“Bennett Wilson, put me down right this instant!” she shouts.
I just chuckle in place of a reply.
Once we’re to my car, I drop the bags at the back of my car before rounding to the passenger door and setting her inside. Her scoff is adorable when I buckle her in and shut the door.
Minutes later, we’ve arrived at my condo. The elevator doors open and I place my hand on the small of her back as I guide her to my front door, type in the code, and let us in. As interested as I am to see the space through her eyes, I’m too impatient to give her a grand tour right now. Slipping off our shoes in the entryway, I grab our bags in one hand and grab her hand with the other before taking off toward my bedroom.
“Here’s the kitchen,” I tell her, nodding to the left as we walk past. “The living room,” I nod again. “Dining room is off that way,” I say but don’t make a gesture as to where, I’m too busy trying to walk her down the hallway. “Down this hall are the two spare bedrooms and a bathroom, and at the end of the hall here is my bedroom.”
Opening the door, I guide her in, letting her hand go so I can set our bags down on the set of chairs in the corner of the room.
I try to take in the space through her eyes. My oversized bed was custom-made and takes up most of the space. The wooden frame is stained a dark oak with plush charcoal bedding and built-in shelves for nightstands that are an extension of the bed frame.
The exposed brick wall behind my bed was an accent I decided to keep from the previous owner.
In the corner, above the set of chairs, hangs my three favorite guitars as a make-shift accent wall, though I often sit in this corner to play them when I’m home.
“This is not at all what I was expecting,” Scarlett trails off as she moves to the opposite wall that has the doors to my bathroom and walk-in closet.
“The door on the right is my bathroom, and the other is for the room I’m sure you’re dying to see, though I’ll warn you it’s going to be underwhelming compared to your closet.”
She opens the door to my closet and I reach over her shoulder to flip the lightswitch. My closet has dark oak shelves and organizers to match my bed frame.
“You’ve got an entire side dedicated to your suits, I’m impressed,” she tells me as she runs her fingers over the sleeves of my suit jackets hanging in rows, color coordinated, as she once teased me about. “Do you prefer the dark wood and accents? My place has mostly light maple and white accents, but we could make the spare bedroom next to mine into a closet for you. If you prefer these finishes, we can do that in there.”
“Isn’t that room the craft room you and Gunner use?”
“Yeah, but we can move that to the basement,” she suggests, and I immediately shut that down.
“And waste that natural light you love so much on a dark closet for me? No way, Red. Can’t you make a little space in your closet for me? I mean it’s as big as my entire bedroom.”
She chuckles. “Well, yes, I don’t use the far wallyet. But you’d be surprised by how much my wardrobe can grow in three years.”
My stomach sinks as she points out our agreed-upon timeline for our expiration date.
Clearing my throat, I hesitate for a moment, questioning whether I should push her on that a bit more before thinking better of it. “Oh, I’ve got no doubt in your ability to utilize that space, but for convenience’s sake, I’d prefer I borrow that space for now instead of taking away a space you and Gunner love so much.”
Scar smiles softlyat that. “I suppose you’re right.” It’s her turn to clear her throat. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”
“Not at all,” I tell her as I make my way across my room to grab her overnight bag. “Here you go.”
“Thank you, I’ll be right out,” she assures me as she backs into the bathroom and shuts the door behind her.
I take off my suit jacket and toss it on one of the chairs before unclasping my cufflinks and setting them on top of my dresser. I’ve just finished untucking my dress shirt and am working on making my way down the buttons when the bathroom door opens.
Scar looks positively breathtaking—heart-stopping, even—when she exits my bathroom. Her curled hair falls down her shoulders over the material of my home jersey, and long, bare legs trail down to her bare feet. I clasp my chest and rub my sternum to ease the ache that seeing her in just my jersey brings.
“I hear athletes go feral for a woman in their jersey.” She does a little spin, holding up her hair to show off my last name splayed across her shoulders.
Unable to find words right now, I simply grunt in reply.
“What do you think, Cap?” she asks as she drops her hair and slowly lifts the hem of the jersey to reveal the globes of her tight ass.
“Let me guess, you didn’t want any panty lines?” I finally manage to rasp in a tone that’s gravelly with lust as I close the distance between us.
She turns and smiles up at me in amusement, and I can’t help but feel a tightening in my chest at her carefree, teasing demeanor. When was the last time she was able to smile like that? Free from the weight of the world on her shoulders—the responsibilities she’s handled alone while managing to make it look effortless? I want to make her smile like this as often as possible.
“What do I think?” I echo her question and she nods, biting down on her plush bottom lip. “I think I’m glad I got plenty of rest last night, because I plan to take my time with you tonight—all night. What do you think of that, Scarlett?”
