Page 42 of Mr. Irrelevant
“Alright,” he says, eyes sliding back and forth between us. Unable to handle the pressure, my knee begins to bounce, but a large hand settles over it, causing me to feel both panicked and calm at the same time. The gesture doesn’t go unnoticed, my father’s gaze zeroing in on it for a moment before he brings his attention back to me. “I’ve had my suspicions for a few weeks, but it wasn’t until I saw your reaction yesterday in the suite that I knew for sure. Something is going on between the two of you. I’m going to need you to bring me up to speed. I have a feeling it’s more than justthat…” he lowers his chin to where Maddox is still gently gripping my leg. “And I want every single detail.”
I take a deep breath, glancing over at Maddox for strength before lifting my chin. No matter what I say, he’s going to be disappointed in my blatant unprofessionalism, and I hate that I’m letting him down. He trusted me with his lifelong dream, and not only did I put the team in jeopardy by taking matters into my own hands without permission, but I also created distraction after distraction for their quarterback in the process.
“Dad,” I choke out. “I was just trying t?—”
“Sir,” Maddox interrupts, my eyes going wide in shock. But he doesn’t give me a chance to finish, laying everything out right in the middle of the office floor. “It’s no secret that I was struggling when you brought me here. I was nervous, lacking the confidence necessary to not only lead a team, but towin. Somehow, your daughter was able to find my weaknesses, and she agreed to help me fix them, even though she knew the risks involved. She sacrificed every extra bit of time and energy she had, never once giving up on me—even when I was ready to give up on myself.” He finds my gaze, his expression softening as my heart threatens to leap out of my chest to get to him. My eyes fill with tears, and he covers my shaking hand with his before turning back toward my father.
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love. It wasn’t part of the plan—in fact, we pinky promised on it—but you’ve met Livvy. So, you know that I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. She’s smart, kind, funny, beautiful,and easily the best coach I’ve ever worked with. My heart didn’t stand a chance once I fell into her orbit. I’m a better man today because she gave me a shot, and I promise to never stop showing you that I’m not only worthy of leading your team, but also of loving your daughter.” My free hand shoots up over my mouth, tears flowing freely as he wraps his strong arms around me. My shoulders shake with quiet sobs, the feel of his lips pressed to the top of my head reminding me that no matter what happens next, we’ll always have each other. And that’s worth more than any title or trophy we could ever win.
The silence in the room is deafening as my father processes everything he just heard, but I can’t focus on anything other than the gentle words of affirmation that are being whispered quietly into my ear. Maddox’s sole focus is my comfort as he holds me close, until finally, we’re pulled back to reality.
“I appreciate your honesty, Dane,” my dad begins. “I certainly have no intentions of telling you to stay away from Olivia. It’s clear that you care for her very deeply, and all I’ve ever wanted was for my daughters to find someone who gives them the love they deserve. However,”—his words sober us as we anticipate the worst—“you both knowingly undermined my coaching staff, disrespecting everything this organization stands for. I can’t, in good conscience, let this behavior slide without involving Coach Hendricks. Your consequences going forward will be up to him and anyone else he feels should have a say.” His eyes find Maddox. “If he wants to bench you, that’ll be his call.” He turns to me. “And if he wants to prohibit you from being presentduring practices and games until you’ve rebuilt his trust, I’m afraid my hands are tied.”
We both nod in agreement—butfuck, that part hurt worse than I expected—watching as my father picks up the phone and presses a button. “Hi, Beverly. You can go ahead and send him in.” My body goes stiff, not realizing this was all happening at once, instinctively sitting up straight as the six-foot-seven giant enters the room. I’ve met him several times, but he never seems to get less scary with his sharp jaw and broad shoulders. Even at nearly sixty years old, he could easily knock some of the league’s biggest men on their asses without even breaking a sweat. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who lets people off easy, but I’m hoping he doesn’t penalize Maddox when the whole thing was my idea to begin with.
He takes the chair in the middle of the room, and my dad immediately launches into the details of our discussion. I want to crawl into a hole and die when he mentions mine and Maddox’sromantic involvement, assuming he sees me as the owner’s boy-obsessed daughter who bamboozled his quarterback into spending every night with her. But when he gets to the part where I coached Maddox through some of the more difficult issues he was struggling with at the beginning of the season, finding solutions that helped pave the Renegades’ way to the playoffs, I’m beyond shocked by his reaction.
“Wait,” he grunts, brows pulling tight. “You’rethe one who cleaned up his technique?” I nod, unable to form anything resembling an intelligent sentencebecause I figured he’d be pissed. But by the way his eyes go wide in surprise, I’d say he’s anything but. “Where’d you learn that?”
“My dad,” I reply proudly, unable to hold back the smile that creeps up my cheeks as I think about where we came from. My father may own a professional franchise now, but he had the humblest of beginnings, just happy to teach kids like me about the sport he loved. The passion he had was always contagious, which is why I worked so hard to follow in his footsteps. We may have changed our course a little when the opportunity to purchase the Renegades presented itself, but the objective still remains. The Grant family legacy will be that we brought the game of football into as many lives as possible, and that’s worth everything in the world to me.
“Well,” he says, the corner of his mouth twitching, “as far as I’m concerned, this is ano-harm, no-foulsituation. While Danedidseek instruction from an outside source without making us aware, no rules were broken. The league permits it, and I’ll never prevent my players from getting extra help. However, if you plan on continuing, I’d like to go over some things with Miss Grant to avoid any crossed wires. And if you ever want to get into coaching for real,” he says with an actual smirk as he looks directly at me, “I have a few friends at the college level who could definitely use your expertise.”
My jaw drops and I choke out a laugh, shocked by the fact that he’d even be willing to vouch for me. It’s validating, and extremely surreal, but that’s not wheremy new path leads. “I appreciate that, Coach. But I need to stay focused on?—”
“Have them reach out,” my father interrupts, every head in the room whipping his way in disbelief. I vaguely register the feeling of Maddox squeezing my hand, grounding me to the moment as he continues. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, sweetheart. This team may have been my dream, but it was never yours. You belong on the sidelines, not in some stuffy office negotiating contracts and combing over paperwork. If you decide down the road that you want to take the team over when I retire, I’d love nothing more. But if not,”—he grins playfully—“we’ll give it to Syd.” I know he’s kidding, but the selflessness of his actions isn’t lost on me as I stand from my chair, round his desk, and sink into his warm embrace. It’s as familiar as it’s always been, an unfaltering reminder of the support he’s given since I was nothing more than a little girl with a whistle and the belief that she could be whatever she wanted.
“Thank you, Dad,” I whisper, tears of gratitude rolling down my cheeks. He hums contentedly as he holds me tight, allowing me to just exist before remembering that we’re not alone in the room. I sniffle, using the sleeve of my hoodie to dry my eyes before returning to my seat with a silly smile plastered across my face.
We finish up the meeting, neither Maddox nor I brave enough to volunteer the piece of information that would let them in onwhereour coaching sessions took place. No matter how you slice it, we’re hardened criminals in that regard, and I’d prefer not to have mycoaching career end before it even starts. We’ll keep those memories for ourselves, the epic story of how we found each other, falling in love on the practice field with only the moon to show us the way.
My midnights belonged to Maddox Dane then, and he can have all the rest—from now until the end of time.
FORTY-ONE
MADDOX
“You ready to give methat last checkmark, Dimes?” I ask, a cocky smirk tugging at one corner of my mouth. After we left the Renegades’ facility, with our relationship out in the open as we kissed each other before making the drive back to my house, it was game on. I’m surprised we made it through a shower together without me pounding her into the wall, but I don’t want to rush anything tonight. We’ve officially hit the two-week point of me having my piercing, and since I’m not in any pain, I plan on making up for lost time.
“Mhmm,” Livvy replies, sinking her teeth into her plump bottom lip as she looks up at me from the bed. I can barely think straight with the need to be inside her, especially after the emotionally charged couple of days we’ve had. I’m dying to blow off some steam, taking her in every position until I can’t possibly go on for another second.
“Show me what’s mine, baby,” I order. “Spread those pretty thighs.” She smiles coyly, slowly slidingher feet apart until her beautiful pussy is bared to me. It’s pink and glistening, her tiny little clit already peeking out from the hood that covers it. She’s a wet dream with her soft, supple skin, begging to be licked and marked. I can barely hold myself back from burying my face between her legs and staying there for the rest of the night.
“There’s Daddy’s sweet baby,” I praise. She squirms against the sheets, her body begging for a release already. Her fingers flex and extend, desperately looking for a way to channel the energy that’s running through her. I love it—knowing she’s so needy for me, that she can’t even hold still. “You’ve been so good, waiting for my cock. I think you deserve a new toy.”
Her eyes light up as I reach to the nightstand, pulling out the vibrator I bought for this very occasion. I hum a low chuckle when her eyes sparkle in response, diving my hand back into the drawer for condoms and lube. I hate the idea of wrapping up after I’ve already taken her raw, but I’m still healing, so we’ll follow the rules. Four more weeks, and I’ll have her dripping with my cum again, just like she should be.
I crawl back over her, leaning down and pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is slow and sensual, our tongues tangling in a familiar dance that neither of us can ever seem to get enough of. Without breaking the connection, I slide my hand over, taking the vibrating wand in my grasp and powering it on. It’s quiet—much more so than the sound of our kissing, which is why she’s caught off guard the moment the soft head touches the inside of her thigh.
A mischievous smirk spreads across my face as her body jolts, hips already twisting around in search of more. I tease her by moving the toy inward just slightly, but still nowhere near where she’s throbbing for me. A pathetic whine fills the air as her ass lifts from the mattress, but I splay my large hand across her pelvis, pressing it back down.
“Uh-uh, baby,” I scold, dragging the vibrator between her legs, never allowing it to touch her aching bundle of nerves as I make my way to the other thigh. “Desperate sluts don’t get to feel good. Patient girls get rewarded. Which one are you?” She’s trembling already, making my cock harden at the sight of her longing. I can’t wait to finally sink inside her, but in the meantime, I’m going to have a lot of fun working her up.
“I’m p-patient,” she stammers, gripping onto the soft sheets as her eyes fall closed. She takes a deep breath, doing everything she can to gather herself as I continue torturing her feverish flesh.
“Good girl,” I reply. “I’m going to fuck you up, Liv. You’re going to scream so loud, the neighbors will know my name.”
She nods her head eagerly. “Yes, please. I want that so bad.” I can tell she’s doing everything she can to stay still like I told her to, so I take mercy on her, gliding the vibrator inward. As soon as it makes contact with her swollen, sensitive clit, her jaw goes slack. A guttural moan bursts from her chest, the sound alone making precum bead at the tip of my cock. Fucking this woman is always an immersive experience, even before Iplunge into her hot pussy. From the feel of the goosebumps that raise along her skin to the noises that tumble from her lips as she nears the edge, she floods every one of my senses.
