CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Cameron
I looked at Tony from the sidelines.
He stood on the midfield line, surrounded by an enthralled group of nine-year-olds blinking at him like he’d hung both the moon and the stars in the sky.
I smirked. He was a good young man, and you could tell he’d loved the game for a long time. It had taken him some time to get used to the looks the kids gave him—starry except for Juniper, who was stern and cautious—but he’d managed to channel that attention into work.
The first half of today’s practice had been intense. We’d moved past simple exercises like “protect the cone” to more elaborate drills that require things like quality passes. It hadn’t been easy, but the girls’ enthusiasm had been unmatched. Even Juniper, who I’d taken aside and personally worked with on her keeper’s skills, had been happy to move from basic footwork and diving to a little fun sliding. We’d both gotten dirty but it’d been worth it. She’d been fantastic at it.
I could think of a certain manager who’d been very happy about the girls’ evolution. I eyed what had been nothing but a shed weeks ago, wondering what the woman inside was doing. Was she warm enough in there? October was growing chillier by the day, and even though I’d gotten one of those electric heaters from Moe’s, it still was cold as hell outside. Or like Moe had said, Asscrack cold.
Pulling my phone out of the pocket of the hoodie I’d grabbed today, I checked the screen. I might still catch Liam if I rang him now. After that, I’d go check on Adalyn.
I tapped on his name and brought the device to my ear.
“Hell must have broken loose if Cameron Caldani himself is calling me.”
I sighed. “And look what I get for it.” I didn’t wait for his retort. “I have questions. About your email.”
“Wowzers. Straight to the point, are you?” He let out a chuckle. “Okay, shoot.”
“You said the Miami Flames were searching for a new sporting director,” I said, making sure my tone was as neutral as possible. “To possibly make up for a media situation.”
“Yeah,” Liam confirmed. He chuckled, and I knew exactly what he was going to say. “Did you see the video? That woman was w—”
“Yes.” The word was hissed between my teeth. I closed my eyes, trying to keep a hold of the ball of dread taking shape in my gut. “I saw it. Of course I did. You said you suspected the reason was something else. Unrelated to that.”
A sigh came through the line. “I did. My contacts are mostly in the west, but I have a few ears and eyes on Miami. But they…” He hesitated. “Nothing is confirmed. It’s just talk for now. The situation is unclear. It all might be related to the media fiasco, I’m afraid.”
A pair of big, rounded brown eyes popped up in my mind. A set of beautiful lips. The warmth and softness of her hands on my skin. “Tell me what you know.”
A moment of silence. “Are you okay, man?” When I didn’t answer, Liam clicked his tongue. “All right. I hear the team might change hands. Soon. That could explain why someone’d be poking around. My guess, of course.”
Fuck. I brought a hand to my face, trying to rub some of the growing clamminess away. An acquisition? A handover? Worst thing was, Adalyn must be in the dark about that, otherwise she would have told me. She’d be on the next flight out. “How sure are you about this?”
“For now, it’s nothing but whispers.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yeah, man.” A pause. “But what is this about?”
“Can you find out for certain? And keep me in the loop if you find anything? Even if you think it’s probably not important. I want to know.” I didn’t wait for his answer, fully knowing that if I asked, he would. “Thanks for helping with the other thing, by the way. The lodge. I didn’t properly say thanks.”
Liam laughed. “Now you’re thanking me? Christ, Cameron.” I heard him exhale through the line. “Listen, whatever is going on with you, you need to sort it out. Sort yourself out and decide whether you want to finally shoot your career dead. Just… try to be done with this live, laugh, love phase of yours ASAP, yeah? I won’t be playing housies with you anymore. I’m not your PA or your agent—any longer—and I have shit to do. So make up your mind about what your priorities are.”
“I know what my priority is,” I said, no hesitation. “Say no to all offers on the table.” And then, I hung up.
A throat was cleared by my side.
I turned, and that beautiful half smile I was quickly becoming addicted to welcomed me. Something right between my chest and gut tightened with a clarity I hadn’t felt for a long time.
“Taking a little break, Coach?”
My lips twitched at her tone, and I tried my hardest to push aside the information I’d just learnt. But I wouldn’t worry Adalyn over something I wasn’t sure of. That would sidetrack her and quash the hope and excitement about the Green Warriors I could see bubbling in her with my own two eyes. I wanted nothing but to protect this woman from any possible heartbreak or hit. So I’d have Liam find out about every possible angle, and only then, only when I knew for sure, I’d take her myself to Miami and demand an explanation from her father. We’d get through it together. Until then, she deserved to enjoy today, tonight’s pregame dinner, and tomorrow’s game. Win or lose, I’d do anything to give her a taste of the happiness I could provide for her.
“Are you okay?” she asked, frowning.
I squared my shoulders. I pushed all of that aside and refocused on what was in front of me. On today. “I don’t know, boss.” I gave her a very obvious once-over. “You tell me. Am I in trouble?”
Her lips pursed, and the flush in her cheeks told me everything I needed to know. “You might be.” Her voice wavered with barely contained desire. “Now that I caught you delegating your responsibilities to Tony, and there’re only a few minutes left of practice, there’s something I need to discuss with you.” Her throat worked. “Can I see you in my office?” She lifted her chin. “Now.”
I wasn’t going to lie, I grew harder in my joggers at the bossy tone. I crossed the distance that separated us and towered over her until she had to lean her head back. My gaze dipped to her mouth. “Lead the way.” I licked my lips. “Miss Reyes.”
I waited until she moved first. Selfish bastard that I was, I did it so I could watch her ass in that pair of jeans as she walked. The way her hair moved over her shoulders and her hips swayed with every determined step. Boy. I really was starved for her.
Once we were inside the clean but cramped space, I closed the door behind me and watched her turn around to face me. Her cheeks flushed, and she leaned on the edge of her desk.
“Can you, um, close the door?” A pause. “Coach?”
I tilted my head, biting back a smile. The door was already closed but I didn’t say anything and gave her nod. I loved that she was this discombobulated. I loved that I made her like that. It was how I felt most of the time. My gaze dipped to her chest, waist, legs, then up again, to that beautiful face that was telling me she was trying to work through something in her head. Something that was sending her tongue out to lick her lips.
Practice would be wrapping up any minute now, and I’d never been more glad to have Tony out on the grass. I moved my hand behind my back and shifted the lock into place.
“I…” Adalyn whispered. “You…” She wetted her lips again, fumbling with her hands. “You’re not in trouble, actually. Or maybe, you are. I guess that depends.”
I frowned at her nervousness, and I had to stop myself from blurting out some bullshit like you look beautiful when your brows furrow in thought. I walked up to her. My hands flexed with the urge to touch her, but I stilled them against my sides and waited. Encouraging her to say whatever she wanted to say with a nod of my head.
“I…” she started again, her voice soft. “I wanted to officially thank you.” She spread her arms briefly before letting them fall. “For this. For last night. For every single thing you’ve done for me. I’m…” Her tongue came out, wetting her lips. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it, but I’m very grateful for your thoughtfulness.” Her hand lifted, and I watched it cross the small space between us and land softly on my chest. My gaze returned to hers. “And I want to show you how much.”
That palm pressed onto me, guiding me back and around the desk.
I offered no resistance. I went.
When the back of my legs hit her office chair, her other hand joined my chest. She trailed them up, all the way to my shoulders. She pushed me down. “Sit,” she said, softly. So softly that I wanted to go toward her instead. But I flopped my body onto the chair, fascinated, enthralled, by the determination in her eyes. The anticipation parting her lips. What a beautiful, brave woman she was. My chest hurt just by looking at her.
Adalyn stood right in front of me, one single step away. Her hands went to the zipper of her jacket. She shrugged it off. Her chest heaved with a rough breath, making the fabric of her blouse press against her skin. The line of tiny buttons keeping it together tensed. And I could only think, That goddamn blouse. I want to rip it open with my teeth.
My hands flew to the arms of the chair, fingers latching on tight just so I wouldn’t reach for her.
Adalyn walked into my open legs, her gaze roaming all over my face. Until her eyes tipped down. Low. All my blood swirled in that direction. If she did what I thought—hoped, craved—she would, all my restraint would leave me. Gone in an instant. I knew. “Adalyn.” Her name dropped off my lips. “Darling, I—”
She braced both hands on my thighs and kneeled.
My eyes closed, a curse leaving my parted lips.
I felt her hands trail up my legs, her touch gentle but determined, sending more blood straight to my dick. Making me pulse with anticipation.
“Adalyn,” I repeated, as a prayer more than a warning this time. I opened my eyes to her, staring at the growing bulge tenting my track pants. Fuck. I was so hard, and she hadn’t even… “Are you going to touch me, love?” I asked her, hearing my voice crack.
Adalyn bit her bottom lip. In thought. Lust. She gave me a quick nod, but took her time to move her hands. I groaned, impatient, the sound making her smile. Her palms finally moved, and she slipped her fingers under the bottom hem of my hoodie. She latched on to the waistband of my pants.
She tugged.
“Tell me,” I told her, hearing my voice crack with need. God, I wanted her. Now. I’ve wanted her for days now. Weeks. “Tell me what you’ll do to me and I’ll lift my hips.”
“I…” She looked up, meeting my gaze. Good grief. Stunning, incredible woman, kneeling between my legs. “I want to be sexy. To be seen like this, by you. I’ve been planning this moment all day in my head. I want to pull these down and…” Her eyelids fluttered closed for a brief second. “Take you in my mouth. I want to make you feel like you made me feel that night. But I—” She shook her head. “I’m losing my nerve. I don’t know how to be in charge in this scenario. I’d much rather you…”
She didn’t need to finish that statement.
I looked into her eyes one more second, baring all my need, letting it out to play on my face. “Take me out,” I told her, my words nothing but a snarl. “You’re safe to show me what you want to do, but I’ll help.” Her gaze dipped down, and I lifted my hips. The large outline of my dick pressed against the fabric. “Fuck,” I rasped at the sight. Adalyn’s grasp on the waistband tightened but she didn’t move her hands. “I’ve never been this hard in my life, love. Will you do something about it?”
Breath caught in Adalyn’s throat and her hands moved, hovering in the air for a second. Hesitant. Telling me she wanted me to guide her through this. To encourage her. To—her fingers grazed me through the fabric of the joggers. I groaned. Deep and guttural and full of need.
She finally pulled the pants down, freeing me of one of the two layers separating her from me.
I knew exactly how long I’d last on this chair.
“You have two minutes to play with me,” I told her, unable to stop my hips from thrusting up into her grip. Her hand grasped my cock in response, giving me one slow stroke through the fabric. It wasn’t enough. “Boxers,” I growled. “Now, please.”
In one motion, my underwear was down and my dick was springing free before resting against my stomach.
“I’ve been thinking of this,” Adalyn said, her soft confession bringing me back to earth for an instant. Something inside of me yielded at her words. Her gaze met mine. “I think I’ve wanted you for a long time now, Cameron.”
The arms of the chair creaked under the tightening grip of my hands. “Stroke me, then.” I expelled all the air in my lungs through my nose. “Suck me or lick me or torture me any way you want. Do it now, before I break.”
Curiosity mixed in with need in the brown of her eyes, spurring my own desire on. And before I knew what was hitting me, her palms were around my cock, skin against skin, and she was giving me one hard stroke.
My eyes fell shut, my whole body jumping on the chair. “Harder,” I told her. Demanded. Begged. Adalyn complied, both hands engulfing me again. Moving head to root. “Just like that,” I encouraged her. She stroked me again. “Make me beg, darling. Make me hurt for more.”
I sensed her move between my legs, coming closer, leaning further into me, and when her strokes ceased, I knew what was going to come. My eyes opened, zeroing in on that beautiful mouth of hers as it closed around my cock.
Fuck. Jesus Christ. God. I’d never prayed this hard in my life but Christ. I’d venerate her mouth. This woman. Her heart. My hips thrust upward, pushing further into her mouth. Adalyn moaned around me and I—I couldn’t be gentle, I was on my breaking point. I was going to burst. “Three sucks,” I gritted between my teeth. “That’s all you get.”
Adalyn moved her head up and down a second time, and when a moan climbed up her throat and fell against my dick something in me snapped.
“I lied,” I said, my hands moved to her head, and I gently but firmly lifted her off me. Her lips were cherry red and her cheeks blushed with the most beautiful pink to date. “Stunning, beautiful, gorgeous woman,” I murmured, making her look at me in a way she never had before. My heart raced in my chest, drumming along the pulse making my blood thrum. “You win, love. You do. You have.”
Before she could say a word, I snatched her wrists, and pulled us both up. Then, I swirled her around.
“Hands on the desk,” I told her, my voice barely a growl. She complied, and when her palms hit the wooden surface, I moved over her. “That’s a good girl,” I said against her ear. “This is going to be fast.”
“I don’t want fast,” she all but whimpered. My hands moved to her front, my fingers closing around the fabric of her blouse. “I want… I want…”
“This fucking thing has been driving me insane,” I confessed, pulling at the fists of silky material. “It has snuck into my dreams,” I whispered against the skin of the back of her neck. “That’s how much I’ve wanted to rip all these buttons off. How much I’ve thought of what you hide underneath.”
Those beautiful breasts. That smooth skin. That precious heart.
Her body shook under mine, and her hips pushed back, her ass pressing against my hard length. “Yes. To all of that.”
I pulled her blouse apart, making those tiny buttons burst and fly. “Fuck. Fuck.” Without losing a single second, I brought her body to mine, arching her back, just so I could have a goddamn look at her. Glorious, beautiful lace covered her breasts. Lavender. “My fantasies didn’t live up to this. To what a stunning woman you are.”
“Cameron?” My name toppled off her lips in a whine. But my hands were busy moving up, my palms trailing over her skin, fingers reaching her breasts and closing possessively around them. Her eyes fluttered closed. “Make us feel good.”
Us.
I was tipped over the edge.
An incomprehensible sound left my mouth, and I returned her hands to the desk, curving my body over hers. I unzipped her jeans, pushed my hand in, and encountered more of that lace. Making sure I’d touched her only over her panties—or I’d really fucking lose my mind—I trailed my fingers over her folds. “My Adalyn, so wet and perfect.”
Adalyn spasmed beneath me, and my hips thrusted against her ass.
I moved my fingers, exerting pressure when I reached the top, then drawing circles over her clit.
“Out there,” I told her, bringing my other hand to my cock and stroking myself as I stroked her. “You can boss me around. Say the word and I’ll obey. You have me wrapped right around your finger.” I felt her grow restless under my rough touch, the fabric of her panties now drenched. I tunneled into my fist, helplessly pressing my hips into her. “But behind closed doors?” I released us both, turned her around and all but shoved her onto the desk. I moved into her, fitting myself between her open legs. “In here,” I told her, meeting her gaze. I pumped myself into my fist, my knuckles pressing against her folds. We both bit back a groan when my cock grazed her drenched panties. “In here, it’s me who’s in charge.”
Her lips parted with a whimper that I knew was a yes. A please. A confirmation. A green light. And when I resumed moving, jerking into her as I stroked us both, her arms moved around my neck.
“Cameron,” she said, voice beautifully broken.
I pressed my forehead to hers, bucking into her. “Come, love.” I moved, making sure my tip was hitting the right spot with every thrust. “Come and I swear, I’ll fuck you so good and long tonight.”
Adalyn’s whole body spasmed, and I went right behind, spilling all over her belly. She looked down, and her gaze turned as hazy and blissed out as I’d ever seen, making me want to rip her panties off and slip right into her. I’d be hard again in a minute. I’d been permanently hard for days.
But I didn’t. I rested my forehead to hers, and then, I wrapped my arms around her body, bringing her to me. I couldn’t stop myself, I couldn’t help it. I wanted her right there. Beneath me, against me, in my arms. I wanted to be inside this woman, in any way I could.
Her lips touched the corner of my mouth, as if she’d known exactly what I was thinking, and I moved, taking them with a hard and desperate kiss. It wasn’t enough. I wanted more. But I stepped back. Without a word, I gently pulled her arms out of her now ruined blouse and cleaned her belly off with it.
With a press of my lips to her temple, I brought her down off the desk and buttoned her jeans. In an ideal world we weren’t in a makeshift office with barely any heating. In that world, practice hadn’t wrapped up and we weren’t supposed to go help set up tonight’s pregame dinner. Instead, I could peel every item of clothing off her body and lick every inch of her. But this wasn’t an ideal world, so I tucked myself into my pants and made myself ignore the way I was already hardening again.
I shrugged my hoodie off. “Arms up,” I told her, and when she lifted them in the air, I slipped it over her head.
“What about you?” I heard muffled against the fabric as I tugged it into place.
I pulled her arms into the sleeves. “I have enough memories of you coming against me to keep me hot for a lifetime.”
Adalyn let out a soft sound I tried my best to ignore. She looked so… mine right this moment. It took my breath away.
“Tonight,” I promised, nostrils flaring.
Adalyn smiled, and it was shy and beautiful and it made me want to beat on my chest. “Tonight.”