Page 112 of Making It Count

“God, I can’t believe I get to do this right now.”

“You need to lie down.”

“Happily,” Shay said and let go of Layne’s shirt.

“I meant for your ankle.”

“I’ll lie down if you get on top of me,” Shay told her and took off her Dunbar University Women’s Basketball shirt.

“You don’t…” Layne was staring down at Shay’s bare breasts.

“I was going to sleep before you go there. It’s late. Are you wearing a bra?”

Layne shook her head no but didn’t take her eyes off Shay’s breasts. Shay chuckled and lifted Layne’s shirt again, pulling a bit to get Layne to take the hint. Layne did and pulled her shirt off, letting it fall to the floor.

“Finally,” Shay said and moved her lips to Layne’s right nipple.

“Yes,” Layne agreed as she held Shay’s head to her breast. “Shit. Shay, lie down.”

“I want to–”

“When your ankle isn’t swollen and we don’t have a game the day after tomorrow. For now, just please lie down.”

Shay looked up at her with annoyance at first but then complied and moved to lay her head against her pillow.

“You’re really going to stay in here with me tonight?”

“Yes,” Layne replied before she removed her own sweatpants, leaving them to pool at the end of the bed.

“You’re going hold me?” Shay asked.

“Yes, I am. But first, I’m going to touch you.” Layne pulled Shay’s pants off then, being careful with her ankle, and noticed the ice pack on the bed. “You have another one of these, right?”

“They gave me at least ten, yeah.”

“Great.” Layne tossed it to the floor, making Shay laugh.

“Eager much?”

“To have sex with my girlfriend? Yes. It’s been a year.”

“Well, a little longer for you because you had that major crush on me for, like, four years.”

Shay’s smile disappeared when Layne climbed on top of her.

“Yes, but it wasn’t a crush. It was me realizing it was meant to be all along.”

“Meant to be?” Shay asked, wrapping her arms around Layne’s neck.

“That’s how it feels to me,” Layne admitted as she pressed their foreheads together. “I love you so much. I love how you love basketball. I love how you love me. I love how you make me laugh and bring me out of my shell. I love that you never let them make fun of me when I sat on the bench and didn’t talk to anyone. I love that you–”

“I love you, too. But will you please just kiss me right now? I need you.”

Layne pressed her lips to Shay’s, and she let their kiss build slowly for a while, wanting to revel in finally being able to kiss the woman she loved. She slipped her tongue into Shay’s mouth and earned a moan, which made her hips lower and settle between Shay’s.

“I know we said we’d do this the first chance we got, but–” Shay began and stopped when Layne paused the kisses she’d been applying to her neck.

“But? You don’t want to?” Layne checked.

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