Read Online Playing to Win by Avery Cockburn - Free Book Online Page A

pulse spiked, with glee at the fact Andrew had contacted him, and with anger at the implication that last time, he had forgotten Colin.
    Sorry, who’s this? he replied.
    The next message contained no words, just a picture of Andrew lounging in a sun-soaked grassy field, his shirt half-buttoned. The photo looked professionally done.
    “Nice,” the lass beside him said as she finished cleaning off the bottles. “Mate of yours?”
    “More like a mate of a mate. What sort of twat keeps glamor shots of himself on his own phone?”
    “Gonnae draw a mustache on it and send it back.”
    “Genius, doll.” Colin opened the photo in an editing app, then sketched a crude outline of a penis poking into Andrew’s mouth. “Much better.” He saved the new version of the photo and attached it to a message saying I remember you now.
    The girl giggled. “You’re not really sending that, are you?”
    “I just did. I hope his toffee-nosed mates see it when he opens the message.” Colin’s phone rang. “It’s him!” He answered. “Hiya, Your Lordship.” He bobbed his eyebrows at the lass, who gave him a thumbs-up. “Saw you and your mates on the telly. ‘Lord Andrew, King of Selfies,’ the EBC called you.”
    “Really?” Andrew sounded pleased. “Wait, what’s EBC?”
    “English Broadcasting Company. It’s what we call BBC in our home.”
    “Hah. Rather apt at the moment. I’ve noticed that even with the Games being played in Glasgow, and being Scottish-funded, all the commentators are English.”
    “If we win any golds, they’ll probably dub ‘God Save the Queen’ over ‘Flower of Scotland’ during the medal ceremony.” Colin offered a wide smile to the baby, who was now fully awake and staring at him.
    “Team Scotland already have several gold medals. Have you been living under a rock?”
    “You’re the second person to ask me that today. I’m not a fan of Commonwealth Games. Half a billion pounds they cost, and there’s nae football, the only sport which matters.”
    The baby gurgled as if in agreement, so Colin gave him an exaggerated nod.
    “True,” Andrew said. “The only land-based sport, at least.”
    “You fancy watersports, then?” Colin asked, and watched the lass’s eyes widen with scandalous horror.
    Andrew gasped. “You are wicked.”
    “Is that a yes?”
    His laugh was low and sultry. “More like a ‘No, but I fancy other things you might like.’”
    Colin’s breath stopped. “Such as?” he asked, hearing the roughness in his own voice.
    “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
    His face warming, Colin turned away from the girl, into the barrier between the seats and the wheelchair lift. “Are your mates listening in?”
    “No, I came inside to ring you. Scotland are getting hammered by South Africa, so I’m not missing much.” He paused. “Where are you?”
    “On the bus to football practice.”
    “Seems an awkward place to be if I start talking filthy.”
    Colin swallowed, digging his fingers into the edge of the seat. “I can handle it.”
    “Good, because the photo you sent reminded me how much I enjoyed last night. Before the arrival of law-enforcement personnel, that is.”
    “Aye?” Pressing a finger to his other ear to block out the bus noise, Colin fixed his gaze on the speckled black-rubber floor.
    “I loved the way you filled up my mouth, the way my lips had to stretch to take you all in.” Andrew’s tone was matter-of-fact, like he was describing a room’s decor. “And the way you felt rubbing the back of my throat? My mouth is watering at the mere thought.”
    “Is it?” Colin whispered.
    “Yes, it’s very wet in there right now. You’d fancy it, wouldn’t you?”
    “Aye, I would.” His own mouth was turning dry from his quickening breath. “Where else would I fancy?”
    “Mmm. Lots of places, I imagine.” Andrew paused, then inhaled softly. “We could start with Edinburgh.”
    Colin hesitated. Was Edinburgh code for some mysterious body