Page 12 of Mr. Irrelevant
I’m pulled from the fog of my dirty fantasy when a guy steps up behind her, leaving almost no space between them as he begins matching her rhythm. He leans down, startling her and making her go rigid as he says something into her ear. She gives him a smile that’s clearly fake, and even from here, I can see the subtle shake of her head that tells him she’s not interested. I say a silent prayer that he takes the hint and leaves her alone, but when he answers by putting his hands on her hips,I see red.
Without another thought, I set my beer on the nearest table and rush down the stairs toward the dance floor. Thankfully, the single brain cell that isn’t telling me to kill the piece of shit reminds me that I’m in public, so I pull my hood up over my head to conceal my identity. I should be more concerned about being spotted anywhere near Livvy, but right now, I can’t think of anything other than making sure she’s safe.
I weave through the throng of unsuspecting strangers, doing my best to keep my head down, although it’s dark enough that I doubt anyone would notice me anyway. My heart pounds in my chest as I get closer to where I spotted them, until finally, they come into view. The stupid motherfucker still hasn’t gotten the message, continuing to dance behind her as she attempts to create some space between them so she can enjoy herself without being touched.
As soon as I’m close enough, I reach out, grab her bythe hand, and pull her into my body. Her head cranes up, her eyes connecting with mine and going wide with surprise as recognition sets in. I give her a reassuring nod, holding her like she belongs to me as I shoot daggers over her shoulder. Thankfully, Captain Dickbag immediately backs away, disappearing into the crowd as soon as he sees that she’s taken by someone much bigger than him.
That’s right, bitch. She’s not for you.
Bringing my attention back to Livvy, I nearly stop breathing when I see the fire in her eyes. It’s the same expression I saw playing back in the camera when I ran our hands up her bare skin, and it almost knocks me on my ass. Because even though we’re surrounded by people right now, the lustful stare is just for me. My cock begins to thicken behind my zipper, and I know if I don’t turn and walk away now, I’ll stay here holding onto her like I have a right to do it.
I reach up, cradling her face in my palm and ghosting my thumb along her cheek before taking a single step back. But she darts her hand out, gripping the front of my black hoodie and pulling me toward her again so our bodies are pressed tightly to one another. My eyes are the size of saucers as I stand there, completely unable to break the trance she has me under, until she spins around and starts grinding against me to the beat of the music.
Shit. This is bad. Like,Defcon 5-level bad. But I can’t seem to stop myself from giving her what she so clearly wants. We’ve been fighting the pull for a couple of weeks now, and while I know it can’t go further thanthis, the idea of leaving her here on the dance floor so some other asshole can touch her makes my blood run like lava through my veins. So, I stay, ignoring every blaring alarm bell that’s going off in my head as I splay my hand across her abdomen and fall in sync with the sensual rhythm she’s setting. Droplets of sweat bead on my forehead and neck, and I’m not sure if it’s from the heat of all the bodies in such close proximity—and the fact that I’m wearing a thick hoodie—or if it’s justher. Not that it really matters either way, because I’d rather drop dead right in the middle of this club than let her go when she covers my hand with hers and slides it down past her navel.
“Fuck, Dimes,” I groan, thankful for the deafening music that’s bumping through the speakers. I’m sure my voice is strained and desperate, which is exactly how I’d describe my dick right now with the way it’s leaking precum inside my boxer briefs. I feel like a goddamn teenager, barely able to control myself while the hottest, coolest girl I’ve ever met dares me to touch her in ways that, if I did, would get us kicked out of here for sure.
She continues swaying her hips as she peers up at me over her shoulder, her eyes hooded with desire and burning into mine, which I’d be willing to bet are reflecting the exact same thing. By sheer force of magnetism, I lean down, so close I can taste the sweetness of whatever she was drinking as her breath puffs against my lips. I’ve never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as I do right now, and it only gets more intense as she snakes her hand inside my hood and grips onto myhair to keep me where I am. It’s a battle of wills, both of us waiting for the other to give in and blow everything to bits with what I already know would be the most mind-altering kiss of my life. And just as I’m about to lose the fight, closing the final few centimeters of space that separate us, a loud, feminine voice pulls me back to reality.
“I thought that was you!” Bailey screams, catching Livvy’s attention as we pull away from each other abruptly. As soon as my eyes focus on my teammate’s girl, I dip my head, turning away enough so that, hopefully, she won’t recognize me. I know we just talked upstairs, but I say a silent prayer that my generic outfit of a black hoodie and jeans didn’t make enough of an impression for her to remember.
“Hey!” Liv replies, leaning into Bailey to hear what she’s saying over the pulsing music that fills the air. I use the moment as an opportunity to escape, disappearing into the crowd until I reach the stairs that lead back up to the VIP area. I take them as fast as I can, blowing past my team without even a moment of acknowledgement before making my way to the elevator that leads to the enclosed garage where I parked my truck. It isn’t until I’m locked inside that I exhale roughly, throwing my hood back and resting my elbows on the steering wheel before dropping my head into my hands.
“Holy shit,” I mumble, adrenaline still coursing through me at the thought of how close we just came to not only kissing, but getting caught while doing it. I didn’t see Jett with Bailey, but that doesn’t mean hewasn’t close by. He could’ve been getting drinks at the bar, watching his girl while she danced. And I would’ve been busted with my hands all over the owner’s daughter—the same one I acted like I hadn’t met just minutes prior.
I need to get my shit together and be more careful, which won’t be easy because the more time I spend around Livvy Grant, the harder it is to control the desperate desire to show her how good it could be.
TWELVE
LIVVY
“Sorry I’m late,”Sydney says as she trudges through the door of my apartment. “I stopped to get gas on the way here, but the card reader told me I had to see the cashier.”
I look up from the couch, where the game against St. Louis is getting ready to kick off. We’ve been watching all the Renegades’ away games here, and it’s been fun because we don’t have to get dressed up or brave the city traffic like we do when they play at home. “Was the line long?”
She scoffs. “I don’t know. I just got back into my car and went somewhere else. I can’t be seen in public like this.” She gestures at her lounge clothes as if she wasn’t the one who picked them out and put them on. “What if I run into some hot musician who’s supposed to be the love of my life, but he takes one look at my sweatpants and overgrown roots and saysYeah, no thanks. I can’t risk my future that way, Liv.”
I roll my eyes, huffing a laugh as I turn back towardthe TV. My sister is the most dramatic human being on the planet—she always has been. When we were kids, it was annoying, but only because our parents spoiled her to no end. Now that we’re adults, it’s actually pretty funny. She’s twenty-three, gives no fucks, is completely boy-crazy, and is always down for a good time. She may send our dad to an early grave with her antics, but I love her.
“Grab the chips before you sit,” I tell her, and she makes her way toward the kitchen just as our offense takes the field for their first drive. My eyes immediately settle on Maddox, thoughts of what happened between us at the club the other night replaying in my mind and making my stomach flip. I was shocked when he pulled me into him, saving me from having to leave the dance floor becauseyet anotherguy wearing way too much cologne wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’m used to it—I think most women are—but that was the first time I’d ever been rescued.
Normally, I’d have said I could take care of myself, but the way Maddox glared like he was ready to commit a homicide had every last shred of feminism leaving my body. By the time the fog cleared from my brain, all I could think about was how wet I was from it and how badly I wanted to keep him close. It was agony waiting for him to kiss me, and when Bailey showed up, reminding us that we were in a club full of people, he ran as fast as he could out of there.
I don’t blame him for sneaking away. It was irresponsible for us to be seen together at all, let alone a breath away from tasting one another. If anyone hadrealized it was him, and it got back to my dad, I’d be in a fuck-ton of trouble. He’d expect that kind of behavior from Syd, but I’m being prepared to take over the team someday—I can’t be caught in compromising positions with one of his players.
I wish I could’ve at least told him goodbye, because I’m worried things will be awkward tomorrow night when we see each other. I’ve drafted approximately twenty texts and deleted them all, because what do I even say? I can’t tell him how badly I wish we weren’t interrupted, because what if he’s glad we were? Just because I realize how dumb it was for us to do it in public—and that it could potentially screw up the good thing we have going with me coaching him—doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to him. I tried to ignore it after what happened at the field and his house, blaming it on the fact that I’m so touch-starved, but after he left the club, I realized I didn’t even want to be there anymore. There were guys all around, some of whom I know and have danced with before…but they weren’thim. I ended up saying goodbye to my sister and Bailey, then went home to reprimand myself for obsessing over one of the fifty-three people in the world who are off-limits.
I’m a liar. I masturbated.Twice.
I’m not proud of it.
“Why are you spacing?” Sydney asks from where she’s seated beside me. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice she came back. The Renegades are now on defense with no points on the board, so it’s safe to say the first drive didn’t go well. That’s okay, though.St. Louis is a decent match for us, so I think it’ll be a great game.
“Sorry,” I reply. “I’m tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” Just as the lie leaves my mouth, our defense makes the stop on third down, sending the opponent’s punting team onto the field. The camera quickly pans to Maddox as he pulls his helmet over his head, and just like before, butterflies take flight deep in my tummy. He’s so fucking hot, it should be illegal.
“Yeah,” she says, popping a chip into her mouth and chewing. “I love going to the boy zoo just as much as the next girl, but it’s nice to be lazy and lounge every now and then.”
I raise an inquisitive brow. “The boy zoo?”
