Anthony #3
“But not before those three days like I said.” Aphrodite’s words were final and her tone held more bite than I was used to. My shit was rocking up watching her boss up on one of the people I was sure took advantage of her kindness.
With a nod, Terri motioned to the masseuse and they walked out of the room together.
When the door was shut Aphrodite exhaled and turned to me again. Her face looked apologetic and I knew she was embarrassed.
“Sorry about that.”
“Which part? If you’re trying to apologize for what is going on with you and your trainer, I think you went too damn easy on her.
” Ain’t no way your coach should be talking to you like they were the boss of you.
Not in this kind of sport. In football, shit got greasy but to think she was going to work Aphrodite to death when she could easily be replaced was crazy to be.
And then to go demanding shit like Phro was a lil ass kid rubbed me the wrong way.
“You have to understand, she’s not used to me having a life outside of work so this is new for her.” Aphrodite pulled her hair to one side and put her hair in a braid.
“New is one thing but respect should be the bare minimum no matter what is going on.”
“She, like so many other people, still sees me as a kid. They think they can tell me what to do instead of consulting me and it does get annoying a lot of the time. Before it was easier to handle it because I had no reason not to. Now I do, so they’ll need to adjust.”
“You think it’ll be that simple?”
“If they want to get paid, yeah.”
“You have to understand that a lot of people can’t help but keep you in a box especially if you’ve allowed yourself to stay there. You just telling them something that goes against what they think you should do isn’t going to be easy.”
“Nothing I’ve accomplished has been easy but you are more than worth it. So if it’s a battle then I’ll handle it.”
“We’ll handle it. But now that you’ve got your muscles beat up, can I get a proper hello?”
She bit her lip bashfully before she nodded her head and walked toward me.
I met her halfway wrapping my arms around her and lifting her up.
With her arms around my neck, the weight of her felt perfect against my frame.
We stood there silently just basking in each other’s presence, before I reluctantly put her down.
That hug was exactly what I needed. I felt like my soul took a large exhale and my tension melted away.
“I know you handled business on the court today so you feel like going anywhere?” She looked as effected as I was by that hug and I put my hands on my belt buckle so I could resist the urge to put them on her.
“We don’t have to but did you have plans?”
“Of course I did. I’m flying to see you and you think I’m just going to wing that shit? Any man is going to plan a date. You planned ours when we were in New York, I made tentative plans for Miami.”
She tried not to look excited but I could tell my words made her feel special.
I’d mapped out a few places we could go and had flowers delivered to her this morning before she left for her match.
Aphrodite wasn’t the type of woman I wanted to half-step with so she needed to know what it was with me before we got in even deeper.
“You don’t even live here.”
I waved my phone at her mockingly. “We got the internet in Texas, Phro.”
She covered her face with her hands as she laughed. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t help but walk to her and pull her hands from her face. Her cheeks were flushed, those tilted brown eyes had a sheen of joy over them. Damn, this girl was perfect.
“No, you’re thinking small again. Like I’m going to play you like everyone else. I’m not. You’re a priority and I’m more than happy to show you how important you are to me. Besides, this is just dinner, baby. It’s small when you think about it.”
“Not to me. Somebody planning a whole date and coming out to see me is a major deal so thank you. What did you have in mind?”
“I thought about going out to STK but now I see that you’re overly relaxed and that might not be what you need. I’m sure people are here people watching and know you’re in town.”
She nodded like she really wasn’t feeling getting dressed up and I had no issue switching it up. “Having people see me out right now isn’t really on my list.”
“That’s cool. I can pull up the menu and have them deliver it.”
“They deliver?”
With the way her eyes lit up, she was more of a homebody than I originally thought. I guess because her home wasn’t relaxed I assumed she preferred to be out.
“Yeah. I can make some shit shake here and still have it be romantic. You drinking?” I glanced up from where I’d been looking through the menu to see if I needed to order her some wine or a drink to go with her food.
“Maybe wine but—”
“I’ll ask concierge to send it up. I put my card down for your room.”
Her eyes narrowed as if she were confused. “What do you mean?”
This was a delicate situation because I didn’t want her to feel like I was being high - handed, even though I was. “I didn’t get one booked in time—”
“You aren’t staying here?”
I shrugged to keep the temp light. “Wasn’t sure if that made you uncomfortable or not.”
“I wanted to see you.” Aphrodite said it so emphatically it had me laughing.
“Seeing me and sharing your space are two different things, love.” I caressed her chin like it was second nature as I spoke and watched the emotions play out over her face.
“Well, not for me because I want to share space with you for the rest of the time we have. Is that cool?” Those hands went to her hips and that boss-lady attitude came right back out. It brought a smile to my face that she was standing her ground with me without fear.
“Absolutely.”
“Good. Because I more than plan to finish up what we started in New York so let’s take this nap so that we can make sure we’re good and rested. I need to shower though to wash this sweat off me. You coming with me?”
She walked forward bolder than I’d ever seen her and wrapped her arms around me. My dick was bobbing in my pants and the lil smirk on her face let me know she felt him jumping for joy to feel her.
Be careful what you ask for.
I took a chance and brushed a kiss across her lips, putting myself out of the misery her absence brought. “Nah. If we get started I ain’t about to stop and you need to relax for what I have in mind later.”
I made sure I was thorough as fuck when I washed because despite what Phro said I wasn’t going to fuck around.
She wasn’t about to catch me not being as clean as possible when we dealt with one another.
I knew that as we got more comfortable with one another spontaneity would outweigh perfection but I didn’t want her sucking my dick and tasting recirculated airplane air or some shit.
Be damned if she on the phone with somebody calling me musty.
We’d ordered the food before we showered and I was thankful she had a second full bathroom in her suite. She seemed to be taking just as much time with her hygiene in anticipation because I was showered, lotioned, dressed and opening the door for the delivery person before she made an appearance.
I put the flowers I had delivered to her on the low coffee table in front of the television and pulled out the small portable speaker I’d brought with me.
I’d grabbed some tea lights at the pharmacy when I’d picked up condoms so those went to each side of the flowers.
It wasn’t the same as a restaurant but it’s the best I could do on short notice.
“What’s all this?”
I smelled whatever fragrance she’d put on before I saw her.
When I turned to speak my mouth was just open.
Aphrodite had a dark blue silk-looking shorts set on and a matching robe over it.
I was stuck. Hell, I was staring and for a minute I couldn’t get myself together.
Her skin was glowing and her face didn’t have any makeup on.
She looked perfect to me. Any man could appreciate a woman when she put that shit on, but it was even more key that she wouldn’t scare the hair off a cat when she took it off.
Aphrodite was just as bad with a fresh face as she was all glammed up.
“You look beautiful, baae baee.”
Instead of looking bashful she posed playfully with a hand behind her head and one on her hip. “Thank you. That got here fast.”
“Nah, you were just in there making sure your pussy was squeaky clean when you ain’t need to.”
“Anthony!” She slapped my shoulder and I took her hand, kissed it and pulled her toward the sofa.
“I’m right cause I was doing the same shit. Even brought my lil African net shit so you not hitting no rough skin if you choose to rub up on me.”
I put her hand on my face so she could feel how smooth it was. On her own, she ran her hand down the side of my neck and to my chest, which was only covered in a loose-fitting tank.
“You did a damn good job.” She winked before she turned back to the food.
I was surprised that she was as comfortable with me as she was but I damn sure was happy about it.
I’d been prepared for her to be shy and maybe even move a few steps back from the comfort we’d had talking over the phone, which is why I hadn’t thought to bring condoms until my brother mentioned it.
I’d clearly underestimated how she was moving when it came to me.
Old scars trying to have me doubt this girl when she’s shown no sign of faltering.
Aphrodite was oblivious to the conversation I was having with myself and had started opening up containers to check out what we’d gotten.
“I got two of everything cause I know how crazy it can be after you’ve burned up all that energy. You gotta replenish it.”
I took a seat next to her on the floor and watched as she looked over everything with a big smile on her face. “This is nice and thank you for making sure I got fed.”