Page 69 of Damaged Prince
When we’re both naked, bodies pressed together, I make love to my woman for hours, until we’re both tired and unable to move. I show her just how much she means to me, how much I love her.
Without her, I don’t think I’d be able to do this single-dad thing. At least not as well as I am right now. She’s given me that chance. Watching Benny when I need her, helping me with school, football, all of it.
She’s my saving grace.
My heart. My soul. My safe place. My fucking everything.
Chapter 14
Elijah
“Hey, man.” Roderick, one of the guys on my baseball team, stops me on my way to class. “Long time no see.”
“Hey,” I chuckle, giving him a bro hug. “How have you been?”
“Good. Haven’t seen you much outside of practice. You sick of our ugly mugs or what?” he jokes.
“Never,” I laugh. “Just been busy.”
“So I’ve noticed. Wouldn’t be because you got yourself a girl or something, would it?” he asks with a playful look in his eyes.
I don’t have many people I’d consider a friend. The guys on my team were good guys, people I got along with. People I could hang out with when it came to baseball stuff. But apart from that, I normally don’t hang out with people other than Winter. Things got too awkward for me. All the guys would be drinking or hooking up with girls, and I’d just be left alone for the most part. They would rib me on why I wasn’t hitting on anyone, that I needed to get laid.
Trying to explain to them why I wasn’t interested in the things they were sounded more like a hassle than it was worth, so I started to keep things just baseball related.
After that, most of the guys just acknowledged me but didn’t try to be my friend. It sucked, not going to lie, because I’d love to be friends with these guys. It’s just, our interests didn’t align.
But could that be changing now? For the first time, I could relate to some of the guys, at least the ones who were in committed relationships. Like Roderick. He’s been with the same girl since high school and is adorably in love with her.
A lot like I’m head over heels for Laney.
“Actually, yeah.” I rub the back of my head, a blush creeping on my cheeks as Roderick gapes at me.
“No shit?” he laughs in surprise. “That's amazing, man. Congratulations. Tell me about her. Who is she?”
That has me pausing. I... I don’t know what to say. We haven’t talked about being open about our relationship. Yes, our parents know. That was a very awkward but needed conversation with both my dad and Melissa. But what about the rest of the world? The fact is, wearestepsiblings. And dating your stepsibling isn’t exactly welcomed in society.
I couldn’t care less what people thought about me, or who I’m with. But I don’t want to bring that attention to Laney.
At least not until I can talk to her about it, I’m going to keep that bit of information to myself.
“It’s new. I don’t want to say just yet.”
“I totally get it.” He raises his hand. “But again, happy for you, man.”
“Thanks.” I smile genuinely, happy to be able to connect with him a little.
“Hope to meet her soon. She should come to our games when the season starts. I know Beth would love to have another girl to talk to while she watches,” he chuckles.
“Yeah. I’m sure she would like that.” She would, I think? She goes to all of Logan’s games, she would come to mine, too, right?
I need to stop overthinking everything. I’m new to relationships, but being with Laney feels natural, easy.
Kai, on the other hand, that one I have no idea how to navigate.
It’s different with us. It’s like there’s two sides to him. The one I knew online, and the side I’m getting to know in person now.
When I see him, I get flustered and tongue-tied. I don’t know how to act around him. He’s this intimately sexy, large man, andwhen I’m around him, I feel small. Not in a bad way, but in a nervous teenage boy with a crush way.
