“Nope. They’re extremely forgiving, especially when you’re on your knees.”
Which I plan to be, very soon. My cock, which is still hard as a steel pipe, jumps at the mental picture of getting between her legs. I have a list of things I want to do to this woman, and most of them involve my mouth. What can I say? I’ve always preferred eating out.
“Let’s rinse you off, before I forget the bed and take you right here on the floor.”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
“Tell me that in two hours when your ass is bruised from the tiles.” As soon as we’re both soap-free, I dry off enough to ensure I won’t slip on the floor, then wrap Vista in a towel and carry her to bed.
***
“I told myself I wasn’t going to do that.”
“I gave you a chance to back out,” I remind her, my chest shaking with laughter. Why don’t girls believe me when I warn them?
“Not that!” Vista slaps my chest, laughing. “I meant the sex. I told myself I wasn’t going to have sex with you, and now look where we are.”
I stare up at the chipped and peeling ceiling that’s probably full of lead and asbestos, knowing exactly what she means and yet I’m a little hurt to hear that she didn’t want to be here with me. It’s a bit hypocritical, I know, but I never claimed to be perfect. I’ve wanted Vista for a long time. After Chicago, I can’t go back to a life without her in it. The sex is an added bonus that I’d just as soon not go without, either.
“I’m sorry I’m so irresistible. It’s my cross to bear.”
“Oh, shush,” she says, laughing again.
I love the sound of it. When I think about going back to my hotel—back on the road—alone, I suddenly feel empty inside.
“What are we going to do?” I ask her, not even bothering to elaborate because I know that she understands. It’s hard to miss the elephant in the room.
“Well,” she says, sobering. She nuzzles her cheek against my chest, getting comfortable. Or using the time to formulate a response. “I’ll start by calling the woman at the agency and telling her the deal is off.”
I nod, glad that I don’t have to get into another fight with her over it. I’d like to avoid yelling as much as possible for the remainder of my time here. “And then?”
“I don’t know.” Rolling onto her back, she stares up at the ceiling with me. The spot on my chest where her cheek rested feels cold without her there and I place my hand over it, but it does nothing to scare away the chill. “I guess I’ll just work. What are you going to do?” she asks, her hair rustling on the pillow as she turns her head to look at me.
“I’ll be heading back to my hotel tomorrow night to get ready for the game.”
“Oh.” I hear the disappointment in her voice and it probably makes me a son of a bitch, but I like it. I like knowing that she doesn’t want me to leave.
“You’re always welcome to come stay with me,” I offer. “I have plenty of room, and you could watch me play.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I know her answer before she says it. “Thanks, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea. My office just opened. I can’t leave it now.”
“What’s one day?” I ask, shocked by the almost desperate need to have her there, to see me do what I do best. I’ve never had anyone there just for me, who didn’t have an agenda other than making sure I won. I find myself wondering what it would feel like to have Vista there, cheering me on from the stands.
And what is it all worth, really, if I don’t have her there with me? Isn’t that the whole reason I came here in the first place, to get her back?
“Are you kidding me?” Vista is staring at me like she can’t believe what she’s hearing, and I totally get that. I can hardly believe me either. “It’s everything. I’m the boss. If I’m not here…”
“What? The whole place will fall to pieces?” I challenge. “Do you really think that will happen two days into it? You have other people working for you who know what they’re doing. I’m sure they could hold down the fort for one day.”
“Say I did go. Then what? Are you going to run off, travel the country, forget we exist? Go back to Chicago and settle in, commute for visits?”
Her questions hit me right between the eyes. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I hadn’t thought coming here for her would result in planning an entire future. A family.
I look down, needing to be released from her intent gaze while I gather my thoughts, and my eyes fall on her stomach. It’s covered up by the blankets, hidden from view, but knowing what’s under there is enough to give me the answer I’m looking for. I’ve never been the kind of man anyone would venture to call father material, but now, with Vista lying beside me and my baby growing inside her, I feel like I could be. At the very least, I want the chance to try.
“I don’t know what comes next,” I admit. “But I can promise you that whatever happens, I’m all-in. I’ll make this work, whether it’s here or Chicago or someplace else. Just don’t write me off yet. Promise me that you’ll give me a chance to figure this out.”
Rubbing her forehead, Vista huffs. “Why should I? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t draw the line right now and end this once and for all.”
Meeting her eyes, I feel my heart climb into my throat. It’s time to come clean. To lay everything straight so there will be no misunderstanding. “Because, princess. I risked everything when I came here for you.”
Her sharp inhale and the way she holds my gaze steady in hers leaves me feeling stripped bare. There is no hiding what I feel for this woman. Not anymore.
Drawing in a steady breath, I take the leap that could break me worse than any bone ever has. “I’m in love with you.”
22
This would be the time where I say I love him, too, but I can’t form any words. I’m in shock. That has to be it. Levi Black is in love? With me? But…he’s never even had a steady girlfriend. I can’t wrap my brain around it.
“Run that by me again,” I say, my voice nothing but a whisper.
Flipping onto his side, Levi faces me, his blue eyes focused on mine with an intensity that is flat-out scary. Especially on him. I’ve never known Levi to be serious about anything. Except soccer. And women. And having sex with women.
Reaching out, he takes my hand. Drawing patterns on the back of my fingers with one of his, he says, “I love you, Vista. That’s what I came here to tell you. Since the day you walked out that door, I’ve been working my way back to you.”
I...don’t know what to say. I can’t think. I can’t... Withdrawing my hand, I flip onto my back, and then toss back the blankets, setting my feet on the floor and reaching for my robe that hangs on one of the bedposts.
“Too much?”
Standing, I turn back to look at him. “Yeah, too much.” Way too much, too fast. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of hearing from the man I love, but…Of all the women he’s been with, why me? Who am I but a girl whose mom married his dad? How the hell have I possibly tamed this man when no one else has ever come close? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Levi’s frown runs deep, but it’s clear that it’s not going to deter him. Sitting up, he tells me, “It’s a lot to take in. I’m still getting used to it myself, but, Vista—princess—I swear it’s true. I know I’m the last person in the world you’d ever expect to fall in love with someone, but I love you. I do, and if you need me to take out an ad on a billboard or something to prove it, I will. I’ll call Vincent right now and he’ll get on it.”
I feel my own frown fall into place in response. “Who’s Vincent?”
“You met him once. The first day you came to stay with me.”
Who..? Oh, that guy. I feel my eyes widen at the memory. “The guy with the beard?”