Evie drew a deep breath and sighed—Josh’s bedroom smelt of clean washing and the aftershave she bought him for helping her quit smoking. Sadly, the scent of spice with a hint of fruity zest ruminated from the carpet as, thirty seconds after she gave it to him, he managed to spill it all over his room. He paid her back, transferring the money from his phone within moments while blushing at his mistake, not that it was an issue. For a professional athlete, he seemed to have clumsy moments around her.
“This is the song that played the night in the pub. You know the one,” she said, standing in her best friend’s bedroom, flicking through Spotify playlists. More than a year ago, Evie apologised to her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, for her behaviour and admitted that she didn’t want to be the fun-loving party girl known as Bianca anymore. Instead, she wanted to return to her original name, Evangeline Draper, or Evie.
Thighs she could barely wrap two hands around filled her view as he walked closer. Josh was her world and, unfortunately, a friend of Aidan, too.
“Can you believe that was the night we became friends?” Josh asked as he pointed out a song he wanted on the list. She rolled her eyes at his choice of a 90s boyband hit. But he nudged her playfully until she added it to his playlist for their late rugby training session. It would be just the two of them on the field in the darkness with her shouting drills as always. She loved every second of it. “And now look at us.”
He had a point. They used to hate each other, but here Evie was, helping him improve his rugby skills to become the best player the Bulls team had.
Evie pulled her strawberry blond hair out of its messy bun and ruffled the frizz with her fingers, hoping he would watch, but as usual, his thoughts were on rugby plays. It was evident from the way his hands danced in the air as if he was positioning players around the pitch. “Why did you let me hug you that night? You hated me.”
“I barely knew you. You were the woman who made my mate’s life hell.” Evie gazed at Josh, who blushed under her gaze. The flush was evident even under his messy beard. A fluttering filled her belly. That night was the first time they had a proper conversation. And now she was secretly in love with him. What a fucking mess.
“True,” she announced, jumping up to her feet. “Are you sure you want to go to the field and practice drills tonight?”
“Definitely.” Josh crossed his bedroom and filled his sports bag with things they might need for training. He held his hoodie aloft. It was his special one from playing in the World Cup for England. He often kept it hidden at the back of his closet. But why?
“Do you want me to help?”
He swatted her request away with his hand. “You lie on the bed while I do this. You look tired…” He left the comment open, but she didn’t fill the space.
She couldn’t tell him what was happening in her life, or he’d want to fix it. It didn’t matter how often he fished because being with him meant she could forget the things outside their world. He was allowing her to relax in a way that no one else did. He glanced briefly at her, but she launched onto the bed and watched him instead.
“Right, cool,” he said when the silence stretched too long. “You chill out, and then I’ll make us dinner before practice. What would you like?”
No one else cooked for her, let alone asked for her thoughts. Why was this guy in her head? There wasn’t anything sexual between them, which kept their friendship a safe space. She was the real her only with him. She didn’t worry about his or anyone’s expectations. The bedding smelt of his natural musky scent mixed with the fruity shower gel he often used, and her heart swelled. She gritted her teeth. She couldn’t ruin this friendship with butterflies. Josh was the only true friend she had. Evie scrolled through playlists to find a song that would motivate Josh when he got low in that night’s practice. He distracted her with his slow side-to-side neck stretches as he worried his lip and picked items for his sports bag. Her mouth temporarily dried up, and she swallowed a few times to regain control.
He needed motivating, not seducing. Rugby was his only love, and her aim to ensure he was the best he could be was the most important thing to her. Josh’s friendship dripped confidence into her life every day and crushed demons from her past, not that he knew. Any way she could help him was important. His patience and support helped her quit smoking, and she was a self-confessed bitch during those months. But he took his time checking in on her, supporting her and ensuring she was never alone with her cravings. Josh’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank water from his Bulls rugby team sports bottle. He was so proud of his team. Evie wetted her lips as she stared. Fuck.
“Josh,” she screamed, instantly drawing his attention. His eyes widened as he stared. Shit. What could she say to cover up her attraction? “Come listen to this song,” she stuttered, holding out an earbud to him.
His eyebrows knotted as he strolled over. Josh joined her on the bed and placed the earbud into his ear. Her skin prickled with heat. They’d hung out on his bed plenty of times before. What was going on with her hormones? This attraction had grown over months but was in full force tonight. Maybe it was all the ballet she was doing in her spare time. It was helping her to find her true identity. Not that Josh knew about that, either. He’d want to watch her perform, and she wasn’t ready. He was always trying to find new ways to support her. Evie stretched like a cat before silently reprimanding herself. Her body was in flirt mode, but she needed to calm it.
Josh shrugged. His thigh touched hers. Was she the only one sensing the heat? Her flirting was wasted on him. Neither dated since they became friends, but they also never mentioned partners. “It’s the theme tune from the film Rocky. Haven’t we used this one before?”
Evie laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “No, I, I’m not sure.”
Josh side-eyed her. “Did you know I wrestled at school? I used to practice my moves in my bedroom to the Rocky soundtrack. I felt like The Rock.” Josh showed her a bicep, and her stomach dropped. She slowly sucked in the air.
“The Rock isn’t the same as Rocky. Sly–”
“I know that,” Josh jumped up, and she took a long breath. They needed space between them. “But it was motivating. Add it to the list. I got my wish, though.”
Evie tipped her head to the side. “Your wish?” She knew what she wished for.
“Yeah.” Josh flexed his bicep again, and she pressed her thighs together. Maybe she should skip his practice that night and head home to relieve herself with her purple 7-inch friend. She’d taken a vow of celibacy, so sex with any of her exes was out of the question, not that she’d go back there. The only man she wanted underneath her was lifting his tee to show his six-pack. Fucking hell, he was all muscle, and there was a smattering of hair on his chest calling for her fingers. “I’m now stronger than The Rock. He’s got nothing on me.”
Evie choked, and Josh rushed to give her his water bottle. “The fuck you are,” she replied between splutters as he patted her back and looked at her wide-eyed. “There’s no universe where you’re stronger than him.”
That got a reaction. Josh patted his chest and shouted, “Hey. I’m a beast.” His laughter was infectious, and her heart danced again. Why was everything about him endearing?
“Prove it,” she chuckled. He’d back down like he usually did when she challenged him to anything that wasn’t rugby-related. She’d challenged him to share his relationship history, and he wouldn’t talk about those secrets, which was probably for the best. Her reputation didn’t put her in good stead there either. When they were together, their past and families didn’t exist. They lived in a friendship bubble.
She beamed her smile and beckoned him closer with her hands waving. As she leaned forward, her chest pressed against the v of her t-shirt, revealing the top of her breasts, but she knew he wouldn’t notice. He didn’t see her that way.
“Okay,” Josh launched onto the bed and met her contest head-on. Evie gasped and pressed her lips together as Josh positioned himself above her. She was at his mercy. He held her tightly beneath him as her strawberry blonde hair splayed around her head.
“Do you surrender?” Josh asked breathlessly, replacing merriment with tension that made her belly pulsate. His nearly black eyes darkened as she wriggled and tested his strength. Evie’s skirt rode up her thighs from the friction of his jeans. Her breasts peaked out of a low-cut T-shirt that emphasised her curves.
How did this escalate so quickly? Maybe she wasn’t the only horny one, but what did it mean for their friendship if they crossed an unspoken line?
While Josh pinned her wrists above her head with one massive hand, the other gently moved down her body. Was he threatening to tickle or stroke her? The rough skin of his palm brushed her naked hip, the T-shirt bunching above her waist. Evie’s tummy muscles tightened, preparing for his touch, as she tried to hold the lust flaring in her stomach. Her need for him rippled before taking hold of her core, which clenched tightly in anticipation. She held her breath and focused on each pulsation. Her skin seared as if she might suddenly combust. At that moment, her vow of celibacy heightened every sense. She was known for her unwavering cockiness, but suddenly she faced a situation that left her heart floundering. Josh leaned closer, his eyes holding hers. His body covered her completely, heating her and adding to the lust that transformed from ripples to quakes.
“Do you surrender, Evangeline?” he asked again. His voice deepened, saturated with a want she’d never heard from him. His lips teetered above hers while his hand settled at her hip. His grip had been soft, but his intention was clear. She wanted his hands clutching her tightly. The floor was hard beneath her back, but it was his erection inside his jeans, pressing between her thighs, that had her aching for more.
“Yes.” The whisper left her lips, the expectation and yearning evident as her chest rose and breath escaped her mouth.
A knock at Josh’s bedroom door made him move quicker than if a bomb had gone off in his boxers.
“Oi, mate,” Max, one of his teammates and his housemate, shouted as he pushed through the bedroom door. “I need a power tool.”
“You and me both,” Evie grunted under her breath as a sweaty flushed Josh paced the room.
“Sure. There’s one in the garage. I’ll find it for you.” Josh pushed Max out the door before turning to Evie. “On second thought, I’ll get an early night and sack off training tonight.” Evie held her breath. Was he going to ask her to stay? “Shall I walk you out?”
She gritted her teeth against the pain that radiated through her chest. It was a clear brush-off. He left her standing on his doorstep as the door closed in her face. What the fuck?
