Author's Note: This chapter is rated M.

Teaming Up

Chapter 9

ADDICTED

Addison: HAPPY NEW YEAR confetti emoji, confetti emoji, confetti emoji, sent with fireworks.

Bree: ...Why are you up?

Addison: I never went to bed :D

Bree: Oh? Does that have anything to do with why I couldn't find you anywhere? Or Superman?

Addison: you could say that… giddy emoji

Bree: You didn't

Addison: Maybe… laughing emoji

Bree: OMG YOU DID! DID YOU?!

Addison: I did

Bree: fireworks emoji, confetti emoji, confetti emoji, crazy face emoji

Bree: And?

Addison: I don't kiss and tell

Bree: I'm your best friend. It doesn't count!

Addison: Let's just call it the best night I've ever had in my life. Ever. And I'm super sad it's over.

Bree: Why is it over?

Addison: Too risky.

Bree: For you? Or the boat?

Addison:… both

Bree: oh hun

Addison: It's okay. I knew what I was getting into. Itch scratched.

Bree: Still…

Addison: I think I'll be okay. I have to be okay.

Bree: I can be home in 20 minutes. We can have Ben & Jerry's for New Year's breakfast.

Addison: You know I can't. Practice at 7:30… speaking of which, make sure your boyfriend is ready.

Bree: You're evil

Addison: It's part of my charm

Addison was waiting for the team at 7:30, looking far too fresh-faced given the night before. She was practically glowing.

"You guys look a little worse for wear," she said with a decidedly evil grin. "Time to sweat those toxins out of your bodies." She swung her gaze to Wyatt, who was wearing an obviously homemade and embarrassing shirt sporting the ZOM letters. "I promise this isn't part of hell week, Wy…"

"Yeah, compared to this, we're a bunch of softies," Bonzo teased.

"Who's calling who a softy?" Jacey challenged, flexing his pecs.

Addison laughed maniacally. "Lace up your shoes, we're going for a three-mile sprint, followed by a thousand on the erg."

Twenty minutes in, and the guys were barely keeping up with her. Tracey and Bonzo were both heaving into buckets. Zed would have been too if he had any food in his stomach.

"Sip your water, don't gulp," she cautioned. "Hop on the erg as soon as you can."

"Happy fucking New Year," Jacey muttered under his breath.

"Happy fucking New Year to you too," Addison answered as she practically danced by, a broad grin on her face. "This is the year we PR every race. This is the year we go undefeated. This is the year we put Seabrook on the map. Am I right?"

They all muttered some form of agreement. But it wasn't good enough for her.

"AM I RIGHT?!"

They all answered at the same time, with a little more conviction.

"Yes."

"Hell, yes."

"Fuck, yeah."

"That's more like it," she said, snapping her towel. "Onto squats."

She brutalized them for the next hour, but they couldn't complain, because she was running, lifting, and pushing right along with them. It was why they would do anything for her. She wasn't some queen bee perched on the cox box. She was one of them. She was their motivation in many ways. The heart of the boat.

By the time they wrapped, they were sweaty and exhausted. Wyatt cracked a smile for the first time since the poker bust. "I needed this… New Year, new start. Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet," Addison said with a low chuckle. "You'll be cursing me out for suggesting they take you on by midweek when they're hazing your ass."

"We don't haze!" Zed said with a wicked grin.

"Riiiiight…."

Wyatt shrugged and pulled Addison in for a quick hug. "If I can handle you, I'm sure I can handle anything these guys throw at me."

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

It was nine-thirty p.m. and Zed was pacing his room like a caged lion. He'd talked to Addison nearly every day for months, and not calling her felt weird. Wrong. And if they were going about business as usual then he absofuckinglutely should call her. Or at least text her. He spent most of the day with the guys drinking beer and watching bowl games. They all agreed that their training diet could start tomorrow. And after the workout Addison threw at them that morning, they deserved all the beer carbs their bodies would allow.

He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over the digital keyboard. "Fuck it," he muttered. He hit the call button.

She picked up on the second ring. "Are you drunk dialing?"

"No," he scoffed.

"But you have been drinking… don't even try to tell me no. Bree already ratted you all out before she and Bonz left to visit his parents."

"Yes, I had beers with the guys earlier."

She tsked. "A moment on the lips…"

"Training diet starts tomorrow."

"Fair enough. I cheated today, too."

"What'd you do?"

"Had New Year's lunch with Grams and Bucky."

"You need a new car if you're going to drive out there. You know that car's a POS." It wasn't the first time they'd had this argument since he learned she drives out there pretty regularly. The thought of her breaking down in the middle of the bluffs with no cell service turned his insides cold.

"Sure, with that twenty-grand of pocket change I have in the couch cushions," she said sarcastically. "I'll keep that in mind."

"At least take my car next time you go. Please? We can't afford to lose you." He wanted to say a whole helluva lot more than that, but given their agreement, it wouldn't be right. "Are you home now?"

"Yep. Sitting in front of the television in my fuzzy pajamas drinking wine and eating ice cream. How 'bout you?"

"Wearing a hole in the hardwoods."

"Why's that?"

All the things he wanted to say, but couldn't, because fuck-all, he wanted to be a gentleman. He shrugged, even though she couldn't see it. And then he thought, fuck it. Why not be brutally honest? She could take it. "Because I really want to see you again."

"You'll see me tomorrow," she quipped.

"That's not what I mean."

"I know."

His stomach knotted. He knew he should have kept his fucking mouth shut. But then she shocked the hell out of him.

"I want to see you again, too." She said it so quietly, he thought he had misheard her.

"But that's not business as usual."

"I know. But it seems…" she paused for what felt like a full minute, then her breath hitched. "It seems I'm addicted to your orgasms," she confessed in a rush.

Zed puffed up like a silverback gorilla. He wanted to run around and thump his chest, roaring. He tried to keep his voice steady, cool. "Is that so?"

"I have half a mind to drive to the ZOM house right now. In my pajamas. And I'm showing excellent restraint."

"By drinking wine and eating ice cream?"

"Exactly."

"Do you want company?"

"Are you offering?"

It was on the tip of his tongue to play coy, say maybe. But something shook loose inside of him. "Yes. I am," he answered boldly, heart speeding up. She could turn him down. She should turn him down and remind him of their agreement. He should stay away.

"Bring your pajamas."

"I don't own pajamas."

"Then you'll have to eat ice cream and drink wine in your boxer briefs. Are you up for that?"

"Game. On."

Zed made it across campus in record time.

Addison opened the door clad in fleece bottoms covered in snowflakes and a tank top. Before he was halfway inside, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. She tasted of chocolate and wine… a heady combination. He picked her up and pinned her to the wall, hands skimming the flesh beneath her tank top. She yanked at the henley he was wearing, and somehow managed to pull it off with one hand.

"Condoms. Bedroom. Now," she urged between kisses, wrapping her legs around his hips.

She flailed a hand in the general direction of the living room, and by the time they collapsed onto her bed, they were naked as the day they were born. She tossed him a condom, leaning back on her elbows, watching avidly as he rolled it over his straining erection. He loomed over her, and ran a hand up the inside of her thigh, brushing his fingers over her slick entrance. He slid into her and damn if it didn't feel like coming home. Something settled deep inside of him. She must have felt it too because she let out a deep, contented sigh. But then she grabbed his ass, digging her fingernails in, sending a shot of lust pinballing through him. He rocked into her, thrusting hard, then slowly pulling back.

"More," she said with a dark grin.

He was only too happy to oblige because the sensation was enough to bring him right to the brink. Beneath him, she was panting, clawing, meeting him thrust for thrust, bearing down and encasing his cock in a vice-like grip. "I'm already close."

"Me too," she gasped. "Me too."

He could feel the second she started. Her legs went tight, and she moaned long and low, her pussy rippling against his cock. He couldn't hold back another second, and let go with a loud growl, emptying himself into her, pushing into her softness with everything he had. His vision spotted and he collapsed onto his elbows. "Holy shit, Addie."

She giggled, eyes dancing. "Thank you for that."

"So much for business as usual," he said with a shake of his head.

"We can start business as usual tomorrow."

Business as usual, my ass. Business as usual is now apparently sneaking around like delinquent teenagers. And I love every second of it. Except for the part where we're keeping this from our teammates. Addie's just as hard on me in practice as she's always been. And I'm impressed with her ability to compartmentalize. I only wish I did half as well...

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

Bonzo, and Wyatt were in Zed's room having beers a few weeks later, continuing a study session when Bonzo walked out of the bathroom twirling a pair of Addison's purple-striped panties.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" he asked, eyes alight. "Seems as if Superman's drought is finally over."

Zed nearly spit out his beer, cursing himself for not doing a preliminary sweep of the place before they came in.

"So tell me," he continued. "Was this the real deal?"

Wyatt's eyes narrowed as he watched for a response. For a soul-burning second, Zed was convinced Wyatt had mind-reading capabilities he wasn't aware of, and he could see him remembering the way he had Addison braced against the wall while he ripped off said purple-striped panties, licking every bit of skin he could get his mouth on.

Zed cleared his throat and shrugged. "Caught me," he said with a sheepish grin.

He was speechless. There were going to be follow-up questions, and what was he supposed to do, lie? He was going to have to lie, but the dilemma was in which lie was the least offensive. He had to lie about Addison to protect the boat. But if he made up some story about a random one-night-stand, then the entire boat would know, including Addison. And if she figured out that the guys had started asking questions, or if he told her Bonzo found her underpants, she'd get cold feet and business as usual would be blue balls, and he sure as hell was not going back that way with Addison.

Jesus, I hate this.

"You know I don't kiss and tell." He didn't because that would just be assholish. But he'd never gone out of his way to hide his activities either. So in that respect, panties on the floor weren't too much of a deviation. Except for the fact that the panties were Addison's, and their shit was private.

Dammit.

"These aren't really your style, man," Bonzo said with a laugh. "You find some grad student to tap?"

Wyatt snickered. "That's more Jacey's speed. You know he's been hanging around campus wearing Polly in a baby carrier while Wynter is taking class? Turns out dudes with babies are chick magnets."

Zed was relieved as fuck that Wyatt changed the subject. Wynter decided to go back to school after Polly was born, and a bunch of the guys in the boat and the frat had volunteered to babysit. It would be his turn soon enough, but Jacey had by far taken the most shifts as uncle. Zed pounced on the opportunity. "So that's why you've been playing uncle? To get a date?"

Wyatt grumbled. "We promised to take care of Wynter. Besides, I don't need help getting a date. Eliza and I are getting along just fine."

Zed hoped the subject change was enough to end the questions about the owner of the purple panties, but it wasn't forgotten for long.

At the end of their workout the next morning, Bonzo couldn't resist making a comment about Zed finally hitting a home run and whether or not it would ruin their splits this year.

Addison's eyebrows shot skyward. "Oh?" she said. "And when were you going to tell me this?"

Zed froze. He should have told her last night when they talked, but he was too much of a chicken shit, hoping that he could at least tell her in person once she was on his lap with her shirt off.

She pinned him with a look that said he'd be paying for this later and slowly stuck out her hand. "Trying to get out of our little wager? Put 'em right there, Necrodopolus. Five big ones."

He swallowed a laugh as admiration for her rose through him. In that moment, her balls might have been bigger than his.

"Wait," Wyatt asked, looking between the two of them. "Your bet was with Addie?" He looked at her. "You bet him five hundred dollars he couldn't go without sex?"

"He left that part out?" She asked, throwing Zed all the way under the bus. "I bet him a lot more than five-hundred bucks. This is just the first installment." She smirked. "And it worked, too." She looked right at Zed, and he couldn't tell if she was serious or just doing a really good job of fucking with him. "Unless Necrodopolus keeps his junk tucked away, I don't think we'll surpass last season's records."

"Wait. What happened to PR's every race?" Zed sputtered.

She lifted a shoulder, mouth turning sly as her eyes danced with humor. "That was before you fell off the wagon, Superman." She was enjoying seeing him squirm far too much as she thought of the various ways she was going to make him pay for this when they saw each other next.

Jacey and Tracey doubled over. "Yeah, man. Are you ready to take one for the team?" Tracey said between laughs.

"I will pony up for this," Bonzo said with a grin. "Double or nothing says Necrodopolus can't make it another season with blue balls."

"We are not doing this," Zed growled, mind rushing through half a dozen scenarios that would mean the end of him and Addison. He didn't like where this was going. Not one bit.

Addison came to his rescue. "Just remember guys, it's incumbent on everyone to do their part. Necrodopolus may pull faster, but if you're not strong enough to keep up, it doesn't matter what color his balls are."

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

Zed knocked on Addison's door a little after ten p.m. after an endless day of back-to-back tests and project presentations made worse by the knowledge that he completely fucked up by not warning Addison about the previous night. He should be back at the frat house getting some sleep, but he couldn't get that morning's conversation out of his head, or the look in her eyes when Bonzo outed him.

She opened the door wearing her snowflake bottoms and tank, but instead of letting him in, she leaned against the doorway, giving him a slow perusal. He flexed just a little, because, fuck, he liked the way her eyes turned hungry. His dick swelled, and what he really wanted was to crowd her into the hallway and have his way with her right there. But he was smart enough to know that that was not how things were going to play out tonight. So he waited. Her eyes slowly worked their way back up and by the time they locked gazes, she had schooled her features.

His stomach dropped. "Hi," he said quietly, jamming his hands into his pockets. "I know Bree isn't here… Can I come in?"

An evil grin crossed her face. The kind of expression she usually had right before she schooled the team with a workout that would have them cursing her under their breath. She tapped her lips. "I can't decide if I should let you in or slam the door in your face."

Zed smiled back. He couldn't help it, because even though he was in the doghouse, she was just so damn fun. "Can I plead my case?"

Her mouth twitched, and she crossed her arms. "It won't help, but you're welcome to try."

"You enjoy fucking with me, don't you?"

Her face lit up. "You make it so easy, Necrodopolus. And for the record, I'm keeping the money for pain and suffering."

That was fine with him. She could have anything she wanted as far as he was concerned. He stepped in so he was leaning on the doorjamb with her.

She reached up and undid the first couple of buttons of his flannel. "So why are you wearing your Thursday shirt on Wednesday?"

He loved that she'd figured out his clothing system, even though he knew that at the moment she was just stalling. "Spilled coffee."

"Hmm." She slipped a hand under the shirt, palming his chest. "And how did that happen?"

Her hand on his chest was all it took for his dick to jump to full attention. He cleared his throat, deciding to go for honesty. He owed her that much. "I was thinking about you bent over in the shower."

Her eyebrows shot up and her face flushed the barest shade of pink. "Oh?"

"I can't seem to get you out of my mind." It was true. He couldn't. Because holy hell… he was worse than a teenage boy where she was concerned.

That should have been the entree for a round of dirty foreplay, except that wasn't Addie and he'd underestimated her. Her eyes narrowed. "Except for those moments last night and this morning when you forgot to tell me the guys figured out about us?"

"I swear, they have no idea it's you." He held out his hand. "Pinky promise."

She swallowed a laugh. "Are you for real?" She turned around and walked down the hall, leaving him to follow her. He pulled the door shut behind him, slipping off his shoes and following her into her tiny living room where she was perched at her favorite end of the couch. "When were you going to tell me they found out?" she asked in a voice that while quiet, was also judge and jury.

He pulled over the ottoman and sat right in front of her. "No one's found out about us."

"But they found out you ended your streak," she searched his face. "How?"

"Bonz found a pair of your panties on the floor in my bathroom," he confessed, face heating. "I swear, if I'd seen them there, I would have picked them up."

Her face turned to stone.

"Addie, I swear. I don't want them to find out any more than you do. And I should have told you last night when we talked, but I…" he stopped. He swallowed and let out a shaky breath. He reached out for her hand, and she let him twine their fingers. Feelings he wasn't ready to acknowledge ballooned in his chest. Without meaning to, Addison had become one of his best friends and the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "I figured if I told you last night, you'd put a stop to this. And I like this…" he squeezed her hand, "too much to stop it."

"And you thought that telling me in person would…" her voice trailed off.

"I thought I'd have a better shot at convincing you this was still a good idea if I was here to plead my case in person."

"Meaning you thought if you had me naked and satisfied first, I might be less upset."

"Aaaaand now I feel like a total ass."

"You should."

Zed sighed and met her eyes. "I thought it might help," he offered truthfully. He wanted nothing more than to rewind the last twenty-four hours. He should have started damage control the second Bonzo and Wyatt left his room.

She stared at him, eyes shuttered and assessing as if she were weighing him in the balance and finding him wanting. After what seemed like forever, she dropped her gaze to their hands. "I'm torn, Necrodopolus."

His heart was pounding in his throat. If she ended this, he wouldn't like it. His ego would be bruised, but he'd bounce back. Feelings, schmeelings. He'd hop right back into the pre-bet saddle with someone new, and ride off into the sunset… at least that's what he kept trying to tell himself. This thing with Addie was just a blip, an itch to scratch, nothing more. Hell, they both agreed last summer that crewmance was a terrible idea. But the longer he waited for her to speak, the more he realized he was feeding himself a line of complete and utter bullshit. He wanted her. Period. And if she decided their fling was over, it was going to hurt like hell. "Talk to me," he forced himself to say.

She flashed him a shy smile. "I've been having so much fun with you, Necrodopolus."

He couldn't help but grin back. Feely shit aside, Addison was a load of fun. And he loved how, when he was with her, he wasn't thinking about anything except how much fun they were having. "And?"

"Well… I've needed that."

"I have too."

"So… I want to still have fun with you." Her mouth curled up mischievously. "A lot. But I really hate lying to the team."

"You're not lying. You're keeping your private life private. Which you've always done," he pointed out, ignoring the bitter stab that came with remembering that he didn't know she had a serious boyfriend. But she'd given him an in, and he was going to leverage that for all he could.

"True…." she drew out the vowel. "But I think we need to make some adjustments."

Fine. Anything. He pulled her off the couch and onto his lap. "So long as they include you riding me like a cowgirl."

Addison's laugh filled the room. "You don't quit, do you?"

"Not where you're concerned." He released the tension he'd been holding in his body since that morning. "So am I forgiven?" he asked, fingers tickling the soft skin at her waistband. He didn't know why he was obsessed with that part of her body, but whenever they were alone, it was the first thing he wanted to touch.

She popped another button on his shirt, tracing her finger along the exposed skin. "This time. Because it's going to be the only time, right?" She gave him a sharp look. "I won't kibosh the boat for this. We've got too much going for us this season."

She was right… but he couldn't help feeling that there was more to that comment than met the eye. At any rate, he was out of the doghouse and deeper conversation could wait. Addie was on his lap undressing him, and the best way to shed the day was naked. With her. He captured her mouth, sinking deeper into her with each stroke of his tongue, but he could tell she was holding back. "Agreed. Anything else?"

She smirked, studying him, then shook her head with a light laugh. "I don't know how you manage it, but you get me."

"Is that good or bad?"

She kissed him again, gently. "Oh, it's good. And I appreciate it." She pulled in a breath and then forced it out. "I don't think I should come over to the frat house anymore. It's way too risky."

Something in his chest sunk like a stone, but he understood her thinking. "I have no problem coming here."

"It's just that…"

He pressed a finger to her mouth. "You don't have to explain anything. I get it. And I'm okay with it. Anything else?"

The look he loved most crossed her face. "Did you really mean ride you like a cowgirl?"

Zed picked her up and started toward her bedroom. "Oh, hell yes. And you're gonna put on that pink cowboy hat that's on top of your bookcase."

She let out a throaty laugh. "Hard pass, but I'll play tame the bronco."

He didn't care what they played as long as it ended with her coming apart. There was nothing better than seeing Addie succumb. If he could do that for her at least once a day, he would. He placed her on the bed and proceeded to pull off her clothes, revealing a pair of white underpants decorated with holly. "Isn't it a little late for these?" he teased as he eased them off.

"They're just underwear," she admitted with a sheepish grin.

That was his girl. Practical to the core. "So I should start by kissing you under the mistletoe then?" he asked as he settled between her legs.

She snorted and rolled her eyes. "You're such a dork, Necrodopolus." But she couldn't hide her amusement.

"Think this is dorky?" he said before placing a kiss inside her thigh. He inhaled the scent of her arousal. They may only be a handful of weeks into whatever it was they were doing, but he was a shameless addict. There was something about their play, their banter, that settled him. He didn't want to examine it too closely. Especially when he only had a few hours to spend with her. He slid his tongue through her slick folds, taking his fill, and giving a silent fist pump when her sighs filled the room. "Well?" he murmured, lifting his head to take a peek at her face. She was beautiful, face a picture of pure pleasure, mouth curved up, eyes half-closed, cheeks flushed.

She released a heavy breath, hips rolling… her silent plea for more. "No. Definitely not dorky," she said before biting down on her lower lip.

He didn't know what it was about her lip-biting that got him. Every damn time. His dick was hard as a rod and hollering to get in on the action. "Good," he reminded her. "Just so we're clear." He dropped his head again, taking his time to lick and tease her into a gasping frenzy before sealing his mouth over her clit and giving her his tongue. She shattered with a cry, alternating between clutching his hair and digging her fingernails into his scalp, letting out a string of profanities that sounded like music to his ears.

He reached for his buckle as he kissed his way up her body, feasting on her tits so that by the time he shed her clothes and he dropped down next to her, she was revved up again and ready for more.

"Grab a condom."

"Not so fast," she said with an evil grin.

A shudder ripped through him. In the gym that smile meant that Addie would be torturing them until they were crying like babies. He wasn't sure what it meant now, but the anticipation warmed his blood to inferno levels. She crawled over him, nipping at his collarbone, fingers skating over his heated flesh. Lower and lower she went, licking, biting, lightly scratching. His skin was on fire. His breath coming in harsh rasps as she palmed his balls before lightly running a finger up his shaft.

"Jesus, Addie," he bit, barely recognizing his own voice. "You're killing me." His plea was met with a husky giggle as she fisted his cock, giving it a pull. He moaned at the incredible feeling, thinking he might possibly lose his mind. She hummed a little, clearly enjoying his agony way too much, and then ran her tongue from root to tip before taking him into her mouth. "Jesus," he muttered again, no longer in control of his words, and clearly having a religious experience. The noises she made as she sucked him off utterly slayed him. His head felt like it would explode from the pleasure of it all. One hand was playing with his balls while the other encased the part of him that wouldn't fit inside her, and it was all too much. His brain literally short-circuiting.

Fire licked up the back of his legs as the energy wound up like a pitcher ready to unleash a record-setting fastball. "Addie…" he rasped, wanting to give her fair warning to pull off. She had driven him to the point where he was holding on for dear life, and one more lash of her hot tongue, one more of those sexy noises she kept making, one more moment of suction where he hit the back of her throat, and he'd be dead. D.E.D. Ded. But what did she do? She fucking laughed. At least as much as she could with her mouth full of his cock. But he felt it, and it set off a chain reaction that could eclipse the big bang.

For real.

His hips bucked off the bed as he let go with a roar, nearly blacking out in the process. He released over and over as wave after wave of the most intense orgasm he had ever had in his life coursed through him. It was so much that his eyes watered and he couldn't seem to catch his breath.

Mind. Blown.

"I think I love you," he blurted out when his mouth could move again, but before he actually had a chance for things to come back into focus.

She chuckled, wiping her mouth, and looking entirely too satisfied with herself. "Cute, Necrodopolus."

Yeah. Cute. But he couldn't take it back. That would make him the world's biggest ass. She would chalk it up to mindless post-epic-BJ talk. At least that's what he hoped. He wasn't ready to think about the ramifications of what he'd just said, or whether or not he even wanted to take the words back. He thought about offering her a glass of water, or a towel… something. Anything. But he couldn't move. She'd paralyzed him, and his brain was still floating around somewhere in outer space as she crawled up and tucked herself in next to him, planting a kiss on his pec.

"Like that?" she asked with smug enjoyment.

He wanted to say something smart, something quippy. But there was still a disconnect from his brain to mouth. He let out a grunt and pulled her tight, not wanting to think about the two a.m. trip back across campus waiting for him.