* * *
“What are you thinking so loud about?” I blink multiple times, not realizing I zoned out.
Turning to look at Stacy, I ponder what to disclose to her. I can’t just announce to my boss at work that the all-star player and captain of the team we work for made me come with his fingers and dirty mouth about a week ago. And that it was one of the most powerful orgasms any man has ever given me. That I would like to do it again and more.
She keeps her hand on mine on the table as she puts her coffee cup aside. Her brows furrow in concern, “Are you alright? Do you have a fever? You’re flushed, Kaeli.”
I clear my throat and look around the bakerywe sit in near our office, as if someone might pop up and reveal what I did. We’re on our break, and Stacy suggested we go out since the weather was so nice and try outVelvet Whisk, the bakery.
Giving her a forced laugh, I stealthily extract my hand from hers and grab my cup just to hold on to something and fidget. Taking a sip of my latte, I look around the bakery as if it’s the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen.
An image of Ezra palming his dick flashes through my mind, but I quickly shove the visual away into the deepest trenches of my brain.
I take in the bakery with its light accents. It’s actually pretty great. I was skeptical about trying it when it opened last month, but now I’m glad that I did.
The furniture is colored in pastels of green, purple, yellow, and pink as the delicacies adorn the inside of the glass counter for people to choose from.
There are flowers in vases all over the bakery, but not too many that the smell suffocates. The walls are covered in lined pastel wallpapers, too.
The owner here is a middle-aged woman who quit her job and finally had the courage to open her bakery. She has kids, she says, but nevermentioned a partner, so I don’t think they’re in the picture.
I do wonder what happened. Screw me for being nosy, but let’s be real, who doesn’t like gossip with their tea or, in my case, latte?
I feel the heat of Stacy’s stare, so I finally glance at her. She squints her eyes at me and points out, “You’ve been acting weird since we returned from that game in New York last week.” My eyes beg to widen at her observation, but I control them not to give myself away. “Something happened there, didn’t it?”
I shake my head. “No, it didn’t,” I quip a little too quickly, hoping she’ll let it go.
“I don’t believe you. But it’s fine, you’ll tell me on your own,” she says as if it’s a given.
Yeah, no chance in hell will I ever tell anyone, let alone her, that I almost fucked the man I claim to hate, the man whose presence is penance itself.
You will soon, though.
Not helpful, brain,I chide it.
We still didn’t have any alone time together after we came back to Boston. Between the regular season and the hectic schedule, neither of us has time. But that doesn’t mean that wedidn’t steal kisses and phantom touches when no one was around or paying attention.
The knowing gleam in our eyes, the shared secret, the anticipation of wondering how it would feel is all too much. And as much as I hate it, I love it.
But we’re also careful; we don’t want anyone to find out about us. Not now, not ever.
He might be great inside the bedroom and can turn me on like a kettle on a lit stove, but he’s still the man who put my career in jeopardy and leaves no chance to point out my mistakes or irk me.
Dropping the topic, we head back to the office and get busy with work. Tomorrow is a home game, and those need extra work done to make sure we don’t miss out on anything going into the arena.
But I need to fuck him. And soon.
Twenty Four
Kaeli
After playing two days in a row this weekend, the two days off were a slight respite for everyone because we were bone tired.
Especially the players. You could see the haggard looks and their trudging feet when the game of the second day was finally won and over.
It was a miracle that the guys could get to the locker room to change and head to the giveaway for some lucky fans; the team organized, instead of just collapsing right there on the ice.
Still, the weary smiles didn’t deter the fans from being thrilled by the opportunity to meet them, snap some photos with them, which they’ll probably show their grandkids, and take home some signed merch.
