The Slam (20 page)

I touched her gently under the chin, pulling her head up so she was forced to look at me. “Hey,” I said quietly. “You doing all right?”

She smiled, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine.” There was a long, heavy moment of silence before she spoke again. “Do you know that you’ve never asked me what was wrong with me? Never. Not when we were kids. Not now. Not ever. Whenever something was bothering me, you always said, ‘What’s going on with you?’”

I said that?
It had never even occurred to me that I did.

“I know.” Adelaide sighed. “Such a quibble like that is minor in the grand scale of things, but those few words made a world of difference to me.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “It made
all
the difference to me, Ender. That’s why you’re such a dear friend.”

A deep sigh broke free from my chest and I draped an arm around her shoulders, letting her settle against me. “You’re not too bad yourself.” I dropped a kiss on her forehead.

In time, she spoke into the silence. “Ender?”

“Yeah?”

“About last night…” she hesitated, keeping her gaze averted. “What a ghastly nightmare. Absolutely ghastly. Let us never speak of it again.”

“Hey.” I caught and held her gaze. “We won’t. And if there’s anything I can do, let me know, okay?”

A blush stained her cheeks. “Can you make your eyes slightly less intense?”

“There.” I squinted in the sunlight. “Better now?”

“Not really.”

“I know what can make you feel better.”

“What?”

“You need to get it off your chest and cuss him out. Swear. Call Cade whatever you want. Pretend I’m Cade. Go for it!” My voice held a challenge. “Lay it on me!”

“Errr… okay,” she said, a little uncertainly. “You’re a… butthead fool. A pig’s arse. I think you’re a long piece of pelican shit. An odious, repellant rat. Get stuffed up your dole, you bludging piss ant! And may your chicks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down.”

“C’mon.” I laughed. “You can do better than that. Use the word
fuck.
”

“Okay. I’ll try,” she said willingly. “You’re… a fuckwit. The most organic kind of fuckwit! A… human shaped garbage! A narcissistic assclown. And you know what? Life is too short to raise my cortisol levels mollycoddling some entitled prat like you. I have a zero tolerance policy for this kind of…
fuckery
.” She paused briefly and I nodded encouragingly. “And I hope you get the comeuppance you so richly deserve!” Another pause. “There!” she exclaimed. “How did I do?”

“Humph…” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I was thinking something more along these lines…” I hardened my voice. “Keep playing games, you mawfuckah and I will wear your asshole like a headband! And you know what, assfuck? I’ve shown restraint by not ripping off your head and shitting down your neck hole! Now do you really want to fuck with me when I have zero fucks left to give?”

“Bloody Oath!” she gasped. “That sounds atrocious!”

“But did it make you feel better?”

“Not really.”

Then, from out of nowhere, her stomach let out a loud growling noise and she burst out laughing. “Pizza. Get me some pizza! That will make me feel better. There are only three things I wish to do today.” Another gurgling sound erupted from her stomach. “Eat pizza. Sleep. Repeat.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

ENDER

At practice the next day, I eviscerated Cade on the court, beating him soundly in straight sets. Fueled by adrenaline and anger, I hit one atomic smash after another, launching live grenades for serves, every forehand return exploding past him.

Fuckboy didn’t stand a chance.

Before I stalked off the court, I looked at Cade with cold, hard eyes. “Hey, assfuck!” I said stone-faced. “That was for Adelaide.”

September passed. So did October and November. And over those months, I continued training with my regular coach on weekdays, and on weekends, Adelaide took over. She trained me, pushed me, and drilled me with intensity—serve drills, backhand drills, forehand drills, net drills.

She made me commit to every single shot I hit.

She got me out of ‘hitting mode’ and into ‘focus mode’.

She helped me to see tennis through a wider lens.

Most of all, she supported me. She was there for every single one of my matches, every single one of my tournaments. And before each match, she’d smack my butt and say, “Go out there and kick some ass, Ender!”

And I’d cut her a look that said, “I’m gonna take that fucker out!”

Of course I did just that. Time and time again. The gains were big since I’d incorporated Adelaide’s training methods into my game. I responded to her ideas, her level of perfection, her enthusiasm for the game.

I became a different player. Stronger, leaner, more focused.

I was faster, my reflexes and footwork lightning-quick.

I was a machine, a finely tuned athlete. Every ball I hit went to the exact spot I wanted it to go. Laser focus.

I used to be able to hit a dime. Now I could hit a dot.

Accuracy. Consistency.

Advantage, Ender.

Set, Ender.

Ace. Match, Ender.

Game, Ender.

I was beating all the cutthroat competition, winning more, churning through the ranks. And I wanted to return the favor, do something nice for her.

I finally got a chance when her birthday was round the corner.

Grabbing one of the kitchen chairs, I swung a leg around to straddle it backward and faced my brother. “Adelaide’s birthday is tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” he grunted. “So is yours.”

“Where should I take her?”

“What does she like?” he asked, shoveling a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.

“Food,” I said. “You know she likes food.”

“Take her to a buffet.” He shoveled in another forkful. “Or take her to Prime Roadhouse and order her a barrel of ribs and a bucket of wings.” Almost as an afterthought, he added, “They serve pizza, too.”

“What about after dinner?” I stared unblinking as he tore through his breakfast. “Any suggestions?”

“You’re in luck,
brotha
.” He reached into his pocket, produced two tickets, and slid them across the table. “It’s your big day tomorrow you big savage beast! Happy early birthday!” He chewed with his mouth open. “I got you courtside tickets,
bey beh!
You’re taking her to the Warriors game!”

I stared at the crisp twenty-dollar bill in my hand. Beside me, Adelaide was grinning from ear to ear like she’d just handed me two mill. “I used to get money on my birthdays,” she explained. “When I was twelve Jeff gave me twelve dollars…”

“Adelaide.”

“And when I was thirteen, Jeff gave me thirteen dollars…”

“Adelaide!”

“When I was fourteen, he gave me four—”

“ADELAIDE!!!”

She jumped. “What?”

“I get your point.”

“Gosh, Ender. You don’t have to yell. Anyway, I always thought money was the coolest gift ever!” Her eyes twinkled with delight. “Like getting paid to live my life! It’s cool, right?” Now she was looking at me expectantly. “Don’t you think it’s cool?”

I managed a weak smile. “Yeah, sure.”

“Oh!” she cried. “I know why you look so wretched! Look inside the card. There’s more!” She sat smiling at me indulgently as though I were a toddler taking his first steps. “Go on,” she said in a maternal tone. “Look inside.”

Flipping the card open, I pulled out a crisp bill. “One dollar.” My voice was toneless.

“You’re twenty-one!” she said brightly. “So of course you get twenty-one dollars.”

“Thanks,” I said forcefully. A moment passed before I added, “For being a cheapskate.”

“What?” She looked at me, confusion on her too-honest face. “You don’t like it?”

I tried but failed to keep the grin off my face. “I’m just joshin’ witcha. It’s a nice thought. Thank you.”

“Always a
pleaj
,” she said coolly. “Always a
pleaj
.”

A beat passed.

Then another.

“AHEM.” She cleared her throat loudly. “In case you’ve forgotten, it’s my birthday, too, and I’m currently accepting gifts in the form of cash, Visa gift cards, and pizza.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Adelaide. We’re going out for dinner tonight and then I’m taking you to a Warriors game.”

She blinked. “Gladiator warriors?”

“Golden State Warriors,” I said. “Best team in the NBA.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

ADELAIDE

“The Dubs won the championship last year and they’ve been undefeated at home since the start of the season,” Ender raised his voice over the dense cacophony. “We’ve got Steph, Draymon and Klay and what’s cool is they’re all home drafted. And we’ve also got Iggy, Bogut, that bench and the best coach, Steve Kerr.”

I nodded. “You keep saying ‘we’ like it’s our team.”

“It
is
our team,” he said with conviction. “And we’ve got the best fans in the NBA.”

“I know.” I pitched my voice higher so he could hear me. “I’ve been reading up on the Warriors. The fans in this Oracle Arena are known for their loud cheering. They call themselves the Roaracles, and it’s been said that the decibel level during a Warriors game is similar to a jet engine.”

“What?” he shouted.

“A JET ENGINE!” I shouted back.

It wasn’t long before the game started and I was treated to the roaring jet engines of the Roaracles.

“DEFENSE! BOOM! BOOM! DEFENSE!”

The entire arena shook with the force of their stomping and cheering.

It was beyond exhilarating. But the best part about the whole experience was the churros.

I ate a churro and my life unequivocally changed.

Where have churros been all my life?

“These things are delicious,” I said, gnawing on my churro stick. “I’m completely obsessed with these fried tubes of dough. And the sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar just elevates it to a—”

Wait. What’s happening?

All of a sudden I was staring at Ender and myself in the large Jumbotron screen with a pink heart looped around our faces. The words KISS CAM flashed across the screen.

In the next breath, Ender slipped his hand under my heavy fall of hair, cradling the back of my neck as he sealed his lips over mine in a kiss so slow and deep and thorough my body sighed, melting against him.

He gave a low, satisfied groan as our tongues joined in a long, sensual dance… tasting, exploring, swirling, withdrawing, tasting again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

I sensed a deep hunger in the hard slant of his mouth. Each swirl, each stroke of his warm tongue sent shards of pleasures skittering straight to my clit.

My head was swimming. Flooding.

The kiss was intoxicating.
He
was intoxicating.

Then he pulled away, breathing hard, fast.

But everything else seemed to slow down.

He stared at me long and hard, his eyes darkening with… confusion?

I wasn’t sure but he didn’t give me any time to dwell on what I’d seen in his gaze.

Blinking once, he turned from me, the steely line of his jaw tensing as he stared straight ahead.

I wet my throat, feeling confused, too.

His kiss was different this time. It was slow and purposeful, deep and intimate, laced with so much need and greed.

How vexing. It unnerved me. Now I was feeling this peculiar self-awareness around him.

I was accustomed to being in charge of my emotions. But with Ender… he threw me off balance. He was messing with my equilibrium!

The game soon resumed and the crowd was roaring once more.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala hit a series of three-point buckets in the fourth quarter and the fans went wild, roaring with the sound of jet engines, silencing the roaring in my heart.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

ENDER

“It’s Saturday night,” Adelaide remarked as she toed off her shoes. “Is Mira coming over later?”

“What?” I said distractedly, chucking my car keys onto the kitchen counter.

“Mira,” she repeated. “Your fuck buddy. Is she coming over?”

“No.”

“She usually comes over every other Saturday, but I haven’t seen her in a while.” She paused, tilting her head in thought. “A long while, actually.”

I said nothing, simply poured myself a drink.

The truth was, Mira had been in town and she’d called me several times, left voicemails, but I hadn’t felt like returning any of her calls.

I hadn’t felt like hooking up with random sorority chicks at Sigma Chi parties, either.

I don’t know when the fuck it happened, but I started having sex with Adelaide a lot in my head.

I imagined my dick disappearing inside her mouth.

I imagined fucking her in the gym.

I imagined fucking her on the tennis court.

I imagined fucking her in the shower.

I imagined fucking her right here in this kitchen.

God. I wanted her.

Annoyed with myself, I polished off my drink, hoping the cool, amber liquid would extinguish the heat in my dick.

It didn’t.

I poured myself another scotch. “You enjoyed the Warriors game?”

“I did. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you, Ender…” She sent me a dazzling smile that lit up her face. “For making my birthday so special.”

I was just about to say something when my phone started buzzing. Briefly, I glanced at the display. It was Mira. I let it ring and go to voicemail.

Adelaide cleared her throat. “Was that Mira?”

I didn’t answer and a new silence settled in.

“Did you sever ties with your fuck buddy?” There wasn’t a hint of malice in her voice, just a desire to understand.

“Why do you wanna know?” I knocked back my scotch and slammed the glass on the counter. “You offering to be her replacement?”

“Yes.” Her words came easily and without thought. “I am.”

“Do you even know what you’re saying?” My voice was toneless.

“I do,” she said in a rush. “Ender, when you kissed me earlier tonight at the game, it sent a red-hot line of fire straight to my clit. It excited me. I felt a throbbing between my thighs and you made me so wet.”

This is Adelaide. Always too honest, too transparent.

“I know it’s probably my libido talking right now,” she went on. “I’m starting to understand my own body, my sexual drive, my needs. And I’ve realized that if I’m craving sex today, yesterday’s sex won’t satisfy me.”

“In other words, you’re horny.”

“Correct.”

A muscle worked in my jaw. I stared at her, caught in the blazing intensity of her gaze. “Strip.” I said at last.

Obediently, she stripped her shirt over her head and her breasts popped out, bouncing.

This is Adelaide. Always no underwear.

Her jeans disappeared next, and seconds later, she was standing in front of me, fully nude with those wide, inquisitive eyes. “I saw Mira perform fellatio on you right here.” She bit down on her lower lip. “I’ve never done it before, but I’d like to try.” She reached for my zipper and tugged it down, the sharp metal rasping loud over her soft, uneven breaths. “Tell me what to do, Ender.”

I swallowed hard. “Touch your tits for me.”

Our gazes locked as she cupped her breasts, caressing her coral-pink nipples, letting out a soft sigh as they puckered to tight buds beneath her touch.

Watching her the whole time, I shucked my jeans and palmed my thick, heavy erection.

She watched me, too, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Taking a half step forward, she ran her fingertips along my shaft, lightly stroking my balls.

Pre cum seeped from the head of my cock. Using her thumb and forefinger, she spread the moisture around the broad head. “Am I… am I doing this right?”

“Yeah.” I groaned low in my throat.

After a moment’s hesitation, she got on her knees, lowered her head, and licked the heavy stalk of my erection.

Once.

Twice.

A shy exploration.

Keeping her eyes trained on my face, she licked the broad head of my cock, circling her tongue around the blunted crest.

A vein pulsed in my neck as she tongued the sensitive underside of my long, veined shaft. All the while, her big brown eyes watched me, seeking guidance. Approval.

Slipping my hands under her silky fall of hair, cradling the back of her head, I guided her mouth up and down my erection.

She moaned a little, letting her tongue glide on the underside of my cock.

“Yes.” A deep groan scraped from my throat. “That’s a good girl.”

Her breathing was a slow, seductive rasp as she worked her tongue up and down the root of my shaft, swirling her tongue around the sensitive head, tracing the smooth ridge of the crown before kissing the glistening slit at the tip.

A muscle worked in my jaw. “Suck it,” I ground out.

Staring at me with those wide, innocent eyes, she took the tip between her lips, letting it slowly slide over her tongue before it disappeared inside her hot, wet mouth.

“Good girl,” I whispered hoarsely, raking my fingers through her hair as she took me deep inside her mouth, her cheeks hollowing as she slowly withdrew before cinching me with her lips once more, sucking on my thick rod of hard flesh.

Adelaide sucked my dick much like she did everything else—eagerly and with total commitment. She took it very seriously.

Fuck.
I winced at the acute pleasure.

Each time her hot, enticing mouth sank down the stalk of my cock, my hips arced forward. Not just the feel, but the
sight
of her soft mouth sliding over my hard cock had me teetering on the brink of madness.

My hands were in her hair, guiding her, setting a steady pace as I moved between her lips with shallow thrusts. “Touch yourself,” I groaned, my voice thick and hoarse.

Staring up at me with drowsy lust, she sucked me deeper, harder, cupping her tits, tugging at her nipples, stretching them as her tongue and lips devoured every inch of me until I was near the point of explosion.

“Adelaide, stop.” I clenched my jaw, straining inside her mouth. Fisting my fingers in her hair, I jerked her back.

She looked at me, her expression dazed, a little unsure. “I didn’t do it right?”

“You did everything right.” I swallowed hard. “I don’t want to cum in your mouth.”

“But I’d like you to. Seminal fluid contains chemicals that induce sleep, and I’d like to be able to sleep after this. Besides, I’d like to know what it tastes like.”

Gripping her hand, I guided it to my cock and she began working my shaft with increasing speed until the sudden blast of my release shot over her head, flying across the kitchen.

Adelaide continued stroking me and my cock seeped more cum, leaving a sticky trail across her breasts. “Was it good for you?” she asked timidly.

“Yeah,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “If it flies over your head, you’ve done good.”

She stood, grinning like she’d just won the Powerball jackpot lottery.

Meanwhile, my eyes zeroed in on my semen dripping down her tits.

Unable to resist, I cupped her breasts, massaging the warm liquid into her flesh, glazing her tits with my cum.

She moaned low and deep, her lips parting as I teased her nipples.

Keeping my eyes trained on her face, I slid a finger between her startled lips, pressing it deep into her mouth. “You wanted to taste it.”

Holding my stare, she closed her lips around my finger and began sucking on it. “Mmm,” she murmured at last. “Your semen tastes like salt water and it smells a little like diluted bleach.”

I shook my head, struggling hard not to laugh. That sure topped what another chick said to me. “You mean it doesn’t taste like sun and rain?”

“Rain?” she said thoughtfully. “That’s possible. But the sun?” She frowned. “The sun would taste like your mouth disintegrating!”

I could no longer hold back the laugh that erupted from me.

“Why do you find that so funny?” she demanded. “What do you think the sun tastes like?”

“Who knows?” I shrugged. “It probably tastes like chicken.”

“Chicken?” She blinked. “Why would it taste like chicken?”

Her expression was so adorably earnest that I had to kiss her.

Crushing my lips to hers, I kissed her fiercely as my hands roved greedily over her body, kneading her ass as she ground herself into my erection.

My cock was already hard and heavy for her again. I scooped her up in my arms, startling a laugh from her.

“What are you doing?” she asked as I carried her to my room.

“You wanted to be my fuck buddy, right?”

“Correct.”

“We have more fucking to do.”

“Okay.” A sexy smile tilted her lips. “But—”

“No
buts
, Adelaide.” I silenced her with another kiss. “We have two full hours of fucking before it’s 11:45.”