Offside (Rules of the Game, #1)

by Avery Keelan

“Hell yeah.” His gaze met mine, and he bit his bottom lip, nodding. “Do you know how many times I’ve thought about that?”

“A lot.” Chase’s eyes danced.

“Ah, so you do have a dirty mind.”

“Dirty fo...

“Don’t most guys have a problem with that?”

“I don’t know.” I chewed my bottom lip. “I guess I thought it might make them feel threatened.”

“Baby, I can do all kinds of things to you that a little toy can’t.”

“And as far as you and I go, I’m in this for you. I want to make you feel good. Remember that, okay? You can trust me.”

While it would be convenient for me if Bailey was closer to my friends, the truth was that I mostly wanted her out of her current living situation. Between Morrison showing up and the messed up secret affair between Derek and her roommate, it was toxic as hell. It left me low-key worried about her whenever she was at home.

“I trust you.” I nodded, sucking on my bottom lip before releasing it. “I want … you.”

Luke had wanted sex. But Chase? He wanted me.

“Baby, you’re so hot, and you don’t even know it.”

“Fuck, baby. Your body is so beautiful. Every single inch of it.”

“How’s your girlfriend?” Not even going to argue that point again, although, strictly speaking, we hadn’t defined it like that.

I kind of wanted to. But how would I approach it? I wanted her to be mine in a

very basic, very primal way—caveman-like, as she’d said in the locker room. “Good,” I said. “Makin...

Because I did care, and he was lucky for it. I cared about James too much to throw everything I knew in his face. I never would, but damn if I didn’t want to. Hell, I’d love to

send out a Callingwood-wide email with a CC to his parents to show them what garbage he’d turned out to be.

“Listen fuckface. I’ll put you on notice once and only once.” My voice was laced with menace and poison. “Feel free to shit talk me all day long, but leave Bailey out of it. Don’t

talk about her, don’t talk to her. Stay the hell away from her, and you and I will be fine.”

Six feet and three inches of beautiful, muscular male, and he was all mine. I was more than a little happy to be going home with him.

“This is Kristen. Kristen, this is James. My Bailey. I mean, Bailey, my”—he faltered, brow creasing—“girlfriend?”

endearing. Not to mention, girlfriend did have a nice ring to it.

“Did you give yourself a promotion back there?” He froze on the spot and opened his mouth, but shut it again quickly, his brow furrowed. It may have been a first for Chase. Immediately, I felt bad. I had thought he would banter back. “I didn’t—” “I’m messing with you, Carter,” I said softly. “I like it. I mean … if you like it.” He grinned, squeezing my waist. “I definitely like it.”

THE BAD NEWS was we’d lost to Callingwood. The good news was James hadn’t run for the hills after my not-so-smooth slip of the tongue in front of everyone. And the best news of all was we’d slapped a label on things, and I could actually, officially, call her my girlfriend.

Oh, she was stuck with me now.

“Nice shirt.” “Isn’t it?” Bailey’s mouth tugged into a flirty smile. “I’m a big fan of number nineteen. He’s pretty cute.” “What did I do to deserve this?” I asked, stepping closer. Whatever it was, I’d repeat it on the daily.

“Just being you.”

Bailey’s eyes drifted shut for a beat before opening again and focusing on mine. “A little.” “You don’t need to be nervous with me, James.” “I know.” Her expression softened. “Are you?” I gave her a small smile. “Maybe a little.”

I tried to capture all the reasons in one sentence. “Because I’m so into you that it’s insane.”

She hummed a little sigh, smiling. “Same here.” Not

“I like playing around with you.” I grinned, drifting closer to barely brush my lips against hers, then pulling back again. I paused until she met my gaze. “But if you say stop, it’s a hard stop.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I don’t want you to stop.”

“But do you like me being in charge?”

Her pupils dilated. “Kind of.” “Kind of?” I said. “Or yes?” “Is it weird if I say yes?” Her breath grew shallow. “No,” I rasped. “I like it. But I don’t want to overstep and upset you. That’s why I asked.” Color flooded her cheeks. “Yes.”

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” There was such fondness in his eyes that my nerves abated instantly. “No idea.” His lips turned up in a small smile. “There are no words.”

Like I’d expected, taking this step had shifted things between us. A new kind of intimacy had formed, like being truly seen for the first time. And my heart was full in a way it had never been.

“I didn’t know what I was missing until I found it.”

“You’re pretty sweet when you want to be,” I told him. “I mean it, though.” He ran his fingers down my arm, to the ends of my fingers, and back again. “I’m glad I have you too.” “That’s good, because I’m all in on this. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I can be pretty stubborn.”

AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT—AND morning—with James, I was on cloud fucking nine. I drove her to class, popped back home for a few, then headed to campus, where I spent the day basking in a perfect post-sex high.

My gaze fell to an app-operated turquoise vibrator, my interest piquing. Remote control. The display said the app worked remotely from different locations. Holy shit. If I could get James off while I was out of town for hockey, that would be the fucking sexiest thing ever. Definitely not happening today, but it was going on my shopping list for later.

“My mom’s place is only an hour away. If you don’t leave, I’m dragging you home with me. Just FYI.”

“Really?” Her face brightened. “You’d want me to come?”

“Of course. I’d never let you spend a holiday alone.” Was that even a question? “Plus, then you can m...

“You are so beautiful.” He kissed my neck again, featherlight. “And hot.” He moved higher, kissing my jawline. “And sexy.”

Once in a while, I found myself awed by him. Surprised on some level that he was mine. This was one of those moments. Dark, tousled hair and a devastatingly perfect face. Eyes I could get lost in and a smile I couldn’t say no to. And while he was still fully dressed, I knew the body that lay beneath that shirt and those jeans too. Smooth skin over taut muscle, power and prowess contained within.

It wasn’t that I judged Chase’s past; it was that I was scared of becoming part of it.

“I missed you.” He placed a kiss just below my ear. I tilted my head, yielding to give him better access. “It’s only been a couple days, and I’m like an addict in need of a fix.” I’d missed him

“Just because I have had meaningless sex in the past doesn’t mean it’s meaningless with you. It’s definitely not. You know that, right?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”