Chapter Eleven

Tatum

"Heading out?" a soft voice asks as I slam my textbook shut.

I look up to find Everly standing across from me, her warm smile lighting up her face. Her long dark hair is styled in a fishtail braid draped over one shoulder, and she's wearing her glasses—an accessory I don't see often but that suit her perfectly.

"Yeah, I'm just packing up. I'm meeting Reed to get a lift home."

Everly nods toward the door. "I'm heading to meet Hayes too. I'll walk with you."

I stuff my notebook and textbooks into my backpack, shrug the strap over my shoulder, and adjust my bag while Everly waits. We head out the double doors and across the campus toward the practice field where I usually meet Reed.

As we walk, we chat about the upcoming game. I thank her again for inviting me to join her.

"When I moved here, I swore I'd never find myself at another football game." I laugh.

"Really? Even to watch Beckham and Hayes play?" she asks.

Everly knows about my past relationship, though I haven't shared all the details of how it ended or what led me here. Some things are better left in the past.

"Honestly, that's the only reason I'd go—and to hang out with you, of course."

Everly chuckles. "I never imagined I'd be at a football game myself, much less dating one of the players. Yet here we are."

"How did Hayes convince you to give him a chance?"

Her cheeks flush pink, and she bites her lip, lost in thought by the memories that come rushing in.

"He can be incredibly sweet when he wants to be," she says.

"I know the type," I reply with a chuckle.

We cross the courtyard, make our way through the athletics building, and take a shortcut through one of the gyms to reach the practice field.

"Yeah, well, they can be a real pain too. The thing about Hayes is, no matter how hard I resisted, he didn't give up on proving me wrong about him," she adds.

I glance across the field, where Reed catches my eye immediately. Our gazes lock, and I wonder if he's been waiting for me.

"How long have you and Reed been talking?" Everly questions.

We find a bench far enough away from the guys. Thankfully, there's no chance they heard her even though my heart is racing like someone could've.

"No, we're not—" I shake my head. "It's nothing like that. We're just friends."

Everly's lips curl into a knowing smile. "Right, just like I wasn't fake dating Hayes when we first got together."

"Wait, what?" I'm taken aback.

She grins. "No one knows. We kept it between us. When Hayes was dealing with media pressure and haters last season, he suggested we fake date for the rest of the season. It's funny looking back now that we ever took it seriously, but we did. Or well, we tried anyway. So I say all of this because I know what it's like to tell yourself you want to be friends with someone, but I see the way Reed looks at you."

I'm still processing her story about Hayes when her comment about Reed sinks in.

"What do you mean, the way he looks at me?"

"You really have no clue, do you?" Everly smirks. "He's been down bad for you since the first time you met."

"Wait, since we first met at Rixton?" I scoff in disbelief.

Everly nods. "Yeah, hell, I'd be surprised if Hayes hasn't said anything else to him since you moved in. I overheard him warn Reed to stay away and not to get any ideas when he first introduced the two of you."

I never shared the details of our first meeting with her.

"Why would he even say that?" I ask, puzzled.

Everly shrugs. "I mean, isn't it obvious he likes you? So I get wanting to take it slow, start as friends and see where it goes, especially when you are roommates and he's, like, right next door to your room."

I nod, understanding her point. It's why I'm hesitant—things could get messy if they don't work out.

"I have no business being in a relationship. My last one ended disastrously, and honestly, I think I'm better off growing old with a bunch of cats. Besides, I don't want to lose him as a friend if it doesn't work out," I explain.

Everly laughs softly. "I don't think you have anything to worry about with Reed. I mean, I don't know him that well, but he's as loyal as they come. Hayes never told me what all went on behind the scenes, but he played a big role in the police taking down the guys who hurt Hayes earlier this year. If it weren't for him, they would've gotten away with it like they had so many times before."

I glance out at the field. Reed is watching me intently as he grabs a water bottle and takes a sip.

"I think you should do what makes you happy, Tate. There's no reason to rush anything either. Any man worth your time will be okay with whatever pace you set."

She's right. I can't help but be so thankful for her friendship.

It's been so hard to move away and leave my family and all my friends behind. I've kept in touch with a couple, but right now, the only one I trust to keep where I am a secret is my brother.

Everly hangs back with me as the guys head into the locker room. Reed takes a bit longer to shower. When he emerges, his hair is damp, and he's dressed casually in a white T-shirt, dark jeans, and scuffed boots.

Hayes isn't far behind him. I part ways with Everly with a wave, and we agree to meet up for lunch soon.

"Everything okay?" Reed asks when we're alone, far enough away from anyone to overhear.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Looked like you and Everly were having a serious conversation earlier. I just wanted to make sure you were good."

"Oh, she was just sharing how she and Hayes started dating."

"You mean fake dating?"

My head snaps over to him. "Wait, you know?"

Reed smiles. "I mean, I suspected it, but I guess you just confirmed it for me."

I narrow my eyes into slits. "What do you mean, you suspected it? She said no one knew but the two of them."

"Yeah, well, I think his brother and Colter were too busy with their head in the clouds to pay much attention."

"And you?" I shake my head.

He shrugs. "I notice a lot. More than most, anyway."

He's not wrong there. Reed picks up on the little things. It's something that stood out to me about him. It's rare in the guys I've been with in the past. I've come to appreciate it about him because it makes me feel seen and heard, like he cares. Not just about me but also about the people around him.

We cut across the parking lot to where his Mustang is parked along the back of the lot, away from everyone else. Reed places his bag on the trunk and comes around to the passenger side. When I reach for the handle, he stops me, leaning against the door to block it.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Always asking so many damn questions." Reed grins, crowding me until I'm pinned against the car.

He slips his hand beneath my sweater, touching my skin through my shirt.

"I can see your nipples hardening from under your shirt." His voice drops low, and I press my palms against his firm chest.

"Reed," I exhale, my voice coming out as a breathy whine. More like a plea. For what? To touch me?

The answer is yes. Please, for the love of God, just touch me already.

We've been dancing on the edge and dangerously toeing the line. Aside from sharing a kiss, it hasn't progressed any further.

"Lift your shirt for me."

"What?" I balk, my eyes wide as I take in his intense stare. "Right here?"

While the temperatures have dropped a bit, it's still fairly warm outside. I stick with wearing my sweater since the school tends to keep it cooler than I prefer.

Reed glances around. "Yeah, no one's around," he says, his voice low. "And besides, this spot's out of view of the cameras."

"Cameras? How the hell would you know?"

"Just trust me." He grins. "No one can see you. I wouldn't let anyone either. This, you, is only for me."

My body trembles and my eyes grow heavy before I give in. Reaching beneath my sweater, I lift my shirt underneath, revealing my breasts.

Reed traces his finger over the swells to the clasp between them. When he unhooks my bra and my boobs bounce free, he thrusts his hips toward me and groans.

"My God." His eyelids grow heavy. "Look at you. You're fuckin' perfect."

My fingers trail down his abs until they brush along the waistband of his jeans. There's no missing the bulge in the front. Something about his words gives me the boost of confidence I need. I run my hands lower, gripping his hard length through the denim of his pants.

"Oh fuck," he grunts. "Be careful."

He squeezes his eyes shut and exhales a slow breath as if trying to steady himself. When he finally opens them again, they're heavy and glazed with desire.

He lifts his thumb to his mouth and sucks on it, moving to brush his wet digit over the hard bud of my nipple. An unholy moan escapes my lips, and if I wasn't so turned on from the slightest touch, I'd probably be embarrassed.

Except I'm not, though. All I want is for him to keep touching me, to make me feel good. I want to do the same for him. The way he looks at me and the sounds he makes are intoxicating. He steps closer, his lips crashing against mine as he thrusts his hips into me.

He's so much taller than me, though, that it ends up being against my stomach. Hell, if I hunched down a bit, he could probably pull his dick out and fuck my tits right here in the middle of this damn parking lot.

"You want me to fuck your tits?" He groans. "God, you're like a damn dream."

I bite my lower lip, realizing I spoke my thoughts out loud.

"I want to make you feel good," I admit. "Let me pleasure you."

Reed wraps his hand around my throat, not hard, but enough to get my pulse racing, and he lifts my chin enough, forcing our gazes to lock.

"You want me to come all over those pretty tits, Tate?"

My eyes flutter shut as I nod, and Reed's nostrils flare as he thrusts his hips toward me.

"Unzip my pants," he orders, and I obey.

Unhooking his belt, I move it to the side and undo the button, followed by the zipper. His chest heaves, and he releases a shaky breath, his control slipping with every passing second.

When I slip my hands beneath his underwear, wrapping my palm around his length, he unleashes a stream of curse words and thrusts against me once more.

He kisses me hard, and when his tongue swipes at my entrance, I open for him. I slow my movements, brushing my thumb over the tip. He hums in appreciation against my mouth.

We stay like that for a moment before he rocks his hips back and thrusts forward again. Only this time, his pace picks up, and his movements grow erratic. I swipe my thumb over the bead of precum again just before he shoots his cum against my stomach.

"Ahh, fuck." Reed moans. "Holy fuck. Oh my God, Tate."

His face turns red, and I can see the embarrassment in his eyes that it happened so quickly. But for me, nothing is hotter than knowing I have that effect on him and made him lose his restraint.

He growls and kisses me hard. His hips continue to move. Meanwhile, I keep my grip tight around him, letting him use me to get off.

We break away from each other, and he adjusts himself, buttoning his jeans up again.

"We should get home. I'm not done with you yet, and I need you somewhere that's not the middle of a parking lot in broad daylight."

He stares down at the white cum dripping from my stomach.

"Seeing you like that shouldn't turn me on as much as it does, but fuck, Tate. One of these days, I want to see my cum on your lips."

My eyes flash, and he smiles.

"You like the sound of that, don't you, sweetheart?"

My body trembles, and I nod, feeling like I'm turning into a limp noodle. If I don't get into his car now, I'm afraid I might collapse right here.

He swipes his finger through the white substance and lifts it to my mouth. I study him for a moment, confused at what he's doing.

"Open."

I do as he says and open my mouth for him. He slips his finger into my mouth, and I suck on the digit, flicking my tongue and tasting his salty cum. His nostrils flare as he watches me, testing me by pushing it farther into my mouth until he reaches the back of my throat.

I breathe slowly through my nose, working to control my breathing and not gag. When he realizes I've taken all of him, he curses again and quickly pulls it out.

Reed whips his shirt over his head and uses it to wipe his mess off my stomach before hooking my bra and tugging my shirt down into place.

Reaching between us for the door, he stops me before he opens it. With his hand gripping my chin, he forces me to look at him once more.

Without a word, he kisses me again. This one felt more personal than the ones before.

Now that we've officially crossed the line, I don't want to let myself overthink why.