I search for Rook again, but he’s already rushing off in the direction of the locker room with his team.
“I’ll never get used to that,” I mutter, and I’m met with Rook’s parents’ laughter. “I’m glad you both were able to make it to the game.”
“We wouldn’t have missed his first game.” His mom beams. “Have you talked about Christmas with Rook? I’m still planning on having you both for Christmas morning, right?”
I nod. “That’s the plan. Then we’ll head to Kansas the next day to see my mom, brother and his family.”
“How are Kendra and the new baby?” Rook’s mom’s eyes light up.
My nephew is just shy of four weeks old and cute as hell. “Good. But he’s a traitor. Cried when I held him and fell straight asleep in Rook’s arms.”
Rook’s dad chuckles. “Figures. That boy gave us hell as a baby. Never wanted to sleep, but now”—he waves his hand around the arena—“it makes sense. He just loved the attention.”
The stands have mostly emptied while we’ve been talking, and finally Mrs. Oliveira stands. “We need to get back on the road. I have so much to do for the holidays. I wish my husband wasn’t afraid of heights so we could just fly, but…”
“I am not scared of heights,” Mr. Oliveira grunts uncomfortably, and I cough while attempting to hold back a laugh.
She rolls her eyes. “Let’s go track down this super star boyfriend of yours and say our goodbyes.”
As I follow behind his parents, my thoughts drift to how everything started. How Rook and I made the leap from best friends to fake boyfriends to more. So much more.
As much as I hate to think about my asshole ex, sometimes I’m grateful for him. Not him as a person, for sure. But for putting that stupidly perfect idea in Rook’s head. Brad’s only managed to dig himself a deeper grave, last I heard anyway. When he cheated on Andy again, the scorned man went straight to my brother and spilled the beans. Of course, Trevor wasn’t happy, but he’d forgiven me, and Brad was out of the picture. Win-win.
I've barely stepped foot into our downtown loft on the fifteenth floor before Rook slams the door closed and I'm pinned against the exposed white brick wall. The clean scent of him fresh from the shower clings to his skin as he presses his chest flush with mine. The rapid pounding of his heart thumps hard, eyes blazing with heat as he stares at me and groans. "I need you."
"Oh yeah?” When he leans in to kiss my neck, I moan. “How bad?"
He growls against the sensitive skin, nipping and sucking. "Fucking desperately. Seeing you in the stands, wearing my jersey…" Rook grunts and shifts his hips, letting me feel through his loose sweats exactly how much he's affected.
"Where do you want me?" My head spins with ideas of how he’ll fuck me. I want it as bad as he does, especially when one of his hands slides to my ass and squeezes.
"Bed. Bent over, gripping the headboard and screaming my name. Just like our first time." He thrusts, sliding his hard cock against mine.
My cock pulses in my jeans as I remember the first time Rook slid inside me, and then proceeded to fuck me senseless. With a firm shove, I push him back enough to slide around him.
We moved into the new apartment when Rook was signed by the Dragons. It was a big step up from our old place and we had opted for modern black-and-white decor.
Rook doesn't ask questions as I move through the living room. He knows I'm not going to deny him. I strip my shirt off as I pass by the huge glass windows that overlook a grassy park and head for the black spiral staircase that leads to our bedroom. Judging by the appreciative, raspy noises coming from behind me, he likes what he sees as I take the stairs.
The first piece of furniture we bought was a simple black iron California King-sized bed, complete with a mattress that was the same brand as the one we’d slept on during our week at the Greenes’ resort.
After the long day, I let out a sigh of appreciation as I drop onto the massive bed made up with a plush, charcoal gray blanket.
Wasting no time, Rook whips open the nightstand drawer next to the bed and curses.
Frowning, I lean over, peeking in the drawer. “What’s wrong?”
“Left the lube in the shower from this morning.” He grins and drops a kiss to my lips. “Be right back. Don’t move.”
I roll my eyes and, with a laugh, push him away. I stare at his ass on his way out, admiring the view, and seriously wishing he didn't wear the gray fabric out in public. The way it highlights the shape of his body is for my eyes only.
My gaze scans the room as I wait impatiently. Against the stark white brick walls, the black-framed posters of my favorite silent films alternate with photographs of basketball idols Rook damn near worships. Propping back on my elbows, I catch sight of the red corner of something sticking from beneath Rook’s pillow. My brows furrow when I realize it’s our rulebook. We haven’t added a rule in more than a month, and it’s mostly kept for sentimental value, normally stacked on a shelf in the closet. Out of curiosity, I slip it free and flip through the pages, grinning at some of the ones we added during the week of my brother’s wedding. We were so blind to what was really happening between us for too long.
We've filled so many pages that only a few blank sheets are left. I’m about to close it, when I notice a new rule written in Rook’s handwriting. That wasn't there before.
A thud comes from down the hall that sounds like Rook dropped something in the shower followed by a curse.
“You okay?” I call out and receive a grunt in reply.
My gaze drops back to the page.
Rule number seventy-eight: Marry m
Frowning, I read the two words again. The hell? Was the second m supposed to be me? My heart somersaults as I consider the possible meaning behind the rule. It doesn't appear finished, so who knows what I'm missing. Surely there is meant to be more to it.
“You better be naked…” Hearing Rook’s voice, I glance up and see his large frame filling the doorway. He’s grinning, but the smile fades as he notices what I’m holding.
“What’s this?” My voice shakes as I hold up the notebook.
He groans and scrubs a hand down his face. “Fuck. Where did you find that?”
“It was sticking out from under your pillow.”
He slowly strolls into the room, tosses the lube on the bed and sits down next to me. “I can’t believe I didn’t put it away. You almost busted me last night when you came to bed. I stuffed it under my pillow and guess I forgot.”
That might have had something to do with me crawling over him and jerking his basketball shorts down so I could suck his cock. But… “Busted you doing what? What is this?”
He flops back onto the mattress. “This isn’t the way it was supposed to happen.” His eyes narrow in accusation. “You ruined this by the way.”
My eyebrows shoot high. “I ruined what? Feel free to explain instead of blaming me for something I’m not even aware I’ve done.”
Rook lifts onto his elbows as he sighs while holding my gaze. “We have reservations tomorrow night. Dinner at Rochelle’s, and I thought… Well, I planned to propose."