His words spread a warmth through my body and my heart did that stupid little thing it did when he was around. “I can’t get attached to you, Nico. I need things simple with no strings. I just got out of a bad relationship a few months ago and I’m not looking for a rebound.”
“I would never be your rebound, love,” he said as his eyes stared directly into mine. “There wouldn’t be anyone after me.”
My heart did that damn thing again and skipped at least four beats in my chest. I couldn’t let myself feel anything with him and I needed him to give me the same in return.
“It wouldn’t ever work, Nico. You know we can never be anything.” I paused for a moment, watching a shadow pass over his expression. “We’re friends, but nothing more. We might do things we probably shouldn’t, but that’s all it can ever be. You already know the risks we are running by doing that.”
Nico was silent as he stared at me with ice sliding over his eyes. “You’re right. We’re nothing.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I told him in a rush, instantly regretting saying anything. It was clear I had offended him or hurt his feelings. I shouldn’t care. I didn’t want these feelings and I didn’t think he did either.
He shook his head and gave me nothing with his blank expression. “I know exactly what you mean, Harper.”
I didn’t think he really did. Hell, I didn’t even know what I really meant or what I wanted. He was already clouding my brain and I needed the fog to be lifted so I could see clearly.
“I’m not going to ruin your career or fuck up your life because I enjoy spending time with you. Being inside you was just an added benefit.” He paused for a moment, his chest rising as he inhaled deeply. “You made yourself crystal clear. If you decide to change your mind, you know where to find me.”
He went to walk past me, but my hand instinctively darted out to grab him. “Nico, wait.” I pulled him back and he turned to face me. His eyes slowly searched mine. “I don’t want whatever this is between us to be done.”
His eyes stopped moving as he focused in on my gaze and took a step closer to me. “Then what do you want, Harper? You’re giving me fucking whiplash with your mixed signals. One night you’re in my bed, the next you’re giving me short responses and then telling me we can never be anything more than friends.”
“You know I can’t afford to lose my job.”
He slid his hand to cup the side of my face as he ran his thumb across my bottom lip. “Fuck your job. Come live with me and let me take care of you.”
“Absolutely not. I won’t be some kept woman—ever. I need to have my own thing too.” His face was inching closer to mine and my heart was pounding erratically in my chest. “What are you doing, Nico? Someone might see us.”
Nico looked around us and was suddenly backing me up until we were stepping through a curtain that blocked off an area that had workout equipment. Some of the players used it for conditioning, or if they were recovering from an injury, they worked out down here during the game. There was no one in the area right now and Nico walked me backward until my back was pressed against the concrete wall.
“Is that better, love? No one will see us here.”
“Someone could walk in at any time,” I countered.
Nico chuckled softly and pressed his finger to my lips. “Shh. You don’t want anyone to hear us, do you? They’d definitely find out about us then.”
I swallowed roughly as he dragged his finger down both of my lips. His eyes searched mine once before his mouth was crashing into mine. I leaned my head back and he ran his hand down to my throat as he lightly wrapped his hand around it. He had me pressed against the wall and his cock was hard against my stomach.
He inhaled me, draining the oxygen from my lungs as he kissed me with an urgent need. His tongue traced the seam of my lips and I parted them as he entered my mouth. Our tongues were tangled together and my head was swimming from the ecstasy of him kissing me. His hand was still around my throat and mine were around the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
Anyone could have walked in and I didn’t even think I would have fully cared. Fuck my job. Fuck it all. Nico Cirone had me under his spell and there was no way I was getting out of it now. Like a spider with a web, he already had me tangled up in him and he was ready to devour me.
He abruptly pulled away, leaving me completely breathless. His eyes were back on my mouth and he ran his thumb along my bottom lip. “I’m going to end up fucking you against this wall if we don’t stop now.”
“Then don’t stop,” I told him even though my brain was screaming at me for being a fucking idiot. His eyes jumped to mine and I knew he wasn’t joking.
“Don’t want you to lose your job,” he said with a bite in his tone. I felt his absence the moment he stepped away from me and a shiver slid down my spine. I wanted him to come back to me, but instead he was turning around and walking the other way.
“Where are you going?” I asked him, my voice barely audible as I stayed in place where he left me against the wall.
He glanced at me over his shoulder. “I’ve got a game to play, love.” He smirked with a wink. “We can pick up where we left off later.”
“I’m supposed to go out with Ava after the game.”
Nico lingered for a moment with mischief dancing in his eyes. “Don’t worry, love. I’ll find you.”
Without another word, he turned back around and pushed through the curtain. I was frozen against the wall. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and I was still struggling to catch my breath. I had no idea where any of this was going with him, but I was willing to roll the dice and see where we would end up.
He was about to turn my entire life upside down.
I just didn’t know it yet…
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICO
As we all filed down the tunnel back to the locker room, the guys were exhausted but still hyped from our win. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about Harper and our encounter before the game. Perhaps that was something I needed to make more of a habit because I ended up with seven points during the entire game tonight.
She was definitely a good luck charm for sure.
Sitting down on the bench, I began to strip out of my gear and was careful to save my ball of tape. As I slid it into my bag, my phone vibrated in my locker and I grabbed it to read the message that had just come through.
Harper
Ava and I will be at The Lounge if you aren’t doing anything.
A smile pulled on my lips and I sat back down on the bench as I typed out my response to her.
Nico
What time?
She must have been staring at her phone because she responded instantly.
Harper
I have to go home first, so probably closer to 11.
It didn’t give me much time to get ready, so I would just have to wear the suit I wore here to the bar. I would have exactly enough time to get a shower and head over there. The Lounge was only about ten minutes from the stadium, so half an hour was plenty of time.
Nico
I’ll meet you there.
“The Lounge,” Wes said from over my shoulder. I glanced back at him and found him standing there with a smirk on his face. “Who is Ava?”