Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MAX

The next couple of weeks passed in a blur of morning practices, classes, afternoon practices and workout sessions, occasional dinner dates, run dates and sleepovers. Plus, many soccer games on the weekends. Ivy always asked for my outfit pictures of travelling sweat set or fancy suite. Her comments made me laugh and I enjoyed our little text exchanges which I even read back when I was alone. Especially the cute and flirty ones.

With pumpkin season upon us, we made sure to drink plenty of Pumpkin Spiced Latte that I slowly grew to like and attend fall-themed activities on the campus to really rub it in everyone's nose that we were dating. I didn't mind her company, I actually enjoyed spending time with Ivy despite the constant attention and the need of taking pictures of every tiny thing we did. It was all for show, and I knew it, but the way her eyes lit up when I got her flowers felt real. So, no matter how fake our dates were, I always got her flowers. That thing was real between us.

"I need the chocolate chips," Ivy called out, waking me from my daydream as I stared at the pretty fall colored bouquet I got her. It was one of those rare occasions when we spent time in her flat. Kaia was out with some friends, and it was time for me to try the famous cookies Ivy raved about.

"Here you go," I handed her the bag, glancing at the cookie dough.

"Don't even try," she grabbed my reached out finger that I wanted to dip in the dough. "It's not ready yet."

"I wanted to taste test it," I gave her my sweet puppy eyes, but she shook her head.

Leaning against the counter, I watched her tight jeans mold onto her perfect ass that got rounder and lifted from all the running we did. There was something familiar about the way we spent time in a kitchen. It almost felt like playing house.

"Do you need some muscle?" I interrupted her as she mixed the dough.

"No," she shut me down with a grin. "You need to sit back and enjoy the process. Stop trying to help."

I couldn't help it, I wanted to help. I wanted to be close to her, feel her flowery scent wrap around me and feel her body heat.

Crossing my arms I watched her make small balls and lay them out on the baking paper, before I stepped in to open the pre-heated oven.

A grateful smile played on Ivy's lips as she bent down to put the cookies on the rail.

"And now we wait."

"This is when the magic happens?" I wiggled my brows, making her giggle.

"Something like that, I hope you will like them." The way her voice shook with slight self-consciousness squeezed my chest.

There was no way I was ever telling her if I didn't like her cookies.

"I trust you, Blossom," I smiled at her, and before I could catch myself, I wrapped my arms around her middle and pulled her to my chest.

Her grip around the mixing bowl tightened, and I watched her profile light up as she dug her finger into the remaining dough, before offering it to me.

Without hesitation, I captured her dough soaked fingers and licked off the delicious mix of sugar and chocolate. A moan escaped me, and suddenly I was transported back in time to our first fake photoshoot when she bit my finger.

I made sure my tongue ran along her whole finger, cleaning off the sweet heaven.

"Gosh, this is amazing," I moaned into her ear.

Heat colored her cheeks as she asked, "Do you want more?"

"Always," I muttered and with hooded gaze, I watched her dug into the remainders again and bring it to my lips.

I licked her fingers, while my eyes fixated on the small cookie dough stuck to her cheek.

Without further thinking I spun her around and sitting her on top of the counter, I kissed her cheek, clearing off the sweet mess. "You had some on your cheeks."

"Oh," she chuckled and her eyes grew wider when I took the bowl from her.

"May I?" I asked politely, before dipping my fingers in it, and spooned a big amount into my mouth. I couldn't help but moan as the sugary sweetness melted in my mouth. Plus, I was dying to tease her. "This is amazing, Blossom."

"I want to try some," she said, tucking a lose piece of hair behind her ear, and she blinked up at me with pleading green eyes. A shy smile tugged at her lips and suddenly the room temperature doubled.

With two fingers, I spooned the dough and reached it out to her, allowing her lips to wrap around my fingers and she sucked on them.

My cock strained behind my zipper as her tongue licked off the dough and it took all my restrain to keep my face straight.

A small moan fell from her lips. "It does taste divine." Mischief lit up her eyes and her smile turned into a wide grin. "Don't you want more?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, as all my blood pooled south of my body and thinking clear has become a big challenge.

"I do," I said slowly, as I picked up some dough and without a second thought smudged it all over her face and neck.

Ivy squealed from my sudden food attack, but before she could run away, I planted my hands on either side of her and leaned in. Our noses brushed and electricity sizzled between us just like that day on the beach. We've been at this many time, always dancing at the thin line between fake dating and real passion. I felt it every single time I was with her, and fighting it became increasingly hard.

"Guess, I'll just have to clean you up," I muttered, my voice sounding deeper and raspier than before.

Ivy's chest rose and fell in a rapid motion as she nodded. "You better…"

With a cocky grin, I leaned in licking her neck in one swift motion, aching to taste her skin under my lips. She tasted divine, especially as her flowery scent mixed with the chocolate chip cookies.

She sucked in a deep breath and held it in as my mouth moved over her jaw, kissing and licking her cheeks, forehead and nose. Every single inch of her head but her lips. Never her lips. I wasn't going to cross that line in private unless she begged me for it.

Her hand gripped the front of my t-shirt and she pulled me closer to her, until I was standing against her, and Ivy's legs came around my waist.

Our noses touched and I took a breather. "I think you're clean."

Ivy shook her head, and smudging some dough over my lips, she kissed me. It wasn't a slow and passionate one like the one we shared on the beach. It was rushed, full of teeth and in between giggles. It almost felt natural.

My body relaxed into hers, allowing my hips to push into her soft center and get as close to her as we could, as the cookie dough melted in my mouth together with her greedy tongue.

"Oh my gosh what a mess!" Kaia laughed.

Her voice felt like a cold shower, and I quickly stepped back, over the mixing bowl that somehow ended up on the floor, the dough spilled around us.

"You guys need to get a room." She snickered, phone in her hand as she took some pictures of us and the mess around us.

"The cookies!" Ivy came to her senses first, jumping off the countertop and quickly heading to the oven, as I stood there frozen.

Kaia's laugh followed her into the room as I looked back at Ivy. "Did you hear her come?" I asked casually, as my drumming heart and aching cock settled slowly.

"Yeah," she nodded quickly not meeting my eyes. I heard her footsteps. "Sorry… I didn't mean to ambush you like that, but I wanted her to see us do what any couple would do in private."

"She knows this is fake," I reminded her quietly.

Ivy nodded as she carefully placed the cookies on a pink plate. "She could have brought someone with her."

Of course. There was always an excuse for us to make out. But never the right one. And suddenly I was annoyed that it bothered me. It shouldn't have had.

"Try it," she stood in front of me with the plate.

I carefully picked up a cookie, observing the hard surface before biting into it. The moment my teeth sank into it I realized how soft it was. Melting in my mouth and the taste I have tried before was the perfect balance between sweet and bitter dark chocolate.

"Fuck," I muttered more to myself. "This is the best thing I've ever tried."

The only missing ingredient was her taste.

IVY

My heart pounded like I was getting a heart attack every time I thought of our baking session. There was no way I was able to look at cookies the same way after it. Max completely ruined them for me.

That passionate yet sloppy kiss kept playing on repeat as I watched the highlights of the Titans win on their most recent away game.

Max in a suite was quickly becoming my favorite sight and I always melted a little when I saw a picture of him in his outfit.

Or when his name popped up on my display.

With a silly little smile I accepted his call. I watched his messy just showered hair come up and a wide grin on his face, as he was dressed in his Titans sweat set that they used for travelling.

"Congrats!" I cheered as loudly as I dared with Kaia already asleep.

"We won!" he punched in the air as Dex came up from behind him and whistled.

I let out a short laugh. "You where amazing."

More guys whistled in the background making Max roll his eyes. "I need to get out of here. I can't hear you from the zoo."

"Ivy I love you so much!" someone shouted in the background clearly trying to imitate Max's voice.

The three little special words left a sour taste in my mouth, but I forced a laugh.

"I don't sound like that, asshole," Max flipped off his teammate before exiting the locker room. "Sorry about that. It was call your girlfriend time and they were riding my ass."

"It's okay," I said, disappointment squeezing my chest. "I love talking to you."

"You're wearing my jersey," he squinted at the screen with a grin.

"I was watching the game while I was building the website I was working on," I confessed. "I wanted to support you."

"Thank you," his sweet smile made my insides melt. "And thank you for the cookies. The guys loved it on the bus. Dex wanted to know if you can make weed cookies."

I chuckled as I laid down on my bed and propped him up on the phone. "Can't say I tried but I can."

"No need, he's chill enough without them." Max stretched out as he took a seat on the still empty bus. "I hate sleeping on the bus."

"How long is the drive back?" I asked looking at the clock. It was almost midnight.

"Should be there in three hours, and I much rather sleep in my own bed then wake up early to drive back," he forced a grin but I was his eyes growing heavy as the adrenalin left his body.

"You played very well," I complimented him. "I saw your two goal assists. They were amazing."

"Thanks, Blossom," he whispered leaning his head against the window. His eyes trailed the outside of the stadium looking for his team.

"Don't forget to post the pictures I sent you," I reminded him of the official photos I grabbed from online. "And did you think about the sponsorship offers you got?"

Max made a tortured face. "I will post them, boss."

"What about my second question."

"You sound like my agent," he groaned, his face all scrunched up and upset. "I'm not a fan of either sports brands. Like I don't wear them on my own. I don't want to do that just for the sake of doing."

I remembered Ander posting five different brands just to get the money and free clothes. He didn't care about his own personal preferences. As long as he was making money he was happy.

This was just one of the many different values Max possessed that I loved him for.

"You literally only wear Under Armour, while your whole Titans' kit is Nike."

Max made a show of lifting his shoulders, and the white tick on his sweatshirt mocked me.

"You know you can reach out to them…" I started with my marketing speech, but he shook his head.

"Not this again. I'm fine, I have more sports clothes than I need."

That was also true, but it still made me grin.

"Still want to come for a run tomorrow?" I changed the topic. "I ran my best 5k time today, so be prepared to get your ass kicked."

His carefree smile returned and he chuckled. "You got it in 25 minutes? I'm proud of you."

I grinned widely from his praises. "So tomorrow?"

"I'll run another 5k with you, we can try and do it again or even quicker."

"Aren't your legs dead?" I asked, suddenly feeling guilty. He just ran for 90 minutes and was coming off from a mini injury were he didn't even take a game off.

"Your speed is my recreational speed," he teased me lightly, but I saw him grin. The way he panted when we ran together was telling me he was lying. He started to struggle to keep up with me and that gave me immense amount of pleasure.

Clearly, I was sadistic.

"Funny," I grimaced.

Max ruffled his hair and yawned. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon than for our 5k."

"Sounds good," I smiled and pulled the blanket over me.

"Don't you need to change?" he asked, eyeing the jersey I slept in.

I shook my head. "I'm a supportive girlfriend. I sleep in your jersey too."

His face had a weird expression that I didn't try to decipher as I mentally kicked myself for saying that.

"Appreciate it," he let out a low chuckle. "It looks good on you."

"I know you probably see many girls wear it." I shrugged, because it was true. Whenever I attended a home game, many girls worse his jersey. Anyone could buy it.

"Yeah, but you're the only one who counts… plus you're wearing mine," he stressed the last word like it meant something, when in reality he went and got me one from the shop like all those other girls did. I was no different then them. "Plus, you look the hottest in it."

A round of whistles sounded and Max rolled his eyes. "The zoo has boarded the bus."

I laughed quietly. "I will let you get some sleep."

"Thank you," he smiled lightly. "Have a good night, Blossom."

"Good night," I muttered as I closed my eyes before I saw him hang up the phone.

I laid in bed, wrapped in his jersey, phone to my chest and just breathed as my body ached for him. It was annoying how needy I was for him. I've never felt that way with Ander. Sex with him wasn't remotely good. The only reason why I still liked sex was because of all the night I spent with my own vibrator exploring my favorite spots and learning what I liked. But in general, I never really understood the hype around it. I never got the wanting to rip each other's clothes off.

Not until Max.

Our chemistry was out of this world. Every small touch felt like sizzling electivity burning through me. Every kiss resulted in thousands of butterflies coming alive. And every hug transported me to the safest spot in Earth. His arms were my safe haven. It didn't matter how long we've known each other, or that most things between us where for show. When he hugged me, there was no place I would rather be.

And that was dangerous.

I wasn't supposed to falling for him. I was supposed to get revenge on Ander.

Yet, the more time has passed, the less I thought of my ex and the more I fantasized about his rival.

MAX

Couple of weeks later Halloween was coming up and I had no excuse for not preparing a couple's costume and going to a party with Ivy. I didn't want to do it, I hated costume parties, but with a fake girlfriend, it came with the territory. She agreed to attend a party with me on Friday that Thalia and her friends were going to in one of the frat houses, and I agreed to accompany Ivy to the enemy's soccer house for a Halloween extravaganza, but only after confirming Dex and Maddox could attend too.

It was a strangely warm autumn afternoon and Ivy spread out on the blanket next to me, her hair spread like a halo around her and soaking up the last rays of sunshine.

"What do you think about Barbie and Ken?" She flipped to her stomach and pushed her phone in front of my nose.

I glanced up from the textbook I was reading doing my best to prepare for the quickly upcoming midterms.

"I'm not blonde." I shut down the idea after a single glance at the neon colored outfits. "Keep looking."

"You trash all my ideas." She pouted, making me grin.

"You have many qualities, Blossom, but Halloween costumes are not one of them."

"What about Princess Peach and Mario?"

I grunted. "Seriously?"

"I give up." She threw her phone on the grass. "What did you dress up as last year?"

I grimaced, thinking about it. I was sure I wore jeans and maybe a jersey from Miami Inter or something similarly creative. "A professional soccer player?"

"That's who you are."

"Technically no, as I don't get paid." I grinned, and Ivy groaned.

"Can we please do something cute?" she asked. "I'm open to any couple's idea."

"Okay, what would you dress up as if you went alone?" I asked, leaning over her and trapping her between my arms.

Her cheeks flushed, but she replied, without missing a beat, "Tinkerbell. I wanted to do that since last year, but Ander considered it stupid."

What a shitty asshole, but I forced my face to remain neutral and calm. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, I nodded. "I will be your Peter Pan."

She bit into her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling.

"Nope, not wearing a stupid thing on my head." I muttered as I pushed my nose to hers, our breathing becoming one. "But I can wear green cargo pants and a green shirt. Will that cut it for you, Blossom?"

Ivy nodded and breathlessly said, "Yes."

My throat tightened, and I wished we were in a completely different scenario when our lips were about to touch and she gave me her consent.

"Great."

"But we have two costumes," she muttered, her lips grazing mine as she spoke.

The air shifted between us, and despite the chilly air, I was burning up. My erection strained against my zipper and no matter how many times I came in the last couple of days, one graze from her was sending me over the edge.

"Don't play with fire," I warned her, unsure if I meant it about costume or the situation.

Ivy laced her hands behind my neck, her fingers digging into my loose hair at the nape of my neck. "You haven't kissed me properly in ages, so forgive me to wanting to make sure you won't choke when you have to perform under pressure. There is no way you wouldn't kiss your girlfriend all night long."

I ignored the ache in my pants and chest from her words and resisted reminding her of the passionate moment we spent in her apartment. Which was also totally fake.

"I thought you only wanted me to kiss you with an audience present," I muttered over her lips.

Her lips parted as my breath tickled them.

"We have an audience," she whispered, her voice falling as her eyes dropped to my lips.

"Be careful what you wish for, Blossom, because you might get addicted," I warned her in a low voice before I captured her lips with mine.

A groan escaped her as I devoured her lips. With a sigh, she opened up, her tongue poking out and wetting my lips before I allowed her entrance, deepening our kiss. Our tongues explored and tasted each other. She tasted like the best mixture of chocolate, apples and coffee, thanks to her fruit salad and mocha she had during our picnic. Her taste was intoxicating, the best I'd ever felt, and I had kissed my fair share of girls. But kissing Ivy felt different.

Whistles and claps sounded from the background, making us break apart.

Ivy gazed at me dreamily.

"Did I pass the test?" I asked, keeping my voice as casual as I could, despite desire still clogging my throat.

Ivy nodded, too stunned to speak, before she cleared her throat. "Not bad."

A low laugh escaped me as I pulled her into a sitting position. Our chests were still flat against each other, and I felt her thundering heartbeat against my own, matching her crazed pace. It looked like I wasn't the only one affected by the kiss. "I'm way better than not bad , Blossom."

Her cheeks turned pink, and she smiled. "You are very skilled. You almost made me feel like that kiss was real. Again."

My brain slowly caught up to what I just did. When I kissed her, I forgot it was for show. I gave that kiss my all. Again.

And it was anything but fake.

At least for me.

I swallowed hard, putting some distance between us as I reached for my lemonade.

I needed to get my head back into the game and remind myself why I was doing this.

But most importantly, I needed to remind myself this was fake. No matter what my body was telling me.

It was pure hormonal reaction. I would have felt the same way no matter who I kissed.

It was normal.

The more excuses I listed, the less convinced it got.

There was no way I was going to fall for my rival's ex.

No way at all.