Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
SAM
Coachella Valley, US – March
Indian Wells
There was something thrilling about being back on the tour.
The time away had been great. I got to spend unexpected time with my sisters. I’d started to walk down a path of healing with my dad. Things felt good in almost all areas of my personal life.
But I was built to play tennis.
I’d spent so much of last year hating it and putting my body through the wringer that it felt amazing to feel excited about getting to play again.
A lot of it was down to regular therapy sessions and unlearning negative thoughts when it came to being injured and unable to play. But some of it was also down to having a team around me, though small, who prioritised being healthy over points.
It was easier to choose to take my time with recovery when Naomi had literally scheduled her season to miss six weeks in the name of preservation. And when Lois came back after Dubai for the same reason. Even Ryder chose not to go to Dubai so he could feel better rested for this tournament.
Somehow, the luck of the draw meant Naomi and I were playing on the same day, which meant we could also have the same training days.
I’d just started warming up on a treadmill when I noticed Naomi arrive via the mirror opposite me.
I nearly stumbled, which was ridiculous.
I knew she was here. I was expecting to see her in this gym.
I watched her as she sat on a bike, piled her curls up into a high ponytail, and lowered the resistance.
Even from where I was, I could see the power in her thighs, a power I knew intimately, as she started pedalling.
My feet got caught up in themselves again.
My phone lit up in the holder.
Naomi:
You know if you trip over your own feet one more time the treadmill will stop being forgiving and just let you face plant on it…
I looked at her reflection. Her legs were moving faster, and she was in a more streamlined position on the bike.
How do you even know I’ve done that once?
Her response was immediate.
Naomi:
Both sides of this gym are mirrored walls, I can see the back of you just like you can see the back of me
My cheeks flushed at the fact that I’d been caught red-handed. Was it ridiculous to blush because your girlfriend noticed that you found her presence in a room distracting?
Naomi:
Did the surprise of seeing me shock you to your core and make your knees weak? Dangerous to let me know I have that much power.
I could hear the thick drawl of sarcasm in her voice, but I couldn’t deny her. She did have that much power. Every time she walked into a room, it felt like the axis I was on shifted. It was scary sometimes, the way I felt about her.
But also, it wasn’t.
Naomi Sullivan was a soft place to land.
I wanted to always land there, and I hoped I could do the same for her.
Is that something you didn’t know already?
I could see her smile in the mirror.
Naomi:
I just wanted it in writing
Is there a reason you haven’t increased the speed of your treadmill?
I locked eyes with her reflection in disbelief. Although somehow, not surprised.
How have you even noticed that?
Naomi:
Magic
My legs feel like lead. That workout yesterday did a number on them. I’m taking it slow
I increased my speed anyway.
Naomi:
YOUR legs feel like lead? At least yours got a rest in the evening. Mine weren’t so lucky ;)
I had to actually step off the treadmill to avoid stumbling again as flashbacks of last night washed over me.
Naomi’s thighs pinned against my hips, the ends of her hair tickling my calves as she leaned back and slowly rocked against me, making sure each drag caught her clit at just the right angle.
Her nails biting into my skin, a bead of sweat sliding down the valley of her breasts, brown nipples peaked and desperate for attention that I would’ve given them if I hadn’t known she was close and needed nothing to change so she could fall over the edge.
Our eyes locked again in the mirror. Naomi’s legs were pumping faster, but she was sitting up now, her mouth open in surprise.
Naomi:
Sorry. That wasn’t fair. I won’t do that again
Yeah, this location is a terrible place to be turned on.
Naomi:
Think about the fact that Wyatt will be mad at us if we’re not ready to go in about fifteen minutes
That will do it
I caught Naomi’s wink in the mirror, and then she rested back on the handlebars. I watched her visibly lock in to what she was doing. I increased my speed again and did the same.
Actually taking the time to heal and not being wrapped up in guilt about it, which had to have affected my recovery the handful of times I’d done it in the past, did wonders for my game, and for the first time in my career, I won the Sunshine Double.
I went into clay court season feeling on top of the world.