4. Smithy
Chapter 4
Smithy
I want to scream from the top of my lungs and tell her she’s the love of my life. I want to get down on my knees and beg her to give me a chance as more than her best friend. Anything to convince her I'm not just being ‘Smithy’ when I flirt with her.
My mind drifts to the times we’re out in public. I do flirt with her, but I also flirt with other women. Is that making her think I'm not seriously interested in her?
I feel like such a dick. I honestly flirt because it’s the best way to make fans happy and I don’t have a girlfriend so I didn’t think I was hurting anyone. Apparently, I was hurting the only person who really matters to me.
We’re quiet as we finish eating and Liliana grabs her laptop again. Before she can open it or get started, I take the spot on the lounge and pat my lap.
“What?” She glances at me as she ties her blonde hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. I love when she wears her hair like that. I crave peppering her with kisses and nipping at her skin, but I know that can't happen. Not unless I can convince her to date me.
“Come sit with me.”
“I have to work.”
“I'm not going to stop you from working, I just… I don’t know, Sweets. I just need you close.”
She stares at me for a solid ten seconds, which feels like a lifetime when you’re waiting to see if you’ll be turned down, then she slowly moves over to me and settles between my legs.
I don’t waste a second, I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her tightly against my chest. I don’t know why I'm so touchy with her tonight, but I am. I need to know nothing has changed for the negative and that means she has to let me hold her.
I smile as I rest my head back on the cushion and close my eyes. She’s leaning against me, her head resting in the center of my chest. She doesn’t complain about where my arms are and I'm not moving unless she makes me.
Soon the silent room fills with the sound of her fingers dancing over the keys and her brilliance coming out in the document she has open.
I don’t know how long we lay like that, but at some point, Liliana lets out a long breath. She does it every time she finishes writing an article, especially a difficult one. She closes her computer and sets it on the couch next to us.
She twists and adjusts her head. I know she’s staring up at me, even with my eyes closed. Her fingers softly brush over the thick scruff on my jaw. I fight to keep a smile from spreading across my face. I don’t want her to know I'm awake, then she might make me leave.
Where I take every opportunity to touch Liliana, she rarely initiates any touching. I wonder what would happen if I begged her to sleep in my arms? If I made sure I was shirtless, would she run her hands up and down my chest and abs? Would she kiss me or would she lay stiffly in my arms?
“What’s going on with you, Trav?” She runs her fingers through my curly hair and lets out a soft sigh. “I wish I could set your mind at ease. You’re the most important person in my life. There’s nothing I would do to jeopardize our relationship. I need you so much more than you need me and that scares me.”
Her fingers disappear and it takes everything in me to keep from opening my eyes and beg her to keep touching me. Beg her to keep telling me how she really feels.
Liliana twists in my arms so she’s lying on her side. She wraps one arm around my waist and tucks the other one under her cheek.
I scoot down a little further, taking her with me. I don’t plan on moving from this spot tonight, not unless she asks me to leave. Hell, even if she does ask me, I’ll try to talk her into letting me stay. Anything to keep this amazing woman in my arms.
“Ten more minutes,” I murmur as the alarm goes off, waking me from my amazing dream.
A dream so wonderful I don’t want to wake up from it. One where Liliana is my wife and we have the perfect life together.
“I need to get up, Trav. I have to be at work in an hour,” Lil’s sweet voice has me peeking my eyes open and a slow smile spreading across my face.
“Morning, Sweets.”
“Morning.”
“You didn’t kick me out?”
“Nah, you needed to be here… Plus, your man boobs make a comfy pillow.” She pokes at my hard pecs and grins, knowing exactly what she’s doing.
“I don’t have man boobs!” I protest as I flip us so I'm hovering over her and she’s staring up at me with wide eyes. “I’ll give you one chance to take it back, Sweets,” I murmur in a low, gravelly voice.
“And if I don’t?” She arches a brow, a smile tugging on the corner of her lips.
“Then I'm going to make you pay.” I give her a few seconds to make her decision and when her smile widens, I slip my fingers under the hem of her shirt and start tickling her.
“Travis!” She shrieks with laughter and wiggles around, but she can't get far with my body on top of hers.
“Take it back and I’ll stop, beautiful.”
“Fine! You don’t have man boobs!”
As soon as the words leave her lips, I stop my attack and lift her into my arms. I take a seat again and position her so she’s straddling my waist. Whipping my shirt off, I grab her hands and place them on my pecs.
“These aren’t man boobs, Sweets. Boobs are squishy and amazing. Pecs are manly and strong.” I tuck my hands behind my head and grin as she runs her fingers over my bare chest.
“You have very nice pecs,” Liliana whispers.
“And abs. According to Macy, I have the nicest abs on the Pit Bulls.” My grin widens when her gaze drops to my stomach and her fingers follow.
“Can you really trust her opinion?” Liliana murmurs, never meeting my gaze.
“Well, do you have a different opinion?”
“I think you have nicer pecs than Cord.”
“Really? His are huge.”
“Huge, but not nicer. I like the light dusting of hair you have. And your pecs are defined, without being too big. You have a nice body and you work hard for it. You should be proud and stop letting anyone’s comments make you think differently.”
I stare at her, unsure of how to respond. Before I can say anything, Liliana’s alarm goes off again.
“Ok, I need to get dressed or I'm going to be late for work.” She leans in and presses a firm kiss to my cheek before climbing off my lap and disappearing down the hallway.
For someone who keeps stressing we’re just friends, she sure does seem like she feels something more towards me.
While she rushes around and gets ready, I busy myself in the kitchen. I always buy us food when I'm with Liliana, never making her anything. I'm a good cook, I just don’t have a ton of time to make anything. By the time I'm done at work, I'm exhausted and don’t really want to cook for myself.
This morning, I want to impress my girl. Anything to get her thinking of me less and less like a friend, and more and more like a possible boyfriend.
“Hey, can you help me?” Liliana enters the kitchen and spins around to give me her back. Her soft skin is on full display all the way down to the curve right above her ass.
It’s going to take so much self-control to keep from touching her. I want to skim my fingers over her curves and push her dress off her shoulders, watching it pool into a puddle of fabric at her feet.
“Dang, Sweets. You sure know how to test a man’s restraint, huh?” I murmur as I reach for the zipper and slowly drag it up her back.
“Oh, please. I'm sure I'm super tempting,” she scoffs like I'm making fun of her.
I zipper her dress all the way to the top, then I snake my arm around her waist and tug her back against my chest. I lean in until my lips are barely brushing the shell of her ear and whisper, “You’re extremely tempting, Sweets. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I release her and take a step away. I need to put distance between us or I’ll do something she might not like. I grab the plate of breakfast I made and hold it between us.
“Here’s some breakfast. I have to get to the stadium within the next ten minutes or Owen’s going to have my head on a platter. Call me later, beautiful.” I press a soft kiss to her temple and leave her apartment before my words can really sink in for her. We both need to process how our relationship is slowly changing. If I have it my way, it will be rapidly changing soon.