Marek
I work my best under the pressure of competitive conditions. It’s what I did when I was a player, a coach, and now as the manager.
It’s what drives me to success. And over the past few weeks, I’ve busted my ass to get what I want for my team—Xander Williams, the top draft pick.
Personally, I also had to pull out all the stops to get Harper back in my bed.
Harper hasn’t made it easy, though. Especially with the stunt she pulled by disappearing after our Chicago weekend. The stubborn woman ghosted me for two days.
But I learned from my previous mistakes, and I make sure she knows she is my priority.
Outside of my duties to the team and the time spent preparing for the draft, I make it my full-time job to pursue her and win over her affections.
She pushes, I pull. It’s what we do.
But goddamn, it has not been easy. The good things in life never are.
Harper is always trying to stay two steps ahead of me. I solve that problem by taking longer strides to catch up with her. It’s this cat-and-mouse chase that seems to drive us. And it’s driven us back into each other’s arms, desperate for what we each have to give.
We haven’t defined anything or what this has become between us, but I know I can’t let her go. She’s too important to me.
Since returning, Harper’s remained in Seattle to finish up the edits and produce the series on the Pilots in its entirety. She just submitted it to the executive producer earlier this week and had an interview yesterday for the sideline reporter at the station here.
I have my phone in front of me as I get in a short workout this morning, waiting for her to call me at any moment to tell me her news. My routine has been shot to hell the past few weeks with Harper in my bed, which puts me at the gym later and later every morning. But I’d shake up my routine any day of the week for her and happily be late any day of the week if I can spend it with her.
With the TV above me on mute with the morning news report, I scroll through the numerous posts and news clips on my phone related to our new team talent. Our hopes were tied to getting Xander Williams in the first round, and we did. We followed that up with Tra’Von Matthews from Arizona in the second. They are both going to be exceptional adds to the team. In fact, I have a meeting at nine this morning to talk with Coach Green and his assistant coaches so we can begin structuring the new talent around our current talent.
The mere thought gives me tingles of excitement and a thrill that shoots up my spine. In my book, this part of my job comes as close to the pleasure of sex as anything can get.
Although, fuck. This morning’s quick and dirty shower session with Harper was one for the record books. Not that I’m keeping track, but I gave her the first orgasm of many with my tongue between her legs before she was even awake. The second and third happened in the shower, where she stubbornly refused my help in lathering up because she was running late for her meeting at the station.
But I took her refusal as a challenge, and I pinned her arms above her head against the glass shower door, then turned on the ten-setting showerhead, placing it between her legs where my mouth had just been, employing the water pressure as the way to convince her. She surrendered beautifully and I won.
My favorite competition.
The only troubling aspect of this new relationship—if you can call it that—is she, mostly, has been reluctant to say anything about it publicly. For several reasons, but her biggest fear is the repercussions she feels would be harmful to her career as she waits on the decision about her promotion from the Seattle station. Harper doesn’t want any shade thrown her way if word gets out that we’re sleeping together. Or the rumors that would swirl if there’s even a hint I called in a favor because we’re dating.
Which, unbeknownst to Harper, I did.
Obviously not because we’re sleeping together, but because she’s brilliant and I want the right people to know how proud I am of the work she’s done.
After the draft, Harper’s team interviews and all access program has been airing on the Seattle station. It’s been an incredible spotlight that gives the viewers and fans an inside look into our organization. It was flawlessly executed and produced. And to think it almost didn’t happen had I not given in and granted her request for the interviews.
The bigger news is that once the segments began to air in the market, our VP of Operations and Accounting called to let me know she noticed a huge increase in our season ticket package purchases.
In my estimation, that is all due to Harper’s brilliance. So, I figured the best way to repay her was to proclaim my appreciation to the GM of the Seattle station. I gave Herve Schueller a call and espoused my gratitude toward Harper. It was my way of helping her out with the assist, so to speak, giving her a little boost toward the job she was so desperate to get.
Glancing up at the television, my gaze is immediately drawn to the front desk where I see the owner and head trainer, Jade Russell, hugging Harper. What the hell is that about?
I can only see the back of Harper’s head, but she’s speaking animatedly, and Jade is obviously very excited by what she’s hearing because she’s smiling, clapping, and then hugging Harper again. As she embraces Harper, Jade’s eyes meet mine and her light-amber eyes grow wide. When she pulls back, she says something to Harper, who slowly turns around and catches my curious look.
Something flashes in her eyes, but then she grins brightly, turning and practically skipping toward me. I hitStopon the machine, grab my water bottle and towel, and hop off, meeting up with Harper halfway.
“Hey, Big Man. I was hoping you’d still be here. I have some news.”
I look back over Harper’s shoulder at the front desk, where Jade is trying to look inconspicuous, but I can tell she’s paying close attention. I jut my chin out behind Harper.
“Great, I’m dying to hear. But first, do you and Jade know each other?”