As soon as he’s in front of me, I throw myself at him, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. His grin is contagious, and I match it immediately. “Great job tonight, baby!”
That must spark something inside him because his eyes slightly dilate before he grabs the back of my head and pulls me in for a kiss. The second our lips touch, I lose control. I wrap my hands around his neck and open my mouth to allow his tongue inside. The kiss isn’t gentle, but it’s not out of control either. It’s an exploration for us both. Melting together for the first time. His lips are pillows against my own, as our tongues dance to a rhythm known only to each other. As the kiss deepens, I start to run my fingers through his hair, andwow, it’s so soft. Just when I think I’ll combust from the intensity in this kiss, he grabs the base of my ponytail and pulls my head from his.
“Mmm, are you sure you can’t come with me tonight?” Ledger moves his hand to my face and starts rubbing my bottom lip with his thumb.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I say.
At the same time Allie responds, “She’s all yours,” and we all look at each other.
I want him sodamnbad, but I can’t help the intrusive thoughts running through my head.What if I’m not good enough? What if he realizes I’m the worst lay of his life and never speaks to me again? What if I fall madly in love, and this was all just a game for him to take my virginity?
I snap back to reality before anyone notices how deep I’ve been in my head. “Allie and I are going to have a super girly movie night and eat a five-pound bag of gummy bears. It's locked in.”
“Damn. Well, promise me a date tomorrow night. After rehearsal,” Ledger says as he peppers my face with kisses.
“Yes!” Allie responds for me before we all break into laughter.
“I’m serious, Sloane. It doesn't have to be anything fancy since we’ll be coming from rehearsal, but an actual date. I’ll pick you up!”
I grab his face with both hands and give him a chaste kiss on his lips. “That sounds wonderful. As long as you let me pick the music in the car.”
“Deal. Now let me go grab my bag and let’s get out of here,” Ledger says as he carries me through the back of the arena to his locker.
Once we have his things, we head out the back door into the parking lot, and since we parked on the other side, we have quite a walk to the car. He carries me the entire way like I weigh nothing, which greatly pleases my lizard brain.
“I’m driving!” Allie yells before we get to the car, letting Ledger know to take me to the passenger seat.
He sets me in the car and gives me another chaste kiss on the lips before stepping back, saying goodbye, and shutting my door.
“You’re an idiot for not going with him tonight,” Allie says as she starts up the car.
I turn our hype girl music back on, but wait to blast the volume. “You’re probably right, but I’m going to be honest with you, Al. I’m scared. Not about losing my virginity or it hurting or anything, but I have zero experience, and he…well, he owns a damn sex club, for God's sake. Change of plans for the night. No more movies. You are going to give me any and every tip and piece of advice you have about sex. Because if the way I felt tonight was any indicator about how tomorrow’s date is going to go, I may be in trouble a lot sooner than I ever thought I would be.”
“Oh girl, judging by the dickprint your man was sporting, I definitely think you’re going to be in trouble.” Allie chuckles and turns the music up. “Let the debauchery begin.”
Chapter sixteen
It took everything within me not to steal Sloane away last night. Had that fight not been a shoo-in, had I been required to unleash the more unhinged side of my personality in order to win, Sloane would absolutely be waking up inourbed this morning. No doubt with my head between her legs.
I look around the owner’s suite, taking note of how much it’s changed from the first time I laid eyes on my angel. I came back that night to a perfectly decorated house lacking any of the personality that makes a house a home, but as I look around now, I see life. It no longer sports the sterile nautical theme my previous interior designer chose, with shades of navy, black, and charcoal paired with leather furniture. Instead, it features a French cottage theme that I curated myself. Pulling from Sloane’s inspo boards yet again, I personally picked out the fluffy cream bedding, white linen furniture, and gold-framed floral landscapes adorning the walls. I found the perfect Persian rugs in hues of blue and greento tie in the cozy blankets and throw pillows I have scattered throughout the room.
If she gets here and wants to change it all, I’ll hand her the card. I just want to make her feel like it’s a place that belongs to both of us. A place she can wake up every morning excited to get up and start her day, knowing she’s exactly where she needs to be.
Tonight is the night, though. I have no sexual expectations, but after our date, I’m bringing my girl home.
We spend yet another practice secluded in our nursery, but there’s a tension in the air that hasn’t been there before. I’m going out of my way to keep our interactions PG. Sloane doesn’t push it either, but we both want to. I can see the longing in her eyes, and I’m sure she can see the fire in mine.
Walking to my car, I help her in before getting into the driver's seat. As soon as I shut the door, I see her shiver, so I grab her hand closest to me and lace our fingers together.
“It’s a little cooler out than I anticipated. I think it might rain later,” I say, squeezing her hand. “I have heated seats, though. The controls are over on your side.”
Sloane doesn’t respond, but I can tell by the way she’s staring at a bug that just flew into the windshield that her mind is working overtime. “Hey, what’s going on in that head?”
“Oh, um…you really want to know?”
When I nod, she bites the corner of her mouth like she’s unsure if she should speak her thoughts out loud.
“I’m just thinking that I definitely wouldn’t want to get stuck in the rain because I don’t think our relationship is ready for you to see how my hair behaves when it’s been rained on. And I would probably start to chafe if my pants got wet. And between the wet dog look and the chafed thighs, I’m not sure you’d be so interested in any bedroom activities later, making this an overall unsuccessful date for you. And how, if it’s a bad date, you might not want another one. And how I really want there to be another one.”
