4th & Girl

My success and longevity weren’t guaranteed, and as much as they believed in me, they believed even more in the power of a backup plan. Of course, I hadn’t really thought it’d be this hard at the time.

Once I’d been accepted into RIT’s Architecture Graduate Program, and had been given a little bit of special treatment through the availability of online courses because of my spot on the Mavericks’ roster, I’d decided to take it slow while I was in-season.

Taking one online class at a time couldn’t be that hard, I’d thought.

Hah!

What a fucking joke. Online classes were meant to fit into a schedule more flexibly—though, I wasn’t sure they were intended for a schedule as packed as mine—but that didn’t mean the material was any easier. If anything, it meant I spent ninety percent more time teaching myself the things an in-person professor would have.

And despite my love for architecture, my one and only course—Architectural History—was kicking my ass.

Frustrated, my mind drifted time and time again back to much happier thoughts.

To thoughts of Gemma.

And me.

And a serious lack of clothes.

And how fucking good it’d felt to be inside of her two nights ago.

Consumed by the image of our writhing bodies and sweaty skin, I could picture the two of us together as if it were happening right then. Me over her, her eyes wide at first, and then slowly closing as the power of her orgasm overwhelmed her.

Honestly, it was too goddamn bad my quiz wasn’t based on this material.

I’d have been sure to get a fucking A.

One minute drifted into two as I pictured my hands on Gemma’s breasts and my mouth following their path.

Soft, pink, perfect nipples and the best-tasting skin I’d ever had the pleasure of sucking on.

God, I’d give anything to have those tits in my mouth now.

Loud and obnoxious, the buzz of my phone against my desk startled me rudely out of my daydream.

My cock was half hard and loaded, ready to go, and when it saw the name Gemma on the screen, it went ahead and jumped to full mast.

“Well, hello,” I answered, the gravel in my voice a little too apparent. “I was just thinking about you.”

“Dirty things, I presume,” she said sweetly, and my dick jerked in my pants.

I bit my lip and gripped my cock with a stern fist to get it under control.

“Maybe,” I said innocently. Hoping desperately to come up with something to make myself sound less like a pervert, I glanced to the screen and got an idea. “Really, I was thinking about how smart you are.”

“How smart I am?” she asked cautiously, and I laughed a little at her trepidation.

“Yes. The smartest.”

“This sounds really suspicious and has taken a turn I didn’t expect.”

I chuckled. “I’m working on homework, and it’s stumping me.”

“Homework? You get football homework?”

My laugh was rough and loud as I realized she had no fucking clue about the class at RIT. Football homework. Jesus.

“No, no. I’m taking an online graduate class. I’m doing homework for that.”

Gemma was no less than flabbergasted. “A graduate class? Online? Why the hell are you doing that?”

“Well, we didn’t really get into it the other night, but as much as my family believes in me, they also believe in a backup plan. And so do I.”

“Wow. I’m impressed.”

I laughed. “Well, don’t be. Right now, I’m sucking at it.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“I’ve been staring at the same question for half an hour.”

She sighed, big and beleaguered and dramatic. “Wow. That’s pathetic.”

“Thanks,” I retorted through a laugh. “Your support is astounding.”

“Well, I might be willing to help you if you came over here. I mean, I’ll at least consider it under the promise to bring food.”

“Really?”

“The food part is really important.”

I laughed again, jumping up from my spot at my desk and gathering my shit. “I can bring food. Definitely. It’ll probably be about an hour before I get there, though.”

“Okay,” she said easily. “I’ll just make some popcorn to hold me over.”

And that was that. With a smile and a bounce in my step, I grabbed my stuff and headed for Gemma.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to concentrate on anything but her when I got to her apartment, but I was a good student, after all.

I was certainly willing to give it a try.

“Well, hello,” I greeted Leo at the door. He wore a black hoodie and a pair of sweats and his hair was still a little damp from a shower, but Lord Almighty, he looked damn fine.

And if my smile would’ve gotten any bigger, it would’ve eaten my face.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said before placing a sweet kiss on my cheek and walking past.

I didn’t hesitate to check out his ass as he headed for my kitchen. Firm and toned in all the right places, it was bitable.