by Leigh James
"I think so," I said. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
His eyes met mine. "I didn't leave Jess because I didn't want to deal with it. I just wanted to get through this season. That's all I wanted to focus on. Not personal shit."
I nodded. "I get it."
He looked mildly surprised. "You do?"
"Sure." I put the bread into the oven and turned it onto broil. Chase's fancy oven had seemed like an alien spaceship to me at first, but I'd managed to figure it out. "You're the best quarterback in the NFL. Ever. I can't imagine you can get to a level like that without pushing almost everything else to the side. And your wife turned out to be someone different than you thought. Can't blame you for that—she's the one who was pretending. It's not like you can anticipate that someone's gonna let you down like that."
A deep V had formed on his forehead as he listened to me. "Huh."
I cringed, worrying that I'd either said too much or just said the wrong thing. I busied myself tossing the salad. "Is that an annoyed 'huh' or…a good 'huh'?"
"It's a good 'huh'," Chase said. "I think you might be on to something. For a long time, I thought I deserved what I was getting with Jess. Because I'd misread her."
"Sort of like a penalty?" I asked.
He nodded. "Exactly. I messed up and I was paying for it."
"You misjudged her," I said. "I don't think it's worth beating yourself up over. You've been penalized. Resume regular play."
"Football talk, huh? Are you trying to charm me?"
I shrugged. "Only if I'm actually doing it right."
"It was close enough that I understood." He inspected his wine for a moment.
"You seem okay about her being gone," I ventured, "and mostly okay about her being with Pax. Aside from the nuisance factor."
"He got to me at practice. I shouldn't have gone after him like that, but he pushed my buttons hard." Chase scrubbed his hands across his face. "But since then, it's just been a couple of nasty texts from Jess and those selfies on Instagram. That's not worth freaking out over. But we'll see what they pull next. Jess usually has plans."
I nodded. "But at least you're out in front of it. I'm sure she doesn't like that one bit—that you've been photographed out and about, and that you're getting more attention." I'd read the news online; the sports community was largely condemning Jess and Pax, but they seemed to be enjoying Chase's post-split lifestyle. The mom we'd met at the swan boats had made the nicest Facebook post about meeting us and posted an adorable picture of Chase with the boys; it'd been shared about ten thousand times.
"I'm sure it's driving her crazy. Which is fine by me." He looked hopefully at the oven. "Is dinner almost ready?"
"It'll just be a minute," I said, checking the bread.
"So…enough about me. Tell me something else about you. Tell me more about your sister."
"There's not that much to tell." I groaned inwardly. I would much rather discuss Chase's ex than my sister. "She's older than me. Her name's Lila."
"What does she do?" Chase asked. He sounded genuinely curious.
"Um…her last job was at Jamba Juice. It didn't really work out."
"Why's that?" he asked.
"She…she's just not great at being responsible," I finally admitted. I wanted to be as honest with him as I could without getting into too much gory detail.
"So she's not working?"
I didn't look at him. I just shook my head. "Not right now." She's off spending my emergency fund on weed and high-end cosmetics.
"You said she lives with you. Do you…take care of her? Pay for everything?" Chase didn't seem to want to let this go.
I shrugged. "Just till she gets back on her feet."
"Is that why you're working for the service? I'm guessing you're not making a fortune at the good old Sizzling Ranch..."
I swallowed over a lump in my throat and just nodded. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get any words out.
"What about your parents?"
I shrugged again. "My mom died my senior year of high school. My dad…I don't know my dad." When I laid it all out like that, it sounded so…bleak.
"Aw, I'm sorry," he said. "What happened to your mom?"
"I just told you. She died." She overdosed my senior year. I found her after school.
What on Earth would he think of me if I told him that? And if I told him my unemployed, scheming sister was trying to blackmail me just so she could get a new pocketbook?
He'd probably run away, screaming. I wouldn't even blame him.
He held up his hands. "I'm not trying to make you upset. I just want to get to know you better. And we don't need to keep secrets from each other, like you said."
I nodded. "I know. But my family's not exactly fun to talk about. And my mom…she died of cancer." The lie tasted bitter and coppery, like battery acid on my tongue.
"I'm so sorry." He got up and came around the island, pulling me into his arms. "And just so you know, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But if you decide you want to talk, I'm not gonna judge. I'm not like that, okay?" He kissed the top of my head.
Of course you're not. You're perfect. And this is just another example of what I'm going to be missing out on, once this assignment's over.
"Okay," I said, nodding against his chest, relaxing in spite of myself against his wall of well-meaning muscle. "Are you ready to eat?"
He took a step back. "Absofuckinglutely," he said. "It smells so good."
I shrugged self-consciously. "I hope you like it…"
* * *
CHASE
"Christ, woman, I have to unbutton my shorts," I said, rubbing my stomach. "That was amazing."
Avery looked at me with one eyebrow raised. "I can't believe you ate the entire pan of lasagna."
"You had some," I said defensively.
"I had one piece."
"I told you I've only been eating takeout. I needed some home-cooking."
She laughed and got up to clear the dishes.
"You can just leave those in the sink. Housekeeping will clean it up. That's one of the perks of being an NFL player. You don't have to do dishes."
"That's a pretty nice perk," Avery said.
I watched her as she ran the water in the sink. She was wearing one of my T-shirts, her hair up in a messy bun. Even though the rest of me was too stuffed to move, my cock twitched. Shit. I had to go back to practice soon. The day after tomorrow. Even though that'd been all I wanted, now all I wanted was to stay home on house arrest with Avery. "Do you want to watch a movie with me?"
Avery bit her lip. "I don't know, maybe…"
"C'mon. What are you worried about? I thought we already did all the things either of us could be worried about."
She shook her head. "I'm just worried that you…like really bad movies."
I grinned at her. "Trust me, I have great taste." I stood up and held out my hand for her, and she tentatively took it. "Let's see what I've got in my Netflix library."
I brought her into my bedroom, threw off my shorts and jumped onto the bed in just my underwear. She'd seen all of me, so I figured she could handle my boxer briefs. I grabbed the clicker as she sat down beside me. "Do you want to watch Notting Hill or something? Because I can do that—even though Hugh Grant makes me wanna barf. But I'm man enough to watch it with you."
She laughed. "I do love Julia Roberts, but I won't force her and Hugh on you. Is there some way we can meet in the middle?"
I scrolled through the offerings. "Have you watched Game of Thrones? I haven't had the time to sit down and start."
"I really don't watch that much TV," she said. "But I've heard Game of Thrones is awesome."
"You want to try it?"
"Okay." She grinned at me. "I'm game if you are. Get it? Game. That's a pun!"
"Wow," I said, flicking to the show and shaking my head. For such a hot girl, she was surprisingly normal. And she told surprisingly bad jokes. "Just…wow."
/> * * *
AVERY
Three episodes later, Chase turned to me blearily. "I want to watch more, but I have to sleep."
"I really don't want you to turn it off, but do it. Otherwise, we'll be up all night!"
Chase laughed. "I know, right? Makes you want to grab a sword and go fight somebody."
"I love all the characters. I don't want anything bad to happen to them." I turned to him, rolling over on the pillow. "You don't think something bad's going to happen to them, do you?"
Chase grinned at me. "Nah. It's TV, right? There's gotta be a happy ending."
I frowned. "I don't know. I sort of have a bad feeling about it. " I sat up. "I better get going to bed. See you tomorrow, okay?"
Chase's face fell a little. "You don't want to stay? I'll let you sleep. I promise."
"Chase…" Of course I wanted to stay. What I didn't want to do was dig myself into an emotional hole I'd never be able to claw my way out of.
His big hand patted the bed. "I like having you here with me."
I liked being here with him, too. That was the problem.
He looked at me, pleading. "C'mon, just stay. Stay and snuggle with Chase."
I laughed. "You're a goof. But okay." I lay back on the bed, feeling way too comfortable as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. "Okay."
Chapter Fifteen
CHASE
I woke up with my arm thrown over her, sunlight streaming into the room, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I watched her as she slept. Her long blond hair tangled behind her, and her chest rose rhythmically and peacefully. Her face was smooth, calm. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but I should let her rest.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd hung out with a girl, gone swimming, had dinner, watched TV—and just had fun. I wasn't putting on any airs for Avery. Not because I didn't feel like I had to, given her situation, but because she was a real girl. She was pretty and sweet and awesome. She made me feel normal, like being myself was good enough.
Plus, she liked Game of Thrones. We were going to watch it again tonight.
I sighed and looked up at the ceiling, putting my hands behind my head. This was becoming a problem. I was asking Avery to make me dinner, sleep in my bed and to binge-watch Netflix with me—and she was my escort. And I'd sworn to myself—up-and-down—that I was not going to get involved with my escort.
Because I couldn't.
Oh yeah—and I'd fucked her. Twice. I'd fucked her well. It felt like her tight little body was made for mine.
She was waking up. She rolled over and looked at me, a happy smile breaking out over her face. "Hey."
I beamed back at her. "Hey yourself."
She stretched and her boobs jiggled beneath the filmy fabric of her T-shirt. Speaking of that tight little body… I leaned over and kissed her forehead, and then I pulled her against me.
Because I couldn’t fucking help myself.
* * *
We had sex all day. In my bed. In my pool. On my patio. In my shower.
When housekeeping came, I locked us in my room and we both tried to tone down the screaming.
Every time we were done, I wanted her again. I was getting sore and raw.
Like I gave a fuck. I hadn't had sex like this in years. Ever, maybe.
And she made me breakfast. And lunch. And then we watched three more episodes of Game of Thrones and held hands the whole time.
Best. Day. Ever.
I hadn't even noticed my phone blowing up. When I finally checked it, there were a dozen texts and five missed calls from Eric.
I called him immediately, before he sent a SWAT team over.
"Hey buddy," I said.
"What the fuck, Chase? Since when don't you answer my texts?"
"Since I was working out all day," I lied.
"Bullshit," Eric said. "You were fucking Avery all day and I know it." He sighed. "Do you remember that the Children's Hospital fundraiser's tonight? You have to be there. Everybody's going to be there, including Wes and Tim."
"Of course I remember," I lied again. "We're going. It's at the Aquarium, right?"
"Yes. Listen, I'm pretty sure Pax and Jessica will be there, too," Eric warned. "So be prepared. I'll see you later, okay? We'll talk tonight."
"Yes sir."
I hung up and waited for Avery, who was in the shower. She came out, wrapped in a towel, and I immediately got hard again. My Johnson was being greedy and I didn't care.
"We have to go to a fundraiser tonight," I said.
"Oh." Disappointment flashed on her face. "I was hoping we could just watch television and snuggle."
"I know," I groaned. "But we still have the rest of the afternoon. C'mere." I patted the bed.
She gave me a knowing look. "I'm naked. Haven't you had enough?"
"Have you?"
"No," she admitted, blushing slightly. "I don't know what's gotten into me. I mean, I know what's gotten into me"—she gestured toward me—"but I don't know why I want it to get in me some more." She giggled.
I patted the bed.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm sore. Aren't you?"
"Yes. But I don't give a fuck," I said. My voice sounded strangled.
"I don't either," she said, and sighed.
* * *
AVERY
It was as though his cock was a drug. By any sane measurement, I'd had enough. But I couldn't actually get enough. As soon as he pulled out I felt bereft; I wanted him back inside me.
Just like I wanted him right now.
I threw the towel off and went to him stark naked. He sucked in a deep breath and shook his head. "You're so fucking beautiful, babe," he said, palming my breasts as I climbed on top of him and rubbed his erection against me. I was already wet. It was as if my body was weeping for him, wondering where he'd been.
"You're ready for me. Again." His face was smug, but as soon as I rubbed his shaft against my slit, he moaned, becoming vulnerable. I loved that about him. Big, bad quarterback Chase Layne, who could probably crush me with one hand, totally gave himself over to me when we had sex. I wrapped my fingers around the base of his erection and pumped his length. "Babe, that feels so good," he said, an unselfconscious, delighted smile on his face.
He was already thick for me. I swirled the pre-come at the tip of his luscious cock around, making sure he was lubricated. And then, not waiting, I sat up and slowly eased him inside of me. I sat down on him, taking him in inch by thick inch, until our bodies were flush.
"Oh fuck," Chase groaned, lying beneath me. "Don't even move. I'm gonna come if you do."
I started to rock against him slowly. "Go ahead—fill me up, baby. I fucking love it," I said, because I did. I'd never been with anyone as big as Chase before. He was huge. As soon as he was snugly inside me, my body started to vibrate. I put my palms on his massive chest and started to ride him.
This time was no exception.
He put his hands on my ass and I ground myself against him. "Babe," he said.
"Huh?" I asked, picking up speed. I cried out as he thrust into me deep.
"I'm gonna come. I'm sorry it's so soon," he said. His thumb found my clit and he rubbed it in circles.
"Oh fuck—don't you ever apologize," I said, and threw my head back. Waves of pleasure circled me as I continued to fuck him. I was sore and it was raw but somehow, that made it even better. My body started to move on its own accord as he went stiff and cried out a litany of curses. I moved up and down on his rigid cock, screaming as he pinched my clit, my body grinding against his shaft. I saw stars as pleasure ripped through me and everything else fell away, all my fears, my insecurities, my doubts.
"Chase!" I screamed, because I knew he liked it and I liked it, too. His name on my lips, when I was filled with him, when I couldn't even think straight.
"Oh fuck," he grunted, his body stiff and rigid beneath mine as he emptied himself into me. He gripped my hips. "You're make me fucki
ng crazy, babe."
Good, I thought. I leaned down and collapsed against his chest and he cradled me in his arms. He wanted me. I was the one who was making him crazy. He couldn't keep his hands off me.
He pulled me beside him and kissed me, his tongue seeking mine in solace. He patted my hair. "Stay with me," he said, sounding sleepy.
"For as long as you want," I promised, as I watched him fall asleep.
* * *
We woke up an hour later in a panic. "Is this a black-tie fundraiser?" I asked Chase as I hustled back to the shower.
He nodded. "Do you have a dress you can wear?"
"Yeah—I just wasn't sure how fancy this was." I was nervous about going to a high-end event with a bunch of Chase's teammates, but I had to put on a brave face.
I watched him as he scrubbed his hands over his face. "I think that Jessica and Pax are going to be there tonight. We should be prepared."
My stomach sank a little. I really just wanted to crawl back in bed with him and watch Game of Thrones. "You don't think he's going to try to pick another fight with you, do you?"
He shrugged. "I won't go for it if he does."
I nodded slowly. "I think our best defense might be a good offense."
Chase raised his eyebrows at me. "You're using football talk?"
I grinned at him. "I know how to get through to you."
He closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms, making me woozy with his proximity. "You do," he admitted.
I smiled but I removed myself from his grasp. Being that close to him made a crazy heat rush through me, and I couldn't get all sweaty again. It was game time.
"I know, I know. We have to get dressed." He looked disappointed. "You were saying. A good offense?"
"That's right," I said. "We have to look great. We have to be polite. And maybe we say hello to them first. What you think about that?"
Chase grunted. "I don't want to, but someone has to be civilized. I guess it needs to happen sooner or later."
"I'll go and get dressed. You need anything?"
