First Down (Beyond the Play #1)

by Grace Reilly

“You’re easy to rile up, you know.” I press forward. “Keep touching me.” He tears the panties down my thighs. “Next time, I’m going to see if I can make you come just like this, Bex. My mouth on those gorgeous full tits, teasing until you cream yourself.” I freeze, even though his hand is right at the top of my sex, and I desperately want it lower. “There won’t be another time.” The smile drops from his face. “Right.” “This is just sex.” I can’t keep the waver out of my voice.

“I know.” He leans in, kissing the corner of my mouth. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.” “Just—don’t talk about a future that can’t happen.” “Okay.” He strokes the top of my folds, bringing his other hand up to tweak my nipple again. “But I’m tasting you.” “You don’t have—” He cuts me off by spreading my legs and burying his head between my thighs.

My brain short-circuits when he presses a finger into me alongside his tongue. He uses his other hand to continue to play with my clit as he laps up my wetness, leaving me clenching around his finger. I sob with relief when he adds another, scissoring them, stretching me. “That’s it, princess.” He speaks right against my skin, and the rumble of his voice just heightens the sensations running through me.

I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him, rubbing myself against his cock until his breath hitches. He’s been having his way with me and I’m loving it, but there’s no way I’m letting him have all the fun.

“Fuck, you feel good, baby.” “You have condoms, right?” He reaches over, grabbing one from the nightstand. I take it from him, impatient now, and try to rip it open with my teeth. No such luck. He laughs as he takes it from me, opening it with ease and rolling it on his cock. “I got you.”

He rolls us over so I’m on my back, and nudges my legs apart with his knee. I oblige him, gripping his arms to steady myself as he lines up. A muscle in his arm jumps as I squeeze. He rubs his cock against my entrance, getting the tip wet with my slick. “James.” I gasp as his hand brushes my still-sensitive clit. “Don’t tease.” He looks down at me, something unidentifiable in his gaze. “I won’t, Beckett.” He pushes in. A little at a time, his face taut with concentration, leaving me rapt as I watch the intensity in his eyes. Beckett. He called me by my full name. Not Bex, not “princess.” Beckett. It makes my toes curl, even though it shouldn’t.

When I stumble into the kitchenette on Saturday morning, there’s a package waiting for me on the table.

There’s a note on the top, and when I see my name written in James’s handwriting on the envelope, I try and fail to bite back my smile. Inside, there’s a single piece of notebook paper with just one line on it, signed with a J. Figured you’d need the right jersey, princess. —J Laura snatches the note from my hand as I tear into the package. “Princess? He calls you princess?” “Kind of.”

I unfold the jersey. It’s his, of course; the number 9 stitched on both sides and CALLAHAN across the back in block letters. I used to have Darryl’s jersey, but I got rid of it along with a bunch of other things back in the spring, after I discovered that he was cheating. “It’s the perfect size,” I say. Laura nods sagely. “It’ll show off your boobs. I’m sure he picked it out with that in mind.”

Thank God we’re not trying to fool James’s parents with our fake relationship, because I’m pretty sure Richard Callahan hates me. When Laura and I arrived at the box with Sebastian, he introduced me as James’s friend. Sandra immediately pulled me into a hug and asked how I knew her son, so I explained the tutoring, leaving out the other half of the deal. Richard greeted me politely, but the game is almost over now, and he’s been glaring at me nonstop.

Sebastian leans in. “You’re going to hang out with us after, right?” “Yes, she is,” Laura says before I can reply. I roll my eyes. “Of course. Izzy pretty much threatened me with pain of death if I didn’t.” “You’ll get used to it,” he says. “She can be very persuasive.” For a moment, I wish what he just said was true; that I’ll get used to it because as his girlfriend, I’ll be seeing a lot more of his family. But I shake my head slightly, banishing that thought. If anything, I can let myself get comfortable with being his friend. But that’s it.

He looks so serious as he sets up the line, yet somehow relaxed as well. I’ve never been an athlete, so I can’t understand it, but something tells me he’s got this. This time, the pass connects in the end zone. I scream, bouncing up and down on the tips of my toes as Laura grabs my hand tightly, cheering in my ear. Izzy calls out her brother’s name, and Richard and Sandra meet eyes and smile, which is an unexpectedly sweet gesture. Down on the field, James pumps his fist in a quiet celebration, then jogs over to his teammates.

McKee still has a perfect season. James still has a perfect season. His old team came to his new house, and he showed them right to the door. I’m so freakin’ proud I can’t stop smiling.

I turn to my father, expecting him to have something to say about that interception, but before he can talk, Bex appears at my side. She grabs my arm, leaning up to kiss my cheek. “Hey.” “Hey, princess,” I say automatically. I give my dad a quick glance; he’s frowning in a way I don’t like. Shit. “Did you enjoy the game?” She turns my face with her finger and kisses me on the lips. It’s clear why the moment I see Darryl walking by. He glowers at me, but doesn’t come over, thank fuck. “You were amazing,” she says, her pretty brown eyes sparkling with excitement. There’s glitter in her hair and scattered over her cheeks, and the jersey I sent over this morning looks amazing on her. My stomach tightens pleasantly at the thought of her wearing my name and number on her back. “I had a lot of fun. Plus, your sister is hilarious.” “Beckett,” my father says, “would you mind if you gave us a moment alone?” Bex looks between us with a frown. “Sure. Sorry.”

My father is pissed. He walks away from the crowd, heading further into the stadium, and I follow without a word. I knew asking Bex to watch the game from the box was a risk, but I expected to have a chance to explain everything first. I don’t blame her for kissing me—that’s the deal, after all, we act like a couple, especially in front of Darryl—but that doesn’t mean the timing doesn’t suck. When we’re alone, he turns around, arms crossed tightly over his chest. “When were you going to mention the fact you’re screwing your tutor?”

“We hooked up once,” I say. “We’re not actually dating.” “Sure as hell seems like she thinks you are.” “We’re pretending to date,” I amend. “In exchange for tutoring.” He works his jaw. “Pretending.” “Her ex . . . he won’t leave her alone. He’s a piece of shit who was threatening her.” I don’t mention he’s also on the team because that would just add in another complication.

“I needed a tutor for the writing class, and she’s getting through to me in a way other tutors haven’t. She didn’t want money, but she said if I pretended to be her boyfriend in public, she’d help me out. It’s keeping her ex away from her.” He grunts. “And then you slept with her.” “Once.” I run my hand through my still-damp hair. “We’re friends, Dad. I asked her to the game because she’s my friend. And us hooking up has nothing to do with my game.” He shakes his head. “I don’t like it.” “Noted.” I turn to go because he’s starting to piss me off, but then he says my name. I turn back around. There’s genuine concern in his eyes.

“I love you,” he says. “And I want the best for you. And a relationship is not the best thing for you right now.” “I already said we’re not dating.” “She’s wearing your jersey, son.” “Hundreds of people in this stadium wore my jersey tonight. Maybe thousands.”

Bex is wearing my jersey because I gave it to her. I went to the bookstore on campus and picked out the one I liked best, and then I wrapped it up like a present and left it at her door. It’s the one I wanted Darryl to see her in. The one I wanted to see her in. He sighs, rubbing at his jaw. “You said her ex was threatening her?” “He’s an asshole.” I remember the way she flinched, the bruises on her wrists, and feel my stomach tighten. “But you don’t have to worry about me.”

He must like what he sees in my expression, because eventually, he nods. “As long as you don’t let yourself get caught up in her.” “I won’t. It was a one-time thing.” “Good.” He pulls me into a hug, slapping my back so hard it stings. I might have convinced him, but in my heart, I’m not so sure I’m going to be able to keep this casual.

“Walk me to the door?” “Like you have to ask.” She smiles. “Bye, Seb. It was fun spending time with you and your sister today.” Seb gives me a look as I get out of the car, which I ignore. So what if I sound like I’m actually her boyfriend? It’s not real. I told Dad the same thing. It’s just the polite thing to do since she was my guest to the game today.

I take her hand as we walk in the direction of the dorm building. “Hey, you painted your nails purple. That’s cute.” “Laura insisted.” “Did you actually have fun?” She smiles. “Yeah. I knew you were talented, but this was next level. You’re incredible on the field.” Pleasure sings through me. “Thank you.” She ducks her head, blushing. “I’m sure you get that all the time.” “It means more coming from you.” “Really?” “Really. You look good in my jersey.” I brush a lock of her hair back behind her ear. “Pretty girl.” “James,” she whispers. I kiss her. She makes a hungry little sound, running her tongue over the seam of my lips. My hands find her hips, pulling her close. My father’s voice echoes in my head, and I know he’s right, I know I shouldn’t. There’s no one around but my brother. No one to fool. But I can’t help myself. “Come inside,” she says. I can’t say no.

Ahhh so cute!!

I want her in that jersey and nothing else, stat. She stops with the key in the doorknob. “This is still just sex.” “Definitely.” “We’re just exploring our attraction.” I nod against her neck as I kiss it. “Show me inside.”

Lol you two are bad liars

I open the door, fumbling for the light switch. The overhead light comes on, revealing a neat little bedroom. There’s a bed in the corner, made perfectly with a floral-patterned quilt, Albert the stuffed bear plopped down against the pillows. In the opposite corner, there’s a desk covered in books and papers, plus lots of photography on the walls. I want to look at them more closely, because I’m sure it’s her own art and she hasn’t let me see any of it yet, but right now, I’m too turned on to stop and ask.

Her throat is so tight, wet and warm and welcoming, but what makes me lose my mind is when I notice she has a hand down her leggings. She’s fucking touching herself as she sucks me, too turned on to wait. “I’m coming,” I grunt a second before it happens. She pulls off, but not all the way; I come in her mouth and all over her lips rather than down her throat. And this little minx just smiles, licking at her lips. The hand between her legs is still moving.

I kick off my jeans and pull my t-shirt over my head, and she does the same with her leggings. She’s about to take off the jersey, but I stop her. “I love seeing you in this.” She presses her face against my bare chest, kissing my tattoo. “Oh yeah?” “Sexy as hell, babe.” “You’re the sexy one. I was thinking about sucking you off the whole game.” I play with the hem of the jersey. “Seriously?” “You’re in command on the field. It’s hot, trust me.”

Aaahhhhh!! Obsessed!!

She sits up a bit, looking down at me. “James?” I set Albert on the bed next to us. “Yeah?” “I’m sorry if I messed up anything with your dad.” I’m shaking my head before she can say anything else. “Don’t. I handled it.” “I don’t think he liked me being there.” “He was just surprised.” Her brow knits together. “Does he know we’re not really dating?” “Now he does,” I say, even though that makes my chest hurt. “He was just concerned about it, but I explained.”

She continues to trace the lines of my tattoo. “Your brother has the same one.” “Yeah. Seb too. We got them together a couple summers ago.” “It looks familiar,” she says. “What is it?” “It’s the Celtic knot. You know, Callahan. Irish roots.” “It looks good on you.” She kisses it softly. “I know I didn’t want to stay over last time. But you will, right?” I kiss her cheek before saying, “Show me your photography.” She blinks, eyes widening. “If you really want?” I hold her gaze. “I do. I was going to ask before, but full disclosure, I was too fucking hard.”

Omg they are so cute!!

I point to a photograph of somewhere I recognize; it’s the great hall in McKee’s library. The table looks familiar, because it’s the one we sit at when we go there to study. My laptop is open on the table next to hers; our jackets hang on the backs of two chairs. She blushes, tracing over the photograph. “I took it when you went to go call your sister.” I snort as the memory comes back to me. “She was afraid she accidentally ate a pot brownie.” “Did she?” “Honestly, I’m still not sure. Coop thinks she did.” I hold up the photograph. Seeing evidence of our time together makes me feel warm inside, like I just drank a huge gulp of hot cider. “You’re seriously talented.” “Do you want it?” She ducks her gaze down. “I mean, if you want it, you can have it.” “Not like this.”

I kiss it away quickly. “Princess, you need to sign it for me first.” She practically throws the photography on her nightstand, climbing into my lap. My hands grip the backs of her thighs automatically, groaning when she presses open-mouthed kisses to my throat. “Can you go again?” she says breathlessly, rubbing her cheek against mine as she grinds down in my lap. “Want to ride your cock.” And again, I can’t say no. Not to her. There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than in her bed, watching her bounce on my dick in my jersey. I bring my hands up, massaging her firm ass. “As long as you let me eat your pretty pussy after.”

After the game against LSU, something shifted. I invited him home, to my suite, and he spent the night. We fucked three times before finally falling asleep. When I woke up in the morning, he was curled around me almost comically, his feet hanging over the edge of the bed, one hand palming my bare bottom, the other tucked around Albert.

“Don’t panic,” he told me. “This doesn’t have to change anything.” “How?” I whispered. “We’re friends,” he said, stroking my tangled hair. “Friends who are attracted to each other. We can keep doing this without complicating it.” “Sounds like a recipe for disaster.” “Do you want to stop? Say you want to stop, and we will.” “Our deal?” “Not the deal. Just this.” I shook my head. In the end, I couldn’t lie. “I don’t want to stop.” “Then we won’t.” He kissed me properly, then, and I hit his arm because our breath smelled horrible, and he’d just smiled and pulled me closer.

A couple days ago, he officially received his nomination for this fancy football award, and where was I? In the background, doing a silent happy dance as he called his parents to share the news.

“Hey. What’s all this?” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Thought you might want some breakfast.” “It smells incredible,” Cooper declares as he brushes past his brother. He grabs a mug and fills it with coffee from the fresh pot I made, then pokes at the hash browns, stealing a bite. “Hey,” I say. “Let me make you a plate. I still need to fry the eggs.” “You really didn’t have to do any of this,” James says. He pours a cup of coffee too, kissing the top of my head before grabbing a piece of bacon. Sebastian and Cooper give each other a look. I hide my blush by turning back to the stove and cracking the first batch of eggs into the skillet I’ve been warming slowly. “I grew up in a diner,” I say. “I can do this in my sleep. Besides, I didn’t want Sebastian’s potatoes to go to waste.” “How can I help?” he says. “You can set the table, if you want?”

“Holy crap,” Cooper says as he picks up two of the plates and brings them to the table. “Bex, you’ve been hiding some serious skills.” I shrug, biting back the smile that threatens to engulf my face. “Wait until you taste it.” James sits at the table next to me, leaning in so our arms brush. “I’m sorry I had to go this morning. Although less sorry now.” “Did all three of you go to the gym?” “Yeah,” he says as he breaks the yolk of his egg. “Probably sounds silly to you, but it’s a fun thing for us to do together. Hey, Coop, show her the bruise you got at that game.” Cooper lifts his t-shirt, showing off a deep blue and purple mess on his ribcage. I gasp. “What happened?” “Chirped at the wrong guy.” I tilt my head to the side. “Like, smack talk?” He grins as he takes a bite of hash. “Exactly. I’m sure he’s got a matching shiner; we went pretty rough against the boards.” Sebastian rolls his eyes. “And then you went into the penalty box for slashing.” Cooper shrugs at Sebastian’s chiding tone. “So did he.”

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I almost don’t pick it up, but it’s my mom. The first thing I hear is sirens. My heart forces its way into my throat. I stand up, my chair scraping against the floor. James glances over at me. I think he says my name, but I can’t hear him, not over the sirens, my heartbeat, and worst of all, my mother’s frantic sobs. “Mom,” I say. “Slow down, I can’t understand you.” “It happened so fast!” she says. “Bex, I don’t know what to do!” I hurry around the table, making a beeline for the stairs. I burst into James’s room, grab my bag, and shove all my crap into it. I can barely understand her, but the word fire comes through. As I turn, I run smack into James. He steadies me, looking down at me with concern in his expression. “Bex, what’s going on?” “Who’s that?” I hear my mother say from the phone. “No one,” I say. “I’m on my way right now.” I don’t have time for this. And I don’t have time for the hurt way James is looking at me.

“Bex!” I hear him call from the landing. He thunders down the stairs, reaching the front door half a beat behind me. I unlock my car with shaking fingers and slide into the driver’s seat. James appears at the window and knocks on it. “Bex, stop. Tell me what’s going on.” “I have to go.” “Like hell you are.” He opens the car door, covering his hand with mine to prevent me from shoving the key into the ignition. “You’re panicking, you’ll get into an accident. Let me drive.” “No. Just leave me—” “Goddamnit, Bex, no! You’ll get hurt.”

I roughly wipe away the tears streaming down my face. From somewhere in the haze of panic, I recognize he’s right. I don’t want him to go to my hometown with me; I don’t want him to see the diner like this—if there’s a diner to see—and most of all, I don’t want him to see my mother. But I need to get there as quickly as possible, and he’s my best option. “Fine,” I mumble. He relaxes visibly. “Good. Get in the car, baby. Let me just grab the keys.” Cooper and Sebastian approach, Cooper holding out a set of keys. He tosses them to James, who catches them with ease. “Got them. Let’s go.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the red and blue flash of sirens. Bex flings the door open before I can put the car in park. After we got on the road, I managed to wrangle exactly one piece of information from her: there was a fire at the diner. She’s lost in her own world of panic, refusing to let me in. I tried holding her hand on the drive, and she looked at me like I just dropped my pants in public. I tried to push her for more details, and she snapped at me. At this point, I’m just glad she let me drive her here. But I’m not leaving her alone. Not now. She needs someone to support her, whether she likes it or not. I run after her, vaguely aware of my brothers following close behind. She’s in the middle of the street. Jesus, she’s lucky she hasn’t gotten run over. I hustle her to the sidewalk, and she must be stunned, looking at the fire trucks, because she doesn’t protest. The air is hazy with smoke, but it doesn’t seem like anything is still on fire.

“Bex, hey. Your mom said you were on your way.” She knows this guy? I know I shouldn’t care, but I do. I inch closer to Bex. “Kyle,” Bex says. “How bad is it?” How does she know this guy? Did she go to high school with him? He grimaces. “It could be worse. The fire was upstairs, mostly.” Bex glances at the building, her teeth digging into her lower lip. “Upstairs? The apartment?” “Your mom will need to stay somewhere else while the damage is fixed. Smoke ruins more than you’d think.” “Was there any damage to the diner?” I ask. Kyle glances over at me. “Who’s this?” “I’m James.” I hold out my hand. “Her boyfriend.” Behind me, either Seb or Coop coughs. I ignore them. The last thing Bex needs right now is this dude hitting on her. Kyle shakes my hand, but he keeps looking at Bex. “The diner is pretty much fine, maybe needs some repairs. The building needs to be inspected, of course. Your mom was upstairs when it happened, but she’s okay.”

Kyle reaches us. “Bex,” he says. “You need to have someone come in and inspect the damage done to the building. Don’t go upstairs, it’s not safe.” “He’s right,” I tell her, even though I’m reluctant to side with Kyle on anything. I don’t want her breathing in this shitty air or trying to see the apartment and getting hurt. She steps forward anyway, touching the scorched banister. My hand twitches in hers. If I need to haul her out of the building to keep her from hurting herself, I will, but I’d much rather it not come to that.

“This is a mess,” Cooper says quietly. “You’re creating expectations, man.” Bex approaches Abby, who turns to her and pulls her into a tight hug. Who the hell lights a cigarette five feet away from an actual fire? I don’t like the guilt in her expression, the way she’s looking at Bex like she’s sorry. Something doesn’t feel right here. What did she lose in the fire? “She needs support,” I say. “Sure,” Seb says. “But you just introduced yourself as her boyfriend.” “And you look like you’re about to commit murder for her,” says Coop. “I know she’s cool, but—” I turn on him. “Watch your mouth.” “James, come on. She’s going to think this means something.” My heart thuds. “And maybe it does. It’s not your fucking business.”

I love Cooper, but he doesn’t understand. Something shifted the moment I saw her take that phone call. I can’t examine it right now, but I can’t push it away, either.

“Honey,” Abby says, “it was just a little fire.” Bex crosses her arms over her chest tightly. I wind my arm around her waist, bracing myself for her to move away, but instead she leans into my grip. It’s subtle, but enough to loosen the knot in my chest somewhat. “Little?” she says. “Kyle just told me you need to go live somewhere else while they fix the damage. Everything’s gone, even . . . That’s not little, Mom. You’re lucky you’re not dead.” Abby takes a drag from her cigarette. “Who’s the hunk? You cheating on Darryl now?” “He cheated on me,” Bex says with exaggerated patience. “We haven’t been together since last spring. This is James.” “And the other two?” Abby looks over to my brothers, who are lingering like they’re not sure whether to come over. “What about the blond. He’s cute.”

“I have to call Aunt Nicole and see if you can stay with her. And then call the insurance company and file a claim. What the hell were you thinking, falling asleep like that?” Abby has the decency to look embarrassed. “Let’s not talk about it in front of your friend, Bexy.” “Don’t Bexy me. And he’s my boyfriend, so he stays.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Even though the situation is serious, and I want to shake Bex’s mother, that word on her lips in relation to me makes me feel a certain kind of way.

“Why do you care about this? You’re never around anymore.” “That’s not true. I come back to the diner all the time.” “What, to work a shift and collect tips?” My hand tightens on Bex’s hip. “That’s not fair,” she says softly. “I’ll tell you what’s not fair,” Abby says. “A man leaving his wife and daughter isn’t fair. A daughter leaving her mother isn’t fair.” “Mom.” Bex is trembling. “I’m going to McKee to help us, you know that.” “Right up until you aren’t.” “My old photography was up there. My camera.” Bex takes a step forward, tears streaming down her cheeks. “And because of you, that’s all gone, because you fucking fell asleep in the middle of the day when you’re supposed to be managing the goddamn diner!”

Abby’s face crumples. “You know how hard it is, baby.” “I don’t care.” She fists her hands in her hair, taking in a ragged breath. “You’re supposed to be my mother. You take care of me, not the other way around.” She sobs. “I made you a promise and you promised me back.” Abby doesn’t say anything. The cigarette slips from her fingers, and I step forward before she can, grinding it underneath my heel. “Mom,” Bex whispers. “Tell me you remember. You made me promise.” But Abby doesn’t say a word.

“You’re sure about this?” Laura asks. She’s on my bed, watching as I pack the suitcase.

I add pajamas to the top of the suitcase and zip it shut. “It’s just one weekend.” “Alone with him in a hotel room.” Laura frowns. “It’s not something you do when it’s casual. Or when you’re pretending.” “I don’t think we’re pretending anymore,” I admit. The confession makes Laura’s jaw drop.

When he introduced himself as my boyfriend, it felt right. True, not part of the lie. Maybe somewhere between study sessions and texting, the fake dates and kisses, something changed. When I look at him, I instantly feel a little safer. Not just around Darryl. All the time, even if we’re just at his dining room table, doing schoolwork while Seb cooks dinner and Cooper reads. He had my back at the diner. Now he wants me to have his at this game.