“Fine.” Dropping her hands, Erin gripped the counter instead. “It’s just sex. No feelings. We don’t tell anyone on the team—they won’t understand, and I don’t want anyone other than you in my business. We don’t let it affect anything on the pitch. Anything to add?”
After a moment of worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth, Lia shook her head. “No. I think that covers all bases.”
“Good.” Erin reached for Lia, this time spinning the two of them around so she was pressed against the counter, pinned by Erin’s hips. “Because I think we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”
In response, Lia reached her arms behind Erin’s neck to drag her into a kiss, needy and frantic, her hands running through Erin’s hair. Erin’s own hands slid to Lia’s thighs, encouraging her onto the kitchen island and then stepping between her open legs.
Unlike last time, she wasn’t injured, didn’t have to worry about jostling her hamstring, and planned to take full advantage. Tomorrow was a day off—so if Erin only managed to snatch a handful of hours’ sleep after a night of making Lia breathe her name, there’d be no harm done.
* * *
Boneless, Lia collapsed onto Erin’s mattress.
Sweat beaded at her temple, her heart still racing and the taste of Erin sweet on her tongue. Beside her, Erin stretched out, the sheets bunched around her waist as she struggled to catch her breath.
Despite spending the last several hours exploring every inch of Erin’s lithe body, Lia couldn’t help but enjoy the view. How she’d ended up back in Erin’s bed, she wasn’t sure.
It might be her best birthday yet, though.
Lia brushed her thumb across the tattoo inked on Erin’s ribs. Her lips had traced over the elegant black lines of the bow and arrow earlier, but she didn’t think Erin would have appreciated Lia asking what it meant when she had three fingers deep inside her. “You a big archery fan?”
“Hmm?” Erin turned to her with a frown of confusion, her eyes widening with understanding when Lia gently tapped her ribs. “Oh. No, it’s the symbol for Sagittarius.”
“Didn’t peg you as a star-sign girl.”
“It’s not mine. It’s Maisie’s. Jessica wanted to get a tattoo when Maisie was born, but she wouldn’t go on her own.” A smile played at the edges of Erin’s lips, fondness creeping into her tone. “So I went with her, and we got matching ones.”
“That’s cute.”
Erin wrinkled her nose and brushed Lia’s hand away from her ribs. “Do not call me cute.”
“Why?” Lia refrained from pointing out how her expression made her look even cuter.
“That’s a word you use to describe puppies or kittens, not the woman who just gave you four orgasms.”
“Oh, counting, were we?”
Erin’s expression morphed into that self-satisfied smirk Lia was rapidly developing a fondness for. “Is that a problem?”
“No. Though we are uneven.” By Lia’s count, she’d made Erin come three times—once with her fingers, and twice with her mouth before she’d been tugged away.
“Mm, that’s okay. I like winning.”
“I can see that.” Lia stared toward the rather impressive trophy display covering one wall of Erin’s bedroom. Her own collection was growing, but Erin’s was immense. If Lia could finish her career with half as many accolades, she’d be happy. “A little self-serving, don’t you think?”
“You’re the one that called me an egomaniac.” Erin tucked one of her arms behind her head, eyes on her bedroom ceiling. “Where else would I put them? This place doesn’t have the biggest square footage. And putting them in the guest bedroom would be worse. Or in the living room for everyone to see. Isn’t this less self-serving?”
“Oh, so the only people that see them are your conquests?”
“No. I don’t bring anyone in here. Well.” Erin tilted her head. “Until you.”
“Wait, what?” Lia leaned on one elbow, her gaze on Erin’s face. “What do you mean?”
Lazily, Erin leaned her cheek against her pillow, meeting Lia’s gaze. “I meant what I said, Lia. I usually do.”
“You don’t bring women here? Ever?”
“I don’t really do this.” Erin waved between the two of them, a faint edge of discomfort to her voice. “I’ve told you a thousand times, I don’t do distractions. And sex is a big one. I don’t sleep around. Not until the off-season, and then I’m usually in Spain, where there’s no chance of anyone knowing who I am.”
