“I know, and I do want to, but I did it for the wrong reasons.”
This was new. “The wrong reasons?”
Lance sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I did it because I’m frustrated.”
“I’m frustrated too! You know how difficult it’s been being around you-“
Lance stopped me with a look in his eyes. “That’s not what I meant, though that’s part of it. I’m just frustrated with my recovery, or lack there of. I just want to be playing football again, and it just feels like I’m not getting any closer.”
So it was a different kind of frustration. I turned away, crestfallen. “I know it’s been difficult,” I mumbled, “but you gotta trust the process, Lance. You’ll be back better than ever soon enough.”
“I wish I could be so sure.”
“What happened to irrational optimism?”
“You got me there, Charlotte.”
I looked again at the clock. “I should go, it’s getting late.”
“Yeah.”
I turned and walked toward the door and was about to rest my hand on the doorknob when Lance stopped me. “That’s not the only thing I’m frustrated about, Charlotte.” His voice was soft but with force - he definitely meant what he was saying.
I faced him again. “Oh?”
“My rule about not getting close to anyone during the season.” He met my eyes and I could see the fire burning in them, see the passion he was holding at bay every minute we were close. “That’s been frustrating me too.”
“I see.” I didn’t even want to get my hopes up this time. Too many times Lance Parker had built things up between us only to pull back at the last moment and leave me high and dry. Of course, in reality the opposite of ‘dry.’ “And how does that concern me?”
“You know it does.” He paused. “Lock the door and close the shade.”
I gulped, and did what he said. He motioned me closer and I came back into the room. I didn’t stop at the railing to his bed this time, taking care not to disturb his right leg, I sat on the bed and leaned into him.
Our kiss was plaintive at first, tentative, like we had been apart for a long time and weren’t sure of where we stood anymore.
But that was just the beginning.
In between our kisses, Lance whispered, “We’re going to have to be quiet, you know.”
I nodded, collapsing into him. “And we can’t get too nuts, with my knee like this.”
I nodded again. “We’ll figure something out,” I whispered back, way softer than it needed to be.
Lance smiled. “I would hate to have to explain to the media that my recovery was set back another couple weeks because of a sex-related injury.”
I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around Lance’s strong neck and whispered in his ear, as sexily as I could, “There are worse reasons to set back a recovery.”
Lance laughed and pulled me back till we were face to face, suddenly getting serious. “I totally agree with you, Charlotte, but I have a hunch the media won’t.” He paused, then added, “And if it comes down to that, you’ll have to explain it to Coach Armstrong first.”
I playfully punched him in the shoulder. “Gee, thanks, leave the fun one for me, why don’t you?”
“I’m just saying, if I have to tell a room full of reporters I got hurt again while having sex, you can at least explain your role in the matter to the coach.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Lance. We can probably make this work without any need for explanations, to the media or the coaching staff. How about we try that first?”
“Sounds good to me. How about we get started?”
I laughed. “I thought you’d never ask,” I said, nestling myself closer while Lance kissed up and down my neck, right where it met my shoulders, making me shudder with delight.
“If you really thought I’d never ask, it’s kinda forward of you to be sitting in my arms like this, isn’t it?” He said, and even though I couldn’t see his face from this angle I knew he was grinning that grin of his that made me melt every single time.
“The one time I wish you’d stop playing word games and just go with the flow, Lance,” I quipped sarcastically.
“I think I can do that.” And then he reached his hand into my hair and gently pulled my head back in front of him so he could plant a big kiss right on my lips.
“There’s hope for you yet…” I murmured as I reached down and pulled his shirt up. Lance let go of me and raised his arms so I could take it off and get rid of it, getting me once again face to face with his ridiculously sculpted body. He must have found some way to take care of himself while sidelined, because he didn’t look like he’d lost any of his muscles at all.
“See anything you like?”
“Maybe,” I said, poking at him and marveling at how resistant the muscle was. “I’ll let you know if want to do anything other than browse.”
“Tough crowd tonight.”