Page 85 of Long for Me
“I have no clue what’s going on,” she said shamelessly.
I threw my head back and laughed, lost the hold on my control and shoved her forehead into my chest. “You’re going this wild over a game you don’t understand?”
She nodded against me. “It’s still fun, though.” My shoulders were still shaking from my laughter when she pulled back, tilted that smile at me and seared my chest with a heat the burned like we were in a sauna, not an ice-cold arena. “I love watching sports, even if I don’t understand the rules. I just pick a team and cheer.”
“I’m the same way,” Chloe said, sitting on the other side of Rebecca.
I’d been hesitant to introduce the two of them. After the game, I’d have to talk about my brief, barely existent history with Chloe to Rebecca. If she found out Simon offered Chloe to me, only a couple months ago, things could get awkward. So far, the pretty blonde and Rebecca were getting along and I wanted to keep it that way.
Chloe continued, smiling at Simon in a way I figured she was imagining what they’d done either that morning or the night before. “But I gotta say, that coach is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. He could inspire anyone to love the sport. I’m certain that’s why there are always so many moms at their home games.”
Around the arena, there were more women than men. Michigan was a huge hockey state so in general, that wasn’t surprising. What was unusual, was the number of women who kept calling Simon’s name instead of the players’ when the team made a good play.
Dressed in a suit, Simon stood in the home team’s bench.
“I’m not sure Simon’s body has much to do with my appreciation of the game,” I teased.
Chloe rolled her eyes at me.
Rebecca giggled and squeezed my leg just above my knee. “He is attractive,” Rebecca said. “But I think my guy is better.” Her cheeks paled, she froze and her head snapped toward me. “I mean...”
“Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t take that away. It’s the truth.”
“Okay.” She licked her lips and turned back to the game.
On her other side, Chloe’s eyes darted back and forth between us. I gave her a look telling her to mind her own business and she shrugged before doing the same as Rebecca.
Rebecca’s hand loosened from my leg but before she could take it off my thigh, I covered her hand with mine. “I like knowing you think of me as yours. I am, beyond the contract, just as you’re mine.”
She shivered and it had nothing to do with the cold. Nodding again, she breathed out a heavy, shaky breath. “Okay, Bennett.”
“We’ll talk more later.” I let go of her hand on my leg and wrapped my arm around her waist.
I didn’t need to warm her. She was bundled up in her puffy coat, scarf and mittens. I really just wanted her close to me at all times.
We watched the rest of the game, celebrating the win with loud cheers as the team lined up and first, smacked the helmet of the goalie who’d only allowed one goal to the River Hill’s Royals three.
Afterward, we were in my car on the way to Shawn and Miranda’s for dinner.
“I’ve got something to tell you about Chloe, and I don’t want to make it awkward for you.”
“Awkward?” Rebecca’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“A couple months ago, when she and Simon were just getting together, she saw me play at Luminous.”
Her lips parted, flesh paled. “Okay?”
Shit. I didn’t want to explain what Chloe had seen me doing, why Simon chose me to play with Chloe especially since we were friends.
I pressed my hand to hers, flipped it over and threaded our fingers together. I tore through the rest of the explanation like a Band-Aid. Quick and painful and over faster. “There was a time when they had a decision to make, and at the end of their contract, Simon was supposed to hand her over to another Dom. I won’t get into the specifics of the relationship, but there was a reason for it.”
“You were the Dom.” Pain laced her voice and fuck if it didn’t hit me straight in the gut.
“I was. I didn’t touch her, Rebecca. And I wouldn’t have. Simon bringing me into it was misguided. I just thought you should know in case it’s ever mentioned.”
She looked out her window, her jaw working back and forth like she was struggling with that information. I didn’t blame her. She was still so new to all of this. The idea of a Dom sharing his sub with other men had to reinforce the idea she had they were nothing more than possessions.
Silence thickened the air. I turned down Rebecca’s street and pulled over before we reached Shawn or Rebecca’s house.
