"Not too shabby," Livia said when I ushered her into the suite.

She'd better be joking since I had to spring for the catering. The bank always had a couple of boxes reserved for the season, but food and drinks cost extra outside of events. "That's all you got? Not too shabby?" I forced a light tone.

Livia dropped her coat on a round-backed seat, wandering over to the minibar on the side of the room. She checked out the options as I did the same to her. No easy access tonight, thanks to the cold weather. She'd worn a fitted, buttoned top with skinny jeans and those knee-high boots I wanted to get between, all sleek and catlike. Would she nip if I pet her? Hopefully.

With a shrug, she flipped around against the bar to face me. "It'll do." She yawned and inspected her pointed nails.

Now I knew she was joking. "I've got something you can do." She yelped as I advanced on her.

Knock! Knock!

Waiters and their fucking timing.

"Come in!" I called. Livia scooted just out of reach with a smirk.

A mousy young woman stepped into the room, hovering near the doorway, slouching with her hair half-covering her face. You'd think the premium seats would offer premium attendants. "Welcome to the Galaxy Center. Just checking that everything is to your liking?"

It was. "Everything is great." Now go away.

The mouse ducked her head. "Okay, If you need anything, just use the new call system over there?" She pointed at a touch panel screen built into the wall. Excellent. That would cut down on unwelcome interruptions. "Um, if you have our app, you can connect it to the system, so you don't even need to get up?"

Even better.

"And there are perks for connecting like the chance to win merch and concert tickets." She continued the script with even less enthusiasm.

Livia had been people-watching from the big window, but that got her attention. "That's cool." She walked over to investigate the screen.

"Do you know if anyone else is expected in this box tonight?" I asked.

"Yours was the only catering request." The mouse edged backward.

Livia whipped out her phone. "What's the Wi-Fi password?"

"It's over there." Mouse gestured to a sign on the wall. "So that's, um, everything?"

Was she waiting for a tip for something? Or just that awkward? Then she spun around and scurried away, closing the door behind her. Good riddance. "Anything interesting?"

Livia scrolled through options on the screen. "Not unless you want official scrunchies, socks, or a baby bib."

"No thanks. I hate babies." Only toddlers were worse.

"Really? No kids for you then, huh?"

Dangerous territory here. "Not interested. Maybe in a few years, assuming there's a nanny to take care of the messy bits." And only then because the whole wife and family thing was expected of me. I'd need someone more passive than Livia, though. Someone happy with a black card, a couple of kids, and a detached father..

"Other than that, there's an offer for a credit card." Right. Galaxy Financial was the parent corporation, so of course they offered a Hornets-themed credit card. "Ohhhhhh!"

"What?"

"Discounted tickets to Cosmos Adventure Park!" She actually seemed excited about that one.

"No thanks. I hate theme parks."

"Oh." She sounded defeated. "Then it's just add-on packages and unnecessary upgrades." She held out her phone so I could copy the password. "You should download the app. I'm almost out of storage."

I snorted. "Too many pictures?"

"Never!" She looked at me in mock outrage. "Also, everything needs an app these days."

"Does it, though?" Ironic since I was currently downloading their app to connect and win tickets or whatever.

"The spread looks good." She walked over to the food and popped a grape into her mouth.

"I enjoy a good spread," I said.

"So do I." She laughed as she made a plate. "Now behave. The game's about to start." She set her plate on a table in front of the large court window and crossed to the bar. "Vodka tonic?"

"No whisky?" I finished setting up the app.

"None worth drinking." Premium whisky must have been an upgrade. Cheap-ass pirates.

"Then vodka tonic works. Toss a lime wedge in." As I swiped the permissions away, something caught my eye. "What do you think Jumbotron access means?"

Ice tinkled against the glasses as she dropped the cubes in. "No idea. Why?"

"The app wanted it." I left my phone on the table and fixed myself a plate. She'd finished making the cocktails by the time I had my food. She handed me the drink when the national anthem began to play. One of the nice things about box seating? No need to stand for any of that patriotic bullshit. I raised my glass to the flag.

"Go Hornets!" Livia grinned, clinking the side of her glass against mine.

"Go Hornets!" Like I gave a shit.

- - - ꒰ঌ( •ө• )໒꒱ - - -

By halftime, it was impossible to tell who was worse, the Hornets or Atlanta Hawks. We'd just polished off a generous second drink as the buzzer sounded.

"They're awful, huh?" She swirled the remaining ice around in the glass, her face flushed.

"It's why I rarely come to games. On the plus side..." I gestured at the empty box. "I wouldn't mind a halftime show."

She cocked an eyebrow. "You never stop, do you?" Then she got up, slinking over to the loveseat in the back corner of the room. I turned to watch her. "But the game's been boring, hasn't it?"

Agreed. "The game, yes. The company, no."

"That so?" She leaned back against the loveseat, swinging one leg onto the bench while the other remained on the floor. "And you know what they say about boredom, right? It's the desire of desires." Never heard it, but I liked where this was going. She slid the top button of her shirt open.

I glanced back at the stadium. Several kids lined up on the court for a free-throw challenge, but the angle of the loveseat shouldn't be visible from the rest of the stadium. Perfect. I stood up, facing her with a wolfish grin.

"Absolutely not! Stay put!" Her voice dropped to a purr. "You said you wanted a show, didn't you?" She toyed with the next button for a moment before popping it open, eyes locked on mine.

I leaned against the side of the bar. "I prefer one with audience participation."

"Why don't you check out the exhibition first? We'll see where things go from there." She bit her lip as she undid another button. I still couldn't see her bra yet, but from the amount of cleavage showing, it couldn't cover much.

"Most exhibitions are hands-on these days." I shifted, making no attempt to hide my erection.

"Solid point." She trailed one nail up and down over the swell of her breast.

And then the fucking phone buzzed.

"Ignore it," she commanded, toying with the next button.

It buzzed again, goddammit.

Jaw clenched, I bit back a curse. "I'm just going to put it on silent." But when I grabbed the phone, it already was. "What the fuck?"

"What?" she asked, tone considerably less throaty.

Polly popped on screen, dribbling a basketball as I furiously tried to close the app.

HALFTIME CHALLENGE!

"What's going on?" Livia stood up with a frown, redoing her buttons as she walked over.

"PollyGot," I hissed.

"What?" She peered over my shoulder, breast pressed against my arm. "Holy shit! You weren't joking. What's the halftime challenge?"

As if on cue, Livia's phone buzzed. When she grabbed it, the text shifted.

Challenge your friend Livia! Y/N

Livia looked up at me in confusion. "I got it, too."

I groaned. "It's probably easier if we just do it." Max was fucking dead.

"Now? Seriously? How does it even know we're here?"

I kicked the chair around and dropped into it. "GPS, probably." For once, the bird remained silent. "Let's just get it over with. You're the one that wanted to try this stupid app in the first place, remember?"

Her face flashed through several emotions, too quick for me to read. Then she went perfectly still, an evil glint in her eye. "Fine. Wanna bet?"

Hard no. My fingers curled around the arm of the chair. "What kind of bet?"

She folded herself into the chair across from me. "An unhooked button for every correct answer you get."

Polly dribbled around on my screen in the least sexy manner ever. "Go on."

Her eyes drifted down onto the court, where some asshole shot t-shirts into the stands. Her lip curled up. "And if you win, I'll find a place for you to shoot your cannon."

Fuck, now we were talking. "Doesn't sound like there's much for me to lose."

Livia shrugged. "Those buttons were getting popped anyway, but how about if I win, you take me to Galaxy Adventure Park?"

"Really?" Theme parks were filled with children and assholes. "Are they even open this time of year?"

"They probably open in March." Only a few days away. "What? Scared of the big thrills?"

"Of course not." I scoffed. "More like lines and crowds."

"That's why March is a great time to go. Not too busy."

Polly and WesToon shot baskets on my screen. "You're serious, huh?"

"The adrenaline gets my blood pumping." The throaty voice had returned.

"Okay, fine. I'll take you to Cosmos if you win this round." Whatever got her adrenaline pumping and this over with faster. "Let's do it." I pressed the blinking Y. Fanfare played as the screen shifted.

3, 2, 1, GO!

Twenty squares appeared. When I touched one, it flipped over, revealing a French word. I touched another one, and an English word turned up.

"A matching game?" Livia asked.

"Must be," I mumbled as the minute-long timer in the corner began counting down. Loudly.

I started jabbing those squares like a maniac, the key being speed over accuracy. It worked since I matched the last pair as the countdown hit three. "Done!" A buzzer blared as confetti splashed across my phone. For once, I beat her.

She looked up in surprise. "You won! I can't believe you got forty words that fast."

Forty? I'd only had half that. I flattened the surprise on my face. "I've been practicing more."

Polly and WesToon Reappeared as cheerleaders, flipping around on the digital court. Jesus Christ, I flicked that shit away so fast. This time, the app closed, Polly glaring as it snapped shut. At least Livia didn't notice that display. Yeah, Max was fucking dead.

I shook my head and put the phone face down on the little table. After Livia had done the same, she sashayed back to the loveseat, collapsing against it dramatically. Within five seconds, three buttons came undone. "Now, where were we?"

"I don't think you have twenty buttons." I closed the distance to the loveseat, dragging her onto my lap before she could protest.

"Impatient crowd!" She laughed and arched her back.

Sliding one hand onto her ass, I pulled her closer. "You have no idea."

Settling against my groin, she whispered into my ear. "I guess we can allow audience participation for this event."

That's all I needed, leaning forward to capture her mouth in a deep kiss. She tasted like vodka and smelled like citrus and vanilla. My other hand ran up over her breast as she raked her nails through my hair. Damn, that felt good against my scalp. Those nails would feel even better against other parts of my body.

Livia pulled away, giving me better access to her breasts while continuing to move her hips against mine. "I knew you wouldn't mind this bet."

"As long as there are no more interruptions." I popped another button open and slid my fingers into the cup of her bra, capturing her hard nipple between my thumb and forefinger. Kneading my fingers together, I pulled on her nipple, prompting a little moan. But she pulled back as my hand dipped lower on her body.

"Don't forget, I promised you something else." With an evil grin, she traced her nails down my chest to the button of my pants, slipping it open. Then she slid her way down my body until her knees reached the floor, grabbing my zipper with her teeth.

She tugged it down.

"Yes," I breathed. Fuck, yes. "Use your teeth." Damn, she was sexy with her tits half out of her shirt and that gleam in her amber eyes.

A laugh bubbled out as she yanked me free from my boxers. Then she bared her teeth at me playfully before wrapping her lips around my hard dick. Jesus, she went to work fast, licking the base of my shaft and scraping her teeth against me as she bobbed her head. The sensation built quickly. I'd been on edge for weeks, and with her going to town like that, I couldn't last long.

My head dropped back, a moan lodged in my throat. Closer. Closer. Almost there.

And then I heard it, right before I came. A giggle, one I recognized in dread.

My eyes flew open, the room's big screen TV mirroring the Jumbotron. On the Kiss Cam, Livia's head bounced up and down as I thrust my dick against her face.

No, no, no, no, no.

She chose that moment to press her knuckles on the spot just behind my balls. Despite my shock, my eyes squeezed shut and I came instantly. Panicked, I tried to push her head away. Her teeth scraped against my shaft as she tumbled back. I howled in pain.

"What the fuck, Wes!"

The orgasm rolled through my body, burning and raw and intense. Cum spurted everywhere as the pulsing of pain and pleasure ebbed. My eyes snapped open. Polly shot and made a basket up on the Jumbotron, but our images were gone. "SCORE!" flashed in rainbow colors.

Livia stared at me, horrified as I squeezed the last gob of cum out the tender tip. Shit. Now it just hurt. An angry red welt ran down my shaft, the head of my dick throbbing and sore.

I yanked my pants up, fumbling with the button. "The Jumbotron. We were on the Jumbotron."

"What?" She spun around, but the screen just showed people laughing and waving. "You sure?" She fixed her top hurriedly, wiping cum from her jaw with the back of her hand.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Her eyes flashed back to mine. "How?"

I scanned the room. "Security camera in the corner. It must connect to the Jumbotron? I don't know why the fuck it would do that, though." Permission. I gave it permission, goddammit.

She backed away from the cum on the floor. "What did it show?"

I let out a low hiss as my dick rubbed against my boxes, promoting another wave of torment. I continued once I got the pain under control. "The angle sucked, so not much. Just the back of your head and my lower body. We probably weren't identifiable."

"Thank God!" She grabbed some napkins from the table, dipping one in the water pitcher to clean herself up. I'd shot my wad on the side of her neck and upper chest. She tossed a couple of napkins at me. "You hurt at all? I feel like I got you with my teeth."

"I'm fine," I lied, not wanting to dissuade her from biting me again because that orgasm was fucking incredible. I just needed her to do it without inflicting actual damage.

"You sure? You don't sound fine."

It felt like someone had rubbed sandpaper down the top of my dick, but I just nodded, biting back another hiss.

Her expression made it clear she didn't buy it, but she moved on. "Never thought I'd be cleaning cum off my face in the box seating of a Hornets game on a Thursday night."

She looked at me, and I gave her a hollow laugh. It might have been funny if I hadn't seen the damn bird flash across the Jumbotron. Livia didn't need to know that part, but Max would hear all about it because I was done with his stupid fucking app. Livia could take the damn money.

She looked at me as we finished straightening ourselves up. "You care about the rest of the game? Or shall we slink out?"

"Hasty retreat." We were only up there for a second, so I don't know how many assholes noticed, nor did I want to. "We need to get out of here before someone recognizes our clothing."

She grabbed her jacket. "This'll help." For the first time, I was glad she had another layer.

I adjusted myself again, the throbbing persistent and miserable.

No more Hornets games. They stung.

WORD COUNT: 2753
TOTAL: 11,915