Reece:I have work until late ??
That was not the response Nick was expecting or looking for. What he wanted to say wasfuck work,but that wouldn’t do either of them any good.
Nick:I can come late
Reece:Okaaaay. I’ll text you. You might have to bring dinner. Unless you wanna eat me.
Nick snorted and tossed his phone on the bed, completely unaware of what he was truly getting himself into.
* * *
The post-college break offered Nick much more free time than he was used to. It wouldn’t last forever, his most intense training camp yet fast approaching, but all this down time had reallydone Nick some good. He was still working, meeting Declan and Alex every morning to warm up for the day. Then he’d deal with all his other work. Reviewing endorsement contracts. Local appearances. Commercials. And so much social media. Nick despised social media and needed to focus his time and efforts on his game, so he’d gladly agreed when his agent found a capable team to manage it for him. All he had to do was take his own selfies and record the occasional video to send off to the team and they handled the rest.
Thursdays aside, Nick and Declan were meeting up to play one-on-one at least twice a week, keeping themselves on top of their game while still getting the rest they needed. Alex was always with them and Nick’s respect for him grew every session. He never stopped helping them grow. He missed nothing. The guy was powerful.
Most of Nick’s time, however, was spent with Reece. They’d established a sort of routine, meeting up every other day at least. Sometimes at Reece’s place, sometimes at Nick’s. Sometimes at their friends’ too. On Tuesdays they watched Fashion Disaster—one of Reece’s favorite shows—had pizza, and Nick would stay until Reece had fallen asleep, or sometimes even stay overnight. On the weekends, they went out, mingling with all the locals in their favorite clubs or even on the beach.
Wherever they were or whatever they did, it felt nice, and Nick had never been happier. His mind wasn’t racing. His limbs weren’t aching. And things between him and Reece couldn’t have been smoother.
11
Chapter 11 - Reece
Tomorrow Nick would officially be leaving for L.A. to participate in the one-month training camp he, Declan, and Alex had all been anticipating. For weeks, Reece prepared for it too, and dreaded it all the same. The idea of it being his last day with Nick, and having no idea where that would leave them standing, made him so anxious that ignoring it was all he wanted to do. He’d cheer Nick on always, of course, and he was proud of him, but Reece hated being left behind. He told himself to stay cheerful, at least until Nick was gone, but hidden behind the smile he’d been sporting all day were threatening tears.
He’d miss Nick like crazy. A month was like an eternity. Especially since they’d been spending so much time together. Since their friends-with-benefits relationship began, Reece and Nick hadn’t spent more than a full day apart from each other.
They fucked a lot, but not always. There were times when Nick came over and they ended up napping on the couch after amovie or two. Sometimes they didn’t even make it through a full movie before they were napping. Nick’s cuddles were the best, always made Reece sleep so soundly, and he was going to crave Nick’s closeness every single day until he was back home.
Of course, Reece was determined to stay strong and not seem as if he’d miss Nick too much. He didn’t want Nick to think he was being too clingy, and he didn’t want to make him worry either. He’d been so busy too, preparing for the trip, that he’d been tired the last two times they were together. Reece didn’t mind one bit that Nick wanted to lie with him and just sleep, even if Nick had an effortless way of keeping him horny. More than anything, Reece just wanted his company.
Reece took the day off to spend with Nick, and was glad that Nick chose to spend his last night at home with him of all people. The day before, Reece got waxed and he had a morning at the spa to make sure he was clean and soft and fuckable for the night ahead.
Most of the time they spent their time together at Reece’s, but since Nick’s flight was early the next morning, they’d be at Nick’s for the evening.
At home after the spa and Reece’s last-minute preparations, he changed out of his day clothes and into the black lace lingerie he’d chosen for the evening. He was in the middle of moisturizing his legs when Nick texted him.
Nicky:Be there soon
Reece didn’t respond but hurried with his lotion and shimmied into the black capri leggings he chose for the night and the over-sized cream, cashmere sweater. His face was clean but he reapplied some moisturizer and brushed his hair before checking over Nick’s gifts.
The basket he made wasn’t wrapped, but Reece carefully placed everything to make it look as nice as possible and tied a black bow around the basket itself. He planned to take a cabto Nick’s, but when Nick offered to pick him up instead, Reece requested he do so in his car instead of on the bike.
He’d miss that bike though.
Nick was knocking on his door before he felt ready, and then letting himself in before Reece could make it into the living room.
“What’d I tell you about leaving this door unlocked?”
“No chiding me today,” Reece said, but the back of his neck heated up. Nick had come over so often to his door being unlocked and scolded him for it every time.
Reece blamed Nick for making him forget, because just looking at him was enough to send him spiraling. Nick looked like a tall drink of water. Or maybe a double shot of dark liquor, and Reece was thirsty as hell. His hands were in the pockets of his baggy black joggers, the ankles the only part of them that was fitted. Reece couldn’t see the waistband of them thanks to Nick’s long gray, black, and white tee, but he already knew how low they were on those hips. Over the last few weeks, Reece had become very accustomed to Nick’s body.
“You look comfy and fuckable,” Reece said with a bright smile and Nick smirked.
“You too, Kitten.”
It was hard not to squeal, but Reece kept it together and skipped into the kitchen to get the gift basket off the table. Thankfully, it had handles so Reece was able to hold it behind his back without trouble.
