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Chapter Nine
Then
After a fewdates, Ryleigh quickly became a fixture in my life. One month turned to two, then to three, and now it was the end of the season. I’d spent every available moment with the girl, who I learned was sweet, creative, and a joy to be around.
She was artsy—she was working on opening her own photography studio.
She was sweet—she rarely had a bad word to say about anyone, which made her yelling and swearing at me that early morning in late November, that much more comical.
But equally, she never babied my moods—which definitely happened when it came to bad game.
In fact, she did just the opposite.
I spent a lot of time at her apartment, and if I came over after a shitty game, she’d give me my space for some time, but then try to talk me down from my moods.
The woman understood the game. She could talk to me through plays. We’d discuss things I did and things I could have done differently. It was interesting, to say the least, to have that type of support at ‘home.’
The apartment that me and the guys shared was hardly ever used these days, not with Caden’s Caroline off tour, and both Nick and Teague’s women more than ready for the next step.
As for me, I couldn’t tell you how many nights I slept in my bed versus Ryleigh’s, just that I was in hers far more often. Shortly after we got together—that hotel room moment wasn’t my best, but I may have still gone in for the kiss after dropping her off that night; the kiss led to dinner the next night, which eventually lead to a whole lot more—I learned part of the reason for her quiet ways was the woman had been a virgin. That first time…
I could remember very vividly how she tried to cover her face, convinced that if she couldn’t see…
She was a fucking hoot.
Now, it was the end of the season and she was going to come to our end-of-season banquet on my arm, and I couldn’t be more fucking excited.
The last time the booster club put on a party, Ryleigh and I had nothing between us but a note and a few eye locks. Tonight, she was my date.
My girl.
When I got back from the gym, walking into Ryleigh’s place like it was my own, she greeted me as she always did—standing at the top of her stairs. She’d already showered and was wearing nothing but one of my dress shirts, as far as I could tell. She gave me a smile before moving back to the bathroom, where I easily followed her to.
“Guess I’m not wearing that shirt tonight?” I asked, grinning from behind her.
She stopped at the bathroom sink, flashing me her sweet smile. “I thought the green one would look better on you.” She shrugged her shoulder. “It matches your eyes.”
“Will my khakis be fine, or should I go grab some slacks?” I asked in a teasing manner, moving to the dresser that I’d claimed as my own, to grab a pair of khakis Ryleigh had ironed and pressed the day before.
“Shut up.” I could hear the laugh in her voice as I pulled them out, then went to the closet for the green dress shirt. I walked with them over my arm, back into the bathroom, where I deposited them on the lid of the toilet. I started to peel myself from my gym clothes, but my attention was snagged by her.
Ryleigh stood on her tiptoes, looking into her makeup bag.
I finished pulling off my clothes, but kept looking at her. I wanted her, and I knew she wanted me. The woman wasn’t immune to my naked body, and sure enough, her eyes slipped over to me.
Only, she wasn’t as sly as she thought.
Ryleigh’s face blushed bright pink when she realized she was caught.
“I can’t help it!” she muttered with a smile.
Chuckling, I moved to stand behind her. My cock wasn’t to full attention, but it could get there quickly, and easily, enough. “I didn’t say anything,” I said, slipping my hands around her waist only to drop down to the bottom hem of the shirt.
“What are you…” she started, but stopped when I dropped my lips to her shoulder. Whatever she was about to say was lost when I gently nibbled on her favorite spot.
“I can’t help it,” I mimicked against her skin. She tipped her head further away, allowing me more access. “Ryleigh?”
When she replied in what could only be passed as acknowledgement, I continued. “We don’t technically have to be there on time.”
