Page 68 of Nailing Heat
Iended up staying later at work than I had hoped. August came into the training room as I was about to leave. He came down to talk. He remarked when we were leaving that it’s been a while since we were both in the same city. And he’s right. It’s been since my wedding. Sure, there were texts and an occasional phone call here and there. But it hasn’t been same since college. I gotta admit, it is nice being near him again.
“I’m sorry, I’m later than I said I’d be. But I brought you dinner,” I call to Amelia as I head into the apartment and rush immediately into the kitchen to put the bags of Chinese food down. “August said he thought you always got the chicken and vegetables when you all order. And of course, egg rolls. Not sure if you eat those but they are epic.”
I hear her laugh before I see her. “It’s fine, you don’t need to apologize to me for being late. I’ve been doing good.”
I come out into the living room to see she’s curled up on the couch reading a book. “Hi,” I say, grinning at her. She looks adorable covered in a pink fluffy blanket, a bright pink covered book in her hand, her hair on top of her head and a bowl of sour candy beside her. “You hungry for dinner, peach?”
Her smile widens, matching the one I’m giving her. “I think I am.”
“I wasn’t sure if you filled up on candy,” I tease her.
“I needed something sweet to munch on while I read for a bit,” she explains, stretching her hands above her head. The blanket sides down and the stretch causes her tank to rise, giving me a view of her toned stomach. My eyes linger there before she clears her throat. “So, you said you brought me some Chinese food, huh?”
“I did.” I say, making sure to keep my eyes on hers this time.
“Sounds good to me.”
“How’s your pain?” I ask her.
She glances at her watch. “I’m almost due for another pain pill.” She rolls her eyes as she says it.
“Do you not like taking your pain pills?”
“They make me sleepy and then I can’t sleep at night. It’s a vicious cycle.”
“We can switch to ibuprofen during the day and the painkillers at night, if that helps you,” I offer. She nods slowly. “But you’re going to have to tell me the truth about how you’re coping with the pain. If the ibuprofen isn’t helping, we’re switching back.”
“Works for me.” She smiles at me brightly, placing the bookmark in her book. “Now, I believe you promised me that there would be food.”
“Yep, let me go get that for you. Wait here,” I tell her, turning to leave and then it hits me what I said. “Sorry, I realize what I said, that was insensitive.” My voice trails off.
“Relax, it’s fine. I wasn’t going to get up to help you anyway.” She sticks her tongue out at me.
I laugh and head into the kitchen to plate up our food. When I return I see she’s positioned herself so that she’s facing sideways, instead of looking at TV. It remains off and I can see that she is looking for me to face her too. I carefully hand her a plate. “Careful, it’s a bit hot,” I warn her before taking my seat across from her. Sitting cross-legged, I watch her dig into her food.
“Hmm,” I hear her moan as she places the first bite in her mouth.
The moaning sounds are stirring something inside of me. It reminds me of the way she moaned when my lips were on hers last night. I wonder what other sounds she makes when my lips find other parts of her curves.
“What?” I hear her ask me.
Fuck, I was caught staring yet again.
“Sorry, just watching you enjoy your food,” I say, trying to cover up my thoughts.
“Uh-huh,” is all she says at first. Resting her plate on her lap, she continues, “Staring me at me is kinda like your thing, isn’t it?”
I almost choke on the bite of food that I placed in my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I say, coughing and reaching for my bottle of water.
“I have seen you do it at practice, when we’re out, here at the apartment. What are you, some kind of crazy stalker guy?” Her wide grin tells me that she’s teasing me. Or at least I hope she is.
“No, sorry. This isn’t going to help with the crazy-stalker-guy image you have of me, but I can’t keep my eyes off of you. I’m always searching for you on the field or in a crowd because I’m transfixed with the way you move. The way you smile, laugh and all the things that come out of that mouth. I would listen to you for hours, even if you were reading me a newspaper.”
“Oh,” she says, leaning back into the arm of the couch. “That wasn’t what I thought you’d say.”
“Did I creep you out?” I wince, waiting for her to tell me to get the fuck out of her apartment.
“No,” she shakes her head slowly. “I’ve never had anyone be so direct with me in their feelings or intentions before. This is new territory for me. And I barely know you.”
