Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
“Thanks for coming, everyone,” I say to my yoga students as they pack up their mats and leave. I’m so tired. We got back three hours ago and I had to rush straight to class then here.
Maverick walks to the front, his black mat under one tattooed arm. “Good class today.”
“You say that every day.”
“And it’s always true.” He grins. “Going to the apartment?”
“Yeah. Am I that predictable?”
He laughs. “Want a ride?”
“That’d be great.”
Maverick drives a shiny black SUV with leather seats and a sound system that makes my insides vibrate when the music starts.
“Sorry about that.” He turns it down. “I think I killed the zen of the moment. Pick whatever you want.”
“I’m easy to please.”
“That’s what Rhett said.” He covers his mouth with a fist. “Sorry. It was right there.”
“Hey now,” I say as I laugh.
“I’m kidding, but for real, you’re chill and I think that’s good for Rhett. He’s got a big heart.”
“Thank you.” I angle my legs toward him. “What does Rhett say about me?”
“Walked right into that, didn’t I?”
“Pretty much.”
Maverick leans back in his seat, one hand at the top of the steering wheel. “Not much, honestly, but to be fair, he’s always been pretty quiet. Come on, you can’t seriously be doubting that my boy is digging you. He was out of his mind when he saw that video of your accident.”
“You know that point when you’re spending all your time with someone and it’s going great, but you’re not sure if you’re on the same page?”
“You’re afraid you like him more than he likes you?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. The heart thing tends to freak guys out. It isn’t a big deal when things are casual, but the second it’s more—it becomes a real thing to them.”
The more time I spend with Rhett, the harder I’m falling for him.
I still worry he isn’t ready for something serious and yet that’s exactly how it’s starting to feel.
Last night I had a dream that I called him to make plans and he told me he was heading out on a date with Josie.
Like, no big deal, just dating your friend.
Josie forced it out of me this morning when I couldn’t look at her, then laughed in my face, hugged me, and promised she’d never do that to me, and I felt slightly better. But I don’t need a psychology degree to figure out my subconscious is worried that I’m in over my head.
“I can’t speak for Rhett, but I know that he’s never seemed happier since you two started hanging out.
I don’t think that’s a coincidence.” He parks the SUV in the apartment parking lot and turns off the engine.
“I have exactly zero experience with serious relationships and I get that your heart condition adds complexity, but my advice? Tell him how you feel. Worst case, you’re not on the same page. At least you’ll know.”
I hum a noncommittal response as I get out of the truck and round the front. “Maybe I don’t want to know if it isn’t the answer I want.”
He drapes an arm around my shoulders. “You hiding from reality? Nah, you’re too baller for that.”
I lean my head on his shoulder. “Why haven’t you had any serious relationships?”
“Oh no.” He steps ahead of me to open the apartment door. “That’s way more than you want to get into in an afternoon.” His grin is playful and full of mystery which just makes me more curious, but Rhett’s sitting in the living room playing Xbox when I step through the doorway.
“Hey.” He presses pause on the game.
“Hey Sienna!” Adam calls from out on the back deck. The sliding glass door is open, and he sits in a lounge chair.
I wave, then look back to Rhett.
He stands. “I thought you were going to text before you came. I haven’t showered yet.”
My gaze travels over his bare chest “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
Maverick chuckles. “And I’ll be outside. Unless you two want to get into something freaky. I’m down for a shower. Or I could just entertain Sienna while—”
“No,” Rhett says without waiting for Maverick to finish.
“So possessive of your girl.” He winks at me and then laughs his way out to the back deck.
“Maybe I wanted to hear the rest of his offer,” I say when we’re alone.
“Well, by all means.”
I make like I’m going to get him, and Rhett hauls me to him with his arms around my waist.
“I’m kidding.” I slide my hands up his chest. “I’ve got my hands full with you.”
“Shower and then movie? We may have to watch it out in the living room though because everyone got really excited when I told them you wanted to watch Mighty Ducks.”
“Not want. Being forced.”
“You can’t not see it,” he says in the same tone he’d used when I told him I’d never seen it before.
I chuckle at him. “Actually, I need to call Elias back. He has a competition tomorrow and I don’t want to forget later. I tend to lose track of time around you.”
One side of his mouth pulls up. “Sorry. Not sorry.”
“Can I use your room?”
“Of course.”
While Rhett showers, I sit on his unmade bed surrounded by his scent, feeling giddy and happy and not trusting either of those emotions.
Elias answers, his face filling the screen. “She’s alive!”
“I’m sorry I keep missing you.”
“It’s fine.” He runs a hand through his dark hair. “I figured you were off being happy-happy with your hockey hottie.” His tone is too sarcastic and bitter for my friend.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Elias Mason Hummer.”
He sighs. “I kissed Taylor.”
“What?! When?” Those weren’t the words I was expecting to come out of his mouth.
“Last night.”
“How?”
“We were working late. It just happened. And now she’s avoiding me. She was a no-show for practice this morning.”
“Oh my god, E. Don’t you leave for France tomorrow?”
“Yeah. The timing couldn’t be worse. She won’t even look at me and we need to skate our asses off for the judges in three days.”
“Wow. What are you going to do?”
“Do? Nothing. Doing got me into this situation.”
“You have to find her and talk this out before you leave.”
“I’d rather catch up with my best girl. How the hell are you?”
I know he’s deflecting, but lord knows I’ve done it enough times to him that I let it go for now. “I’m good. I finally fixed the footwork sequence that was giving me trouble and I think Coach is going to let me add the double lutz back in at my last competition.”
“That’s awesome. What day is it? Maybe I can come down.”
“You can’t run away from your partner.”
“What? I never ask for time off. I’m sure Taylor can manage without me for a couple of days when we get back.”
“You will do no such thing. You’re so close. Talk with Taylor and get back to work. I’m only friends with you so I have a legit excuse to go to the winter games next year. Don’t ruin this for me.”
That makes him smile and I feel better. Because of Elias’s crazy training and being away from home, he doesn’t have a lot of friends and I feel bad that I’ve been preoccupied lately.
“Do you like her?”
“No, of course not. You know that I don’t. She annoys the shit out of me on a regular basis. She does this weird thing when she kisses where she hums softly.”
“Yeah, well, you wouldn’t know that if you didn’t go around kissing her.”
“Touché.”
After Rhett is done showering, we go back out to the living room to watch the movie. The entire group is over. Heath and Ginny are curled up on the opposite end of the couch as me and Rhett, Mav sits between us with Charli.
Dakota’s in the armchair and Adam and Reagan laid a blanket on the floor and she sits in front of him, her back resting against his chest.
“I can’t believe you’ve never seen this,” Ginny says. “Doesn’t your sister play hockey?”
“Yeah, but this movie was made like… thirty years before she was born. I have seen Miracle an obscene amount of times though.”
“Ooooh, that’s a good one too.” Mav’s eyes light up. “We should watch that one too.”
Rhett yawns, making the group laugh.
“What?” he protests through a laugh. “You guys insisted on turning the lights out. You know how I get.”
“Real talk,” Heath says, looking to me. “Does this guy make you leave the lights on when you have sex?”
Ginny elbows him. “You can’t ask people that.”
“You wanted to know too,” he says, tickling her sides.
“I have never fallen asleep on her,” Rhett defends himself.
“That he remembers,” I quip.
The movie starts and everyone quiets down and turns their attention to the TV. Rhett leans in to whisper in my ear, nipping the shell of my ear as he says, “I could never fall asleep while naked with you.”
“I might make you prove that later.”
“You’re on.” He sits forward. “Anyone else want a Monster drink?”
It’s still early when the movie ends, but we both have to be up in the morning for practice, so we duck out and head to Rhett’s room.
Despite the energy drink, my man is sleepy.
I’m undressing and grabbing a T-shirt from his drawer when he steps up behind me. His palms glide over my hips and stomach sending goose bumps racing over my skin.
I didn’t see him drop his sweats, but his dick pokes into me from behind.
I fake a yawn. “Oh, I don’t know. You seemed pretty tired earlier. Sure you can stay awake?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. His blue eyes bore into me with such intensity my stomach flips. I take a small step back and let my arms fall to his chest, then give him a gentle push.
He falls back onto the bed, sitting up.
Kneeling in front of him, I stare up at him as I kiss the head of his cock.
“If you fall asleep on me,” I warn.
“Angel, you don’t have to have your mouth on my dick to have me captivated, but the fact that you do—there’s no chance I’ll be able to take my eyes off you.”
His words mixed with the desire to be certain he doesn’t doze off and mortify us both makes me bolder in my movements. His hand threads through my hair and holds the back of my head tenderly, slowly guiding me down his thick length.
“Need to be inside of you,” he says, gripping me by the neck and pulling me to him.
Clothes are stripped and tossed and then it’s just the two of us, naked and wrapped up in each other’s arms.
His fingers brush along my skin tenderly, but his kiss is possessive and demanding. He lays me down and worships my body until I’m writhing and panting under him. I can’t even make a witty comment about the glow-in-the-dark condom he covers himself with.
I have no idea how he can move so slowly when my heart races for more. I arch my hips to get more of him, but he chuckles and pulls back.
“There’s no rush tonight, angel.”
But every cell in my body wants to rush. I want him—all of him and I want him now.
His brow furrows as he keeps up the slow rhythm, feeding his cock into me and pulling back. I’m whimpering and tears prick my eyes. It’s emotionally and physically overwhelming being with this man.
Finally, he gives me what I want. Picking up the speed, his kisses are harder and his moans match mine.
“Come for me, angel,” he whispers. “Give me what I want.”
And I do. I shatter underneath him.
“My heart is still racing,” I say after we’ve cleaned up and gotten ready for bed.
His arms tighten around me. “You good? Anything I can do?”
“I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”
“It’s been a long week. Sleep. I’m going to grab some water and food in case you wake up later and need something.”
“Thank you.”
I doze off while he’s gone, but stir when he slides back into bed behind me. His arm cradles me and he kisses my shoulder.
“‘Night, Sienna.”
I’m so tired I don’t respond. I’m almost asleep again when his deep voice sounds again. “I think I’m in love with you.”
I keep my breathing even, by some miracle, and stay silent.
“Why didn’t you say anything back?” Josie asks me the next morning when I fill her in before practice. We stretch in the tunnel outside of the locker room. I wasn’t going to tell anyone about Rhett’s late-night confession, but I needed to tell someone before I burst.
“He thought I was asleep. I didn’t want to ruin the moment for him. Besides, he said I think. That’s not the same thing.”
Her blue eyes light up. “It’s so sweet. I love this for you. I love him for you.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” I mutter, more to myself than her.
The hockey team has a full day of practice, skills, film, and who knows what else so I don’t hear from Rhett until I’m studying later in my room.
He sighs, laying back on the bed, the phone perched in his hand hovering above his face. He looks freshly showered. The ends of his hair are wet and he pushes the long top over to one side.
“I thought it was going to be a light practice.”
“It was supposed to be until we started getting sloppy.”
“Nerves, probably.”
“Yeah, I guess. Hope we can work that shit out of our system before we leave.”
“You will.” I close the lid of my laptop. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Uh,” he starts in a tone that makes me nervous. That one syllable sounds like guilt. “The guys wanted to have a chill night, just the four of us, at Prickly Pear. I could probably bail.” He makes a face—an expression I can’t read.
“Why would you do that? Go have a chill night with your boys. I have a quiz tomorrow anyway and I need to pack for the weekend. I should go to sleep early and rest. It’s going to be a busy weekend.” My body is tired. All of the traveling and practice, late nights with Rhett.
There’s a beat of silence on his end. His brows raise.
“What?” I ask, finally.
“Sorry. I just realized this is what this feels like.”
“What feels like?”
“One second,” he calls away from the phone, then sits up. “I have to go before they leave my ass. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Yep. Have fun.” I kiss the air and he winks before ending the call.