Fair Catch

by Kandi Steiner

I didn’t care if she hated me. In fact, I was glad she did. It made it easier to keep my focus on protecting her and off the temptation to claim her for my own.

I was used to eating by myself, but Holden took the seat across from me as soon as I sat down, and the rest of the table filled quickly with players who hadn’t said more than a word to me all camp. No one praised me. No one called attention to my kick. But there was an unspoken alliance there, like I was finally part of the team. It felt like more of a victory than the kick itself.

His biceps bulged where his jersey cut into the flesh, the crisp white contrasted against his black skin. Pants of the same color embraced him like a glove, and I had to work harder than I cared to admit not to notice how well they hugged his ass. He looked good in our university colors, the white, brick red, and gold.

“We win as a team, we lose as a team,” Holden said loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You shoved her so hard she hit the ground, you fucking douche,” Clay argued, snatching the ball out of Kyle’s hands. “She’s not wearing pads. You could have really hurt her.” It was then that I realized I was warm and cradled, and my eyelids fluttered as I looked up at who was holding me. Zeke. His jaw was set, neck thick with emotion as his nostrils flared. There was so much in his gaze… too much. It set fire to my belly, the raw protectiveness rolling off him in plumes.

Awww her teammates finally sticking up for her.. especially Zeke😏

“You’re really not going to make him pay for that shit?” I laughed. “I think him losing was payment enough for me.” I shrugged. “Besides… it wasn’t about some dare for me. It was about respect.”

👏🏽👏🏽

I’d never felt my heart beat like that before, never felt that… possessive.

Zeke’s defeated face made me want to do something. So… I gave him a little motivation. “What?” he asked suspiciously when he saw the mischievous gleam in my eyes. “I have a proposition.” “Oh, God.” I laughed. “What if we quizzed each other?” “Sounds thrilling.” I smirked. “But with higher stakes.” He arched a brow. “If you get a question right, I take a piece of clothing off.”

Making school work a little more interesting 😏

But before I could finish the sentence, Zeke rushed me in equal measure, closing the distance between us. Shock washed over me like an earthquake, sudden and unexpected, and the words died on my lips as I watched him descend on me. His heavy footsteps echoed in the chambers of my heart. His hot breath silenced any attempt of me telling him to stop. His hands slipped into my hair, tugging tight and tilting my chin up. And then his mouth claimed mine in a kiss of thunder that beckoned the storm inside me to rage.

I was a symphony of breaths and moans as he carried me blindly through the dorm, kicking my bedroom door open with his foot. My next breath was cut short as I was pinned against the wall, and his possessive kiss crawled over my jaw, down my neck, until he nipped at my collarbone and I arched into him, silently begging for more.

“Because I am scarred by the fire you started in me. Because you have reduced me to fucking ashes.”

“Because I ache for you,” he breathed against my lips next. “And I’ll end anyone who touches what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I managed on a breath as he kissed his way across my shoulders. He laughed — not in a humorous way, but in a dark, terrifying manner that made me shiver as he stripped my sports bra off me next.

His eyes wore a wicked gleam as he kissed along those thighs, and I shivered with each touch, lips parted and core on fire as I watched him settle between my legs. Those dark irises flared as they held mine, and his tongue lashed out, slicking me in one, long, torturous drag. I moaned, fists twisting in the sheets as my head dropped back, eyelids fluttering shut. Then, he spanked the side of my ass. I lurched back up, frowning and ready to curse him out when his tongue dragged across me again and I lost the will to do anything but sigh. “Watch,” was all he commanded, and then he went to work.

This was a man touching me like my body was his, like he had a map detailing every sensitive spot that would make me come undone.

She held onto my wrists, holding my hands against her as she leaned back and took me at a different angle. “Shiiiit,” I cursed,

🥵🔥

“I think I kind of love when you hate me,” I teased, arching a brow. Riley laughed, leaning forward and kissing me hard. “Shut up and do that again,”

And in the middle of all my teammates, I realized I felt… safe. Taken care of. Like I had nothing to worry about.

He kissed me like I’d never been kissed in my life — powerful and possessive, his expert tongue massaging mine before he bit my bottom lip hard enough that I whimpered into his mouth.

There was no way to avoid the cold, hard truth of it all. I was addicted. And like any addict will tell you, it didn’t matter that I knew in the back of my mind that we were playing with fire. It didn’t matter that one day it all would have to end, that one day I’d have to go through withdrawals and peel myself off the floor. Right now, I had her. And though she told me she couldn’t give me more, I pretended like this would always be enough.

Everything had happened so… quickly. I didn’t recognize it at first, how fast I fell, how hard I jumped without even a thought of looking back. I went from loathing Zeke one moment and wishing he had never been born to aching for him any second we weren’t together.

“Don’t be such a party pooper,” Gavin bellowed as he wheeled past me dressed as a sports car — with a girl on his lap wearing a racing helmet and holding a plastic detached steering wheel.

Lovvve it😍

“We are all mortal until our first kiss,” I read. “And our second glass of wine.” I chuckled then, smoothing my thumb over the text. “Eduardo Galeano.”

What a gift😍

He swallowed. “Riley…” “I want to feel it, even if it’s just once,” I said, those words a kiss and a plea against his lips. “I want to know what it’s like to have you inside me with nothing between us.”

“I don’t want casual,” he continued. “I don’t want to pretend that I’m not yours in every way there is to belong to someone, that I don’t yearn for you to be mine in the same way. I don’t want to hide. I don’t want to keep having my heart fucking demolished at the thought of this all ending at any minute.”

“You hold mine. You own mine. For now, forever, regardless of what happens next. And even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I need you to know that I love you.”

“You can forgive. Forgive, and understand that we’re human. We’re not perfect. And one day when you make a mistake, you’ll want someone to afford you the same grace.”

He didn’t come back to the sideline. The trainers took him through the tunnel, and I watched him go every step of the way until his back disappeared from view. Then, the whistle blew, and the game resumed. But my heart wasn’t on the field anymore. It was with the boy who’d just been walked off

“Somebody who betters you,” I started. “Somebody who inspires and encourages you in love and in life, who pushes you toward dreams and goals you’d otherwise ignore, who selflessly sacrifices their time to help you become a more courageous, well rounded and happy human being. That’s sacred,” I said, swallowing before I finished. “You hold on to a love like that.”

She lined up with where the ball would be thrown to the holder, taking her two signature steps back and to the left. Then, her eyes found mine. And even through the metal bars of her helmet, I saw the words come to life on her lips. I love you, too.

“I have no words for how miserable I’ve been without you.” “Can we agree never to do that again?” “I might make you sign in blood.” I smiled, tilting my nose up to nudge his until our lips met.

No matter what came our way, I knew one thing for sure. We’d fight it. Together. And just like tonight… We’d win.