“It just got away from me. Today was the first time I thought about it since we got home. I’ve been so focused on making sure you’re okay that it got pushed to the side. When I cleared out the notification, I left the voicemail. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you, I just needed you to be okay before you focused on whatever Rich needed to tell you. I’m really sorry, Cruz.”
Guilt eats away at me when I think about what that voicemail was about. My finger twirls a strand of hair that came loose from my bun. When I look down at my lap Cruz’s hand tilts my chin back up.
“Don’t do that. This changes nothing, Delilah. I would have done the same thing if I thought it would keep you safe. You’ve done nothing but think of me for the last few weeks. Every step of the way you have put me first.” His gaze stays fixed on me. “Thank you for telling me.” His lips press against mine. His kiss is tender like he’s trying to reassure me that everything he just said is true.
Chapter 36
Tied Up in Knots
Present
“So I can practice and start workouts again this week?” Delilah’s grip on my arm tightens.
“That’s not exactly what I said.” The doctor’s eyes crinkle at the corner as he laughs. He’s in his late fifties and I’m pretty sure he’s seen and heard it all at this point. Dealing with a team of professional athletes, none of us are eager to ride the bench for any reason, let alone being sidelined with a serious injury.
“We are going to ease you back into it and see how you respond. Light aerobic exercise like low effort running for short periods of time while gradually increasing time and intensity over the course of the next two weeks. If there are no setbacks, you’ll be back right before the All-Star Break.”
I glance over at Delilah, who’s biting her lip as she listens to the doctor’s treatment plan. “So, he should continue to avoid stress for the next few weeks as much as possible.”
“Speaking of, let’s talk about stress relief.” Delilah freezes in place, anticipating my question. The topic was unavoidable this morning when I woke her up with my hard cock nestled right up against her perfect ass. “If I can run, sex must be safe at this point.”
“Sex is fine, just don’t exert yourself more than you would running. If your dizziness or any other symptoms return, we will need to reevaluate. But to answer the original question, you should avoid stress as much as possible. It will only help to speed up your recovery.”
“Got it. Sex is good. Stress is bad.”
“That’s what you got from that conversation?” she asks, tilting her face up to look at me.
“Essentially.”
The doctor goes over a few more details like driving, paperwork for the team, and what the next stage of recovery looks like. It’ll be about a week before I return to fielding drills and batting with game play following shortly after.
When we leave the office, I snatch the keys out of Delilah’s hands. I appreciate all the sacrifices she has made since I got hurt, but I am ready for some independence back.
“You really couldn’t help yourself back there, could you?” she asks as we approach the truck.
“I’m not sure what you are talking about.” I feign innocence as I open the door to the Bronco for her, leaning into her space to kiss the corner of her mouth before I pull back and shut the door. “Are you going into work this afternoon?”
Her hand comes up to her throat and her voice is raspy when she says, “No. I was hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon with you.”
I snap my seat belt into place and pull out of the parking lot, my tires squealing with my eagerness to get her home. The air in the Bronco is charged as we ride back. The short drive to the apartment seems to take forever. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her shifting in the seat. She’s as desperate for me as I am for her.
The elevator slides open with a ding that sounds like a fucking gong interrupting the maddening silence. Delilah and I walk through the hallway hand in hand. Pausing when I reach the door I use the grip I have on Delilah’s hand and back her up against the wall. My ego swells at the sight of her chest rising and falling as I step into her. She still wants me.
“You remember what I said I was going to do to you when I was cleared?” I ask, brushing my nose along her jaw.
“I am not sure I could forget, even if I wanted to.” Her back arches off the wall and into me as I slip my keys out of my pocket.
“When I open this door you’re going to go into our bedroom and take all these clothes off. I want you waiting naked on the bed when I come in. Understand?”
She nods her head as I slot the key into the lock and turn. When it opens, she slips through the door in front of me, but not before my hand catches her ass cheek in a sharp slap. “That’s my girl. See you soon.” I watch as she retreats into the apartment.
I want her dripping for me, so I take my time removing my shoes and drop onto the couch. My cock was half hard by the time we left the doctor’s office. Now it’s fucking painful knowing that she’s naked and waiting.
Aching for some relief, I grip my cock through my joggers and tip my head back into the cushion. I want to wait her out for a few more minutes, but fuck, I need her. Going a week without sex shouldn’t be this hard. For fuck’s sake, I went two years before I convinced Delilah to give me a chance, but now that I have her, it’s never going to be enough.
Images of her naked and waiting in bed for me flood my mind. Pushing to my feet I eat up the space between the living room and bedroom with long strides making the large apartment feel much smaller.
Slowing when I reach the open door, I pull my shirt over my head and step into the room. My hand comes up to my mouth, dragging over my jaw when I see her. I let my shoulder lean against the doorframe, giving myself a second to take her in.
