Page 38 of Worth the Scandal
For the briefest moment, neither of us moves.
Just breath.
Just skin.
Just heartbeats.
Then he kisses me again soft this time. A thank-you. A promise.
“Scarlett Walker,” he says against my lips. “You ruin me.”
I smile. “You love it.”
He grins. “Damn right I do.”
“I’m heading home to have a shower, if you want to join?” He asks, trying to act casual as he gathers his stuff and we put missing clothes back in their places.
“Aren’t you scared someone will see us leaving together?” Dumb question I know, given our post game activity just now.
“Well, we just had sex in the dressing shed Scar, and I wasn’t worried about anyone walking in then—well maybe your dad.” he says coolly looking up at me now. Those blue eyes pleading for more time together.
“I’m not worried about what Ted thinks, I’ll deal with Ted when the time comes, let’s just keep this professional where we need to and anything but when we don’t. Like right now I’m going to get in my car and follow you to your house.” I help him pull down his spare shirt over his damp body.
His head pops through the gap in the shirt and the biggest grin falls over his face “That’s a plan I can live with, for now.”
We lace our fingers through each others and walk vigilantly hand in hand to the side parking lot—and of course that’s when we run straight into Collins. I quickly pull my fingers out of Asher’s grasp, and I pray that Collins doesn’t notice my cheeks turning red as they heat. I feel like a high schooler who’s just been busted skipping school with the older tradie boyfriend.
“Hey, hey don’t stop this public display of affection on my account. I did see you both run off into the moonlight together the other night remember. Ain’t none of my business what two hot people do together in their spare time.” Collins looks at me with the slyest grin and I can tell he can smell the sex in the air. He leans a hand forward and playfully fixes the top of my hair, smoothing down the strays that have given us away.
“No idea what you’re talking about I’ll deny deny deny” I shoot back winking and swatting his hand away.
“Don’t touch her.” Asher spits out
I think he’s serious “Ash woah it’s fine, he’s just joking.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s Australia’s hottest fucking sold out comedian, don’t touch her. You touch her again and I’ll break your hand off, should’ve done it the other night actually.” his voice is heavy, laced with a tinge of murder.
Collins doesn’t flinch or move; he just smiles wider. Like this is his best friend and this is a side of him he knows well. “Well fuck me mate, she’s already got you by the balls then.” He jokes. “I’ll be damned, a girl’s got Asher down bad.”
Asher laughs and pushes past him “I mean it Collins, you’re all ha ha jokey flirty with everyone else’s missus, stay the fuck away from mine.” It’s true I’ve heard the rumours, he’s a party boy through and through. A real PR nightmare, needs to be tied down asap. That would fix him.
I follow after Asher skipping a little to keep up “I’m sorry did you say Mrs?”
“It’s the only term that’ll get through his thick head that you’re well-off limits, don’t stress about it darling. I know we are just having a little fun for now yeah?”
My heart sinks because that isn’t the answer I wanted. A little fun, I’m not risking my career on a little fun.
* * *
I’m quieter than usual when I hop out of my car, I lean over the drivers seat to grab my bag and softly shut the door behind me. I’ve parked a few doors down from Asher’s house, that feels incognito enough for this meeting. The short drive here all I’ve thought about is what he said back at the stadium. “Having a little fun” I don’t think risking it all is me having a little fun, I need to make that very clear to him. Otherwise, we can just throw the towel in right now.
I pin the thought when I get to his front door and he’s theresmiley and waiting, did he not mean what he said? I’ll run with that for now. I can be cool about it.
Fuck this, I’m asking. “What was that back there? Are you really risking your career on a bit of fun or? Because I’m not here to just fuck around Ash. I’ve got a lot riding on me being professional right now. I’d never be acting this way with anyone else, you know that night two years—“
“Scar, shut up.”
“Excuse m—“
