His Kiss and His Bargain

CHAPTER 6

A collective groan of disappointment went through the spectators gathered around the gym as the visiting Ascho basketball team scored a three-pointer. 

It didn’t seem to matter that the SWAR college’s Raging Buffalos already had a lead of ten points and were not slowing down.

Chloe smiled to herself and kept her mouth shut. She was attending the game with Brooke and David. Both were die-hard supporters of the Raging Buffalos. They were both grumbling under their breaths and frowning. Chloe knew any comment suggesting that it was normal for the opposing team to at least score something wouldn’t be received well.

Besides, she reminded herself that she was just there to relax and enjoy the game before she had to return to her books. She didn’t need to engage in a debate about basketball.

Just then, their team scored again, and the supports went crazy. David practically jumped out of his seat and jumped up and down like a toddler. 

The game was only three minutes into the second quarter. Chloe couldn’t imagine the state her friend would be in by the time the game was done. He most definitely wouldn’t have a voice left. She thought. David was shouting on top of his voice, his voice blending into the deafening noise around them. Chloe brought her hands to her ears even as she smiled and tried to enjoy the atmosphere.

Eventually, the excitement gradually went down and people settled back in their seats, watching the game intently, waiting for the next basket to be scored. David turned to Chloe, his face flushed with all the excitement pumping through him. “Are you having fun?”

Chloe smiled. “I am. Thanks.”

“Do you need anything? I could get you another drink or a snack…”

She shook her head. “No, I am…”

“Please get me something as well,” Brooke suddenly cut in from Chloe’s other side. She gave David a sweet, expectant smile until all the guy could do was smile and stand up. He shot the court a quick glance before he excused himself and left to go get them more drinks and snacks.

Chloe turned to Brooke with a scowl. “What was that for?”

Brooke shrugged. “He offered.”

Chloe rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the game. It had been three weeks since Brooke had been dumped by Hunter. Three weeks since Chloe had sneaked into his apartment and gotten kissed. 

Brooke seemed to have moved on from the whole thing almost in a heartbeat. Chloe wasn’t sure what her friend had done about the pictures Hunter had taken. She hadn’t asked, and Brooke hadn’t volunteered the information. 

Her roommate was back to normal, as though the drinking and crying hadn’t happened. As though that entire night had just been a dream and it was forgotten.

Chloe would have loved to say she had also forgotten all about it, but that would be a terrible lie. The only thing that had faded was some of the guilt. Although she still hadn’t told Brooke anything about the kiss.

The Raging Buffalos just then scored again. Chloe clapped along with the rest of the spectators. When the spectators settled again and those that had stood up to celebrate took their seats, Chloe’s eyes landed on a man she had hoped not to see ever again.

It had, of course, been an impossible wish. Brooke’s ex-boyfriend was a student at the same college. It was always going to happen. Eventually, she was going to run into him, but she had hoped it wouldn’t be any time soon.

He stood near the basketball court. His impressive figure was cloaked in black jeans and a white t-shirt that stretched over his toned muscles. He had his arms folded over his chest as he watched the game with a serious frown on his face.

Chloe drew in a deep breath. Even so far away and clearly unaware of her presence in the hundreds of spectators watching the game, she still felt like he was towering over her and commanding her every breath.

A chuckle escaped her lips. Chloe shook her head. It was ridiculous. She was going crazy over the guy. He was making her lose her sensible mind. “I can totally see why you went for the guy, even though looks aren’t everything,” she told Brooke thoughtfully.

Brooke looked baffled by the comment for a moment, then her eyes went back to the court and she scoffed. “Who was only talking about looks… Have you seen that body and all that strength and agility? He is practically mopping the court with his moves. It’s no surprise he has scored so many times. And you should see what he can do in bed.” She finished in a dreamy voice and a naughty glim in her eyes.

Chloe was confused. She looked back at the guy standing watching the game from the sidelines. Not playing and scoring. She turned back to her friend. “Mopping the court?”

“Yes.” Brooke answered like a proud hen. Looking at her, no one would know the guy she was talking about had dumped her ass just after two weeks together. “Number five… He is kicking Ascho’s ass.”

Chloe’s eyes traveled across the court until she saw the jersey with the right number printed on its back. Hunter was player number five on the basketball team. The realization bounced around in her head like a ping-pong ball. It then made total sense why Brooke had been so insistent on watching the game. Her eyes then snapped back to the guy she had met in the apartment. “Oh.”

Brooke finally noticed something was off. Her brows arched. “What’s up?”

There was no other way for Chloe to clarify things except to tell Brooke about the mixup. She pointed at the man standing next to the court. “I thought that was your ex.”

Brooke followed her friend’s finger. When her eyes landed on the man, her mouth gaped for a few beats before she recovered and snapped her mouth shut. “You thought that was my ex-boyfriend?” Brooke looked at the man up and down like she was appraising an antique. “Damn, that guy is hot. Wait… That’s who you ran into in the apartment? s**t. No wonder you were shaken up.”

Shaken up didn’t even begin to describe how she had felt. But at that moment, that was the last thing on her mind. A wave of relief had washed over her. She had not kissed Brooke’s ex-boyfriend. She had no reason to feel guilty.

However, on the back of that relief was a question. Who exactly had she kissed?

David chose that moment to return to his seat, holding drinks and bags of salt and vinegar potato chips. “What did I miss?”

Thankfully, Brooke took it upon herself to catch David up on the score in the game and any fouls committed. Chloe barely listened. Her eyes remained locked on the now mysterious, sexy man that had turned her brain to goo with one kiss.

***

The referee blew the whistle, officially calling the game to a halt for halftime.

Jaxson observed as Hunter walked off the court, knowing fully well that his brother would come to him first before he joined his teammates and coach.

As soon as Hunter was within arm range, Jaxson handed him the towel and bottle of water he had kept with him just for this.

“Thanks.”

“You are killing them,” Jaxson said, like the proud brother he was.

Hunter chuckled. “And the crowd is loving it.”

Jaxson turned and looked at the crowd. The stands were less crowded as people left to grab more food and stretch their legs before the second half of the game started. Almost like the universe planned it; a group of students suddenly split and Jaxson’s eyes landed on the woman who had been haunting his dreams.

A powerful wave of need hit him, almost knocking him off his feet. Damn it. It was like the mere sight of the woman was enough to reduce him to an impulsive i***t. Jaxson clenched his jaw for a second before he forced himself to relax it again.

“That girl really has it bad for you, it seems,” he finally said when he couldn’t keep his mouth shut anymore. “I actually didn’t know you went for the freckles uptight type.”

Hunter followed his gaze with a frown. “I don’t.”

Jaxson looked at him. Was it possible? He dared to hope. “You don’t know the blonde seated in between the guy dressed in white and the brunette?”

His brother’s eyes narrowed and gave the trio a studying look. “I know the brunette. I can’t remember the name, but she had a magnificent pair of tits.”

“You don’t know the blonde?” Jaxson pressed. He didn’t want his brother to know just how badly he wanted that question answered, but some of his nerves slipped into his voice.

Hunter frowned. “What’s going on?”

Jaxson shook his head. His gaze traveled back to the woman. “Never mind.”