Free Punt: A British Bad Boy Football Romance by Vivian Wood Page A

going to think we’re flirting,” Liam said with a big grin.
    She looked at him like he’d suggested that he should shoot her in the foot.
    “They will not,” she said, picking up her sake cup and knocking back the contents with a wince.
    Liam shifted, moving over a couple of inches so that he knelt closer to her. The table came up to their waists, hiding their knees and laps underneath a pristine white tablecloth.
    “Almost definitely. Just you wait,” he said, picking up the carafe of wine and pouring some for them both.
    Audrey pulled a sour face, but didn’t comment further. Across the table, Jack started telling some ridiculous fib about a goal he scored some years past. Audrey focused on him and sipped her wine, which was perfect.
    Liam leaned back and glanced under the table. Audrey was wearing this short blue dress, exposing her bare legs. He reached over and ran a fingertip along the crease formed where she knelt, teasing her upper thigh.
    She jumped, her head snapping around so she could give him her steeliest stare.
    Stop it , she mouthed.
    No , he returned.
    Her face went perfectly smooth. She turned back to Jack’s story, and food began to arrive at the table. Seaweed salad, gyoza, tempura vegetables.
    As everyone chatted and sipped their sake, Liam moved closer to Audrey. He slid his palm against the top of her thigh, grinning when she didn’t budge.
    Her determination not to react made the game that much more fun for him. He slid his hand up her leg and squeezed, feeling the tiny muscles at her inner thigh begin to flutter.
    She sipped her sake and smiled wanly at the brunette beside her, nodding at the story the girl was telling. Liam sipped his sake with his free hand, pretending interest in Jack’s story.
    In truth, he was more captivated by the silky feel of the delicate skin of Audrey’s inner thigh. He could see her start to breathe faster, her chest rising and falling in a way that encouraged him.
    Audrey reached down under the table and grabbed his hand, sliding her gaze over to him. They stared at each other for several long beats, and Liam couldn’t miss the twin blooms of pink in her cheeks.
    Audrey bit her lip and glanced away, but she didn’t push his hand away. She simply removed her own hand, bringing back up to the top of the table, and went back to nodding and smiling at her friend’s story.
    That was all Liam needed. Starting at her knee, he swept his fingertips up, up, up… Until he touched soft, wet heat.
    Bloody fucking hell.
    Audrey was excited… and she wasn’t wearing any panties.
    Liam must have the luck of the angels on his side, because he couldn’t imagine a scenario better for what he wanted. He couldn’t quite touch her like he wanted, but he could tease her well enough.
    He was hard as a fucking rock already, and he wanted Audrey to be every bit as hot and heavy and hard up for it as he was.
    He eased a fingertip up and down her slit, brushing her clit, then withdrew. He casually brought his hand up above the table. Audrey’s gaze narrowed in on his fingers as he slowly brought them up to his lips.
    Her mouth opened a bit, her cheeks went flaming red as she watched Liam pop both fingers into his mouth and give them a quick suck. Making eye contact with her all the while, of course.
    Her nostrils flared, her chest heaved, and she turned away from him entirely.
    It was hard to tell, but he got the idea that he was getting somewhere. He just needed the right bit of leverage…
    Like jealousy, perhaps?
    Liam’s lips curled upward. He looked at his mate Carson, who sat across the table next to Jack.
    “Trade spots with me, will you?” Liam asked.
    He could feel Audrey go frigid, and it was hard to keep from grinning as he jumped up and jogged around the table. Liam sat down next to a stunning blonde named Chelsea, who turned out to be a very smart investigative reporter.
    Liam chatted and flirted with Chelsea, touching her inner wrist, laughing at her slightly