“They have a place on third where people are allowed. Come over around seven. The boys are playing ball, I’m getting drunk.” I shrug.
Gio grins, looking to the guy beside him, Rowan as they called him, who glares at me. Gio catches it and drops his smirk at the dirt. He goes to step forward, like he’s about to hug me but Maddoc is suddenly at my back, making him laugh.
“Later, Raven.”
Maddoc’s chest leaves my back and I turn around.
Victoria shakes her head, her eyes wide. “Wow.” She gapes at me. “I know I already said that, but really though, that’s all I got. Just ... wow.”
Then the horn blares and she squeals, slipping off the hood.
Captain and Royce stand outside their doors laughing and she fake laughs back, flipping them off.
“Assholes.”
“Yeah...you have to ride with those assholes,” I tell her, and she glares at me.
“Seriously? After all that?”
“I need to ride with Maddoc alone.”
She crosses her arms. “Ride with or ride in general?”
I waggle my brows, and she rolls her eyes, but a grin is on her lips. “Fine. Whatever.”
“If they take you home, come to the party pad later. You can bring Vienna or whoever if you want.”
“Why, so you can beat her ass, away from anyone who will care to stop you, for touching lips with your man?”
I pause, thinking about it. “Actually, yeah, sounds like a good plan, now that you mention it.”
Victoria laughs, shaking her head. “I told you, Maybell is acting weird. I won’t be able to get out.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Oh, you’ve got it like that now?” she teases.
“I just might,” I admit and move past her, toward the very pissy, very sexy, and angry big man waiting at my door.
“Raven, huh?” He licks his lips. “Thought nobody got to call you that?”
“You guys don’t call me Rae.”
“We’re not everyone else.”
I step in front of him and he grips my hips, depositing me in my seat.
“You’re right, you’re not,” I confirm.
“Has he ever touched my body?”
“Your body?” I raise a brow and he frowns.
“Yeah, my body. Has he ever touched it?”
I shake my head.
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not. Just wait, you’ll understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I said wait.”
He glares, but it goes away when I slide my hands down his pants.
“Now, take me home, wear me out, and then wake me up to party.”
He leans forward, sliding his lips across mine before nipping on my bottom one. “I can do that,” he whispers.“Wow,” Vienna whispers, looking around the court from where we sit.
Victoria nods. “Now I get why Rae hangs with them.” Her eyes scanning the group just the same. “Basketball shorts.”
“Hmm...” I muse. “God’s gift to women.”
We all start laughing.
“The fuck?” comes from Maddoc.
My eyes jerk from his junk to his eyes and his tighten.
I grin, and he stalks toward me, raising a brow. “It’s true. I’ve been watching the way you bounce around for months now.”
A slow smirk pulls at his lips and he leans over me. “Yeah, and how do I bounce?”
“Long and to the left, Big Man,” I whisper with a smile, making him chuckle.
His green eyes darken, demanding I meet his lips, so I push up and give him what he wants.
Gio steps up beside us in the next second and whips his shirt off his body.
Man, he’s grown up and filled out the lanky boy body I remember.
Tattoos and weighted muscles cover his soft brown chest. With dark hair and dark eyes, he’s definitely got that ‘keep away’ look going for him. The kind that makes you want to do the opposite.
Maddoc grips my head and brings my eyes back to his with a frown.
I wink and his jaw clenches.
“Look at your boy, G,” I say under my breath and Gio takes a drink from his water bottle, peeking over at Rowan leaning against the hoop post.
His eyes are locked on Gio.
“He looks like he wants to take a serious bite out of you.”
“Raven,” Captain scolds. “Stop.”
I hold in my grin. “What?”
“You can’t just say that shit.”
“He does.” I tip my chin and they all look, seeing the struggle in Rowan’s eyes from across the court just the same. “Damn, he’s turned on right now.”
Maddoc yanks me up, running his hand over my ass as he scowls at me.
“Yeah, if only he’d get out of his own fucking head. He’s good at playing hot and cold,” Gio mumbles, then jerks his head calling Rowan over.
“Wait.” Victoria leans forward and Gio grins at her. She eyes him a minute and her brows jump. “You’re gay?”
“What?” Royce’s attention is caught, and his eyes cut to Gio. “No...”
Gio holds his hands out, eyeing him.
“Really?” Royce gapes.
He tips his head back. “Why you look so surprised?
“Guess I’m a stereotyping prick, ‘cause you don’t look gay.” Royce sizes him up.
“Yeah, and how do I look?” Gio goads him.
I laugh, knowing exactly where this is going. Doubt Gio’s met someone like Royce – honest, blunt, and completely fucking unashamed.