Without releasing me, Sixx walked through the crowd.Outside the gym, there were just as many people, most of whom were taking a bathroom break.Thinking fast, I saw a sign over a door that read “Personnel Only” and pointed it out to him.Moments later, we were behind it.
Finding the light switch, I discovered it was a utility closet.Thankfully, it was fairly soundproof because when the door clicked closed, most of the noise outside was cut off.
Sixx slouched against the wall and slowly sat down, arranging me on his lap so I was comfortably straddling him.I kept scratching up and down his neck, letting him find his own way back to me.There was no rush.Time had zero limits between us and his mental health.
“I almost dropped the wall,” he admitted an indefinite number of minutes later.“Right at the end, before he submitted.It was so close, Ali.I barely held on.”
“But you did, and that’s what counts.”I rolled my forehead against his the way he normally did when he comforted me.“Sixx, you were amazing today.I’m so proud of you.”
“I just want to go home and hold you, daisy girl,” he said, the exhaustion in his voice squeezing my heart.
“Then we will leave,” I said with a shrug.“It’s your day.You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.The choice is always yours, babe.”
Groaning, he dropped his head back against the wall.“No, I need to stay.It will be good press for the school, and Mestre already agreed to help us get it started.He loved the whole concept of branching off and having a facility primarily for neurodivergent students.If I leave, I’ll let too many people down.Including myself.”
“I’ll follow wherever you lead,” I promised, pulling his head to my chest.“Right now, just take the time you need.”
“Fuck, baby, but I love you so damn much,” he breathed, closing his eyes.“I wouldn’t be here today without you, Ali.There’s no way I would have made it this far.”
When he said things like that, it made my heart hurt.He really believed he wouldn’t have survived without me, that if I weren’t with him, he would have let the other part of himself win.Maybe he would have.Maybe I was the one who helped him fight to keep his wall up, but he was the one who had to hold it in place.I could only imagine how heavy the damn thing must have gotten over the years.
Stroking my fingers over his jaw, I kissed him.Slow and soft, just as a reminder that I was there and I would never leave him.Hands contracting at my waist, he kissed me back.I’d worn jeans and his team’s newest hoodie with everyone’s names on the back.He slid his hands under the hoodie, heating a trail over my skin as they traveled up to the edge of my bra.
“Sex in a utility closet might be fun,” I teased.
“My first time getting my dick inside you is not going to be in the same room as a dirty mop,” he grumbled.
Giggling, I brushed another kiss over his lips before trailing my mouth along his jaw and up to his ear.“Fine, Mr.Grumpy, but we’re not opening that door until I get a taste of every part of you.”
His already rock-hard erection pulsed against the seam of my jeans.“Ali.”
“Just a little taste,” I murmured, nipping at his ear.“Please, Sixx.All those fangirls out there are driving me crazy, drooling over what’s mine.I need this.That way, when you are up on that dais, getting your medals and all those other awards, I can remind myself that I’m the only girl who can make you feel good.”
My need to mark my territory was strong when he competed in any tournament.Now that he was the world champ, all those thirsty bitches were looking extra hard at him.
Understanding filled his brown eyes, and I felt his body instantly react between us.“Always only you, Ali.You know that.”
“I do.And right now, I need you to show me.”
Epilogue
Sixx—18
Ali—18
AUGUST
Impatiently,I tapped my fingers over the screen before hitting send on the text.
Me: Is it done?
Vaughn: Patience.
Me: You need to work on your skills if it takes this long to do something that only took you five minutes with nothing but a cell phone in the past.
Vaughn: Again, patience.
Me: I’m changing your name in my contact list.You are now ANNOYING ASSHOLE BIL.
