Page 66 of In the Safety's Zone
I turned to him to gauge how serious he was being and he was looking me squarely in the eye. “Are you being serious?”
“Very much.”
“But I mean, living with you? Or just like staying for a minute?” I didn’t want to jump to conclusions since it was only July. We met in February and I wasn’t trying to rush him.
This is crazy to be thinking about this so soon.
“Whichever one you think is best. I know that you’ve only lived with your family so you might want independence—”
“I’ve been independent my entire life. You seem to forget that the only constant in my life were the people that were paid to be there. Hell, that includes my family if I’m being real.” My father needed money and the collateral on that money was our house. He’d gotten it paid off with his winnings but I was the person who now owned it. Another reason he felt the need to treat me like a bank since I bailed him out the first time.
“I’m not trying to pressure you or nun but I would like to have you around. Even if it’s just for a minute.”
“Why a minute?”
He reached down and rubbed my lightly bandaged thigh. “You gone get back to work and get your shit right. And then we gonna be back on the courts. The next one starts in what, over a month?”
“Yeah. You've got the schedule memorized?”
“Gotta know where my lady is so I can make sure she’s taken care of. So yeah, I got it memorized. Any problem with that?” He kissed the side of my forehead and I melted into him even more.
“None. Although I’d planned on sweeping things this year, this thigh might have other things in mind.” I looked down at my leg, which was still wrapped even though I’d changed into a bathing suit when we got here.
“You train for your season and I train for mine. We've got time to make something shake so don’t count yourself out. Besides, the team plays in New York to open the season so our schedules would actually align.”
I hadn’t thought about his being in New York to watch me play and potentially make history. But the idea of it gave me something to look forward to. “You’re serious?”
“Yep. The only conflict I see us happening is Australia. I’m gonna bet theDesperadoswill be in the playoffs so I might not make that one. A certain number of us have to be available in case of injuries.”
“I didn’t think you were going to make this one to be honest. But whatever we need to do will be fine. You make what you can and we work from there.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it. I couldn’t swing the French Open but I wasn’t about to miss this one. You were sounding all sad and shit so I got my ass on the plane.”
“Just like that? No second-guessing.”
His lips were on my forehead again pressing the softest kiss to my flesh. “When you care it’s that simple.” His hands trailed up the side of my forearm brushing against my locs that were hanging loose. “You think you can get in?”
I wiggled my hips with a smile as I scooted myself forward out of his embrace. “That sounded sexual, and I liked it, Bam.”
“That’s new. Where Bam come from?”
“That’s how I feel when you’re tapping my cervix with your dick. Or after I orgasm. Feels like youbammedme over the head with a club.”
He wanted to pretend he didn’t like it but a pleased smile still broke through. “You crazy as hell, AP. I just want to swim, I know that you can’t with your leg needing to rest but what about floating on my back?”
“Am I gonna be too heavy—”
He flexed at me with an arrogant smirk on his face. “I look weak to you?”
I couldn’t help the lust that flared as I watched his muscles flex beneath his deep brown skin. “Not at all. Probably the strongest man that I know. Mentally or physically.”
He gave me a half-smile before getting up off the sofa and leaning over for me. I waved my fingers at him like an impatient child and he picked me up with a laugh.
“That’s big talk.”
“You can back it up, though. I’ve already seen you do it.” And I had every confidence in the world in him.
His eyes were shining even brighter at my words as he walked me toward the water. “Only for you, AP. Only for you.”
