by Lulu Pratt
“He’s out there, right? He probably just got a warning. Fights between players like that are a big no-no. The fact that it was with the star player makes it even worse.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at me. “We’re going for dinner. Want to join us?”
“I guess. I’ll just call him later,” I looked again at Jackson before turning to leave, still thinking about it through the meal. Joe thought he was God’s gift to everything. He was a good player and valuable to the team, but Jackson had a lot to offer as well. He just needed more time on the field.
How would I explain this to Greg and Jackson’s family if he were to be traded?
I got to Bella’s apartment around eleven. I spent equal time here and at Jackson’s now, though he didn’t call me that night. I decided to study a little before bed and call it a night since everything had been so exhausting.
Bella was in her room and I was reading when my phone vibrated. It was Jackson.
“Hi, I was hoping to hear from you,” I said as I dropped back against the couch.
“Hey, baby,” Jackson slurred a little and I frowned. He didn’t drink a lot.
“Are you home?” I asked, hoping that he didn’t drive anywhere.
“Yeah. I went out drinking with Nick after practice and he’s here now. I’m fine, Em. Coach talked to me today. He’s pissed and said not to pull that shit again or else I’m gone. Joe is the star and blamed me for everything,” I could hear the pain in his voice, and I bit my lip. “I know he’s going to push it with me. Joe’s going to try to make me come after him again because he wants me gone.”
“Why? You aren’t threatening to take his position on the team.” I was confused.
Jackson sighed. “It’s just guy stuff. I’m okay for now, apart from not practicing today while that asshole smirked the entire time. He’s going to keep at me. I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow and maybe we’ll have lunch.”
We ended the call, and I felt disappointment surge through me. I wondered if I should step in and say something about the situation. I knew that Joe wasn’t a good man. I ran my hands through my hair as I looked around the small living room. I should be at the apartment with him, but I was giving us both some space.
I decided to plan another romantic dinner for the two of us as soon as possible, rekindling what we started. We needed to strengthen things so he’d have something good to think about. Joe was not going to leave this alone, and I suspected that he had it in for Jackson and possibly always had.
I fell asleep after trying to study, thinking too much about Jackson to get anything done. I turned off the light, dropped back to the pillow and I sighed slowly. I needed to move back to the apartment.
The week continued with school and work, and Jackson kept his attitude positive. I spent a little time with him, but we were almost always busy. It made me want to move in with him even more, but something made me hold back. I knew that we were both holding back a bit given that we weren’t telling our families anything but moving in was an option, wasn’t it? All this had to come out eventually, and I considered telling Greg myself. Then I imagined his anger, coming here immediately. It would be ugly, and I wasn’t ready for that yet.
We’d keep it like this for a little while longer. We could tell them over the holidays. I knew that Jackson cared about me with the way he treated me. It wasn’t a public display of affection every time we were seen together but behind closed doors, he made me feel beautiful and loved. He just didn’t say those words to me yet, and I held back as well. This was too complicated to rush along and if it was going to be forever like I wanted it to be, I needed to take it slowly.
I just kept on with my life. I loved school and work and felt like I was making some great friends. It was nice to report all this to my family though I felt a bit sad that I couldn’t mention Jackson apart from the fact that he was helping me out a lot. He was being great about it.
Greg was still telling both of us that he was going to visit soon, and I did welcome that idea. I wanted to see him but what I didn’t want was to hide what I had with Jackson from him. I didn’t want to hide my love for Jackson.
We all traveled to the next few games since it was considered safer for the girls. We didn’t go as far as we did at home games, but it was nice to be able to support the team and had a great time doing it. The cheerleaders were front and center and I was happy to see that Joe seemed to want to focus on the game and leave Jackson alone.
I also noticed that Jackson didn’t play at all and looked angry as he watched the victorious game. I sank in my seat and watched quietly, drawing back from the group. They were so happy about the win and while I was too, I was worried for Jackson. I was worried for his well-being and the way I noticed Joe smirking at him as he ran by.
Joe still looked at me when he got a chance and I knew what he planned to do in those bushes. Some girls might go willingly with him and I assume that was what people thought I was doing, but he wasn’t going to ask me. After what happened, a couple of girls shared what happened during their own encounters with Joe and I realized I’d been lucky.
I was certain that he would have been stopped, given that it was a party and others were there. I just didn’t know what everyone would believe.
I was new and the only thing that all those people knew about me was that I worked with the team and portrayed a bubbly girl, but they didn’t know how shy I was.
This was going to be fine and Jackson and I were going to make it.
CHAPTER 22
JACKSON
I was fine with Joe messing with just me to a point, but going after Emma was going to end my fucking career. I loved our nights together and holding her in my arms afterward. I longed to ask her to move into my apartment again.
I waited. We had time and things would move along. For now, I just clung to the happiness that she brought me and tried to ignore the jabs and looks Joe gave me.
He started out with low remarks only I would hear. It made me want to punch the hell out of him, but I held back with Nick’s help. I just kept to myself and didn’t say anything when Coach kept me out of the games more and more. I hoped that he would get over it and get me back on the field, but I didn’t play at any of the away games.
It was one night after practice that I went home that I found Emma making me dinner. I walked in carefully to kiss her, remembering the last time and how badly it went.
“Hey, what are you up to?” I asked, taking in her red dress.
“I wanted to cook you dinner. We’ve been so busy, and a full night together is rare. I want to make the best of it.” Emma kissed me back, long and slow as I wrapped my arms around her waist. “I made something different.”
“I didn’t eat the chicken that night. I had no appetite,” I confessed as she smiled ruefully. “It’s in the past, Em. We’re better now.”
“We are.” She pulled back and turned to walk to the kitchen. I watched her, enjoying the sway of her curvy hips. I followed, leaning down to kiss her neck as I pressed her against the counter. “Jackson, aren’t you hungry?”
“For you,” I admitted as I drew her skin between my teeth. I reached down and pulled her skirt up, sliding my hand into her panties as Emma moaned. I sucked on her ear as she whispered my name.
I found her clit and fingered her slowly as she clutched the edge of the counter. I knew Emma’s body well and what got to her, and I used all my skills as I stroked her slick pussy.
“I want you so badly,” I said as she turned to face me, kissing me hungrily. I pulled her against me and kept her dress up before I slid her onto the counter. I kissed down her neck, cupping her breasts as she cried out. I loved how Emma responded to me and kept moving my mouth down her body, sliding her now-wet panties aside to stroke her again. Emma rocked on the counter, moaning as I slipped a finger inside her and licked her clit with my tongue. She was ready to come, and I pumped my finger inside her as I sucked her swollen nub into my mouth, needi
ng her sweetness. I needed her to break apart for me and pushed harder as she found her mouth with mine.
Emma cried out my name as she came on my hand. She slumped against me, breathing heavily. I rocked her in my arms as she recovered.
After a few minutes, we sat down at the table with some wine. We talked about the week in general though I didn’t discuss Joe. I didn’t want to make her feel worse about things. We were having a good night. She mentioned that Greg and her family called her often and looked at me as she said that they were going to visit eventually.
“What will happen?” Emma asked.
I took a bite of food and chewed slowly.
“I don’t know. I’d like to tell them over dinner. Just seeing us together. They deserve that. If they or Greg shows up, then we need to play it down until we can all talk about it.”
She nodded slowly, sipping her wine.
“I agree. They deserve that, and it’s not like they’re going to be here tomorrow.”
We finished dinner, and I found a slower song on my phone, turning it up as I reached out my hand to Emma.
“Care to dance?” I asked, and she smiled and nodded. Emma moved into my arms in the dimly lit room and I held her close, stroking her hair and closing my eyes. She felt incredible in my arms.
Why were we still holding back? I knew that we were serious about each other even though we weren’t open about it. It was only Nick and some of her friends who knew about us since I didn’t want Joe to have any reason to go after her any more than he already had. He knew that I hit him trying to get him away from her and it hadn’t been discussed at all, apart from what was said in the office to Coach. I already knew that Joe made something up that made him look good to stay on the team. He would do anything to stay and have me sent away, knowing that he had the good reputation.
I spun her around and she laughed before looking into my eyes, her smile softening. I leaned down to kiss her, brushing my lips against hers as she moaned softly against me.
“I want you to move back in,” I said as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “I want your stuff in that room and you in my bed every night. You sleep on a couch over there.”
“I know. I just want to try to move slow but it’s hard when we’re like this. I just want everything with you.”
Emma kissed me again, and I slipped my tongue against her lips.
We stilled as the kisses grew deeper and hungrier and Emma gripped my hair. I lifted her body against mine and carried her to my room as she wrapped her body around mine. Once so innocent, Emma was now a vixen who owned my soul. She had every part of me and I dropped back on the bed and pulled her over me.
Emma pushed me back and worked my T-shirt up my body as she gazed hungrily at me. I slipped it off and threw it onto the floor as she kissed me again. I rolled her over, pinning her to the bed as I slipped her dress up. I just made her come and I needed her to do it again, this time wrapped around my cock. I was addicted to this woman and I would do anything for her. I moved back to remove her clothing, finding a matching black bra and panties underneath. I kissed her again and teased her mouth until she was breathless for me before moving down her body.
I kissed her neck and chest before freeing her from the bra. I cupped her breast gently in my hand, stroking her nipples with my thumbs as she panted below me. I moved down her stomach with my mouth, nipping at her skin as she spread her legs for me.
I moved to grab some condoms. We still needed to deal with that and I moved away from her to take off my pants hurriedly. I sheathed the condom over myself and moved between her legs, taking her hard with one thrust. Emma cried out as she dropped her head back to the mattress, rocking with me as I moved faster.
We moved together perfectly, her pussy wet for me as she wrapped her legs around me. I thrust harder, needing all of her as she jerked and came for me.
“Jackson! Oh, God.” Her voice echoed in my room as I filled the latex, wishing that I was bare. I wanted her heat wrapped around me and to come deep inside her. I dropped my face into her neck and breathed her in as she moaned my name.
We relaxed in bed, naked and damp with sweat as I held her close to me. I watched her fall asleep and thought ahead to the future that I dreamed of. I wanted everything with this girl and I needed her brother to get that. I didn’t want to lose Greg’s friendship. I didn’t want to lose anything.
I finally fell asleep beside her, getting up early for a run. I was jogging through the street with my music on loud, losing myself in the feeling of my legs pounding against the sidewalk. I was planning to meet the guys at the gym later but wanted to make Emma some breakfast first, so I made it a short run.
I came back to find her wearing one of my shirts and sipping coffee. Emma was beautiful, and she smiled at me, her hair pulled in a messy bun.
“Hi, want some breakfast?” I asked.
She smiled and nodded. I went in and pulled out a pan to make some omelets and toast, pouring myself some coffee. We enjoyed eating as we caught up on the news and then Emma left to go back to the apartment so I could get to the gym.
I walked in and looked for Nick as Joe glanced over. He smirked and I walked over to Nick to do some lifting, trying to ignore him. Sometimes when I spent the night with Emma, it reminded me of that night and I would get angry all over again.
I needed to keep my cool. For myself and the team, and for Emma.
CHAPTER 23
EMMA
The first home game in a while was coming up, and we practiced as much as the guys did, or at least it felt like it. We had a job to do.
I started staying at Jackson’s apartment on a nightly basis. It was amazing to make love every night and fall asleep in his arms. I loved every moment we had together. We were keeping things under the radar, but I knew that my feelings for him were written all over my face.
We were all at the stadium for the game and I sent him a quick text to wish him luck. It was risky but there was a good chance that he wouldn’t see it at all. They all turned off their phones and focused on the game and I put mine into my purse before I changed into my outfit.
Tonight my hair was curly and pulled up into a high ponytail. I had a dark winged liner on and red lipstick to give me the pin-up look, and I stood at the edge of the stands and looked over the field. The guys were coming out and the others started running along the stands. I followed, shooting two shirts into the audience as the cheerleaders started chanting.
The crowd went nuts, and I leaned against the railing out of the way of the fans to watch. I saw the guys split up and frowned when I noticed Jackson sitting down with his helmet off, looking dejected. Was he out for the entire game?
I kept watching, hoping to see him get up and run in but Jackson stayed on the sidelines. My spirits sank as he hunched over, barely watching the game while I forced myself to perform for the fans. We were winning, after all. Joe was doing great out there and ensuring a win as he usually did, and I looked at the smile on the coach’s face.
If this kept up, Jackson was going to snap. He was born to play football and was skilled at it. Leaving him on the bench wasn’t going to help anybody, and they’d lose a great player because Joe was a liar. I knew that he told a story about that night that caused Jackson to look like some sort of psychopath, as if Joe wasn’t at fault in any way. Joe made everyone believe him, but I knew that he had a dark side.
I did my job but turned the others down for dinner after the game. I went to Jackson’s place and unlocked the door with the key that I had, setting down the takeout on the counter. I hoped that it would cheer him up, and I sat down at the table, waiting for him. Jackson went out sometimes with the guys but tonight I knew that he wasn’t going to be in the mood.
I was right and soon he was unlocking the door. I’d showered and changed into a little lace teddy that Jackson liked, and he closed the door as he stared at me.
“Hey,” I met his eyes, seeing the disappointment as I smiled sweetly at him.
&nb
sp; “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be out with everyone.”
Jackson dropped his bag and ran a hand through his hair as I walked up to him.
“I wanted to be here,” I said as I cupped his face. I leaned up to kiss him, feeling his hot mouth against mine as I closed my eyes. Jackson tilted his head and deepened it as he dragged his tongue against mine.
“I didn’t play one down. Not once.”
Jackson pulled away and then kissed me again as I slipped my arms around his neck. His kiss was needy, and I knew that he needed me not to talk, but to help get his frustrations out.
We made our way back to the bedroom where he tore off his shirt and tie before kissing me breathless again. I loosened his pants and slid them down as he pushed me down on the bed. Jackson was hard and naked as he pressed against me, kissing my lips and body as I dragged my fingers through his hair.
He moved down my body, making me come hard against his tongue as I cried out his name. Jackson crawled back up and asked me to turn over on my stomach, his voice rough with want. I did, craving him deep inside me as I raised my ass in the air. Jackson gripped my ass as he slid inside me, pumping hard as I moaned.
He slapped my ass, making me jerk forward with a cry. Jackson pushed deep inside me and fucked me before he spanked me again, making me tense with pleasure.
I cried out as I came with him, feeling his heat deep inside me. Jackson dropped beside me as I stretched out deliciously and smiled.
“You make everything right,” Jackson said as he moved to hold me.
I let him fall asleep wrapped around me, memorizing the feel of his body against mine. I loved Jackson. It might have started as a crush, but it was full-blown love.
I was making breakfast for him one morning while he jogged. Jackson came in, telling me that Greg was on the freeway and on his way over. I gasped, and we decided quickly that I should go to Bella’s, since this was no way to break the news to him about us. I changed and left with a quick kiss, pulling into my apartment as my phone rang.