I grabbed the phone and my jacket, heading to the front door.I didn’t want to be reminded of Reno’s nagging me to come out for his team.It was out of my league.
“You will not run away from me.”She ran around me, blocking my exit.“Someone wants you to play and you’re saying no?”
“It’s a tryout.No promise to play for real.”
“A tryout for a team?Foryouto play ball, not coach some kids?”
“Just forget about it.I don’t have time for it.I can’t do it.Move so I can go.”I did a shooing motion with my hand.
She put her hands on her hips.“I’m not moving.When is the tryout?”
“Wednesday night out toward Greensboro.”
“You’re going.And you’ll take Vinny to show him what real ball can be like.Text Reno that you’re going.”
“It’s a waste of time.I’m not good enough.”I couldn’t go.I’d freeze up or fuck up.
She poked me in the chest.“Bull-fucking-shit.You will not say no because you’re afraid.Text Reno that you’ll be there.You’re not leaving this house until I see you do it.”
“Fine.”I sent the text and held up the phone to prove it.Her forcing me to send the message took the pressure off.If I crapped out, it’d be because she forced me to do it.Damn if I didn’t feel kind of excited about playing.
She blinked up at me.
I wanted her so badly it hurt.All I had to do to put myself out of this misery was get out of my head and lean forward just a little bit, press my body against hers.
But I didn’t.
Her hand tangled with mine in a way that was more a coax than a demand.Then she stepped closer, her glittering brown eyes gazing up at me.The corner of her mouth lifted into a half grin I felt all the way to my balls.
“You can handle the tryout,” she whispered.“I’ll be there too.”
I needed this woman who always believed in me, who always dragged me out of my self-doubt when no one else could reach me.I hung on the edge, frozen and waiting for what came next.
She pulled me down to her and crashed her mouth into mine.Nothing ever felt so right.This rightness had scared me earlier, but I couldn’t stop kissing her now.What if I did something stupid again?If she left me this time, I wouldn’t survive.
Another kiss, I promised myself.Just one more.Then I’d leave.
“I want you,” she moaned against me.“Right here.”The words burned around us like wildfire—instant, unpredictable, undeniable.
“I need you too, but what about Vinny?”
“He sleeps like the dead.We can be quiet, right?”
“Maybe.We can try.”I reached down to pull off her pajama bottoms, hooking her underwear at the same time.Seconds later, I was on my knees, my mouth on her core.
“Josh!”Her head dropped back against the wall.
“Shh,” I admonished.
She put a hand over her mouth to muffle her moans.I continued until she came against me.She pulled at my hair and shoulders as if trying to get me up and where she wanted me.I wanted to be there too.
I laughed.“Tell me again how much you want me.”
“Too much.”She gasped when I lifted and pinned her against the wall, balanced on my thigh.Her mouth reached mine again.
I was born for this woman.Maybe it was because everything she touched in my life became better.
“Tell me you’re mine,” I whispered with my mouth close to hers.“Tell me we’re in this together.”
