AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is rated a very light M.

Teaming Up

Chapter 2

BET

Zed

The sun was just starting to rise as I lowered the practice scull into the water and threaded the oars into the locks. I stepped into the boat and pushed away from the dock. My oars dipped into the water and skimmed along the surface as I picked up the pace, powering through each stoke with my legs.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I'd ever love another sport as much as football, I would have said you were insane. But that was before I discovered Crew. The precision, the rhythm, and the strength required to row rivals any full-contact sport. And the team aspect? Nothing compares. The seven men behind me are my best friends. We instantly clicked that very first practice. They trust me implicitly to set the pace that will lead us to victory. All I have to do is listen to Addie. She makes me want to row as hard and fast as possible… she makes us all feel that way. She's the heart and soul of our team. With the two of us at the helm, our team is unstoppable.

I thought when I blew out my knee, my chance for glory was gone, but I couldn't have been more wrong. My first year in, we finished second in Nationals, and that was only because we completely tanked my first ever regatta. This year, we aren't stopping until we claim the title.

-JUNIOR YEAR-

"Dude, tuck your junk away," Addison said, rolling her eyes as she walked past. "We have to go pose for a photo-op."

Zed's chest puffed a little. "There's no tucking this bad boy away, Addie. You know that. Especially when we just smoked the competition."

She scoffed deep in her throat, not bothering to turn around. "I'm putting you in the back row then. No one needs to see that shit on the front page of the Collegiate Rowing newsletter, the Mighty Shrimp Weekly or the Harvard Crimson."

"Then they shouldn't design these uniforms so tight," Bonzo chimed as he fell into step behind her.

"Right?" Zed added, following her down the dock to where the photographer and fans were waiting to congratulate them. "The ladies don't give two fucks about rowing, or who wins a regatta. They're here for one thing and one thing only," he slid a glance in Wyatt's direction.

"The uniforms," they both laughed simultaneously.

"Twelve-year-olds… I'm surrounded by twelve-year-olds," Addison muttered under her breath as she continued to walk.

"You're not wrong," Tracey laughed, draping an arm around her shoulder. "Inside every grown man is a twelve-year-old, waiting to come out at the most inappropriate moment."

"Trust me, I know," she said, fighting a smile.

"Which is just one of the many reasons we love you," Jacey said, sliding up next to her. "And one of the many, many reasons you're the best damn cox in collegiate rowing."

Addison stopped walking and turned to him. "I'm assuming there's a reason you're buttering me up, Jace?" she asked with a small smile.

Jacey shrugged. "Busted… the Harvard team is throwing a party tonight at one of the local bars… I know we don't usually fraternize with the enemy, but…"

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. "It's cute how you ask me permission…"

"Is that a yes?"

She pretended to ponder his question for a moment. "I mean… you guys did just destroy them… I guess you've earned a night off."

"Yes!" he exclaimed, exchanging high-fives with his teammates.

As they approached the waiting crowd, Addison stopped and turned on a dime, holding out her hands, and giving the team one of those I'm not fucking around looks that she had perfected. "Don't be assholes in front of the press. No one likes losing at home." She looked all eight of them in the eye before focusing on Zed. "Necrodopolus, since you're stroke position, the press is going to be directing most of the questions to you. And remember, this is Harvard. No one here gives a shit that you used to play quarterback or that you're president of that man-whoring fraternity of yours. Keep the conversation to rowing."

"Where would we be without you, Addie?" he smiled. A year ago he would have thought it was just another example of her being uptight and demanding, but after being a part of the crew for long enough he realized that Addie was what held the team together. She was more than just a coxswain. With her, they were able to do more and go further than they ever would with anyone else. She was what made the boat swing. And when it swings, like it did today, it was fucking magic.

"And the women…" grumbled Wyatt. "Share the love with the rest of us guys, asshole."

A ripple of laughter spread through the group.

"There were three camped outside his hotel room this morning," Jacey added.

"And two more inside," Bonzo laughed. "There's a reason I don't share a room with him anymore."

Zed spread his hands. "Hey, I can't help it that the ladies love me."

Addison gave him the full-on evil eye. "Just make sure they love you far from the cameras. We don't need any videos of your shenanigans posted online, got it?" she shook her head and muttered something under her breath, too low for anyone to hear.

Zed's ears perked up. "What was that?"

Her eyes jerked back to his, and he could swear he saw her blush.

"Um… don't forget to invite the Harvard team to a rematch at our regatta."

Zed knew that wasn't what she said, and he wanted to press the issue, but now wasn't the time. Not with the reporters and the ladies practically crawling over the barriers. Instead, he nodded and followed as she turned and marched toward the meet and greet area where their coach was already taking questions.

Addison stopped at a bench and motioned for them to grab their sweats. "Gotta protect the family jewels," she said with a sly smile, pulling a pint-sized sweatshirt over her own head.

"Hey," Zed asked quietly. "What'd you say back there? It's not like you to hold your tongue."

"Let it go, Necrodopolus. It was nothing. Go meet your fans."

"They're your fans, too."

She glanced over her shoulder at the throng of young co-eds clambering for a view. "I'm pretty sure they're not lesbians… and neither am I. Go let them down gently. And don't forget we have a six a.m. wake-up for the bus."

"Way to be a buzzkill, Addie."

She flashed him a super-sized grin. "That's me, and you love it."

He bit back a smile and shook his head. She was right about that.

"What the fuck crawled up your ass and laid eggs?" Bonzo asked when he noticed that Zed was squeezing his beer so hard his knuckles were white.

"You ever see Addie like that?" Zed asked, motioning across the bar with his head.

Bonzo scanned the room, his eyes landing on Addison. He bit back a laugh. "You mean acting like a girl? Newsflash, bro… she may act like one of the guys, but she is in fact a member of the fairer sex."

"I mean talking to other boats," he practically growled as a surprising flash of jealousy ripped through him. He wasn't a jealous guy… ever. There were simply too many fish in the sea to waste time being jealous. But this was Addie, and she was their cox.

Wyatt didn't bother hiding his amusement as he followed Zed's eyes across the bar to where Addison was drinking with the Harvard team.

"Seriously?" Zed asked incredulously. "What the actual fuck?"

Bonzo leaned in front of Zed, talking in a stage whisper. "Addie just broke up with her boyfriend… for good this time."

Zed held up a hand. "Wait, what?" he asked, thinking he was hearing things.

Wyatt covered another laugh. "What do you mean, what? Didn't you know? Addie was practically engaged and she threw the cheating bastard to the curb last week. Fucker… who would do that shit? He's lucky he's goes to Shoreline or he'd be on crutches the rest of the season."

Zed blinked and looked at Bonzo for confirmation.

He nodded. "Yeah… Bree said it was bad. After he crawled back asking for forgiveness sometime last year, the asshole goes and cheats on her… again… with most of the women's crew team at Shoreline U."

Zed's jaw dropped open. How in the fucking fuck did he not know this? He'd been sitting directly across from her for over a year, pulling his ass off at her command. Letting her boot camp his ass four times a week and twice on Sundays, and this was the first time he'd ever heard about a boyfriend. Furthermore, why in Christ's nutcrackers was he the last person to find out. As stroke, it was basically his boat and his team. He should at least know what the fuck was going on with his own cox. He slid a glance in Addie's direction. Her head was thrown back, throat undulated with a laugh that came straight from her toes. Her platinum hair felling behind her like waves, and her smile was so wide her face might split in two. She'd laughed that hard with the team, sure… but not like this. She looked… different.

Bonzo cursed under his breath, and then louder. "Motherfucker. I know that look. Do not go getting any ideas, man."

"Seriously, man," Wyatt added. "Bonz is right. You've got beer goggles. Do not get any ideas."

"I don't have any ideas, and I don't have beer goggles," Zed answered sharply, never taking his eyes off of Addison or the dudes on either side of her. Just then, the asshole on the left glanced up and caught his eye. Then the corner of his mouth pulled up real slow as his chin lifted. As if he'd already gotten lucky.

Over his dead body.

"We need to make an extraction," Zed grumbled.

"I think you're fucking psycho. Let Addie have her fun. She can handle herself. She's got a low kick that can bring any man to his knees instantly… not to mention her wicked right hook."

Zed ignored him. "Did you see the look that guy gave me?"

"You're paranoid," Wyatt said.

"I'm not. Shit's gonna go down if we don't step in."

"There a problem?" Tracey asked as he walked over to join them.

Zed nodded his head in Addison's direction. "She's in trouble."

Tracey took a sip of his drink and surveyed the scene unfolding across the room. "She looks like she's having fun. My poor girl could use some after that asshole broke her heart again… Tripp was a tool even back in high school..." He side-eyed Zed and smirked. "Are you sure this isn't about reminding Harvard your dick is bigger?"

It totally was, but his gut was also screaming that something was wrong. He drained what was left of his beer and stood up. "I'm going in. Y'all can join me if you're up for it. Addie's in trouble and we're not going to let her sink."

He was halfway across the room before he registered the groans of frustration and scraping of chairs behind him. The crew had his back, just like he'd have theirs anytime they ask. He stepped up to the Harvard team's table and dropped his hand to Addison's shoulder. She stopped laughing and looked up. Their eyes locked and for a second his heart stopped. Her eyes were bright, shiny, maybe even glassy… like she'd had too much to drink. Is she drunk? A part of his mind questioned as he continued to look into her eyes. Addison could drink half the team under the table, and that was saying something.

But it was the way her full lips were parted that made certain parts of his body take notice. A jolt of lust ripped through him, like a power surge frying his circuits. It happened so fast that it was gone before it even registered, but what was left in its place was a bloodlust urge so strong he could have been a fucking gladiator. "Time to go, Addie," he said low and hard, pulling his mouth back into a toothy smile aimed at the other guys.

"Whaaya mean, it's time to go?" she slurred. "Chris and I were just getting to know each other. He's a stoke like you."

"Jesus Christ in a goddamned whorehouse," he mumbled under his breath. She was three sheets to the wind. "Time to go, Addie," he repeated a little more forcefully.

She shook her head, bottom lip thrusting out. "No."

"No?" He was momentarily dumbfounded, that is until his anger found a voice. He leaned in closer to her. "I'm in a frat, I know what can happen when a girl is shithoused around a bunch of dudes that have been drinking, and that's exactly what looks like is about to happen. You're coming with me, Gorgeous."

She beamed up at him. "You called me gorgeous." Her eyes slid down his torso and landed on his cock. She tilted her head like she was studying his junk, then shook it with a giggle. "You might have a perfect dick, but your charms won't work on me. I don't do…" Another giggle slipped from her mouth. "Pussy magnets," she mumbled, half swallowing the words. But this time, there was no missing what she said.

Bonzo, Tracey and Wyatt laughed behind them.

"She's definitely wasted," Wyatt said. "There's no way sober Addie would ever let shit like that fall from her lips."

Heat flushed the back of Zed's neck. He was half mortified and half ecstatic that she'd noticed his cock was perfect. "That's it," he grumbled. "I'm taking you back to the hotel." He scooped her up into his arms, and she wrapped an arm around his neck with a breathy laugh, batting her eyelashes. It was the kind of laugh that screamed sex. And coming from any other woman it'd be a clear signal that he'd been cleared to pursue the garden of earthly delights. It shocked him into looking at her. Really looking at her.

He'd never noticed how thick and long her lashes were, or how her eyes were at least four different shades of blue, ranging from nearly sapphire to almost ice. For a second, he lost himself… Until she poked a finger into his chest.

"Yerrrr… a… pussy magnet. Definitely," she slurred again. "verry shexy… pussy magnet," she drunkenly giggled as she cupped his face. "But I'mmmmm immmmmmune."

Zed quickly covered her mouth before she said anything more. "Are you finished?" he whispered into her ear.

She nodded, hiccuping "Too much test'rone…" when his hand had finally lifted.

"You're drunk and we're all going to pretend this never happened," Zed said with a smile as he turned around and looked at the rest of the crew. "Right, guys?"

They all laughed and nodded, knowing damn well they were never going to let Zed live this down.

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

They weren't even halfway back to the hotel when Addison puked all over both of them.

"Ohmygod, I'm so sorry," she slurred, trying to wipe the contents of her stomach from his pants with a tissue she dug from her jeans.

"Let's just get you to the hotel," Zed said with a dark laugh because seriously, could the night possibly be more of a clusterfuck? Pussy magnet he thought to himself, half-worried that Addison was three-quarters of the way to a nervous breakdown and the season had only just started. Their boat was finally rocking, in large part thanks to her, and he couldn't begin to fathom the fallout if she quit. He tipped the Uber driver well hoping it would help cover the cost of the clean-up.

"Oh, no," Addison swayed and shook her head when Zed tried to pick her up again. "I can walk b'mysel."

Zed kept his hand firmly at the top of her arm. "Whatever you say, Gorgeous." There was no way she could find the elevator in her state, let alone her room. "Give me your room key."

She blinked up at him.

"Your key. Tell me you have your key… Addie?" he added after a pause. Her face said it all. She was going to puke again. He tugged on her arm. "Over here, Gorgeous. Try to aim for the bushes."

She heaved out what little was left in her stomach.

Zed was stunned there was anything left after the way she puked all over the back seat of the car. Addison turned to him, eyes wide, ready to cry.

"Oh no, Gorgeous," he said, making an executive decision. "You're not going to cry. Everything is okay. Everyone pukes at least once in their lives." He flashed her a reassuring smile. "C'mon. Upstairs we go." He hustled her to the elevator, praying no one stepped in with them. They seriously stunk.

Addison caught his eye in the gilded mirror and cocked her head to the side, speaking clearly for the first time since he interrupted her escapade with the Harvard crew. "In another time, another place, Necrodopolus."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She gave him an amused smile, and lifted her shoulder, clutching the railing as she swayed right into his chest.

"That's it," he grunted, sweeping her into his arms again. "You're in no condition to walk."

He ignored her protests and carried her off the elevator and down the hall to his room. He managed to extract his room key from his pocket and got them both inside, making a beeline for the bathroom.

"We're cleaning you up," he said desperately needing a shower too, but he could wait. "Can you stand while I help you out of your clothes?"

"Are we getting naked?" she grinned.

"I swear I won't look at you. You can shower in your underwear if you want, but we're covered in puke."

"We're getting naked," she singsonged. Her hand went to the buttons on her shirt. "Promise you won't look?"

"That would just be weird."

"Why?" A flirty smiled teased the corner of her mouth.

Zed paused. Except for that one night over a year ago when he had first found her in his room during a party, he had never thought of her as anything other than Addie, his bad-ass coxswain… until tonight. He was pretty sure the guys would saw off his balls with a rusty knife if he made a pass at her. Hell, he'd do the same to any of them. But… the thought of doing something with Addie woke his dick up in a big way. Not good. He sighed heavily. "Because you're my cox."

"So?" she challenged as her fingers popped the first button of her blouse.

"And the guys would kick my ass if we did anything," he finished, knowing the answer was a copout. Reluctantly, he turned around, fighting the dirty thoughts that popped into his head. He'd seen Addison in a uniform, her tits weren't big, but he couldn't help but wonder what they'd feel like against his palm. His cock agreed wholeheartedly. Worse, he was suddenly dying to see her pussy. Because holy hell, she was a firecracker in the boat, a total ass-kicker. Is she that fierce in bed? Or does she surrender, all soft and compliant?

Her shirt landed on the floor, dragging him out of his internal struggle. "Who says they'd have to know?"

Zed bit back a groan. "Fuck, Addie, you're wasted. I'd never take advantage of you like this."

"Even if you liked me?"

He heard her stagger and turned just in time to catch her before she fell into the sink. "Especially if I liked you," he said through gritted teeth, forcing his eyes to the floor and away from the pink lace bra that flashed in the corner of his eye. "Now, sit down while I help you."

He dropped to the floor and removed her fuck-me leather knee-high high-heeled boots. "I think this is the first time I've seen you wearing something other than athletic shoes," he said trying to change the subject. With the first boot off he looked down, surprised by another flash of pink. "When did you paint your nails?"

"I always paint my nails on race day," she said with a giggle.

"You're kidding?"

"Just because I'm in a boat with way too much testosterone," she slurred the word, "doesn't mean I can't be girly. I was a cheerleader for most of my life you know."

"You can be as girly as you want Gorgeous," he answered with a wry smile. "Stand up, so I can help you out of your pants."

She stood, clutching his green hair for balance while he fiddle with the buttons on her jeans, averting his eyes when he yanked them down her legs. He bit back another groan when he caught a glimpse of her matching panties. As soon as her pants were off, he sat her back down and turned on the water. "Do you think you can stand on your own?"

"Nope," she answered cheerily.

He let out a string of curses as he stripped down to his boxer briefs, glad to at least be rid of the puke-ridden clothing. "Okay, let's get you in the shower."

Addison reached around her back to remove her bra.

"Why don't you leave that on?"

Her eyes scanned up his chest, and in spite of her drunken state, there was no missing the hunger there. "I don't shower with my clothes on," she said innocently.

"You never make anything easy, do you?" he muttered under his breath as he helped her up, looking everywhere but at her. His cock strained against his shorts, but there was no way he was removing them. Someone had to keep their head on straight.

She gasped. "Is that because of me?" She pulled a finger up the ridge of the prominent bulge.

He froze. And then he looked at her. Her face was unguarded, perfectly fascinated, as if she were examining a wildflower and not his most precious appendage. Her tits were high and perky, soft and round punctuated by the most beautiful shade of dusky pink. In spite of the fact that Addison was as ripped as any of the guys on the team, there was still a gentle curve to her stomach leading down to her perfectly waxed pussy. He loved it. So. Fucking. Much. And the thought of what she looks like when she comes, tortured him.

A slow grin curved her mouth. "So this is why all the girls on campus call you Superman… Man of Steel."

"I hate that nickname," he laughed. "And no… that's not why… It's what I can do with it."

She stroked it again, as if she needed to gather more information. "Definitely a pussy magnet," she mumbled under her breath, swaying into him.

He grabbed her hand, even while his dick was yelling at him to let her keep going. "Addie… please." His voice came out strangled. He wasn't above begging. Somehow, by some miracle, he managed to get her into the hot water without feeling her up. "I better get an extra cushy spot in heaven for this," he mumbled. "Because you, Addison Wells are temptation in the flesh. Now brace your hands against the wall," he said roughly, wishing he was saying that for purposes other than cleaning her up.

He thought of his mother, his grandmother, Antarctica, hairy men. Anything to keep his raging hard-on in check. He squirt a dollop of shampoo into his palm and worked into her long locks. She moaned and leaned into his fingers. "Shut your eyes," he said, refusing to watch as the suds cascaded down her spine. His imagination was doing well enough on its own without the added visual. He pulled the conditioner through, then soaped up a washcloth. He scrubbed as quickly as he could, ignoring her little mewls and shoulder rolls.

"You missed a spot."

He rolled his eyes in frustration, knowing exactly what he missed. "You'll be fine."

"But…"

"No buts," he interrupted while he quickly scrubbed himself down. He hated this. Platonic showers sucked. And right now, he just wanted to get this torture over with and forget it ever happened. He tilted the spray in his direction, not trusting Addison to remain upright if he asked her to move. As soon as the water was off, he picked her up, ignoring the way her breasts pressed against his chest and stepped out of the tub.

She looped her hands around his neck. "Mmmm, nice…"

Too nice. Way too fucking nice. He thought to himself. "Damn me to the seventh circle of Hell, I'll be replaying this scene over and over in my head, wishing the outcome was different." He set her on her feet and grabbed the terry cloth robe hanging on the back of the door. "Here."

She held out one arm, and then the other, and he closed the robe, tying it securely around her tiny waist. An ache sprung to life in his chest, an unfamiliar longing. She looked so small and vulnerable engulfed in a robe that sat comfortably on his six-foot-four-inch frame.

"Damn you, Addie," he muttered, turning around to drop his soaking boxer briefs. His cock sprung free, still hard as a spike. He wrapped a towel around his waist, then picked her back up and walked to the bed. She was wasted enough, that he worried she'd pass out. Or worse, choke if she puked in her sleep.

Her eyes softened as she stared up at him once he settled her against his chest. "I always did like you, Necrodopolus…"

Again, an unfamiliar longing washed over him. "Go to sleep, Addie," he murmured, pushing an unruly lock from her forehead and dropping a kiss in its place, letting himself inhale the scent of her mixed with cheap hotel shampoo. It would be the only kiss they ever shared. It had to be. Even though his dick wanted to throat punch him now for making that call. He set the alarm and dozed off, replaying images of Addison in various states of dress.

It was barely three in the morning when Addison jerked awake with a groan. "My head…" she said tightly, her face scrunching up in pain. But then her eyes flew open and she scrambled across the bed with a horrified gasp. "Ohmygodwhatdidwedo?!"

Zed was yanked form a deliciously dirty dream he wasn't quite ready to let go of by the ungodly rise in pitch of her voice. He cracked an eye open only to find her giving him the stink-eye.

"Tell me...please… we didn't…" Her voice took on a sound of panic as she rubbed her temples. She knew she shouldn't have drunk so much when the team went out to the party the Harvard crew had thrown, but with everything that had happened with Tripp… again… she needed a night to lose herself with someone else. She had just never thought that someone else would be someone from her own boat, much less man-whore extraordinaire, Zed Necrodopolus.

Zed couldn't help but laugh. This was the Addie he'd come to know and love. Still, he couldn't resist having a little fun with her. "Would it be so bad if we did?"

She wrinkled her nose, "Eww. Awful," she replied more so out of habit than what her body continually tried to remind her. Zed was hot. Other than the fact that it would ruin the team, a night with him would be far from awful.

"That's not what you said last night," he responded with a cocky wink.

She pulled open the robe far enough to look down. "Oh god, I'm…" her eyes flashed back to his, terrified.

"Naked," he supplied with an amused smirk.

"You didn't…" she said, clearly scandalized.

"Nope, but you did…" The corner of his mouth pulled up.

The color drained from her already pale face and she buried her head in her hands. "What exactly did I do?"

He decided to put her out of her misery. "Don't worry, you'd remember if we did. I'd make sure of it."

She snorted, shaking her head. "So cocky."

He held his hands up in surrender. "It's hard not to be when even you can't keep your hands off of me."

Her head snapped up and she pinned him with a glare. "I have standards, Necrodopolus."

It was his turn to snort. "And I believe I surpassed them all last night."

"You're bullshitting me," she accused.

He was, but he was also irritated as fuck that she seemed so horrified at the thought of having sex with him. "You called me superman… among other things."

Her eyes widened and she swallowed thickly. "What else did I say?" she asked faintly.

"Things only a lover would say," he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. "But it's okay. I fended you off and your dignity remains intact."

She scoffed. "As if." She shook her head. "I'd never, not in a million years, rock the boat with you."

"Why the fuck not?"

Addison stared at him with a look that could only say fucking duh. "For starters, you're my stroke."

"Yes I am," he grinned.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Necrodopolus," she scolded before continuing. "Second, you don't even know me."

"Like hell, I don't."

She gave him that look again. "Really?" She knew it wasn't entirely his fault. She purposely kept herself from forming the same bond as she had with the other guys on her boat with Zed. He was walking temptation and lust personified, with a reputation of leaving nothing but heartache in his wake. It was self-preservation.

His stomach sank. It ate at him that she was right. "I know you," he protested.

"What's my favorite song?"

He flashed her a smile, hoping to dazzle her off course.

"See?" she said undeterred. "What about my favorite food?"

"Pizza?"

She shook her head.

"Fish tacos? I saw you eat fish tacos last week."

"We all had fish tacos last week at Jacey's birthday party."

He madly reached into his memory for any clue of what she liked based on their past team hangouts. He came up with a big fat zero. But, he was determined not to let her win. "Ah-ha!" he cried out, pointing his finger to the ceiling. "You paint your toenails every race day."

Her eyes went wide. No one knew that.

"See?" he pressed. "Besides, I would get to know you."

"You're so full of shit," she said with a laugh. "You don't get to know anyone. Not women, at least. They pass through your bed like water through a sieve. You can barely remember their names, let alone important details like when their birthday is, or what their favorite flowers are."

He opened his mouth to object, but she was right. Other than how to easily get them into his bed, he really didn't pay much attention. "I pay attention to the things that matter."

"Like what? A woman's cup size?" she asked bitingly. And just like the brutal morning workouts she subjected him to, she didn't let up. "I don't think you know the first thing about dating. About wooing."

"Wooing? Who the fuck woos?" he asked incredulously.

"Normal men. Men who want to date and have a serious relationship… and maybe eventually settle down."

"Well, I don't want to settle down. Why would I? Women are like wine. It's going to take a lifetime to experience them all."

She let out a horrified gasp. "Did you seriously just compare me to a bottle of wine?"

"Not you specifically. But you know what I mean… why would I settle for just one woman?"

"Because you're incapable of maintaining even the most basic of relationships. You might be a machine in the boat with a hot body and damn near perfect junk, but you only think of where your next lay is coming from."

He didn't know whether to be proud of her assessment of his skills in the boat or pissed that she called his junk 'damn near perfect.' It was perfect. And if he ever had the chance, he'd make sure she clearly understood the distinction. His ego won the debate. "That is not true," he protested. "My top priority is always to make things beyond enjoyable for my partners."

Addison looked at him in disbelief. This was exactly why she would never get involved with someone like him. "Orgasms are your priority," she stated flatly.

"Sure. Isn't that kinda the point?"

She rolled her eyes and made a scoffing noise in the back of her throat again. "No, actually it's not. Orgasms are nice, don't get me wrong, but I don't need a relationship for that. What about companionship? Friendship? Intimacy?"

Even though she was skewering him with another withering glance, he was fixated on her implied admission that she masturbates. His mind instantly going to dirty places.

"See?! I know exactly what you're thinking! You can't even look at me. You can't have a real conversation with someone you've known and worked extremely close with for over a year. You have no idea who I am."

Zed was pissed. He was so frustrated he wanted to throttle her. Or kiss her. He leaned forward still undecided. "I know enough. I know that your face flushes when you think you've been caught saying something naughty. I know that your breasts could fit perfectly in the palm of my hand. I know the exact look in your eye when you're thinking filthy thoughts, and I know for certain that you've never had a mind-blowing orgasm. One that shatters you completely."

Her mouth dropped open, partly from shock, but there was no denying the flash of heat in her eyes.

"I may not know what your favorite ice-cream is, or how you got the little scar above your left eyebrow, but I know how to make you pant until you think you're going to die from the wanting, and I sure as hell know how to make you scream my name. And while we're at it… you don't know me either. So who's the bigger asshole?"

Addison gnawed on her bottom lip, and for a split second, she considered throwing caution to the wind and closing the small distance between them and kissing him. But the feeling passed quickly replaced by an idea he knew he couldn't pass up and she smiled up at him. "I think I just made my point."

"And what is that?"

She tried to ignore the way his muscles flexed as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. She arched her brow. "I'd bet you all the money in my bank account that you can't go without sex in the name of getting to know someone. Or letting someone get to know you."

"Like hell, I can't," he growled.

The corner of her mouth curled up. "Yeah? Prove it."

"I will go without sex as long as it takes to wipe that superior-looking expression off of your face." He realized his insult missed the mark when she snickered and her smile widened.

"One. Year."

Motherfucker. He swallowed and tried to keep his face neutral. He hadn't gone without sex for more than a week since he lost his virginity to a cheerleader under the bleachers when he was sixteen.

"Still think you can do it?" she taunted, knowing damn well Zed Necrodopolus never backed down from a bet.

"Fuck, yes."

"That's big talk from a guy with your reputation."

"And what exactly is my reputation? What did you call me last night? A pussy magnet?"

Addison silently cursed as her cheeks flushed a deep red. Of course, she had to let that slip while she was three sheets to the wind. Damn her brutal drunk honesty. "Well you are," she whispered, dropping her eyes to his lips, trying not to imagine how they would feel against hers.

He leaned forward. So close he could smell last night's soap on her skin. "And with good reason," he whispered back, his voice taking on a seductive tone as a very wicked thought passed through his mind. "And when I win this stupid bet, you're going to give me something in return."

"And what is that?" she asked, her voice coming out more breathy than she had hoped.

"One. Night."

Addison swallowed audibly, blinking, as his words sank in. Zed. One. Night. She dropped her head and started to laugh.

"Oh, you think that's funny?"

She wiped her eyes and nodded. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do."

He pulled away and scowled, crossing his arms over his chest once more.

"Oh don't pout," she teased, getting up on her knees and leaning over to pat his cheek. "Be honest, Necrodopolus, we both know you'll never last that long… and if by some miracle you do, neither of us would jeopardize the boat. Crewmance destroys a team." She slid off the bed, wobbling a little as she landed on her feet clutching the robe tightly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find my way back to my room and…"

"Oh hell no. You're in no condition to walk back to your room. Not like this. You don't even have a key." He was already reaching for the hotel phone. "What's your room number?"

Shit. Addison thought to herself. How could she possibly forget what room she was in?

"You don't remember… do you?"

She sighed and shook her head. "Nope. Not even an inkling."

Zed laughed to himself. Weird drunken chemistry aside, Addie was part of the team, and he'd do anything to take care of her. He asked the concierge to look up her room and bring all her gear up to his room. "Don't worry, Addie," he said after hanging up. "No harm, no foul."

"Thank you…" she whispered. "For taking care of me…" her lips curled up in a wicked smile. "Don't think this gets you out of our bet though."

He slid off the other side of the bed, keeping his towel firmly in place. "One thing you'll find out about me, Addie, is that once I make a bet, I'm all in. And I don't lose."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize if there are major editing errors in this. I'm still recovering from Covid vaccine number 2 and can barely see straight.