Page 44

DEKE

It’d been three weeks since I last saw Davina, and it was killing me. During my personal training and practices, she was all I could think about.

The good thing is we stayed in touch. I loved getting to hear her voice and see her on FaceTime. I loved hearing her bubbly laugh and watching her blush.

We probably could’ve seen each other sooner, had our schedules not been so hectic. Whenever I wasn’t booked up for business-related stuff or attending an event, Davina was busy.

Her products had hit the shelves of some pretty popular retail stores. She sent me a picture of herself standing in front of the display shelves with an open-mouthed grin and a thumbs-up, like it was the best day of her life. And maybe it was. It was a proud moment for her. All that hard work and time she’d invested into GOC was paying off. Attached to the shelf was a life-size cutout of me modeling the products.

“I’m jealous of that paper model,” I told her when she’d FaceTimed me that night. I was lying on my couch, holding the phone with one hand and stroking Zeke’s head with the other.

“Why?” She smiled behind a mouthful of pasta.

“Because that should’ve been me there. Paper Deke could’ve taken my place here at home, waiting for a flight.”

She giggled at that.

“When am I going to see you again?” I asked, tucking a throw pillow behind my head.

“Not sure. I’ll be meeting with Kyla soon to discuss some stuff. Next couple of days will be busy.”

“I miss you,” I told her.

She stuffed her mouth with more pasta, then after chewing and swallowing, asked, “Have you ever tried Madonna’s? Their carbonara is so good.”

“I haven’t.”

“Maybe I can take you there one day.”

I smiled, trying to ignore the stupid nagging in my brain. She’s not going to tell you she misses you. This is your second time saying it since you last saw her. Stop being so fucking desperate.

I shook the thought away just as Davina said, “I’m getting another call. I’ll text you after.”

When the call ended, I lowered the phone with a defeated sigh. As annoying as that inner voice was, it was right. I had to chill. Davina had made it clear we were only sleeping together, and the conversations we were having in between were to stay in touch. I could respect that.

Besides, if I wanted to keep talking to her and keep this thing between us going, I couldn’t push the boundaries.

To my luck, our schedules finally aligned toward the end of September. With training camp and the season starting soon, that meant less movement and traveling for me. I had to get my mind right and prepare mentally and physically for a successful season.

Normally, women were the last thing on my mind this close to the games, but there was no way in hell I was passing up a night with her.

It was cute the way she’d set everything up. She’d sent me a text, asking if I was free for brunch on a Saturday. I shot a text right back and told her I’d been dying to have brunch with her since the last time. Then she followed it up with an address and room number for a hotel in her city.

I packed a bag and drove to Charlotte, and when I knocked on the door of her hotel room and she swung it open, my jaw dropped.

Davina stood in front of me in a satin pink robe and black lingerie that hardly concealed her brown nipples. Her hair was piled up into a sleek bun, and there was a glint in her eyes as she hung on to the edge of the door.

There were no words I could form—nothing I could say at that particular moment. All I could do was act. It’d been weeks since I last saw her in person, and now I had her, this sexy gift before me, ready to be unwrapped.

I cupped the back of her head while dropping my lips to hers, guiding her body back until I had enough room to shut the door. She laughed behind the kiss and laced her arms around the back of my neck.

Dropping my duffle bag, I picked her up in my arms and stumbled toward the bed. She tasted like red wine and smelled like coconut and that signature warm vanilla. I missed her smell. I missed her .

When her back landed on the plush comforter, I stood tall between her legs, and while I peeled my T-shirt off, she tugged at the buckle of my belt and undid it before going for the button and zipper.

When my clothes were removed, I dove in for another taste of her lips. Our next kiss was heated and deep as I tugged her panties down. She slipped out of her robe, and I knelt on the bed, clutching her hips and centering myself between her thighs.

“Come here,” I growled, bringing her closer. When I felt the head of my dick sink into her, a hiss slipped through my teeth.

The first time I’d felt her, I had to take a moment and breathe so I wouldn’t come on the spot. I swear this was just like the first time all over again, pushing into her nice and slow, feeling her pussy wrap tight around me.

Her eyes slid up to mine, and when she cupped her tits and pushed her hips upward to guide me deeper, I couldn’t hold off anymore. I buried myself inside her, and her moan pierced the air.

Fuck, she felt so tight. So wet. So damn good.

I leaned down, resting on one elbow as I wedged a hand between our bodies. Using the pads of my fingers, I rubbed her slick clit, and her back arched as she moaned again. I kept rubbing, circling, teasing, my dick hard as stone, ready to fucking explode while watching her unravel.

“Oh, Deke,” she whimpered. “I’m gonna ...”

“Gonna what, baby?” I asked, my mouth grazing hers.

“Come,” she cried. “I’m gonna come.”

She gripped my forearm that was next to her head, and when she threw her head back farther and moaned, the warmth of her orgasm coated my dick.

“Damn. You’re coming all over me, D,” I rasped, still rubbing. “You just couldn’t wait, could you?”

She threw her arms over my shoulders to bring my chest to hers. I buried my face into the crook of her neck, groaning as I lost control.

I sucked hard on her neck while throbbing, pulsing, until a deep moan ripped out of me.

I pressed a hand to the bed and snatched myself out, stroking rapidly and watching my come spill in thick ropes on her pelvis.

“Fuck, you’re too good,” I breathed.

Her body settled, and a goofy smile spread across her face.

“What’s funny?” I asked, caging her head between my arms.

“You.”

“What about me?”

“You have a strong pull-out game.” She smirked, sitting up on her elbows. “I don’t even want to think about how you’ve mastered that.”

“So don’t,” I murmured on her lips. Truth was I always used a condom with other women. With Davina, though? I had to have her raw.

I kissed her slowly this time, savoring the feel of her soft lips on mine and basking in her sweet perfume and those pheromones that drove my senses wild.

When the kiss broke, I rushed to grab a towel from the bathroom, helped her clean up, then sat on the edge of the bed. She sat right next to me, and I stole a glance at her. She was looking ahead, soaking in the city view.

“How long do you think this’ll go on for?” she asked.

“How long do you want it to go on for?”

She replied with a shrug, then lowered her head to study her hands. I looked at her hands, too, and realized her wedding rings were missing. In place of them was a line several shades lighter than her regular skin tone.

Interesting.

The first time we had sex, she had those rings on. I couldn’t say it wasn’t a distraction, seeing that diamond glint beneath the dim lights while I had my way with her. Knowing another man had probably done the same things I was doing irritated me a bit, but I understood why she kept them on, so I ignored it as best I could. I had no right to feel that way either.

To see the rings gone ... well, something must’ve changed since then. Maybe she was finally starting to trust me. I tried not to smile at the thought and instead took her hand, purposely rubbing the tan line.

She noticed and swooped her gaze up to mine. Her eyes grew glossy, but she tore them away, blinking rapidly.

“Sometimes I think God purposely made my life complicated,” she murmured. “Everything in my life—every decision, every choice, every romantic relationship—has always been complicated.” Her velvety-brown irises turned up to me again. “It’s a shitty feeling, because when I finally get to do something for myself or decide to be selfish with my decisions, it feels like everything is going to fall through the cracks.”

“Is that why you won’t say you miss me when I tell you I miss you?” I asked, and she huffed a laugh, shaking her head.

“No. I did miss you. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to say it.” She locked on my eyes again, and my heart pumped a little faster. I took her hand in mine and lifted her knuckles to my lips to kiss each one.

“You don’t have to worry about me falling through the cracks, D. I’m not going anywhere. Hell, I’ll be the glue to piece it all together again, if that’s what you need.”

“You’re really sweet, Deke.” She sighed, studying her bare thighs.

I tipped her chin so she could look at me. “Next week. Take that trip with me.”

“Where?”

“I share a rental property with Whitney near Santeetlah Lake. It’s not too far from Charlotte. I told Whitney to leave next weekend open for me. I want you to come.”

“Is it a lake house?” she asked.

“It is, and I think you’ll love it. Whitney designed the whole place. It has really nice water views. A dock. We even have a boat. I’ll have it all planned out. All you gotta do is show up.”

She bit a grin. “How do you know I won’t be busy next weekend?”

“Make room for it. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

She bumped my shoulder. “What exactly are you expecting from this trip to Santeetlah, Deke?”

I pressed my lips, giving the question some thought. I wasn’t going to tell her that I wanted her at that house so I could fuck her in every position, or to spoil the hell out of her with food, wine, and attention.

Sure, I wanted that ... but I also wanted to get to know Davina for who she truly was. I wanted to catch her while her guard was completely down and understand what was in her heart. And, if she was open to it, I’d tell her what was in mine.

But instead of saying all that, I said, “There are no expectations, D. I just like your company.”

At that, she put on a broad smile, and because I couldn’t help myself, I collected her chin in my fingers, leaned in, and kissed her.

She lay back, and I climbed on top of her, grazing the ridge of my semihard dick through the slit of her pussy. I kept skimming up and down while taking shallow dips inside to tease her.

Her breaths thickened, and her eyes pooled with heat and desire. She ran a gentle hand across my shoulder as I slipped into her with ease.

When I was all in, I claimed those pouty lips and kissed her like I meant it. Because I did. I meant it when I said I wasn’t going anywhere.