Page 55 of Front Runner


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I felt like I’d swallowed my tongue. Like most athletes, Riley lived in workout gear most days. I had a special appreciation for the soft leggings she preferred during the clothes-on time in my room.

Tonight, she wore a shimmery black dress that barely hit the top of her thighs and tall boots that showed off her mile-long legs. With a raised brow, she ignored my hand to hop down the last bit. A gust of cold wind teased the bottom of her dress, making it dancealmosthigh enough, and I couldn’t drag my eyes away.

She shivered and tugged at the hem, but no amount of pulling was going to magically make the dress longer. I swallowed hard, jerking my gaze back up to her face. She’d done something dark around her eyes, but the smile was all Riley—and all for me.

19

“You look beautiful,” I mumbled like an ass.

Eva snickered somewhere behind me, but I didn’t care how stupid I sounded. Mac could give me shit for the rest of my life if I got to see Riley all dressed up. Or lounging in pajamas. Or sleeping in nothing, with her hair spread across my pillow.

The need to touch her locked me up inside.

Riley took a step closer, then stopped herself like she’d momentarily forgotten we had an audience. “Thanks, Shaw.”

She patted my chest as she walked past, and I had to clench my fists to keep from hauling her against me. Eva sent me a pointed look as the group of women went into Johnny’s together.

“You are so fucked.”

I spun at Mac’s amused words to find him leaning on the building in the shadows. “Why are you creeping over there?”

He shrugged and joined me. “You and RJ were having a moment. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

I shook my head, pulling the door open. “It’s not like that.”

Mac snorted. “I know we don’t talk about your sleepovers, but it isdefinitelylike that. I’m surprised I still have eyebrows after the heat you two threw at each other just now. You know I love RJ, but if you want to keep her a secret, you need to stop eye-fucking her in public.”

My jaw clenched at the description. Not because he was wrong, but because I’d much rather be fucking her in private. The warning was probably apt too. I doubted the bonus cheerleaders saw anything in the dark parking lot, but I should put more effort into controlling my face.

Speaking of self-control. “Since you’re well aware of what’s happening between Riley and me, why did you follow me into the locker room?”

He sent me a pitying look. “Because the cheerleaders were getting antsy, and I didn’t want one of them walking in on you guys. I waited a full ten minutes first. By the way, I’m not drinking tonight, so no need for babysitting duty. You know, in case you need to suddenly leave.”

I nodded at him, mostly convinced he’d be okay on his own with Noah and four cheerleaders, and we walked into a crush of noise dominated by the entire bar singing “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Mac’s face fell. “Aww, man. I missed the best karaoke song.”

I gestured at the people vehemently singing around us. “It’s not over yet.”

“Close enough,” he muttered.

Our table was full of women, not unusual with a group of football players. Ball bunnies loved to find us at the bar. This time, though, we’d brought the women with us.

Noah sat at the end of the booth, completely at ease as he moved his head to the music and ignored the cheerleader next to him sending him hopeful looks. The rest of the ladies took up the remainder of the booth, with Eva and Riley at the other end.

Mac pulled up a chair and straddled it backward in the sliver of space next to the table, leaving me to squeeze next to Riley. She scooted over to make space, but she still ended up mostly in my lap.

The flirty skirt flared out on my jeans, and even in the near darkness, I could see goosebumps pebble the skin of her thigh. I stretched my arm along the back of the booth, trying to alleviate the need to touch her without making it obvious.

“Cold?” I shouted in her direction.

Riley shook her head, and her hair trailed over my neck in silky ribbons. She went back to her conversation with Eva, but my gaze snagged on the scoop neck of her dress. Her breasts looked fucking spectacular.

Mac kicked me under the table and pointed to his eyes. Right. Eye-fucking. How the hell was I supposed to not stare when every move brought her scent in my direction, and I’d been tongue-deep in her pussy not an hour before?

I grimaced at Mac, and he shrugged. No answers there.

In an effort to distract myself, I scanned the crowd. Writhing bodies packed the dance floor, moving to the fast-paced song. I couldn’t see past the outer ring of people, and with the low lighting, everyone looked like the same human blur.

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