Go Deep: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (7 page)

“Pretty much. I’ve finalized your draft business plan, and if you’re good with this deck as is, we can call it a wrap until the write-up is due after Thanksgiving.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We’re way ahead…”

“Sounds perfect.”

“With our notes from tonight, I’ll finalize the speaking notes for the pitch. We’ll need to run through it once or twice, and then I’ll set up a meeting with an owner or investor through Dr. Taylor.” I laughed. “He’ll be excited to know that we were able to work together on this project after all.”

“Yes, he will,” Slade agreed.

“I guess I should be thanking you for going all gung-ho and setting things up with the shelter.”

“Hell yeah. I can think of a few ways you could do that.” He stood up to stretch and walked over to me as I finished packing up my things.

“Slade,” I cautioned him, though my body knew what was coming and hell, I wanted him.

“Stop talking,” he growled, and I closed my eyes when his fingertips caressed my shoulders and ran down my arms, then hooked around my waist.

His other hand reached up and I think I moaned when he laced his fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck. I definitely moaned when he lowered his head to mine and our lips met. That hungry kiss sent a heat wave of pleasure and need through my body, right to my toes, now curling inside my loafers.

He tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. I could feel the heat radiating from his groin, and God, I think I soaked my panties just knowing he was hard already. I gripped onto his biceps, feeling the contours of his perfectly sculpted muscles. I wanted him so bad, but no.

I pulled away from that smoldering kiss before we could get too far again. “No,” I told him. “This can’t happen. I need to get home.”

“You want this, Cassidy. Stop fighting it.”

“I don’t… I can’t, okay?”

“That’s not what the rest of your body’s telling me,” he whispered, taking the bag I brought over out of my hand. “Let’s talk about it in my room. The kitchen’s a bit too open for me to convince you.”

“I don’t think so. Now give me back my bag so I can go.”

He pulled the handle of the bag up over his head. “This bag?” he said playfully. “Come get it.”

“Not funny, Slade. Give it back.” He shook his head, stepped back into the hallway and turned toward the staircase. “For Christ’s sake, Slade. It’s too late for this childish crap.”

If my wallet and dorm room keys weren’t in that bag, I’d have just left and gone home, just so he’d know I wasn’t playing. Too bad it wasn’t and a minute later I was at the top of the stairs trying to figure out which room was his. Thank goodness none of his frat hounds were anywhere around. At the end of the hall, I saw the door close slowly. That had to be his room.

He was standing just past the doorway when I stormed in and almost mowed him over—except with his height and my tiny frame, it was more like me bouncing off his body the way a ball would on a brick wall. He steadied me by holding onto my shoulders. For a second all I wanted to do was pound on his chest for luring me up to his room like this.

After that subsided, he kicked the door closed behind me and asked, “What is it about my wanting to be with you that’s so repulsive?” He waited for me to answer. I had nothing to offer that would come out without sounding like a scathing attack. “You know what I think? I think you’re afraid you’ll enjoy it too much.”

I scoffed out a laugh. Did he really believe I was so dumb that I’d fall for a dare like that? “Whatever, buddy. Give me my bag. Now.”

“Find it and you can have it.”

Good Lord. Did we really have to do this at almost two in the morning?

I scanned around the room and didn’t see any sign of it. I walked to his closet. Nothing there. I checked under his bed. No dice. I dug around in the two bottom drawers of his armoire as they were the only ones large enough to fit it. It wasn’t there, either. “Did you even bring it in here?”

“That’s a whole other question, isn’t it?”

Frustrated, I sat on one side of his bed. “Like I said… childish.”

He sat beside me and put an arm over my shoulder. It was more of a friendly gesture than anything seductive. Still, I took his arm and pushed it off anyway. “Not as much as this game you’re playing, Cassidy. We’re both adults now. I want you. You want me. Just roll with it. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”

“What? This has gone from stupid to just plain ridiculous!”

I stood up and made to leave. If I had to, I’d walk my ass home and pound on my dorm door until someone opened it, and if Miranda wasn’t home I was ready to sleep on the concrete floor in the corridor. I’d had enough.

I didn’t get away from him fast enough. Slade gripped onto my wrist before I took a step away from his bed, and he pulled me back until I was sitting in his lap. By then it was too late. All that anger had turned into desire, and when he pulled me in and our lips touched, it was practically over. It didn’t hit me how much I wanted him. Or maybe I’d just been lying to myself, biased because of his cocky attitude and superstar façade. I must have wanted this all along. Why else would my body react so strongly, so suddenly?

Even as his hands moved over me, sliding over my clothes, under my clothes, I wondered if it was really happening. How was it possible? I wondered if I should pinch myself and snap out of it, but then I realized I didn’t want to wake up. It felt so incredible. Something inside me was coming to life. I decided to go with it, to see how far we could take this. He was supposed to be so damn good, wasn’t he? I’d see for myself.

I touched him—softly, at first, then more confidently. He was magnificent, every muscle bulging and flexing under his soft, hot skin. Pulsing and throbbing under my hands, which deftly undid each button of his shirt without hesitation. He lowered me beside him on the bed, then sat up, giving me a look at his massive chest, shoulders, and arms while he undid the waistband and zipper of my jeans. I lifted my hips up and wiggled as he tugged my jeans down my hips and legs. His rippling abs begged for me to lick them. I ran light, teasing fingers down the length of his abdomen, and he groaned, bending forward again to crush his lips against mine. All the pent-up passion inside me poured out, taking my breath away.

I tipped my head up and he took the invitation to kiss more of me. Slade devoured everything he could reach, then pulled off my top, leaving me in only my underwear, practically writhing underneath him. By then I didn’t care about anything except feeling more of him between my legs. He rolled me on top of him, and I reached back to unhook my bra, noticing the way his eyes drank me in. I pushed my hips back so I could undo his belt and zipper. Sliding one hand past his boxers, I gripped his manhood. He seemed surprised—he hadn’t expected me to be this assertive. I wouldn’t have been this brazen, either. My body had taken over, and now I was dragging his pants and boxers down his legs before I climbed back on top of him. My eyes widened when I saw what I’d only felt before. He was huge, throbbing. I bit my lip, nervous and hungry at the same time. I would have taken a taste of his raging hard-on just then, but honestly, my core was aching for this.

Smiling with a goofy, drunken expression, he reached over to his night stand and passed me a condom. I had it out of the wrapper and rolled up his erection in no time, silently appreciating his girth and length as I rubbed against it, needing the pressure to ease some of the ache between my legs.

“That’s right,” he whispered. “Take what you want.”

Slade moved his hands up and cupped my breasts now, massaging and kneading. I moaned out, arching my back as he sat up and took one nipple into his mouth. With a gasp, I lifted my hips off him and positioned myself to take him inside me. I lowered myself onto him, inch by massive inch, enjoying the feel of him filling me taking my pleasure so high I was soaring. He lowered to his back again, and held on to my waist to pull me down the rest of the way when he couldn’t wait any longer. By then my hips were grinding against his, and he met my every move with thrusts of his own, anchoring me with his hands on my waist, lifting me off then pulling me down his shaft. I closed my eyes and held on to his biceps, losing myself in the sensation and our sound and scents, aware that I was so close.

He released one hand from my waist, sliding it down past my mound until his thumb was over my sensitive spot. My hips moved more wildly now, relishing the extra stimulation and the way he flicked against it as I barreled toward my peak. I heard his groans but only faintly over my own climactic cries and gasps. I was lost, letting go of everything I’d been pushing back all this time. I shuddered through that jolt of pure electricity, only vaguely aware of my loss of control, and of his hands still roaming around my body, and his breath as he pounded into me and got closer.

As I came back into myself, Slade held on to my back and rolled us over. He lifted my legs over his shoulders and buried himself in me all the way to the root. I whimpered out a foreign, desperate groan of pleasure and didn’t recognize my own voice. Who was he turning me into?

His eyes were half-closed, his face flushed. He pushed forward into me, filling me so completely I had to cup my hand over my mouth to stop my scream.

“Cassidy…” he whispered again. At least he knew it was me and not some random girl he banged without even finding out her name. Not that it made what we were doing any more special, but hell, at least he knew who I was.

He pulled back, then slid home again. Out, then in. Now there was only pleasure—a deep, warm, throbbing pleasure in my core which spread like tongues of flames, licking through the rest of my body.

“Yes.” I whispered fiercely.

A light sparked in his eyes, and he was quick to give me what I asked for. He began grinding slowly, sensually, making sure I felt every inch of him. A second later he moved my legs to around his waist and lowered his body onto me. He kissed me hard, parting my lips to explore my mouth with his tongue the way he filled me south of the border. I gripped his ass and pumped my hips up now, and soon he was grunting, his body tensing above me until pleasure seemed to rip through us both. My core tightened around is staff, and he threw his head back, the veins popping out along the sides of his neck as he roared in orgasm. I watched, satisfied to see him completely lose control, giving in to the pleasure I gave him. It was powerful and thrilling and addictive.

And scary as hell.

He relaxed on top of me when it was over, holding on to me like a prized possession as we both caught our breath. I didn’t expect this part, that he’d actually lie here with me, and not just throw his clothes back on and call it a night. Probably with a handshake or a wink as he kicked me out. I bit back a laugh at the visual.

He pushed himself up until I could see his face. For a split second, there was something warm there. Something I couldn’t quite name. I smiled gratefully, and then it was gone. It was like a wall came down between us.

He grinned, raising an eyebrow. “So. You finally got a piece of Slade, huh? I bet you’ve been waiting a long time for that.”

I blinked, thinking oh crap, Slaughter’s back. We were back where we started.

I frowned, disappointed. “I think you should probably get me home.”

“Sure, doll. You wouldn’t want anybody to know you finally gave in to me,” he muttered. But he didn’t sound angry—in fact, he winked at me and got up to pull his clothes back on. I didn’t bother telling him he was wrong, that it wasn’t about that. Not entirely, anyway.

It didn’t matter. The moment had passed. He was cocky Slade again. Was I kidding myself when I thought he could be any different? Maybe I did that to make myself feel better. I sat up, pulling the sheets around me to get up and gather my things, a bit sorry to see his body go. I wondered if I’d ever see it again. It was one thing to resist him back when I didn’t know what I was missing. Now I’d have something to miss, but not his attitude.

He left the room for a minute and retuned with my bag. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” I followed him to his car and didn’t say a word for the entire drive, not until he stopped his car outside my dorm. “See you,” I said, trying to sound cool and unaffected.

He smiled—a little too knowingly, maybe. I hardened a little bit. He was so damn cocky. I wouldn’t let myself fall any further. I still wasn’t sure why I was disappointed. He was a dick before I slept with him, and was still one afterward. So why did I find him more irresistible now?

I
t was
the fifth game of the season, and the second home game in a row. We were on a winning streak, which was no surprise to me. In the locker room, suiting up with the other guys, I could feel the energy coming off of our last two wins. Our momentum was growing, and our team was stronger as every week passed.

For tonight’s game, I took a moment to let it sink in as I looked around the locker room. I watched my team members proudly put their uniforms on over the protective pads, and on the Coach’s signal, looked on as each picked up his helmet in his hand, eager for the next win. It was a giddying sight to look around the room and see all those helmets held up with pride.

“Okay, boys. Bring it in tight,” Coach said, stepping into the middle of the room. “Let’s talk tactics and then I’ll give you one of my less popular spiels.”

He sounded serious. It wasn’t his normal, energized, charismatic pep talk, and that made us all pay attention.

“Tonight we’re coming in off of consecutive wins. What happens when you get to this level of success? You get lazy. You get too content. You get careless. But you aren’t growing when you’re content, and if you’re not growing, you’re not wining. You gotta ask yourselves tonight, are we content?”

He looked around the room at the somber faces.

“Well, are we?” he asked again.

“No!” the team shouted.

“Then, go out there tonight and play like a team that’s set an awesome foundation for a winning season, and let’s keep growing. Wake up, boys! Those guys coming in here tonight know what you got, and they want it. They don’t respect your house. This is your house. You’re going to show them what happens to intruders who set foot in your house. You’re going to teach them how to respect you. They will not get to take what you earned with hard work. And you have to want it more than they do. Special teams, know your role. Defense, let’s hit them hard. Offense, let’s play fast. Let’s move that ball. Give defense a lead to protect. Are we ready to play some football?”

“Yes, Coach.”

“I said, are we ready to play some football?”

“Yes, Coach!” The team roared.

“That’s better. Now get out there and show them whose house this is.”

We stormed the field like we were going into battle. We weren’t just going out there to play football. We were going out there to crush bones and stomp on the other team’s backs. I went out there every week to earn my spot in the draft next year. That was a given. This season was the end of my college career, and I knew that in order to get where I wanted to be in the NFL, I had to play like I was already there.

The game started off with a bang, and the offense played fast during the first half on both teams. Those boys from out of town were good. They made our defense work for it and we gladly returned the favor. Personally, I wasn’t satisfied unless I threw a touchdown pass every time we had possession. The better our defensive line played, the more often I got to do that.

On our first possession, my first pass of the game, Evan caught the ball and ran it in. The crowd loved that. Our rivals for the night, not so much. I came off the field with a smile on my face. It was going to be that kind of night. We were looking at scoring big if we kept up the pace, but they showed us during their next possession that they were looking at doing the same thing. Where we’d gone for the extra point, they went for a two-point conversion, putting us behind.

Bullshit
. Our defense wasn’t doing their job.

For the remainder of the first half of the game, we maintained our little back-and-forth game, but with a pass right before half-time, I brought us back into the lead. We were cutting it close tonight, but coming off the field at half-time, I still felt confident we would bring in another win. My teammates seemed a little tired and worried coming off the field. The other team was working us hard, but we would come back harder. Coach was confident, and gave us some words to that effect.

As the second half started, whatever it was that had gotten into my teammates, it was starting to spread to me. Our opponents’ offensive line ran over our defense at the beginning of the third quarter. It was like we weren’t on the field at all. Our offensive game in the second half evaporated too, and the other team got bolder because of it. I was being forced to call more run and gun plays, forcing my receivers to respond to what the defense was doing instead of trying to aim for plays we had practiced.

It was a shit show.

I didn’t know what else to do. It was either keep doing that or run the ball on nearly every play to avoid getting blitzed. I was confident that my receivers would continue coming through for me, and thankfully, they did. We were able to keep the scoring neck and neck for the remainder of the game. The other team would push ahead, and then we would get out in front. Then, they’d score again, setting us back. We couldn’t get enough of a lead on them to settle into a routine.

First and goal. Less than a minute on the clock.

We needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to win the game, and we were close enough to taste it. Our opponents were close enough to taste it, too. I could see it in their eyes. They were hungry for a piece of the quarterback. They were coming for me. We snapped the ball, and I stepped back in the pocket with two defensive linemen circling around on either side of me. I had two options. I could throw a pass and hope like hell someone was in position to catch it. Or, I could run like hell.

My feet had been itching all night to just go for it. Their defensive line had wrecked my nerves. I couldn’t concentrate. I was less than ten yards from the end zone. I had it.

If I could just move.

And I did. I darted out from between the two hulking giants coming after me and stepped around the boys in front of me. I could see the goal line.

What I couldn’t see was the defensive lineman waiting for me as I came around the offensive and defensive players in front of me.

He hit me before I even saw him. I wound up flat on my back, dizzy and blurry-eyed until it hit me that I’d just cost us the game. As the wall of a player who hit me reached down to help me up, Evan walked by.

“I was wide-fucking-open man. What the fuck were you thinking?”

I hadn’t seen him.

“You good now, bruh,” the Number 92 player for the opposing team said to me, patting me on the helmet before walking off to celebrate with his teammates.

The voices of my teammates’ disgust were all around me.

“Good going, Slade.”

“That wasn’t football. What the fuck was that?”

“Way to go.”

“And
that’s
how you fuck up a game.”

I lingered back while everyone walked into the locker room ahead of me. The other team’s defense had played a part in spooking me into a corner, but if I was being honest with myself, I was already rattled. I was tired from the extra work at the landlord’s restaurant, running from class to practice to work, then back home to do it all over again. For three weeks.

Not to mention that bet about getting in her pants. That hadn’t left my mind, and I was still going to go for round two or more before I told anyone it had happened at all.

There was so much on my damn mind, and it showed on the field tonight.

“Hey, Slade.”

Cassidy’s hand and voice stopped me on the way into the locker rooms. I turned to see her riveting blue eyes smiling at me. How come I’d never noticed that before?

“Hey. It’s not a great time, Cass.”

“I’d bet. I just wanted to tell you, good job out there tonight.” She was being sincere too.

“Thanks, but it wasn’t a win.”

“True, but you played your ass off out there tonight. After you study the film from tonight, you’ll agree. I kind of feel bad for the next team you come up against.”

I nodded, appreciating her attempt to cheer me up. “Thanks.”

For a second it looked like she was about to hug me, but we were interrupted by Mo. “Dude. Let’s get a move on. We have a party to get to.”

Tre was behind him with a couple of blonde groupies on his arm. He laughed as they tried to accompany him into the locker room. “All right, ladies. This is the end of the line. You’ll have to wait for me until we’re all changed and ready. See you later.”

“We’ll be out in five, ten minutes,” Mo assured the girls, pulling me past them.

Inside the locker room, the mood had lightened up already. Everyone was laughing and cutting up. We peeled off our uniforms and hit the showers. There was an after party to go to and I needed to show up, but I wasn’t planning on staying long.

I did not like to lose, so I had no plans for anyone to stick my nose in it all night long. The after party was at a fan’s house near campus, since the fraternity couldn’t host them for a while. The boys brought the banners and everything over, and people already seemed to know where to find us. We all rolled up to the house together, the entire team walking in as a unit. It was a sign of strength and a show of force. We were received just as we would have been if we’d won the game, with beer and loud cheers from the crowd.

Chad passed me, looking back as he walked up the front steps to the house. “I’ll get you a beer. You earned it tonight.”

Nodding, I grabbed a cup and filled it from one of the kegs some other generous benefactor had brought over to the house in preparation for the party. All our super fan had to do was play host. We supplied all the eye candy, and could probably take credit for most of the girls who showed up. I watched as the cheerleaders and sorority girls who’d followed us over paired off with my frat brothers, teammates, and other students. Good for them, I thought. They needed a little encouragement for next time.

I was ready to leave less than half hour after I got there. For some reason, standing around sipping beer and watching everyone drink and dance to loud music did nothing for me. Finishing off my beer, I dropped my cup in the trash. Sleep was what I needed, and to fix my schedule before it cost me another game. I slipped out the front door and down the steps, deciding to walk back to the frat house, given I’d arrived here in one of the other players’ car.

Cassidy was on my mind as I walked. She’d be at home for sure, so I sent her a text, thinking I could at least tell her thanks for the encouragement earlier. She didn’t reply by the time I made it to the house and up to my room, so I left it alone, setting the phone on the nightstand before heading to bed.