Page 6 of Dead Ball Situation

“You have to go home for him to go to work?”

Sacha didn’t look his way. “It’s a long story.”

Bandit followed him to the bedroom. “Do you want a lift to the airport?”

Pride made Sacha want to say no. His desire to spend every second with Bandit was stronger, and he had arranged for the rental company to pick up his SUV already, hoping to save money. “Are you sure? You’ve already driven there once today.”

Bandit shrugged. He sat on the bed and watched Sacha gather his things. “I don’t mind. If you wait on a ride, you’ll never be on a plane in two hours.”

That was likely true. Sacha zipped closed his suitcase.

“Plus, I’m not ready to let you go.”

Sacha’s gaze snapped to Bandit at the confession. He didn’t know how to handle this. Unfortunately, his heart took control of his tongue. “Same.”

They held each other’s stare. Bandit came to his feet. Sacha’s feet wouldn’t budge. He watched as the space between them disappeared. Sacha swore he didn’t blink as Bandit moved in and touched his lips against his. Then Sacha’s eyes fell closed and the deepest longing consumed him. This was the life he craved. A life that would never be his. He had to put his family first. Artem made sacrifices. Sacha had to do the same. He could not lose his job. His family needed him. Still, Sacha didn’t turn away. He was still a man in the arms of his biggest desire. Sacha would take this moment and store it away to keep like his own private treasure. Then he would steer clear of Bandit. This was the one thing that would never be.

Chapter Three

The cheer of thecrowd and sweat in his eyes were as familiar to Bandit as breathing. He focused on every ounce of his training, while his eyes never left the ball. His feet moved in time by muscle memory. This had been his career and life for longer than not. His parents had put him in soccer at six. He hadn’t stopped since. There was nothing he didn’t know about this sport. He lived and breathed for the thrill of winning.

Bandit hiked his shorts up his thighs out of habit. Sweat had the material sticking to his skin. He didn’t want anything hindering his movement as he easily stole the ball from his opponent. Everything happened almost on autopilot. He practiced so much and often, this game was like breathing. Even as he quickly made his move and sent the ball sailing into the net, narrowlyescaping being blocked, Bandit thought about Sacha. The crowd cheered… and booed. Someone slapped his ass. Bandit couldn’t focus on any of it. No one had ever pushed their way into his mind during a match.

The rest of the game went by in a blur. They won by one. It had been a near thing, and it was because of him they almost lost. Once Sacha had shoved his way in, Bandit hadn’t known how to shut out the noise. This wasn’t him. It wasn’t that he had never felt this way. Except maybe he hadn’t ever felt like this. There was just something he couldn’t shake. As Bandit stood beneath a scalding hot shower, it hit him. He knew what had him in knots. Sacha felt the same. Bandit had seen the longing in him, and that was something Bandit hadn’t seen before. He had bagged his fair share of cleat chasers and ultras. He didn’t think he had ever experienced true passion. Unrequited love. Now Bandit had done that. Bandit was twenty-seven. He knew he was still young, but he had watched several friends get married and grow families. Meanwhile, he focused on work and tried not to look too closely at the rest. His teammates had no trouble leaving the game, going straight to some party, and then on to a stranger’s bed. Honestly, Bandit was a little awkward when it came to sex. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but damn near everyone he had ever slept with had been because they chased him and initiated things. Then he had gone along because it was sex and he didn’t know how to go after the people he wanted. Sacha was different in every way. He had been braver with him than ever before. Bandit couldn’t let off the gas now.

With his freedom secured for the next three days and determination in his heart, Bandit drove straight from the airport to a flower shop the moment his plane landed backhome. It was nearly nine at night, and he had no idea if Sacha would even be home. The only reason he even knew where Sacha lived was because he had dropped a box of wedding shit on his porch for Baylor when Baylor had gotten sick about six or seven months back.

Flowers in hand, Bandit jogged up the front steps of the red brick townhouse. Bandit hesitated, giving himself a moment for courage. He eyed the building. It was three stories, but the front steps went to the second floor, as if the first was basement space or maybe had a garage in the back. It was squeezed between two identical townhomes. The place looked nice. He took a deep breath and held it before pushing the doorbell. Bandit tried to keep his mind blank. He couldn’t let himself start overthinking. Sacha had blatantly kissed him back. He wasn’t imagining things between them. The door swung open. A younger and less jaded-looking version of Sacha stared out at him. He immediately smiled.

“Oh. I can’t wait to see this.” He took a step back. “Come in.”

Bandit was confused as fuck. He knew for a fact they hadn’t met. Still, he tried to play it cool. “You must be Artem.”

“I’m surprised you know that, but yeah. We watched your game earlier. Congrats on your win.”

That somewhat explained Artem’s reaction to him showing up at their door. Sacha had obviously at least mentioned they knew each other. “Thanks. I guess you know already, but it still feels rude not to say it. I’m Bandit.”

They shook hands.

Artem’s eyes flashed with humor. “Oh, I know it.”

Bandit was confused as fuck. “Okay. Well.” He cleared his throat. “Is—”

“Who was at the…” Sacha rounded the corner. His words died the moment their eyes met.

Artem chuckled. “Look. It’s Bandit. I’ve told him to stay for dinner.”

That absolutely hadn’t happened, but Bandit smelled something delicious, and seeing Sacha made him hungry as hell.

Sacha said something in Ukrainian that made Artem chuckle, but he walked away, leaving them alone.

Bandit waited until Artem was out of sight before holding out the roses he held. “I didn’t come empty-handed. For you… obviously.”

A sexy smile snapped to Sacha’s lips. He crossed the room and accepted the flowers. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” He eyed the bouquet for a moment before meeting Bandit’s stare again. “I can’t believe you’re here. Weren’t you just in Texas?”

Bandit nodded. “That’s pretty much my life. Fly in. Play a game. Fly home. I don’t do a lot of staying overnight in othercities. Honestly, it’s not safe. Soccer fans can be a little violent when their team loses. Plus, it’s cheaper for the team to fly us back home immediately rather than also pay for overnight accommodations. Unless it’s a night game, of course.”

Sacha held his stare and nodded along as if Bandit was all that existed in the world. He felt seen and heard. “I’m happy to see you.”

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