27. Emma

After dragging myself out of bed to eat the curry Anna made, we sit in front of the TV watching an old rom com, only half interested in what's going on. We're both on our phones and I suddenly remember Mavis.

"Hey, do you want a job working as my assistant?" I blurt out. "No worries if you don't, but my dad's assistant handed her notice in today, so I thought I'd ask, you know?"

"Me?" Anna says, looking up from her phone in surprise.

"Yeah, you know…" I shrug to show nonchalance.

"I could give it a try," she says, chewing her lip. "I've never done that before."

"I know it's a huge step down?—"

"No, it's not that," she cuts in. "I don't want to let you down, especially when you've got so much to prove."

"Let me down? Don't be daft. You'll be amazing, and maybe you could do some SM as well for the team. Boost our public face?"

"Could I?" she asks, getting excited. "That would be fun! Okay, I'm in. When do I start?"

"A week on Monday," I say with a smile. "Yay! This is going to be epic."

"It will. But speaking of Monday, what are we going to do for your birthday? The big three-oh."

"I don't know," I murmur. "Uhm, not that this has anything to do with that, but I have a drinks thing tomorrow with someone, though." I've been trying not to think about it or get too excited about it. However, Taran Fraser is… there isn't really one word that can describe him. He is super hot, fun, cheeky, confident but not in an arrogant way, sexy as fuck going off his pics and he doesn't play for the Warriors. I'm looking forward to this non-date more than I should be, all things considered.

"Who with?" Anna asks suspiciously.

"Just a guy," I say, keeping it casual, my fingers fiddling with the hem of the tartan blanket.

"Who?" she demands.

"Taran Fraser from the Castle Arrows."

She blinks. "Isn't that the rival team?"

"Yuh-huh."

Anna's eyebrows shoot up so high they might as well have left her face. "When did all this happen?"

"Before I had a nap."

"Wow, you work quickly," she chuckles.

"Fuck you," I mutter, but I'm not offended. My time here has so far been spent unwisely, at best.

My phone pings then, and I glance down to see a message from Taran.

Sweet dreams, Red. Don't dream of me too much.

A laugh bursts from me before I can stop it, and Anna snatches my phone out of my hands before I can react. "Sweet dreams, Red?" she reads aloud, wiggling her eyebrows.

I grab my phone back with a roll of my eyes. "He's teasing."

"He is fucking hot! Wow! I mean, look at those eyes."

"So clear a blue they almost sparkle," I murmur. "Yeah, I've seen them."

"Nice," she says. "How did this happen?"

"He followed me, so I followed him back and then he DM'd me."

"Ah, the classic slide. You sure this is a good idea?"

"He doesn't play for the Warriors. Yeah, he's a rival player, but so what? It's not like I'm going to be telling him all our secrets."

"Well, I know that but will everyone else?"

I shrug, feeling the uncertainty creep in. "I'll keep it professional," I say with more confidence than I feel. "We're just having a drink, that's all. He's fun and he knows the score."

Anna gives me a dubious look but drops the subject. Instead, she leaps up from the couch with a sudden burst of energy. "Right, let's not think about that now. We still have to sort out your birthday bash! I say we hit the local and drag every single person we've ever met."

My mouth twists into a wry smile at her enthusiasm. "Calm down, party planner. Let's not get too wild. It's a Monday night."

"So? People still drink on a Monday. I'll ring Fiona."

"Fine. But I'm holding you responsible for any and all shenanigans."

"Does that include sex with hot hockey players?" Anna fires back with a grin.

"Pretty much."

She giggles and all concerns about Taran seem to have disappeared. I know she's only looking out for me, but honestly, the thought of cancelling the drinks thing disappoints me. I don't want to, and I don't want to let any potential rivalry get in the way of this, whatever it is. Fun. That's what it is. Fun. Pure and simple.

As Anna gets on the blower to Fiona, I pick up my phone and reply to Taran with a smile and maybe a bit too much flirt but sod it. Life is short.

Sweet dreams yourself, Fraser. I'll try not to dream about what your dick looks like too much.

I bite my lip to see if he will reply but nothing comes through, so disappointed, I focus on Anna and her planning for the next ten minutes.

When it's time for bed, I feel my phone buzz in my dressing gown pocket, and I pull it out with a shaking hand.

It's from Taran.

My mouth drops open, and my cheeks flush with the heat of hellfire as I stare at the dick pic on my phone.

Too much?

Giggling, I stare at the extremely hard and enormous cock taking up my screen.

Just enough.

Fuck, Thornton. You're wicked.

Just don't ask for a pussy pic. You ain't getting it.

Tits?

Nope.

Damn. You're mean.

No one asked you to send a pic of your dick to me.

True. I was taking my shot, but I can wait to see them in person. It's better that way anyway.

Agreed.

I put my phone down before this goes way past teasing and into something a lot deeper. But then I snatch the phone up again and stare at his cock. "Fuck," I breathe out and then put the phone down again as I climb into bed and fall asleep as cocks dance and prance like sugarplum fairies through my dreams.