The Player and the Bet: An Enemies-to-Lovers College Sports Romance

by Liv Reid

  I can’t wait. I start ripping off her clothes as fast as I can. I’ve thought about this every night since New York—and before that too, if I’m being honest with myself. I’ve wanted her for a long time, but just never let me admit it to myself. My brain was trying to protect me from the truth because she’s all wrong for me—and I’m all wrong for her. We don’t make any sense together, and this whole thing is going to blow up in our faces—but right now she’s laying on the bed naked before me and I don’t give one flying fuck about anything except her creamy curves.

  I can smell her arousal, and it shoots a surge of primal lust through me. I pop open the button on my pants and yank down my fly. My cock springs out, hard and eager. I notice, with a bit of smug pride, as her eyes bulge at the sight.

  She licks her lips, and it takes all my willpower not to grab her head and shove my dick down her throat. But not right now. That’ll come later. Right now, I’m going to make sure that when she thinks about this later, she’s not going to be able to convince herself she doesn’t want me. I’m going to make sure she comes back for more, again and again.

  I duck my head down, and her eyes open even wider, like two green saucers. I place my hands on her thighs and push her legs apart roughly.

  “Show me that pretty pussy,” I murmur.

  I gaze down at what she hides between her legs. It’s fucking incredible.

  I can tell she’s getting impatient under my intense stare, and she tries to shift and move her legs—but I won’t let her. I hold them firmly in my hands, pressed against the bed and spread wide. She’s completely open to me, just the way I want her.

  I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my entire life, and it’s taking all my self-control not to slide up her body and slip my cock all the way inside her up to the hilt. But there will be time for that later.

  “Looks so fucking sweet. I need to taste it.”

  I lower my head and lick her from top to bottom. She gasps, bucking up against my face so hard she almost breaks my nose—and I love it. Her taste explodes against my tongue. I’ve tasted her once before and it was heaven. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since, and this feels like coming home.

  I want to take my time and give her a proper seeing to, but what little willpower I have left is quickly crumbling. I shift up to her clit and start flicking my tongue back and forth.

  She shimmies wildly beneath my hands, but I hold her still. Her fingers slip desperately into my hair and alternate between pulling and caressing. In almost no time, she’s breathing hard.

  She moans softly and tries to keep quiet, but I can tell she’s loosing control. When I feel she’s on the edge, I take one hand off her thigh and without hesitation I slip my fingers inside her wet entrance.

  She freezes as if she’s been shot, then suddenly starts thrashing as she comes all over my hand and my mouth.

  I continue to tongue her clit and coax her orgasm out of her with my curved fingers. This is insanely hot, and I have to close my eyes and not think about what’s happening because I’m scared I’m going to shoot my load in my pants if I do.

  She slowly comes down and I lean back. I slip my hand out of her and it’s dripping wet. I take it and start stroking myself so I have her wetness all over my cock. I’m practically out of my mind with desire as I stand up.

  She’s looking at me with eyes that are half-lidded, looking at me like I just gave her the best orgasm of her life. She sits up and her face is so close to my cock. I’m so hard for her that when I let go of it, it bounces slightly in the air.

  She looks down at it and licks her lips. Yes. Suck it. There’s nothing I want more in the world than to have Sadie’s pouty little lips wrapped around me, sucking me dry.

  As if she can read my mind, she bends forward slightly so her mouth is only inches away. Yes.

  She sticks out her pretty pink tongue.

  Yes. Yes. Yes.

  Her tongue hits my cock and sends a bolt of pleasure rushing through my body. My legs almost give out because it’s so intense. She licks the drop of pre-cum that’s formed on the tip, and I’m practically panting.

  This is so fucking hot. Yes.

  —No.

  I pull back from her mouth just as she starts to suck the tip. She looks up at me, and the confusion and hurt in her eyes feels like a stab to the gut.

  “I can’t do this,” I choke out.

  “Wha—” she starts, but I quickly pull up my pants and rush out of the room.

  I cross the apartment in five long strides. I yank open the front door and dash into the hall, slamming it behind me harder than I mean to.

  Now that I’m safely outside and away from her, I lean back against the wall.

  What the hell is wrong with me? When did I become such a pussy? She wanted it—her lips were around my dick, for fuck’s sake.

  I breathe out a frustrated sigh. My hands are in fists and itching to punch the wall, but I don’t want anyone to come out here to investigate the noise. I try to slow my breathing down instead.

  It was just too fucked up of a situation. I’m the reason she’s probably going to get kicked out of school, and until a few days ago I had a bet on whether I could sleep with her. This whole thing is just too messed up. I couldn’t do it.

  I need to get out of here. I push myself off the wall and realize my pants are still undone. My cock is still hard and I can smell her all over me. I tuck myself back in my pants, do up my zipper, and get the hell out of her building.

  32

  Sadie

  I don’t know what it is. Do I smell or something? Why does he keep stopping?? Last night, Mace and I had an amazing time and then when we were about to hook up he ran out of the room like the devil was chasing him. Was it me? It had to be. I know he was into what we were doing—the evidence that he was enjoying himself was very obviously sticking out of his pants—so what gives?

  I hate feeling like this, all insecure and unsure of myself. This isn’t like me. What is he doing to me?

  I felt weird about the whole evening, and it took me ages to fall asleep after he left. I spent most of the night tossing and turning, so I barely feel rested at all this morning. I had to use extra concealer under my eyes to cover the dark bags.

  I yawn as I walk to class, a large coffee in my hand. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and my heartbeat quickens. I pull it out, hoping it’s a certain quarterback but unwilling to admit to myself that I want it to be him.

  It’s my mom. I breathe out a disappointed sigh and tuck the phone back into my pocket, ignoring it.

  On second thought, I take the phone out, and I call my dad instead. I feel the twinge of anxiety in my stomach I always feel right before I speak with him. I love my dad, but it’s the not knowing of how he’s going to be doing that makes me anxious. Will today be a good day? Or will it be a bad one and I have to listen to his slurred words and be stressed out because I know he’s not doing well and there’s nothing I can do to help him.

  The phone keeps ringing, six, seven, eight rings. I’m both relieved and stressed at the same time. I’m relieved because I don’t have to talk to him and have it confirmed he’s off the wagon, but also stressed because where is he? Is he lying passed out somewhere and needs my help?

  On the tenth ring he finally picks up, and I breathe out a sigh of relief when I hear his voice.

  “Hi, Sadie. How are you?” he says in a pretty clear voice.

  “I’m good, Dad. How are you?”

  “Same old, same old. Just sitting around watching TV and thinking about getting up off my butt to go out and do something with the day.”

  “I’m on my way to class right now, but I just wanted to check in.”

  “I appreciate it. How are your classes going?”

  “Uh—”

  I haven’t told my dad yet about possibly getting expelled. I don’t want to add to his stress until I know for sure what’s going on. Stressing him out will only stress me out, and I have enough in
my life right now to be stressed about. I don’t need to add more.

  “They are going okay,” I finally say. “Same old, same old.”

  “That’s good to hear… Listen, have you heard from your mother lately?”

  I hate when he asks about mom. It’s been so many years, but he’s never gotten over her leaving him.

  “Dad, I don’t know why you torture yourself by asking. She’s not coming back.” I feel a lump forming in my throat and try to swallow it down.

  “I know, I know. That’s not why I’m asking, Sadie,” he says in an annoyed tone. “I just want to see how she’s doing. She’s your mother after all, and I want you to have a relationship with her.”

  He’s such a liar, but I don’t know if he knows it.

  “I don’t talk to her anymore, Dad, and I haven’t for a while.”

  “Okay. I was just curious, that’s all. Listen, I’m going to let you go so you can get to class. Have a good day and thank you for calling me.”

  “Good speaking with you. Have a good day.”

  “Bye, Sadie.”

  “Bye, Dad.”

  I hear the line go silent. The call wasn’t too bad. He seems to be doing alright—not amazing, but okay.

  Realization suddenly washes over me that if I get kicked out of school, I’m going to have to go back to living with him in our two-room trailer. I don’t want to go back there. It’s depressing as hell. Great, another thing to be stressed out about.

  I walk into my classroom and stop in the middle of the aisle when I see Mace. He turns around as if he can sense my presence. When he sees me, his tanned face opens up in a gorgeous white smile. My knees suddenly feel weak.

  He nods his head to the empty seat next to him. I hesitate for a second—but only for a second—then walk over and take a seat. He smells incredible.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  He never comes to class, except for when I was forcing him to.

  “Keeping you out of trouble,” he says with a smirk, and I can’t help but smile back.

  33

  Sadie

  We start hanging out after that, and for the next couple of days we are basically inseparable. It’s super weird, but we are kind of, sort of, getting along? Sort of. I never in a million years would have imagined this was possible. We are complete opposites in almost every way, and yet somehow it kind of works.

  I’m trying to not analyze what’s happening too much and just go with the flow—but that’s hard for me because I’m not really a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. I like schedules and structure. I want to know what’s happening and why, and what the outcome is going to be. But Mace isn’t like that at all. He’s more of a live-in-the-moment kind of guy.

  “I don’t know, Mace,” I say, as we walk across campus together one day.

  “It’ll be fun! Have you ever even been to a pep rally? You can’t leave college without going to at least one,” he says, then suddenly he realizes what he just implied and goes quiet.

  We haven’t talked much about the expulsion hanging over my head. He seems to get extremely uncomfortable whenever it comes up, and I don’t really want to talk about it either, so we just pretend it’s not happening. But it’s still hanging over my head like a rain cloud full of lightening ready to strike me down.

  He seems to collect himself and continues, “Come on, what do you have to lose? Bring your friends so they can protect you from the big, bad football players.”

  I roll my eyes but can’t help but laugh.

  “Okay,” I finally say. “I’ll come.”

  The smile that lights up his face makes my heart flutter in my chest.

  “I can’t believe you convinced us to come to this,” Jess says, as we walk into the clearing.

  I can’t say I blame her for feeling out of place. I can’t believe how many people are here right now. It looks like the entire school showed up—as well as some townies who’ve snuck in. I see the telltale sign of their old pickup trucks. Winterford is a wealthy school and most of the students wouldn’t be caught dead in any car that costs less than a hundred thousand.

  “Come on,” I say to my friends, trying to put on a brave face even though I’m just as apprehensive as they are. “We have to go to at least one pep rally while we’re here. Do you really want to leave college without this quintessential experience?” I mimic Mace’s words from earlier.

  Marty, Jess and Luna give me looks, but still follow me as I start to walk deeper into the woods.

  I can see hundreds of people around me, and this is just part of the celebration. There are countless cars scattered throughout the forest, tucked between the trees. Music is blasting through the open windows and students keep refilling their cups from coolers in the backseats.

  This is called a “pep rally” but it’s not really one. This event is organized by the students and held deep in the woods after the sun sets. It has nothing to do with the school administration, who turn a blind eye and pretend they don’t know what’s going on. These “pep rallies” can get pretty wild—I’ve heard. I’ve never actually been to one before.

  We walk by bonfires lighting up the dark night and groups of students doing keg stands. The whole place is swarming with rowdy people, and I’m getting uncomfortable. This isn’t really our scene, but at least it’s dark so no one can tell who we are—

  “OMG, who invited the losers of Winterford here?” We hear a familiar, snarky, high-pitched voice behind us.

  I groan. I do not want to deal with this right now. I’ve been on my best behavior for the last month, and I’ve done a good job of staying out of trouble—for the most part. But now that I’m on academic suspension, I really can’t risk getting into a fight. I’m on even thinner ice and the next fight could be what finally breaks it.

  “Hey, Toilet Paper, I’m talking to you!”

  “Just ignore her. Come on,” Luna says and grabs my arm, trying to pull me away.

  “You think just because the quarterback has had one too many concussions and decided to slum it with some trailer trash girl, you think you’re hot shit now?”

  The familiar anger builds inside me, making my blood boil. I disregard my friends’ desperate pleas to ignore her, and I turn around.

  Britney is standing there with a drink in one hand and her other on her hip. Her blonde hair is piled on top of her head in a casual style that I know must have taken her an hour to do. Her pouty burgundy lips are turned up in a mean smirk—she really loves that lipstick color, doesn’t she? Her friends are gathered around her, looking equally effortlessly chic in their wedge boots and felt coats.

  “Even if Mace has lost his mind, you and your loser friends don’t belong here,” she continues.

  “Um, excuse me, who died and made you Queen Bitch?” Marty asks sarcastically.

  Britney doesn’t get mad. Her smirk just grows wider. “I’ve always been the Queen Bitch.”

  “Yeah, you’re definitely a bitch,” I say.

  Her eyes narrow on me, and she moves her hand with the drink in it, slightly. I can tell she’s thinking about throwing it at me. If she does that, then it’s on. If she does that, then I don’t care about anything else, I don’t care about my suspension or my future, I’m going to kick her ass.

  I feel Luna tug on my arm. “She’s not worth it, Sades.”

  “Yeah, she’s just pathetic,” Marty whispers to me, but Britney hears it.

  “Pathetic?” she asks incredulously. “I’m the one that’s pathetic? No, pathetic is falling for a guy who couldn’t stand you a couple of weeks ago. A guy who insulted you and constantly disrespected you. Pathetic is thinking that someone as rich and handsome and popular as Mace would ever seriously be interested in someone like you. That’s what’s truly pathetic.”

  My fists are balled, and I’m practically shaking. I want to hit her right in her beautiful face. But the worst part is she’s not wrong.

  “You look ridiculous. You’re the laughingstock of the entire
school and you don’t even know it,” she says.

  “Shut the hell up, bitch!” Jess yells in anger.

  “What are you going to do about it?” Britney asks.

  This whole thing is getting out of control. We are about to fight, and I can tell that’s what Britney wants—but I don’t know why. Jess and Luna will have my back. Marty won’t be much help because if he joins in and starts fighting girls, then every guy in a one-mile radius will come over and beat the snot out of him. But still, even though it’ll be three against five, the odds are still in our favor. Britney and her four friends are no match for us. I don’t know why she’d try to provoke us like this. She must be dumber than she looks.

  “I knew you were all talk,” Britney says and rolls her eyes.

  Then she suddenly takes a step forward and throws her drink at Jess. Time seems to slow down as Jess watches it come towards her and quickly steps to the side to avoid it. Only a bit of the drink, which smells like straight alcohol, wets her sleeve.

  It’s on.

  I take a step towards Britney but suddenly feel a strong arm around my shoulder, which stops me. I look up and see the side of Mace’s handsome face.

  “What’s going on here?” he asks casually, like he didn’t just step into the middle of a fight.

  But before anyone can say anything, he looks at me.

  “Hey,” he murmurs with a smile, then leans down and kisses my lips.

  I practically hear gasps in the audience. I’d love to see Britney’s face right now, but I quickly forget about her as Mace kisses my breath away. It’s a firm but slow kiss. He’s taking his time and making sure everyone sees this.

  Finally, he leans back, and I have to hold on to him to keep from losing my balance. Damn, he’s a good kisser.

  “Want a drink?” he asks.

  “Uh.” I have to think for a second because all the blood has rushed out of my head. Mace just kissed me in front of everyone. I can’t believe he did that.