by CoraLee June
29
The moment we landed back in Austin, Texas, Oakley had to get to practice. After missing two days and a game, I pretty much assumed the coach would make him run until he puked. Gross. Shelby greeted me wearing clothes—thankfully—and I finally worked up the courage to give Dr. Haynes a call after a long shower and a pep talk in the mirror.
You are a divine goddess.
You fucking rocked this press circus.
Your ass looks great in those overpriced yoga pants.
Dr. Haynes answered on the second ring. “Miss Matthews. Surprised you’re calling.”
“What, did you think I was going to hide? I saw a problem, and I fixed it.” I decided to be confident right off the bat. I was totes rocking this. Dr. Haynes went silent, as if waiting for me to continue. “Although we got lucky with the video going viral, I managed the crisis accordingly. I spun the narrative to best project my client in a positive light. I used my resources to get him interviews with reputable sources and even managed to secure some inquiries about Oakley being the face of a few anti-bullying campaigns.”
“So why are you calling me, Miss Matthews?” Dr. Haynes asked.
I let out a sigh. “Because regardless of your recommendation, I know that I am damn good at this. I had really hoped to learn a lot from you this semester. I still think you’re a god in our industry, despite your shady tactics. But I don’t care if I have to start over with my internship. This is my dream job. I might have messed up, but I cleaned that mess up pretty damn well. I’m like the Hoover vac of publicists.”
Did I seriously just compare myself to a Hoover vac? Fuck.
Dr. Haynes replied. “That’s a very odd analogy, but I’d be inclined to agree.”
“Wh-what?” I asked. I wasn’t expecting him to agree with me.
“I got a call from the university president today, congratulating me on my work with you. They’ve also decided to donate funds to Daisy’s Promise as a gesture of good faith and support for the Davis family. The board and I really like how you managed the press storm. They also got a flood of interest from publications wanting to write pieces about how there is a culture of support on campus. I’ve already suggested you coordinate the efforts. You did good work. You got a little lucky, but that’s half the battle in this industry.”
I needed someone to pinch me. Was this real life?
“I’m going to give you a glowing recommendation, Miss Matthews. Assuming you survive the remainder of the semester. You’ve got about seven more games and a few bowl games to go before graduation. But Coach Howard and I have already discussed it. Keep working hard. I’m here if you need me, and I look forward to seeing you at the commencement ceremony.”
“Th-thank you,” I stammered. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe I pulled it off—and I didn’t need my father to do it.
“Have a good day.” Dr. Haynes hung up the phone, and I did a little dance in my bedroom.
I was so excited that I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I was bursting to tell everyone I knew. Since Oakley was still at practice, I sent him a text, knowing he wouldn’t be able answer for a hot minute.
Amanda: Talked to Dr. Haynes - I’m graduating early!! I still have the job!
I added about five more exclamation points before sending it. Just to make sure he would know how excited I was.
Next, I called my mom. She answered after one ring. It’s like she sensed from a thousand miles away that I had something important to tell her.
“Hey, honey, what’s going on?” she answered.
“I did it, Mom! I’m going to graduate early with recommendations from both Dr. Haynes and Coach Howard!” I blurted out so fast all my words ran together.
“I knew you could do it! And if those two old farts had given you anything less than that, I would have flown down there to kick them in the balls myself!” she said, a little too enthusiastically.
We chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. I was surprised to see a text from Oakley waiting for me.
Oakley: So proud, Solver. Meet me at the football field after practice. We need to celebrate!
I started primping immediately, and this time, I wanted Oakley to think that I made the extra effort to look good for him. I went a little outside of my comfort zone and put on some bolder eye makeup with red lipstick. I didn’t even need a YouTube goddess this time.
I slipped on a black chiffon tank top and shimmied into some dark skinny jeans. I put on flats since I didn’t know what we were doing. I could still be sexy as hell and wear comfortable shoes. I waited until my alarm went off on my phone, alerting me that practice was done, before making my way to the stadium. I couldn’t wait to celebrate—especially if that celebration involved Oakley and me doing the hibbity-dibbity. I wanted him to fill me out like a job application. Glaze my donut. Lock legs and swap gravy. I was gonna sheath his meat dagger and rock those two-person push-ups.
Okay, I’m done for realsies now.
I ran a hand through my hair and walked down the sidewalk. Oakley Davis was mine.
“Solver,” Oakley greeted with a low whistle before strutting up to me. His hair was wet as if he’d freshly showered. And though he moved like a man that was just forced to do a bazillion push-ups, he looked incredible.
“Coach run you ragged?” I asked with a giggle as he did a slow, sexy sweep with his eyes.
“He rode my ass all practice. But he seemed happy with my skills. He told me to stop wearing makeup and improve my footwork.” I laughed while shifting my weight on my feet. I suddenly felt awkward and unsure of what to say. Luckily, Oakley seemed cool and confident. “I bribed a security guard. We got the stadium to ourselves for a few hours. I also ordered us a pizza.”
The old me would have mentally calculated the grease content and calories, but the new me smiled. “I hope you ordered pepperoni.” One cheat meal couldn’t hurt.
He laid a blanket down on the fifty-yard line, and the lights shut off. Somehow, he’d managed to find a couple of flashlights from security guards and set them up like lanterns around us. I sat cross-legged on the ground, munching happily on pizza as he stared at me. “Amanda Matthews,” he began. Why did he sound so nervous?
“Yes?” I wiped at the corner of my mouth with a napkin before setting my slice of pizza down.
“You’re crazy.”
Not exactly the romantic sentiment I wanted, but okay. “Why?”
“The first time we met, you were going through my phone and kicking my ass. I seriously thought I was going to have to get a restraining order.”
“You probably should have. I broke a few privacy laws,” I replied with a laugh.
“You constantly surprise me. You make me better. I...was a little lost before you. We’ve already kind of established that you’re my girlfriend now. I’m kind of terrified that you’re graduating early, but we can face a long-distance relationship when we get there. I just want to ask you a very important question.” He started digging around the blanket, and my anxiety spiked.
No. No. Certainly he wasn’t going to—
“Why do you look terrified?” he asked, pausing his movements to look at me.
“I like you a lot, Oakley. But if there is a ring somewhere hidden on your person, I will probably freak out and say no and embarrass us both. This isn’t a Hallmark movie.”
He tipped his head back and laughed, holding his stomach, roaring with humor. “I’m not proposing, Solver. I wanted to ask if you’d be my girlfriend. Officially.”
My cheeks flooded with embarrassment, and I watched as he resumed searching for something. Luckily, it wasn’t a velvet box he pulled out, but a single rose.
“Your mom said they were the ultimate expression of...l-love.” He stumbled on that word, and my mouth dropped open. Love? He loved me. Holy cats, he loved me.
“I love you too,” I replied in a whisper. “You crazy pain in the ass.”
He started laughing, and I reached forward to cup his cheeks for
a kiss. His soft lips fit perfectly with mine. God, he was a good kisser, his tongue darting skillfully over mine. I loved this man. I really did. This infuriating, kind, hardworking, protective man.
I gently pushed him down onto the blanket so that he was lying on his back. I positioned my body at his side, wrapping one of my legs around his. My clitorasaurus roared to life.
I took the rose and teased it down his neck. “Time to return the favor,” I said in a throaty voice.
Oakley reached up to touch me, but I caught his hand in mine and shook my head. “Can we go somewhere more private?” I didn’t want to risk some pervy groundskeeper recording us. A leaked sex tape would probably be bad for publicity. Oakley smirked. “I know just the place.”
Oakley quickly got up and grabbed my wrist. Abandoning the picnic, we made our way through a tunnel and to an elevator. “Where are we going?” I asked as he pressed the button leading to the top floor.
Instead of answering, Oakley cornered me, pressing me against the wall of the elevator with his hard body. “Oh-oh my,” I rasped when his palm cupped my breast.
His lips landed on mine, and I curled my leg around him, moaning and flicking my tongue against his. I slipped his shirt over his head, and when the doors opened, we left it on the floor while running out of there.
“Welcome to the press box,” Oakley whispered, flicking on the lights. As much as I wanted to look around, I wanted Oakley naked more.
I started what I prayed to Aphrodite was a sexy striptease as Oakley made his way over to a large window overlooking the stadium. He looked so handsome and powerful standing there with his back pressed against the glass.
After I had danced my way out of my blouse and jeans, I unhooked my bra and slowly lowered it down to reveal my nipples already budding with anticipation. Oakley followed my movements hungrily. I loved the effect I was having on him. As I twirled my bra around my finger, his chest heaved up and down.
I dropped the bra and trailed my fingers down his bare pecs and past his sculpted abs, stopping where I could see Oakley’s massive erection through his jeans. “I want to make you feel good,” I whispered before unbuttoning his pants and shoving them down.
“Oh fuck, this moment is going in my spank bank for all eternity,” Oakley rushed out as I dropped to my knees and stared at his long dong silver with a hint of trepidation. I was a bit intimidated by his size. Parting my lips, I licked the tip, making him shake.
“Fuck,” Oakley groaned as I took him in my mouth. He held my hair back with his hands, jerking his hips with every pump of my mouth. He tasted good, and when I stopped to lick him from the base of his cock all the way to the tip, his entire body shook. “Yeah, I need inside of you right now.”
Oakley brought me to my feet and frantically pulled my panties down while bringing me over to a wall. One second my feet were firmly on the ground, and the next he was picking me up and pressing my back against it. I wrapped my legs around his hips. “Fuck, condom,” he groaned.
“I’m clean and religiously take the pill,” I rushed out. I wanted to feel him with nothing between us.
“I’m clean, too.” I gave him a look laced with scrutiny. It was probably bad form to bring up previous sexcapades after a declaration of love and right before he boned me, but I didn’t fuck around. “I just got tested. Coach makes us do physicals every month.” He looked at me, waiting for the go-ahead, and when I gave him a little nod and a wicked smile, Oakley thrust inside of me.
I’ve never been with a man coordinated and strong enough to do the whole standing wall sex thing, but Oakley Davis held me against him, sliding in and out of me with pure skill. I moaned and whimpered as our bodies moved. Up and down. My legs were shaking while wrapped around him. With his head tilted back, I kissed at his neck, crying out with the crest of my orgasm.
“Oh fuck,” I screamed. My body quaked, and I dug my fingers into his back. I really hoped no one could hear us up here. The second I could see clearly again, Oakley set me down, and my legs shook with the aftermath of my pleasure. We both continued kissing frantically as he guided me to the cool tile floor.
I climbed on top of Oakley and straddled him. Being on top of him made me feel powerful. In control. Beautiful. I dipped my head down to his neck and traced long slow circles with my tongue, working my way up to his ear. I tenderly bit his earlobe, and Oakley let out a soft moan. He was so fucking sexy when he moaned.
I was ready to have him again, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I reached down and positioned his cock at my entrance, plunging him inside of me. “Yesss,” Oakley hissed. I rode him, thanking God I’d been working on my squats. Being on top was a lot of work.
He moaned and said my name over and over and over again. We climbed that peak of bliss together. Our bodies were slick with sex, and the sound of our panting filled the room. He felt so good, and each gyration of my hips brought us closer and closer.
“Amanda,” Oakley cried out as his body went stiff. My breath hitched as I joined him. We both fell apart on a scream, the rolling orgasm running through my body like a bath overflowing with water. And when we were done, I collapsed on his chest, completely sated and out of breath.
“That was,” Oakley began, seemingly at a loss for words. “That was incredible.”
I smiled and rolled over to his side, finally taking a moment to look around the room full of desks, computers, and office chairs. “Solver,” Oakley whispered while propping his head up to stare at me. He stroked my neck with his fingers.
“Yeah?”
“I love you. I mean that. I really fucking love you.”
My heart bloomed. I couldn’t believe this man. I couldn’t believe we were here. Oakley Davis broke down all my walls and proved me wrong. We were both changed for the better.
“I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Three Years Later
“If you want an exclusive with my client, then you better make it worth our while. He’s the hottest player in the NFL right now, and if you want him on the cover of your magazine, we need to make sure it represents his brand well,” I said while simultaneously typing an email. I was a multitasking goddess.
“We’ll send over the concept right away, Miss Matthews,” the editor for Sports Illustrated rushed out. I ended the call and stretched my arms up. I’d been working all day and needed a break. Being a publicist to three of the top athletes in the US was a lot of work, but I loved every second of it. Although I really needed to study golf a bit more for my newest client. I had no idea what a barkie was and had made a fool of myself earlier. Good thing I was damn good at the other aspects of my job.
“You done working?” Oakley asked. He’d popped his head in the doorway to my home office.
“Yes. I’m so hungry. I need carbs. And maybe a Diet Coke,” I pleaded, standing up. Oakley fully entered my office, and I was shocked to find that he was in a suit. “What are you wearing? Shit. Was there an event tonight I forgot?”
Oakley smiled. “Yep. I laid your dress out on your bed. Be ready in an hour?” I casually reached for my calendar, but he reached out to grab my wrist, stopping me. “No working. Go get dressed.”
I gave him a curious look before heading to my room. My apartment was in the heart of Dallas, about an hour’s drive from the practice stadium. Oakley owned a house nearby, but he basically lived with me. Slowly, he’d been taking over my closet space and bathroom countertops, but I didn’t mind. He was a busy man, playing for the Dallas Cowboys and making guest appearances around the world. I was greedy for whatever time I could get.
Three years. Three years of dating and navigating the crazy world of sports together. Three years of romance and humor. He was my boyfriend, but also my best friend. In addition to managing his career, we also built up Daisy’s Promise to be one of the largest anti-cyberbullying organizations in the world. Together, we’d brought down numerous videos and assisted victims across the globe.
The dress he picked was long, bl
ack, and elegant. It had a slit up the thigh and a heart-shaped neckline that graciously emphasized my curves. I put it on and did my makeup, lightly dusting eyeshadow and powder on before grabbing my clutch and meeting him in my living room.
“Fuck, Solver. You look incredible,” he grunted while holding his hand out to me.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I asked. He was always doing this. Surprising me with extravagant dates and taking me out. I loved how romantic he was.
“Nope. The car is waiting,” he replied with a smile before leading me out the door.
To my surprise, we took a limo to the Dallas Arboretum. Daisy’s Promise had funded a rose garden here a year ago, and we tried to visit whenever we could. “What are we doing here?” I asked. My intuition was screaming at me that this was big, and I had the urge to pat him down and see if he was packing a little black box. We’d talked about marriage, but every big date usually ended in orgasms and not a diamond ring—not that I was complaining.
It was funny how the first time I thought he was proposing, I was terrified. Now, every time I got an inkling that it was happening, it made me feel a lot of hope.
“I want to show you something,” he insisted.
The gardens were absolutely stunning. We strolled along the long, winding paths through trees lit up with twinkle lights that made me feel like I was in a fairy tale. Although the heels on my feet reminded me that I hated the stiletto death traps and wanted nothing more than to murder the inventor of them.
It wasn’t until we made it to the beautiful rose garden that my heart completely fell out of my ass. I mean, I wasn’t sure if that was actually possible, but that’s how it felt. “Amanda Matthews,” Oakley said. My strong man was shaking and looked like he was about to puke.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he replied quickly.
“WAS THAT AMANDA? DID SHE SAY YES?” a voice asked.
I blinked. That sounded like… “Is my mother here?” I asked, looking around. Oakley quickly reached up and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.