Chapter 14

After about twenty minutes Paige switched off her reading light and turned on her back. “Are you asleep?” she whispered as soon as it had gone dark.

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“Mmm,” I mumbled. I was wide awake and had spent the better part of the last ten minutes wondering if I should lie on my hands to prevent me from inadvertently touching myself. Paige’s body heat seemed to multiply under the sheets and the thought of those legs mere inches away from hers made my skin sizzle. It was a good thing she had on an extra layer to hide the goosebumps.

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“How long have you been on the football team? I would not have imagined you playing a sport, especially football” Paige obviously took my grumble as a willingness to talk. As long as the subject was the team, I could handle it.

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“Three years and I barely missed a game.” Inside, I swelled with pride. I had given a lot for the team, but had gotten much more in return. It was an avenue for relieving all my pent up stress and emotions.

“And still one of the best player. Amazing.” Paige hesitated for a split second. “I really admire what you do, you know. I would have expected you to be a stuck up law student. Come to think of it, if it had not been for everything you went through, I am sure you would have a lot of friends and admirers.”

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I lay there blushing in the dark, gobsmacked but with pure joy rushing through my veins. "I just love the energy and the feeling of freedom I get when I play.” I shuffled nervously under the covers. “My reflexes are not what they used to be. You saw what happened today.” I heard the sound of skin rustling against sheets.

“Are you kidding?” Paige had propped herself up on one elbow, half her body towering over me.

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Don’t come too close, I prayed, not sure if I had the necessary will power to refrain from curling my hands around Paige’s neck and pulling her in for a kiss. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

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“I am nowhere near as good as you and never will be.” She replied

in in j. J in in j no in k in k. ji ii. Ii ii My eyes were used to the dark by now and I could make out the contours of Paige’s face. A few strands of hair had come loose from her ponytail and crinkled along her cheeks. Paige sank down into the mattress and her bent elbow hit my left arm.

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“I’m so sorry.” In a flash Paige sat back up, a hand stroking my upper arm. “And you’re already so bruised.”

A s s s d f t g t y y y y y y y y w d d g hd j j j gv g j j x dj j d I'm fd k fd j h f k j. D j f. Jb j. K hn n bn “It’s okay.” I flexed my bicep a little to give Paige a good feel. “I can take it.”

Paige’s thumb gingerly trailed along the sleeve of I’ pyjama. “I was just babbling, trying to make conversation.” Her face was close enough for me to feel her breath when she spoke. “Sharing a room with you is a bit nerve-wracking.”

“Don’t worry,” I sighed, “I won’t jump off the bed. Thanks to you, I don't feel so scared sharing a bed”

“Oh. Great” Paige’s grip on my arm intensified and left me quite confused. Paige’s fingers snuck up to my bare neck and their touch electrified my skin.

I brusquely put my hand on Paige’s and pushed it down. I wanted to brush it away, but something stopped me. “Don’t play me.” My voice didn’t sound as harsh as I had set out to either.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Paige’s nails dug into my skin, making a point I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to.

“But―” I stammered, clearly having lost use of her mental faculties again. “You are mad at me. You hate me.”

“Says who?” Paige lowered herself until her lips almost touched my unblemished right cheekbone.

“Asher kissed you, right? It was not the other way around. Am I right?” she asked caressing me slowly.

Paige pressed her lips against my skin and then trailed them to my ear. “Yeah. I didn't really kiss him back, I just stood there.” she whispered.

I had to gasp for air. Her nipples poked her pajama top and a moist heat glowed between her legs. “I’m serious.” Her mouth was dry and she had to swallow multiple times to lubricate it before she could continue. “We can’t― not if you hate me for the kiss with Asher”

“I’m serious too,” Paige interrupted her, her mouth still tantalizingly close to I’ ear. “I’ve had a crush on you since I first saw you.”

“Don’t be silly.” I said.