Page 72 of Sliding into Love
We settle back into our respective seats, but the atmosphere has shifted. It's warmer now, more intimate, like we've crossed some invisible threshold by sharing that story.
"So," Royce says, pulling up a new document on their tablet. "Staffing adjustments for the next game. I'm thinking we move Jernigan to the third-base concessions and bring in two of the part-timers as well to give them the support they need."
"Sounds good. What about the parking situation? We had some complaints about the wait times after the game."
They glance up at me, a playful smirk on their face. "I talked to security about it. They're going to add another attendant at the main exit. Unless you have a better idea, hotshot pitcher?"
I throw a pen at them. They catch it easily, laughing.
"Careful, Little Menace," they say, their voice dropping into that Dom tone that makes my cock twitch. "Keep that up, and I'll have to punish you later."
"I’ll believe it when I see it," I shoot back, even though my face is definitely heating up.
"Oh, it's a promise. Now, I need to go check on the maintenance crew. Will you be okay here on your own, or do you need supervision?" They stand, tucking their tablet under their arm.
"I think I can manage not to destroy anything in the next hour."
"Good boy." They lean down, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before heading toward the door. "I'll see you at lunch. And Kenny?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for telling me about your injury. I know that wasn't easy."
They're gone before I can respond, leaving me alone in the office with a stupid smile on my face and a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the temperature.
I turn back to my laptop, trying to focus on the spreadsheets in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to Royce. To the way they listened without judgment, the way they reframed my biggest failure as a meaningful event.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Royce: Also, for the record, I find the whole "injured college athlete" thing incredibly sexy. Just thought you should know.
I laugh out loud, my fingers flying over the keyboard.
Kenneth: You're terrible.
Royce: You wouldn’t have me any other way.
And the thing is, I wouldn’t. I love their teasing, their dominance, the way they take care of me without making me feel weak. I love how they challenge me and support me in equal measure.
I'm falling for them. Hard.
Maybe I already have. I’ve wanted them for so long, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say I was already both feet in before our first kiss even happened.
The thought should terrify me. We're still so new, still figuring out what this is between us.
But instead, it just feels right.
Like Royce said, maybe everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to. Maybe my injury wasn't the end of my story. Maybe it was just the beginning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ROYCE
The paperworkon my desk is endless.
It's been a week since opening night, a week since my little menace and I officially crossed the line from enemies to… whatever we are now.
Partners,definitely.
