Pearce Malcolm was tying me in knots or simply turning me on, and while I was on board with that as he was fucking hot and one of my favorite people in the world, I didn’t know how to behave. Not when we had so much to say and explore. My hands twitched at my sides as they carried on chatting, tempted to haul him into me. Somehow, I resisted.
“—got this.”
“Thanks, Lottie girl. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I can stay up so we can celebrate.”
Pearce grinned, his gaze briefly flicking to mine. In the short connection, warmth brushed across my skin at the promise obvious in that one look. He was absolutely wanting a follow-up to what I started earlier. I dragged my bottom lip in my mouth, releasing it slowly and being as subtle as a wrecking ball. Pink hit his cheeks, and I grinned.
“I think it’s best if you go straight to bed after the game. You’ll need to be as healthy as possible if you want to be here for the next game, right?”
I smirked at his save and would make sure she was sound asleep by the time Pearce got home. Thoughts of how to celebrate bubbled to life. “Pearce is right, Lottie, so no arguing, okay?”
Despite her loud sigh, she bobbed her head. “Okay.”
With a wink, Pearce leaned forward and gently hugged Lottie. “Love you, kiddo. Cheer hard for me, okay?”
“Always,” she answered seriously, and my heart squeezed when she followed up with “Love you.”
Emotion colored Pearce’s face as he squeezed her and stood. He didn’t give me time to hesitate or overthink. In the space of a breath, he was in my space and wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug, his nose buried against my neck.
Hugging him back, I barely held back the ripple of longing racing through me, but when his lips pressed against my neck, I gulped. “You’ll do brilliantly,” I finally whispered. “Focus,” I managed to say, a reminder to the both of us that in this moment, the game was everything. “Keep your eye on Lemington.”
Before he angled back, he placed another kiss to my neck. Goose bumps broke free, and I eased away.
“I’ve got this.”
“You do.” I squeezed his arms, reluctant to fully let go but knew I must.
“I wish you could stay.” Guilt attempted to spark to life. But before it could take shape, Pearce continued, “But you both at my place is an awesome close second. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“You don’t have to rush b—”
The incredulous look on his face had me cutting myself off.
“Or you can get home as quickly as you can, and I’ll be up waiting for you.”
My words earned me a heart-flipping grin. He leaned forward once again, his mouth moving close to my ear. “Feel free to look in the second drawer in my bedside table. You know,” he said, pulling away to make eye contact, “if you get bored.”
With those final words, he winked, ruffled Lottie’s hair, and jogged back to the court.
* * *
Dishes doneand Lottie in bed, I couldn’t wait any longer. Curiosity had a reputation for sure, but it had been Pearce’s tone that did it for me. I didn’t expect anything but heat and orgasms.
Still buzzing from the Eagles’ win, I opened the door to the room I’d never spent any time in, for all the obvious reasons. The scent of Pearce’s bodywash greeted me, familiar and doing nothing to reduce the electricity zipping through me. From the doorway, I easily spotted the bedside table. I gulped as a flush of anticipation raced to my chest.
Fuck, this was really happening. Pearce and me. I was about to rifle through his drawers, and even though it was with his permission, it was another step in the direction of something so much more than I’d anticipated with him.
With each step closer, my dick throbbed, swelling in my pants. Tempted to squeeze myself, I zeroed in on the drawer instead, welcoming the rush of anticipation. If the evening went as I hoped, the only hand touching my dick would be Pearce’s.
I opened the drawer, my eyes widening before a soft chuckle escaped. There were enough toys and lube in the oversized drawer to rival a sex shop, and what was even better was several were still in their packages. Sitting on Pearce’s unmade bed, I pulled out the four different bottles of lube. One I was familiar with, my favorite brand. The other three had me snorting. Who knew lube could add an extra tingle to my prostate?
I placed them back in the drawer, all except for my favorite brand, and smirked at the varying dildos. It seemed like Pearce liked to have fun and enjoyed variety. As soon as that thought settled in my mind, I blanched. Variety was awesome, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t after something more or not interested in monogamy, right? Rubbing a hand over my face and pissed off that I was getting way ahead of myself, I cracked my neck and peered once again inside the drawer.
I snagged a plastic-wrapped package, mouth lifting immediately and my ass clenching in anticipation. Now this I could totally get onboard with, and I half expected it was what Pearce may have had in mind too.
I stood and made my way to close his bedroom door, creating an additional barrier should Lottie come hunting for me. As I closed it, a text alert made me jump. I chuckled as I tugged my phone out of my pocket, then read Pearce’s response to my congratulatory text.
