Page 73 of Broken Play
"That you let me please you. I need a taste of my sexy woman."
"But I'm making breakfast."
"You're the only nutrition I need."
As I lock my ankles around his waist, he reaches for the skillet, removes it from the heat, and turns off the burner.
"If I denied you the nutrients you need to make you the best football player, I wouldn't be a good boss."
"Or girlfriend."
Girlfriend.I love that effing word. Since we're dating in secret, there hasn't been a need for labels. We're wrapped in secrecy and a love that can only exist in stolen moments, and we're stealing one now.
He winds down the hall to his cozy office and sets me on the edge of his desk, pulling my hips closer to his mouth.
After a top-notch oral assault, I'm left boneless and sated. He climbs up my body, sucking small pieces of my skin until he reaches my mouth. I waste no time snaking my tongue into his mouth, unable to get enough of Number Ten.
When my lips are so swollen they begin to feel bruised, I tilt my head back as he nibbles on my neck. Breathless, I ask, "Will you get tired of me? You know... when the new wears off or when we finally don't have to hide?"
"I can't imagine that happening," he answers without so much as a flicker of doubt.
I nod, yet unease still runs through my veins. Can I be with a man who doesn't trust me enough to tell me where he got a scar?
Just as I'm about to confront him, his doorbell rings. "Oh, crap."
"It's fine. Just stay in here. I'll get rid of whoever it is. I need to leave for physical therapy. Promise you'll be back atnoon with Paulina." He presses his lips against mine. "Wear a bathing suit underneath your clothes, and put on hiking boots."
"You think I have hiking boots?"
His lips form a flat line. "Okay, tennis shoes."
There's a half bath in the hallway. I hear him swishing his mouth out and padding to the front door. No one comes inside for about fifteen minutes, so I sneak around gathering my stuff together, then leave through the basement door. It's a pretty good walk to his barn, but I finally get into my car and head to my house, deep in thought about my relationship with Greyson.
It dawns on me: I haven't returned the sentiment, and maybe that's why he's keeping the details of what happened to him.
The truth is, love isn't measured by a scar or secrets—it's tested by whether you're willing to show up for the other person, even barefoot and in borrowed shirts. It's whether you trust the worst of you with the person who sees the best in you.
THIRTY-NINE
GREYSON
"Where are we going?" The excitement in Paulina's voice sends a bolt of happiness through me.
"On an adventure. Are you ready?" I look her over. "Tennis shoes? Check. Hat? Check. Water bottle? Check." I look over at Sutton, and she has on a Florida Gator hat. I roll my eyes. The Southeastern Conference fans are rabid, like they are in Texas. Her hair is tucked up in the hat. She has on a black tank top and khaki shorts. It's a good thing she doesn't have on a tennis skirt. I don't want anyone to know who she is.
After I hook up the horse trailer to the truck, we're off. It takes about an hour to get to Whirlwind, but when we pass the sign, Sutton says, "I thought this was it."
"It's close to my granny's; I thought we should stop in."
My grandmother on my mom's side comes out, wearing a housedress like they did in the old days. She has an old television with ten to twelve channels, but she rarely watches it. I jog to her, wrapping my arms around her round body. Shedoesn't remind me of my mom other than the way she loves. My mom was a sports mom, dressed like Sutton is today.
"Oh, my baby. I've missed you so much." She peppers my cheeks with kisses, then she hears the truck door shut. "Who do you have with you?"
I wave for the girls to come to the porch. "This is Sutton, my boss. She's also a professional tennis player, and this is Paulina, a professional tennis player in training. This is my Granny."
"Nice to meet you. I'm retired from tennis except for coaching Paulina and Gabby." Sutton goes to shake her hand, but that's not good enough for Granny, who embraces Sutton. Granny knows what this means to me. I've never brought a woman to meet her.
"Come in. Come in. I've got lunch ready. Greyson loves my chicken salad and banana bread." She must see Paulina's face because she continues, "Don't knock it until you try it. If you don't like it, I'll make you a grilled cheese."
