Page 63 of Play Maker

I’d never get tired of that first moment of connection when he slid inside me. How he filled me perfectly, and everything felt right in the world. Like I’d been made to fit him. Adam cupped my neck and pulled me down for a slow, heart-melting kiss.

He let me set the pace, a leisurely exploration of pleasure that didn’t stay unhurried for long. His hands roamed my body as the tempo increased. I rode him for all I was worth, muttering nonsense as I chased my release. With each rise and fall, he rubbed his thumb between my cheeks, adding a little more pressure every time I moved against him. A thrill zipped through me. I’d never tried anal play, but with Adam, I was up for anything.

“Yes,” I moaned, and a second later, he pushed through the tight ring of muscle. I was hit with a new set of dual sensations that sent me rocketing skyward.

He swiped his tongue across my collarbone, my nipples, my throat, until I grabbed a handful of his hair and brought his mouth to mine.

I love you too. The words circled my mind, stubbornly refusing to be shared, but Adam didn’t need them. He showered me with praise and brought me over a third time before finding his own release.

My heart pounded as I shuddered around him. The idea of love scared me—what was to stop someone from changing their mind?—but Adam made the risk worth it. He nuzzled my neck, holding me tight, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else.

23

Iwas in déjà vu hell. The last time I’d come to a karaoke party at Johnny’s, I’d been massively overdressed thanks to a dress my mom insisted I wear. Adam had assured me I wouldn’t have to worry about my clothes this time because it was a cosplay karaoke party. He’d wanted to go as mac and cheese, but I’d had a better idea.

Or at least, I’d thought it was better until it involved me arriving late in a skirt that barely covered my underwear. As if Mom knew I was returning to the scene of the crime, she called me just as I exited the Uber in front of Johnny’s.

“Good news, honey. I found you a place to live.”

“Hello to you too, Mom. I already have a place to live.” I didn’t tell her I only used my room as storage at this point, or that I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when the semester started as Noah had only agreed to the summer.

“I’m glad Mac and Eva stepped up to help when you needed it, but we both know you need your space to thrive.”

I wanted to argue, but historically, she was right. I’d moved into my own apartment as soon as she’d let me. Granted, it was right next door, but Mom was a new age hippy who didn’t have a tidy bone in her body.

Having my own space meant I could keep it exactly the way I wanted it without worrying about another person’s needs. My brow furrowed as I realized I hadn’t felt trapped in Adam’s apartment the same way I had in Mom’s, despite having more roommates.

A warm breeze blew past my legs, lifting the edges of the skirt, and I slapped them down again. Three guys in matching unicorn costumes came out of the darkness in the parking lot right as the other side flipped up. They slowed as they passed me, and one sent me a smile. I glared at him and turned my back. Dating practice was officially over. I didn’t need to be nice or social anymore.

Mom kept talking when I didn’t answer. “One of my colleagues has a little guest house behind her property. She usually reserves it for foreign students, but she was just telling me how by some miracle the college found housing for all of them. I’m reasonably certain she’d give you the same deal.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s not huge—maybe four hundred square feet—but it would be all yours.”

I blew out a breath, tucking an annoying curl behind my ear. “Can I think about it, or did you already call her?”

Mom’s tinkling laugh rang out. “I already called her. She has a contract waiting for you. The house is empty, so you can move in tomorrow if you want.”

I rubbed the space between my eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”

There was no point in arguing with her. I could always explain to the colleague why I didn’t need the house, and it would be nice to have a backup plan in case all my decisions over the last few months blew up in my face.

“You’re welcome, honey. I sent you her information. Oops, I have to go. Rob wants my help picking out new curtains. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She hung up, and I stared down at my phone. Did I want to move out? What would that mean for me and Adam? He’d said he loved me, but he hadn’t mentioned living arrangements. The fall semester was almost here, and I’d need more than half a bed and a closet in another room. Honestly, the idea of getting all my stuff out of Rob’s place had a lot of appeal.

People dated without living together all the time. Moving out didn’t have to change anything. My gut twisted into a knot as I tucked the phone into my waistband. Communication was key, right? I’d just ask Adam what he thought.

The inside of Johnny’s was loud, dark, and packed with sweating people. A woman in a cat costume stood on the stage talking into a mic. Despite the way he’d described it, I’d half expected Adam to be running the event like he had last time, but I didn’t see him anywhere at the front.

A sinking sense of foreboding tightened in my chest as I scanned the room looking for a familiar face. My list of friends was fairly small, but I’d assumed the rest of the crew would show up too. Unfortunately, their usual booth was taken up by a group dressed as ninja turtles.

I tugged at the fake corset I wore and readjusted the gold lasso laying against my thigh as I started another circle of the packed room. The crowd at the bar was two deep, but I didn’t think Adam would be there anyway. If he wasn’t on the stage, he’d be near Alex in the DJ booth.

I battled my way through the dancers until I got close enough to see Alex was alone. Where the heck was Adam? I probably should have foregone the surprise and rode with him. Half of the people milling around wore masks, so I ended up squinting awkwardly at perfect strangers looking for a familiar face.

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