Page 36 of Playing for Keeps
Steven dropped Udo’s hand.
“The shitter of it all is that it makes you even more vulnerable. You need to find someone so far away from the game they’ve never heard of the offside rule. Much less understand it.”
Udo chuckled. “That’s most of the population, remember. Bad example. Besides, they wouldn’t understand the obsession. That never works. I’ve had other relationships. In the end, they all resent what we give to the game.”
A couple came along and did a double take when they saw who sat on the bench. It brought it home to Steven how exposed they were.
“We should be getting back to the party,” Udo said.
Steven had been quite content, sitting on the bench with Udo. The thought of going back to the networking and fake laughter didn’t exactly thrill him.
“You’re right. Javier will be looking for us.”
They got up and set off back to the hotel.
“Thank you for telling me all that,” Steven said. “You’ve been through hell. How about I buy you a drink?”
Udo shook his head. “I’m not risking bumping into Max. I’ll head for my room.”
There was a small cut-through ahead. Steven grabbed Udo’s hand and pulled him toward the little alley.
“What—”
Steven slammed him up against the wall and kissed him. Udo parted his lips and Steven took the opportunity to further the kiss. They clashed tongues as Steven pressed his body against Udo’s.
They pulled back. Udo looked shocked.
“Let me stay with you tonight,” Steven said.
“We can’t,” Udo replied. “If anyone saw, we’d be finished.”
Udo straightened his jacket and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
He’s driving me crazy.
“I think we both know it’s coming soon.”
TEN
UDO
Udo woke up the next morning. The bed was huge. He rolled over on the high-count Egyptian cotton sheets and hugged the pillow. Steven would be doing the same just a few feet from where he lay.
He sighed. Last night’s kiss had been far more primal than the chaste one by the water. God he yearned for him so badly.
Udo also remembered Steven’s words.
It’s coming soon.
He screwed his eyes tightly shut. It was true. Neither of them could fight this forever. Yet that would open a can of worms that could ruin both of them.
Udo leapt out of bed. A shower would get his head together. He set it off and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Who was he kidding? The more time passed, the more he was willing to take the risk. He could fool himself into thinking it would be a one-time only thing. An itch to scratch. But things had gone past that point. Whenever he wasn’t thinking about soccer, his mind was on Steven Cox.
Udo yearned to know everything about him. What turned him on. His earliest memory. Who were his friends. Everything.
Instead he got into the shower and hoped that the jets of water would calm him down a little.
