Chapter 24 #2
“Aren’t you gonna introduce us?” Diablo asks, the smug expression on his face causing Beth to hit him.
We walk closer to where everyone is sitting, mainly towards my mom and brother.
“Um… this is Stephen. He was my roommate back at Winbrook.”
I glance over at him and he’s shaking his head at the descriptor, but good; now he knows how it feels. I want nothing more than to introduce him to my friends and family as my boyfriend; but until I know why he’s here, what am I supposed to say?
“Stephen,” my mom says, coming to shake his hand. “I’m Sofía, Donovan’s mother; it’s lovely to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, although now I’m thinking that a lot of details were left out.”
She raises her brows at me which only makes me blush harder.
“It’s great to finally meet you too, I’m sorry it hasn’t happened sooner,” Stephen says. “Things have been complicated with football, but I’m here now.” He gives me a pointed look when he says that, as though I’m supposed to understand exactly what that means.
As Beth introduces herself to Stephen, my brother leans into me and says quietly, “I know I offered to beat him up for you, but the guy is fucking huge. You could have told me he was a pro-football player.”
I snort a laugh which makes Stephen look at us both and I softly shake my head.
“The offer still stands though,” Diablo murmurs, “just give me some notice so I can stretch first.”
I stifle another laugh while he shakes Stephen’s hand, loving that he supports me. What can I say, offering to beat people up for me is how he shows me he cares.
Everyone returns to their seats and they make space for Stephen to join, but I need to know what’s going on and I can’t wait.
“Um… we might need some time,” I say to everyone, before looking at Stephen. “Maybe we should talk in private?”
I take his hand and lead him into the clubhouse; shouts and cheers follow until the door closes behind us. We stop at the bar, and I ask him if he wants a drink, not knowing what else to say.
“No,” he smirks, pulling me back in for another kiss and pressing me against the bar.
“Stop,” I say, pushing him away. “You can’t just turn up here and expect us to pick back up where we left off at Winbrook.
I told you, I can’t be your secret, and yes—” I hold my hands up to stop him interrupting.
“I know you just kissed me in front of my friends and family, but that doesn’t really mean anything. ”
“Donovan—”
“I saw the interview,” I say, “and I’m so sorry that happened to you, but it’s been silence ever since. You’re not out, yeah, there are rumors, but we all know it was Kyle, and he’s a fucking asshole.”
“It’s been silent because I’ve been working with the media team before we make it official,” he says, leaning into me again, as though he has no other option than to be touching me.
“Make what official?”
“Donovan, it’s not going to be a secret anymore. Everyone on the team knows about me; the players, the management, the media team, they all know… and they know about you.”
His words start to slowly sink in.
“You told them about me?” I ask, and he nods. “Well, that was very presumptuous of you considering that you didn’t speak to me first.”
“I prefer the word hopeful,” he flashes me a smile, the panty-melting smile, and I have to look away to hide the one I’m suppressing in response. “Was that a smile I saw?” he asks.
“No.”
“Okay baby,” he chuckles, leaning forward to nuzzle into the side of my face. “Fuck, you smell so good.”
I cross my arms over my chest, trying hard to ignore him and put at least a couple of inches between us, and everything he’s making me feel.
“You smell alright,” I murmur, lying through my teeth because he does in fact smell delicious. I might have even bought a bergamot and lemongrass candle for my room because it’s the same scent as his shower gel.
“Just alright?” he asks.
“Mm-hmm.”
Christ, it’s so hard to be nonchalant and act like he isn’t driving me crazy. He nips my ear and kisses his way down to where my neck meets my shoulder.
“You taste good too,” he smirks. “Do you think I taste alright?”
“I wouldn’t know, I can’t remember,” I say, forcing myself to look away.
This is fucking torture…
“Then can I kiss you again to remind you?” he asks.
Fuck. I don’t even want to say no at this point. I don’t even think I’m angry with him… I just want to punish him for keeping me in the dark while he’s apparently been telling everyone I’m his.
“Don’t you need to ask your media team first?” I know… it’s petty…
“I’m going to make all of this up to you, baby, I promise.
” He steps back and cups my face with his hands, forcing me to look at him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about any of this.
I’ve practically been on house arrest to avoid the media; I haven’t even had my phone because they were worried it would get hacked.
I’ve literally had security people driving me to and from practice, they even drove me here today. ”
“You’re like a celebrity.”
“Well whatever it’s like, I hate it. Do you really think I didn’t want to call you right after the interview, that I wouldn’t have wanted you to know that I was gonna be out, and free, and coming to get you as soon as I could.”
“I don’t know…” I whisper. “But… can we really be together? In the open?”
He rests his forehead against mine. “We’re doing an official press conference tomorrow, announcing that I’m pansexual, the team and management support me, the Warriors are officially an LGBTQ+ inclusive team, and… well, hopefully, that I’m in a relationship with the man I love…”
My breath hitches at his words. “You want to announce that you’re with me? That you… that you love me.”
“Yes, more than anything,” he says. “I want everyone to know that you’re mine, and that I’m yours.
It’s up to you how involved you want to be; you can sit up there with me, or be in the audience, or stay here and be nowhere near it.
But I’m telling everyone you’re mine… and that I love you. If that’s okay?”
I lift up onto my tiptoes and reach my arms around his neck. Without me even needing to say a word he lifts me into his arms as my legs wrap around him, loving the feel of his hands on my ass and around my body again.
“Yeah,” I say, “that’s okay with me.”
I kiss him, and not half-heartedly like I did before, I let him claim me, devour me. Loving the way he presses me back into the bar, grinding his hips into me.
“I love you too, by the way,” I murmur, as he kisses along my jaw.
“You do? Even though I only smell alright?”
“You smell and taste fucking delicious and you know it.”
I grab his hair with my hand and pull his head back so I can kiss his neck instead.
“Fuck, Donovan,” he groans, grinding his hips into mine even harder, his cock pressing against me.
“Ahem.” A cough from the doorway interrupts us and I look up to see my brother grinning.
“Shit, D!” I yell, scrabbling to try and get out of Stephen’s arms but he’s not letting me go, instead holding me in place, pressed against the bar.
“Roommates, huh?” Diablo chuckles.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that,” I say angrily, but it doesn’t come across as remotely scary considering that I’m squirming in Stephen’s arms while he just smirks at me.
“Sorry, little bro,” Diablo laughs. “I was just getting some more drinks; I didn’t mean to scare you.
” He picks up a crate of beers from one of the tables and turns to leave, before glancing back over his shoulder.
“You’re more than welcome to keep going there if you don’t mind an audience, but room five is free if you need it. ”
He winks at us before he walks out the door, letting it swing shut behind him.
Stephen presses me back against the bar and grinds against me. “Where’s room five?”
“What? No! My… my mom is outside.”
“I don’t give a shit, Donovan.” He grazes his teeth over my throat, pulling a moan from me. “I need to be inside you; tell me where room five is or I’ll fuck you over this bar.”
“No… this is crazy,” I hiss. “Besides, I didn’t know you were coming, so I haven’t… you know, and I don’t have anything with me to even prep—”
“Donovan,” he grips my chin and holds me still so he can look at me. “When I say I don’t give a shit; I mean I don’t give a shit. I’ve missed you so much, please baby, it’s been too long.”