Chapter Seven
Seraphina
"Do you miss playing football?" I ask, reaching out to trace the surgical scar across Stone's knee. We're snuggled in my bed, our legs tangled together, while he feeds me bites of the pasta he made after he bathed me.
I feel like I'm living in an alternate dimension again.
Only, there's no panic this time. There's only the absolute certainty that this grouchy, incredible man is every single one of my dreams, live and in living color.
He's softer, sweeter, and more open than he's ever been.
I can't get enough of this side of him. I don't think many people get to see it.
I love that I do…that he wants me to know the pieces of him that he holds in reserve.
"Occasionally," he murmurs, scooping up another bite onto the fork before holding it out to me.
I lean forward, wrapping my lips around the utensil to pull the pasta into my mouth.
He grunts softly, readjusting beneath me.
"But I accepted that I'd never play again before I landed on the green the day my knee blew. "
"Really?"
"I knew it was coming." He wipes a bit of sauce from my lip before sucking his finger into his mouth to lick it off. "I was surprised to make it that far in the season before it went."
"You were playing injured?"
"Most guys who make it to the league are playing injured. Football isn't a forgiving sport. We all know our time is limited, so we do with it what we can and hope for the best." He scoops up another bite, his gaze roaming over my face. "I enjoy coaching."
"Could have fooled me," I mumble, accepting the bite.
He smirks at me, shaking his head. "They need someone to ride their asses, angel.
Without that discipline, they fall apart.
I've seen it a thousand times. As soon as you give an inch, they want a mile.
And when they're offered a contract worth millions, along with everything that comes with it, they go too far.
They have to learn now, before they fall flat on their faces later. "
"You really care about them."
"Does that surprise you?" he asks, one brow arched.
"No. I just…" I shrug. "I've always seen it," I say softly.
"You pay attention to the little things, even when you're being a bear about the big stuff.
I guess it's just…" I trail off again, not sure how to explain.
"I guess I just never expected you to be this open with me about it, or about anything, really.
Usually, you're growling or snapping or bossing me around.
You never let yourself just be human with me. "
"Because I knew if I did, there was a big chance that you'd see too much and walk out of my life," he says quietly, stretching to set the bowl on the nightstand. "I put up walls and put you on one side, made you untouchable, so I couldn't cross a line."
"I wanted to quit," I whisper.
"But you didn't."
"No." I peek up at him, meeting his gaze.
"I don't think I ever would have. Even when you were unbearable, I still wanted to be there.
I love my job, Stone. I love working for you and the team.
I love Hector and Ms. Wanda, Jim, and all the students.
Even when you annoy me, I love feeling like I'm part of this big, crazy family there.
" I smile softly. "I never really had that, you know.
My grandma raised me before she died when I was in college.
Aside from my friends, I've kind of been on my own.
It's nice being surrounded by so many people who care. "
He groans softly, leaning down to kiss my lips. "I'm going to try like hell to not be a Thanos-level villain going forward."
"Okay. Then I guess I'll try not to strangle you," I reply against his lips, earning a rough laugh.
"You'll only try, huh?"
"Well, I mean, rumor has it that men like to be strangled occasionally and in certain ways."
"Yeah?" He pulls back to meet my gaze. "You talking about with your legs around my head, Seraphina? Because I'm down for it. Matter of fact…" He slides down on the bed and then plants his hands on my waist, hauling me up.
"What are you doing?" I cry, scrabbling for something to hold onto as he drags me where he wants me, leaving me straddling his face.
"Testing your theory," he growls. "Sit on my face and don't get up until you're coming all over my tongue."
"You're so bossy," I gasp.
He swats me on the ass, his breath hot against my sex. "Punish me for it, angel. Ride my face."
I don't tell him no. I'm delusional, not stupid.
Waking up with Stone in my bed is a dream come true in a whole lot of ways.
First, there's the fact that he's so peaceful when he sleeps.
He's soft in a way that's brand-new, and I love it.
Second is the fact that I get orgasms before I'm even fully awake.
And then there's the whole couple's shower situation, where I get more orgasms.
By the time he leaves to run to his place to change before work, I'm not entirely sure my legs are going to function properly today. But I let him kiss me senseless at the door anyway, eager to find out.
"Hey, Stone?" I ask before he can step outside.
"Yeah, angel?"
"Can we…" I bite my lip, fidgeting. "Can we not repeat yesterday? I mean…um, I just think…"
"Hey." He strides back toward me, tipping my head back. "You don't owe me an explanation, Seraphina. If you want me to keep my goddamn hands to myself at work, that's all you have to say. I'll respect that."
"Thank you," I breathe, melting into him. "I just don't want either of us to get in trouble. I don't want us to be the distraction that costs the team the title when you guys have worked so hard, either."
"I understand." He kisses me hard on the mouth. "During work hours, we'll focus on work."
"And after?"
His cerulean eyes glitter with intent. "We'll be living out as many of your fantasies as humanly possible," he growls, nipping my bottom lip. "And replaying the highlights."
I whimper in response, my body igniting.
"See you in an hour, angel."
"Bye, Stone."
I don't see him in an hour. As soon as I get to the office, I have to fix the printer for Miss Wanda in reception, then run to the transportation office to figure out what's going on with the bus because it's parked out front of the building when it shouldn't be.
And then I have to run back to reception to pick up the mail.
By the time I make it to Stone's office, it's after ten, and I feel like I've already run a whole damn marathon.
My heart flutters when I step inside and see a cup of coffee on the corner of my desk. His door is closed, but I hear his voice on the other side. He doesn't sound very happy.
I laugh to myself at the thought because it's a new one. Before this week, Stone never sounded happy. He had one mode—disgruntled. Wild how fast that can change.
I sink into my seat, my mind whirling with memories of the last two days. It already feels like it's been so much longer. Maybe that's because, in a way, it has. Maybe we didn't address the elephant in the room until two days ago, but it's always been there. We've always been circling one another.
Maybe it took a game of MASH and an accidental reveal to get us to admit it, but for the last six months, we've been creeping a little closer to the tipping point every day.
I pull my phone out to text Emelia, Nova, and Ava.
Me: How do you know if you're falling in love?
Me: I think I might be.
Me: Help!
I don't get time to check for a response before Axel Stevens pokes his head into the office.
"Hey, Axel." I smile at him.
"Is Coach here?"
"Yeah. He's in his office."
He glances toward the closed door. "Is he busy?"
"I think he's on a call. What's up?"
Axel hesitates at the door, fidgeting. "I…Well, I guess I just wanted to apologize for pissing him off yesterday. I didn't mean to make him mad."
"Axel," I say softly, feeling a little guilty. I do not want to be the reason for any awkwardness or stress between him and the team. "He isn't mad at you."
"He thought I was flirting with you. Trust me, Seraphina. He was mad."
I blink at Axel, caught off guard. "W-what makes you think that?"
He scratches his head, hesitating, and then he sighs. "Look, you didn't hear it from me, but the whole team knows that you two have a thing."
"What?" I gape at him. How the fuck do they possibly know that already? Oh my god. Did someone see us yesterday?
My mind goes into panic mode at the thought.
"It's obvious," Axel says. "He looks at you with hearts in his eyes. You look at him the same way. Plus, he gets mad whenever any of us look at you, talk to you, smile at you, or breathe in your direction." He grimaces. "Basically, if we exist near you, it pisses him off."
"That…that…"
"It's not my fuckin' business," Axel says, holding up his hands. "They paid for me to come play ball, not get in the Coach's business. I just wanted him to know that I didn't mean to step on his toes or offend him or whatever."
"Noted," Stone growls from behind me.
I jump slightly in my chair.
"Oh, hey, Coach." Axel shoves his hands into his pockets. "Uh, I… I just came to say sorry for bugging your assistant yesterday. Won't happen again."
"It's fine, Axel," Stone says.
Axel blinks at him like he didn't expect that answer.
"I was…an ass yesterday," Stone says softly. "I apologize."
The office is so quiet, it's unnatural. And then Axel booms laughter, shaking his head. "Holy shit. Coach just apologized. The guys aren't going to believe this."
I expect Stone to snap at him, but he doesn't. He just jerks his head toward the door. "Get to class before I take it back, Stevens."
"Yes, sir." Axel laughs again, waves at me, and then hurries out, still chuckling.
I turn to Stone to find him watching me, his expression stark. "Did you mean it?" he growls.
"What?" I frown up at him, confused. "Mean what?"
"Your text." He wraps a hand around the door frame like he's physically holding himself in place. "Did you mean it?"
"My…" I trail off, snatching my phone up.
No.
No, no, no.
But the truth is right there on my screen in undeniable, embarrassing letters. I didn't text Emelia, Nova, and Ava for advice. I didn't admit to my best friends that I think I'm falling for my boss.
I fucking texted him. I admitted it to him.
"Did you mean it?" he growls.
"I…" Yet again, there's no lying my way out of this one. There's no earthquake coming to save me, either. There's just me, him, and the truth screaming between us like a fucking neon sign. "Yes."