“Yeah.” Judge sidled up beside me and kissed my cheek. “Because you’re playing and you’re new, Iton will be our referee and keep an eye on these cheaters.” He pointed at a guy who hadn’t introduced himself yet. “Iton sucks at the game anyway.”
“Hey!” Iton gave him the middle finger, and Judge caught it as though it was a kiss.
The teams divided up, and I was with Jury, Gibson, and some other guys. We huddled in for a team discussion, but it was mostly pointless “we can do this” chants. What I did understand was that Judge was the person to keep an eye on because he was the best player.
As soon as the game started, so did the competition. I’d never been the kind of person who enjoyed playing sports, but I’d been on the court more than once during high school. I knew basketball like the back of my hand and being in shape meant I could easily maneuver around the court.
Hill tried to steal the ball from me at one point, but I dodged him and twisted fast, heading straight to the basket. I jumped at the same time as Judge but managed to tip the ball into the hoop before he could reach me.
My team cheered as I landed on my feet and blew Judge a kiss.
“You need to be faster than that, Charming.”
Judge pointed at me with a wicked smile. “I’m going to get you, Rookie.”
“Promises, promises.” I winked at him as Jury slapped me on the back, and Hill grabbed the ball, ready to throw it to one of his teammates from beside the hoop.
This time Judge managed to get the ball down to our end of the court, and I tried to block him to the best of my ability, but he managed to shoot the ball in a perfect arc from outside the three-point line and it fell through the net. He jiggled his hips at me in a dance, and I rolled my eyes, chuckling.
Jury threw the ball to me, and I dribbled it halfway down the court before I was blocked by Hill, so I passed the ball to Gibson, who tried but failed to get it past Judge.
Judge was too quick and there was no way I could catch up with him before he dunked the ball into the hoop. The basket came with another weird dance that involved Judge’s hands pumping in front of his chest and hip thrusts. I silently cursed him but couldn’t help the grin that took over my mouth.
This time when the ball made its way up the court, thanks to a guy whose name I didn’t know, I was ready when it was passed to me—but so was Judge. He tried to block me, and I turned, keeping the ball away from him as I dribbled my way backward. His dick pressed against my ass and it was difficult not to notice the suspicious firmness.
I smirked over my shoulder. “Sir, did you bring a baseball bat to a game of basketball?”
Judge snickered. “I like to leave my options open. Want to find out what’s in my jeans, Rookie?”
Hill groaned near us. “Will you two stop flirting and fucking play the game?”
“Oh, we will be fucking later, Hill,” Judge called, and I used the distraction to twist around him and jump toward the hoop, throwing the ball for a perfect basket.
“Fuck!” Hill glared at me. “I don’t like you, old man.”
“Oh, go cry to Mommy, she might give you your binky.” I balled up my hands and twisted them under my eyes as if there were tears there, and laughter filled the court.
Hill made a face at me but grinned anyway.
Judge’s team won, and we shuffled players, allowing Iton to come into the game. We played for nearly two hours, and by the time we were done I was drenched in sweat and grinning like a fool. I didn’t even care that Judge’s team had won every single game. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun.
Breathing deeply, I nodded in goodbye when Hill saluted me as he grabbed his bag.
“See you later, old man.”
“Bye-bye, Binky.” The nickname had stuck, and Hill went along with it, snorting every time I called him by it.
Arms snuck around me and I sighed into Judge’s strong hold, leaning back into the comforting press of his hard body. “You did great, Rookie.”
“Thanks, Sir.” I tilted my head back, and he leaned over my shoulder to kiss me. He smelled like hard work and I loved it. “Do you think your friends liked me?”
He chuckled and laid another kiss on the tip of my nose. “They loved you, trust me.”
“Good.” Warmth spread in my stomach and I closed my eyes, reveling in his firm hug. “Because I want to be a part of your life, Judge.”
“I want you to be, Flynn.” He kissed my sweat-soaked shoulder and tugged me tighter against his chest. His scent drifted around us, and I breathed him in. “Because you’re mine.”
He wouldn’t let me forget it, and I didn’t want to, either.
