Page 19 of Play Maker

My brain helpfully provided an image of him spread out on my sheets wearing only a cocky grin. With some effort, I shoved the vision aside. “I know. It’s biology—a subject some might consider just as challenging.”

He squinted at me for a long moment. “Am I imagining things, or are you implying sex is a challenge?”

Dread slithered down my spine. “Clearly, not everyone is as skilled as you claim you are.”

“Of course they’re not. Being good at sex takes a dedicated effort, and I’m trying to not be offended by your lack of faith.”

I leaned closer, not interested in sharing my boring sex life with the other students starting to trickle through the room. “I’m sure you’re very talented, but not everyone strives for your level of thoroughness.”

His brows rose. “Hold on. I want to be super clear here. You’ve never had an orgasm?”

Heat rushed up my neck, but I refused to look away. “Not with another person.”

He scrubbed his hand down his face, the subtle rasp of his stubble shooting wet heat straight to my core. “You can’t tell me shit like that and not expect me to take it as a personal challenge.”

“My orgasms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do with you,” I lied. The last few had definitely featured him heavily. “I have to go to class. Thank you for the save. Again.”

He didn’t move as I slid away. “Anytime, Sunshine.”

I felt his gaze on me like warm honey as I climbed the stairs, and deep down, I knew his last comment wasn’t referring to his well-timed arrival. It was an offer.

7

After yesterday’s showdown with Blue and her stalker, it was almost a relief to reenter football society. I stood in the hallway outside the weight room and psyched myself up for the return to my normal life. The one that still felt like the time I’d shrunk my favorite taco boxers. I could get them on, but nothing fit right and there wasn’t enough ball room.

The big metal doors clanged shut behind me as I showed up late for training. Shaw had decreed “voluntary” workouts, but everyone knew we were gearing up for a second championship run. Voluntary, my fantastic ass.

I’d considered sleeping in, but by now my roommates knew I was home. They’d surprised me by giving me space the last week—a courtesy I would not have extended—but someone, probably Shaw, had set my alarm for five a.m. sometime in the last twenty-four hours.

Fuckers better appreciate my presence. The next time I went grocery shopping, I was getting wasabi powder to put in his green smoothie mix.

RJ saw me first from where she stood grinning at Shaw’s ass as he used the squat rack. She nodded in my direction, and Shaw’s gaze locked on me in the mirror.

“About time you showed up,” he grunted.

I joined them and dropped my bag as he re-racked. “Why? You need some pointers?”

RJ snorted and poked my stomach. “From you? Is that a pooch I see?”

“Nah girl, that’s all muscle. I know you just want a peek.” I grabbed the hem of my shirt and lifted the material far enough for me to smack my abs.

She laughed, and Shaw threw his sweaty towel at me. “Stop hitting on my girlfriend.”

“She was mine first.”

I didn’t know why I let the thought slip out. Usually, I was better about filtering myself. Shaw sent RJ a quick look then jerked his chin toward the locker room doors.

“He’s not wrong,” she muttered as she gathered her stuff to leave.

The rest of the room had already emptied out, or maybe it had never filled. I wouldn’t put it past Shaw to set up a training session with just the three of us to fuck with me. Our captain was wily, one of the reasons I loved him.

RJ waved as she sauntered through the door, leaving me and Shaw alone. I braced myself for a lecture, but he did the thing where he stayed quiet until I talked. I hated it when he pulled the Yoda shit, but it worked one hundred percent of the time.

Silence made me jittery.

“I’m fine,” I blurted out, skirting him to reach for the dumbbells.

I wasn’t entirely lying. Sometimes, I felt fine. If I wasn’t thinking about Eva’s face when she walked out, or all the times I went to text her and had to stop myself, or the tender spot in my chest where my best friend used to be.

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