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After we grab our equipment and join the others, Nancy reviews the rules. “No physical contact. Period. Grab a person’s flag rather than touch them. Only direct handoffs are allowed. The quarterback gets seven seconds to ditch the ball before he or she becomes a target. Try to score. Be safe. Enjoy yourself. Does anyone need further instructions or clarification?”
The group waves away the offer in unison. Then we break apart into teams. I strut onto the field like this is the Super Bowl. Flashbacks hit me when the floodlights illuminate the striped turf. Plays and formations from years past filter through my mind. Fuck, I’ve missed this. My soles sink into the earth, anchoring me to this moment.
Comfort washes over me while I stretch. Time ceases to exist when Grace bends and puts her ass on display. Those stretchy pants might be the end of me. A smack to my shoulder reminds me that I’m needed in the huddle.
Our captain, who also happens to be the quarterback, is the leader. “Okay, newbie. Do you have a preferred position?”
“Near her.” I blatantly point to my ultimate distraction.
He narrows his eyes but doesn’t argue. “Gonna hand you the ball. Try to score and don’t lose a flag. Can you handle that?”
The urge to boast about my forgotten talent is tough to silence, but this is Grace’s thoughtful gesture. I’m not going to blow it. My teeth grind as I force a grin. “You got it.”
Both teams face off at the line of scrimmage. The ball is snapped, and everyone dashes into action. They’re a blur that instantly fades. My eyes track Grace as she scampers across the field. There’s no logic to her aimless movements. She spins and dips and appears lost. Out of her element is more like it.
A fresh memory slams into the present with startling clarity. We’re back in the maze and she’s telling me how much it turned her on to be chased. My feet pound in her direction. I’m blinded to all else. The game doesn’t exist. My teammate’s shouts are static buzz.
I catch her around the waist. Grace thrashes in my hold but I’m able to get her on the ground using gentle force. My palm cradles the back of her head while I settle my weight on top of her. I’m breathing hard, our chests pressing together with each heavy exhale. Her smile is blinding. This is the most successful formation I’ve ever participated in.
“Hi,” I breathe.
Her pinned hips shift beneath mine. “You got me.”
“I think that was your plan.”
She strains upward for a kiss. “I’m yours to catch.”
“Not sure what I did to earn the honor, but I’ll never give you a reason to regret it.”
Mist shines in her eyes. “You make me forget everyone else and the pain they caused.”
“Damn straight, soulmate. That’s part of my job.”
A heavy tread bursts our intimate embrace. I glance up to see the quarterback glaring at our illegal tackle. Steam might spew from his ears.
“Dude, you know the rules. If you wanna fuck, do it off the field.” He hitches his thumb toward Grace’s car.
“You heard the man.” I rise to my feet, lifting Grace onto hers in a fluid motion.
She giggles and nudges me as we head off into the night. “You’re always getting us booted from places.”
“It’s your fault. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
Grace’s fingers walk up my arm. “How about a snack? I’m famished after exerting so much energy.”
There’s a tent in my shorts from the purr in her tone. “I know somewhere we won’t be disturbed.”
Garrett unlocks the door and sweeps his arm forward to usher me inside. I cross the threshold, but my steps are measured. Almost hesitant. The only other time I entered his domain, I was in an altered frame of mind. Drunk on booze and horny off Garrett’s intoxicating fumes. Both had a sudden onset that was staggering. The potential of getting a peek at his penis had me salivating.
That gives me pause. There’s a noticeable amount of drool collecting in my mouth. Maybe tonight isn’t that different.
I do a twirl to appraise his home under the scope of sobriety. “Ah, the bachelor pad. Nice to see the place is still accommodating.”
He props himself on the jamb with a bent elbow, putting his body at a mouth-watering angle. “You gave my loft new meaning that night.”
“I find that difficult to believe since we didn’t sleep together.”
“That’s precisely why, soulmate. You shifted the balance.”
