Page 72 of Everything's Better With You
Joe whispered his not-quite-sweet somethings in Leslie’s ear for the next hour, bringing him to the edge and then coaxing him to pull back, over and over. Leslie begged for more, loved every move Joe choreographed from his bed several miles away, and the two of them dragged out their orgasms until they were both covered with sweat, legs shaking, out-of-breath sated.
“We’re pretty good at that,” Joe said, moaning softly. His skin was sensitive all over, his muscles loose and relaxed. “I’m going to sleep like a baby.”
“Joe? Is it weird that I’m glad we did that over the phone?”
“Not at all,” Joe said, taking a sip of water. “If it’s all we have, it’s what we’ll do, right?”
“No, but I mean…I don’t want it to be over so quick next time we’re together, you know? I want to make it good for you.”
“Babe, you need to stop worrying about that. I love that you’re so open with me. Your honesty is so hot, you’ve got me in a pool of happy over here. I could spend hours, days, telling you all the things I want us to do together.”
“Good, because I want to hear them all over the next damn month and a half we gotta wait.”
Joe laughed at Leslie’s impatience. “Glad you’re feeling like me.”
“Oh, more, Joe. Seriously, how many more nights?”
Joe opened the calendar on his phone. “Last game is November thirteenth. That’s like thirty-something nights.”
“Mmmm, well, we’re just going to have to continue being creative.” Leslie chuckled.
“Guess so. For now, get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Joe really didn’t want to disconnect but it was after midnight and they both needed their rest.
“Yes, you will. And thanks, Joe.”
“For what?”
Leslie was quiet for a minute. “For being you, for being here…for being patient with an old man.”
Joe snorted. “You’re mine,old man, so no need to thank me.”
Leslie moaned softly. “Say that again. Call me yours.”
Joe ran a hand over his torso and sighed. “You’re mine, Leslie Payton. Now go to sleep so it’ll be closer to the night I can finally claim you in every way.”
“God, that sounds incredible. Okay, I’m hanging up, but Joe?”
“Yes, babe?”
“That means you’re mine, too. And I’ve been holding back, trying not to put too much pressure on you. That’s not going to last when you put your hands on me. I’m going to be using words and making pledges and shit…you might want to start preparing yourself.”
Joe laughed. “Bring it, Coach. I’m looking forward to it. Maybeyoushould do some extra stretches. Wouldn’t want you to pull a hamstring.”
“You’d take care of me if I did.”
The amount of trust and love behind Leslie’s words floored Joe. There was that vulnerability. And he was right. Joe would take care of him.
“You know it. Good night, Leslie.”
“Good night, Twinkle Toes.”
Joe rolled over and plugged in his phone, his heart thudding hard in his chest.
His emotions were all over the place. He wanted Leslie, and not just for sex. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about staying in Ayre Valleypermanently, but man, he wanted a life, and he felt like he wasthis closeto having one. Moving and setting up the program and the classes, all that, had been overwhelming, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. And it had been fun! Way more fun than he’d thought. And there was so much more to do, more he was looking forward to.
But thoughts of all he needed to take care of to be ready for the weekend, including booking his flight, packing, going over the routines he needed to perform for the weekend, yanked him out of bed and it wasn’t until two hours later that he actually grabbed a measly three hours of sleep.
The rest of the week flew by. Cheer practices surpassed his hopes, the kids giving him their all every night. On Friday night, the kids were extra chatty and Joe was too distracted to really get on them.
