Page 58 of Worth the Risk

“Making yourself at home?” I smirk and head into my bedroom while I take off my t-shirt and jeans. My body is drained, but I have a woman who is beckoning me to fall into her arms between the sheets.

Piper doesn’t move, instead lying there waiting, watching, and looking confident that she is supposed to be the queen of my bed, and pats the spot next to her to invite me to join her. “I knew you would be late, and I just wanted a cozy night to catch up on emails.”

I set my knee on the bed and crawl to her to steal a kiss. “I was waiting for this.” I speak against her lips before the tips of our tongues touch for a little tease.

Her hands come up to frame my face. “You seem tired.”

A short laugh escapes me. “I’ve been up since five and it’s now almost eleven. This is usual as we prepare for pre-season games.”

“You drove?”

“I have a driver for the next few weeks. There is no way I’m driving this late after a long day, plus I can use the drive to go over notes for tomorrow’s training.”

“Come to bed. I’ll massage your shoulders.” Her thumb swirls on my cheek.

I would love to collapse on the mattress, but I’m a man who survived a day of sun, running up and down a field, and standing around with sweaty guys needing a lecture. I give her a peck on the lips real quick. “A two-minute shower then I’m back.”

Piper pretends to pout and grabs my arm as I leave. “I can be of assistance.”

“Oh, I know you can, but I’ll be fast,” I promise.

She nods in agreement.

The moment, I get the shower on, dim the lights, and throw some music on the Bluetooth, I’m regretting not dragging Piper in here. But I need a few minutes to myself after this day, and even the drive back wasn’t peaceful, as one of my assistant coaches had sent a long email that I needed to process.

My evening shower is a sort of ritual to turn off my football brain and refocus on other aspects of my life.

Warm water cascades down my body as soon as I step in. A deep breath and I can already feel the thoughts float into my head about the fact that Piper is here and finding a routine at my house with ease. But a few hours every night are not enough. I’m asking a lot that she always comes here to Lake Spark, but I get the impression she prefers it here to the city anyhow. Then again, once the season starts, then my time here will also be minimal.

Turning the water off, I grab a towel, and two minutes later I’m back to my bed. Piper is now only in my t-shirt. In fact, I think she has been wearing my clothes at night more than her own line of pajamas that she designed.

Piper pulls open the duvet to offer me a spot while I grab a pair of boxer briefs, never breaking our gaze.

“Kept the bed warm,” she proudly states.

It’s only a second after my ass hits the mattress that Piper is on top of me, straddling me, with her hands resting on my shoulders as I sit against the headboard. Despite her warm heat on top of my dick, she isn’t even being sexual. She’s caring.

Her fingers begin to knead into my shoulders. “Is it always like this? You’re a little tense.”

“This is normal. It’s long days now, and when games start, it’s a little less long but more pressure. Welcome to my life for the next six months.” I rub my hands along her forearms and take in how good it feels to have someone massaging me with purpose.

“I have to say that it sounds awful, but you seem to enjoy your job. It’s just… maybe I’m beginning to really understand why you haven’t had time for… other things.” She’s acting sheepish, but I know what she means.

I stop her from massaging me further and have to smirk at her thought. “As in a relationship?”

A knowing grin is faint on her lips. “Maybe that is what I was getting at.”

I comb my fingers through her hair because her lush brown locks frame her face and it’s slightly distracting, as I just want to wrap her hair around my hand and pull her mouth to mine. “Partly, yes. But if you put in the effort then it can work. I never wanted to put in the effort… until now.”

Piper shimmies closer to my body, causing my cock to twitch, but I stay on point and pull her closer to me to wrap her tightly in my arms.

“Summer training is over in a week,” she says, “then it’s pre-season games and then game season where you stay in a hotel the night before home games too.” She’s showing off her knowledge that is a mix of what I’ve told her and exploring the internet.

“I hate that time isn’t on our side, we only have small windows. Speaking of which, stop by the stadium tomorrow for lunch,” I suggest.

Her face freezes for a brief second. “Oh, I kind of planned to do my usual coffee in town, walk around, and some old lady mentioned they have a drawing class by the gazebo every day during the summer.”

My eyes raise to her, and I’m kind of taken aback that she’s pushing back. “Piper.”

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