Playing to Win

mercy but she thrilled to the feel of him, all hard angles and planes.
    All hard. All over, especially between his legs, where he rocked against her sex, making her wet and quivery.
    She’d invite him inside, where he’d pull the zipper down on her dress and fill his hands with her breasts. She could already imagine his mouth on her nipples, his hand inside her panties, coaxing her to the orgasm she so desperately needed.
    She whimpered.
    “Invite me in, Peaches,” he whispered against her lips.
    And then reality set in, and she remembered she wasn’t on an actual date with Cole.
    He wasn’t hers to do with as she pleased. And she certainly didn’t belong to him.
    She splayed her hands on his chest and gave him slight pressure.
    He took a step back.
    She swallowed, her body, her senses, still filled with him. She fought for breath, willed her rapidly beating heart to slow down while she made eye contact with Cole and silently begged for understanding.
    He straightened, then his lips curved in a hint of a smug smile.
    “And that’s what I’d do with a woman I was out on a date with, Peaches. Except it wouldn’t end there.”
    He turned and got into his car, started up the engine, and pulled away.
    Savannah opened the door, the cold of the air-conditioning inside doing nothing to quell the blast of heat burning inside her body.
    No, it definitely wouldn’t have ended here.
    Not if they’d been on a real date.
    Not if he really belonged to her.



SEVEN

    COLE HAD A WORKOUT AT THE TEAM TRAINING FACILITY the next day. It was his first time being with the entire team, to see how the offense would mesh together.
    It was mainly drills today and working with the conditioning coaches. There’d be no formations, unfortunately. He was eager to get in a line and take a pass from Cassidy, show the Traders what he was capable of.
    This was going to be the year he’d become a star. He was home now and this was the right team. It might not be game time yet, but something was gelling for him. There was a renewed sense of fire in his gut that he hadn’t felt since he was a rookie. And if he had to grind his cleats over all the other wide receivers to show the team how good he was, that’s what he’d do.
    He’d noticed Liz and Savannah on the sidelines watching the drills, decided to ignore them both while he worked out with the coaches. No distractions today, not when he was focused on work. He tuned them out until four hours later when he was drenched insweat and every muscle in his body screamed in pain from the nonstop drills and sprints they’d put him through.
    “You’re done,” the trainer said to the wide receivers. “Hit the showers.”
    Thank god. He pulled off his helmet and walked to the sideline for a drink.
    “You’re huffing and puffing like an old man,” Liz said, leaning her hip against the drink table. “Too tough for you out there?”
    He downed the drink in two gulps, then tossed the cup in the trash and grinned at her. “Nope. Just the way I like it.”
    He shifted his gaze to Savannah. “What are you doing here?”
    “Observing.”
    “Did I pass or fail?”
    “You didn’t punch any of the coaches or any of the other players, so I’d call it a good day.”
    He laughed. “Come on. I’m not that bad, Peaches.”
    “Aren’t you? I’ve read your file. You’re not exactly known for playing well with others.”
    He rolled his eyes. “I’m going to take a shower.”
    “Then we’ll take you to lunch,” Liz said.
    He shrugged. “Fine with me.”
    He showered off the grime and pieces of turf, changed clothes, and met Savannah and Liz in the parking lot. He wasn’t sure, but this felt a little like some kind of intervention. “You’re not both here to gang up on me, are you?”
    Liz linked her arm in his. “Afraid of two small women?”
    “Normal women? No. You two? Yes.”
    Liz gave him a diabolical laugh. “Good. You should be wary of us. We’ve been plotting.”
    He shifted his gaze to Savannah, who cast an innocent look his way.
    Bullshit. He wasn’t buying it.
    “Christ.” He raked his hand through his damp hair. “All right. Let’s get this over with.”
    They drove to a restaurant. It was past lunch hour, but too early for dinner. Still, he was starving so he was glad the place was open. He was in the mood for a giant burger, which he ordered as soon as the waiter showed up to take their drink order.
    Liz grabbed the bread basket, then pushed it aside. “No.