Page 45 of Love of the Game
“Mmm, whatever I want? Okay. I can work with that.”
What I thought I’d get was more demanding kisses, like the one he’d given me downstairs. Instead, Jon continued to peel clothes off of me until I was naked, then slowly made out with me. It was passionate and feverishly hot, but so careful and thorough. I think he kissed, sucked, and touched every inch of my body before he laid me out on the bed. Then he worshiped me all over again.
“Jon. You’re gonna kill me.”
There was that laugh I loved. “Baby, I’m going to do worse than that—I’m going to make love to you.”
And he did. All those touches and kisses, the way he lovingly sucked my dick and balls. How he fingered me open with slick fingers, all the while cataloging how stunning I looked, how beautifully I moved, it was all love. Over and over again, he showed me with his body, his words, and the way he looked at me—as if I were the only living being left in the world.
When he finally pressed into me, I was so far gone, I could only hold on and let him love me, over and over, until I was on the edge of what felt to be the most sublime orgasm of my life. “Babe, oh God, babe.”
“That’s it, he murmured. “Just like that. Want to see you come for me, baby.”
I did. So hard that I couldn’t even shout. Everything Jondid took my breath away. By the time I came back down to Earth, he was caressing my face again, much like he had downstairs.
“I love you so much,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
“You… you…” I struggled to put my thoughts into words. “You’re perfect.”
“Hardly.” His soft chuckle was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.
My phone ringingwoke me up at way-too-early in the morning. There were very few numbers I had set to break through my do not disturb setting, so I knew it was important. I just prayed it wasn’t my mom. She wouldn’t call this early after a road trip unless…
But it wasn’t my mom. My phone saidJR. It took me only a second to remember whothatwas. I answered as Jon stirred next to me and rubbed his eyes.
“Hello, sir.”
Our GM replied, “Ah, good. You’re awake. I know you had a late night of travel. Congratulations on the win, by the way.”
“Thank you, sir.” I had no idea why JR would be calling me at—I peered at a decorative but functional wall clock—five to eight in the morning.
Who?Jon mouthed.
JR, I mouthed back, and Jon’s eyes got wide.
In my ear, JR continued. “Bear’s gone down with a high-ankle sprain. Going to be out for a while. We’re recalling you to the Lions. You’ve put in the work down there. You’re the best player the Otters have right now, and we need your talent and skill. You up for that, kid?”
Oh my God. I was getting called up. Going back to the NAPH. I hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “Yes, sir. Thank you for the challenge.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Morning skate’s at ten thirty at the arena. I’ll tell Robinson to expect you. Impress me tonight.” Then he hung up.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it, because I still wasn’t sure I’d heard what he’d said correctly. “I’m getting called up.”
“Yeah,” Jon said gently. “I figured.” His smile was small, and it almost hid the sadness in his eyes.
Then it hit me. “It’s your birthday.” I shook my head. “I can’t go. I have plans.” The phone shook in my hands.
As I made to call JR back, Jon snatched the phone away and shut it off. “What? No! Don’t be foolish. This is what you’ve been waiting for! You belong on the Lions.”
“I belong with you!”
The words echoed around his room, then hung between us, with all the weight of truth and love.
“I can’t leave you.” I said more quietly. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Babe.” He breathed the word out, then sat up and put my phone on the nightstand, next to his. “You need to go back to Pittsburgh and play on the Lions and be the superstar you were becoming last season. It’s the right thing. The Otters are fun, but we can’t further your career.”
“I don’t care about my career!”
