Risking the Crown

by Violet Paige

  “Fuck,” I whispered. He was completely in love with her.

  And I was the guy who understood why. I was the one who made it a reality. I was the one who held and kissed her. I was the one who took her under the sheets. I was the one who made her come so many times she was mine three times over.

  She was fucking mine and it didn’t matter how long he had some puppy love crush on her, I was the man who had fucked her. Not the lovesick kid who passed her a note in class.

  I pushed him up the wall.

  “Now I’m going to say something. You stay away from her.” I held my palm against his shoulder. “She isn’t any of those things to me. She’s more.” I stared at him, holding my breath. I couldn’t believe what in the hell I was thinking. Or feeling.

  “Pierce! Eric!”

  Scott ran up to us in the tunnel. I quickly removed my hand from Eric so he could move from the wall.

  “Everything ok?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Just clearing up some things before we face the Australians.”

  “Oh, good. I need to get up to speed.”

  Eric pressed his lips together. “I’ll go get my notes.” He turned for one of the many locker rooms.

  “Hey, I wanted to tell you Reyna got a text from Sierra.”

  “Oh, really?” My heart was pounding hard. I couldn’t believe everything that had happened.

  “Yeah. She asked if she could sit with her for the match tonight.”

  “What?” I tried to piece it together.

  “She wants to cheer for Team USA.” He smiled, slapping me on the back. “Good job, brother.”

  I laughed. “You have no idea what’s going on.”

  “Sure don’t. But I like that you have a cheering section. Don’t screw it up.”

  I shook my head. “I’ve got enough pressure on me today.”

  But inside I was fucking ecstatic. I didn’t know what happened. I didn’t know how it all came out, but Eric knew. Reyna and Scott knew. And by the end of this night, I’d make sure Sierra knew too.

  “This is match point,” Scott announced. He had the ball in the corner, spinning it between his fingers. He always did that when he was ready to go for the kill.

  I felt bad for the Australians. They were getting ready to join the Italians in the losers’ bracket.

  I planted myself by the net, ready to block or spike it if it came at me. The Australians liked to lob the ball, but with the game on the line I thought they might change their approach.

  I looked up at the fans waving green and yellow flags on one side. The other side was the one that mattered to me. The Americans held bright red, blue, and white ribbons. It was easy to pick out Sierra next to Reyna in the crowd.

  I adjusted my glasses. My fingers twitched. This was it.

  Scott served the ball. The Australians bumped it up. I jumped, reaching high as I spiked the ball for a kill.

  Scott jumped on my back, throwing me to the ground.

  “That was badass,” he yelled. I could barely hear him over the cheering fans.

  The entire arena had erupted in pandemonium. I fucking loved it.

  “We’re moving on,” I yelled. “Next round!”

  We hopped up, covered in sand and were immediately met with a reporter from Sports Now. She had questions about our first appearance in the Olympics. She wanted to know how we felt playing a double header.

  I grinned, answering all her questions and letting Scott field what he wanted to me. We felt in sync again. All the mistakes from this morning were forgiven and forgotten.

  Finally, she released us and we ran over to the first row of seats. Reyna leaned down to hug Scott like she always did. “You were awesome, babe.”

  I looked up at Sierra.

  “Hey.” She bit nervously at her lip, but I wasn’t going to let anyone second-guess what was going on here.

  I scaled the side of the railing until I was on the first level.

  “What are you—” My lips pressed over hers before she could say another word.

  I groaned at the kiss, sliding my tongue along hers, twisting and twining as the kiss grew hotter by the second. My hands landed on her ass.

  “Pierce,” she whispered.

  “I don’t give a fuck,” I answered. My mouth was heavy on hers.

  I knew there were cameras. I knew Scott and Reyna had stopped to stare at us. I knew Eric was somewhere shooting fake daggers at me. I didn’t give a shit.

  I finally let go to take a breath.

  “Everyone knows, Sierra.”

  She closed her eyes. “I know. I told my brother.”

  I raised one eyebrow higher than the other. “That’s a weird thing to tell your sibling.”

  She shook her head. “Not like that. He was the reason I didn’t get the job. Well, you actually. He and Eric didn’t think I could handle you. And I called him out on it.”

  I looked into her eyes. “And what do you think? Do you think you can handle me?”

  I saw the look of determination. She chewed her bottom lip.

  “I do.” She smiled.

  16

  Sierra

  Everything after that was a blur. Somehow we ended up checking into a hotel. Pierce said he didn’t want everyone in the village to hear what we were going to do. I didn’t know what the difference was between hotel patrons or athletes, but I didn’t argue when he carried me over the threshold of the suite.

  My heart beat rapidly. I knew what was coming next. I knew what the night had in store for me. I knew what Pierce was capable of.

  He placed my feet on the floor at the foot of an enormous bed.

  “Don’t move,” he ordered.

  I stood still, my head rotating to follow him around the room. He turned on the radio and fiddled with the stations until he landed on something with a heavy Latin beat. Next, he dimmed the lights, and disappeared into the kitchen where I could hear glass clinking. He returned with two glasses of champagne.

  “Take your clothes off.” He stood in front of me.

  I quickly pulled my shirt off and shimmied out of my shorts. It was nice to wear something that wasn’t Italian for once. I faced him in my white lace trimmed panties and bra.

  “Everything,” he growled.

  I hooked my fingers under the lace and pushed the fabric down my thighs and stepped out of them. It only took one flick to unhook the bra. The straps fell off my shoulders and slid to the floor.

  “Fuck, I can’t get over how gorgeous you are,” he whispered.

  And he made me feel gorgeous. How he eyed me. How he worshipped my body. How he told me over and over how beautiful and sexy I was.

  I reached for a glass of champagne.

  “Oh no.” He shook his head. “I’m drinking this victory off your body and you’re doing the same thing.” He smiled wickedly.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered.

  He chuckled, holding the glasses. “Lie back on the bed, baby.”

  I didn’t know what to do. There was a thrill of adrenaline that coursed through me, trying to figure him out.

  I sat, scooting backward before my back hit the mattress and my hair splayed around me like a fan. Pierce placed one glass on the bedside table next to me.

  “That one is for you,” he explained. “This one was is for me.”

  I inhaled sharply. I suddenly had a feeling I was getting ready to have a whole new relationship with champagne.

  Pierce

  I dunked a finger inside the glass the withdrew it, coating one of her nipples with a slow swirl. I leaned down to lick the bubbles from her tit. She arched her back toward me. She was such a fucking good girl at this.

  “You know what we’re celebrating?” I asked.

  She licked her lips. “Your big win of course.”

  I shook my head, letting a few drops drip to her other breast before I devoured the sweet champagne from her nipple.

  “No, we’re celebrating saying ‘fuck off’ to everyone else.”

  I ti
pped the glass, pouring a small stream on her navel. She shivered as I lowered my head to lap the alcohol from her skin.

  “Ohh.”

  She writhed under me.

  “Stay still,” I teased.

  “You’re not upset I told my brother and he told Eric?”

  I pushed her knees apart. “What do you think?”

  I dumped the rest of the glass from one knee to the other, watching with thirst as the bubbles trickled down her legs, over the softness of her thighs and soaking her perfectly delicious clit. I lowered my head, sucking lightly at first, but the thirst overcame me and I lapped and licked harder until I pushed my tongue inside her while she bucked her hips wildly.

  Her hands fisted through my hair as she moaned inaudible sounds. I could get drunk off her like this every day. It was fucking amazing how she tasted. How she sounded. How she felt.

  Her tight pussy clenched at me violently. I grinned.

  “Do you want me now, baby?” I asked.

  “Oh God yes,” she whimpered.

  I unzipped my pants and unleashed my cock. I saw the look in her eye as I kicked my pants to the floor. I took my time settling between her legs.

  “Just like this?” I asked, rubbing the head of my dick between her soaking wet folds, coating myself in her arousal and champagne.

  “Fuck me,” she urged.

  I slammed into her with a solid thrust as we both groaned with the intensity. It was sticky and sweet. I moved in and out of her, feeling our skin gliding over skin. I shoved her ankles over my shoulders, in search of an angle that would bring us both to our fucking knees.

  She screamed as I flicked her clit back and forth with my fingers. She was tight and swollen. Her head rocked to the side.

  “Oh, Pierce. Fuck me harder.”

  “Harder?” I reared back. She was fucking unbelievable. I slammed into her, until we were both blinded by the oblivion of skin and heat.

  I pumped, scaling her body, licking, kissing and fucking her until we were covered in sweat and champagne.

  I grabbed her ass as I felt my release building. It gripped the base of my spine. I roared as I pumped into her, spilling everything I had one thrust after another. My orgasm took me to a space of black. There was no color. Only the feeling of being buried inside her sweet pussy.

  I collapsed on top of her.

  Her hands moved over my back. I could hear the rapid beat of her heart.

  “You know I still have a glass of champagne over there.” She giggled.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I could barely move a muscle. I was spent and exhausted.

  “I don’t kid about champagne.” Her voice sounded very authoritative. And that’s when I learned what I had thought all along. Sierra Leigh was the fucking girl of my dreams.

  17

  Sierra

  It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t know this was how my love story would be written, but it was.

  “Bella, please.” Sergio and Paulo looked genuinely sad.

  “Stop. Stop, you two. You’re going to find another trainer.” I stood on the tips of my toes to hug each of them.

  They were still wearing their bronze medals. They had an excellent run the rest of the games despite how things started against the American team.

  “But we’ll miss you, bella.”

  “I know. Who is going to rub your stinkin’ leg, Paulo?” I put my hands on my hips. His calf hadn’t cramped all week. I started adding potassium to his water and it seemed to do the trick.

  “No one like you.” He kissed me on the top of the head, and I thought maybe they did like me more than I realized.

  I stood outside the airport. It was chaos. Thousands of people were trying to fly home. And home could be anywhere in the world.

  “Will you come see us when you pack up?”

  “Yes. I will definitely come do that.”

  I didn’t know exactly when I was going to make it back to clear out my little Italian apartment, but I wasn’t about to abandon the things I had there, especially the Italian leather I had collected in my closet.

  I turned around when I felt a strong hand slide along my shoulder. It was Pierce.

  “Ready, babe?”

  I nodded.

  Sergio and Paulo shook hands with Pierce. “Be good to Bella.”

  “I’ve got her.” He eyed each of them. He was tired of people telling him what to do when it came to me. We had a pretty good thing worked out without all of the interference.

  It was what we both wanted. It was fast and furious. So hot I thought there was no way it could last, but then the days led to another night and another morning I’d wake up in his arms and it didn’t stop. I was completely smitten. Completely head over heels. Completely in love.

  Instead of flying back to Italy, I was headed home with Pierce in a couple of days. He had press to do for the next two weeks. After that maybe we would go to Europe for my things.

  I hugged the guys one last time. “Ciao.” I waved.

  Pierce led me to the car.

  “You ok?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Yes. I didn’t want to go back to Italy.” He closed the car door behind me and walked around to the other side. He gave the driver our hotel address.

  “I didn’t want you to go back to Italy.”

  “It was never home. Six months in and I still couldn’t find my way there.”

  “Because you were supposed to be with me.”

  I smiled. In some kind of weird game of fate, exactly what Eric and my brother hadn’t wanted to happen is exactly what happened. Maybe if I had been the trainer for Team USA, things would have ended differently. We’ll never know.

  “I guess so.” I looked out the window.

  “I know so. You are mine, Sierra.” He pulled me into his lap. Shit, he was hard.

  “Oh no.” I shook my head.

  He laughed. “I can wait until we get to the hotel.” His hand slid up my skirt and I gasped. “But you can’t.”

  I gave him a warning look, but he didn’t care. His fingers moved with sinful magic, until my head was buried on his shoulder, gasping silently for air while he fucked me quietly and artfully with his strong hands.

  The driver pulled up to the hotel.

  “Thanks.” Pierce paid him while I straightened my skirt and tried to find my balance.

  He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into the hotel.

  “I’m glad the Olympics are over,” he growled against my neck, tugging me into the elevator. He pushed the button for our floor.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Because ever since I got that gold I wanted to put it around your neck and fuck you with nothing else on.”

  I gulped. Holy shit.

  “That ok with you?” he asked, chuckling.

  I nodded. The elevator dinged as the doors retracted and we walked down the hall.

  As we walked in the suite, I dropped my skirt and peeled my shirt over my head. Pierce’s lips landed on my mouth. “I fucking love you,” he growled.

  My eyes widened. “You do?”

  He nodded. “I do. I love you.”

  I giggled, walking to the bed. “Go get that medal, because I fucking love you too.”

  Thank you so much for reading the Alpha Athletes series!

  Keep reading for a preview of UNDER THE LIGHTS (a full-length football romance).

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  Have you read these books by Violet Paige:

  Dirty Play

  Sidelined

  Alpha Athletes

  Plunge

  Keeper

  Penetrate

  Naughty Notes

  I am so excited to share the final book in the Alpha Athletes series with you. I had a blast writing these. It was fun to put a naughty spicy, twist on what happens behind the scenes at the games, even if it’s completely in my imagination.<
br />
  So the truth comes out…way back I had a very sexy encounter with a professional beach volleyball player. He was a super sweet guy and as hot as hot can be. I love it when I can give a little nod to someone I’ve met in my life in some way through my writing. So wherever he is I hope he knows he inspired this girl to write something she never dreamed possible.

  Thanks so much for reading and sharing the Alpha Athletes! I’ve got some hot football coming your way very soon.

  XOXO,

  Violet

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  Copyright © 2017 by Violet Paige

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Chapter 1

  The only thing I could hear was the echo of my heels hitting the concrete. They made a sharp sound each time I took a step, a distinctive click-clack noise that could only be made by the point of a thin stiletto. Slipping them on this morning had made me feel confident. I called them my power heels. I was taller—stronger even with them on. But now I realized how loud my footsteps were. How they drew attention to my every move.

  It was strange how things could be cocooned in a tunnel of noise while at the same time, amplifying everything around me—especially the echo of my stride.

  I nervously flattened the thin belt around my waist and looked for signs for the exit. I stopped, scanning the arrows pointing right and left, and took a deep breath of the stale tunnel air. My hands started to prickle with uneasiness. What if I was late? What if I missed the next shuttle?

  Everywhere I looked the women wore walking shoes. Not me. I was the newbie. The transplant. The rookie who made the mistake of wearing the highest heels I had in my closet because they matched my dress. On my first day I wanted to look like I belonged.