5. Leo

"Two weeks, man."I pivot toward Matteo, sauntering off the field with him and our fellow players. Sweat drips down my face, mingling with the dust stirred up by our cleats, splattering on the sunbaked ground. It's pointless to wipe it off. The heat is relentless, unlike the biting cold of our home.

Matteo doesn't immediately reply, just looks over at me, his dark eyes appearing like coal against the fiery backdrop of the setting sun. His hair, equally dark and buzzed short like mine, is slick with sweat, but Teo doesn't wipe the sweat off or even react to my words. He's listening though. He always listens. I learned that lesson early on when we first became friends.

"Think the team will be ready for the first scrimmage?" I ask as I glance at the setting sun. Its orange hues paint the horizon, casting long shadows that merge with the silhouettes of the ancient stone structures surrounding the field. It's hot here, while home is colder, harsher, and more rigid, but when spots opened up here, we took them despite swearing we'd never come—mostly to spite our legacy parents—yet here we are, drawn by the unknown and, of course, rugby, which is our first and only love.

"No," he replies, his voice a rich, dark timbre that resonates with tangible sincerity. Matteo seldom speaks, but each word he utters is weighted with meaning, like the rarest of dark chocolates—decadent and utterly irresistible.

I fiddle with the ball, tossing it from hand to hand, struggling against the urge to fill the silence with trivial chatter. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's hard to gauge with these guys." My eyes scan our teammates now dispersing toward the locker rooms. The field, nestled on the island's edge, is bordered by quaint stone structures and a towering wall, presumably a safeguard against the sea. "We need team building."

Matteo's response is a noncommittal grunt.

As we walk off the field, the sound of cleats against the gravel path is drowned out by the cheers of the spectators for rugby. It's such a strange concept here, but I'm not mad about it. The cheerleaders, dressed in black and red uniforms, line up, their presence a vivid splash of color against the drab stones. Their skirts, short enough to reveal that sweet little section of thigh that draws the eye and long enough to keep one guessing, flutter slightly in the gentle breeze.

"You two are new," a voice calls, commanding our attention. A statuesque redhead with a large black bow in her hair, stands confidently with one hip provocatively jutted out as she clutches a stainless steel water bottle. Her pose is as calculated as it is captivating, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and challenge.

I give her my biggest and brightest smile, the kind that usually disarms or dazzles, and toss the ball to Teo as I walk toward the group of girls.

"Ladies," I greet, spreading my arms in a grand gesture of welcome, Matteo trailing behind with a mix of reluctance and intrigue. Nearby, our teammates engage in their own flirtations, each interaction woven with the promise of unexplored connections. "You look positively sinful in those uniforms," I declare, the words dripping with charm yet laced with a hint of roguish sincerity.

The moment her palm makes contact with my sweat-drenched chest, I can't help but wonder if she finds the dampness off-putting. Her gaze leisurely trails down the length of my body before it snaps back up to meet mine, a spark of interest igniting in her eyes. For a fleeting instant, she morphs into someone else in my mind's eye—Frankie, the beauty I had the fortune of encountering earlier, with her haunting hazel eyes, alabaster skin, and hair as dark as the midnight sky laced with fiery streaks of red. As quickly as the vision appears, though, it dissipates, leaving only the redhead before me.

"Chloe," she says, not bothering to hold out her hand.

Beside her, a brunette with a knowing smirk in her eyes, sizes up Matteo. I should tell her not to bother, but she'll figure it out quickly if he's interested. He's like a bulldog. When he isn't, he will brush her off, coldly I might add.

"Leo," I offer in return, my name hanging between us, charged with an unspoken invitation.

"Are you ready for the first game?" the smaller brunette asks, her eyes glued to Teo's thighs. It's the thighs every damn time.

"No." Teo glares at the poor girl before turning to me with a raised brow. I know what he's secretly communicating. They probably have herpes, and I don't mess with crazy.

That is a total lie. He is absolutely attracted to crazy, just not valley girl cheerleader crazy, more like the stabby kind of crazy. The kind of girl who won't hesitate to protect herself kind of crazy.

I give him a look back as if to say, crazy is still crazy, and I'm new here, so I might as well get to know them or at least their names.

"You guys looked great out there," the brunette coos.

"This is Amanda, and Tori is the blond running a lap around the field." Chloe rolls her eyes at her friend. I follow her gaze to the woman running around the field in her uniform.

"Love a girl who knows how to exercise," I murmur before turning back to the redhead. It's all about cardio and endurance. For a split second, I catch a flicker of jealousy.

Well, that won't do. Can't have jealousy.

"A bunch of us are going into the city after sunset," Chloe says. "With it being the first night for those of us in sports, we like to get together and get to know each other." Her meaning is clear. Well, I wouldn't mind that at all.

"The bridge closes early." Teo hands the ball back to me and crosses his arms, his glare clearly stating his disdain for these girls. What a shame. I love teaming up with him, the thrill of our competitive streaks sync on the field, but his mood sours a bit at the prospect of extending the interaction off field.

"Well, it just so happens that Tori's mom is the chief of police," Amanda chirps, and I do mean chirps. Honestly, if I get her under me, I'll have to use a ball gag. Her voice is way too annoying. Better yet, I'll just focus on the redhead. Once again, when I look at her, it isn't her I see, but another, which is weird. I'm not sure if I like it.

"So you're telling me we can get back on the island after the bridge closes?" I just want to double-check, because I'm not about to sleep in an alley with a bunch of rats. Of course, there are alternate ways to get back on the island, but those are for worst-case scenarios.

"Of course," Chloe says, "ask Tori yourself."

The friend in question stops in front of us, barely out of breath, and begins stretching. "My mom gave me a key to the boom," she says, obviously hearing our conversation. She shrugs as though it's no big deal. "I always have a key." Good to know.

"So are you in?" Chloe presses.

I look at Matteo, raising a brow. His nostrils flare. Clearly, he doesn't want to go, but he will if I do because he won't leave me with unknown people. He's far too protective to let that happen.

"In." I look back at the girls.

Amanda squeals again. What do I have to do to get her to stop squawking?

"Perfect," Chloe purrs. "Meet us in the student parking lot in one hour."

"Done." I clap Teo on the shoulder. "See you later, girls, and please wear something slutty." I waggle my eyebrows for good measure because I love a girl who's dressed provocatively. The thrill of the night ahead sends a shiver through me.

Teo grabs my shirt, dragging me away. "They have horrible vibes," he grumbles.

"Who cares if they are down to fuck?" I state, tossing the ball back and forth in my hands.

"I care," he grumbles.

"Aww." I shoulder tap him. "You love me."

"You test my patience." Now he's growling. "I'd rather not go."

"I'd rather go." We enter the locker rooms, and I toss the ball into the large storage bin. Steam wafts to us as the showers run. Half the team is already gone, rushing to get out and enjoy the weekend. Heading to the lockers we chose, I turn to Teo. "Come on, you'll have fun."

Teo just gives me a dark look, one I'm accustomed to seeing on him.

"Please." I pout, whipping off my shirt and tossing it into the locker. His eyes dip lower until he looks at the outline of my cock.

Tilting his head to the side, he looks away before tugging off his own shirt. "Ground rules."

Win!"Name them."

"Don't fuck with the redhead," he says.

"Aww, come on." I toe off my shoes, really wanting to socialize. He's my adopted introvert.

"No," he says.

"Give me one good reason why." I cross my arms and glare at him.

"Vibes." That's all he says before stripping naked and walking toward the showers.

Vibes, I mock behind him. I want to make fun of his vibes, but the truth is, Matteo's vibes are always spot-on, always, and I never question them—ever.

Frowning, I strip and follow him into the shower, with only a few lingering players in here. I join Teo in the corner and turn my shower on, stepping under the freezing spray without bothering to let it warm up.

"Why?" I ask again. I usually don't push him on this, but we are finally away from home, out of our parents' control, and all I want is to embrace college life. I have a full bucket list of all the things I want to do, and topping that list is hooking up with random chicks.

"Vibes," he says again as he begins to soap up. For a minute, I'm transfixed as his hands work up a lather and roll over his muscles. "We need to be there tonight. I don't know why. I only know it's important."

"Huh." This isn't at all unusual for Matteo. He always follows his gut instinct. I use the soap dispenser on the wall and follow his actions. He's often right when we need to be somewhere. "So you didn't agree to go just because I want to hook up?"

"No." He shakes his head, sending droplets flying everywhere. Those dark eyes of his glance at me as water drips over his head, and my cock twitches.

"Keep looking at me like that, and I'll?—"

"What?" he dares me, looking over his shoulder as the last of the guys leave. "What will you do?" His voice is low and ignites a pulse of desire under my skin. "Force me to my knees? Bend me over and fuck me senseless right here in the shower?"

A sly smirk lifts my lips. I love when he plays these games. With my soapy hands, I roll them down my chest until I grip the base of my cock and tug and twist. Pleasure shudders through me, and I arch my hips into my hands. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

In a flash, Teo has me pushed up against the shower wall, his own erection pressing against mine. I love how he feels, his thick dick against my flesh and his hot breath ghosting over my lips. Pressing harder against me, he reaches between us, batting my hands away so he can grip my dick.

"Your cock is going to get us in trouble one day, Leo," he whispers against my lips, "and we need to stay out of trouble."

The way he doesn't care that anyone could see us right here, in the open, is hot as hell. It only drives my arousal higher.

"And I have you to keep me in check." I let my head fall back against the shower wall, my hips thrusting into Matteo's hands.

One of those hands comes up to circle my neck as he pumps me harder and harder until I'm ready to spill my seed in his hands. He grips the base of my cock so tightly that my whole body shudders, and the moan that slips free of my lips would tell anyone exactly what we're doing in here.

I can't find it in me to care.

All I care about is his hot breath over my skin and the way he drives me to the brink.

"The only way I know how to keep you in check is by controlling your arousal." He bites my bottom lip, his hand at the base of my cock tightening until it's almost painful.

I love every rough second of it.

I grip his hips, drawing him closer. He's just a hair shorter than me but fits me perfectly.

"Are you going to control who I hook up with now too?" I wonder out loud. Honestly, a part of me wants him to control me, to decide who I can and can't get beneath me.

"If it comes to that, I will," he promises, his fingers tightening ever so slightly around my pulsing dick, anchoring me firmly in place and promising a mind-blowing release, which is exactly what I want to do—come, that is.

I thrust my hips against his hand, silently pleading for more. "Fine then," I grunt. "No hooking up with the redhead."

"Good choice." Matteo smirks, releasing his grip on my cock. He steps back, adjusting himself in the process, and turns to rinse off. I can't help but admire the way water cascades down his muscular back before I quickly follow suit, trying to control the raging hard-on I have.

I wrap my hand around the base of my dick, needing release, and I tug once, twice. I'm so fucking close.

Matteo grabs my hands, his eyes like onyx, and he swiftly shakes his head.

"Fine, you owe me later," I whine.

He just hums in acknowledgment, offering me a smirk as he walks away. "Don't fuck the redhead, and I'll owe you." I knew he wasn't one to back down from a challenge. It's what makes us such a perfect duo on and off the field.

I love watching him walk away.

Glaring at my erection, I try to figure out how to get it under control. No amount of visualizing my mom is going to work this time.

Or maybe it will. I flick the head, wincing at the pain, then sigh in relief as it slowly goes down. Matteo's laughter wraps around me as I shut the water off. One of these days, he's going to meet his match, and I can't fucking wait.