by L A Cotton
I was the goddamn queen.
And this queen wanted her king to kneel at her feet.
Sliding my hands around my ribs, I unhooked my bra and let it slide down my arms. Jason didn’t speak, he didn’t have to. His eyes betrayed every thought running through his head, and even though I knew it was only temporary, I had him right where I wanted him.
“Take it off,” I demanded, my eyes fixed on his jersey.
“Okay, I’ll play, babe.” There was a hint of amusement in his voice as he leaned forward to yank his jersey off. He was so beautiful; a perfectly sculpted Adonis. Who in this moment, was mine. Not Jenna Jarvis’ or the gymnast team’s. Not Rixon High’s or the team’s or even the town’s.
Mine.
But you can’t keep him, Felicity. Don’t forget that. Never forget that.
My hands trailed down his abs, counting every ridge until my fingers hovered precariously close to the waistband of his sweats. Without giving myself any time to hesitate, I gently pulled, waiting for Jason to lift his butt off the chair so I could wiggle them off his hips.
Holy crap. He was rock hard.
His smooth chuckle sliced through the tension crackling around us. My eyes lifted to his. “What?” I asked.
“I’m just wondering if you’re brave enough—”
I palmed him roughly, his groans filling the car. “Shit, Felicity.” My name on his lips was like music to my ears.
“Condom?”
“Glove compartment.”
Of course he kept a stash of condoms in his glove compartment. I rolled my eyes and his brow rose, his gaze hooded, hazy with lust.
With great skill, I managed to lean over and retrieve one. Jason surprised me by capturing my wrists and pulling me down. He kissed me hard, bruising my lips and leaving me breathless. I could almost feel his mind working overtime, hear his thoughts.
But I was too far gone to care. I needed Jason more than I’d ever needed anything before.
It was terrifying.
Exhilarating.
And completely crazy.
He watched me, pupils dilated, as I freed his dick and tore open the wrapper, rolling it over him. His breath was ragged, his muscles rippling with every sharp intake of oxygen.
One hand rested on his shoulder, I rose over him, hooked my panties to one side, and slowly sank down on him.
“Fuuuuk,” Jason ground out, his hand clamping down on my hip, trying to steady me. But I wasn’t about to let him take the lead. Not now, not when I finally held some of the power.
Even if it was only temporary.
Jason
Felicity looked like an angel. Eyes clouded with pleasure, lips parted in a soft moan.
A dirty sassy angel.
My angel.
She’d caught me completely off guard when she took control. I didn’t think she had it in her, but I should have known better because where Felicity Giles was concerned nothing was as it seemed.
And I fucking loved it.
“Yeah, just like that,” I hummed, driving my hips up as she rocked above me.
It didn’t matter we were by the lake, in the middle of the day where anyone could see us. The second my lips touched her, I knew there was only one way this ended. From the way she was riding my dick, she did too.
My hands roamed over her body, desperate to touch and explore every inch of her skin. Her soft curves, the gentle slope of her hips, her perfect tits.
I couldn’t get enough of her.
“Jason...” My name slipped from her lips, caught somewhere between a sigh and moan, the needy sound a direct line to my dick.
I wanted to take to control, to grab her waist and show her exactly how I liked it, how I needed it, but she’d worked her voodoo bullshit on me again because I couldn’t do anything but sit back and enjoy it.
Enjoy her.
Every roll of her hips. The way she rose above me ever so slightly, holding the tip inside her and then sinking back down slow and deep. I’d never worried about a girl owning me before because there had never been a girl who had come close. Not even Aimee held that mantle. Felicity was different though. She was everything I never knew I needed.
It was a damn shame I couldn’t keep her. And I couldn’t. Because while she felt fucking fantastic riding me, this, right here, was where we had to end. Before she became the wrong kind of distraction.
The kind of distraction I’d vowed never to fall for.
My chest tightened as I tried to get my head back in the game. “What is it?” she asked, barely able to catch her breath. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I replied coolly. “Come here.” My arm looped around her waist as I sat up putting us chest to chest.
“Jason, what are you—”
“Ssh.” I whispered, rocking back and forth, the intimate position so much deeper and intense. I could feel every inch of her pressed against every inch of me and it was fucking breathtaking. In that moment, it was hard to deny how perfect she was. The way her body molded to mine, like two pieces of the same puzzle.
“You weren’t supposed to...” her voice was broken with pleasure.
“Do you have any idea how crazy you drive me?” The words hung between us as I slowly regained control of her body.
Her.
Felicity buried her face in my shoulder as my hand threaded into her hair and our rhythm increased stealing the breath from my lungs. I’m going to fuck you right out of my head.
She froze, her body rigid above me.
Shit.
I hadn’t meant to say the words aloud. But now they were out there; a vast ocean between us.
“Felicity, I—”
She grabbed my lips, forcing them together as she moved faster. Harder. Chasing the fall.
Her body began to tremble, her breath choppy and labored. The familiar tingle at the base of my spine told me I was close. Ready to fall right alongside her; she just needed one final push. Dipping my head, I closed my mouth around her nipple and bit down gently. Her cries echoed around us, pleasure crashing into me like a freight train. But like any good high, the inevitable comedown sucked ass.
Felicity clambered off me, grabbing her leggings and sweater and awkwardly dressed herself.
“That’s something for your list,” I said through strained laughter. I sounded like a fucking idiot. As if some lame assed joke about her list changed the fact I’d accidentally slipped out I wanted to fuck her out of my head.
“We should get back to school.” Her voice was cold, sending the temperature inside the car down by a few degrees. “I don’t want to miss fifth period.”
“Uh, yeah.” I tucked myself back into my sweatpants and pulled on my jersey. Things had gone from great to shit in two seconds flat all because of my big fucking mouth.
But this is what you wanted, right?
One more time with her. A chance to rectify how things had gone down in New York.
The ride back to school was painful. Felicity barely looked twice at me and every time I tried to fill the suffocating silence, the words died on the tip of my tongue.
It was a clusterfuck.
Exactly what I’d known would happen, but I’d gone and done it anyway. Felicity wasn’t Jenna or any of the other chicks I usually went with. She was different.
I was different around her.
All too soon we rolled into the parking lot, school looming up ahead. “Felicity, I—”
“Save it, Jason. I knew what this was. I knew and I came anyway. But it’s done now, right?” She didn’t sound sad or pissed, just resigned. “You’ve fucked me out of your head so I guess we can just both move on.”
“I...” Say something. Say anything. But nothing came out, my thoughts too incoherent to form words.
“Okay then…” Felicity grabbed the door handle and pushed. But not before turning back to me. “I guess it’s true what all the girls say about you,” she said, holding my conflicted gaze.
“Yeah, and what’s that?” I
managed to choke out.
“You’re worth the ride.” Her eyes didn’t sparkle and her voice was devoid of any emotion. “See you around, Jason.”
Then she was gone.
It fucking stung to see her walk away, but I knew it was better this way. Better she thought I was just a cold-hearted bastard who had used her in a game of push and pull. Cat and mouse. But the truth was, I wasn’t so sure anymore. And although I’d never do it, for the first time in my life, I wanted to chase the girl.
Life wasn’t a fairytale though. The only happy ending I needed was the one where I won State, went off to college, and made my dream of going pro a reality.
“Okay, ladies, gather in.” Coach beckoned us over. “Two games to go before the play-offs.” The guys began cheering but I barely managed a grumble.
“Okay, okay, you’re excited, I get it. You’ve earned it. But we need to keep our heads. Tomorrow is Seniors Night, which means best behavior. There’ll be the formal walk out at the game and then the presentations at the party afterward. Mrs. Hasson is cooking up something special for the occasion so I want to see you all in your best clothes. Grady,” he looked at the guy across from me, “that means you too, Son. If I see you in so much as a pair of sweats or a jersey, I’ll break out my old dinner jackets. Consider yourself warned.”
A few of us snickered while Grady flipped me off behind his helmet.
“Any questions?”
“No, Sir.”
“Good. Don’t forget we have Miss Raine’s unveiling too. I want you to remember to show her some respect. She’s worked tirelessly on this project and I think I speak for the whole team when I say I’m excited to see what’s she’s created.”
My eyes went to Cam who had a goofy grin painted on his face. He was so gone over my step-sister it left a sour taste on my tongue.
“It’s just nearest and dearest Friday. Right, Coach?” I don’t know why I asked the question, and I instantly wanted to take it back when all eyes landed on me. Asher was smirking but Cam looked worried. I hadn’t told them about earlier with Felicity, but they knew something had happened because I’d been a dick during practice, taking my frustrations out on my teammates.
“Something you want to tell us, Jase?” Coach asked with a hint of amusement.
“Nah,” I kept my voice even. “Just wanted to make sure we weren’t inviting the entire class.”
“Rest assured it’ll be intimate, Son. The team, close family… girlfriends,” he scoffed at that, “and the cheer squad.”
A rumble of appreciation echoed around the field.
“Best behavior, remember?” Coach shot us a bemused look. “Okay, get out of here. Jase, a word please.”
I hung around, waiting, while my teammates headed for the showers. “What’s up, Coach?”
“All set for tomorrow?”
“Sure thing.” I ran a hand over my damp hair and down the back of my neck.
“I just wanted you to be aware. Principal Finnigan has asked your father to give a speech at the presentation.”
My spine stiffened. “I see.”
“Now, I know the two of you haven’t always seen eye to eye, but he’s your father Jason, and the town consider him to be—”
“A local hero.” As if I needed any more of a reminder.
“It’s out of my hands but I wanted to give you a heads up.”
“Thanks,” I grumbled.
“Piece of advice, Son. It’s important to know where you came from, but you don’t have to let it define you. You’ve earned this, Jason, and when we’re crowned State champs, you can rest easy knowing you made it happen. Not your father or his legacy. Football might be in your blood, but you have a rare gift that’s all yours, Son. Own it.”
“Thanks, Coach.” I barely got the words out over the lump in my throat.
He gave me a small nod. “Now get in there with the rest of them.”
As I walked off field, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be normal. To walk out tomorrow with my family, a girlfriend maybe. People who loved me unconditionally, not because of who I was and where I was going, but for the person behind the jersey.
The person behind Rixon’s golden boy of football.
I couldn’t even remember the person I was before. Before Varsity football, and state records; before being scouted by some of the best colleges in the country. Most people spent their whole lives chasing their dreams, trying to turn fantasy into reality. Yet, here I was, barely eighteen, with the whole world at my feet. My dreams were right there for the taking. It should have been the best fucking time of my life and it had been until recently. Until I started to care. But I couldn’t afford to care. I couldn’t afford to open myself up to distractions. To make myself vulnerable. Not now. Not when I was so close.
Later that evening, I found myself in the last place I wanted to be: riding with Hailee in awkward as fuck silence. She didn’t mention Felicity and I didn’t ask. I figured her lack of third degree meant Felicity was keeping secrets from her best friend, which suited me just fine.
“Thanks for helping me do this,” she finally said as we pulled up outside the side entrance to the Arts Department.
“Yeah, well, Coach gave me no choice.” I dragged a hand down my face.
“I see.” Her expression hardened. “I just thought... It doesn’t matter, come on.” Hailee climbed out of my car and I let out a heavy sigh, thumping the wheel. It wasn’t supposed to sound so bitter, but it was too late now. Reluctantly, I shouldered the door and followed Hailee into the building.
“So there are nine portraits in total,” she said without looking at me. “Each one has been wrapped for transportation and Coach and Mr. Jalin already took the display equipment over to his house.
“Got it.” The Arts Studio wasn’t a part of school I was familiar with, but Hailee seemed completely at ease as she guided us through the network of adjoining rooms. The air was thick with the smell of paint and cleaning fluid.
“It takes some getting used to.”
Silence settled between us. But it felt suffocating.
“So art, huh? Cameron says you’re pretty good.”
“I hope so since it would be kind of embarrassing if Coach unveils the portraits and they resemble children’s artwork.” Her lips curved slightly, and I found myself smiling back.
“I guess it was a dumb question.”
“Not dumb,” she gave me a half-smile. “I know this is weird for you, Jason. Me being a part of your life. But it would make things a lot easier if we could at least try to get along?”
“It’d really piss our parents off.” I smirked. But Hailee’s smile was gone. “You want to forgive her?”
“I don’t want to forgive her, no, but I don’t know how much longer I can freeze her out. It’s senior year. I leave for college next year.” Sadness edged into her expression.
“So, what? They get a free pass just because we’re flying the nest?”
“Jason,” Hailee pinched the bridge of her nose. “Don’t you find it exhausting all the time?” When I looked at her with a blank expression, she added, “Holding onto so much hate and bitterness?”
“I don’t hate everything.”
She gave me a pointed look and I felt my jaw clench. “You don’t know what it’s like to never know someone’s motives, to not know who you can trust,” I said. “People think it’s so easy being the hotshot football player, but do you know how old I was when scouts first started approaching me?”
“Thirteen?”
“Eleven. I was in sixth grade. While most kids were playing king of the hill and capture the flag, I was running drills and working with my dad on conditioning programs.” Because there was no other path for me. I was going to fulfill his dream whether I liked it or not.
“I had no idea—”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged dismissively, kicking the floor with my sneaker. “By the time you arrived in Rixon, I’d caught the eye of four Division One
teams. Four. People started taking notice. Suddenly my life wasn’t my own; it was my old man’s, my football coach’s, even the town’s. When all I wanted was to play football.”
I always loved the game, that was never the issue. But I hadn’t realized back then, that one day, it would mean shouldering the expectation of an entire town.
A flicker of sympathy passed over Hailee’s face.
“Shit, you don’t want to hear this, we should probably—”
“Thank you,” she said, “For telling me.”
Why had I told her?
It was a long time ago and I wasn’t a kid anymore. Being in the spotlight came with the territory, and the light would only get brighter when I went to college. To survive you had to build walls. Maybe I’d built them higher than others, but it was only because I wanted it more than most.
“It explains a lot.” A smirk tugged at her mouth.
“Oh yeah?”
“All that pressure, the expectation… it explains why you’re a grade-A asshole.” Hailee laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. But I didn’t laugh. I didn’t even smile. Because she was right.
I was an asshole because I could be. People treated me like the prodigal son of football and somewhere along the way, I started acting like it. But what most people didn’t realize was, it was a defense mechanism. A way to protect myself.
“I’m joking, Jason.” Hailee added when I didn’t reply.
“No you’re not.”
“Then maybe, but now? Now, you’re not so bad.” She grabbed the door handle to studio two and slipped inside. “What the—” Her words trailed off and I stepped up behind her to see what had rendered her speechless.
Art supplies were strewn everywhere. Red and white paint was splashed up the walls, and across the canvasses lying haphazardly around the place.
“I can’t believe someone did this.” Hailee’s voice trembled as she swiped tears from her eyes. “It’s all ruined; the Seniors Night project is ruined.”
I looked at my step-sister, the person whose life I’d made a misery in the past, and felt like the worst kind of shit. For so long, I’d used Hailee as a punching bag to deal with my anger at her mother and now she was being used in the same way by someone else.
