Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“Sure don’t. But I like that you have a cheering section. Don’t screw it up.”

I shook my head. “I’ve got enough pressure on me today.”

But inside I was fucking ecstatic. I didn’t know what happened. I didn’t know how it all came out, but Eric knew. Reyna and Scott knew. And by the end of this night, I’d make sure Sierra knew too.

“This is match point,” Scott announced. He had the ball in the corner, spinning it between his fingers. He always did that when he was ready to go for the kill.

I felt bad for the Australians. They were getting ready to join the Italians in the losers’ bracket.

I planted myself by the net, ready to block or spike it if it came at me. The Australians liked to lob the ball, but with the game on the line I thought they might change their approach.

I looked up at the fans waving green and yellow flags on one side. The other side was the one that mattered to me. The Americans held bright red, blue, and white ribbons. It was easy to pick out Sierra next to Reyna in the crowd.

I adjusted my glasses. My fingers twitched. This was it.

Scott served the ball. The Australians bumped it up. I jumped, reaching high as I spiked the ball for a kill.

Scott jumped on my back, throwing me to the ground.

“That was badass,” he yelled. I could barely hear him over the cheering fans.

The entire arena had erupted in pandemonium. I fucking loved it.

“We’re moving on,” I yelled. “Next round!”

We hopped up, covered in sand and were immediately met with a reporter from Sports Now. She had questions about our first appearance in the Olympics. She wanted to know how we felt playing a double header.

I grinned, answering all her questions and letting Scott field what he wanted to me. We felt in sync again. All the mistakes from this morning were forgiven and forgotten.

Finally, she released us and we ran over to the first row of seats. Reyna leaned down to hug Scott like she always did. “You were awesome, babe.”

I looked up at Sierra.

“Hey.” She bit nervously at her lip, but I wasn’t going to let anyone second-guess what was going on here.

I scaled the side of the railing until I was on the first level.

“What are you—” My lips pressed over hers before she could say another word.

I groaned at the kiss, sliding my tongue along hers, twisting and twining as the kiss grew hotter by the second. My hands landed on her ass.

“Pierce,” she whispered.

“I don’t give a fuck,” I answered. My mouth was heavy on hers.

I knew there were cameras. I knew Scott and Reyna had stopped to stare at us. I knew Eric was somewhere shooting fake daggers at me. I didn’t give a shit.

I finally let go to take a breath.

“Everyone knows, Sierra.”

She closed her eyes. “I know. I told my brother.”

I raised one eyebrow higher than the other. “That’s a weird thing to tell your sibling.”

She shook her head. “Not like that. He was the reason I didn’t get the job. Well, you actually. He and Eric didn’t think I could handle you. And I called him out on it.”

I looked into her eyes. “And what do you think? Do you think you can handle me?”