Page 77 of Daring the Defender

She laughs and her shoulders relax. “That’s the most important thing. Well, to me. Nadia would harass you for all the specifics but I believe in privacy, even though I’ve learned that is nearly impossible in this house.” She makes a face. “But I know this is all new to you and I feel like it’s my girlfriend duty to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her with conviction. “Reid’s a good guy. He’s always sweet and respectful.”

“Thank fuck.” Her expression grows serious. “I’ve had a shitty boyfriend before and Nadia has her own documented history of toxic partners. I love Reid and the more I think about it, I don’t think this is even that much of a surprise.”

“No?”

“You both just went through breakups and needed to get some confidence back. Why not do it with someone who is safe, fun, but also not really available for a long term thing?”

“Right.” I agree, although I don’t like the way that feels in my chest. I can’t argue otherwise because I have no idea what we are to one another. Maybe that’s all it is–two broken people looking for something safe to have fun with?

“There it is!” She shouts suddenly, leaning over and plucking her backpack from the seat of one of the kitchen chairs tuckedunder the table. “I’ve gotta run, but listen, I won’t tell anyone about this. Not Reese or Nadia. Not until you’re ready.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

She hitches the strap of her bag over her shoulder and opens the front door, pausing to add, “But let me tell you something from experience. Secret relationships have a way of getting complicated. And complicated things have a way of getting out.”

23

Reid

I’m nevera fan of morning workouts. Or morning anything, well, other than sex. I’m a night owl, either staying up late to draw or watch TV.

“Dude, what the hell?”

My arms shake as I struggle to pull myself up. I get there, but I drop to the ground and reach for my water, taking a long gulp.

“What’s up with you?” Jefferson asks, eyeing me suspiciously. We’re taking turns on the pull up bar, challenging each other to do one more each rep. I’m keeping up–barely. “You go out last night? You look hungover.”

Hungover from eating too many kolaches and having the best sex of my life.

Yeah, I saidbest. Sure, she was a virgin and was nervous. But being inside of her felt fucking incredible.

“I’m not hungover. I just didn’t sleep great.”

Even after Shelby and I went back upstairs, I couldn’t settle down. Her body was too close–too warm. She felt so good there. Perfect.Mine.

“You know how he is when he’s home alone,” Axel chimes in. A reminder that he’s always around and always listening. “Staying up late to watch those horror shows.”

“I caught Twyler watching Murder ID last night,” Reese rolls his eyes. “You know she gets wound up by genetic DNA.”

We all pause to look at him, trying to figure out what ‘wound up’ means in this situation but as a group let it drop. It does give me an out though. “Yeah that’s the one. I was hoping there was an update.”

“I hope you watched it up in your room. You don’t need to keep Shelby up by playing the TV outside her door.”

“I didn’t bother your sister,” I tell him, hopping up to start my next rep. Anything to get out of this conversation. “I didn’t even see her.”

Axel grunts and I feel like shit. Guilty. Like what I’m doing is wrong. Maybe it’s not honest, but it’s not wrong. It’s not like I can tell the truth and say that I’d spent the night taking your little sister’s virginity. Because she asked me to. And again this morning. And, fuck, she’s all I can think about.

Jesus, now isn’t the time to get hard.

I focus on the pull ups, willing my boner under control, and listen to Reese. “I know I’m always going on about the playoffs, but I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We’re two games from clenching this and getting a top seed. One of those games should be a lock, but we’ve got to get through Milton first.”

Milton U has always been a thorn in Wittmore’s side. They’re notoriously tough on defense and have an All-American power forward, Finn Austin, that has already been drafted to Toronto. There are few players out there that can compete with Reese’s skill and leadership. Austin is one of them.

“Finish up your workout,” Reese says, “go to class, hydrate, hook up with your girl–” he winks at Tolbert, “or guy if you need to, and everyone be on the ice at four PM.”

“What if I can only fit in one of those things,” Axel asks, toying with the ring in his lip.

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