Page 12 of Double Play

My mouth falls open and I suck in a breath, surprised by his admission. He’s been hot and cold toward me for months, so hearing him say he’s wanted to kiss me is a shock, to say the least. My pulse beats wildly against his fingertips, and I lick my lips, watching as his eyes catch on the movement. He looks conflicted, lust crossing over his features as he presses his body to mine even tighter. I can feel his massive erection against my stomach, and I gasp loudly as he grinds it into me.

“Are you really surprised, Hellcat?” he drawls, dropping his lips to my ear. “The way you walk around here looking likethat, with those hard nipples practically begging me to suck on them until you explode. Or those short fucking spandex you wear that show every goddamn curve and dip in your thighs—I’d give anything to mark them up with my teeth. I want towreck you.It consumes every part of me.”

“Then do it,” I breathe. “Tear me apart. I don’t want to feel anything but you.”

He pulls back, his blue eyes burning into mine as several emotions pass over his face in rapid succession. Each one is gone before I can really make it out, but I’m feeling more and more uncomfortable with each second that passes as he stares at me. Just as I blindly reach behind myself for the doorknob so I can get out of here before he tells me why we can’t, he squeezes his fingers, pressing them firmly into the sides of my neck.

“He’s going to fucking hate me,” he says quietly. Before I can even ask what he means, he lunges forward, pressing his mouth to mine in a kiss so intense that I can feel my lips swelling from the force almost immediately. He parts them with his tongue, plunging it inside as I moan into his mouth. Hot sparks ignite throughout my body, swirling around and gathering between my legs. I bring one around his hip, hooking my ankle behind his thigh to draw him even closer, not that it’s possible. We’re practically fused together as we kiss and grind, quiet whimpers and growls being traded and swallowed as we devour each other like we need it to survive.

He reaches around, gripping my ass in both hands as he lifts me into his arms. I lock my ankles around his lower back, using them as leverage to rub my core against his rock-hard length. He helps by moving me up and down, and I imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have any underwear between us. The way he’s lifting me, I could slide right down on his cock, giving myself the fullness that my inner walls are currently clenching in search of. Would it be stupid to go further with Hawk right now with the way everything went down tonight? Yes. But I just want to let my mind go quiet, numbing myself from all the negative thoughts that plague me.

“You’re killing me, Hellcat,” he growls against my lips. “I want to bend you over my lap and spank this ass until you cry for tasting so good.”

“Oh my God,” I whimper, his dirty words like a lightning strike to my throbbing clit. As worked up as I am, it still feels as though my orgasm is miles away, so I squeeze my legs tighter, begging for more friction. He gives it, coasting his lips down my neck and licking from one side to the other before sinking his teeth into the sensitive skin under my ear. I moan out loud, my eyes rolling back with pleasure, but he stops abruptly when we hear a muffledthudcoming from outside the door. In an instant, I’m standing on my feet and he’s backing away like I’m on fire, adjusting himself before his hands shoot to his hair.

“It’s Jacks,” he rushes out, panic lacing his tone. “I have to go.” I stumble out of the way just in time for him to rip the door open and run toward the stairs, my jaw hanging open and shame washing over me like hot lava. Tears well in my eyes again, this time because I can’t shake the look of regret on his face as I awkwardly stand here by myself.

“I told you, I’m fine,” I hear Jacks say from the other end of the hall “It’s a goddamn muscle pull. I didn’t break a hip. Go back to bed.”

“You almost fell down the stairs, you fucking asshole,” Hawk grunts, and I peek out, watching as he slides under Jackson’s arm and helps him hobble to his room. Their backs are to me, so I wait until they’re out of sight before quietly slipping into the hallway and back to my own bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me.

Stupidly, I wait for him to come knock. But as the minutes tick by and I hear rustling in the distance, followed by silence, I slip under the covers, trying my best to fall asleep while I think about what just happened, and how truly fucked I am.

ELEVEN

JACKSON

“This sucks,”I mumble to myself, quietly making my way to the kitchen to get breakfast started. Taking a few days off to rest my hamstring worked wonders, but it feels like I tweak it differently every game, so it’s still bothering me. I talked to the team doctor this morning and he wants me to come in to get it checked out again this afternoon, so we can decide whether I’ll need to be put on the disabled list for any amount of time. I hope not, since playoffs are right around the corner, but I also know the importance of taking injuries seriously to prevent them from becoming worse.

I walk gingerly to the cupboard, pull out a pan, and head to the refrigerator for some eggs. One by one, I crack them into a large bowl, assuming I won’t be the only one eating this morning. Hawk and I don’t have to be at the stadium until noon, but Arden will be out the door long before then for practice.

I busy myself, whisking and pouring the eggs into the pan, the low sizzle of them meeting the heat below filling the quiet room. I get lost in my thoughts, not realizing I’m no longer alone until I see Arden step up in front of the coffee maker out of the corner of my eye. She’s barely awake, wearing only a t-shirt and panties—and as usual—I have to actively will myself not to look. I may have gotten my shit together with the way I used to want more with her, but the physical attraction has only gotten stronger over the years. I wish there was a way to make it stop, but there justisn’t.She’s drop-dead gorgeous, and her body is as close to perfection as it gets. A guy would have to be blind or crazy not to think so—and I’m neither.

“Morning, Princess,” I say, startling her as she drops her empty mug onto the counter, taking a deep breath before looking at me with a tired smile. She looks like she was up all night, the dark circles under her eyes telling me I’m probably right in that assumption. I quickly make sure the eggs are cooked thoroughly before turning off the stove and walking over to take the cup, placing it under the spout of the machine just as hot liquid begins funneling out. She doesn’t say a word as she huffs a defeated exhale, putting her elbows on the counter and dropping her head into her open palms.

“Hey,” I mutter softly, pulling on her arm until she’s standing straight, then yanking her into a tight embrace. Her body melts into mine like it always does when she’s feeling anxious, and I revel in the fact that I can still be a source of comfort for her, even after all the years we had too much space between us.Space thatIput there, but whatever.“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just tired,” she replies, wrapping her small arms around my waist. “Rough practice yesterday, and I didn’t sleep well.”

“You sure?” I ask, loosening my hold just enough to lean back and study her face for any signs that something else is going on. I want her to know she can talk to me, even if I do overreact sometimes. I try not to, but my protective instinct toward her has been at the same intensity since I was eight years old. I can’t just turn it on and off, as much as I’m sure Arden wishes I could.

“Mhmm,” she hums quietly, resting her cheek on my chest as I tighten my grip on her again. We stand there for a couple of minutes until Hawk rounds the corner, stepping into the kitchen. He stops abruptly, his normal blank expression morphing into one of bewilderment as he takes us in.

“Eggs are on the stove,” I say, lifting my chin to where they’re still sitting in the pan. At my words, Arden stiffens in my arms, pulling away and clearing her throat before she turns. She takes her full cup from the machine and walks over to the table, sitting down in one of the wooden chairs. I notice the way the vibe in the room changed when he came in, and I hope he hasn’t said or done anything to upset her. He seemed more comfortable with her when we hung out last week, but that’s Hawk. One minute he’s fine, the next he’s shutting you out. I know it’s his upbringing that causes him to be so guarded around people, but I’m hoping eventually, he starts to trust her. They’d be good for each other. She’d open him up, and he’d provide another safe space for her here in Daytona. Someone who lives the pro athlete life and knows how full of ups and downs it can be.

“Thanks,” he grunts, rounding the island and preparing a plate before setting it down beside her at the table. She looks up at him, her eyes full of puzzlement as he lowers himself into the seat next to hers. A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, and the fuckerreturns it, making my jaw practically bounce off the counter as it drops. It’s not that he doesn’t smile because, as much as our teammates would like to disagree, he does. He just has to be in a situation where he’s comfortable enough to do it—which is why this is pretty big. Maybe he and Arden really are warming up to each other. Although I have a feeling he’d be more talkative if I weren’t standing here watching them.

“I, uhh…” I stammer, trying to come up with an excuse for why I need to leave, even though I just made us food. They both turn as I pick up my phone from the counter in front of me, flailing it above my head wildly. “I got a text! I have to go!”

“I can help you,” Hawk says, standing from his chair. But I cut him off, pushing my hand in his direction to stop him as I limp toward the door.

“No, no. I’m fine,” I rush out. “You two stay here and eat up. I’ll see you later…after thethingI have to do…from the text.” They both stare at me like I’m crazy as I haul ass out of the room, cringing at my own awkward exit and hoping I didn’t make things so weird that they don’t stay here together after I’m gone.

Because, more than anything, I desperately want my best friends to be best friends, too.

HAWK

“That was weird, right?” I say to Arden as Jackson hustles out the front door, leaving us alone in the quiet condo.

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