Page 33 of Breakpoint

Dani wanted her to be here, to share this moment, to wrap her in a celebratory hug, to whisper congratulations in her ear.

But they both knew why she couldn’t. Neither one of them wanted to answer the questions that having Jaz there would likely spark.

So Jaz was waiting back at the apartment she had rented near Dani’s hotel.

The secret, they knew, couldn’t last forever.

The tennis world, especially the locker room, was a fishbowl.

After what felt like forever but likely only five minutes, Dani finally got up from her seat to accept the trophy.

It was heavy and cool in her hands, a tangible representation of her journey.

She looked out at the crowd, at the sea of faces blurred by the shimmering heat and her own welling tears.

The victory was sweet, undeniably so, but it would be even sweeter when she could finally wrap her arms around Jaz.

A single thought resonated through her: I want to share these moments with her.

There was so much more press and media than she expected, so many hands to shake and people to talk to.

At Wimbledon and the Olympics, she shared the spotlight with Jaz.

Even though she answered most of the questions for them, since Jaz was her usual monosyllabic self, most of the press, sponsors, and fans directed their attention on the both of them.

But here the spotlight was hers, and she was all up there by herself.

And what Dani realized she earned besides a trophy was a great deal of respect.

She saw the way people approached and talked to her today after her win.

If this were nine months ago, she would be reveling in it from the rooftops, like Chris definitely was, but right now, all she wanted to do was get back to Jaz.

To wrap her in her arms, gush about the win, and have a quiet night celebrating with her.

After almost ninety minutes of press and meeting sponsors, followed by meeting even more sponsors, she was finally able to do a ten-minute cool down on the bike, take a shower, and leave the stadium.

Thankfully, the Rogers Cup Celebration Gala wouldn’t be held until tomorrow night—and by celebration, they clearly meant mingling with more sponsors.

Dani couldn’t take shaking even more hands and pasting on a smile after playing such a grueling match.

She quickly ducked Sascha when she saw her coming her way, knowing she would want to party tonight.

Dani was physically and mentally spent and almost wished Jaz was playing so that Scott would be here and she could get one of his massages.

She separated from Tom and Chris in the hotel lobby, turning down their celebratory dinner for another time.

As they went up the elevator, they promptly double-backed to the exit.

She walked about a block and a half before she found the brick apartment building that Jaz was staying in. She had no clue how Jaz found this place on short notice right near her hotel, but she knew Kira had a Rolodex a mile long, and most inquiries that Jaz made were fulfilled.

She found apartment 2B and knocked.

When Jaz opened the door, her smile was full-wattage and a mile wide, with her gorgeous lips and white teeth on display, with mirth radiating from her eyes.

She wasn’t dressed in her usual athletic gear but had on a pair of fitted jeans and a V-neck t-shirt that showed off her athletic shoulders and arms. She was beyond gorgeous, and Dani felt frumpy with her wet hair, t-shirt, and joggers.

She immediately stepped inside and hugged Jaz tight, her arms wrapping around her in a way that felt like coming home.

“You were amazing out there. I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into Dani’s ear and kissed the side of her wet head.

Dani pulled back from their embrace, wiping the happy tears from the corners of her eyes. Her celebration felt a tiny bit unfinished until now. “Thanks, I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that.”

Jaz took her hand and led her inside the apartment. “I’m sure Tom and Chris said the same thing.”

“They did, but coming from you, it hits different,” Dani acknowledged, interlocking their fingers together.

Using their interlocked hands, Jaz pulled her close. She kissed the back of her hand and pushed a lock of curly hair behind her ear that had fallen out of her ponytail. “So, how does it feel to have your first professional singles title in your trophy case?”

“Really fucking good,” Dani gushed. “Now I’m ready for the big one. A Slam.”

“And they say I’m the ambitious one in this relationship.” She smirked as she stroked Dani’s fingers with her thumb.

Dani laughed. “Ha-ha, have you met you?”

“Whatever,” Jaz murmured, rolling her eyes. “What do you want to do to celebrate your big win?”

“I just want to be with you,” Dani affirmed and leaned in to give Jaz the kiss that she had been thinking about since she walked through the door. The kiss was pretty tame, but it left Dani wanting more.

By the look in Jaz’s eyes, she was feeling the same. She coughed and turned her body away from Dani. “Well, you got that. I flew up here to support you and celebrate the victory with you. You must be tired. We can just chill on the couch if you want?”

“No, you misunderstood. I want to be with you, Jaz. Tonight.” They had both been hesitant, waiting for the other person to make the move. But Dani was tired of waiting. She was used to going after what she wanted. And she wanted Jaz.

“You sure? I don’t want to force—”

Dani cut her off, placing her mouth on hers. The kiss was desperate, open-mouthed with teeth that nibbled on her bottom lip and lots of tongue. Their chemistry was undeniable, a palpable hum that had been building between them for weeks.

Dani put everything into that kiss like she was trying to devour Jaz from the inside out. She finally pulled back, chest panting. “Do you believe me now?”

No words came, just a nod.

“Good.” Dani nodded along. “Now where the fuck is the bedroom in this place?”

Jaz tilted her head toward a hallway, words still not rising to the surface. Dani walked them in the direction where Jaz had indicated and found the first room with a bed. The bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of the city lights casting long shadows across the fresh sheets.

She wasn’t sure if this was the master bedroom, but at this point, she didn’t even care.

She spun around and pulled Jaz to her again. Her heart thrummed a rapid rhythm against her ribs. She reached out and traced the line of Jaz’s jaw. “I’ve thought about this so many times,” Dani confessed before pulling Jaz’s face closer to her own and kissing her with unabashed need.

The pretense gone, the barrier removed, nothing but this woman who treated Dani with consideration and irresistible tenderness. They clutched each other with a passion until the ache between Dani’s legs became unbearable.

“I don’t want to presume consent, and we can stop at any time for any reason,” she acknowledged. “But I test regularly.”

“I’ve been tested too,” Jaz disclosed.

She gazed at those dark brown eyes, so beautiful it was absurd how much warmth Dani saw in them now.

This time, it was Jaz who made the first move and removed her shirt.

Dani’s mouth went dry, and moisture pooled elsewhere as she looked at her semi-naked torso.

Jaz went to remove her bra, and Dani stopped her.

She wanted to be the one to do it. Jaz stood there, eyes hooded and chest heaving as Dani slipped the bra straps away from her shoulders; the cups folding down, revealing the curves of beautiful breasts.

Her beautiful brown skin. The ridges of the muscles on her abdomen, her breasts swaying with the movement from her panting. She licked her lips and swallowed.

“Gorgeous,” she groaned out in a husky voice.

She trailed her hands down Jaz’s sternum and finally got a close-up look at the tattoo on her ribcage. A goal without a plan is a wish . Dani previously spotted the small tattoo but was never close enough to make out the words. It was so Jaz.

She shivered as Dani ran her fingertips over the small tattoo; Jaz’s nipples peaked at her touch.

Her focus moved to those beautiful, full breasts she’d been dreaming about.

She cupped them, taking her dark nipples between her thumbs and forefingers.

She moved more deliberately, stopping to linger over the stiff peaks.

She couldn’t deny the urge to put her mouth where her fingers had just been. And she did.

Jaz threw her head back, prompting Dani to make a mental note of her sensitivity.

Her dark brown nipples were a shade darker than the rest of her coffee-colored skin.

Dani flicked her tongue on the peak, causing Jaz to moan loudly at the sensation, and Dani’s only thought was that she wanted to know all the ways she could make that sound come from Jaz again.

She was caught between the need to linger here all day and the rapid escalation of desire that surged through her. She needed to feel Jaz now. Her hands moved quickly, tearing at their remaining clothes until they were both naked.

She was mesmerized as the smooth skin was revealed inch by inch.

The graceful curve of her back, the lean muscles of her legs, the subtle dip of her waist—her gaze traced every line and contour.

She’d seen her naked before, but not like this.

It was one thing to see someone in the locker room, changing in or out of clothes.

It was completely different to see her undressed in this state and moments away from touching, kissing, and licking all that was exposed.

She walked them towards the bed and slowly lay her body down on top of Jaz. Every bit of her skin that grazed against Jaz’s was on fire. Want, surprising in its intensity, curled low in her stomach as she enjoyed the heat that spread through her body.