Page 30 of The Trade

“Oh?” He tilts his head. “I didn’t realize your brother played football. Was he on a college team?”

“Mhm.”

“Cool,” he says, an approving nod following his words. “What school?”

“Solberg.”

“Sweet, they have a good team. Did he ever think about going pro?”

I tense at the question. This is exactly why I didn’t tell him about my brother in the first place. Knowing Mica’s status always seems to change things for people. And with West, who wants to be drafted himself, I fear his shadow might eclipse our every conversation.

“Um, yeah, he did,” I say, steering the discussion toward something neutral. “Hey, look, I actually have a really busy day today. I’m gonna go get ready, but thank you again for the coffee.”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” he says, offering me a warm smile. In a surprising move, he reaches out to tuck a stray curl behind my ear. “No problem.”

A little startled, I clear my throat, stepping back. “And thanks for helping me with Fred.”

“Anytime,” he says, and I swear his gaze lingers on me a moment longer than necessary. “See ya, Jade.”

“Bye, Theo,” I say.

And then, as the door clicks shut, I linger there in the silence, my heartbeat echoing in the empty space, the heat of his unexpected touch burning against the shell of my ear.

9

WEST

It’s been weeks... no, months since I’ve had a girl in my bed. Honestly, the last person I hooked up with must have been Cassidy fuckin’ Viotto back during fall term. This has to be the longest dry spell I’ve had since freshman year.

No wonder I’ve been jerking it in the shower so often.

Leaning against the cold tiles, hot water streaming down my back, I close my eyes and clasp my hand around my cock. My thoughts wander off, straying toward some faceless porn star—large breasts, a fit body, and a cascade of silky hair confined to a ponytail.

But after a half-hearted stroke, my interest wanes out, my dick deflating on me.

Frustrated, I bite my lip, shifting my fantasy to the one I haven’t dared to imagine—fiery red hair, a smattering of freckles, and a short cheerleading skirt. Encouraged, I give myself another stroke. Then another, tightening my grip along the base.

Well, fuck, this is definitely not going to work for me either.

Just as I’m about to resign myself to a failed attempt, a new fantasy works its way into my brain—images of a tiny heart-shaped birthmark, a pile of chocolate curls spilling out of a half bun, and a pair of long, tanned legs peeking out from striped pajama shorts.

Yeah, there it is. My hard-on immediately rebounds.

Tilting my forehead against the shower wall, I give in to the image of her standing in her apartment doorway, a tiny shirt clinging to her curves just so, offering a glimpse of her waist above the band of her shorts. She’s smiling at me, saying my name, leading me back into her bedroom.

Now, it’s her hand working me over, her mouth pressing to my neck. The pace quickens as she journeys from my neck to my jaw to my chest, biting softly at my shoulder before dropping to her knees in front of me. Those perfect lips whisper, “Theo,” right before she wraps them around my cock, sending me over the edge.

“Fuuuck.” I can’t help but groan as I collapse against the cold shower tiles, panting, allowing my climax to wash down the drain. It takes me a few long moments to catch my breath before finally switching off the water.

Now, what the fuck was that all about?Seriously ... I see the outline of Jade’s tits for five seconds and she’s already starring in my shower fantasies? This is a whole new level of pathetic.

Honestly, this probably only happened because I’m sex-deprived, and Jade’s the most recent girl I’ve been around. Not to mention her body is fucking incredible, which I would’ve realized sooner if it weren’t for that godforsaken hand-me-down sweatshirt.

I mean, I understand her reasons for wearing it better than most. But damn it. That thing, no matter how lucky it is, is truly a detriment to her and to the entire Dayton community.

So yeah, that’s all this was. I was just surprised to see her wearing that tight little pajama set this morning and caught off guard by my sudden attraction to her. I’m sure, by the end of the week, the novelty will have worn off completely.

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