Chapter 266

“Only you would come up with something this weird in the middle of the day,” Melanie whispered as she sat in the small viewing gallery overlooking the enclosed squash court.
Laela simply rolled her eyes and gave her best friend a knowing glance. “And only you would be foolish enough to not enjoy your own husband. I mean, he comes here to play every single day , and you didn’t even know or care. How can you not relish your very own ’sex-on-a-stick’ candy?”
Melanie scoffed and gave her a playful nudge. “Because he’s my husband. I don’t need to sneak out and ogle him like a hormonal teenager. I can do that from the comfort of my home-whenever I want. Heck, I can order him to do a strip tease for me every night. Why do I need to come here and hide and watch him?
Laela grinned, shaking her head with mock pity. “Tsk, tsk. What an ungrateful little brat you are and the kind that even shows off! Hmpf Weren’t you the same woman who was mooning over him constantly when he revealed that he was the chairman of StormEdge. And about how he was a ’uselsss bad but sexy guy’ before that? Talking about how he had this dual personality with you and in the boardroom? Wait till you see him on that court—that’s when you’ll understand what ’multiple personality’ truly means.”
Melanie raised an eyebrow and gave her a half-warning glare that clearly showed she was actually a bit jealous. “Miss Laela, have you been checking my husband out?”
“Of course not,” Laela said with an innocent flutter of her lashes. “I’ve merely been… objectively observing him to ensure that no other desperate female gets any ideas.”
“Liar!” Melanie narrowed her eyes. “You better stay far away from him-and don’t you dare let any other woman get close either.”
Laela rolled her eyes dramatically. Honestly, Melanie had always been a bit clueless when it came to men. She’d been oblivious when she was with Spencer, and clearly, nothing had changed. Thankfully, Adam wasn’t Spencer. But what Melanie didn’t know- what Laela wasn’t about to say out loud—was that plenty of women were throwing themselves at Adam all the time. And Melanie? She remained blissfully unaware, sipping her coffee and thinking she was the only one who noticed him and ogled over him.
Thankfully, Adam Collins had a good head on his shoulders apart from having a good body. The cold and unavailable vibe he gave off was usually able to throw off most females. Only a few tried to persist, feeling as if he was a challenge. But he was able to handle those as well. However, as a true friend, it was her duty to warn her friend of the danger she was surrounded in.
She was about to say this when she noticed the change on Melanie’s face. She grinned. See, that is what she was talking about. She didn’t even have to turn her head. She already knew from Melanie’s expression that Adam had entered the court.
“You need to close your mouth, babe.” Laela said as she placed a finger under her chin and closed her mouth… literally.
Melanie blinked and straightened slightly in her seat, trying—failing—to act unaffected. Her eyes, however, betrayed her completely as they tracked Adam’s entrance onto the court.
How had she never noticed how ridiculously hot he looked in this sports clothing.
Sure, she’d seen him come home from games before—sweaty, flushed, sometimes bruised and half-limping but he would always be changed into joggers or tracksuits… But in that moment, standing there in the bright lighting of the court, stretching out his arms, twirling the racquet in one hand with that effortless grace… he looked like sin in motion.
And those thighs.
God help her, those thighs.
How had she missed them all this time? She should have known. She did know—on some level. But seeing them like this, flexed and powerful beneath those cruelly short white shorts, the tanned skin glowing under the harsh lighting… she was practically drooling. Actually drooling.
Her mouth parted again. No wonder Laela had to shut it for her.
He did a quick jog to warm up, and the shirt clung to his back, already damp in patches. She could see the way his shoulder blades shifted, the slight dip of his spine, and the tight pull of muscle beneath the fabric. Then, as he twisted his torso for a serve, the front of the shirt stretched across his chest and abs—showcasing the sculpted body she’d clearly taken for granted.
He looked like a damn poster boy for some luxury athletic brand. Heck. He could be a model for his own brand. In fact, if he were to model his own brand, StromEdge, whose primary business was sports gear… would leave every other company behind…. He looked the kind of man that made women faint and men hate themselves.
And then he started playing.
he shirt clung tighter with each movement, growing slicker with sweat, darkening slightly at the collar and down the middle. She could see the wet fabric sticking to the lines of his body, outlining everything in mouth-watering detail.
Melanie swallowed. Hard.
“You look like you’re about to jump down there and bite him,” Laela whispered, clearly amused. “Should I get security?”
Melanie elbowed her sharply but couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Shut up. I’m appreciating my own husband.”
“Appreciating?” Laela chuckled. “Honey, you’re worshipping. If you stare any harder, he’ll combust.”
“I’m just… revaluating my priorities,” Melanie muttered, eyes glued to the court. “And possibly planning tonight’s activities.”
Laela laughed under her breath. “Good girl. I am sure he will appreciate that.” But then she turned her head and muttered, ” I doubt those activities will wait till night.”
“I don’t care. But, Laela, you have to help me… in the future when he comes to play… just have the viewing gallery closed, okay?”
Laela laughed at that. Uh huh…