12. Noah #2
“I think you and I are going to get along great,” she whispers to my sister and touches her hair delicately.
“I’ll be able to tell you all about your brother and the things he probably doesn’t mention to you.
Like how he’s a pretty messy guy. Well, actually, I think it’s just laziness, but we’re working on it.
Which makes absolutely no sense because he keeps his car squeaky clean. ”
I zone out from there as she keeps chatting to my sister. I love the way she talks to her as if she’s really here. Like she might answer or make a comment, laugh along with her. It’s beautiful to watch.
I was nervous about bringing Veronica here this morning, but now I realize it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Watching them together makes my love for Veronica grow a thousand times stronger.
After an hour of the two girls talking—well, Veronica talking and pretending my sister was answering—she stands from the chair and comes in front of me, her hand falling on my shoulder. “Do you want some time alone with her? I can wait outside in the hall.”
“No. That’s okay, Kitten. Are you ready to go?”
“I think so.” She bites her lip and looks back at my sister. “Would it be okay if I came back to see her some time?”
I watch her for a second. “You mean alone?”
She nods. “Only if you’re comfortable with that.”
“Yeah, I think that would be okay.” She smiles in response. “We’ll go fill out the paperwork on our way out.”
I place my hands on her hips and slowly bring her body between my spread legs as she places her other hand on my shoulder as well and looks down at me. “I’m sorry for calling you my girlfriend.”
“It’s okay,” she whispers.
“I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to bring someone, and I thought it would pass better if they thought you were with me,” I tell her truthfully. I hadn’t planned on saying it; I know how Veronica feels about dating. But I can’t hide how amazing it felt to call her mine.
“It’s okay, Casanova. I understand.” Her hands move along my shoulders, slowly going down my arms, then back up. She traces her movements with her eyes, no longer meeting mine.
“It’s just a word… it means nothing… right?” Finally, she looks back up as she swallows, and I see an inkling of fear in her eyes.
I nod slowly, even though every cell in my body is telling me to deny her claim, to tell her this means something to us. That she means something to me. But I know she needs me to agree with her, to reassure her. “Yeah, Kitten. It’s just a word.”
She nods and takes a step back as I stand. I walk over to my sister and lower, kissing her forehead. “Bye, sis. I love you.”
Veronica stands behind me, smiling at my sister. “Bye, Trinity. I’ll be coming to see you again soon.”
I take her hand as we make our way over to the nurses’ station to fill out the forms. A little while later, we head out to my car together, still hand in hand. When we get to the passenger door, I go to pull it open, but Veronica leans against it, eyes searching mine.
I can tell something’s running through her mind; I’m just not sure what exactly. Until she presses her hand to my chest. I take a step closer and place one hand on her hip, the other coming up to cradle the side of her face as her eyes widen, lips parting slightly and pupils dilating.
My gaze falls to her lips momentarily, then back up to hers as I take another step, pressing our bodies together. Her hand that lies on my chest slides up to my nape in the process. I give her a second to come to terms with what I’m about to do, what is about to happen between us.
I catch her gaze falling to my lips as her chest rises and falls against mine, and when she looks back up, she gives me a subtle nod. I’m not sure if she even realized she did it, but I take that as the green light I’ve been waiting for and slowly descend my lips to hers.
Veronica instantly melts in my arms, a soft moan falling from her lips, and I capture it.
I deepen the kiss when she opens up for me, my tongue sliding between her lips and into her mouth as hers twirls around mine.
Her hand moves into my hair, pulling me even closer as she becomes desperate for my touch.
I feel my shaft turning to stone inside my boxers as I thrust softly against her, causing her to whimper.
I bite her lower lip and do it again, needing to hear her perfect little noises once more.
This time she moans my name, her head slightly dropping back as she tries to fist my short hair. “Noah…”
I kiss her again, never getting enough. Wanting more. This isn’t like the first time she kissed me, where it was just lip against lip and lasted barely five seconds, or even the one during our big win. This one is deep, feverish, and holds passion. It holds everything I’ve ever wanted from her.
We’re lost in the moment as we claim each other with our mouths, electricity shooting through the air around us. That is until a car horn blares from nearby and snaps us back to reality.
I pull away slightly as we look at each other, both breathing heavily, pupils fully blown on both ends.
For a moment, she seems frozen in place, like the realization of what just happened between us is finally hitting her.
But then she smiles, and it nearly knocks me to my knees.
I bring my lips down to hers one last time, kissing them delicately, then step away.
She moves aside and lets me open the car door for her, where she slides in quietly before I walk around and settle into the driver’s seat. When I look at her, she seems lost in thought. “Do you want me to drop you off at your place?”
She eventually turns to me, looking over all my features. “Is it okay if I come back to the penthouse with you?” she whispers. “Aubrey will be working later, and I don’t feel like sitting around alone doing nothing.”
“Of course, Kitten. It’s our home, you’re always welcome there.”
GAbrIEL
I grab a water bottle from the fridge and take a much-needed gulp as the elevator dings. I’m expecting to find only Noah making his way over but spot Ronnie at his side as well.
“Vixen.” I grin. “I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“I wasn’t planning to.” She looks up at Noah for a second before turning back to me. “But I was getting bored at home and texted Noah to see what you guys were up to. He offered to bring me over here on his way home.”
I nod, a little irritated that she texted him and not me, but I swallow it down. “So, what’s the plan for the day?” I ask, hoping they didn’t already make plans without me.
Plans that don’t include me.
“Not sure, we haven’t discussed anything yet,” Noah informs me. Thank God.
“What would you like to do, baby? It’s your call. Anything you want.” I beam her way.
She looks at both of us, then bites her pillowy bottom lip. “I’ve always wanted to go to Coney Island.”
“You’ve never been?” Noah asks as he brushes her hair back behind her ear, to which she shakes her head while gazing at him.
I clap my hands, pulling them out of whatever little moment they’re having. “Then I guess it’s settled. We’re going to Coney Island.” The excitement that lights up Ronnie’s face at my statement makes this impromptu trip totally worth it.
“I’m gonna grab a shower first. Then we can go,” Noah tells us.
“That’s okay, I was in the middle of my workout anyway. Just came to get some water since the mini fridge is out. I’ll finish up quickly, then jump in the shower as well, and we’ll leave after.”
“Okay, I’ll fill up the fridge in the gym. I forgot to do it yesterday, sorry,” Ronnie says as she moves into the pantry and grabs a case of bottled water.
I take it from her hands as she reaches for a box of protein bars as well. “That’s okay, baby. No need to apologize, it’s not the end of the world.” We walk together toward the gym while Noah heads upstairs.
Once inside the weight room, I get back to my workout.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Ronnie watching me from time to time as she fixes up the fridge.
A few moments later, she finishes up her task, and I expect her to leave the room and wander off to do something else.
But instead, she gets closer, standing against one of the mirrors along the wall and watches me.
She doesn’t say anything, and neither do I.
But I feel her heated gaze traveling down my body with every move I make.
And it’s fucking euphoric. Finishing up all my sets, I drop to the ground to finish off with my regular stretches.
As a goalie, it’s important to stay flexible and have your joints loose.
The season might be over, but I like to stay at the top of my shape even during the off-season.
As I twist from side to side, stretching my hips and legs out, I find Ronnie with hooded eyes, lips slightly parted as she leans her back into the mirror.
One dainty hand falling over her chest delicately as it rises and falls.
My little Vixen is turned on. I give her a wink and a tiny blush forms over her cheekbones.
She clears her throat, lifting her head and pushing her shoulders back, acting like she’s not affected by me in the slightest. “I never realized how flexible you were. I always thought it was just all the pads that made you look that way.”
“Nope. All me, baby.” I grin as I stand.
“It must come in handy, being flexible,” she says softly.
I take a few steps toward her. “You have no idea.”
“It makes sense now, why all the girls are so crazy about you. I mean, you must be able to do some pretty crazy things.” She wets her lips as I get closer.
Only a few inches separate us now. Her chest moves more rapidly now, eyes dilating further as she watches my every move. “Would you like to find out, Vixen?”
She visibly swallows, lips parting more as she goes to answer. “I… I…”