Page 72 of Without Bound
“What subject are you needing help in?”
“I’m studying Anatomy. By braille.” She takes my hand and slides it under her t-shirt.
My thumb rolls over her taut nipples and her body visibly shivers.
“Well, you see, when I do this,” I lick the column of her neck and nip at her jaw. “It makes these,” I say, pinching her nipples. “Harden. That’s a chemical reaction.”
Her head falls back and her eyes close when I continue to kiss her neck.
“And when those harden, they send a signal to your–” The doorbell rings and we both jump, this time actually smacking our heads together.
I scramble for my phone and open up the camera and see CeCe standing at my door.
“It’s CeCe,” I tell Anais, who is already panic grabbing items lying around. “I’ll go see what she wants, you can go up to my room.”
She freezes like a deer in headlights then rushes up the stairs so quickly you can almost see the little cartoon dust as she goes. I pound down the stairs and take a deep breath before opening the door.
“Hey C. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” I pull her into a hug and escort her inside.
“Can’t I just want to visit my favorite guy for no reason?” She begins her way up the stairs and sweat beads on my lip.
“I’m not your favorite guy, babe.” Her heels click on the hardwoods as she steps into the living room. “But I won’t complain about getting a visit from you. Want something to drink?”
“Sure. Just water,” she says and sits down on a barstool at the kitchen counter.
“I have cherry flavored sparkling water.”
“Since when do you drink that, Bishop Michaels?” I grab a bottle and pop the top before filling a glass with ice and setting them both in front of her.
“I saw it at the grocery store and thought I’d try it,” is what I tell her, but the truth is that Anais brought them over.
“So…what’s up mama?”
CeCe pours the water into her glass and takes a small sip. “Ooo. That’s good. I have a friend who is coming to game one and she really wants to meet you.”
A chill spreads across my body because how I am supposed to explain that there is no need to introduce me to any woman ever again.
“Oh? It’s not Gabby, is it?” I ask, trying to play it cool.
“No, it’s not Gabby. She told me she thinks you weren’t interested.” I give her an apologetic grin. “It’s okay. She actually met a guy at a friend’s wedding and it sounds like it’s working out.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. So, my friend. Her name is Melina, she’s super cute, a little bit younger than you, and so smart. I think you two would really hit it off. Of course she heard Gabby and I talking about you, and immediately went to my socials to check you out. Like every other woman with two working eyes, she said you’re gorgeous and needs to meet you ASAP.”
I gulp down the words that are dying to break free. Instead I tell her, “Um. Well, I’m not really looking to get into a relationship or anything right now.”
“I didn’t tell you to marry her. Just meet her and see what you think. She’s going to be in our suite so I think it’ll be a perfect time for you two to get to know one another.” CeCe chugs down the rest of her water and stands.
“Why are you so insistent on setting me up?” I ask her, truly curious.
CeCe sets the empty glass in the sink and turns, resting her back against the counter. “Because we all want to see you with someone. And not just anyone buttheone. You’re the last one in our group and we want to see you happy and in love.”
“I’m not the last one. You’re forgetting about Hayes and Cat,” I remind her.
“Our high school group. It was always the five of us and now we’re one person shy of a married group of friends.” She takes a few steps to meet me and places her hands on my biceps. “We want to raise our families together so that they can have the same bond that we do.”
“And you think this Melina is the one for me?” I ask, skeptically.
