But I don’t think me kissing it off her lips would go over all that well.
“Maybe it wasn’t true then.” I tuck the strand of hair behind her ear, the one that always seems to get in her eyes. “But it sure as shit is true now.”
Her mouth opens. Closes. “You’re kidding me.”
“No. It took two years for you to talk to me, to touch me, there’s no way I’m going backwards now.”
“Well we’re not going into warp speed now.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes bug out of her head. “Why not? Why not?” She tosses her hands up and I can’t help it.
I smile.
She sees it.
“Oh, my God. You’re playing me.”
I’m not.
I want nothing more than to have her in my life permanently, as mine, not someone else’s. Just mine.
But I also like the fire in her eyes right now, the way she swats at me.
So, I can wait for her to come around, to accept that she belongs to me.
I can be sneaky and patient.
“Damon isn’t happy.”
“Like I said”—I touch her cheek—“I won’t hide what we’re building.”
She studies me for a long moment.
Then sighs and shakes her head. “Fine. But no more boyfriend talk.”
No fucking way am I agreeing to that.
“I’m serious! Damon could trade you or bench you or?—”
“He won’t.” I brush my knuckles over her cheek, along her throat. “Not only is he too good of a GM to allow that to happen, he wants to see you happy, Teach. As long as I’m doing that, I’m safe.” I grin. “Plus, Coach would never agree to it.”
She exhales and it’s sharp and annoyed and…
Then her eyes go soft.
“Incorrigible.”
“You like it.”
“No more boyfriend talk.”
“Have lunch with me when I get back from the road trip.” We’re leaving tonight after the game and will be gone almost a week.
Her head tilts to the side, ponytail swinging. “I’ll have projects to grade.”
“I’ll help.”
