She gasped. “And this is why I didn’t want to tell her!”
“You’re going to have to tell her eventually, Nik.”
She exhaled dramatically. “Fine.”
“But it can wait until after this.” I dove under the covers, licking and sucking on her swollen bud as her body relaxed into the mattress.
We spent the better part of the rest of the night wrapped up in each other, going round after round. We had come a long way since the first time together, and each time we did it, it felt closer and closer to making love—something we were experiencing for the first time together.
Chapter 10
Nikki
As the weeks went by, Chase and I fell into a comfortable little routine, but the beginning of his season was fast approaching and we were on the brink of him leaving for the first time since we had started dating.
“It’s only preseason, can’t they do without you?” I complained while sitting on the kitchen counter as Chase sautéed chicken and vegetables in a pan.
“That’s not how a team works, babe. Could the corps de ballet go on without you?” he asked with an eyebrow raise.
“Ugh! Fine. I just don’t like it.” I threw my hands in the air dramatically before grabbing his shoulder to pull him in for a quick kiss.
“Think of this as a practice run for when the season hits. I am going to have away games, it’s a thing.” He nipped the nape of my neck. “We’ll just have to make the most out of the time we do have together.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to be okay with you being gone.”
“Just set up more privates with Lisa and that other dancer you gush over all the time, what’s her name again?” He cut one of the chicken breasts open to make sure they were cooked through.
“Juliette. Yeah, I will see if they have some free time to keep going over a few of my routines.”
He grabbed plates from the cupboard. “Dinner is served, my lady.” Chase helped me down from the counter and put our dinner on the kitchen table.
“Are you excited?” I asked before blowing on the steaming bite of chicken on the tip of my fork.
“Not really, to be honest. It doesn’t seem real yet.”
“I can’t wait to watch it. I’ll be cheering you on from the couch while wearing my blue and white jersey as I ice my feet tomorrow night.”
He smiled at me. “Thanks, baby.”
* * *
When I woke up, Chase had already left. It was terrible waking up without him next to me, but it wasn’t going to be for too long. I knew I needed to stop being so dependent on him, but I couldn’t help falling for him and wanting to be around him twenty-four seven. I was stuck to him like glue and loved it so freaking much. I rolled over to find a note on his pillow.
Good morning, baby!
I love you.
-Chase
It wasthe first time he’d ever told me those three simple words and it was so romantic seeing them scrawled in his chicken scratch, but my ears longed to hear the words from his lips.
Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening and shutting broke through my love-drunk daze and I leapt to my feet.
“Is someone there?” I called through the shut bedroom door.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice responded.
After throwing my robe around my body and grabbing the baseball bat Chase kept next to our bed, I flung the bedroom door open. I was met with Chase’s same honey eyes as the woman cried out, “Who are you?”