Okay, I have to stop thinking about us or I’ll never go down.
I dress and think about some very unsexy things, then go out when I am acceptable. I just have to not look at Mabel at all, otherwise I will instantly get hard again.
Koby is in the kitchen with Mabel as they chat. While I try to not look at her, my eyes are always drawn to her. Her honey brown hair is a little messy from my hands getting lost in it, her face flushed and lips red and swollen. I discretely touch mine and they also feel swollen. Deliciously swollen.Stop thinking about it!
“Kobs!” I exclaim to distract myself, extending a hand in an informal hand slap. I’m not pulling him in for a hug and risk getting a semi on my boss.
“Riley, mate. You did a great job today. I brought up your trophy in that box on the counter,” Koby offers, pointing to a wooden box.
“Brilliant. Thank you.” I need to get out of this hotel room, because with each look at Mabel, I want to blow off the drinks and keep making her moan into the morning.
14
Mabel
Whoa, what came over me? Yeah, I've been looking at Riley a little differently lately. I made a complete ass of myself after he won a few weeks ago, fumbling with my words all over the place. Did I get caught up in the excitement of the winning moment? I mentally kicked my ass over and over on the shuttle back to the hotel, and then there he was. In our hotel room, standing in the kitchen, in only a towel. We have been pretty modest when we've roomed together and getting dressed in the bathroom after showering; guess he probably forgot to grab his clothes with the chaos of the win. So I haven’t been able to see how cut his body is with only a towel on. His tattoo accentuated the ridges of his chest. My mouth instantly drooled and my stomach flipped, stirring the feelings deep down. Then I tempted fate and hugged him. His body against me gave me intoxicating thoughts, and when he started pulling away from the hug, I needed to keep him near. And then there was that kiss. Ohhhh myyyyyy gooooooodnesssssss. What a fucking raw and passionate kiss it was. I couldn’t contain my moans. I was close to coming just from him kissing me. How did that have such an intense effect on me?! How is his mouth so fucking skilled?
Now we're standing on opposite sides of the kitchen, chatting to Koby like we weren’t about to fuck against the wall less than five minutes ago. Later we will have to play it cool down at the hotel bar with the teams, bosses, and his closest friends.
“Should we head down?” Riley remarks once the conversation gets to a natural stopping point. He looks at me and I melt.
“Great idea. Let’s get to it!” Koby confirms, slapping Riley on the shoulder and heading to the door. For a moment, Riley and I are left in the kitchen staring at each other, the tension instantly rising with the heated look he is giving me, and I exhale a shaky breath against the weight pushing on my chest. How can he do this with just a look? He shakes his head and lets out a breath as well. Maybe I have the same effect on him?
“We better go,” he whispers, desire saturating his voice, and I can think of nothing more than this is going to be a long fucking night.
The hotel bar is buzzing between the teams. Everyone appears to be here, invading the space, causing the air to feel thick and unbreathable. Maybe that’s just me every time Riley catches my eye? Fuck, what am I doing? Should we even continue what we started? I really want to give in, but I don’t want to get swept up in this new environment and possibly lose the first friend I've made. Not to mention the problems it could lead to, letting him fully into my life, my family. But hell, he gives me the feels, andit’s deeper because I got to know him over the past few months. Can we do something casual? Friends with benefits? Friends would mean no pressures. No requirements to see my family. Keep him at a safe distance. No, that couldn’t work, could it?
“Hell of a start to your first season with us!” Javi stands next to me, raising his glass to me and Icheersit with my nursed vodka, lime, and soda.
“Yeah, it’s been great. Well done on the race,” I reply, smiling. “We’ve got heaps of engagement on socials, too.”
“Excellent! I’ve seen what you've been doing. It looks phenomenal!” Javi adds.
“Well, she is incredibly talented,” Riley inserts himself into the conversation, standing next to me, casually throwing his arm around my shoulders. “And Ihavebeen around to answer all her questions, so there is my help for your team socials being so popular. You’re welcome,” he teases Javi and then quickly faces me, winking down at me. His tongue darts out and drags across his bottom lip. The movement appears in slow motion, and my thighs press together.
Javi laughs and hits Riley’s shoulder, forcing his body backwards and away from my side. “Whatever, hotshot. Enjoy your win. I’m going to find Sophia,” Javi says.
“Rude!” Riley calls back, and Javi’s middle finger is thrown up as he disappears into the crowd. He chuckles and looks back at me. “Did you want another drink?”
“No, I’m okay, thanks,” I say, trying to keep my cool.
He takes a glance around and leans in a little closer when he deems it safe to do so. “I really want to continue ourconversationwe were having, but I have to stick around for another thirty minutes so it doesn’t look suspicious. Is that okay?”
It’s not outrageously loud, but I also look around in case anyone is looking or might be able to hear. “Yeah, I would like that.”
He smiles, causing my stomach knots. “Deal.” Then he heads off to mingle with his team.
Negotiating with my legs to start moving, I make my way to where Javi has found Sophia.
Sophia smiles and leans closer to me. “How do you rate the start of your first season? Met your expectations?”
“Blew them out of the park, to be honest!” Because it’s definitely the truth. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened with Riley. I know that’s not what she meant, but I can play it off as that.
“And it will only get better as the season goes on,” Sophia excitingly adds.
“Can’t wait.”
And I take a deep, settling breath
