Page 75 of The Baller

“Maybe, but as my mom likes to say, remember a bomb is fragile too, and look at the power it wields.”

Her eyes shot back up to mine, wide and full of comprehension at my words… that she wasn’t weak; she was forceful.

“Where is he now?” she asked, finally.

“In prison.”

“Do they visit him?”

“My mom does sometimes. Maddie has started to ask, but Sienna never has. She’s not ready.” My shoulder lifted half-heartedly. That was a subject for another day. I leaned forward and kissed her nose.

“Heavy conversations today.”

“Yeah.” I stood and took her hand. “Bedtime now.”

Leading her to the side of the bed, I pulled back the covers. “Sleep tight, Radley. I’ll sleep in Ace’s room, so you can have the bed to yourself.”

I looked down as her fingers laced into mine, tangling us together. “Don’t go.” When I met her gaze, her golden eyes were shining so brightly that I couldn’t have left her – even if I wanted to. I didn’t want to, though I could do with an ice-cold shower, especially when she whispered, “Please.”

“Okay,” I nodded, willing my dick to stop thickening.

I moved around the bed and got in as she slipped between the sheets next to me. It was second nature when I lifted my arm for her to snuggle into my chest and fold herself around me. As I lay there listening to her breathing settle as sleep took her, I wondered if the fluttering in my chest would ever slow.

Or if this is what it felt like to fall for someone.

FIFTEEN

RADLEY

The smell woke me first.

Delicious, rich, smoky – the smell of happiness – followed with a subtle scent of Arabica – also known to induce happiness.

A soft thud and a mumbling came from somewhere/someone close-by.

One eyelid eased open, then the other.

I found the culprit standing at the end of the bed. He wasn’t looking at me, he was scouring his massive bookshelf, which I planned to properly investigate today. But in the meantime, I intended to admire the fine,fineass in front of it.

Have I mentioned before how fine Lux’s ass is? It is. And those sweatpants were doing wonders for it; firm, round, high. Someone needed to be sent a congratulations note for creating the work of art that is Lux Weston’s ass.

At some point I must have let out a little moan because he spun around, his eyes flaring.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“You didn’t,” I croaked, pushing my hair out of face, hoping – no, praying – I didn’t look like my usual just-woken state because that really would be one of life’s kick-you-in-the-ass moments. He wakes up looking likethat;I resemble a scarecrow.

Before I could duck under the comforter and hide, he’d skimmed around the bed and kneeled next to me, the mattress dipping under his weight. The scent of oak and deliciousness hit my brain, giving me a morning rush I’d never experienced.

I was so focused on how close he was, the way his lips moved as he spoke to me, that I didn’t hear anything he said.

“Eh… what?

His cheeks rippled with a smile as his fingers pushed through my hair. “How did you sleep?”

I blinked up at him while I deciphered the world’s most complicated question, and let out a yawn instead. “Good. I think.”

“Yeah?” His mouth quirked again, taking my focus. It really was a beautiful mouth, especially when it smiled like that. “All that snoring really takes it out of you.”

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