Page 27 of Puck Off, She’s Mine

"The other part, baby."

"Oh." Her gaze shifts across my face, softening. "I was afraid you were going to go to prison."

"You were worried about me."

"Yes," she whispers.

I squeeze my eyes closed, taking deep breaths.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to calm down before I fuck you again. You can't say shit like that and expect me to behave, Cara. It's unsportsmanlike conduct."

Her body vibrates on top of mine, a delighted peal of laughter spilling from her lips. "Unsportsmanlike conduct? I wasn't aware we could rack up penalties here."

"Yeah, well, we definitely can. Like if I fuck you too much and you decide that's all I want from you. Or if I fuck you too much and break your vagina. Or if I fuck you too much and—"

She cuts me off with her hand over my mouth. "Phoenix? Shut up," she says, her smile so bright, it takes my breath away. "There are no penalties for wanting me. And I'm not going to disappear if you fuck me too much, okay? Sleeping with you wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was more a…gradual realization that I've been fighting my feelings for the stupidest reason."

"What reason?" I mumble against her palm.

"Cowardice," she admits with a rueful shake of her head. "I've been so damn scared of letting myself believe that you aren't going to break my heart that I just…wouldn't let myself take the risk." Her gaze drifts across my face like she's searching for something. "I've been trying to convince myself that you're another Corey. And then I saw the way you looked at him today, and I had to face the fact that I was lying to myself about a lot of shit." She huffs a little. "And then I found out that not even Corey is really a Corey."

"Corey isn't even really a Corey?" I repeat. "The fuck does that mean?"

"Nothing," she says, trying to wave me off. "It's not important."

"Tell me."

"It's not my business to share."

"You're a reporter. That's what you do, gorgeous. You share shit."

"Yes, the news," she says firmly. "His trauma isn't news, Phoenix. And he told me in confidence."

I scowl, not sure I love knowing the prick told her anything. I'm still mad as hell about what he said today. I'm pissed that he touched her. I'm irritated as fuck that I'm going to be riding the bench for the next two games because I hit him. Frankly, I do not have many kind, charitable feelings for him at the moment.

But…none of that shit really matters. What matters is whether or not I trust Cara. And that's what she's really asking for right now. Trust, not in Corey, but in her. That, I can give her.

"Fine," I grumble. "Keep your secrets. But just so you know, I once saw him sneak three different women out of his room in a single night. And I'm pretty sure they knew about each other."

Another peal of laughter spills from her lips. "You are shameless, you know that?"

"When it comes to you? Yeah," I agree. I'll fight dirty, start rumors, or do whatever the fuck I have to do if it means she never looks at him the way she looks at me. I want her all to myself, all the damn time. I'm man enough to admit that.

She just laughs again, snuggling up against my chest with her head over my heart. For a long moment, she's quiet, and then she sighs. "Hey, Phoenix?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"I'm really glad that you're not actually going to prison for being a drug dealer," she whispers. "I'd miss you."

Fuck.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, gorgeous," I murmur, squeezing my eyes closed. My heart rolls over in my chest as her sweet confession and amused laughter steal every last damn piece of it.

Chapter Eight

Cara