Chapter 19 - Reece
Reece heard someone calling him. Heard an alarm going off with a steady brrr brrr brrr. But the first thing he actually registered as he roused was Nick.
He was wet, more with cum than lube. He was warm, Nick’s body heat enveloping Reece wholly. Their arms were tucked around one another, legs tangled. Smiling, Reece let out a soft sigh and brushed his lips along Nick’s neck.
“Wake up, Nicky,” he said, rolling on top of Nick to reach over and silence the alarm. Nick stirred, shifting and stretching his long limbs, hands going straight for Reece’s ass even though Nick wasn’t properly awake yet. “Careful, we’re a mess.”
“Mornin’,” Nick grumbled, squeezing Reece’s ass before letting go. “Was dreamin’.”
“About what?” Reece blurted out, his excitement and curiosity getting the better of him.
Nick hesitated, smiling and slowly peeling his eyes open so Reece could appreciate how deep blue they were. Reece was melting and sighing until Nick said, “I was smokin’ your ass on the court.”
Reece scoffed and smacked Nick on the arm as he got off him and out of bed. “You’re lying. That didn’t happen even in your dreams.”
Nick might’ve been a hundred times better than Reece and maybe Reece didn’t stand a true chance against him, especially not now that Nick was better than ever and Reece was out of practice—so much slower than he used to be.
But that didn’t mean that Reece wouldn’t do his very best to keep Nick entertained.
The training camp was nothing like any basketball camp Reece had ever been to.
Not only were all the players elite, but the facility itself was private.
Windowless with an underground entrance.
Outside was a courtyard within the building, ensuring no paparazzi or random people could spy on any player’s progress.
Even on the weekend, their schedule was packed.
Breakfast didn’t come before Nick and Declan were checked over by the team.
Alex explained that their meals were catered to their exact nutritional needs.
Alex’s role was not as a player, but a genius coach-in-training assisting all the elite coaches in perfecting their player’s performances. Most of all, Declan.
Nick and Declan weren’t the only projected first round picks wandering around the facility.
Reece couldn’t help feeling out of place even though Alex was the one to invite him.
Even Nick’s agent, Donovan Luck, was there, and Reece had never met the man despite knowing about him representing Nick all throughout college.
They ate breakfast outside together, the guys catching Reece up on everything.
“Nick’s on restricted participation. His stock can’t go any higher and his only focus here is refinement,” Alex was saying, never hesitating to give Reece all the details.
“You mean doctors and no fuckin’ burgers and barely any games.”
Reece smiled at Nick’s complaining, but he felt bad for him. Nick’s favorite thing to do was play basketball. “You can play some today though, right?”
“I’ll do what I want.”
“He’s not forbidden from playing, it’s just not the focus now. He plays fine. He needs to be in peak physical and mental condition.”
“And I am,” Nick scoffed and Reece looked him over appreciatively. “You know Shorty, his ass is always too damn critical.”
“And by being ‘too damn critical’, I’m helping make sure you don’t do something stupid like, you know, injure yourself and cost yourself millions of dollars.”
Nick didn’t argue with him. Alex had always been that sort of asset. Ever since he started playing with them at Coastal Miami their freshman year. It was rare for Nick to listen to anyone, but he always listened to Alex because the guy was a genius.
“So, what’s a guy gotta do to get in on a game around here? Can we squeeze in time for a two-on-two?” Reece missed playing with them and wasn’t about to miss his chance.
They were able to play that afternoon, after lunch, but not until Nick had personally wrapped Reece’s ankle for extra support. Reece almost felt bad when Nick thought by two-on-two he meant he wanted to be on Nick’s team, when in fact what he really wanted to do was play against Nick and win.
“I want to play with Declan,” Reece said, and he didn’t know if it was the words alone or the fact Reece placed his hand on Declan’s arm—because Nick certainly didn’t miss that minor detail—but Nick’s displeasure was instantly evident. “But you get Alex.”
Reece could be strategic too. Yes, Nick and Alex were both fiercely skilled players, but Declan was Nick’s greatest rival and he’d help wear Nick down for Reece to actually be able to have fun with him. He’d been doing this for years.
“Hell yeah,” Declan cheered, pulling his arm from Reece to hook it around his shoulders instead, squeezing him and jostling him around like he weighed nothing.
“Dec—easy!” Reece laughed, elbowing his way free and smacked Declan’s hand away before he could ruffle his hair.
Nick grabbed a basketball off the rack, dribbled it twice and then passed the ball to Declan.
All in a matter of seconds. Declan grabbed it, reflexes quick, the cheeky grin he was wearing darkening.
Reece swore their energy was seeping into him from them, so powerful it was intimidating.
And exciting. Reece bounced on his feet after them, sharing a smile with Alex.
Basketball wasn’t Reece’s career, but it was a sport he loved deeply.
Playing with Nick and his friends made Reece happy enough that he forgot everything else.
He felt like he was flying. Reece also had to keep himself in shape for his work.
His stamina had always been good. He was slower now, but still fast enough to shake Nick up enough to get by him and score.
It satisfied Reece deeply, even if he knew Nick would never go all out playing him.
Being on the court with Nick felt like dancing. Everything else faded away.
All Reece could see and feel in that moment was Nick’s deep blue eyes, his gorgeous face, his flexing and bouncing muscles, and the ball in Reece’s hand.
And when their roles were reversed, and it was Nick getting around Reece to score with minimal effort on his part, Reece just fell for him harder.
That feeling only intensified every time Nick’s gaze shifted to Reece’s feet.
He was worried about Reece’s ankle more than Reece was. Always had been.
The game drew the attention of other players, who watched until it was over, Nick and Alex beating Reece and Declan 6-5. Alex took Declan for a scheduled workout after and the players came over to greet Reece and Nick.
“You’re not on the roster,” the tallest of the two said. He was taller than Nick by a couple of inches. His dark eyes were attentive and his tone teasing.
“No,” Reece chuckled, tucking his shirt into his basketball shorts. “I’m just a visitor.”
“You don’t play like a visitor,” the other guy said. “How about a one-on-one with me?”
“Oh,” Reece was surprised by the invite but excited. “Sure!
“No.” Nick draped his arm over Reece’s shoulder. “I’m not sharing.”
Reece didn’t argue, barely offering an apology as he was pulled away by Nick.
Was he jealous? He didn’t want to share Reece, and the way he went about it seemed that way, but it was probably just that Nick wanted to make the most of their time together, and so did Reece, so he was happy to go along with him and forget about the other players.
It gave them time for Nick to show Reece around more properly.
That evening, they all went to dinner and Reece ate a lot more than usual.
It had been a while since he played so hard, and his time with Nick coupled with the long flight before had drained him in more ways than one.
He was so happy though—too happy to actually be tired.
If he got into bed, he’d want to be there just to be with Nick.
To hold him and snuggle him and feel him in all those ways he loved.
It was proving to be really difficult not to be clingy when Reece hardly wanted to separate from Nick for even a few seconds.
He wanted to hold Nick’s hand, or hold onto his arm, or even just lean into him, and caught himself doing all these things a bit too often.
After dinner, Reece was pleasantly surprised when they left the restaurant and Nick pulled him in a different direction from the rest of the guys.
Just the two of them walked along the sidewalk.
Nick had one arm slung lazily over Reece’s shoulders, the other tucked in his own pocket.
Reece’s hands remained in front of himself, fingers picking at one another because he was giddy, but he was also nervous.
They walked along the city, soon turning down what appeared to be an alleyway, a steep set of brick steps that led down into a brick walkway.
It turned out to be a botanical garden, with tiny ponds full of fish, plenty of greenery, and warm white lights streaming in each tree, lighting their way as the sun hung lower by the minute.
Reece felt so at ease, so beside himself with contentment, that he didn’t even realize he and Nick hadn’t exchanged a single word since they left the restaurant. They were just walking together, and it felt so natural.
Eventually, they came upon an iron bench and Nick sat. The bench would’ve comfortably sat three people, maybe even four, but Nick sat dead in the center. An invitation as far as Reece was concerned, and he sat right next to Nick happily.
It was just a walk, but it kind of felt like a date. At least for Reece. Though he supposed that anything, if it was with Nick, could pass as a date for him.
“It’s nice here,” Reece said, breaking the silence. He had a lot on his mind, but he was more relaxed now than he’d been since a couple of weeks before Nick left him. “Feels different than home…”
“Yeah… home… Crazy to think that could be anywhere soon.”