Page 32 of Take Her On

But she knew how soft Maya’s lips were, how hungry and passionate she was if she would only let herself go. She knew how it sounded when a moan rumbled in her throat, and she wanted to be the reason for it again.

The memory started a pulse between her legs.

But something flashed across Maya’s features, and her wall flew back up, her face hardening. “What is it?” she snapped.

Jamie held her palms up. “Look, I knew you might be a bit frosty after what happened the other night, but I didn’t think you’d be like this.”

Maya squashed her mouth into a line. “That was a mistake.”

“You kissed me back.” Jamie took another step closer, pinning her with her eyes in a challenge to deny it.

“It doesn’t matter.” She swallowed, and Jamie followed the movement. “Not when it can jeopardise the team.”

Her eyebrows pinched together. “The team?”

“Don’t act stupid. Whatever it is you and Leah have going on. I don’t want to get involved. I’m not being a pawn in one of your games, and it’s not fair—”

Leah? What is she talking about?

The muffled sound of voices drifted down the hallway, and they both turned their heads to the door.

“Maya, please. I want to talk about this—”

“Not right now. We can’t let the team down—I won’t.” She grabbed the water-bottle carrier from the floor. “It might not mean anything to you, but it does to me, and it does to these players. So, please, just leave it.”

And with that, she walked out the door.

* * *

As a striker, it was Jamie’s job to put the ball in the back of the net. Cravenview had a handful of quick players and liked to keep possession. If Millton were going to beat them, they had to take advantage of the ball on the break. Coach had drilled it into them at training—it was crucial to get the win and a good start in the league.

And Jamie had a point to prove.

The conversation with Maya before the game hadn’t helped her pre-game nerves, but she couldn’t use that excuse for the rest of the team. None of them were playing particularly well. The November sun was surprisingly bright overhead, which could explain a couple of the bad passes and off-shots, but it wasn’t an excuse for their sluggishness. They’d barely had any possession.

The thud of the ball echoed across the field as the opposition passed between themselves, mixed with encouraging shouts from the sidelines, but without any service, all Jamie could do was jog up and down the line, trying to free up space. They needed to be better.

After a bollocking from Coach, and a slight change of formation, Millton started the second half on the front foot. Jamie hit the post from a corner, and then Noodle, one of the midfielders with beautiful blonde ringlets, hit the crossbar. Coach’s decision to go three at the back seemed to be paying off. They were so close to getting a goal…until Cravenview’s speedy midfielder picked up a loose ball in the centre of the field. Despite Maya shouting for their midfield players to get back—and Coach screaming the same—they were caught out, leaving Maya and the two others at the back unguarded and open for attack.

All Jamie could do was watch Cravenview’s tall and nimble striker as she sprinted towards Maya, anticipating the long ball from her midfielder over the top of the defence. Maya wasn’t big for a centre-back, but she had speed—Jamie remembered their contests well. The ball left their midfielder’s foot, soaring through the air in a perfect trajectory. The Cravenview striker controlled it at her feet, but before she could look up or even think about trying to pass her, Maya put in a strong tackle, winning the ball and driving forward.

This is my chance.

Jamie called for the ball, jockeyed left to lose her marker, then sprinted forward. Maya slotted the ball through the gap in the Cravenview defenders, and Jamie collected it with ease, shifting onto her left foot to smash the ball into the bottom corner. Yes!

Nothing beat the feeling of the ball rippling the back of the net.

She spun, searching for Maya’s eyes. She caught them for a second, her face breaking into a huge grin before her teammates jumped on her. She soaked in their excitement.

Moments like this reminded her why she loved football so much. Taking in the cheers from the supporters on the touchline and the celebrations of her team rejuvenated her. If it feels this good now, imagine in a big stadium.

That was her goal; she needed to remember that. Whatever was going on with her and Maya had to come second. Jamie needed to be careful. She didn’t want to feed any rumours from last season—she was nothing like her dad.

“Thomas!” Coach waved her long arms about frantically, trying to get Maya’s attention. “Keep them bloody going!”

They quickly scored another. Aiysha’s cross met Noodle’s head, and the ball soared into the top left. The second goal riled Cravenview up, and their tackles were coming in late and more frequently.

Harriet sent an arching pass from the left wing to the right, a long ball for Leah to chase on to. She played the ball to Jamie, but before Jamie could turn, a Cravenview defender swiped her legs out from under her.