Page 3 of Play Maker

As if she could read my mind, Blue frowned again. “Sorry. I’m not good with sensitive subjects.”

Instead of sinking into the defeat and anger and hurt, I found myself coming up with ways to erase the frustration from Blue’s face. I hadn’t seen her smile yet, and I desperately wanted to make it happen. I wanted to see her full lips curl just for me.

My dick twitched at the thought, and despite the little voice yellinghallelujah!, I tried not to stare at her mouth.

Tried and failed. A faint blush lit Blue’s cheeks, and she caught her bottom lip with her teeth. The tension ratcheted up, and I went from twitching to rock hard in seconds.

“If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re better off spending time with anyone outside.” Even her voice had gone soft and breathy.

I stepped closer to her, narrowing the distance between us to mere inches, unable to stop myself from testing the reaction. “I don’t want to spend time with them—I want to spend time with you.”

Her lips parted on an indrawn breath, quick and surprised, and her tropical eyes darkened with hunger. My pulse rocketed to match. Huh. My attraction to Blue wasn’t exactly a surprise—smokeshow—but she felt it too.

The slow-spreading heat, the subtle buzz of electricity, the urge to do something supremely stupid.

Blue hauled in a deep breath, and as promised, blurted out the truth. “Friends with benefits seems like a bad idea with Eva between us.”

Fuck. Yes, it did. I ordered Big Mac to stand down and scrubbed a hand over my face. She didn’t move, as if she hadn’t convinced herself either. I could simply turn and walk away. Go back to my sad existence where everyone was afraid to whisper Eva’s name in my vicinity and I felt so trapped I couldn’t pull in a full breath of air.

A vivid memory of Blue’s legs peeking out from under a short black dress at one of my Sunday karaoke deals flashed across my mind, followed by the image of her glaring down at the beanbags like they’d personally offended her.

To hell with walking away. It wasn’t about Eva or my miserable ass. I’d gotten a taste of the real Blue, and I wanted more.

“How about friends without benefits? Keep me company this summer. I need to expand my inner circle, and I’m choosing you.” I tried not to let the plea sneak into my words, but when her eyes narrowed, I was pretty sure I’d failed.

“If this is a ploy, I want you to know I have no problem using my pepper spray to make a point.”

And just like that, my life became interesting again. I smiled at her threat, though I was one hundred percent certain she was serious. Hardcore, unfiltered truth.

“No need for your pepper spray, Sunshine, only your refreshing company.” I shoved the benefits to the back of my mind. Blue hit every box for me, but I’d learned my lesson about mixing friendship with pleasure.

She blew out a breath. “Fine. Friends without benefits. At least until Eva comes back.”

The major victory I’d just won felt strangely hollow, but I wasn’t going to miss my chance to explore something different for a few months.

“Fair warning, I’m a cuddler.” With a wicked grin, I pulled her close for a hug. A platonic hug. Purely to see how she’d react. Touching was my love language, after all.

Blue stiffened for a split second, then relaxed in my arms. We were immediately treading dangerous territory, but my girl came up with the save once again.

She looked up at me and patted my bicep. “Fair warning, when startled, I punch first and ask questions later.”

I laughed, a long, loud, unrestrained belly laugh, but I didn’t let her go. She was mine for the summer, and I wasn’t wasting a second.

2

It was the laugh that did it. I’d successfully avoided being alone with Adam Mackenzie for months, and he’d managed to corner me in a sorority kitchen at a party I hadn’t particularly wanted to attend.

Then he’d managed to get his arms around me in less time than it took me to pick a snack to steal. Impressive, really. I sort of wished I’d timed it.

His chest shook as he laughed, and I fought the urge to melt. Or tuck my hands under his shirt for a feel of the abs he was always showing off. Friends. We were friends. Friends didn’t grope each other. No matter how easy it would be to play off the simple touch.

The low rumble made my insides clench, destroying any chance I had at normal thought, so I backed out of his hold. Icy drops of water from the bottle I somehow still held splashed onto my toes, giving me the perfect excuse.

I took a long drink, ignoring the way his face fell slightly at my reaction. Hugging, touching in general, didn’t appeal to me, but I still wanted to throw myself back against him. Part of me wondered if maybe I’d been doing it wrong this whole time.

Despite my retreat, Adam didn’t immediately look elsewhere for a more willing target. He leaned back against the marble counter, bracing his hands on either side of him and making the muscles in his upper arms stand out.

“Blue.” The quiet comment pulled my gaze back to his face, where a smile flirted across his lips. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

---