Hailey

Olly's gaze travelled around the field, focusing on mine as I waved my hands, attracting attention now that I was unmarked. He nodded and that was the only advice I got before the ball flew this way and I prepared for the receiving.

Three, two, one-

A silhouette crossed the track of the ball and intercepted it for me.

"Not again!" I whined stretching out to take the ball but he held it higher out of my reach. "Nate."

"You gotta be faster, babe." my heart somersaulted as he winked and threw it towards Seth, who easily score another point.

"Yay!" cheered the guy opening his arms to embrace Nate winningly. "That makes us six and you two."

"That's not fair!" cried Olly stomping his foot. "Girls!"

"Hey, it's not my fault!" scoffed Taylor, stopping by my side at Olly's accusing tone, her gaze narrowed at me as her tone lowered for only us to hear. "Hails need to stop drooling over Herond."

My cheeks blushed aggressively. "I'm not!" they shared a knowing look. My eyes traveled across the grass to where the couple of players was. With that usual magnetism my eyes met Nate's green once immediately and my heart sunk helplessly. "I'm not."

His instant smile stole my breath.

I don't like him.

I don't like him.

I don't-

"Sure you're not, is that make up?" Tay grabbed my chin twisting my face so she could get a better look. "Oh my God, you so like him."

"Hush." I slapped her hand away, looking around, but they were too far planning their next tactic to hear her. "Only a bit of mascara and it's waterproof." I justified hurriedly, but her knowing smirk didn't falter. "It's only natural make up."

"For a run?"

"That's why it's just mascara. Otherwise it'll be weird."

"Yeah. Who gets all dressed up for a running, uh? Who could you possibly be trying to impress..."

I blushed at her innuendo and adverted my gaze. "Shut up."

Okay, maybe when we left for the usual Wednesday's run I'd known we'd met up with the guys, also known as Seth and Nate. We'd been doing the running thrice a week now and we usually ended it with the guys of the team at the grass, doing catches and stuff. They don't tackle me anymore.

At first those little sessions of sport were a torture, but now I was starting to see the results; my legs were getting fitter and my figure was changing as well. I mean, I'd always been average, on the thin side of the scale, but now I had to thank Olly that I actually was getting proud of my shape.

I cleared my throat pointing at them as they'd stopped congratulating each other and were approaching us again. "They're both from the team, that's a huge handicap right there."

"But there's three of you against only two of us." mocked Seth as they took places once more. "What a shame. Ready to lose some more?"

"Ready?" Tay repeated through gritted teeth and tugged my arm to hiss in my ear. "Take the jumper off."

"What?"

"We need a distraction."

My eyes widened. "And it had to be me?"

"Girls." Olly appeared by our side, snaking one arm over each of our shoulders. "Can we start playing or what?" he pouted urging us to step forward and closer to where the rest of the guys were, completely oblivious at how hot my face was getting.

It was their turn to start and Seth took the ball, getting ready to throw it to Nate as we spread in the field. Our team was at a huge disadvantage considering the only pro was Olly, but now it felt personal.

"Aw, don't pout." Nate's voice came as he approached, not at all worried about unmarking himself. I narrowed my eyes at his obvious amusement and cockiness. "We offered to mix and you said no."

"We don't need your pity." I remarked lifting my chin, not at all believing my own words. "We can put up a fight without any of your help."

But that only humored him further. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, really."

His beautiful smirk remained. "We'll see."

Now it's definitely personal.

I met Tay's gaze across the field, and she gave me that pointed look again. I sighed, cursing myself; but, hey, what did I have to lose? Here goes nothing.

"Pfff, isn't it, like, getting hot here?" I waved myself and carefully unzipped the jumper, carefully sliding it off and leaving me in the sport top I was wearing under. All my exposed skin burned at certain green gaze.

The cold late autumn breeze would bother me if I wasn't so warmed up with all the exercise done. Casually I looked up after tying the disregarded cloth around my waist, my heart skipping a beat as our eyes met. My chest fluttered at the attention, both shying and beaming at it, and I smiled innocently at his intense stare. "Any problem?"

His gaze slid some more over me and I almost shuddered as he gulped. "You're not playing fair." I loved how husky his voice came out, caressing my spine and muscles in alluring tension.

I smirked. "Neither are you."

"I-"

"Nate!" we were cut by the sudden bark and turned to see Seth frowning, Olly blocking him and Tay sent me a discreet approving gesture. "Keep your head in the game!"

I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but Taylor's strategy did work. Somehow. They still scored more than us, but it did bring some kind of distraction to the point they exchanged spots with due to this 'head in the game thing'. It fluttered my insides to know I wasn't the only one getting affected by him.

Next points were made without me intervening too much, which wasn't exactly a problem. I was good at catching, but that was it. My football skills summarized on that. Even in the cold environment, I was getting sweaty and all worked up with the amount of sport and that only added to the stiffness aching my muscles from Olly and I's previous spring. I mean, I wanted to prove we could win -it was a matter of pride now!- but I didn't need to be 100% active to do so...

I smiled when the ball was passed to me three points later, catching just as effortlessly. Piece of cake. Now run! But when I looked up and saw Seth approaching with a dark smile.

"You c-can't tackle me!" In a moment of panic, I hid it behind me -Very mature- but he didn't stop. Instead, he smiled more and spread his arms. Before I could pull away, he bent down, holding me by the legs and rising to his full height, taking me with him, still moving forward.

I screamed unbalanced when I lay on his shoulder. Seth was huge! Not that I was a short girl like Taylor -I made my good 5'7", but this guy was a giant and couldn't fight him.

When the initial surprise calmed down I started to laugh at the absurdity of that and shouted "Cheater!", but that didn't seem to bother him in the slightest and everyone laughed when Seth left me on the line with a triumphant smile. I kept the ball in my hands.

"Score." he boasted.

"Yep." Nate came running and when I looked at him still stunned he gave me a big smile before putting an arm around my shoulders. That contact and closeness did not help my shocked state.

"Actually," Olly folded his arms like a smug child. "Hailey was holding the ball when you reach the line, so in all fairness the point is ours."

"What?"

"Yes!" Tay stood by my other side, chest beaming and fist on her hips. "Beat that."

"Well, Seth had Hailey, who had the ball." shrugged Nate amused. "So..."

I finally found my voice, the grin still on my face and hyper away of his arm around me. "Is that even allowed?"

"Gracie, darling" Seth lifted one shoulder teasingly. "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

Everyone laughed and I frowned at him. He saw me and winked at me. In response I stuck my tongue out and his eyes sparkled as he got closer again. "So that's it, uh?" he threatened with a smile. "Do you want me to do it again?"

"No!" I replied too quickly and without air. The giant planted himself in front of me in a second and my heart soared. I leaned closer to Nate for protection and his arm around my shoulders readjusted me against his side. He was so close that I felt him vibrate when he laughed, pushing Seth with his free hand.

"She gets it."

"Aw, look at him getting all protective." Olly taunted with a pout and this time it wasn't only me who blushed. I swear I saw his ears tinted pink, but he didn't drop his hold.

"Shut up."

"Always so nice..." Tay rolled her eyes as the other two laughed on our behalf and took out her phone, frowning as she turned on the screen. "Well, well, this was lovely but I'll better get going now."

"Already?" I couldn't help a wave of disappointment. I felt, like, with backup with her here. Seth and I barely had exchanged a few sentences, no matter how cool he was, and Olly was Nate's friend as well. Taylor had been the one fully on my side and now was leaving.

"Yep." she popped the final 'p' typing something before keeping the item back. "Joe is having a bad afternoon and Mrs Gulligan want me there as soon as possible."

"You babysit?" Seth cringed, as if the thought was disgusting and Tay rolled her eyes again.

"A girl has to own her money."

"Hmm, I guess I respect that." the black giant shrugged and she laughed, leaning to kiss my cheek farewell.

"Cool. See you around." and patted Olly's shoulder as she passed his pouting form. "Remind me not to come running again."

"Ha, ha. You've said that before."

I couldn't help but smile, seeing in her reticence my own. Oliver was really hard on us, but there was also something addictive and attractive about his sessions. That's why I'd kept doing it for over a month.

"Take care." I called after her and she waved without turning.

"And then we were four." sighed Olly, turning from her to us. "So? You still up to go Lara's opening?"

Lara was Kurt's sister, and she was opening a new bar by the mall. A neighbourhood bar, that's been debuting since 2 pm. So far it was really starting with the right foot for what the football player'd said, so we decided to go by after this game or whatever this was.

"Sure." to my surprise Nate was the first to answer. "We have to stop somewhere first, tho." he announced and shifted his hold on me so his hand curled on my waist and tugged me along with him. His fingers pressed the line of bare skin bellow my top and spread heat everywhere of my being as he pulled me along. "We'll meet you there."

"We have?" I asked flabbergasted by the contact and words. The tingles under my skin only got worse when he hushed in my ear.

"Right." scoffed Seth, shaking his head and turning towards Olly. "Your car's here, isn't it?"

I didn't get to hear the end because we were already out of earshot. The quarterback's determinate strides guided us across the park and to the parking lot where I easily spotted Letty; parked at the very end, half hidden between the brushwood adorning the place, while I frowned. Have we made plans to go somewhere? I couldn't remember.

Still confused and squeezing my memory, I went to round the car for the passenger door.

"Wait wait, come here." Nate spun me to face him and back me so suddenly I found my back against cold metal and him right before me.

Goosebumps erupted at the harsh combination of the driver's door and his hand casually on my waist, brushing his warm fingers over my skin and making my breath hitched. I'd barely had time to process this new position when his head dipped and he kissed me.

I shuddered as the rest of the world disappeared and shivers slid down my spine, urging my arms to hook around his neck, pulling him closer and getting rid of the burning tension I been building the whole afternoon.

Nate pressed himself flush against me, as if he neither could handle the distance and my body ignited. I let out a breathy, needy sound when he sucked my bottom lip asking for entrance. As soon as I granted him everything became a blur of ecstasy as he deepened the kiss.

His hands glided down my sides and roamed around, eliciting goosebumps and anticipation everywhere he touched. I no longer felt the cold breeze, only this hot volcano under my skin... under everywhere his hands traced.

Realization finally hit me and I giggled next our mouths parted to breathe. "We don't really have to stop anywhere, do we?"

"And here I thought you were the smart one." he smirked against my lips. "They've caught it before you."

I rolled my eyes at his teasing, my fingers getting tangled in his soft hair as he peppered kisses down my jaw. The feeling, even though tender, was mind shattering. "Not my fault you're all horndogs ready to jump into conclusions."

"You played with fire, baby." I barely heard the nickname as his hands roamed the bare skin of my sides to my back and lower making me gasp. My heart felt overloaded at the sudden adrenaline. "Now don't act surprised."

I pressed the side of my head against his, overwhelmed as he sucked on my sweet spot as soon as he found it. But instead of working on it like he'd done other times, he pulled away from my neck and guided me away from the door to open it and get in, wasting no time in tugging right after.

Carefully placing one knee on each side of his waist, I grew hot all over as I was fully on him. Our chests compressed and we breathed the same. This was both exciting and scaring, so much I'd barely hear the shut of the door as we isolated ourselves in the cabin.

Things were escalating really fast, yet I absolutely loved it. Letting this wild part of me take control, I pressed our lips together once more, eager for more of this slow burn in the pit of my stomach.

The cabin wasn't exactly comfortable, I had to maneuver in the small space between his body and the wheel digging into my back.

"Move your seat backwards." I mumbled against his lips quickly and he hummed but continued to kiss me; blindly reaching down for the seat lever, shifting it and allowing me more room to move.

As I sit properly on him, I could feel him through my yoga pants and his sweatpants, making me blush aggressively. This was the closest we'd ever been.

Nate groaned at the new sensation, a sound so enticing I was already yearning for more. Encouraged by his response and the lack of witnesses in this hidden spot, I place one last soft kiss on his lips before tracing a path down his neck, enjoying how he moaned and let his head fall back against the rester.

Any ability of thinking rationally I might have, vanished when he used his grip on me to guide my hips harder against him. I gasped, pulling away from his neck as the sudden friction awoke all kinds of sparks that flew all around my nervous system. Something I haven't experienced so far, at least not this intense. Nate's forehead pressed mine, brushing our noses before claiming my lips again, more frantically now.

Confused and amazed by this feeling that left my limbs a shaky mess, I shifted slightly in his lap, rocking back and forwards in an almost grinding motion, and the churning feeling in my abdomen erupted again.

Oh my God.

All my hesitations and insecurities felt so small the more his grip on me tightened, moaning with me at the incredible sensation. Nate parted our lips, panting against my damp skin just like I was, but didn't waste time to go back kissing my neck as I keep the grinding motions.

I couldn't believe we've never done this before. I couldn't believe this was me!

When had I turned into this kind of girl?

I couldn't think of a proper answer for my conscience, but I didn't have it in me to complain about it either. This was... wow.

Nate suddenly sat straight taking control. "You're such a tease." he whispered, taking my earlobe between his teeth making me somehow feel it to the pit of my stomach. A powerful shudder left me hanging.

I felt Nate's hand tantalazingly slid up my back, eliciting goosebumps everywhere, then back down to my hips before sliding inside the front of my yoga pants. His dirty intentions were loud enough in this thick environment, making me fully aware of what it was he was wanting to do and I felt my breath sped as he kissed my neck once more.

I shivered and tightened my hold on him when I felt his alluring touch grazing over the thin fabric of my underwear.

"Do you want me to stop?" he wondered huskily into my skin, halting his advances as he awaited my permission.

Stop? Now?

"Hell no." I breathed out and that was all he needed.

Next I felt was his fingers pushing my panties aside and he's stroking me, causing my lids to fall helplessly as my lungs forget how to breathe. I arched against him in the small space, unable to control my reactions and I can't help a moan that escaped my lips when he pushed a finger inside me.

"Nate."

My head tilted, focused only on the blind delight of his hand, allowing his lips to sail all the way down the curb of my neck.

Under other circumstances, I would probably worry about being caught, about doing this with him... about everything. But the burning that curled in the pit of my stomach and twisted downwards made me not care at all.

Nate sucked on that sensitive spot once more, sliding another finger in and turning my mind to a puffy mess as his thumb continues to stroke me.

My hands found their way up his neck to his hair, grabbing his short locks to guide him to my lips again, my nails scratching softly his nape. In response, Nate let out a low groan, kissing me hard and increasing the pace of his hand.

I felt like I was building up an explosion. My heart was pounding in my ears, everything in me buzzed of excitement.

I'm close, I'm so close...

My lips parted, stopping the kiss and I couldn't help how my head fell forward, pressing our foreheads with an awful contained moan as I came, my breath as loud pants as I tried to steady it.

Oh my God!

"You look so pretty right now." as the moment comes to an end, the high slowly fading, I opened my eyes again, meeting Nate's smile just as he leaned to press a sweet kiss on my lips, causing my chest to flutter all the more through my daze. "Beautiful." I blushed as he removed his hand from my panties and brought it to his mouth. He smiled at my reaction. "What?"

"Don't do that." I mumbled mortified, feeling heat everywhere at the intimate action but he just smiled more.

"Why not? You taste so fucking good."

"Ugh." I leaned on his shoulder, both hiding and recovering from how exhausted I was feeling suddenly.