The Red Zone (The League, #2)

by Meg Reading

Mae might’ve been okay being the naked neighbor, but there wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d let one of our neighbors get a free show of all the ways I was about to make her come for me.

“October!” She squealed, thrashing her legs around as I took the fastest route to the pool house. “I’m soaking wet!” A smirk curled at the corner of my lips while I turned the handle to the front door with one hand while holding Mae firmly by her thigh with the other. “I know you

“I thought you didn’t fuck during the pre-season?” Her chest rose and fell, and desire flashed through her eyes with each passing second. “I was willing to make a one-time exception. Besides, the official season starts Sunday and that’s when it really matters.” “What did I do to deserve such an honor?” She gasped. “Is this, like, the equivalent to taking your virginity?”

The equivalent to taking my virginity? This girl had no idea what was coming for her… literally.

“I was under the impression that you didn’t want to be one of my… ‘little whores’, was it?” October’s lips brushed against mine, and the only response I could manage was a raspy moan spilling from my lips as my back bowed up from the mattress. “Aren’t you, though… my little whore? Just for the night.”

“If you edge me one more time I’ll die.” My words came out commanding. “So, you’re saying I should do it one more time… for good measure?”

“You look so pretty taking all of me like that.” “Is that all you got?” I challenged, hoping this shove would be just enough to send me over the edge. “Fuck me harder.” If there was one thing he did well in the bedroom, it was following through with orders, because he was driving into me so hard, I could practically feel my blood coursing through my veins right before I was hit with a soul shattering explosion that took over my entire body. October kept going as I rippled around him, but I didn’t think I could handle another one. Not with how powerfully the last one had hit me. “I—” “Take it.” Flames awakened in his eyes before he dropped down to capture my lips and whispered against them. “Pretty little sluts like you deserve it.” There went those words again, sending a shiver down my spine, making me surrender to him completely as another orgasm slammed into me like a million glowing stars.

“Great doing business with you.” “I don’t like you,” I grumbled as he turned away from me, revealing the bright red scratch marks on his back from last night. It took everything in me not to gasp. “Like? We’ve taken a step up from hatred, haven’t we?” October walked over to the dresser across from the bed and picked out a light gray shirt from the top drawer and threw it over his head. “In that case… likewise.” He grabbed his bag from the ground—no doubt heading out for morning practice—but paused in the doorway before leaving to peer over his shoulder with a smug grin. “Twenty years.” I squished my eyebrows together. “That’s how long it took to get you to admit you don’t hate me.” The corners of his lips twitched. “Twenty more and you might actually admit you like me.”

“It’s brand new… I wouldn’t give you a jersey someone else has worn. You deserve better than that.”

“You’re gorgeous, Mae. More gorgeous than my thoughts from the last seven years led me to believe.” He ran a thumb over his bottom lip slowly as he looked me up and down. “Like it or not, I’ll never apologize for admiring how beautiful you are.”

“You know what, now that I’m here…” I turned to face him, watching as he threw on a white undershirt which somehow, someway made him look ten times sexier than when he was half naked. “Why are you still living here, anyway? The season started—what?—two weeks ago which means the roster was finalized at least a week before that, if not more…” “Is this your way of kicking me out?” He lifted a brow in question. “No. I don’t really care if you stay or not. I’m pretty indiffer—" I suppressed the gasp spilling past my lips by slapping a hand to my mouth. “You’re such a shithead. You tricked me!” “Looks like I’ll be sticking around after all.” He winked.

“You just want to stay somewhere close to the practice facility.” “Would you like a reward for getting that right?”

“I want to hear you cheering for me at the game, March baby,” he called out from the bedroom as I made my way down the hall. “I would rather have my vocal cords burst into flames.” I mumbled, mostly to myself. God, I hoped Scarlett wasn’t going to make a big deal about my outfit.

“Woohoo! Let’s go football,” I shouted, eyeing the delicious display of big, athletic men warming up on the field. My words of encouragement earned me a few head turns from the training staff and a laugh from the photographer who was standing a few feet from Scarlett and I. “You don’t know a single thing about football, do you?” She peered up at me with a lifted brow. “Not one thing.” “Me either.”

“Thanks for the good luck kiss, March baby.” “I hope you break every bone in your body,” I muttered with disgust coating my voice.

“Ma’am.” A muscular security guard called over from a few feet away in a firm voice. “Threatening the players is a removable offense. Do it again, and you’ll be escorted out off the sidelines.”

I had this fear, though, that if we kept doing this, someone’s feelings were going to get caught up in it—and even worse, they’d be mine.

It’s 11 p.m. and I’m already in bed. October I’ll make it worth your while. Ehh, not sure I feel like giving away $10,000. It took all of three seconds to decide I was going to throw this bet. And two of those seconds were spent mentally kicking myself in the balls for making the damn thing in the first place. Fucking idiot. Oh well. There was no sense in dwelling on it any longer seeing as my accountant would ream me out for it at our next meeting, anyway. Maybe then I’d let myself be pissed about it, but right now I was too consumed by the thought of licking Mae’s pussy to give a shit. October Fuck it. I’ll take the loss. Mae I’ll take my payment in the form of Jimmy Choo’s. I’ll give you anything you want on one condition… Yeah? Jersey stays on. Aye, Aye, Captain.

“What took you so long?” I tried to mask the annoyance in my voice as Mae appeared in the doorway, but I was certain a hint of it had slipped through the cracks despite my best effort. Especially after I got a glimpse of how fucking sexy she looked wearing my jersey. She’d ditched the jeans she’d worn to the game and instead wore my jersey like a mini dress, hitting her bare upper thigh. No shoes. No makeup. Knowing Mae, I had a solid feeling she’d kept the same theme when it came to her underwear, as well. Man, this girl had no idea how much control she had over me. “Didn’t want you to think I was jumping at the chance to ride your cock again,” she said matter-of-factly while taking a seat on the end of the bed opposite of me. “Because I refuse to be single handedly responsible for your ego becoming more inflated than it already is.”

bedroom too. “If I recall correctly, you were the one who needed time to adjust to my size.” I raked my eyes over her long, tanned legs hanging off the edge of the bed. “Not sure there’s anything that can inflate a man's self-esteem more than that.” “And if I recall correctly, I was just pretending so you didn’t cry from an ego hit… you’re welcome for that, by the way.” She patted my shin with an ornery scrunched nose smile before flopping back against the comforter. “Funny how you’re suddenly able to recall things when my dick is the topic of conversation.” “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Such a fucking good girl. I knew she could take more. "How does it feel being such a good girl for me?"

Such a good girl going all the way to the end for me. I didn’t think she had it in her.

“I want to keep going,” she mumbled, her head resting against my shoulder and her eyes still closed. “Beg for it. I want to hear you use your words.” “Please.” “Please, what?” “Fuck me. Please fuck me,” she begged with those big doe eyes that made my dick throb. “I thought it was too much?” “I can take it,” she whimpered. “I promise.”

“Such a pretty little slut desperate for my cock.”

“Your pussy feels so good.” She tightened herself around me and I almost lost it right then, but I did my best to hold on a little bit longer so she could get another orgasm out of this. I wanted to see her mouth open into a perfect oval shape. “So come in it.”

Hmm, I wondered if October would be down to do this one more time for good measure? Only next time, instead of being in the pool house, we could do it on my California King with thousand thread count sheets and the endless cloud of fluffy pillows. Oh, how I missed my pillows right now. Why did all men sleep with so few pillows? It should be a crime.

“You need to pee, baby.” “Impossible. That requires focus… and energy.” His hand caressed my cheek and I instinctively leaned into it. Letting the moment of peace pass between us as he delicately stroked his thumb over my cheek. “I know you can do it.”

“Come here.” He placed his hands gently on the sides of my upper arms and helped me lean back against his chest once again. “No, I can’t.” “We’re done for the night, baby. Let me clean you up.”

“You did such a good job for me tonight.” His voice was low as he whispered against my ear. “Happy to oblige.” I stuck out a thumbs up before lulling my head back against his shoulder. A deep laughter rumbled from his chest that brought a smile to my lips. I liked this. I liked us. Together.

“I’m serious. Every time I thought you were too tired to continue, you’d surprise me by taking another one… and another one,” he praised, kissing along my jawline and my stomach filled with butterflies. I could listen to him talk like this all night. “Keep going,” I taunted. “And the way you kept going, taking me so well, even when you thought you couldn’t handle any more.” His breath against my ear sent chills skating down my skin. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Where are you going?” He tugged at my elbow, urging me to sit back down. “My clothes are in the main house.” “So, you’re just going to walk out there naked for anyone to see?” “Why not? If they’ve been paying attention, they’ve already seen more than enough of me.” I hinted toward our endeavors from the last few weekends. Plus, sometimes it was fun to just be careless and free. My next-door neighbor, Rita, was in her late eighties and she’s mentioned to me on more than one occasion that her bed time is six o’clock sharp. The house on the other side of me had been for sale for a few months now with no offers, so unless there were squatters that I didn’t know about, it wasn’t like anyone had caught on. “Not a chance. Stay there. You’re wearing one of my t-shirts.” October walked over to the closet and pulled out an old maroon shirt with his college football team logo printed on the front. “I have a confession,” I said as he slipped that shirt over my head and pulled my arms through the holes. “You can tell me anything, March.” There was that low, gentle voice of his again. He really had to stop doing that because every time he did it made my insides melt. “I… kind of like wearing your clothes. Not to be rude, but I think they look better on me than they do on you.” “In that case, I have a confession too…” I hummed, urging him to keep going, but cut him off before he had the chance to speak. “Are you finally going to admit that you have a crush on me?” “Not yet.” My eyes mig...

pillows. I made a mental note to remind him to step up his pillow game if this was going to be a regular occurrence, because not only were there only three pillows on the whole bed, but all of them were completely flat. Why did every man have flat pillows? Such strange, strange creatures.

October left the room for a few minutes, and by the time he came back the temptation of sleep was threatening to take me under. Keeping my eyelids open for longer than a couple seconds was a small feat. As long as he didn’t kick me out of his bed come morning, I’d be sleeping in until noon. “Eat this for me.” He held out a PB&J in front of my face. “I’m too tired. You eat it.” “Two bites. That’s it.” I grabbed the sandwich and took one normal sized bite of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chewing slowly. It was so delicious—grape jelly, my favorite. Arguably the best meal I’d had in days—then again, that could’ve just been the exhaustion talking. “One more. Make it a big one.” “That’s what she said,” I joked, which won me a burst of laughter as I took another giant bite before sticking my hand out for October to take it and finish the rest. “Good girl. Now, take a few sips so we can go to sleep.” He traded the sandwich for a glass of water and I fought a groan as I took two giant gulps and slumped back under the sheets.

“You were right, you know.” “About what?” I mumbled, dozing in and out of consciousness. “This really has become your sex house.” “Stop talking and go to sleep.”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t be sleeping over again?” “And I didn’t think my legs would be too weak to walk,” I grumbled, and October let free a small smirk at my confession of pleasure. “My bones feel like goo.” “You realize that’s a compliment of the highest order, right?” “One you’re ruining with your arrogance.”

“Are you going to keep standing there or what?” He didn’t look up from his plate as he shoveled a giant bite of waffle into his mouth. “What is this?” “Breakfast. It’s a new concept where you eat foods that give you nutrients and they help fuel you as you go on about your day. Profound concept, really.”

“Don’t be smug. I’m allergic to assholes before 9 a.m.” “Yeah, I don’t blame you. Most people aren’t into anal this early in the morning.”

“I have to go back to the stadium because I left my ear pods in the locker room last night. Want to ride along? I can give you a tour of the place if you want.” “This isn’t like… a date, is it?” “Not even close. Why? Were you wishing it was?” His smirk made me wish I’d kept my mouth shut.

I peered over at October, noticing his hand resting on the center console, and there was a tiny voice in my head that urged me to reach over and intertwine my fingers with his. Just go for it. What’s the worst that could happen? Do it. Grab his hand. Just as I was about to go for it, he made a sharp right into the parking lot. I wasn’t sure whether I should be grateful for the universe's intervention or upset at the missed opportunity.

our

Watching your family build another family was one of the most bittersweet parts about being an adult, and I couldn’t be happier for Scarlett than I was right now.

Mae drew back her shoulders and puffed out her chest. “I can do this,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’ll be around if you need me.” This time, she was the one who reached for my hips, drawing me in closer as she leaned in. Her lips crashed against mine sending passion and desire inching through my veins. The handle of the door rattled behind me and Scarlett’s voice piped up as the door whipped open. “Mae, are you in there? They need you—" I broke apart from Mae’s lips and the two of us turned our faces to see a wide-eyed Scarlett staring back at us. Ever so slowly, her smile broadened in approval. She grabbed Mae’s wrist and tugged her out of the closet, whispering loudly as the door began to close behind them. “We’re so going to talk about that later.” Just before the door slammed shut, and I was left alone in the closet by myself, Mae turned over her shoulder mouthing a “thank you” with a hint of a smile.

Life changes fast. I was a goner.

Any man whose presence made a woman burst into tears while shaking in fear? Scum of the fucking earth.

“No, please. I want it with you inside me.” My pretty girl wanted to come on my cock. How could I deny her that gratification? “Spread your legs and play with your pussy for me.”

I worked my hips, finding the usual hard, steady rhythm that I knew she liked. That was until she gripped the side to my waist, urging me to go slower. “Can you…” Mae’s words trailed off. “Do you want me to be gentle, baby?” She nodded, giving me a shy smile that was unlike anything I had ever seen from her. This girl showing me her soft side? I loved it. “Okay, then let’s be gentle.”

“Why haven’t you answered any of Richard’s calls, by the way?” Scarlett quirked a brow, temporarily pulling me from my downward spiral. If I would’ve continued trying to connect the dots about when I’d last taken my birth control, there was no doubt in my mind that I would’ve jumped straight off this couch and stormed out of their house toward the pool house with a ball of nerves in my stomach. “How’d you know about that?” I pulled back with a puzzled expression. “He called me to ask why you weren’t answering his calls… or his emails… or his texts.” Fucking Richard. I knew sharing the same accountant with my sister would come back to bite me one day. Wasn’t there such a thing as accountant-client privilege or did that cease to exist without my knowledge?

“Operation Red to the Red is my master plan to help you get to the red zone with Mae.” Scarlett squared her shoulders with a well-pleased grin. “I’ve been learning about football and Abel told me once that the chances of scoring are higher in the red zone, it’s just the matter of getting there…” Scarlett looked to Abel for confirmation and he nodded in response. “Keep going…” “Yeah, what else did you tell me… something about how the offensive strategy changes when the plays are finite.” Scarlett perked up. “Isn’t that right?” Abel puffed out his chest with a pleased smile like a proud as fuck boyfriend. A twinge of jealousy came over me. Not because he was proud of Scar, but because for the first time in my life, I wanted to be the boyfriend who got to wear the beaming grin when his girlfriend did or said something amazing. “Well, your plays are finite because she doesn’t want to be fuck buddies anymore. Therefore…” “I have to change my strategy to get her back in the red zone so I can win her over.” “Touchdown!” Scarlett raised a fist in the air. “That’s what the whole ‘operation’ is?” “Fantastic, isn’t it?” “Alright, so what’s your plan to help me change my strategy then?” “Haven’t thought that far ahead yet…” Her words trailed off at the end until a wry smile began transforming over her lips. “You know what, on second thought, I think you need to just tell her straight up. No grand gestures or crazy shenanigans. Admit that you’re done playing games, and just… see what h...

“You okay?” “Oh, my god. I’m so wet right now,” she blurted out in response. Had I not been blinded by rage from this stupid fucker who was wailing on the ground, I probably would’ve buckled over into a fit of laughter. “Let’s go, you’re coming with me.” “Wait, where are we—"

The moment the door slammed behind me one of my tattooed hands wrapped around her neck as I turned her to face me, trading places so she was walking backward. “I’m done fucking around and I’m done picking stupid fights with you.” My tone was gravelly, but her eyes lit up as her back flushed against the door, and I reached over with my right hand to lock it. “You’re mine. Do you understand that?” I leaned in, sealing my words with a kiss. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I never stop thinking about you. Even when we lived a thousand miles apart and I hadn’t seen you in seven years, you consumed my thoughts more than I’d like to admit. Don’t you get that?” Mae gulped. “For a long time, I hated that I wanted you. I hated that you drove me fucking crazy, taking up space in my head at all hours of the day. I hated that when you joked about not sleeping in my bed tonight, the first thought I had was how awful my day would be tomorrow because I wouldn’t get to wake up next to you.” “Why are you telling me this?” “Because as much as I wanted to hate you, I’m not sure I ever really did… and I certainly don’t now,” she kissed me this time, hot and demanding. “I’m done playing games with you.” “Really? Tic-tac-toe… hangman. You don’t want to play those together anymore?”