Adorable? More like sexy as fuck. The things I’d like to do with her, to please her. I’m pitching a tent just thinking about it.
Mia sets her phone down and looks me in the eye, “Don’t get any ideas, Ford.” Mia points her finger at me like I’m a child.
Putting my hands up in surrender, I shake my head. “Just didn’t know he had a sister, that’s all.” She gives me a stern look as she walks past me back to the dining room table. I run my hand through my hair and toss my empty beer bottle in the trash, God, I’m so fucked.
We met an hour ago and I can’t stop my mind from thinking about what Abby’s body would feel like against mine. I haven’t felt this pull to someone in years and I’m not sure I like it, but it doesn’t feel like I can stop it either.
I’m sure I just embarrassed myself in front of the most attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His dark eyes were scanning throughout my body as he was talking and I couldn’t help myself from being distracted by the tattoo that ran up his arm. I should be used to being around tall men, considering my brother is 6’2, but Ford’s stature took me by surprise. The way he commanded the space between us left my pulse pumping. I just wasn’t expecting him to say those things, but more importantly, I wasn’t expecting my body to react the way it did when he leaned in close to me. His breath was warm on my neck just below my ear, and he smelled all woodsy and masculine. When our hands touched, my skin felt like it was tingling with electricity. I didn’t know what to say other than thank you, so excusing myself and running to my bathroom was the only thing I could think of.
Giving myself a once over in the mirror and a mini pep talk to calm the butterflies, I head back out to the dining room where everyone is still talking and playing cards. To be fair, being around professional athletes isn’t something I’m used to, so maybe this is just me being starstruck or whatever. Just because my brother is one doesn’t mean I’m used to this, I meant it when I said it’s been forever since I’ve been to a game. Although, that was mostly Andrew’s doing. God, I’m kicking myself for how blind I was to all of the controlling bullshit, mistaking it for love.
“Abby, we’re going to play a round ofnever have I ever,do you want to play?” Mia comes up and grabs my arm. When Mia and I met a few days ago, we clicked right away. Her welcoming personality and upbeat demeanor was exactly what I needed.
“What is this, college?” My mouth curves into a smile and I’m already following her down the hall because I’m obviously going to be playing. I’ve always been a sucker for these games. When I walk past the kitchen, Ford catches my attention. As if he senses my presence, he looks over my way at the same time I look at him. Our eyes lock for a few seconds and I’m caught in his stare, his eyes are so dark, it’s like looking into a black ocean. It feels like he’s staring straight into my soul with this intensity happening between us, but it also feels a little peaceful somehow, like there’s a glimmer of calm underneath the raging darkness that’s currently being displayed.
“Abby!” Mia calls which pulls me from my daze and I have a seat next to her.
The next thing I know, Ford sits down directly across from me just before the game is about to begin with a sly smirk on his face. He steals all of my focus the moment he sits at the table. He’s muscular and lean, and of course has the most perfect looking face to go along with what I’m sure is a perfect looking body. His biceps fill out the black shirt he’s wearing and his dark hair is effortlessly styled, with his facial hair cut just right, giving the perfect definition to his chiseled jawline. He’s a beautiful man, there’s no denying that.
“I don’t have to explain the rules, right? Everyone went to a party in college and has played this game before?” Mia looks around the table as everyone nods in agreement. We all hold up three fingers, waiting for Mia to kick us off. “Never have I ever…” She trails off and taps on her jawline before making eye contact with Nate. “Hooked up with someone at a bar and then the next night hooked up with their roommate.” Everyone at the table bursts out laughing as Nate takes a sip,
“That was oddly specific, Mi, felt a little personal.” He glares at her, but then shoots her a quick smile. While everyone continues to go around the table, I notice Ford has a bottle of water rather than a beer, like he had earlier. I’m betting he probably doesn’t drink much during the season.
After a few rounds, mostly everyone is down to one finger, except for little old me, holding strong with two remaining. I’m clearly not as seasoned as the rest of them. Then instantly, Mia, Chase and Nate are all completely out, something to do with oral and an airplane, who knows, this is all way beyond my scope of expertise. It’s only me, Ford and another teammate Graham left in the game. Mia stays planted in her seat, while Nate and Chase make their way outside.
“Okay your brother’s outside, you can actually play the game for real now,” Graham says in my direction.
“Oh, I– uh.” I laugh softly. “I guess you guys just are more fun than me.” I have been playing. In fact, I’ve been listening to all of these “never have I ever’s,” just wishing I was more experienced and colored outside the edges a little more. I can feel Ford’s stare on me and my eyes wander up in his direction. A small smirk lands on his lips as he inhales a deep breath.
“It’s your turn, Princess,” he breathes out in a low voice.
Thinking for a moment, I don’t even know what to ask at this point, I’m feeling so mediocre compared to all of their experiences. My sex life has consisted of one person, ever, and everything we did would be considered vanilla with this crowd. “Never have I ever hooked up with someone while another person was in the same room?” It comes out as more of a question than a statement and I scrunch my nose up before shrugging my shoulders in defeat.
Both of their fingers close into their fists and they take sips of their drinks.What the hell. My jaw hangs, “Are you kidding me? Wow.” I probably should have expected that, but still. And why does knowing that about Ford turn me on a little bit though? I’ve never been bold enough to do anything with another person around, even making out around other people has never happened. It does make me wonder though, was it me not wanting it or was it just that Andrew never did it?
We all get up and as I’m rounding the table to toss my bottle in the trash, I feel Ford close by. “Well that wasn’t helpful at all in getting to know you, Princess.” Ford’s voice is low enough only for me to hear. I throw a small smile his way before walking back outside.
It’s a warm night, but luckily there is a breeze up here. Chase is talking with Nate and Graham at the patio table. Mia is inside cleaning up some of the beer cans and Ford has made his way out to the balcony. He takes a seat beside me, but doesn’t say anything while we both stare out over the bay. It’s dark and eerie at night, but there’s still something so beautiful about it. The city lights are reflecting on the water and aside from the chatter from people outside, it’s relatively quiet for a Saturday night.
“How long have you been playing here?” I say softly, pulling my legs up on the chair and turning towards Ford.
“I’ve been on the team for five years. I’m from here though, so this city isn’t new to me.”
“Did you want to play somewhere else?”
He doesn’t answer right away, like maybe he’s contemplating my question. “No, actually.” A low chuckle comes from his chest. He almost sounds surprised by his own answer. “I love it here. This is the team I grew up rooting for, so it’s a full circle moment getting to suit up for them now.” He sits back in the chair a little straighter, it’s easy to see he’s proud of himself. He should be, making it to the NFL is no easy feat.
We’ve been sitting out here for almost an hour, asking each other a couple of questions here and there between the long bouts of silence. He’s hard to get a read on and doesn’t share too many details in his answers, but he’s not totally standoffish. I’m guessing there’s more than meets the eye with him.
Glancing at my phone, it’s almost eleven p.m. I’m normally in bed with a good book by this point and earlier today, that was my plan after brief hellos, but now that I’m out here with Ford, talking to him, I don’t want to be anywhere else. There’s a pull with him, like my body just wants to be near his. I can feel when he’s looking at me, there’s a tension when he’s close to me. My insides get all jumbled when he talks to me in that low raspy voice. For someone I just met, there is this immense sense of comfort I’m feeling with him.
He stands up, probably realizing the time himself. “I should head out.”
God, he’s tall. I know I’m still sitting down, but wow, he truly towers over me. I try to stand up, but he blocks me from setting my feet on the ground. Tilting my head to look behind him, it doesn’t look like anyone is out here anymore, they must’ve all gone in. Ford leans down and places his hands on either arm rest, caging me in the chair. I suck in a small breath as he comes in closer to me and it’s clear he notices by the way his lips curl into a smirk.
My heart feels like it’s about to burst through my chest. I’m forced to press my thighs together because he’s causing a throbbing sensation between my legs that I desperately wish wasn’t happening right now.
“It was nice to meet you, Abby,” he whispers into my ear and goosebumps instantly cover my body. My brain short circuits at the way he says my name and there’s no way I’ll be able to formulate a sentence of any kind. My chest heaves up and down and all I can do is nod my head as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and walks away.
