Sacking The Player

by Glenna Maynard

  Oh, I’ve had enough of this.

  “Amaya, just let her win,” Courtney mutters urgently, attempting to take my paddle from me.

  I stand up and shout, “Fifteen thousand.” It’s time they all realize that Tate is my man. It’s time I make it known, not only for Tate, but for me. I’m ready to really give us a shot. No more games.

  Tate stares at me in shock and he looks like he’s about to piss his pants. Courtney groans from the seat next to me and the girl that just bid before me looks miffed and walks away.

  “Sold, to number fourteen,” the host announces, pointing at me. I sit back down and pull out my checkbook to write out the donation, handing it to the fraternity brother that comes over asking for payment.

  Tate, Big Tex, and Adams come to me as soon as the auction is over.

  “We’ll all chip in to help pay for that bid,” Adams swears.

  “Don’t worry about it, I have more than enough.” I shoot Tate a wink. “My parents are both doctors, the best in their fields actually. Trust me, I got this.”

  He remains quiet, just staring at me.

  Big Tex speaks up. “Thanks for saving King here from that witch. She’s been trying to hook herself to him ever since he became captain of the team.”

  I grin. “No one was winning my man.” I laugh.

  “Can I talk to you?” Tate asks quietly once the laughing stops.

  He grabs my hand and pulls me out into the hallway, shoving me against the wall. His mouth descends on mine before I can even ask him what he’s doing. His fingers run through my hair, over my shoulders and down to my butt. He lifts me easily, and I wrap my legs around his thick waist. I can feel every hard muscle of his shirtless chest pressing against me as he holds me against the wall. My arms are around his neck loving that he doesn’t care who sees us.

  We are nothing but a tangled mess of tongues and fingers as people walk by us whispering. I’m too caught up in this moment to let it bother me.

  His mouth and his hands are possessive and full of desire.

  Pulling away, I’m panting, out of breath. Tate allows me to slide back down from his hold, giving me a moment to breathe. God, do I want to be with him. I swear, I had the best non-touching of my vagina orgasm I’ve ever had.

  “This is it, Amaya. I’m done playing games. I’m not with the pretend bullshit. We’re together.”

  I can only nod as I am still recovering.

  “Let’s go back and finish up in there.”

  “No way in hell, Courtney isn’t coming home tonight, she’s going with Adams to the afterparty. My place. And if you say no, I’ll go back in there and tell Barbie she won you instead,” I say with need. “I’m getting my money’s worth out of you.” I smirk at him. “I want the full Tate King experience.” I grin.

  I pull him down by his unruly hair before he can reject my idea, kissing him. Tonight, tonight finally, I will have The King inside me. I run my fingers down his torso softly and go as far as batting my lashes. God, I want him.

  “Let’s go,” he growls breaking off our kiss.

  I’m about to protest until I realize we’re not going back to the party. I want to jump up and down and squeal in delight. Instead, I start jogging so we can get down to business faster.

  Tate stops me mid-step and suggests I get on his back, making a crack about my short legs not keeping up with him. I offered his jersey back, but he said I’d just be taking it off him in a few minutes. He must want this as much as I do.

  We get back to the tower in record time. He lets me down by the lobby doors and some onlookers ooh and aww at us like we’re a side show. I ignore them though, I’m on a mission, to have my way with my man.

  In the elevator, Tate has me pressed against the wall planting feather light kisses down my neck and across my chest. The elevator stops on my floor, and when the doors open, I have to tap Tate on the shoulder to make him stop feeling me up long enough for us to walk down the hall to my suite.

  I can barely get the door unlocked I am so excited. Tate has to do it for me. As soon as the door shuts, were on each other like rabbits. His mouth claims mine as he walks me backwards to my bed. I shed my shirt and Tate unbuttons my pants, sliding them down to my ankles. After I step out, I move to his button, sinking down on my knees. I unzip him and yowzah, he’s gone commando tonight.

  “One might think you were expecting to get lucky tonight.” I raise my brow and shove his pants down. Before he can respond I graze his shaft with my tongue, and he hisses.

  “As much as I’d love for you to do that right now, I want this to be better than that,” he tells me. He pulls me up, gently nudging my shoulder, ordering me to get on the bed.

  “I’ve wanted this since I first laid eyes on you in the dance hall.”

  “Me too, “I confess.

  He lowers himself over me, bearing his weight with his forearms. The heat of his body presses into me, not too heavy, just right.

  He kisses me softly, sweetly. Nothing like when I dated Keith. I push thoughts of him and comparing the two of them far away. This is about Tate and me, no one else. Tate is all about taking his time and making sure he’s pleasing me, not that its taking much effort. He seems to know how to make my body respond with the faintest touch, and the whisper of his kisses as they trail from my neck, down my chest, until he reaches my most intimate spot.

  My fingers skim across his shoulders, dancing their way into his hair.

  One finger, then two opens my walls emotionally and physically. His mouth hums against my bundle of nerves as my hands tug on his hair, wanting him closer.

  Tate touches me so deep, branding me with all that he is and all that he can give. I never want this night to end. My legs are wrapped around his hard body as he raises up and meets my mouth for a kiss. I’m saved from an awkward condom conversation when he reaches to the floor and pulls one from his pants pocket. He tears it open with his teeth and a chuckle.

  When our bodies come together it feels oh so right. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here in this moment with him. Sex with Tate is natural, and nothing feels forced. You’d think we’ve done this a million times. He rocks gently against me, sweet and tender as our hips rub.

  “You’re so beautiful, Amaya.”

  “You too.” Oh, my gah, I did not just say that. I clamp my hand over my mouth and close my eyes hoping he was too caught up in the moment to hear me make an idiot of myself.

  He stops moving and stills inside me. Shit. He probably thinks I am so weird.

  I peek at him and he’s grinning. “You think I’m beautiful, huh?”

  “Yes,” I squeak.

  He pulls out and pumps into me, slowly.

  “Good to know. I may put that on a t-shirt. My girl thinks I’m beautiful.”

  I smack his chest. “Okay, it was weird. Can you fuck me now?”

  He stops again. “We don’t fuck. Amaya, we make love.”

  Swoon.

  Chapter 23

  Tate

  I

  t’s been nearly a month since we became officially us. Well, to Amaya. To me, we’ve been official since our first dance class together. Since Halloween we’ve been inseparable. Any free time we get, we’re consumed by each other. I want to tell her I love her, but I know that will scare her off. She’ll say it’s too soon, and then probably run away to a pizza place.

  Even after warning my parents to make sure there was enough food, I’m still worried there won’t be enough for Amaya.

  I look over to her before shutting off the car. I drove Amaya’s since I don’t have one. Since we started dating, I’m really rethinking the whole no car deal. “My parents are weird, and they will come on strong. If it’s too much, just tell me, and we’ll make a run for it.”

  She smiles at me. “I’m friends with Courtney. Trust me, honey, it will be okay.”

  I lean in to kiss her when I hear shouting outside. “Get your ass in here, Tate. I must meet your Twinkle Toes!” My dad.
/>   I groan.

  Getting out, I walk around to open her door and we walk into the house, hand in hand.

  I can’t believe I let Amaya agree to this shit. I shake my head as my parents all circle her like damn vultures. She can’t even get her jacket and shoes off.

  “So, tell us all about how Tate is romancing you,” Mom inquires.

  Jesus, this is going to be brutal.

  My woman just smiles and laughs it off as she hands me her jacket. Everyone ignores me like I’m not even here. They are all focused on Amaya. I hope she can take the heat.

  I gave Amaya a brief history on my parents and their marriages, so she was prepared on the drive here. Most people find it strange as fuck. I didn’t want her to get spooked by their friendship.

  The rest of the family embraces her. Uncle Rob has her cornered telling her all about his stamp collection. He’s my mom’s youngest brother. He’s autistic and it’s sort of amazing that he is talking to her. He never talks to strangers and hates meeting new people.

  Amaya just smiles and asks questions. She’s the best.

  Raul pats me on the back. “You did good, son.”

  “Yeah, I did.” I grin and take a seat on the couch. Amaya smiles at me and continues talking to Rob. Mom and Cindy are busy in the kitchen. They better not embarrass me today. Knowing them they will bust out my naked baby pictures or some shit. Dad comes into the room with a tray of veggies and ranch dip.

  I take control of the remote and start flipping. My Uncle Eddie takes up the seat next to me. “Those refs really screwed you that last game. Lousy call.”

  I shrug, does no good to rehash it. Yeah, we were robbed, but it’s over. I’ve had time to move past it. If I don’t get drafted come spring, I’ll still have a shot at try outs. Even though Coach is a dick, he swears I’ll get snatched up quick.

  I smile at my girl as she takes a seat across from me on the loveseat. I’m waiting for everyone to get busy eating and talking, so I can steal my Twinkle Toes away to my room for a minute alone.

  Dad pats me on the shoulder. “Not gonna happen.”

  “What?”

  “You really think she’s gonna go to your room with all of us here to hear.” He shakes his head and laughs.

  “I wasn’t...”

  “Yeah, you were, son. I would too, but you know how those two in there are. After dinner, they’ll be getting out the movies and albums.”

  “Typical,” I grumble. My whole family is nothing but cock blockers. I should go hide the family albums. There is some embarrassing shit in there. Naked baby pics are only the half of it.

  I wink at Amaya and she takes my breath away when she smiles at me. It’s genuine, and I can tell she is having a good time.

  Despite my family being so damn weird, I’m glad she’s here.

  Chapter 24

  Amaya

  T

  ate’s folks are awesome. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the way he was describing them. I was almost afraid I was about to walk into a swinger’s love nest or something. But so far, they all seem relatively normal and nice.

  I offered to help, but they told me to make myself at home. So, I’m sitting in the living room surrounded by Tate’s family and friends. There are so many people. I’m not used to large family gatherings. My parents are great, but they were always busy at the hospital they work at. Every time we would sit down to eat one of them and sometimes both would get called in for an emergency. My dad is the chief of staff and my mom is over in the neonatal unit. They stay busy.

  I’m thankful Tate invited me. It’s nice getting to see this side of Tate, away from his friends, and everyone else. I could’ve gone home with Courtney and spent the holiday with her folks, but her cousin, Dan was staying with them, and he is always after me. The thought of him makes me shudder. I don’t even know how he and Courtney come from the same family tree. The dude is a total spaz. He isn’t ugly or anything, but he’s a health fanatic and so self-absorbed. He is always going on about what people should be eating and how much exercise they should be getting.

  “What are your plans for Christmas, Amaya?” Tate’s mom asks me.

  I look up at her and she has Tate’s eyes.

  “I’m going home. My mom is freaking out that she hasn’t seen me in three months,” I say with a groan.

  “Oh, do you guys not get along?” She asks, sounding slightly worried.

  “It’s not that, it’s just she’s too much. She constantly wants to be around me, always. When I first came to school here, she was trying to see if she could transfer, so she could be with me every single day.”

  Everyone at the table laughs.

  “Trust me, it’s not funny. She’s also a doctor, so if she had her way, I’m pretty sure she would find a way to attach us together, permanently.”

  “What about your dad?” Her husband, Raul speaks up.

  “Oh, he’s well, Dad. I love him, I’m a daddy’s girl, he always respects my choices. Even though he doesn’t approve of my decision to be a dancer. He actually helped me move out here peacefully by taking my mom on a vacation so she wouldn’t try to stop me or pack herself in my suitcase.”

  I look around the table and give everyone a smile, they all seem to be enjoying my misery about my mom.

  “Well,” Cindy, Tate’s stepmom pipes up, sharing a look with his mom. “The four of us are going away this Christmas, and Tate here will be home all alone. Why don’t you go home with Amaya, honey?”

  My eyes go wide and Tate starts choking on his water he just sipped.

  “Yes. That’s perfect, now I won’t have to worry about my Tatey-poo.”

  Tate’s dads just grin at them and shake their heads.

  “Uh, that’s uh, sounds fine. I just have to check with my parents first.” That was unexpected, but not entirely an unwelcome suggestion. I’m sure my dad would be okay, but my mom…she’s insufferable.

  Tate squeezes my knee. “I don’t have to come.”

  I can tell he’s uncomfortable. “No, I want you to.” I kiss his cheek and his family awes around the table. I’m just nervous about my mom more than anything.

  We go back to eating and chatting about everything. Everyone wants to see my Frozen performance. Tate’s dads’ asking what kind of doctors my parents are, considering they are doctors as well. They’ve heard of my dad, and praised him even, so that was cool. Also, I found out that Tate’s mom, Randa knows Courtney’s dad, as she has gone up against him, and lost in court to him many times. She said out of four cases she only won once to him. I laughed.

  I help myself to a third plate of food, piled high of course, and people start staring, mouths hanging wide open. I blush and start to push my plate away. I tend to get carried away.

  “Baby, eat. I already warned them you eat double what I can, they are all just shocked I was being serious about it.”

  I shake my head. “I think I’m full.” They probably think I have an eating disorder.

  “Amaya has a high metabolism,” Tate offers as explanation. Everyone nods and hums with hmmms, returning to their smaller conversations.

  After dinner wraps up, Tate and I help clean up. The rest of his family is in the living room playing cards. What won’t fit in the dishwasher we wash by hand. Well, I make Tate wash while I rinse and dry. When he isn’t looking, I get some of the soap suds and smear them across his nose.

  “Oh, so that’s how you want to play, huh?” He grabs me around the waist and swings me around before I can make my escape. “You’re going down.”

  He’s holding me with one arm and takes my dish towel and snaps it at my butt. We’re both laughing, and I snort followed with a hiccup. Tate chuckles and leans down for a kiss. His tongue sweeps against mine and I melt.

  A soft clap sounds from the doorway of the kitchen, his grandma. She winks at us and says, “Young love. You’ll have beautiful babies.”

  I don’t want to crush the old woman’s soul, so I smile weakly. We’ve not been datin
g long enough for any of that heavy stuff.

  Tate looks to me then back at her. “One day.” He smiles as though he really does want that—babies with me…someday.

  I get such a weird feeling when it comes out of his mouth, like maybe I do want that too someday, with him.

  “Once Tate goes into the NFL, you will have a beautiful wedding, and at least six kids. That’s what I’m predicting.”

  I feel my face pale and bile creeps up my throat.

  “Although, from what you said, about once you have kids, you’ll be big as a house, you should stop eating so much. That metabolism will slow down.” She walks away.

  “Six, did she just say six kids?” I try to breathe, and it’s not working.

  “Calm down, Amaya,” Tate says, trying to soothe me.

  “Three, max. Four, only if I get twins, but never more than that. Oh my god, I would die. I like kids, sure, but six? I’d rather throw myself at a moving car on the highway. Hell, I’d rather kiss Keith again. Six kids?!” I squeak out the last word, panting hard.

  Tate chuckles. “Baby, first, what did I say about even thinking of kissing other guys? Especially that fuckhead? Second, I’m with you on the kid’s thing. Six is way too many, we don’t need a sports team. And she’s also right, we’ll have beautiful babies.”

  I am seriously swooning over my guy.

  He’s kind of perfect.

  **

  What a crazy night. Maybe I’m not the only one that has a crazy mother, scratch that, Tate has two crazy moms. Tate took me home and kissed me goodbye saying he’ll call me later. He got a text from Bucky saying Big Tex was trashing a bar and was totally blitzed. I got the impression it was brutal. I hope it wasn’t something to do with Courtney.

  I sit on my bed and scroll to find Dad’s number and hit dial.

  “Happy Thanksgiving, baby girl,” Dad greets me.

  “Hey, big guy, same to you. Listen, I want to ask you something.”

  “Is everything okay? Do you need to come home earlier than planned?” He asks, almost panicking.