Beyond the Bases

“Did we sleep?” I ask, teasing him. I lost count of the number of times we reached for each other in the night.

“We did. We did more than that,” he says, cupping my naked breast. “We should make this a nightly thing,” he suggests.

“You have practice in an hour. You’ll regret those words I’m sure by the time you’re done.”

“Never,” he says, pulling my body closer to his. “I could never regret anything when it comes to you.”

“Morning changes things.” I put it out there—the worry he’ll change his mind.

“You’re right. It does,” he agrees. I stiffen in his arms. I thought I was prepared for this, but I was wrong. “You’re even more beautiful today than you were yesterday,” he says, once again pressing his lips to my bare shoulder.

I release an audible breath and relax into his hold.

“I can’t explain it, Ris, but fuck, I don’t even want to. I don’t care that this is fast. I don’t care if someone thinks it too soon. It feels right. You feel right. That’s all that matters to me. You and P are… everything. That’s the best way I can describe it. I want you, both of you. I meant every word I said last night. No man…” He runs his hand over my belly, until he reaches my center. “…will ever be here.” He traces his fingers through my folds. “You’re mine now.”

“Does that work both ways?”

“Hell yes, it does. I don’t want anyone but you. You’re all I see, all I think about.”

“I have baggage,” I remind him. I hate referring to my daughter as baggage, but my life is not my own.

“You have a beautiful little girl who has stolen my heart.”

Turning over in his arms, I run my hand over the stubble that covers his cheeks. “Are you real?” I ask him.

He chuckles. “Yeah, babe, I’m real.”

“I just… the things you say, it’s—”

“From my heart.”

Tears prick my eyes as I remember his conversation with Paisley about always speaking from your heart. “Yeah?”

He leans in and kisses me softly. “Always, Larissa.”

“You need to get ready for practice, and I have to get ready for work.”

“I don’t want to move.”

“You have to.” I poke him in the side, causing him to squirm.

“You have plans tonight?”

“Nope, just picking P up from Mom’s after my shift.”

“Will you come back here? I can make us dinner. P can swim.”

“We can do that,” I say, kissing his chin.

“Pack a bag for both of you.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

He pulls away so he can see me. “What? Why not?”

“I don’t want Paisley to get the wrong idea. She’s already attached to you. I don’t need her to see us sleeping in the same bed.”

“She’s already seen it,” he counters.

“That was a nap in the middle of the day. Not at night.”

“I want you here, both of you.”

“We’ll come for a visit, but we’re going back to our place.”

“For now,” he concedes. “You’ll see this isn’t a game to me. I get that it’s more than just you and me that is going to be affected by our actions, by the decisions that we make. I lived that. I’ve been on your side of the fence. I’m not going into this lightly.”

“I know that.” Reaching up, I run my fingers through his hair. “I know, but I just need some time. Okay. I’m yours,” I rush to tell him. “I meant what I said last night, but I need some time to get used to the idea. To warm Paisley up to the idea.”

“She loves me.” He grins, looking cocksure and adorable.

“I know she does. I just don’t want her heart to be broken if this doesn’t work out.”

“Oh, it’s going to work out.” He lowers his mouth to mine, tracing my lips with his tongue. “It’s going to more than work out.” He kisses me, deep and slow. His lips soft yet firm against my own. “I’ll give you some time to catch up to where I am. I want you.” He kisses my nose. “I want Paisley.” He kisses my forehead. “I want us.” He kisses my lips. Just a soft peck, but the emotion behind it, the words before it makes it seem so much more.

“Shower,” I mumble against his lips. “I won’t be the reason you’re in hot water for being late to practice.”

“You’re worth it,” he says, kissing down my column of my neck.

“I can’t be late for work.”

“Fine,” he grumbles good-naturedly. He climbs out of bed and before I realize what’s going on, he has me thrown over his shoulder and stalking toward the bathroom.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask, laughing.

“We’re taking a shower.”

“We both know we’ll be late if we take a shower together.”

“I promise to be on my best behavior.” He sets me on the counter. “I just want you with me.” He shrugs casually, as if his words don’t take my breath away.