He sits there in his slacks and button-down, arms folded over his chest.

Piece of shit.

“What’s the matter, Nico? Daddy not impressed?” Alex taunts.

I lose it.

I shove the punk, yanking his helmet off in the process before the ref blows his whistle in warning.

Before I can be ejected and risk having to sit out the next two games, Coach pulls me, sending me straight to the fucking locker room.

Once inside, I slam my helmet against the wall several times before dropping to the bench. I run my hands over my face, then fall back and close my eyes.

Fuck. This. Day.

I tug my shit off, not bothering to shower before putting my gym clothes on.

I try Demi for the millionth fuckin’ time and when she doesn’t answer, I toss my phone across the room.

Where the fuck is she? She agreed to be with me and being at my games comes along with that.

This is bullshit.

With a deep breath, I move for the door, picking up my phone along the way, and glare at the shattered screen.

The last thing I want to do is go home to a dark house, and everyone I hang with is still on the fucking field, so I head for the rooftop. Straight to the fucking edge.

The game is about over, and we’re gonna win, but I can’t find it in me to care.

Why isn’t Demi here?

And what the fuck is she trippin’ on anyway?

I told her I didn’t do a damn thing, but what if I did?

I could have easily fucked Miranda again. Shit, the first day I walked in the gym I saw the want on her face, noticed her watching Demi and me more than she was the others, but I thought she was being a professional, perfecting her shit.

I should have walked my ass out yesterday morning when ten minutes passed, and I was still the only one there.

Stupid fuckin’ me, I thought I could get ahead, already know the moves before Demi had the chance to show them to me. She’d be impressed.

I groan, dropping my chin to my chest.

“Suck it the fuck up, Nico. You sound like a bitch.” I shake my head at myself, turning to lean my elbows and back against the bricks.

A shine of blue catches my eyes and I freeze.

Slowly, I make my way over to pick it up.

A blue Gatorade.

Still cold.

She’s here.

I over exaggerate every move, locking my hips fully with each pop, flipping my hair and using my hands to add more sensuality.

I spin around, my chin lifted as I sassily walk toward the mirror and grip the barre attached to it, slowly swaying from right to left.

My eyes close, giving my body full control as I freestyle through the rest of the track.

With a tight hold on the glazed wood, I slowly butterfly to the floor, bouncing lightly on my tippy toes, and then make a slow and provocative rise.

My hands lift into my hair only to trail right back down the length of my neck.

The air in the room shifts in the next moment and my skin prickles as my eyes fly open, instantly connecting with a pair of dark, wild ones.

I gasp, falling against the glass slightly, but I don’t look away.

Nico stands in the open doorway, lips pressed in a firm line as he makes slow and deliberate strides inside, each one causing my pulse to pound harder.

It only gets worse when he pauses an arm’s length away.

He stands there unmoving, not so much as a blink, but his gaze grows ten shades darker and I know what he wants.

Unhurriedly, I begin moving again, hesitant at first, but when his tongue touches his lips, his focus falling to my ass, I give more.

He snaps instantly.

With a quickness I couldn’t prepare for if I tried, he rushes forward, his chest now pushing into my back as his eyes remain glued to mine in the mirror.

His gentle yet firm tug to my arm has me spinning to face him, my hair sticking to my lip gloss when I do.

I lick my lips, blowing it off lightly, and he follows the movement.

Suddenly his eyes pop up to mine.

So eager.

The vein in his neck tics angrily against his skin and I can’t help myself, I move in, running my lips across it.

It hits harder.

What are you doing, Neek?

His hands are quick to find my ass, and without warning and zero effort, he dips, lifting me with ease.

My grip flies to his shoulders to help steady myself, but in the same second, my back is pushed to the mirror, my ass now perched on the small barre as his palms trail around, up my stomach until he’s cupping the underside of my breast.

He steps closer, tugging me to the edge so he’s pressed against me, nothing but both our workout shorts between us.

My eyes cling to his, a rapid, throbbing, unbearable ache taking over my body.

And I can’t help myself, not when his hard-on is resting on me with a subtleness that should be forbidden.

I grind into him.

A tiny bit at first, almost enough to be considered a shift of my body, but then his forehead tightens.

A sign of slipping control?

I do it again, harder, longer, with a deeper sway, and a small whimper escapes from my own actions.

Nico’s response is a reckless growl.

His lips crash into mine with a hard and heavy need, and all I can think is fucking finally.

I moan instantly, and when he pushes his dick against me, shifting his hips the smallest bit, I gasp into his mouth.

As if expecting it, Nico is ready, his tongue delving inside my mouth, his hand coming up to force me impossibly close and leaving no room for air to breathe, nothing but him to fill my lungs.

My legs lift, sliding across his thighs, before wrapping across his back and locking.

He groans, ripping his mouth from mine as he gives a strong squeeze to my thighs. “I’ve been dying to feel these around me again.”

He nips my lips and my head falls back, gently knocking into the mirror.

Nico slides his mouth down my throat, and my eyes squeeze tighter. I grind harder into him, my hands sliding along his biceps.

When he bites at my neck, my toes curl, and my eyes pop open.

My entire body grows stiff in an instant, a shrill coldness filling me to the core.

No.

Alex stands there, phone at his side, bag over his shoulder. With a subtle shake of his head, he keeps walking past, and I wish I could disappear just the same.

I am such a fucking fool.

It takes Nico a second to realize I’ve locked up on him, his head lifting as he does.

I refuse to meet his treacherous gaze, not when I know my unrestrained desire is written across my face while all he was doing was driving a point home.

I drop my legs from around him, and he doesn’t relent right away, but finally releases me, allowing me to fall back to my feet.

I try my hardest not to touch a single inch of him as I squeeze away, quickly moving for the sound system to turn it off.

My shaky hand misses the button twice, and I take a deep breath, steadying myself a moment before trying again.

God, I’m an idiot!

“Demi.” His voice strained as he attempts to catch his breath.

I don’t reply, hastily slipping into my track pants.

“Should I be apologizing right now?” he edges. “‘Cause I don’t fuckin’ want to.”

“No.” My response comes out quick and raspier than I had expected, so I clear my throat and try again. “No, it’s fine. Everything is fine.”

I slip my shoes on, then tug my sweater over my head, pulling my hair out.