you tell these assholes that emu steak is not on the menu!” He had laughter in his eyes, he knew it was all a joke, and I knew he loved an ongoing joke.
“I’d like to see one of you catch it first,” I deadpanned, and various guys started bragging how the emu didn’t stand a chance against them. Particularly if said emu was on skates and therefore at a disadvantage. There was laughter, and Vlad was right in the middle of it, even if he did glance at me every so often as if I was a question that needed an answer. I was done with tonight, and I genuinely hoped that the drama was over. I was so close to giving my excuses to leave but Colorado wasn’t letting me get away with things so easy.
“So, Sugar, is it true what I read about you and Tennant Rowe?”
I fake-clutched my chest. “I didn’t even know you could read, Colorado.”
He snorted, and then made a lewd action with his hands, “were you bumping uglies?” Colorado smirked at me.
Alex smacked him upside the head, Ryker shoved him, and not a single guy was staring at me with anything like distaste or hate. In fact everyone was laughing; even Vlad had a cautious smile.
“I wish,” I deadpanned, and Ryker snorted a laugh and slapped me on the back.
Maybe I wasn’t tired after all, in fact I thought I’d stay there, join in the crap, stare a bit at Vlad when he wasn’t looking, and chill.
Perfect.
Well, perfect, if only I hadn’t spotted Vlad staring at me with utter focus on several occasions.
Damn the man for being sex on legs, with his intriguing eyes, and his tight ass, and his muscles, and damn my weakness for all of those things.
Chapter Six
Vlad
Weeks since that kiss, and I clung hard to a saying my father had that goes something like, “If you work hard enough all your troubles will disappear.”
My father, as much as I loved him, was wrong about that. I had been working harder than ever for over thirty days, and the biggest trouble that I had was still showering naked. Of course I did not expect Tate to bathe fully clothed; that would have been foolish. But he could have been less attractive. His ass could’ve been flabby, his cock tiny, his smile lacking teeth. Many players lacked teeth. Why wasn’t he also? And why was I mulling over his smile, ass, and prick while clocking in a few miles on the stationary bike. I needed to pedal harder. Sweat ran into my eyes, my thighs screamed, but I cranked up my speed and incline.
“You know if that bike ever breaks free your pale ass will be in Mammoth before you can stop.”
I threw a dark look at Colorado lounging against the wall of the training room sipping some sort of dark red guava drink. He was clad only in shorts and flip-flops with big purple rubber flowers. And of course tattoos. Most were flaming skulls or flaming guitars or flaming pigs. His newest was on his pectoral and it was of that stupid emu complete with bowler hat.
“My pale ass will be fine.” I slowed nominally but left the incline steep. He made a sound around his straw, tossed his long dark hair from his face, and continued to stand there watching. After another half mile I had to ask. “Is there something that you wish from me?”
“Yeah, well, sort of.” He flip-flopped over and climbed onto the empty bicycle beside me. My eyes rolled. This was not what I wanted this morning. Did he not realize that I had to purge my body and mind before the rest of the team showed up? “Man, I hate bikes. They squish my balls.”
I plucked the towel draped over the handlebars to mop my face. “Then perhaps you should go find something else to do. The elliptical way over there?” I jerked my sodden head toward the far side of the room.
“Nah, this is good. I’ll just shift the boys to the right.” Which he did with his free hand. “So, about you and Tate…”
My foot slid off the pedal. I tossed another glare his way. He waggled one dark eyebrow while innocently sucking on a yellow straw.
“Do not be an idiot. There is nothing between Tate and me.”
“Right, because you’re straight and he’s not this fucking sexy-ass beast. Come on, Iceman, bark up the tea.”
I blinked at his confusing words and because the