by Stella Rhys
Ugh. What the fuck? There was a chance he had a point, but also, why did he think things were that simple? I was flustered and angry and actually grateful that Drew Maddox was so fucking huge that he was blocking me from the view of the other guests, because there was no doubt in my mind that I looked like a red-faced, wild-eyed psycho right now.
“You know, I’m curious as to why in the world you’re so invested in this,” I said defensively.
“I don’t know,” Drew said with no hint of shame. “Probably because I just got my own reminder that you can’t trust anyone for shit, and I was mulling that over when you suddenly showed up and forced me to listen to you pine for some asshole.”
“You don’t even know my ex.”
“I don’t need to, it’s all the same. Whether they want to or not, everyone is going to wind up screwing you over at some point. It’s just part of their survival instincts.”
My face contorted as I squinted at his insane cynicism.
“Do you think we live in the wild or something? How do you even enjoy your life when you think like this?”
“I can assure you that I enjoy my life plenty.”
I read that dirty look on his face and rolled my eyes.
“Of course. Because people are disposable to you, I’m sure, and all you have are one-night stands – right?”
“Yes. You should try it sometime.” He nodded at our not-so-subtle audience on the deck. “Take your pick from any one of these guys. They’re all staring anyway.”
“At you,” I corrected tightly. “And no thanks. I have nothing against one-night stands, but I really don’t see them doing much for me now.”
“No? Why not?”
“Because,” I ground out before I’d fully formulated an answer. “Because I need… history and emotional context in order to feel good. I need to actually know the other person to get the full extent of pleasure,” I said as Drew broke into the most condescending laugh known to man.
“You really think that because you don’t know me personally, I wouldn’t be able to give you the best orgasm of your life right here, right now?” He eyed my lips, visibly pleased with the way his question made them fall slightly open. “Baby girl, I could make you come so hard you’d forget his name.”
Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, I chanted in my head to fight the heat prickling across my thighs.
“Well, I’m happy you believe in yourself so much,” I snarked, satisfied with even that brief look of irritation I got from Drew before he rubbed his bottom lip and smirked.
“I should let you know that I don’t respond well to being challenged.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not going to let you fuck me on this terrace just to prove your point.”
“Fine. Then give me those lips.”
I froze.
What?
“You’re joking, right? You want to kiss me just to win an argument?”
“Yes.”
“Well, no thank you. I’m not really one to offer up body parts for arrogant strangers to pad their egos with.”
“To be clear, I’d be interested whether or not we were having this stupid argument.” His green eyes returned hungrily to my mouth. “But since we are, I should throw in the fact that my tongue alone could get you hotter than anything your ex could do, and the only reason you won’t let me touch you is because you know I’m right.” He brought his green eyes back to mine. “Again.”
Reverse psychology. Don’t fall for it.
“Fine.”
Whoa, whoa, wrong direction!
“Go for it then.”
Evie, what the fuck!
My brain screamed at me though my body took great pleasure in the second of surprise on Drew Maddox’s cocky frickin’ face. But before I knew it, the surprise was gone and I was backed up on the wall, his ridiculous torso towering over me as he caught my jaw, tipped my chin up and leaned in to hold his mouth an inch away from mine.
I closed my eyes.
Oh God. So hot.
My skin. His body. Everything. I couldn’t even bear to look because I was quite genuinely convinced that if I did, I’d pass out. This was Drew I’m-Super-Famous Maddox we were talking about here, and on top of that, he was teasing me. He was torturing me with how close his mouth was to mine without touching. I could feel the warmth of his breath between my lips. On my tongue. He was giving me only the slightest taste of him and it was driving me mad.
“Kiss me, asshole,” I finally hissed.
I heard his low, sexy chuckle.
Then I felt him tilt my face to the side and bury his face in my neck. Oh my God. The very first second of his rough tongue on my skin went straight to my pussy. My thighs pumped, my panties already slick as that tongue of his sucked and pulsed against me for a very, very good three seconds. Then it licked a slow, torrid line up to my jaw and finally returned to lingering an inch from my mouth. I opened my eyes, my chest heaving as I breathlessly waited for him to kiss me.
But instead, he caught my bottom lip in his mouth, raking it just hard enough between his teeth before sucking it like candy.
Then he pulled away from me, adjusting his dick in plain sight and looking thoroughly content as he soaked in my visibly dazed, frenzied pleasure.
Holy fuck.
I panted, unblinking as I stared at him in silence for what felt like ages. But finally, sliding his hands in his pockets and curving his lips, Drew spoke again.
“Seriously though,” he murmured softly, his eyes moving all over my face. Then abruptly, his voice switched back to normal volume. “Do I get my gold star now or what?”
I blinked.
You bastard.
My body shook with irritation as my high crashed right back down to Earth. But I had brought this on myself so turning on my heel, I bit out, “Goodnight, Drew,” before swinging open the door and marching swiftly back inside.
4
“No shit, they got Hi-Chews in here now?”
Ty’s eyes lit up once he got into the clubhouse lounge. Most of the guys stuck with real cooked food from the kitchen, but every day, Ty Damon nourished his elite athlete’s body with Fritos, Pop Tarts and candy from what Diaz dubbed the shit shelf.
“You ever wonder how he has any teeth left?” Diaz took a swig from his water bottle as we watched Ty dig into three different-flavored packs of Hi-Chews. I turned my backwards cap to the front.
“I try to think about Ty as little as possible.”
“Yeah, that’s fair.”
“I can hear you assholes,” Ty said with a full mouth, tossing us each a few Hi-Chews before we headed for our lockers.
It was 5PM at the clubhouse, which was usually everyone’s downtime before the game. Most of the guys listened to music, played cards or squeezed in some more calories since dinner wasn’t till probably about 11PM.
Contrary to what most others assumed, I was among those who preferred quiet before the game, even if I wasn’t starting. It was for that reason that I was grateful to have a locker next to Diaz. He and I had a pretty rocky history, but things were solid now. Also, he meditated before every game, which gave me the silence I needed to balance out the singing and chanting Ty was generally prone to. Probably because of all the sugar.
“Hey. Turn that shit down, alright?” I called across the room at him while chucking back one of his Hi-Chews. “What did I buy you those headphones for last Christmas if you don’t use them?”
“Fuck you. You bought those for everyone.”
“And that makes me the asshole how?” I snorted as a text buzzed into my phone.
IAIN: I have something important to discuss with you. Got a minute?
I skimmed it while dodging the dry-fit shorts Ty chucked at me.
“If those were dirty, I’m gonna fuckin’ whoop your ass,” I informed him seriously before sending Iain a reply.
ME: Busy. Shagging flies.
I didn’t feel like talking to him.
Since Emmett’s party two nights a
go, I’d been vaguely irritated with my agent, mostly because he hadn’t told me about my risk of being traded last year, but there was also the fact that I had a hunch I knew who his source was on the trade intel. I’d asked him repeatedly about where he’d gotten it, and since he wouldn’t say, I suspected it was Emmett. He was Iain’s business partner, my good friend and the younger brother of the guy who owned this team. He was a good dude but I was clearly third in line of where his loyalties lie.
That much had become abundantly clear to me that night of the surprise party.
IAIN: I wasn’t aware you took your phone with you on the field.
IAIN: Read: Don’t bullshit me. I can hear you and Damon dicking around in the clubhouse.
I stared at the text then up at the closed entrance of the clubhouse.
Goddammit.
Muttering under my breath, I reluctantly got up and crossed the room to swing open the door. Standing in the hall plastered with portraits of past and present Empires – myself included – was Iain. He was in a suit, as usual, but he had the jacket draped over his arm, probably because it was ninety degrees outside.
I greeted him with an upward nod, raising my eyebrows when he didn’t immediately tell me what was going on.
“What’s up,” I finally said, annoyed to have to be the one to break the silence.
“Did you read the papers today?” he asked.
“You told me to stop reading the papers.”
I hadn’t gone near them since my first year in New York. The Post had a particular affinity for shitting on me and as a result, I developed a reputation for mouthing off to their reporters during post-game interviews.
Iain nodded.
“True. Then I’ll skip to my next question. Are you really willing to do anything to stay with this team?”
“Yes,” I replied straightaway, despite feeling instantly wary and suspicious.
“Good. Because I have a proposal for you and I have to be back at the office at six, so I’m going to make it quick. We’ll start with this.”
He handed me his phone, which was already open to Page Six. My eyebrows pulled together as I read the bold headline up top.
DREW MADDOX PUBLICLY GROVELS WITH GIRLFRIEND.
I stared.
“What the fuck is this?” I looked up as Drew took his phone back.
“Walk with me,” he said, nodding down the hall and away from the clubhouse. I was already anxious but thankfully, once we got far enough, he went straight into it. “That article assumes that you’re dating the girl from Emmett’s party the other night. Allegedly, you two had an obvious ‘lovers quarrel’ on the terrace, which resulted in your chasing her around and groveling till she forgave you. There’s also mention of how other women were trying to steal your attention, but you only had eyes for your girlfriend,” Iain summarized so fast my swirling thoughts could barely catch up. Looking at his phone again, he read from the article. “‘According to onlookers, Maddox referred to Miss Larsen as ‘wifey’ and even shared a deep and passionate kiss with her under the stars.’”
I blinked, completely floored.
“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.”
“I’m not,” Iain deadpanned. “They think you did what you’ve never done before, which is show actual shame and remorse with another human being. Another important detail: they claimed this girl from the party was the ‘mystery brunette’ you were photographed ‘wining and dining’ at Mercer Street Kitchen five months ago.”
“That was your girlfriend, and you were literally sitting at the table.”
“I was in the bathroom when the picture was taken, but the point is the Post just threw you a bone, Maddox. They fabricated for you a relatively long-term relationship, which we both know you’re thoroughly incapable of, and they portrayed a soft side of you that we’ve never seen. Granted it’s a hundred percent bullshit, but still. If you play along with this and dedicate yourself to the story, you could change your image in the exact way you need to in order to keep your spot on this team.”
I squinted at Iain, starting about ten different sentences that I never finished because I was still catching up on what the hell he was talking about.
“What exactly are you suggesting here? You want me to date this girl?” I finally asked.
“Actually, I want you to put a ring on her finger and move her into that famous bachelor pad of yours,” Iain answered. “The media will jump all over it, and I can’t think of a quicker, more efficient way to convince the Empires that you’ve settled down.”
I took off my cap to get a better look at him. I had to stare in silence for a few seconds because I wasn’t sure if I was losing my mind or if Iain was really asking me this shit.
“I’m confused by how casual you are about asking me to get engaged to a stranger and live with her,” I finally said.
“It would be for show, Drew,” Iain snorted. I exhaled. “Keep up the act till the trade deadline passes. That’s a little less than three months. It’s extremely doable.”
I rubbed my chin as I stared at the floor. I was actually considering it.
“Well, I’m barely home anyway. And I definitely wouldn’t mind hanging out with her again.”
“Here’s the hard part. I know when you say ‘hang out’ you mean you’re interested in sleeping with her, but if you choose to do this, you agree not to sleep with her or anyone else.”
I looked up and laughed in Iain’s face.
“You want me to be celibate for three months? You’re fucking with me.”
“I couldn’t be more serious, actually. You sleep with this girl and you’ll undoubtedly hurt or upset her. Someway, somehow, you’ll do it and the last thing we need is for her to run off and give the media a chance to write about how Drew Maddox’s attempt at stability failed, and he’s a lost cause,” Iain said, looking so goddamned stoic and serious that I wanted to flick him in the face. “On the topic of the media, the reason you absolutely cannot pursue or sleep with other women is because that’s the exact story they will be looking out for – Drew Maddox cheating on his sweet, innocent fiancée. You don’t want to give the paparazzi even a chance to catch you with another woman.”
When I started shaking my head, he held his hands out.
“What? You said you’d do anything to stay a New York Empire.”
“And I meant it, but going three months without sex is crazy. I’m going to be wound up so tight I’ll be throwing wild pitches every inning.”
“Ever heard of jacking it?”
“It’s not my preferred method of release.”
“So it’s settled. We’re done trying to fix this trade situation, and I guess we’ve also found the one thing Drew Maddox can’t do.”
“There’s nothing I can’t do,” I scoffed, despite the fact that I knew he was trying to appeal to my competitive side. “I just don’t – ”
“Want to?” Iain gave me the most unimpressed look I’d ever seen on his face, which was saying a lot. “And here I thought you wanted a championship more than anything in the world. I mean what’s the point of all the shit that’s happened to you if you don’t give baseball everything you’ve got?”
I glared at him for daring to ask that question but at the same time, it sold me.
“Fine.” I regretted it as I said it. “I’ll do it.”
“Atta boy.” Iain socked my shoulder before checking the time on his phone. “Alright. I got a meeting, I gotta go.”
“Hold on,” I said, feeling the deepest frown creasing my brow. I was usually eager to get away from business mode Iain but I had about ten million questions right now, and the fact that he had to leave so abruptly was making me doubt this decision even more. “So I’m not supposed to party, I’m not supposed to go out. I can’t go after other girls. What exactly am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know, Drew. Read a book. Start the Harry Potter series. Get creative. You never hesitate to wrack that brain of yours for new ways to torture opposing t
eams, so why not put it to use for something legitimately productive for once?”
“My ability to get under the other team’s skin is legitimately productive. Even The New York Times backs me up on that one.”
Iain ignored me as he started off down the hall.
“Pick up a hobby, Maddox.” We started walking back toward the clubhouse. “If not, get to know that new girlfriend of yours – in ways that don’t involve the removal of clothing. I believe in you,” Iain said.
Then he took a call and headed off, disappearing into an elevator and leaving me alone in the hall, wondering what the fuck I’d just gotten myself into.
5
EVIE
My no-motivation spell had definitely been broken, because on Monday morning, I woke up early for the first time in ages, showered, got dressed and then went straight to the restaurant to have a boozy gossip and catch-up sesh with Aly.
I’d definitely missed them since becoming a zombie post breakup, and I’d definitely missed co-managing with her at Stanton Family Market – recently honored “Best Lobster Roll in East Hampton.”
The place was basically Aly’s and my baby. Since buying the seafood wholesaler from her dad five years ago, we’d revamped the brand to include this adorable summer pop-up that I loved to pieces. Unfortunately, I’d quit my post as general manager there almost two months ago, in preparation for moving to the city with Mike.
He had claimed the move would be beneficial to us as a couple, and for the sake of my happiness, Aly had helped me justify it by saying that living in the city would give me a chance to be an ambassador for the Stanton Family brand. Since I did menu consultation for so many restaurants there, I could take the owners I worked with to our Stanton Family warehouse in Brooklyn, and better convince them to source their seafood exclusively from our company.