Jilted Jock : A Hero Club Novel

by Rebecca Jenshak

  “I can’t believe you have to leave already. It feels like you just got here.” Adele hugged me tightly outside security.

  “We’ve got a home game next Saturday, but I’ll figure something out to get back before the end of the week.” I kissed her forehead and ran a hand down her head until I caressed her neck. “Or I could fly you out to California.”

  Her body tensed against mine, all but giving me the answer before she’d even said the words. “I don’t know. I don’t like the idea of you paying to fly me out. It’s bad enough you keep flying here. Paying for my flight makes things seem sooo… serious between us.”

  I chuckled lightly. “I am serious about you. Think about it.” I pulled back. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  I leaned in for one last kiss.

  “Call me when you get there so I know you made it.”

  “Worried about me?”

  “Don’t let it go to your head.”

  Finn

  As luck would have it, I was on a plane headed back to New York on Wednesday. My agent booked an interview on a morning show. Typically, I declined that type of press, but an hour of being uncomfortable to spend a night with Adele was definitely worth it.

  “What are they interviewing you about?” she asked from her bed. Sleepy-eyed and hair mussed. If I weren’t already running ten minutes late, I’d never get out of here without touching her again.

  “You mean besides the fact I’m a famous soccer star?”

  “Yes, besides that, of course. I don’t see many interviews with soccer players on daytime television.”

  “The host is a friend. He’s been asking me to come on for some time and it finally worked out.”

  “Your life is bizarre. Interviews, parties, celebrities.” She waved a hand in the air and smiled.

  I pulled my jacket on. “Speaking of parties, the team has a media event next weekend.” Before she could shoot me down immediately, I bent down to kiss her. “David Beckham is rumored to drop by.”

  She sat up as I walked to the door. “No way.”

  “Yes way.”

  She stood on top of the bed when she could no longer see me over the bookshelf. “I swear to God, Finn, if you’re dangling Beckham just to get me to California, I will kill you.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.”

  The interview took most of the morning and with Adele at work, I had a few hours to kill. I stopped by the café and took my usual table.

  “Hey, handsome. Back for another go at winning your girl?”

  “Won her back. Now I’m just here to kill some time until she gets off work. What’s on special today?”

  “Cinnamon rolls.” She smiled and grabbed my coffee. The place was quiet, so she took a seat. “She came to her senses, huh? Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Doing the long-distance thing or have you convinced her to move back to California?”

  “Nah. Long distance for now.” I hoped someday I could convince her to come back, but I’d hop on a plane every week if that’s what it took to be with her. “I think she enjoys the independence and challenge of being on her own.”

  Flo raised a brow.

  “What? You don’t think so?”

  “New York is a tough city but being on your own is hard no matter what or where. Take it from me. I’ve moved ten times in five years. And sure, it gives me some satisfaction to know I’m capable of starting over each time, but if I had a man like you offering to move me across the country and take care of me… well, even I’m not dumb enough to turn that down.”

  I didn’t think Adele would see it that way. Furthermore, I wanted her to see herself the way I did – as a woman who could have everything, do anything.

  “Ten times in five years?”

  “Don’t ask.”

  She slid out of the booth to go check on her other tables. “The more comfortable someone is, the easier it is to accept change. You want your girl to move across the country, help her conquer New York first.”

  As I sat at the table by myself drinking coffee and staring out the window to the people coming and going about their day, I thought about Flo’s advice. One thing that stuck out above it all is that I should have been helping her all along. I’d been so focused on proving myself to her that I didn’t think about what she needed. For starters, I knew she needed to know she was capable on her own.

  When she got home from work, I met her at the door of her apartment. “It’s a bit of a mess so I need you to have an open mind.”

  She looked past me with a nervous smile, but I sidestepped to block her view. I took her hands and walked backward.

  “If you hate it, we’ll take all of it back.”

  She pushed past me and stopped short at the kitchen. The shocked expression on her face slowly turned to excitement. “Oh my God. Did you buy out the kitchen supply section of the store?”

  Yes, yes, I did.

  “It’s just a few things to get you started.” I picked up one of the items that I hadn’t found a place for in her kitchen. “This is a microplane. The lady at the store said it’s faster and easier than a regular grater.”

  Adele picked up the top book on a stack of recipe books I’d also purchased.

  “Those are just for ideas. They have a class twice a week at the store or the owner said she’d come here to help.”

  She walked through her small kitchen looking at all the items, touching them lightly like she was browsing in a store. She hadn’t said a thing and I was starting to get nervous that I’d screwed up. Too over the top, too overbearing, too presumptuous.

  “Too much?”

  She turned, tears in her eyes, and nodded. Ah, shit, I’d made her cry?

  “I’ll take it all back. I’m—”

  She cut off my apology with her lips. Her tears ran into my mouth salty and sweet. “You are absolutely incapable of small gestures, aren’t you?” She looked into my eyes and the happiness I saw there gave me hope that she didn’t mind my brand of over the top. Good. I didn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

  “Big and hard. It’s the only way I know how to love.”

  Her eyes widened.

  Aaaand now I was dropping the l word, but fuck, I did. “I love you, Adele. I know I’m probably breaking all sorts of relationship rules and scaring the shit out of you in the process, but I’ve never felt like this before so I’m just winging it.”

  “What about…” She shook her head and I read the question without her saying it. What about Cindy? Or any other girl I’d claimed to have loved.

  “I loved her and maybe I would have even been happy if we’d gotten married, but I’m so glad we didn’t. You’re pieces of me I didn’t know I was missing. You’re my new favorite ice cream flavor that I just discovered and want to have for every meal. Loving you makes the feelings I had for anyone else seem like something else entirely.”

  Her tears started up again and I kissed each one. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I lifted her up and sat her on the counter. I fit my body between her legs, not breaking the kiss, deepening it. I tasted her, nipped at her bottom lip all while getting her out of her coat so I could touch more of her skin.

  The high neck blouse and long skirt she wore teased me in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible. Her conservative clothes just made me that more eager to rip them off her. A present just for me. Her long hair hung over her shoulders and I brushed it behind her back and then twisted one hand through the thick strands.

  I pulled gently at first and then harder when she moaned into my mouth and arched her back. Her reaction surprised me. I’d been so worried about being gentle with her, but my girl was all but telling me she wanted more.

  “You’ll let me know if you want me to be gentler?” I asked, momentarily loosening my grip in her hair.

  “Yes.”

  “Promise?”

  “I’m not as fragile as you think.”

  “Are you kidding me? You’re the strongest p
erson I’ve ever met.”

  “Then treat me like it, Finn. Fuck me hard like you want to, and don’t you dare hold back.”

  “Christ, woman.” I swear to God I saw spots at the pleasure and surprise her words brought.

  She laughed, probably at the shocked expression I had to be wearing. “I do believe you’re blushing.”

  “Am not.”

  “You so are.” She laughed harder.

  I growled playfully and nipped at her breast through her shirt and bra. “You laughing at me?”

  “Mhmmm. Whatcha gonna do about it, little boy?”

  I slid my hands under her skirt and traced circles on her inner thigh. “Shit, I didn’t realize we were taking cheap shots. Most women at your advanced age would be excited to be with a young stud such as myself.”

  She giggled and then inhaled sharply as my fingers slipped under the soft material of her panties. “It’s the stamina. Totally wasted on the youth.”

  “I don’t plan on wasting anything.”

  Adele took the next morning off work and after more sex than any two people should have without food, I sat obediently and let her cook pancakes for me. I was starving and she couldn’t put it in front of me fast enough.

  “I did it!” She lifted the pan and brought it over to the counter. “I think I finally got this one right.”

  “Looks perfect.”

  “You said that about the last ten that were mangled and even that one that was undercooked.” She scrunched up her face in disgust.

  “And I ate every single one and they were all delicious.”

  “You’re a liar, but thank you.”

  With my fork, I lifted the pancake and placed it on my plate. She put the pan in the sink and came around the counter to sit next to me on the other side. I made a big show of drizzling syrup over my food and then cutting into it. Look, I was going to tell her it was the best thing I’d ever eaten no matter what it actually tasted like, but the eleventh time was the charm.

  “It’s really good,” I said after I swallowed.

  “Really?”

  Nodding, I cut her a bite and fed her. As she chewed, her lips pulled into a smile. “It’s edible. Thank God.”

  I chuckled and fed her another piece. “Needs more syrup,” she said and swiped her finger along the edge of my plate and then brought her sticky finger to her mouth and licked. My cock stirred. When she noticed my gaze fixed on the action, she did it again, but this time brought her finger to my lips and I opened.

  “I want to lick it off your fingers, off your body, out of your pussy and ass.”

  Her blue eyes darkened. “The things that come out of your mouth. They’re so dirty and hot.”

  “Yeah? You like the idea of me drizzling syrup on the pucker of your sweet ass and licking it clean?”

  Her chest rose and fell, her voice breathy when she said, “Yes.”

  I stood quickly and pulled her with me. “Christ. Me too.”

  Her counter wasn’t really big enough for it, but I grabbed the hem of my t-shirt that she’d worn after the last time I’d gotten her naked and pulled it over her head. Her nipples were already drawn into tight pink buds when I lifted her on to the counter and laid her down. I had to settle for her legs hanging off the edge. I got rid of the light pink lacy thong she wore and placed a quick chaste kiss to her pussy.

  “Oooh.” She flung her arms over her head and giggled as a bowl fell to the ground, but when I brought my mouth down to bite her hip she quieted. Her body was so responsive – so meant for me in ways that were completely primal. Our chemistry and passion were cloaked in love, but underneath it all was raw, animalistic need.

  I mapped her curves with my tongue. Exploring and taking note of every reaction. When I was sure she’d forgotten about the syrup, or maybe just thought I’d been bluffing the whole time, I drizzled it down her front. She gasped as it ran in a sticky mess. I was sure as shit never going to be able to eat pancakes again without getting hard.

  I started by running my tongue along the syrup, but I didn’t let any spot on her body go untasted. When she squirmed under me, I hooked my arm around the back of one knee and opened her up to me. Her pussy glistened. With two fingers I spread her lips and gently teased her with my tongue. She pushed into me silently asking for more.

  I took my time, bringing her close to orgasm and then backing off until her frustration made her body hot and sensitive to every touch. Using her juices, I worked my fingers to the tight pucker of her ass.

  “Finn,” she said my name like a warning but then added. “Please.”

  “A dirty girl with manners.” I looked up to meet her needy gaze before dipping my head to taste her hole. I pushed my tongue in just the tiniest bit at first still working her pussy with two fingers.

  Her moans came louder and more frequent and I added pressure and dove farther inside her until she cried out. “Finn. Oh God. Finn. I’m coming.”

  Her body tightened and quivered underneath me before going limp. I kissed a path up her stomach and then rested my chin on her chest. “Didn’t even give me a chance to add syrup to your sweet ass.”

  “Next time,” she panted. “Definitely next time.”

  I stood and grabbed her hands to help ease her up and then off the counter. “Shower?”

  She pressed her sticky body to mine and wrapped her arms around me tightly. I felt her nod, but she seemed reluctant to move. I placed my hand under her chin and tilted her face up. Tears leaked from her eyes and she silently sobbed. I panicked and my stomach dropped. I’d pushed and it’d been too much for her.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? Was it too much? I got a little carried away.” A lot carried away and I wanted to do it all over and then fuck her tight ass.

  “No.” She shook her head. “It was amazing.”

  “What is it?” I was afraid of the direction her answer might go. There were so many reasons she might be freaking out. I’d bulldozed into her life, bought her thousands of dollars’ worth of shit she hadn’t asked for, professed my love, and then ate her ass… it’d been a day.

  She tried to pull back but stuck to me.

  “Come on, let’s get cleaned up.”

  In the bathroom, I turned on the shower and took off my jeans and boxers. Her tears had slowed, but still fell down her cheeks. I didn’t press her to talk as we stepped under the spray. I grabbed her body wash and giant pink loofah and washed her. My dick strained and pulsed, but I kept my touches soft and purposeful.

  “I’m sorry,” she said finally. “I don’t know why I’m crying. It’s so stupid.”

  “It’s not stupid.” At least I didn’t think it was since I didn’t really know.

  “After the rape, I chose partners that were… safe. Not intentionally, but I can see that now. Subconsciously I was probably protecting myself even though physically I was okay.”

  I held my breath, afraid I’d do or say the wrong thing. Adele and I’d only talked about her past once before. I knew it was a big part of who she was now – those scars had changed her as all scars do.

  I settled on asking, “Safe how?”

  “Men who were perfectly happy with missionary sex once a week and maybe a blow job on holidays to spice things up.”

  My mouth quirked up at the way she said it, like it was the worst thing she could imagine.

  “Why?”

  She ran her fingers absently over my chest and down my abs. “I craved the stability and the safety of those types of men. But for them, knowing about the rape, I think they were afraid of hurting me – of bringing back those memories. But instead it was like a constant reminder every time I had sex, that I was so broken they had to be careful with me.”

  “If you need me to be a safe guy… I will be that for you. I can think of all kinds of ways to spice up missionary and leave you walking funny the whole week until I get to have you again.”

  She laughed and lifted up on her toes to brush her wet lips against mine. “You couldn’
t be safe if you tried.”

  I swallowed down a lump wondering if that meant I could never be what she needed.

  “No one has ever made me feel less broken than you. Thank you.”

  I swallowed down the lump that had lodged in my throat. “You’re welcome.”

  I spent the next hour proving to her just how perfectly unbroken she was, and I didn’t hold back.

  Finn

  “Did you invite Olivia to the event on Saturday?” Foster asked after practice. We walked toward our vehicles in the back lot.

  “Nah, I’m bringing Adele. She’s flying in for the weekend.” It took less convincing than I expected to get Adele to visit. Which turned out to be a good thing because I was cleared to play and couldn’t get away even for a day to fly to New York this week.

  Foster stopped at his car and gave me a quizzical look. “Chance’s sister? It’s serious then?”

  “I’ve been flying to New York every chance I get, of course it’s serious.”

  There might have been a little edge to my voice because Foster held up a hand. “Sorry man, I didn’t know. I didn’t even know about her until last week. How come you two didn’t hook up sooner? She’s the one you were staying with in Hermosa Beach, right?”

  I nodded. “She had a boyfriend.”

  He stopped and motioned behind me. “Be careful. You don’t have the best track record of picking the ones that are interested in sticking around.”

  I turned to see Cindy walking toward us. She’d stopped calling a few weeks ago and I thought she’d gotten the hint but looks like she was just working up to facing me in person.

  “You alright?” Foster asked.

  “Yeah. I’m good.”

  He got in his car and I met Cindy halfway.

  “Hey, Finn.”

  “Cindy.”

  I knew there was something she wanted to say, but when she didn’t immediately speak, I started past her. I wasn’t going to stand here and wait for her to figure out what to say.

  “I’m sorry,” she blurted to my back.

  I didn’t bother turning around or responding. My jaw clenched. That was it? After all this time, that’s all she could come up with?