Chapter 21 Miguel
Chapter twenty-one
Miguel
Check for a Stripper Pole
Ten days of race preparations. Ten days of Laney.
I had to add extra electrolyte replenishment to our meal plans because of all the fucking sex we’re having.
I just can’t keep my cock to myself.
The need to make her feel good consumes me.
I glance over to the passenger seat and admire her relaxed, resting body. Laney fell asleep against the window as we drove to Indianapolis for tomorrow’s race. I was not prepared for the surge of pride her trust in my driving evoked.
The pride was only matched by my sense of responsibility to drive safely.
Exiting the freeway, the slow down of the truck wakes her.
“Oh man! Nothing beats car naps.” She says through an exaggerated yawn.
“I’m glad you feel rested. You needed it.”
“Yeah,” she reaches over and punches my thigh, “someone has been keeping me up late.”
“No, that’s all you Laney, baby. I go to bed early and then wake up when you come over late.”
“Fair enough.” She looks at the sign welcoming us to Indianapolis. “Oh, we’re here already!”
“Yep.”
“I’m going to text Dee and tell her we made it. The drive wasn’t so bad.”
“You slept for most of it.” I point out.
She just shrugs and looks at her phone. “Oh wow.”
“What?”
“There’s a skating expo show here tonight. I’m a big fan of Isla Covington and she’s going to be there with her new partner.”
“Huh.” Truth is I got us tickets last weekend. She mentioned this ice dancer being a favorite of hers. When I told the guys I was pulling out of the race, and the traditional group dinner tonight, I started looking for something to do with Laney.
“Why do you sound sort of interested and also not surprised by this news?”
“I do? Or, don’t? I’m not sure how to answer that.” I tell her.
I can feel her eyes narrow on me.
“Miguel Garcia, what are you up to?”
I smile. I can’t hold out. It’s actually good she slept for the drive because I would have spilled the beans hours ago if she was awake.
“I got you tickets to the event. Well, us tickets.”
“You did? When?”
“When you agreed to cancel your hotel reservation last weekend.”
Laney loops the top of her seatbelt over her back and leans across the middle console to give me a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you, Miguel, I’m really excited!”
I keep my eyes on the road even with every cell in my body begging to pull over and kiss her properly. “You’re welcome Laney, it’ll be fun.”
The smile on her face as we drive to the hotel is all the reward I need for breaking from my routine. I debated buying the tickets. I debated if it was the right thing to do or if focusing on race preparations would be better.
But in the last few weeks, as we’ve added physical intimacy to our relationship, the sky hasn’t come crashing down. We’re still training just as hard, if not harder. She’s just as dedicated and actually seeing results.
I think a moment away from it, to disconnect, will give her the chance to come to race day with a clearer, more focused mind.
And, I have more in store for her. Laney doesn’t know Dee is just a few hours behind us.
When I was dropping off Laney after a swim to bike brick training Monday, Dee was coming home from work.
Laney was already upstairs so I stopped Dee and asked if she’d like to come to the race to cheer Laney on.
She said she’d love to, we exchanged info and I gave her the details for the weekend.
And in the last four days I have debated if I did the right thing. If I was taking my infatuation with Laney too far. We act like we’re dating but our time is spent training or in bed. Well, and the hours in between when I make her food.
She’s still working at the restaurant and doing all her dog walking. And while she’s busy doing those things I’m busy thinking about her.
Doubt flies through me, souring my stomach, as I put the truck in park.
My feelings are real but should they be this strong already?
“Aren’t you going to unpack?" I ask Laney, trying to sound casual, as I close the dresser drawer in the hotel room.
“Nah,” she shrugs as she glances at the bag she dropped on the floor of the closet. “I’ll just get what I need tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you unpack.” I suggest. Not wanting to spoil another surprise.
“Why does it matter?”
“It would make me happy.” I say and her eyes soften.
Laney steps across the room to me and runs her hands up my chest, over my shoulders, and then links them together behind my neck. Her chest presses against mine and she leans closer. My head spins in her proximity.
“Is it killing my Type A man to not have everything exactly where it goes?”
I huff a little laugh but don’t tell her the yes my brain is screaming.
“Would Coach like me to follow his commands?”
Yes, very much. I nearly growl.
Laney laughs in surprise. “Miguel!”
“What?”
“You turned absolutely feral just now! Your eyes flared and your grip on me tightened. You’re getting worked up over me unpacking a duffel bag of workout clothes. It’s not like I have lingerie and a stripper pole in there.”
“You sure?” I ask.
With a roll of her eyes she huffs over to the bag. She tosses it unceremoniously on the bed and unzips it. “See?”
I flick my eyes down to it where a bright red sundress is sitting on top.
Laney follows my eyes down and does a double take.
“What the heck is that?” She asks as she lifts it up in front of her.
A tiny red lace thong falls to the floor at her feet.
Heaven help me.
“I might have asked Dee to sneak something for you to wear tonight into your bag.”
“This isn’t even mine. I’ve never seen it before.”
“Because I bought it for you. Well, Dee did. I told her I wanted to take you out for the ice dancing show and to pack you something to wear.”
“I’m going to freeze in this! It’s practically lingerie.”
“So, I guess you did have some in your bag after all. Should we check for the stripper pole just in case?”
“Shut up.” She backhands my stomach and I curl into the blow. She looks back into the duffle and there’s a denim jacket packed too.
“So should we get ready to go?” I ask.
“I suppose so.”
She disappears into the bathroom and I change into jeans and a button up shirt. A few minutes later, Laney steps out into the room.
I owe Dee a debt I might never be able to repay for picking this dress for Laney.
Because I swear to everything holy, she is a walking wet dream.
Her creamy skin peeks through the lace at her torso and my eyes trail down to where two little bows gather the dress at the top of her thighs. She’s paired the dress with old sneakers and I watch, transfixed, as she slings the jean jacket over her shoulders.
I don’t know if I’d be able to leave the room if she didn't have that armor on.
“Ready?” She asks me as she flicks her blonde hair over her shoulder. Instead of its usual braid, it is down and sweeping across her back.
She radiates pure, powerful, natural beauty.
And I’m barely hanging on by a thread.