by L A Cotton
“Okay.” I went to her. “We’ll stay.”
“I still can’t believe he did that.” Silence settled over us, but it didn’t last long when a couple of minutes later, the door swung open and the team started filing out.
Joel Mackey noticed us first. “You better get in there, Hailee.” He grimaced. “Your boy is in a bad way.”
The blood drained from her face as she looked to me. “Can you... I mean...”
“Hailee,” Jason’s voice cut the air like a knife.
She rushed over to him. “Is he okay? What did Coach say? Is he hurt?” The questions spewed out of her and Jason looked completely out of his depth.
Dragging a hand down his face, he took a deep breath. “Cam needs you,” was all he said, flicking his head to the door. “You should go be with him.”
Her glassy gaze settled on me and I smiled. “Go, I’ll be fine.”
“Fear not, Hails.” Asher appeared, making a beeline for me. “We’ll make sure she gets home okay.”
“You’re sure?”
“Go, he needs you.”
She gave me an appreciative smile before turning it on Jason. “Thank you,” she mouthed before disappearing inside.
“Will Coach—”
“She doesn’t need to worry about Coach,” Jason said as he shouldered past Asher and disappeared down the tunnel.
“Come on.” Asher slung his bag over his shoulder and motioned his head in the direction of his teammate, sending water droplets spraying everywhere.
“Asher,” I moaned, following after Jason. “Now I’m all wet.”
“And I haven’t even touched you yet.”
I glanced over at him, eyes wide and cheeks flushed.
“Relax, Fee, baby, I’m joking.”
“Oh, okay.” Embarrassment flamed my cheeks as we hurried after Jason.
Outside, most of the crowd had already dispersed. A few of the guys hung around to take pictures and sign jerseys and balls and other game paraphernalia, but Jason didn’t stop for the die-hard fans. He didn’t even acknowledge them.
“Go on ahead,” Asher said, “I’ll be right there.” He stopped to take a photo with a couple of kids who had their faces painted with the Raiders logo.
When I reached Jason the words, “Where’s Asher’s Jeep?” fell from my lips.
“I drove.”
“Oh,” I said, eyeing his car.
Jason kicked the gravel, sending a plume of dust into the air. Everything about him screamed ‘stay away’. A murderous expression. Waves of anger rippling off him. The way his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful.
He was a nuclear bomb just waiting to detonate.
And suddenly, I didn’t want to ride anywhere with them. Even if Hailee had driven us here and was now attending to Cameron’s needs.
“Change of plan.” Asher sauntered up to us, his lip in a grim line. “My parents are on their... aaaaand here they are.” Headlights illuminated the three of us, and I glanced over to where his gaze was fixed.
“They want to take me to dinner.”
“They do?” My expression must have given me away because Asher chuckled.
“Don’t look so worried, Jase can take you home. Can’t you, QB?”
The guy in question grunted something inaudible.
“I can walk,” I rushed out, wanting nothing more than the ground to open up and swallow me whole. “It’s not far.”
“Fee, baby, just get in the damn car.” The words were for me, but Asher was looking at Jason, a silent message passing between them.
“You should come to Bell’s later,” he finally turned his attention on me. “Drinks are on me.”
“I don’t know,” I said quietly. “Maybe, if Hailee—”
“Think about it.” He winked and gave Jase a two finger salute before heading toward his parents’ car.
Silence lingered, swirling with Jason’s anger.
“I’ll walk, you don’t—”
“Get in the car,” he ground out.
“Excuse me?” Indignation burned through me as I lifted a brow at him.
“I said get in the fucking car.” He stomped around to the driver’s side and almost tore the door off its hinges before throwing himself inside and slamming it shut.
I needed to leave. To put as much distance as possible between me and the brooding angry guy in the car. But there was something about his anger, the way he’d held back throughout the entire game. I’d watched him, even when I’d tried not to. Twenty-three had been all over him. But Jason hadn’t taken the bait. Even when they were both up in each other’s faces, he had maintained control. But something had changed when Cameron tried to intervene. And the only thing that tied Jason and Cameron together, except football, was Hailee.
The window rolled down, startling me. “Last time, Giles,” his voice hit me straight in the stomach, “Get in the goddamn car.”
Jason didn’t take me home. He didn’t even take me to his house, not that I’d expected him to ever do that. I didn’t. But I also didn’t expect him to take the road out of town and pull over by the lake. The sandy lot was quiet, nothing but the gentle rustle of leaves and my heart beating violently in my chest.
“So...” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Nice view.” Risking a peek over at Jason, I was surprised to see the corner of his mouth lift.
“Want to talk about it?”
“No, I really don’t.”
“What did twenty-three say to Cameron?”
“You noticed that, huh?”
“I…” My lips pressed together, not wanting to admit I’d noticed everything.
Brushing over my slip, he added, “You don’t want to know.”
“Try me.”
Twisting his body slightly, Jason pinned me to his leather seat with those dark intense eyes of his. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.” His voice was cold. “She wasn’t supposed to—”
“You think this is Hailee’s fault?” Incredulity filled my voice. “You spent the last six years treating her—”
“I know.” Jason’s fingers jammed in his hair, tugging in frustration. “You think I don’t know that? Hailee was nothing to me, nothing, and now… now she’s in the middle of this thing with Thatcher and I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how to...” He stopped himself, pain glittering in his eyes.
“Care?” I whispered. “You don’t know how to care?”
“I’m not the good guy here, Felicity. I want to win State, graduate high school, and get the fuck out of this town and go to college. That’s it. That’s my lot. And Thatcher is fucking everything up.” The sound of his fist colliding with the steering wheel reverberated through the car. There was barely any air before but now I could hardly breathe; Jason’s anger tangible.
“I just need for it to stop. Just stop for a fucking second.” Head tipped back, he screwed his eyes shut, sucking in ragged breath after ragged breath.
“I’m here, if you want to talk.” The words shattered the silence.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Because I’m not popular? Because I don’t know what it’s like to be put on a pedestal by the entire town? You’re right,” I gave a little sigh, “I don’t know what it’s like. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand what pressure feels like.”
Jason’s eyes slid to mine, filled with a rare glimmer of vulnerability I knew not many people, if any, got to see. “Sometimes it feels like I can’t breathe without the whole town watching.” Surprise flashed across his face, as if he couldn’t believe he’d said the words.
I waited, hoping he’d give me more. Hoping he’d let me in. But his stone mask was already back in place.
Jason was tortured. Over Hailee. Over his dad and her mom having an affair. His mom leaving. Carrying the weight of the team. The rivalry with Rixon East. It all sat squarely on his shoulders. And although I didn’t want to understand him, to try to figure out what went on inside of the
head of Rixon’s prodigal son of football, part of me got it. Because although it wasn’t the same, although I didn’t have the pressure of an entire town rooting for me and my future; I had my parents’ pressure. And sometimes that alone was almost too much to bear.
“Sometimes, when it all gets too much, I make a list.” The words were out before I could stop them.
“A list?” Jason snorted.
“Yeah, it helps me process things.”
“And these lists,” his voice was drenched in sarcasm, “What do you put on them?”
“Anything really. Sometimes I use them to help me organize my life: to do lists, grocery store lists, homework lists—”
“You have a list for homework.” His brow went up and then he smirked. “Of course you do. What else?”
“Celebrities I’d like to date, books I want to read, that kind of thing.”
“And your senior year bucket list?”
“How did you...? Asher,” I groaned. “Asher told you.” I felt my cheeks burn.
“Don’t worry. He didn’t tell me what’s on the list.”
Because he didn’t know. He and Cameron had overheard me talking to Hailee about it once. But I refused to share the details, because, holy crap, that would be embarrassing.
About as embarrassing as Jason asking me about it.
“Good. That’s good.”
“Why do you look so worried, Giles?” He leaned closer slightly, taking the air with him. “I’m not on the list, am I?”
Oh no.
He was doing it again. Looking at me like he wanted something.
Something I knew I shouldn’t give him.
“We should probably head back,” I said trying to keep my voice even. “It’s getting late and you’re meeting Asher at—”
“Giles,” he said, sliding his hand along my collarbone and up my neck. His thumb stroking my pulse point. “Stop talking.”
“But I—” The pad of his thumb moved against my lips, dragging downward and making my bottom lip pop. My tummy clenched; his touch like fire, burning me inside out. I didn’t want to feel like this, to respond like this, but I couldn’t help it. Where Jason Ford was concerned, my body had a mind all of its own.
“Don’t you ever just want it to stop?” he whispered so quietly I almost didn’t hear him.
“S- stop?”
“Yeah, the constant noise and pressure and... everything.”
More than you know, I wanted to say; but I couldn’t speak because his lips were right by mine.
“Ja—”
He kissed me. Just a gentle brush of his mouth over the corner of mine. It might as well have been a hot desperate kiss for the way my body reacted.
My breathing was labored but nowhere near as ragged as Jason’s.
“Last chance to tell me to stop, Giles,” he rasped, his eyes boring into mine.
Stop, the word formed on my tongue, but melted into nothing before I could say it. Because no matter how much I knew this was a bad idea… no matter how much I’d regret it later… no one had ever made me feel the way Jason did. So alive. So desired.
“I don’t want you to stop,” I breathed. The carnal growl that vibrated in Jason’s chest turned my blood to molten lava. He wanted this.
Wanted me.
And in that moment, I didn’t care if he’d regret it, or never look at me again. Right here, right now, I needed him to touch me. I needed him to make me feel.
He didn’t devour me the way he had before. This time his kiss was slow, deliberate. He took his time acquainting himself with the shape of my lips, licking and nibbling. I slid my hand up and over his shoulder, feeling his hard muscle ripple beneath my touch.
“Get over here, Giles.” His hand found my thigh and he helped me climb over the center console and onto his lap, straddling him.
“Fuck,” he grunted, pain etched on his face.
“You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.” Jason dragged me closer.
It was close. Too close. Intimate and intense, the low body of his vintage car not built for heavy make out sessions.
There was a split second, as I settled over him, that our eyes connected. Eyes hooded, burning with lust, Jason looked deadly; but there was something else, something underneath the dark mask he wore. It was gone in an instant, his mouth quickly finding mine again as he ground into me, showing me just how much I turned him on.
And dear God, if that didn’t go straight to my head.
I understood it now. Why girls chased bad boys, hoping to be the one to tame their wild ways. For this, right here, the ounce of power my body had over him. The way my kisses made him grow harder, made him hungry for more.
I wasn’t foolish enough to believe it meant anything—I knew it didn’t. But how could I not feel all warm and gooey inside knowing that out of all the girls he could have been here with, he was with me.
He’d chosen me.
Don’t run away with yourself, Flick. He didn’t choose you. You were there. Convenient. Like a grab-and-go snack. I shut the intrusive thoughts out. There would be time to analyze and regret later.
“You have too many fucking clothes on,” his voice was rough against my skin, as he worked my Raiders sweater up and over my head. The thin tank underneath molded to my curves and Jason’s eyes homed straight in on the swell of my breasts. “Gorgeous,” the word formed on his lips.
I slipped my hand between us, desperate to feel his skin, to explore his body, sculpted to perfection from hours and hours of physical conditioning. But he snagged my wrist, smirking at me. It was almost dark now, the canvas of stars twinkling down on us like distant spectators; only the silvery hue of the moon illuminating our profiles. If it was possible, it made him look even more devastating.
“Ja—”
“Ssh.” He silenced me with a finger pressed against my lips again, while his other hand slid down my chest, trailing a path between the valley of my breasts, and down my stomach. I sucked in a harsh breath when he grazed the waistband of my leggings but it didn’t deter Jason. He continued his exploration of my body, touching and kneading, smoothing his fingers over my skin. But when he dipped his hand inside my leggings, I could barely contain the moan building in my throat.
“So fucking wet,” he said gruffly, not giving me chance to catch my breath or process what was happening, as he pressed a finger inside me.
“Oh God,” I moaned, rocking against his hand, needing more.
Needing so much more.
My head dropped back, exposing my neck and collarbone to him. Answering my silent plea, Jason dipped his head kissing the hollow of my throat, sucking gently. Driving me wild.
“Jase,” I panted, the intrusion of a second finger making me wince. But only for a second, as pleasure flowed through me like a gentle wave.
I was lost in the intense sensations. The warm current flowing between us, through us. The intimate position. The feel of his hot mouth around my breast as he worked his fingers inside me, circling his thumb over my clit.
“I’m so close,” I whispered, barely able to recognize my own voice. My legs began to shake as Jason went deeper, harder. I’d never let anyone touch me like this before. Not the way Jason did. As if it wasn’t about my pleasure at all, but his. As if my body was his to play however he wanted.
It occurred to me, in that moment, maybe it was.
I dropped my head to look at him. Sure enough, he was watching me with eyes so dark they looked black. A lazy smirk was plastered on his face as he increased the tempo.
“You like my fingers inside you?” he asked as if I could possibly respond with anything other than a small nod.
“Oh God, Jason...” I couldn’t breathe, my orgasm slamming into me like a tsunami.
“Come for me, Felicity,” he rasped, still watching me. “Come all over my fingers.”
His dirty words sent me over the edge, as my body clamped down. I took a shuddering breath, trying to swallow down the urge to call his na
me over and over.
I collapsed into him, sliding my hands around his neck. But Jason pushed me back, his eyes narrowed and clouded as he slowly brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked them clean.
My tummy clenched.
Christ, he was beautiful. A dark and dangerous angel.
“What?” I asked as he continued watching me, but his cell vibrated, cutting through the thick silence that had descended over us. Jason leaned around me and grabbed it.
“Is there a problem?” I asked when I noticed he’d gone tense beneath me.
“We should go. Everyone’s meeting at Bell’s.” His voice was cold, detached, and I knew whatever had just happened between us was over.
I tried to temper the dejection squeezing my heart as I clambered off him and sat back in the passenger seat. He handed me my sweater without a word, fired up the engine and backed out of the sandy lot.
It wasn’t until ten minutes later, when I climbed out of his car trying to reconcile what had just happened, I realized he hadn’t let me touch him. Before he got the text, before the temperature had cooled a gazillion degrees between us, Jason had gotten me half-naked and played my body the way he played the game: sure and confident and one hundred percent in control.
But he hadn’t let me touch him back.
If we hadn’t been interrupted would he have?
Something told me it was better not to ask... because I probably wouldn’t like the answer.
Jason
Bell’s was crammed, everyone showing up to celebrate with the team. We usually partied at Asher’s, but since his parents were in town, we’d come to the bar instead.
“Hey,” he said, waving me over. “Where’s Fee?”
“Fuck if I know.”
“You didn’t offer to bring her?”
“No I didn’t offer to bring her. What am I, her damn babysitter?”
Asher eyed me carefully. “What’s up? You seem pissy?”
My brow arched. “Thatcher sending his cousin to do his dirty work not enough reason to be pissed?”
“Yeah, I just thought... it doesn’t matter.”
He wanted to ask about Felicity; it was right there in his eyes. But she was the last thing I wanted to talk about—especially with him.
