One Last Shot (Nymphs & Trojans Series Book 2)

by Alexandra Warren

  Of course Dre saw it differently, completely optimistic when he asked, “You don’t want a chance to redeem yourself?”

  Like him, I shrugged. “I mean, if I have to. But I’d rather just be winning without the pressure of having to make a last shot.”

  My preference sounded like a no-brainer to me. And I was grateful that instead of challenging me on it any further, Dre nodded to agree. “That’s fair. But if it comes, I need you ready, lil’ baby.”

  Because I didn’t even want to speak another moment like that into existence, I didn’t really respond to his request, only smirking when I peeked his way to reply, “And I need you ready to make me cum, big baby.”

  With the days he’d spent away, my body was definitely missing its dose of Dre, in desperate need of some real relief after all the worrying I’d done behind him. But now that he knew he was at least back in my good graces, he couldn’t help himself in teasing, “I’m only doin’ that if you share some of this dessert.”

  “Wowww. So I gotta pay to get some play? Even after you had me all stressed out?”

  Chuckling, he reached for my cheesecake once again and answered, “I told you not to worry, lil’ baby. But I can’t even fake, it’s kinda cute that you were.”

  “Well I’m glad something about me is, cause my stats from tonight weren’t cute at all,” I groaned with a slow roll of my eyes, not even feeling deserving of the slice of cheesecake Dre was already popping the to-go container top off of when he asked, “That bad, huh?”

  “The worst. In a double-digit loss that I’m kinda happy my father flaked out on cause it was just that awful of a performance.”

  So many missed shots.

  So many blown plays on defense.

  So many turnovers.

  There was nothing about it I wanted to remember, so I was glad to hear when Dre decided, “In that case, I guess I can make you feel a lil’ better.”

  “Just a little?” I pressed, knowing I needed much more than that; especially now that he’d already stolen what would’ve been his replacement – the cheesecake.

  Sneaking a taste with his fork, he chuckled, “Damn. You just greedy all around, huh?”

  “Closed mouths don’t get fed,” I told him with a smirk and a shrug that had him watching me intently with a smile on his face before he blurted something I didn’t even realize I cared to hear.

  “I missed you.”

  It hit me right in the chest; soothing me and flattering me all at once, though I still found room to joke, “What parts of me specifically? Cause I could use the ego boost.”

  He didn’t even hesitate to gas me up, an instant smile on my lips as he listed, “I missed your wit. And your ass. And your voice. And watching you ball. And did I already say your ass?”

  “If you really missed it, you should kiss it, Jordan Leonard,” I suggested with a playful side eye that had Dre leaning my way so that he could speak straight into my ear.

  “I’m thinkin’ about doin’ a whole lot more than just kissin’ it, Selena Samuels. But I need you to eat first cause I’m sure you haven’t been eating enough if you’ve really been as worried about me as you said you were.”

  Giggling, I stabbed at the last bit of my salad and replied, “You’re cute. But you aren’t “miss meals cause I’m so worried about you” cute.”

  “Wowww, that’s fucked up,” he groaned with a chuckle that told me he wasn’t seriously upset about it.

  But even if he was, I knew my position, shrugging when I replied, “Lil’ baby’s gotta eat so she can have the energy to play ball and keep these lights on. But I did miss you, though. And I’m really happy you’re back, big baby.”

  While he had let me get away with it the first time, this time he was quick to correct, “I ain’t no baby.”

  “But you’re my baby,” I gushed, moving from my seat to discard the empty salad container in the trash as Dre casually asked a question I should’ve saw coming.

  “Oh, so you claimin’ me now?”

  “I mean…” I sighed, gnawing into the corner of my lip as he firmly stated, “It wasn’t a lie. I’m definitely yours, Selena.”

  His words gave me the same feeling as watching fresh honey hit a warm biscuit, so damn satisfying that I couldn’t help but grin as I moved to stand between his legs and challenged, “My big baby?”

  “I don’t know about all that, but…”

  Chuckling, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Well what do you wanna be then?”

  “Your man,” he stated plainly, leaving no room for misunderstanding even though I still squinted to ask, “That’s not the same thing?”

  “I’m just making sure you know,” he replied as he moved his hands to claim a little something of his own - my ass.

  With his firm grip, I was happy to confirm, “Oh, I know.”

  “Good. Now hurry up and finish your dinner so your man can make you feel better.”

  “My who?” I asked playfully, not quite ready to extract myself from his hold.

  That feeling only grew as I watched him do a slow lick of his lips before he growled, “You heard me, Selena,” leaning forward to seal it with a kiss that told me if he wasn’t my man already, he certainly was now.

  What that meant as far as the public went, I wasn’t quite sure. But right now, I wasn’t so concerned with that, taking full advantage of our current privacy as I decided to delay the rest of my dinner in favor of slipping my tongue between my man’s lips.

  Fourteen

  I was unbelievably proud of her.

  Technically, I was in Las Vegas for work purposes, invited to join Sugar who’d been selected to coach in the All-Star game because of our team’s current first place standing in the Eastern conference. But my duties as a coach came second to being happy for Selena as I watched her take on the media, doing a mix of interviews with the most joyous smile on her face like she was completely in her element; because she was in her element.

  When it came to this shit, being a superstar was her natural state, even in a room filled with the other top players in the league. And because of that, it was hard not to stare obsessively, my gaze trained her way until Sugar snuck up next to me and said, “It was written in the cards, Coach Leonard. Watching you watch her is like déjà vu.”

  With a nod, I agreed, “Yeah, she’s been ballin’ her ass off all season. She deserves this moment.”

  Shaking her head, Sugar crossed her arms over her chest and leaned a little closer to whisper, “I’m not talking about basketball, Dre. I’m talking about you two finally becoming a thing.”

  Internally, I panicked. But outwardly, I cued up the answer Selena and I had decided was best to give people until the season was over, trying to sound completely chill when I told Sugar, “We aren’t a…”

  “Oh, cut the bullshit,” she interrupted with a wave of her hand. “No need to hide from me. I mean, hell, ain’t like y’all have been tryna hide a damn thing when you two stay up all night knockin’ boots after every away game.”

  “Hold up. You’ve heard us?” I asked, smacking myself when I realized that I’d outed us with my response. And once I saw the smirk on Sugar’s face, I had another realization, cocking my head to ask, “And you’re really just now sayin’ somethin’ about it?”

  Shrugging, she answered, “If a man has someone in his bedroom and that someone isn’t me, then what he’s doing in there is not my business to speak on.”

  Because I could appreciate her take on it, I responded with a nod that had her comfortable enough to continue, “You two seem to have a really special bond, though. Like a real friendship, with a hot sex cherry on top.”

  “Sugar…” I groaned, refusing to go down that route even when she defended, “It’s a compliment, Dre! Take it.”

  I didn’t take it. But I didn’t not take it either, staying quiet as we both watched Selena do her thing. And honestly, I could’ve stayed there all day, completely content even when Sugar commented, “Look at her, Dre. She�
��s such a star. Consider yourself lucky.”

  With another nod, I agreed. “Beyond lucky, Coach Daniels.”

  It wasn’t lost on me that Selena could literally have any man she wanted; a fact I didn’t take lightly when it came to making sure she was well taken care of even though Sugar was quick to balance things out once she added, “She’s lucky too, cause it’s not easy to find someone who just… gets it. But she’s got that in you. You’re her someone, Dre.”

  Turning Sugar’s way, I asked, “You think so?”

  This time, it was her nodding. “I know so. I mean, the girl knows I’m no threat, and she’s still shooting daggers my way with her eyes mid-interview like I want your young ass,” she replied with a chuckle that had me peeking in Selena’s direction just in time to catch a flash of what Sugar was talking about. “Y’all have fun out here, okay? Not too much fun cause that could cause major problems. But enjoy this. Together.”

  Now that the secret was out, I decided to own it when I replied, “We will.” But once I heard someone ask, “We who?” I wished I hadn’t been so loose, turning over my shoulder to see my boss with a scowl on her face.

  “Kat…” I sighed as she held up her hand to interrupt, “Dre, don’t tell me y’all were talking about what I think y’all were talking about.”

  Before I could even respond, Sugar knocked her hand down and scolded, “Kat, leave those folks alone. They aren’t hurting anybody.”

  “Sugar, you know I have a lot of respect for you. But this is something I need you to stay out of, especially considering I’ve already given firm warnings to both parties involved,” Kat replied sharply, shooting a side eye my way that made me roll my eyes as Sugar offered a defense.

  “Well they still found their way to each other anyway, so now what? I mean, you really think your little warnings reign over true love?” Sugar asked, my eyes wide when I muttered, “True love?” as Kat brushed the whole thing off with a wave of her hand.

  “Oh, please. They are not in love. Selena’s just lonely, and Dre is just… there, all the time.”

  For as much talking as I’d let Sugar do on my behalf, this one I couldn’t let her handle, moving closer to Kat to snarl, “You got a lot of nerve speakin’ on some shit you know absolutely nothin’ about. And even though it’s really none of your business, let me put you up on game. Selena and I are together now, and we’ve already decided to keep it lowkey until the season is over so ain’t shit for you to worry about, aight?”

  Surprisingly enough, Kat was stunned to silence as Sugar chuckled, “I guess he told you,” bumping me in the arm to add, “Well done, Dre.” And that was enough to snap Kat out of it, a stiff finger pointed my way as she gave what I assumed was a final warning.

  “If one word of this gets out to the press, I am on y’all asses. Understood?”

  “If it makes you feel better, sure,” I answered with a shrug, causing Sugar to give another snort of a laugh that made Kat upset enough to storm off. But really, her leaving was a win in my book; especially since it was timed almost perfectly with Selena finishing up her interviews.

  As she headed our way, Sugar was quick to excuse herself, offering Selena a, “Good job” in passing that she graciously accepted before making her way over to me to address what I hadn’t even realized she’d noticed. “Katianna didn’t look very happy.”

  “She’s not. But what’s new?” I asked, rolling my eyes again as I thought back on her empty ass threat like it meant anything other than her just becoming even more annoying about this shit when we really didn’t need her input at all.

  Still, it was just like her to insert herself in anything she felt would affect her baby - the Nymphs - and have Selena concerned enough to ask, “Everything okay?”

  Releasing a heavy sigh, I scrubbed a hand down my face and answered, “She just uh… knows. Walked up on Sugar and I talking about us.”

  Snapping her head back, Selena’s eyes tightened when she hissed, “We agreed to keep it lowkey, and you told Sugar of all people? That’s as good as sitting down with the local news!”

  The same way she had defended me earlier, I was quick to stand up for Coach Daniels in her absence when I mentioned, “Actually, Sugar’s known for a while and didn’t say anything. She’s apparently been hearin’ us on the road, after dark.”

  “Oh God…” she groaned, bringing a grin to my lips as I told her, “Don’t be all embarrassed now, lil’ baby. If it’s good to you, it’s good to you.”

  “But my head coach knowing just how good it is to me is not exactly at the top of my list of things I need her to be informed on.”

  “So shut yo’ ass up next time then,” I suggested with a chuckle that made her smirk as she glanced at her phone for the time before changing the subject.

  “I need to go to my room right quick. You comin’?”

  As if she already knew what my answer would be, she made a move out of the conference room towards the elevators, pushing the ‘up’ button to a glow as I finally replied, “A chance to have you all to myself? Hell yeah, I’m comin’.”

  Giggling, she insisted, “You can look, but I don’t have time for touchin’, big baby.”

  “Guess I gotta get all my touchin’ in right now then,” I teased the second we made it into the elevator, the fact that we were alone giving me the freedom to have my way as I pulled her back against me and started kissing on her neck from behind.

  She was all moans and groans until she peeked up and noticed what was above us. “Ooh. Look at this mirror. Stand still so I can take a picture.”

  Keeping my same position with my arms wrapped around her waist and my face buried in the crook of her neck, Selena snapped a series of pictures using the reflection above us, the chime of the elevator signaling our arrival causing her to pull away from me just in case someone was waiting on her floor. And even though there was, she was still super vocal about expressing how pleased she was with the pictures she’d taken, scrolling through as she gushed, “These are so cute. I have to post at least one of ‘em.”

  “Selena…” I groaned, knowing that probably wasn’t the best idea as far as us staying lowkey went. But because her mind was already set on it, she didn’t back down, using her free hand to pull her keycard from her pocket as she snapped, “What? I’m sick of having to play by everybody else’s rules. And besides, you can’t even really tell it’s you. Just some tall, obviously fine ass man with a blur of tattoos on his arms.”

  To prove her point, she handed me her phone to show me she wasn’t lying. And while the picture did have a mystique about it, I still didn’t think it was a good idea for her to post it.

  This also wasn’t a battle I really cared to win, though. And because of that, I was already preparing myself for the worst as I shook my head and told her, “Yeah, aight. If you say so.”

  It went viral.

  I shouldn’t have been all that surprised since of course everybody and they mama wanted to know who the mystery man was in the picture Selena Samuels had captioned, “My Big Baby” with the heart emoji. But because it had gone viral, I found myself in Las Vegas, in late July, wearing a jacket to cover my tattooed arms so people wouldn’t be able to put two-and-two together so easily.

  Of course it was inevitable that they’d find out about us eventually. But this was Selena’s weekend, and I didn’t want to cause any more of a stir than what that picture had already caused by making myself any easier to identify.

  It helped that the casino arena where the Three-Point Shootout was being held was surely a lot cooler than the desert heat outside, giving me an excuse to keep my jacket on. But when I saw Kage Steele approaching me on my way over to the venue, I was ready to at least roll my sleeves up so I could whoop his ass, something he must’ve sensed since he immediately held his hands up to say, “Hear me out, fam. Just hear me out.”

  With that picture he’d posted on my mind, I didn’t want to hear shit besides the impact of my fist clocking him in the jaw. But becau
se we had a bit of an audience, I did my best to keep my composure and let him speak, opening and tightening my fist repeatedly to relieve some tension as I listened to what I hoped, for his sake, wouldn’t be some weak ass explanation.

  He started off on the right track when he blurted, “That shit I posted about you was foul. And for that, I apologize. I just… got caught up talkin’ shit and drinkin’ with my stupid ass friends that led to me doing some stupid ass shit with that shirt of your mugshot.”

  How drinking and talking shit turned into the production of a whole t-shirt, I wasn’t sure. But I also knew these young niggas with money were resourceful as hell, leading me to address the more important part of his spiel when I told him, “I don’t know why my name was in your mouth to begin with, but it sounds like you need better friends.”

  “You prolly right,” he agreed with only half the enthusiasm I needed to hear.

  I mean, I’d been there and done that. I’d lived what I thought was an invincible life and learned the hard way just how vincible I was. I’d had the friends who let me do all the dumb shit I wanted as long as it meant they’d be able to benefit from my lifestyle and knew how quickly that shit folded once the money stopped. And if I couldn’t beat his ass like I wanted to, I was at least going to teach him a life lesson, getting right in his face to say, “Nah, ain’t no probably. Better friends wouldn’t be encouraging your ass to do childish shit like fuckin’ with another man’s livelihood for a little attention. They’d tell you to chill, protect your brand, and most importantly, protect your bag. I mean, you do realize that shit wasn’t a good look on any level, right?”

  Taking a step back to create some space between us, he held his hands up once again to express, “I hear you, fam. And again, I apologize; man to man.”

  On one hand, I still wanted to slap his young ass up. But on the other hand, it was his age that was saving him since I knew he still had a lot of maturing to do. And that was only proven even more so when, in the midst of all this, he found room to push past me so that he could introduce himself to the woman who had snuck up behind me.