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“Boh Zacha is officially off the market, dear puckleberries. Speaking of market, anyone else catch our Pendleton Princess at the Gas’n Apple with none other than former resident and current heartthrob, veterinarian Aiden McCluskey? Called it!” Penni’s Puckleberry Tea

Novy

The Richland Killbillies were one of several chapters of roller derby teams affiliated in the Richland metro area. We’d gone official, formed a non-profit and put several of our veteran players on the inaugural board, including myself and Scout.

So when the team needed to make big decisions, we met up before or after practices, worked out the details. Which is why I had no idea why I was at the complex on a non-practice, non-bout day.

I pushed through the main door, marveling again at the remarkable good fortune of a permanent place for the Killbillies. Jaspar Pendleton signed over the deed to Boh, and Boh signed it over to me, my girls and the team. A lot of drama and angst, but in the end, so many wonderful things.

I’d moved into Boh’s apartment, into his bedroom—our bedroom now—and given up my sweet little Victorian. And while I loved Boh’s counter space in the kitchen, I’d already warned him the rest of the place needed some serious warming up. No more generic black and chrome, if I had my way. And something told me I would.

No, not something. Boh loved me. He wanted me to be happy. Just as I wanted him to be happy and healthy and content with the choices he made. That was a lot more than “something”.

What could the girls want to talk about today? There’d been chatter about potentially renting out some of the unused portions of the facility. We couldn’t fill the space with exclusively roller derby things even if we tried. Maybe we were going to discuss which spaces to open up, potential renters.

That made sense. I tucked my phone in my back jeans pocket and hustled to the lounge area attached to the locker room we’d commandeered as an office for derby business.

Seeley stood outside the door, Scout at her side, her hands flying as she animated whatever she was speaking about. Seeley ducked to the side to miss Scout’s hand when she threw it out to make a point. I laughed and they each turned in my direction.

“Novy!” Seeley elbowed past Scout to get to me first. “Save me!”

I laughed again. “You’re on your own with this one. Conversate at your own risk. She needs a sign.”

“I’m standing right here, guys. I can hear you.”

“She needs so many signs.” Seeley pointed down the hall where Clyde sat at a door. “‘I’m with the drooly one’ wouldn’t be out of line.”

“He’s only drooly when he’s hungry. Or just had a drink. Or—”

Scout could defend Clyde for hours. I felt not one ounce of guilt at interrupting her. “Why is he sitting in front of the door to the kitchen?”

“Because you were supposed to be here twelve minutes ago,” Scout said.

“What does my arrival have to do with Clyde’s hunger?”

“I may have promised Clyde treats. Novy treats. You know he’s a fan.”

I grinned down the hall at the big mastiff. He loved carrots. Loved them like the best treat he’d ever had, better than any ol’ store-bought thing. “I didn’t bring any carrots. You should have sent me a text!”

Scout mmhmmed and the sound pricked my spidey sense. When her eyes darted away, I narrowed my gaze at her. “Where’re the girls?”

Seeley moved down the corridor toward Clyde and the kitchen. “They’re grabbing a snack. Let’s catch up with them, okay?”

Scout took off after her, leaving me to follow along with a sneaking suspicion they were up to no good. I was running late from trying to reach Boh after his practice this morning. I wanted to hear how his first full contact practice went, but he’d not answered me back yet. Practice must have run over, which could be good or bad with Coach Trasier. He had the guys on a tight leash this year.

Scout, Seeley and Clyde waited for me to catch up and I hustled the last couple of steps.

When I reached them, they shoved open the swinging doors and the inside erupted into chaos. The room was filled with my derby girls, even some of the Littles from our underage squad. But intermixed with the women stood Boh and his teammates. Players hooted and shouted as loudly as my girls. I laughed and turned to Scout because this was super fun, but I had no idea what was happening.

“Scout!” I waved to get her attention. “What’s happening?”

She pointed to the service area of the commercial kitchen. The gleaming stainless steel counters, the cooking and prep stations beyond. Built to service plenty of people, with the space and storage fit for a team of athletes.

But for once, I didn’t get distracted by the pretty oven or the immaculate prep station. Instead, my gaze landed on the banner hanging from the ceiling and stretching across the whole front of the service area.

Novy’s Nutrition.

I covered my mouth with my fingers, confused and excited without comprehending. I turned to Scout, but Boh pushed to the front of the crowd and held out his arms. Like second nature, because it had become second nature, I flew into his arms, pressing my face into the safe haven of his chest. “What’s happening right now?”

“I know how much you like our countertops.” He nuzzled into the hair at my temple. “But there’s a lot more space here. And room to expand. All those ideas dancing around in your pretty head? Time to put them in action. Novy’s Institute. Novy’s Studio. Novy’s Everything.”

The tears came then and I plastered myself to his chest as the people around us laughed.

“I’m your first guest. We drew straws.” Shep Landon prowled forward, his golden aura on point with a perfect smile, perfect hair, perfect everything. “Zacha tried to pull the whole boyfriend card, but I nixed that idea right off the bat. I’m the one you want, Novy. Tell him.”

“He does have a lot more followers than you, Boh.”

My man grunted and pulled me away from his chest. “We’ll see.”

Berry and the girls returned to explain how Boh had come to them with the idea. How they’d decided to continue the relationships the Killbillies had built with local food vendors and trucks and carve the kitchen and dining space out as my territory. It was an amazing, generous allocation of space and I teared up all over again.

“But we could rent it out and use the funds for the club to do more.”

“But we don’t need to. We have plenty of interest in the other spaces and besides, when you’re big and famous and raking in all the dough, we’ll hit you up then.” Berry softened her words with a smile. “It’s all good, Novy. We all agreed, the team agreed. The lawyer made it a done deal. This is your space from here on out.”

Boh braced over me on his elbows, his face buried in my hair, his hips powering between my legs. I arched as sensation coursed through me, my skin on fire, my breath ripped from my chest. I clamped my legs around him, my heels digging even as my fingers dragged over his shoulders. Light exploded behind my eyes and for a moment time froze.

“Mmm, Novy, má meruňka , you feel so good when you come around my dick. Never felt anything like it.”

Boh’s husky voice feathered against my ear but in the next moment he clamped his mouth on the skin of my neck. He powered into me, then went motionless, his hips pressed hard to me, a heavy weight pushing me into the bed.

Hot warmth flooded me. He tangled his fingers in my hair and spoke against my neck as he began to slowly move again. “Can’t stop. Love the way you wrap me up. The way you take everything I have.”

He liked to glide inside me as he came. He pumped, slower and softer with each slow stroke. I liked it, too. It made me feel beautiful and wanted and important to this man. As though he couldn’t bear to part from me and the pleasure I gave him.

“Hold me tight, Novy.”

I followed his order, my arms around his shoulders, my hand at the back of his head, my legs tangled with his as he fell motionless. He should be too heavy. His weight should smother me. But instead, I felt protected and treasured and most of all, I felt loved.

He found a million ways a day to show me, but I liked this way the best. Just the two of us. The rest of the world pushed away.

He shifted, lifted his head to press a kiss to the line of my jaw. I sighed and angled myself for a long, sweet kiss.

He rolled us over and settled me at his side, half across his chest, his hands sifting through my hair. “You get the last of your things moved?”

“I did.”

“Handed over the key?”

I rolled my eyes, glad he couldn’t see me in this position. “Officially no longer occupying that apartment.”

“Officially occupying this apartment.”

“Yep.”

He grunted. A pleased, satisfied sound that put an answering grin on my lips. “Welcome home, má meruňka .”