They sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard, drinking their water.
“Uh, can I ask, do you always walk around your apartment naked?”
Nicole considered Ariana’s question while taking a hefty drink of water. She glanced over at Ariana and narrowed her eyes. “This is going to sound strange, but sneaking around with you, carrying this secret and then being together like this? Well, there’s something freeing about it.” She smiled and tilted her head. “Why? Do I need to cover up? Wear my robe?”
“No!” Ariana exclaimed as a smile grew on her face. “I think I understand what you mean. There’s so much anticipation and then such relief.”
“Yeah, well.” Nicole sighed. “If we’re not more careful all of this will be over before we know what hit us.”
Ariana nodded and took a drink of water. “I know. I was thinking the same thing while I was waiting for the plane to take off on our flight back.”
“I wish you could’ve seen your face when I nudged your shoulder on the plane,” Nicole said. “What were you singing?”
“I was so surprised!” Ariana chuckled. She was suddenly a bit self-conscious about the song and studied Nicole for a moment.
“Why are you hesitant? I’m not judging your singing abilities or your taste in music,” Nicole said. “I was just wondering.”
“Maybe I’ll send the song to you sometime.” Ariana liked the way Nicole’s eyes lit up.
“Okay,” Nicole said. “That could be fun to send songs to each other.”
“No one would know it’s you.” Ariana smiled.
“Just like no one knew about the note at Stuart’s.”
“See there, we can be sneaky and not get caught,” Ariana said.
Nicole took the water bottle from Ariana and set them both on the bedside table. The next thing Ariana knew Nicole had straddled her and was sitting on her lap. She rested her hands on Nicole’s hips and could feel her heart instantly begin to pound.
“I shouldn’t have pulled you into that room in the arena before the game,” Nicole said.
Ariana could feel Nicole’s fingers comb through her hair. “Why not? It made me play better.”
Nicole scoffed. “Oh, please.”
“It did!” Ariana ran one hand up and down Nicole’s side. “I knew you’d be there and when you weren’t at shootaround my anxiety level rose even more. But when you yanked me into that room…” Ariana shook her head and gazed into Nicole’s eyes.
“Yeah?”
“There you were and all you said washey.” Ariana chuckled. “What did it feel like when I pressed my lips to yours?”
Nicole took a deep breath and Ariana thought she saw a moment of hesitation in her eyes.
“You can tell me,” Ariana encouraged her.
“This is bad.” Nicole sighed. “I wanted to kiss you and I didn’t really care if anyone caught us.”
Ariana couldn’t believe her ears. She didn’t want them to be discovered, but she also wanted that kiss desperately. “That’s okay. I wasn’t about to let us get caught today. There will be times when I feel like you did today and you won’t let us get caught. Okay?”
“We’re really in this together?”
Ariana furrowed her brow. “Yes.” She cupped the side of Nicole’s face with her hand. “I know you have a lot more to lose than I do, but I’m determined to keep this secret and keep doing this.” She claimed Nicole’s lips in a kiss that meant the time for talking was over.
“Maybe it’s time to get those toys out of your nightstand,” Ariana said, nibbling Nicole’s ear then kissing just below it. Nicole sucked in a breath—just the reaction Ariana hoped for.
“I’ve got a better idea.”
The fire and challenge in Nicole’s eyes sent warmth through Ariana’s body.
