“Oh yeah? What position does Austin play?”
I wrinkle my nose, wracking my brain. “Uh, thrower.”
“You are the shittiest liar.”
I sigh. “Look, I just didn’t want this to be my life. I never wanted to be a fucking accessory like I was with Vince.”
“Well, Vince was a weeny, so I’m with you there.”
“I don’t want to be some damn plaything for some rich guy, Viv.”
“So take charge, dude. Make him your plaything. And Nat,” she laughs. “You’re married to the hottest man in pro sports, please tell you’ve at least tried that.”
I make a face. “Eww, no.”
“You’re an idiot.”
I groan. “Spare me, I’ve already heard the whole thing from other players’ wives about how I need to ‘keep him in line’ or ‘keep him occupied’ or whatever.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Viv sighs into the phone. “Nat, he’s hot, he’s ready, and you need this. So why not? It’s not like it means anything.”
“Viv, I’m married to hi-”
“Nat,” she says, cutting me short. “Save the bullshit for Mom, okay? I don’t know what your angle is, or what the deal is, but I can smell it a mile away.”
“Viv, I don’t know what-”
“Fiiiine, keep your stupid secrets.”
She says something muffled over the phone before her voice comes back. “Look, I’ve got this function to go to. But listen - I’m betting your ‘true love’ marriage has an end date, and until then, just enjoy it, okay?”
“Thanks for picking up.”
“If you ever wait two weeks to call me after eloping again, I will legit kill you, okay?”
“I swear.”
“No regrets, Nat,” she says, before the line goes quiet.
28
Natalie
I’m driving back to his house with a purpose - a girl with a damn mission.
Because Viv is right, why not enjoy it? I am with the hottest man in pro sports, at least for the next six months. Why on earth would I not let what we keep fighting just happen? Why the hell would I not use the situation for what I have zero doubts could be the hottest sex of my life?
Giving in to what I have to admit I want doesn’t make me anything or mean anything. Because this whole thing doesn’t mean anything.
It’s an arrangement - my secret marriage. But even secret marriages can have very real, very necessary, very much denied-myself-for-entirely-too-long sex.
And it proves something to myself - it proves that I can take charge, that I can own the situation, and the direction of my life, and make it work for me.
Because this is about me, and I’m about to sleep with the last man on earth I should.
The front door to the house slams behind me. It’s quiet, and I let my purse drop to the ground as I walk with purpose through the house.
Where is he.
I’m on the prowl, and I want this.
No regrets, I say to myself as I poke my head into the empty living room, repeating it twice more as I move into the kitchen.
“You’re home.”
I freeze at the sound of his voice behind me. I turn, feeling my pulse beating a million miles an hour, running my hands over my jeans as I turn to face him.
He’s just come out of the gym - sweaty, shirtless, panting.
Perfect.
I can feel the raw need, and the hormones, the primal urge inside me roar like a jungle cat.
I want him.
I want him to take me.
I want him to make me feel.
“Nat?”
I stride towards him as he wrinkles his brow at me, bringing the water bottle in his hand up to his mouth. I smack it aside, knocking it from his hand. And before he can even react, I’m throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him as hard as I can.
Wasn’t expecting that, now was he.
But he reacts instantly, his arms wrapping tightly around me, his hands sliding down over my ass, and his tongue sliding against my own.
“You better know you’re playing with fire here, princess,” he growls, pulling away from my lips, his eyes blazing into mine.
“I know exactly what I’m doing,” I husk back, sliding my hands up into his hair and yanking him back to my lips.
He’s kissing me hotly, pushing me back until I feel the cool steel of the refrigerator at my back. We’re panting, gasping and moaning into each other’s mouth as he pulls away, tearing at my shirt.
He suddenly grabs my hands and brings them up above my head, pinning them there with one hand as he lets the other trail down across my heaving chest. “I’m not going to hold back this time, princess,” he growls into my ear, his hand sliding around my bare torso and pulling at my bra. He sucks my earlobe between his lips, nipping at the skin there with his teeth and making me cry out.