A Man's Worth
Chapter 4: Celtics VS Bobcats Game One
I
Lucas Scott woke up to the sound of a phone vibrating next to his face. Annoyed and figuring it was Haley wondering where the hell he disappeared, he grabbed it. Not that he planned on giving her the real details because that would be awkward considering that they just broke up last night. Grabbing the iPhone 3GS, he saw it was a text message. The sender was Nate Scott.
Fuck… It was Peyton's phone.
Unable to help himself, his eyes lowered down to the text part of the message. It read 'We're going to destroy Lucas. He doesn't know what's about to hit him.'
His electric blue eyes got wide. So Nathan was using Peyton to get to him. What a douche bag. Right now he could feel the justified anger building up in his stomach, threatening to bubble up and let out in a fiery rage. Yet he couldn't really summon up anger against Peyton. Not that he thought she was without fault, willingly allowing herself to be used by Nathan as a weapon against him.
Yet as his eyes laid on her prone form, the anger gave in to lust. He craved her.
Soft, blonde ringlets framed her heart shaped face, her closed eyelids covering up green eyes that reminded him of the seas of Spain. Breathing softly as she slept, her lips formed a small pout, lower lip jutted out just enough to tempt him to kiss them.
Soft pale flesh was revealed to him as he pulled up the sheets and his eyes scanned down to her perky breasts and then down to her taut stomach. His eyes lowered some more down to her long legs and he remembered what they felt like wrapped around his back as she clawed at him, guttural moans forming his name on her lips.
Those emerald eyes lit ablaze with lust for him.
That he knew to be truth.
She wanted him, and that she couldn't fake could see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch, despite her ulterior motives. Not to mention how bad he wanted her. He realized last night that the night in New York was no fluke. She had an aura to her that demanded his attention, a seduction he couldn't find, an attraction too unbearable to take.
"Are you watching me sleep?" Peyton's voice cut through his thoughts.
"No I'm watching you wake up." Lucas corrected her.
A small grin lit her face and she yawned.
She must be a damn good actor to fake that smile. It came so natural to her.
Lucas ran his fingers through her blonde ringlets and she pressed her lips against his wrists. "Go back to bed." Peyton whispered through lush lips.
"Hard to, been a bit distracted and all." Lucas replied with a smile.
"Distracted?" Peyton asked, as if she were pondering it. Sliding her leg over his and straddling, her sex hovered above his rising manhood. "Would this have something to do with it?" Peyton asked idly.
Lucas grinned and flipped their positions so he was on top of her. "Possibly." He said, hissing as she clenched her legs around his back.
Suddenly and abruptly, he pulled away. "What's your angle Peyton? Why are you doing this if you're supposed to be marrying Nathan?" Lucas asked honestly.
"Does it matter?" she returned huskily, reaching down and grabbing his hard dick, grasping it in her hand. He was literally turning into putty in her hands. With her hand she guided him down to her velvet sex and he fought the urge to give in to her wanton pleasures.
"Yes it does, to me anyway." He said, twitching as the head of his cock slid across her moist lips. Pleasure raced through his body like a surge of lightning and the insistent pressure for a need of release was nearly crushing now. He needed to be inside her.
Only then would the world right itself.
Giving into his base desires, he positioned himself right across her entrance and thrusted into her. His fingers gripped her hips hard, small bruises staining her flesh. He gritted his teeth angrily, forcing her legs to spread wider as he slid into her deeper, her muscles tightening involuntarily nearly causing him to climax.
Suppressing a groan, he delved in deeper, staring as guttural sounds came out from her throat, her hair splayed like a crown, her emerald eyes hypnotizing him, demanding his attention. His lust consumed him, burned him from within and his eyes widened in the self realization that Peyton Sawyer held an uncanny ability to manipulate him solely through her body.
She was sex personified.
Her sexual appeal didn't lie within her emerald eyes, her haughty lips, her perky breasts, taut stomach or never-ending legs. She was more than that. He couldn't pretend to understand her, or the power she held over him, he just knew that he frankly didn't care, that it didn't matter that she was using him, because until their act of deviancy was complete, his world would be torn asunder.
Haley didn't hold a fucking candle to her.
His lips captured her throat, kissing the hollow of her throat, teeth nipping at her collarbone. "God, I can't stop wanting you." Lucas whispered hoarsely, nimble fingers playing with her nipples.
"I don't want you to stop wanting me." She replied huskily, grinding her hips to match his thrusts. Her nails raked his back, and the pressure began to build in his groin as the sensitivity only furthered their pleasure and he pumped in and out of her faster and faster until he could not hold it in anymore and growled out as he came inside of her, panting.
Wiping the bead of sweat of his brow, he slid out of her and laid next to her.
There was a pregnant pause in which neither of them said anything, both were merely content lying next to each other quietly. "Do you mind if I smoke?" Peyton asked quietly, a bit at unease with the silence after a few moments.
"You smoke cigarettes?" Lucas asked disdainfully, never taking a liking to the foul stench of tobacco.
"No, ugh, I'm talking about some good chronic." Peyton replied quickly.
"Oh…sure I guess." Lucas said, not really caring either way. The sickly sweet smell of weed didn't bother him for some reason. He managed to avoid it all his life but he had been to numerous parties where some of his fellow players had partaken in it.
Peyton pulled out a small pipe with some sticky green poking out slightly before incinerating it as she held a lighter over it and took a long drag. Inhaling the smoke, she held it in for a few seconds before blowing it out and she continued for a couple hits until it was nothing in there but resin. "This is some really good shit, you should have some." She offered.
"I'm good, I don't even like drinking that much, let alone smoking." Lucas replied.
"Fuck I'm high…" Peyton exclaimed in an awkward outburst. Looking at him through half lidded eyes, capillaries bright red, she spoke softly. "I know you read Nathan's text message." She admitted.
Lucas looked at her slowly, eyes swiveling. His head felt kind of fuzzy. Was it possible to get a contact high?
"I did." He confirmed quietly.
"Are you angry?" she asked hesitantly. He was quiet for a second, not really knowing how to answer the question. Sure, he didn't like the idea that she was playing him but he certainly wasn't angry at her.
"No." he spoke after a moment. Seeing the confused look on her face , he decided to continue, "You're being used by Nathan to get at me, and you're letting him use you, to me, that's pathetic. But what happened in New York and what happened here, that was real, both you and I know it. There was nothing faked about that."
"But why aren't you angry?" She demanded.
"Because I know how Nathan manipulates people. He must have gotten to you to make you do this, so tell me, why are you whoring yourself out for him?" Lucas replied, without a trace of anger directed at her.
She couldn't believe he was so blasé about it. "I'm originally from New Orleans, I moved to LA to become my own label executive, but I instead I became the lackey to the assistant to the secretary. I was broke, and had nothing going for me. LA is nothing but glamour and drugs and I was addicted to the lifestyle. I was a slave to my addiction, hooked to cocaine and ecstasy but I wasn't making nowhere enough to sustain my habit." She paused for a second and caught her breath, and for a second Lucas could have sworn her glassy eyes looked wet.
"I decided to sell myself in order to sustain my habit. Nathan was my first and only customer, and afterwards he concocted a plan to get back at you, all I had to do was sleep with you and make sure it hit the public and in return he'd give me enough money to start my own label, and I agreed and he gave me the Lambo as well as a bit of appreciation money." she said scoffing.
"Damn, I can't believe he'd stoop that low." Lucas said shaking his head.
"He hates you, more than anything in the world. He wants to ruin you Luke, you must know that." Peyton admitted gently.
"I know, I just don't know what I did to him that made him hate me that much." Lucas replied. Peyton sat in between his legs with her back to his chest. Lucas slid his arms around her bare breasts and laid against the headboard.
"It's always been about Haley…" Peyton confessed.
"I don't understand…"
"He's never stopped loving Haley. He feels as if you took her from him and he wants to destroy you for it. That's why he's gone to these lengths to get back at you, because the public has negative feelings towards Nathan for abandoning Jamie and Haley while they look at you as the Saint. He's using me to reverse the public opinion and make you suffer." Peyton responded.
"He abandoned her… he left her and Jamie. How could I have abandoned them too when they needed me the most?" Lucas said, snarling. "How can he hold that against me? If he never left, we'd never be in this situation!" he snapped angrily.
Peyton didn't speak.
Words failed her so instead she just laid there in his arms. "Can we just stay like this for a while?" Lucas asked.
Peyton nodded. "I'd like that."
II
"How did Haley take the news?" Joel Rodriguez, the backup shooting guard asked. Lucas shrugged at Joel noncommittally.
"We kind of ended our no-strings-attached relationship. I guess there were strings and I didn't know." Lucas replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that man." The half Puerto Rican, half Dominican replied earnestly.
"I'm not, it was time me and her ended whatever it was that we've been doing the last couple of years." Lucas responded.
Before Joel could say anything else, Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson walked up. "You guys ready for this? We won't have much of a bench this series so if we want to win, we're going to have to step it up, the Boston Celtics are no joke, they're the number one seed after all." The co-Captain Gerald Wallace said.
"I know, this suspension bullshit is really gonna fuck us. David Stern, what a fat asshole." Lucas said and the guys laughed at that.
"Lucas Scott, I don't ever want to hear you talk about the Commissioner like that." Coach John Robinson barked out, walking into the locker room.
"What was that Coach?" Lucas feigned being deaf. "I couldn't hear you since you seem to have a fat bastard's dick in your mouth."
There was a long silence as all the players gasped and got wide eyed.
"That's it, you're not playing tonight at all. I will not have some third year all star wannabe disrespect me." Coach Robinson said through gritted teeth, fuming.
"Roger that..." Lucas replied with a two finger mock salute.
"You think this is a game?" Coach Robinson growled out.
"Well, basketball is a game of sorts." Lucas replied sarcastically.
"Have fun warming the bench Scott."
III
Peyton Sawyer hated LAX with a fiery undiluted passion. It was the bane of her existence, yet she had to accept it because she lived in LA and had to fly a lot. As she grabbed her luggage and walked through the crowed airport she avoided looking at others in the eyes. She liked being unnoticeable. She wanted people to assume she was just another blonde and not bother to try to strike up a conversation with her.
The problem was, they all knew who she was.
She hated the constant flashes of cameras, the adoring gazes, the hungry, lustful looks she received.
She was nobody.
But to them she was somebody all because she was fucking both Lucas and Nathan Scott and was engaged to the latter.
She literally had no idea what she had signed up for when Nathan propositioned her that day. She had been so stupid, reckless, and now this was the price she paid. This was the cost for all the fame and glory she had so badly wished to attain.
Rapidly walking to the end of the terminal and exiting the baggage claim, her iPhone buzzed to life as Nathan's picture appeared in the touch screen. Swiping her finger across the pad it unlocked and answered the call. "Hello." Peyton greeted amicably.
"How did it go?" Nathan asked.
"We're going to have to re-think our strategy, he figured out you're involved." Peyton replied.
"It was bound to happen, look I got the chauffeur to come pick you up outside LAX since I'm not there." Nathan stated out of the blue.
"Where are you?" Peyton asked.
"Boston, I think it's about time I had a talk with my dear big brother." Nathan responded and a tremor of fear tore into Peyton. This could surely not end well.
She wasn't even sure why she was scared, all she could think of is that Lucas wouldn't look at her the same way after talking to Nathan. She wasn't sure why she cared, she just knew it bothered her.
Lucas Scott was a dangerous individual.
The feelings he brought out of her last night and this morning blew her mind. She hadn't felt like that since Jake Jagelski, her high school sweetheart. Lucas brought out a spectrum of feelings within her ranging from lust to gentleness she didn't even know she had left. At times it was like the lust was so powerful they were trying to devour each other and at other moments, there was innocence to their longing touches.
This was a dangerous game for her.
Either she picked Nathan or Luke when the time came.
For now she was content in riding the tight rope, but she was definitely leaning more towards Lucas if she was honest with herself.
But it wouldn't work, he was a basketball player, a really popular and irresistible one at that. Only heartbreak could come from this. But God it felt so good.
Stepping out into the warm night, she saw Nathan's limo pull up.
Things would only get worse before they would get better.
IV
Lucas didn't know if he should be more frustrated at himself or the team after the first half of the game. The second half was about to start and they were down 68-35. The Boston Celtics were absolutely crushing them, mainly due to Lucas Scott not playing hence his own self frustration. If only he had managed to shut his mouth and keep it shut they wouldn't be in this situation.
They might not have been winning but they sure as hell wouldn't be down by 33 points. Rajon Rondo already had 18 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds in the first half. Those numbers hadn't been put up in Boston since Bird was still playing. Not to mention he was being backed by the Big Three, the deadly combination of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.
He honestly didn't see how they were going to get themselves out of this hole.
Especially without him.
"Coach!" Lucas called out.
"Yes Scott what is it?" Coach Robinson replied through gritted teeth, still pissed at him.
"Look I was out of line earlier and if you want to punish me that's fine. But keeping me on the bench is only punishing the team, and you, we're not going to get many chances to beat Boston at Boston. The only way you even have a chance at winning is if I'm playing. You must see that…"
Coach Robinson ran his overtly large hands through his hair as he thought of what to do next. "Alright, here's the starting lineup, Scott at point, Jackson at two guard, Brown at small forward, Wallace you'll play four, and Chandler you'll play five. Got it… Boston's handing our asses to us but there's a silver lining in this…" Coach Robinson trailed off.
"They're old." Lucas stated. "Boston's players besides Rondo and the bench are in their thirties and putting up all those numbers in one half is exhausting, even for a young team like OKC. Our only chance to win the game is through transition three pointers and fast break points. Defensive wise we can get them on a three-two zone and trap them from getting anything in the pain and hopefully block out Allen and Pierce from killing us on threes." Lucas pointed out.
"Let's win this game." Gerald Wallace shouted.
"Damn right." Coach Robinson replied, all fired up.
The five players forming the starting lineup all headed down to the court ready to play the second half. Brown inbounded it to Lucas who began the fast dribble up the court. He was guarded by Rondo, one of the best point guards in the league in his fourth year out of Kansas State. Dribbling the ball up to the top of the key, he dribbled with his left hand as he pivoted around Rondo, before stepping back and nailing the three pointer.
Lucas set up the full court press, guarding Rondo from the inbound and it payed off as he snuck a hand and stole the ball before Rondo could realize it. Taking off, his retro-Jordan's pounding hard against the hardwood, he took flight in the air and out of his peripheral he could see Rajon coming from behind him ready to block his layup.
In midflight, he tucked the ball into his hands and used the rim for protection as he laid a reverse layup, getting some contact still even as he got the friendly bounce. Lucas went to the painted strip for a chance to make it a three point play and did, making the score 68-41.
Lucas fought hard and valiantly against the Celtics, fighting tooth and nail throughout the third and fourth quarter putting up 29 points, 14 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks with 12 seconds left in the 4th Quarter. It was a tied game at 97-97.
Sweat poured down his head, irritating his eyes and he wiped it away distractedly with the back of his hand. His focus was on Rondo who was bringing the ball down court. Lucas pressed the defense on as Rondo crossed the top of the key.
6 seconds left.
He passed the ball to Paul Pierce.
Paul Pierce drove in towards the baseline and pulled back for a fade away jumper.
Swish!
99-97, Boston up with 2 seconds left on the clock.
Coach Robinson called a timeout.
Lucas hurried up to the bench to see what plan the Coach would have formulated. He knew it probably involved him and he was fine with taking the last shot. "Scott, it's up to you, straight up. You got us into this game, you come up with something to win it." Coach Robinson confirmed.
"Gerald you're going to inbound it to me and set a pick to free me up on the top left side and I'll shoot the three. Brown and Chandler, handle the post for the might needed put back." Lucas ordered.
Lucas turned to Joel Rodriguez, the backup shooting guard and smiled.
The whistle blew and Gerald Wallace inbounded it to Lucas who dribbled around Rajon Rondo as Wallace set the pick and roll perfectly leaving him a wide open three point shot. As he squared his feet and prepared to take the shot, Kevin Garnett rolled off the screen and prepared to block him as he left his feet to take the shot.
Eyes wide he launched it over to Joel Rodriguez who was left alone on the baseline.
1 second.
Joel Rodriguez launched the three pointer.
The buzzer went off.
Swish.
V
Lucas was still riding the high from winning the first game against Boston, the number one seed in the East. No one expected anything from them, they were the number 8 seed after all. After the post game interview, Lucas sat in the locker room contemplating the next game and as they all showered and changed into their civilian attire there was a knock on the locker room door.
Lucas walked over to the door and opened it, curious as to see who it was and saw that it was his brother Nathan. "What are you doing here, you have a game tomorrow against Oklahoma City?" Lucas asked aggressively.
"We need to talk." Nathan stated simply.
Lucas shut the locker room door behind him. "Sure, let's talk about how you're using Peyton to get back at me." Lucas snapped.
Nathan nodded simply. "That was a bit over the top I must admit. I guess I just wanted you to suffer." Nathan replied.
Lucas clenched his fist in his hand ready to punch Nathan in the face. "What the fuck did I do to you Nathan?" Lucas demanded. "Why are you so set on hating me? You abandoned Haley and Jamie but you hate me for taking care of them?"
"Taking care?" Nathan asked angrily. "You mean fucking Haley right?"
The urge to hit him got stronger.
"What does it matter to you?" Luke asked.
"You want to know why I hate you…fine it's about Jamie Lucas Scott. It's about why I left Duke to go to Florida." Nathan replied.
"What does your son have to do with it?" Lucas asked.
"No, not my son. Your son." Nathan replied with a scowl.
"What are you talking about?" Luke demanded angrily.
"Jamie isn't my blood son. He's your son Lucas, he's your blood son." Nathan finished, his eyes wet with unshed tears.
Lucas jaw dropped and he cocked his fist back and punched Nathan in the face.
A/N: Sorry it took so long for the update. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out by Christmas or post New Year's. Hopefully… I'll see y'all later, please leave reviews and let me know what you thought of this chapter.