Page 71 of Cross-Checked

Is that so? Maybe what you REALLY need is a night alone, then?

McCabe

Don’t threaten me, woman. I’ll text you when Nicholas and Nicole leave.

AJ

I’m too old for booty calls.

I threw the “old” part in there because maybe we both need the reminder that I’m much too old for him—yet another reason why we shouldn’t be thinking about anything long term.

McCabe

You’re not too old for anything. Stop that shit right now. And if you don’t come over after Nicholas leaves, I’ll just come over and drag you back to my place. Benefits of living across the hall.

AJ

How very caveman of you.

McCabe

You love every minute of it, don’t lie.

I wanted to argue with him about that, but he’s not wrong.

AJ

We’ll see how I’m feeling once I’m home. I might be tired.

McCabe

After a win like tonight’s? Not likely. But if you’re tired, we’ll sleep. I sleep better when you’re in my bed.

AJ

I’m not sleeping at your place when I live across the hall.

With my wrist feeling better each day, it’s not like I need his help to do simple things like getting dressed anymore. So there’s no excuse not to stay at my own place. Maybe I’ll let him give me another orgasm or two, because the one he gave me in the shower this morning feels like way too long ago, but I’m not spending the night. That screamsrelationship, and I keep telling him we can’t have that.

We can’t.I have to keep reminding myself too, because when I’m with him, I start wanting things I know are impossible.

McCabe

We’ll see about that.

When I walk into my apartment, Tabitha lifts her head and hisses at me, then goes back to sleeping on my couch. I just laugh, because she really is ornery.

The anticipation of knowing I’m going to see McCabe in private in only a few minutes, after a long day of having to act like there’s absolutely nothing going on between us, has all my senses heightened.

The whizzing of my suitcase wheels across the hardwood floor, the drag of clothes as I shed them and leave them on the floor of my bedroom, the pounding of my heart as I walk into my closet naked, trying to figure out what to wear over to his place...it has me feeling antsy, like I could crawl out of my skin. Normally, when I’m feeling like this, I pull out my very lifelike vibrator. Tonight, though, I have the real thing.

I never, ever thought I’d be the kind of person who could barely make it twelve hours without being railed by a well-endowed hockey player. Yet here I am.

I chuckle to myself as I glance in the full-length mirror. My body isn’t what it once was, but I’ve worked hard to maintain my physique. I can’t wait to get back to skating every morning. The first thing I’m asking the orthopedist when I see him in two days is how soon I can lace up my own skates. I’m not worried about falling and hurting myself on the ice, but I know my hand isn’t in any condition to tighten laces, and since no one else knows about my morning skating sessions, it’ll have to wait until I can do it myself.

I’ve just slipped on some satin sleep shorts and thrown a tank top on when his text comes through, letting me know that Nicholas and Nicole have left. I glance in the mirror again, taking in my wild eyes and the way my nipples are already hard from their contact with the fabric of the shirt. I’m so turned on I can barely stand it, and teasing him feels like a brilliant idea.

AJ

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