Release: New Adult Sport Romance (Fire and Ice) (26 page)

It’s Gretchen. “Just gave him your number. He’s on the phone with his sister right now. He’ll call.”

I’m glad she’s so confident. I text back. “I hope so. Am I pathetic?”

“No! He’s still very much in love with you. Don’t do this to yourself. Be patient and let him come to you when he’s ready.”

That makes me feel better. “Thanks. I’m going to go practice swearing in front of the mirror.”

“Practice this. ‘I want you to fuck me.’”

I picture her laughing as she texts. I giggle and go heat up my tea.

Chapter 44

At ten I decide to go to bed. I’ve resigned myself to the fact Kaleb won’t call tonight. It’s okay though. I’m sure he needs to come to terms with it all. I hope his sister convinced him that we belong together.

In the middle of the night, the chime of my phone wakes me up. I lift it off the nightstand and read the text.

“It’s Kaleb. U awake?” I am now. My heart skips.

“Yes.” I watch little gray dots dance and know that means he’s typing. I glance at the clock. It’s after three.

“I screwed up. I’m sorry.” Warmth floods my heart.

“Does this mean I get a poster?” Code for will we get back together? Only I’m not sure he knows the code.

“Yes.”

“Will u sign it?” I picture his dimples and wish I could touch them.

“Only if you promise to hang it over ur bed and replace Justin Bieber.”

That makes me laugh. My teen crush was on Corbin Bleu in High School Musical, and he knows it. I text back. “Okay, but u can’t tell Justin.”

“Deal.”

I want to invite him over, but I don’t want to push. I’m sure he’s tired from his trip and having to work tonight after driving back. I tap out a text. “I love u.”

“I love u, 2. Cya in the morning.”

I kick my feet back and forth under the sheets and let out a squeal. He still loves me! I pull a pillow against my chest and hug it tight. I fall asleep with Kaleb on my mind.

* * *

I get to the locker room early. Knowing I’ve arrived before Kaleb, I practically skip to his row. I have tea for me and a coffee for him. I tap my foot in anticipation. I pick up my phone and text him. Because I can. “Waiting at ur locker, brought coffee.”

“Almost there.”

“Ur not texting and driving are u?”

“No.”

“Are u texting and walking?”

“Yes.”

I start to type out another text when I notice him. A smile dominates my face as I let my eyes take in the entire package. I stand up to go to him, but he moves quickly and takes me by surprise.

Kaleb presses me up against the locker with his body. The metal twangs as he leans his hands against it above my head. He drops his head down to whisper in my ear. “Want to be my girlfriend?”

Heat races to my core. I whisper back as he kisses my neck. “Yes.” Gosh, he smells good. I let out a little moan and notice another instructor watch us. I can’t do what I want here.

I push him away. “Come with me.” Leading him by the hand, I take him to the ladies’ room. My back pushes the door open while Kaleb looks both ways.

I ask, “Chicken?”

His eyes land on the counter full of toiletries. “Whoa, it’s nice in here.”

I yank him into a stall and lock the door. The door rattles when I lean into him and he falls back on it. I say, “Now you can kiss me the way I want you to.”

His mouth crushes mine. Fingers thread through my hair, and he palms the back of my head. Our tongues reach deeply as we try to devour each other. His powerful thighs hold him in a squat as I mold myself to his chest and groin. He gets hard, and I press against it with my hand.

His moan echoes in the tile room. He reaches down and lifts me onto his waist. Turning, he presses me up against the metal door and the whole stall shudders. I want to strip him and feel his skin against mine. My juices flow, and the desire to have him inside me overwhelms my thoughts.

Panting with desire, I break away to breathe and whisper, “Do you think we could do it right here?”

His eyelids lower and he’s about to speak when the ladies’ room door squeaks open. He releases my legs, and I sigh. The latch of the stall door clicks, and we step out to see Eliza’s surprised face. I say, “Hi.” And pull an embarrassed Kaleb out of the bathroom.

The moment we’re out the door, we burst into giggles. Kaleb says, “We’re never going to live this down. You know what they’ll be saying, don’t you?” His dimples are in full force.

“I do. And I don’t care.” I lean into him, and his arm hugs my shoulders as we walk back to his locker. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”

He sighs. “Me too.” He picks up our hot drinks and passes me mine. I take it and reach for his empty hand with my free one. It’s as if I don’t dare let go in case he’s not really with me. “Should we ski?” he asks.

I raise my eyebrows while I desperately try to think of where we could have sex. My truck, maybe? His thumb rubs my palm. Naw, too small. His Subaru? Even smaller. I blow out a huff of air in frustration.

Kaleb snorts. “I can see your mind working. I’m game for anything you are.”

His eyes dare me as his fingers trail up my arm, but I’ve resigned myself to the fact we have to wait. “I don’t have any great ideas, sorry. You?”

“No. And I have to work tonight.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me and brushes his finger across my lower lip. “You could wait for me in my room.”

I envision me in his bed in sexy lingerie I don’t own. And then I flash to the house full of guys. “No. You should sleep at my place. I don’t want to be shy.” I send him a sultry look, and his hand drops to a piece of my hair.

Letting the lock slip through his fingers, he shifts his hips and licks his lips. “Yeah. Good idea.”

I squirm a bit. Damn, it’s going to be a long day. “Let’s go take a run. I need the cold air.” I fan myself with my shirt and saunter toward my locker to get ready. I hear him chuckle.

Chapter 45

Just as I suspected, word travels quickly, and my walk to the Kids’ Castle makes me think of the “walk of shame” I heard girls talk about in my college classes. But, I’m not ashamed.

Kaleb handles it just fine too. But I suppose sex in the ladies’ room is a badge of honor. Even though he claims we didn’t do the deed, I’ll bet it doesn’t stop every guy from wishing they got a morning quickie in the bathroom.

Fortunately, working with children means the topic is not up for discussion once I enter the purple building. A goofy grin stays on my face as I contemplate the things I’ll do to Kaleb later tonight.

It isn’t until I get to my locker at the end of the day that I have to endure more teasing.

“I want to thank you for having a little bathroom nookie today.” Casey snickers as she twirls the combination on her lock.

I sigh, but I’m not annoyed. Nothing can bring me down from my Kaleb high. “We didn’t do anything more than make out. My intent was honorable. I saved you all from too much PDA.” I wink at her. “Wait. Why are you thanking me?”

“Nate and Seth figured out the stinky-foot bandit this morning.” Her locker door twangs.

I start to laugh.

Casey says, “You go ahead and laugh. I’m just grateful your sexual urges can’t be tamed. You blew my headline right out of the water.”

“Jealous?” I sit to unbuckle my boots.

She gives me an evil smile. “Kinda. Sex in a bathroom stall sounds hot.”

“It was.” Heat rushes to my cheeks.

“Oh my God! You did, didn’t you?”

“No, we really didn’t. But.” I lower my voice and glance around to make sure nobody listens. “If Eliza hadn’t walked in we might’ve.”

“Wow. That’s the stuff fantasies are made of. I had no idea you were such a vixen.” Her eyes dance with laughter.

“Vixen?” Kaleb has just come around the corner. I have no doubt my face is now the same shade as a tomato.

Casey hits his chest lightly. “Like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She looks him up and down. “Man whore.”

He smirks. “I’ve been getting a lot of that today.” He shifts his bag up higher on his shoulder.

“It’ll get worse when the poster comes out.” He’s so going to kill me for saying that. I watch his eyes roll.

“Poster?” Casey asks.

“Yup. You’re looking at Poster Kaleb.” I poke him in the stomach. He grabs my hand and pulls me against his chest with his other arm. I giggle as he nuzzles my neck.

“Jesus, would you two just get a room?” Jason’s voice carries across the locker room as he approaches us.

“Dude, we would. There’s just no privacy here.” Kaleb releases me, and I hand him my boots to put on top of the lockers.

Jason’s eyes twinkle. “Try her truck next time.” He looks at Casey and gives her an eyebrow wiggle. “It’s doable.” Now it’s her turn to flush a bright red.

Kaleb says, “Oh, no. Don’t give her any ideas.” He winks at me, and I shake my head.

The zipper grinds as I close my bag. I throw it over my shoulder. “Walk me to my truck?” I raise my eyebrows at Jason. I can’t believe I’m doing this. If someone had told me a year ago that I would banter sexual innuendos, I would have thought they were insane.

I take Kaleb’s hand, and the heat sends a pulse of craving to my core. Maybe the truck isn’t such a bad idea. I ask, “I don’t suppose it’s cold enough to fog up the windows so nobody can see?”

Kaleb’s eyes are full of longing. “I wish. This is torture.” He kicks slush with a foot.

“Uh-huh.” I slip my hand around his waist and under his t-shirt. His skin breaks out in goose bumps from my touch. “I texted—wait. Did you hear that? I texted.” I grin. “I texted Kelly and picked up her shift at the rec center tonight. I should get home an hour before you get there.”

We’re at my truck, and I lean against it. I’m afraid if I open the door and get on the seat, I’ll suck him in and have my way.

Kaleb places his hands on the roof and lowers his head closer. “Don’t start without me.”

A flush rises to my cheeks. Okay, so maybe some things I’m not ready to banter about. I’m too embarrassed to answer and pull his mouth to mine instead. He gives me a searing kiss that makes my legs go weak.

When he pulls away he whispers in my ear, “Later.”

I just nod and watch him walk away while my body simmers in anticipation.

* * *

I drive to the rec center with my windows open. It’s a little chilly, but I need it to cool me down. By the time I walk toward the front desk I’m finally suitable for the general public.

“Hey, Tina, what’re you working on today?”

“Sudoku.” She flips her pencil and erases a box.

“You know they have that for the tablet, right?” I step behind the desk and look over her shoulder.

She taps her pencil on the puzzle. “Yeah, but you can’t put little numbers in the corners to narrow down the possibilities. When they figure out how I can do that, then we’ll talk.”

“Ah, I get it. Clever. If I did that I might make it past the beginner ones.” A metallic click comes from the time clock as I punch my card.

“Enjoy the view. Those boys are getting in shape for summer.” Tina smiles as I head toward the weight room.

“I’ll do my best.” My boots click down the tile hall. Today there are a couple of girls lifting. I enter and hear the clang of metal as one helps the other guide a weight bar into the bench press bar rest.

I’m not much of a weights person. I prefer to do exercises that use my body weight to define my muscles. But I do have an appreciation for what they can do to a body, especially Kaleb’s. I sigh. So much for staying focused. Fortunately my job doesn’t require a lot of brainpower, and I can daydream my way through the next few hours.

I crush candy on my phone until I hear Gretchen. “Cupcake! I hoped you’d be working.”

I step out from the desk to give her a hug. “How was your trip? I didn’t exactly catch up with you yesterday.” I smirk.

“Fine. What happened with you and Kaleb? Have you talked to him?”

I grin. “We’re good. We haven’t talked everything out yet. But we’re definitely back together.”

“Sweet. You two belong together. Now he can stop being such a miserable shit.” She covers her mouth. “Oops. I was doing so well, and then a few days with the guys, I’m back to my trash mouth.”