Page 15 of The Head Game

Nico had expected a rather dry kiss, little tongue, and a stiff body. Instead, he got lush heat, a tongue curling expertly around his, and the heat of August’s chest against his.

“Fuck,” Nico whispered when August drew back.

August chuckled darkly. “Not expecting that, eh?”

“No,” Nico admitted. “But damn, do it again.”

August turned their bodies, shoving Nico back until he hit the brick wall but his hand was there, protecting Nico’s head from rebounding. He tangled his fingers in Nico’s hair as he tilted his head and pressed their lips together again.

August kissed with purpose, serious and intent. And maybe that fit his uptight personality but Nico sure hadn’t expected him to tease into Nico’s mouth like he had a right to be there.

The gesture sent a shudder through Nico’s body and he let out a reluctant little groan. “Hot as this is, we should probably get off the sidewalk,” he said, pulling away.

Kate Foster’s blistering lecture from last year still rang in his ears, reminding him the organization did not appreciate how frequently his name was bandied about on the sports gossip pages.

Nico half-expected August to bolt, but instead, he pressed Nico back, walking him toward the nearby alley, their gazes locked together.

The eye contact was intense and Nico suddenly felt off-kilter as he blindly allowed himself to be guided into the shadowy alley.

Nico had flirted with August because it was fun to fuck with him and he enjoyed watching him thrown off his game.

But Nico had never expected August to kiss him, much less gain the upper hand.

Nico grabbed the lapels of August’s stupid, stuffy blue peacoat and turned their bodies, swiftly pushing him back against the wall of the alley and boxing him in, arms braced on either side of August’s head.

They were of nearly equal height, although August easily had twenty pounds of muscle on him.

They were eye-to-eye now and Nico studied August’s face. In the distance, Nico could faintly hear voices, two men talking, and he should probably check and make sure it wasn’t someone he knew.

Or worse, someone who shouldn’t see him all up in a ref’s business.

But Nico couldn’t look away. At the moment, he had no space for anything but drinking in August’s face up close.

During a game, there was no time to study August but Nico took the opportunity to do so now.

August wasn’t good-looking in a typical way. But he was striking.

He had a square jaw, strong chin, prominent nose, and deep-set eyes capped off with thick dark brows like inverted v’s.

He could seem severe, and his expression when he was displeased could be completely unforgiving.

But he also had those full lips Nico couldn’t stop staring at.

August’s Cupid’s bow was prominent and he licked it now, his tongue peeping out, pink and slick.

“Is that an invitation to kiss you again?” Nico asked huskily.

“Do you need one?” August countered.

But before Nico could answer, August grabbed the front of Nico’s coat and pulled him in.

This kiss was as searing as the first.

August’s mouth was hot and eager against his, and he kissed aggressively. Hard and demanding like he was trying to convince them both not an ounce of softness was allowed.

For a while there was nothing but the slick sounds of their mouths and the quiet gasps Nico couldn’t quite stop, still shocked by how skillfully August had taken control of the kiss.

Nico had vastly underestimated him.

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