Page 58 of Stumped

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“You matter,” she whispers and her mouth is on mine.

You matter, you matter, you matter, you matter.It plays like a mantra as I wrap my arms around her waist and drag her body against mine. From the day we met, she’s seen my insecurities and reminded me I’m so much more than the ugly voices in my head. The past year has been so hard on my self-esteem and I’ve kept it so close to my chest even my family doesn’t know I’ve been second guessing everything. The Renegades management only sees someone who can score big points, Dr. Theo sees an injured player he needs to fix, butVeraknows exactly how broken I’ve been since my injury. She’s seen my potential and pushed me to chase what I want.Including her.

I break the kiss, laughing softly at how sweaty she is.

“Never had someone laugh at me after a kiss.”

“There’s nothing funny about the way you kiss. It sets every inch of me on fire,” I tell her and she hums, playfully nipping at my bottom lip. “But being set on fire also means sweat and we’re both a little gross.”

“Speak for yourself, superstar. I’m never gross.”

“Sexily gross?”

She leans back and cocks an eyebrow. “Did that sound positive in your head?”

“Didn’t think before I spoke, so no.”

“If you wanted to see me wet, you could have asked.”

“Dripping, preferably.”

She steps away and licks her lips, hands going around her back. I hold my breath as she twists her body slightly and the dress comes loose. It slides to the floor leaving her in a thin scrap of lace that covers her crotch and nothing else. My breath comes out in a whoosh and for every step I take towards her, Vera takes a step back.

“Bathroom?”

“Down the hall, third door on the right.”

She spins around and I groan, biting my fist at the sight of her ass and tattooed back. I follow her and stop to admire Vera at the mirror as she switches her ponytail into a bun. I don’t know where to look first—the lacy dental floss between her ass cheeks, the bumps and folds at her back, the heaviness of her breasts reflected in the mirror or the sparkling mischief in her eyes.

“Too many clothes,” she tells me and I strip, leaving me in my underwear.

I flex my fingers as I step right up behind her, my chest pressing against her back. She leans into me, pushes her fingers into my hair and my hands landing on her hips as I look her over in the mirror.

She’s unreal.

She’smineand she doesn’t know it yet.

“What happened to the friendship bands?”

Holding an arm out, she smiles. “Bangles are better, right?”

“I like both. Thought you weren’t supposed to take them off once they’re tied on?”

“Well, it didn’t match my dress tonight.”

I chuckle and kiss behind her ear, sliding down her neck as goosebumps spread across her skin.

“What do you want, peaches?”

“Everything,” she whispers.

I toy with the waistband of her pointless underwear and press my dick against her ass. She bites her bottom lip as I continue to rock into her. My other hand drags up her stomach, between her breasts and wraps around her throat. Her head falls back, pulse fluttering against the tips of my fingers. Even hooded, her gaze stays on me. I slip my hand between her soft thighs and Vera parts her legs. Her hips jolt and the fingers in my hair tugging gently. Her wet heat drips through the flimsymaterial of her underwear and she whines when I press a finger against her.

“Patience.”

“No,” she gasps, her grip on my hair tightening. “Not when you’re going so slow.”

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