied stall. Steam billows from behind the white curtain.

My fingers curl around the slippery vinyl, pulling it back inch by inch. Water sluices down the lines of Xavier muscled back. Rolling down his spine and over the impressive swell that rounds out at the base. As desperate as I am for him to turn around so I can drink in all of him, I can't deny the appeal of being able to take my time eating up every damn inch of him like this.

God, this man's ass is the stuff of dreams--firm and tight. I want it in my hands.

He tilts his head up and his hands push his hair back, making my knees buckle at the sight. Before I lose my nerve, I untuck the towel, hang it over the hook and join him inside the stall, steam licking at my skin.

Whether it's me stepping closer or the soft swish of the curtain closing behind me that makes him turn to face me, I can't say. Regardless, the sight of him in all his naked, wet glory sucks the air from my lungs.

My gaze drifts up lazily, taking inventory of every dip and curve in his strong legs, the coarse hair on his toned thighs, and when they land on his cock hanging heavy between them, I almost die. Never once have I come across a man that I want to fall to my knees for, but right now, even knowing the tile is going to bruise my skin, I'd crawl to this man if he asked me to.

Forcing my attention from his swelling cock, I follow the trail of hair up the line of his stomach to his impressive chest and then his face. One side of his mouth lifts, as if he's caught off-guard but very pleased about it.

"Vivienne." The rough rasp of his voice saying my name pulls my gaze from where it's fixed on his lips, finding those blue eyes appraisingallof me.

"Hi," I squeak, suddenly very aware that I'm standing in front of him, naked, for the first time. In a public space, no less.

"What are you doing here?"

His voice is deeper than I ever recall it being. At least I think it is, but it could be the heavy buzzing in my ears making it sound that way.

"I had a meeting with Piper this morning--"

"No, sweetheart. What are you doing here, naked, in my locker room?"

Ohthat?

It's a good question, but all logic seems to have fled my brain, leaving only need in its place. Any intelligent words refuse to form on my tongue, and even if I could push them out, I'm not sure I have the wherewithal to explain why I felt so drawn to do something I know is reckless.

So I show him, stepping forward until we're chest to chest, lacing my hands behind his neck and pulling him down to meet me. "This."

The first swipe of his tongue against mine eases the part of me that has been unsettled since I last saw him. The second drives me forward, aligning our bodies to perfection. He's hard between us, his thickness pressing against the soft swell of my stomach--hot, long, and tempting. I could kiss him like this for hours if it wasn't for the insistent way he twitches when I moan into his mouth.

Xavier pulls back first, leaving me breathless, and folding over me, resting his forehead against mine. "Fuck, sweetheart. I missed you--these lips, this perfect body, all your curves." His fingers travel over every part of me he praises, his eyes devouring me whole.

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