Page 63 of A Follow-Through in Faking
But amusement quickly turns into heat pooling low in my stomach and my laughter fading as I think about Santi’s glorious body without a single piece of fabric covering him.
“Let’s do it,” I blurt out, making everyone turn to me. Realizing what the fuck I just said after Santi’s admission, I attempt to backtrack. “Or not. Whatever is fine with me.”
I want to slap myself with the palm of my hand.
“Yeah, let’s play. I’ll team up with Sage. Matteo and Manu can play together, and Santi and Catalina can be a team. Practice for tomorrow and what not,” Charlie says, throwing a wink my way before standing up and walking toward Sage. They grab her hand and press a kiss to the back of it, smirking until my friend blushes violently. “After you,” they add, gesturing for Sage to go first.
I smile at both of them, ignoring the way Santi is currently watching me. He always does that. As soon as a smile touches my lips, his eyes glue themselves to my mouth. Manu and Matteo move toward where the television is in the suite, but I take my time sipping my wine because Santi also hasn’t moved yet.
“Please look at me, Cata,” he says softly when I put my glass down, and I reluctantly do as I’m told. He’s grinning, and I hate that I want to grin back. “We’re going to win, but even when we do, feel free to give me any punishment you’d like,” he adds, standing and walking toward me. “I’d very much like that.”
“How about getting naked again, but this time in a room full of bees?”
He chuckles, his breath coasting my ear when he moves behind my chair and lowers his head. His lips are centimeters from my ear as he replies.
“Yes to the first part, but we don’t have to play for that to happen. You can have me naked any time you want,cariño.” He brushes his lips over the shell of my ear, sending delicious shivers down my spine.
“You’re so sure you’d be able to handle me, but what if I’d tie you up, overstimulate you, and make you come so hard, you’ll never want to fuck anyone else?” I stand up and spin on my heels, approaching him. I would have expected his eyes to have widened, but Santi looks as interested in my proposal as I feel.
“Do it. Ruin me for everyone else, Cata.” I push at his chest, guiding him toward where our friends are.
“Haven’t I already?”
He doesn’t get the chance to respond because Matteo wraps an arm around his best friend, dragging him away from me.
But his smile speaks louder than any words.
My stomach starts cramping from how much I’m laughing. Playing tennis on the Switch is obviously galaxies different from playing real tennis, but I’m having more fun with Matteo, Sage, Charlie, Manu, and Santi in this hotel room than I’ve ever had on the court. It’s carefree, and we can yell out any curse or complaint we want. That’s especially important for me when Santi misses yet another ball.
“Santi, you were lucky enough to be given the ability to see. Use it!” I say, pointing at the screen. Matteo falls off the couch as he bursts into laughter, Manuela joining him a second later.
Sage and Charlie are bent over at the waist, laughing too, and Santi gives me a look of utter shock.
“Me? You should have gotten that one,” he says, pointing at the screen right as they replay the point there.
He missed it at the net, and my little character didn’t run to it fast enough, so really, it was Santi’s fault.
“Get your shit together,” I say, mostly laughing, before we go back to our game.
Despite Santi’s lack of skill, we win everything. Every game. But I’m too busy feeling the burn in my face from smiling so much to care. Tomorrow I can go back to worrying about everything, to doubting myself and my ability to be successful in my career. For now, I soak up this carefreeness. I soak up the love in this room. The way Manu and Matteo are whispering to each other, sharing secret words. The way Sage and Charlie are bickering. The way Santi put my legs on his lap and is currently massaging my sore feet without me having told him to do it.
I have a big family. With three siblings, a dad who loves me more than life—like he loves all his children—four grandparents, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins, I have more family members than I have fingers and toes. But this? This friendship which makes me feel like the weight of the world lifts off my shoulders?
I’m going to do my best to keep them all close.
Even Santi.
Especially Santi, my subconscious chimes in, but I ignore that asshole.
As if he heard my thoughts, he leans toward me, pressing the sweetest kiss to my cheek and playing with the necklace Mamá gave me.
“So, what are you both going to make our punishment?” Matteo asks, clearly irritated with the whole thing. I look at Santi, who turns his head my way too.
“I think the only one who should get punished is Matteo, considering it was his idea and all,” I say, and Santiago nods in approval. “And I think Santi should get his revenge and choose the punishment.” Santi squeezes my feet once, probably to show his gratitude, before leaning forward and grinning at his friend.
“Take it easy on me, man,” Matteo says, but Santi lets out a laugh that even makes me grin.
“Clothes off, Matteo. There’s a perfectly good table in here.” He points at the one in front of the couch, and I burst into laughter when he adds, “Cover your eyes,cariño.”
