“Gee, why don’t you tell me, Erik? Is it my pig-headed ego?”
“Normally, I would say you nailed it, but not this time, Kayden. You know what I mean. I’m not gonna spell it out.”
I swear it was like he knew his every move drove me crazy, and not in the way you’d think. Watching him talk made me want to take him in my arms. Hearing his voice melted me. I could’ve gotten what I wanted, sure, but it felt somehow off-limits. That made me want to scream.
My teammate had gained the upper hand on me for the first time. I would admit that much. The good, wholesome farm boy not only knew that these things drove me wild, but he wasn’t afraid to use them to his advantage.
But I would never go down without a fight. You know that.
“IfI’m going to be your co-captain,” I said, “we’re going to have to work things out and have an understanding.”
“Sure. I’m game.”
“My place. Tomorrow. Seven o’clock.”
“Timeout!” He made a T with his hands.
“What now, De Ruiter?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“Yes.”
His eyes fell shut, and he drew a deep breath. Pretty soon, I would be the one driving him crazy.
“Be serious for once, would you?” he said. “I know why you want me to come over to your place. You’ll probably answer the door nude.”
I raised my right hand, placing my left over my heart, saying, “You have my promise I’ll be fully clothed.”
“But the moment the door closes, you know what’s going to happen.”
“What?”
“We’ll fall into each other’s arms. We’ll start kissing, then we’ll both be rock hard and totally unable to control ourselves. Then you’ll get me into bed, and I’ll be more than obliging because I would’ve thrown self-control out the window.”
I wished he hadn’t said it. The more I listened to him carry on about it, the more I wanted it to happen, but I knew he would be a pain in the ass. Besides, I had something else in mind.
“Look,” I said, “all I want is to get together privately and work out an arrangement so we can coexist as team captains and win games. Honest.”
Erik paused and considered my remark. He had no reason to trust me, not after what we’d already been through. All I could do was make an offer and encourage him to accept it.
“Why should I trust you?” he asked.
“Do you like getting what you want?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then you’ll come meet me at my place tomorrow. Alone. We’re almost out of time.”
“Because you’ve got to make a decision you should’ve easily made by now?”
“Exactly.”
Erik stuffed his hands in his pockets again, and peered down at his shoes, like he meant to hide his eyes. That would’ve been a dead giveaway for whatever he’d been thinking.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be at your place tomorrow at seven. But you’ve got to promise you won’t just try and fuck me again.”
“I promise I won’t.”
