“Are we okay?” I ask, pulling his shea butter scent into my lungs.
“I’m mad at myself.” Jamal lifts his head and loops his arms around my neck. “You risked your season so I wouldn’t have to fight. I stood there like an idiot, letting you take all the blame and punishment.”
“I’d do it again.” I lead him to the bed and sit.
“That’s the problem. You can’t fight for me. I don’t want to be labeled a fighter, but I can’t be an easy target.” Jamal topples over onto my lap.
“What does your mom say?” My fingers find their way into his hair, and I rub his scalp.
“She says she trusts me to make the right decision.” He nuzzles my stomach, and I will my dick to behave. This is important.
“There’s a lot of room between being the team terminator and being a victim. You could fight when they drop their gloves first. You don’t initiate, but you stand up for yourself.” I draw a circle on his bare shoulder. The tank top shows off the sculpted round muscle. I’ve never seen such jacked shoulders.
“Then they’ll claim I crossed the line with a chirp to start the fight.” He eases me onto my back and crawls up my body.
“So let them swing first. They start it with the first punch, and you end it for them.” I roll onto my side so we’re facing each other.
“That might work.” Jamal kisses my lips softly, but the contact ignites an inferno.
“Only if you feel good about it. If not, I’m happy to fight for you, Maj,” I say, and he laughs, blushing a little at the nickname.
“Does the team think I’m a wimp?”
“Nope, but after Benz’s comment, more than one person suspects we’re more than friends.” I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“We should figure that out.” His aqua eyes blink at me.
“Yeah? What are you thinking?” I let hope raise me up, but I prepare for the fall.
Jamal scoots up the bed to the pillow and beckons for me. I kick off my shoes and smother his body with mine.
“I like you, Theo. And even though we low-key don’t make sense, and there are a thousand reasons not to be together, I want you. I know I’m not experienced or—”
I cut him off with a kiss, my heart soaring. “I want you too. Exactly the way you are.” He moans under me, and I rest all my weight on him. He winces in pain, and I almost fall off the bed in my hurry to get off him. “What?”
He lifts his tank top and exposes a minor bruise on his side. It’s not serious, but it would look worse on my light skin.
“I’ll kill him.” I’ve got one foot on the floor, but he stops me with a hand on my cheek.
“It’s part of our sport. What can you do? Stay with me. I’m so tired I can’t keep my eyes open.”
I drag the covers down and climb in next to him. “Do you want me to stay the night?”
“Always,” he murmurs into my skin, and I don’t think he meant for me to hear him.
I’m struck by how much I enjoy hanging out with him. Tonight isn’t about sex. He’s half asleep as I situate him on my chest.
A first for me, spending hours watching someone sleep. I could do this forever.
Chapter 27
Jamal King
“Hey,” I whisper as Theo opens his eyes. He lights up when he sees me, and I cuddle into him. I left to grab us breakfast, and when I came back, he plastered himself to me like another layer of skin. “You hungry? There’s food.” I motion to the desk with a tray from our breakfast buffet.
“You left?” he says in an accusatory tone.
“But I came back with food.” I hold back my laugh as his stomach growls in response. “There’s coffee too.”
