And again.
Now, a hard shape presses against my butt, and I sneak a look over my shoulder.
Oh God. His cock looks every bit as huge today as he felt last night, thick and long and hard.
When he started to sink inside me, I thought it was a mistake. Like he might tear me in half and I would be the stupid girl who thought this was physically possible despite obvious visual clues to the contrary.
I can’t decide if I deserve a medal for taking him or if he deserves one for, I don’t know… just being Clay Wade?!
“Nova!” Brooke calls again. “Are you awake? I need to ask you something important!”
I try to free myself from the arm, but it only bands tighter. Clay mutters against my neck, his monster dick growing more insistent against my ass.
“Let me go, you brute,” I mutter.
“Never.”
My heart skips, and my grip on his arm loosens for a moment.
When I relax, he does too, and I catch him in a moment of weakness and dive out of bed. Tucking a robe from my closet around me, I turn back to see him watching me through dark slits of eyes.
“Morning, Pink.”
Damn if he doesn’t look sexy as hell naked in my bed, like every dream I’ve ever had only better.
“Brooke’s home. Don’t come out until I say so,” I warn.
He flips a palm, noncommittal.
I glare as I let myself out, pulling the door closed behind me.
My roommate is in the kitchen, making eggs.
“What was the question?” My voice comes out raspy. I clear my throat.
“Christmas. The guys are playing Christmas Day, but we always have dinner together after. You should join.”
I bite my lip. “Mari texted me about it yesterday and invited me to spend Christmas with her and Harlan.”
“We’ll do the entire family.” Before I can answer, Brooke’s gaze cuts over my shoulder. “Morning, Clay.”
“Morning.” I turn to find him wearing sweatpants and nothing else.
He looks like some Marvel-movie god, his muscles rippling under the tattoos. He takes up half the living room.
“Great flowers you sent last week,” Brooke offers. “Five stars.”
“Glad you like them. Wasn’t sure Nova did.” He drops into a chair at the table.
My mouth works for a moment before I can produce sound. “Um. Clay was just—”
“Sneaking out the morning after.”
“That’s not it,” I start.
Brooke crosses to the coffee table and grabs the wad of fabric off it, tossing it at Clay. He catches it. He starts to tug the shirt on but, at my perusal, thinks better of it.
His wink when he catches me looking makes me want to die.
Oh my God. I wish for the days before I hooked up with a hot athlete and my body took over my brain.
“I’m sure you have questions,” I say to my roommate, trying to be mature about this.
“Not really. I know you guys split, but as long as it’s consensual, I get it. Girl’s gotta get hers. He’s convenient,” Brooke offers.
“I’m not convenient.” Clay frowns.
“He’s so inconvenient,” I add.
For my heart and my life and my future.
But I’m stronger than I was, and this time I can manage my own heart.
“You want coffee?” Brooke asks.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“He’s not staying.”
They ignore me.
“I’m glad you kids had fun last night,” Brooke says easily.
“Girl tired me out. I never sleep this late.”
I’m a little pleased by his assessment, forgetting he shouldn’t still be here when Brooke sets a coffee in front of him.
“You remembered how I like it,” he says.
“Miles told me.”
“You pay a lot of attention to what he says, huh?”
Brooke tosses him a look. “Watch it, or I’ll dump that over your head.”
Clay turns back to me. “It’s not a hookup.”
“It’s not?” Brooke and I echo.
“Nah.” Clay studies me over his coffee. “It’s serious.”
What the hell?
“Really?” Brooke lifts both brows smugly. “I love that for you.”
“Excuse us, B.”
I lunge for his wrist, intending to drag Clay to the bedroom or the bathroom or maybe just the front door so he can stop messing with my head and my life.
Before I can, Brooke holds up both hands. “I’ll give you guys a second.” She takes her coffee and shoots me a grin before heading toward the balcony.
“Where’d you get that idea?” I demand when she’s gone, the door closed behind her. “And could you please put on that shirt?”
“It’s dirty.” Clay rests an elbow on the back of the next chair, drinking his coffee as if we’re in his place, not mine.
“You like dirty.”
His slow grin is feral. “So do you.”
Good girl.
Come on my cock, baby. Let me feel you come undone.
I flush. I’m getting distracted from what’s important.
“What was that about? The serious thing?”
“You’re mine. It’s obvious every second I’m touching you.”
“Wow, the arrogance never quits.”
“It’s the truth. I know it, and if it takes you a second to catch up because you need to trust me again or for some other reason, I’ll wait.”
My heart skips.
Last night, I figured he’d be thrilled with my proposal to keep things physical. His stubborn commitment to the idea of more was not in the plan.
“I believe you think you want that,” I say, “but really, you like pissing a circle around me and telling any other guys they can’t come near.”
“That’s not it.” His eyes dial up in intensity. “I want to talk like we used to. I want to take you out. Things click for me when I’m around you, and I think they do for you too.”
His words make me swallow. “I’m building my own life, my own independence.”
“I don’t want to take that from you. I liked you from the moment I met you. I like you even more now.”
Clay’s expression softens, and I feel myself weakening.
He shifts forward. “Come here.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re not going to negotiate our relationship on opposite sides of the room.”
Reluctantly, I step closer. He pulls me into his lap.
That’s not what we’re doing. But when I feel his warmth, I’m not so sure.
I want to trust him, but this time, I can’t be stupid about it.
“I don’t want anyone to know,” I say.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Brooke already knows. Plus a few guys on the team.”
“The team?!” My brows shoot up. “Well, I don’t want Mari or Harlan to know. Not yet.” Not because I’m ashamed, but because I’d have to admit to my sister exactly how things started with me and Clay and how distracted I was during the days and weeks leading up to her wedding.
I expect him to argue, but he looks relieved. “The guys will keep quiet. And it’s better if Harlan and James think I’m entirely focused on basketball.”