I walk back to the table slowly, watching the team interact and the swarm try to infiltrate. The women touching them and, for the most part, not being acknowledged. Just as I’m walking up to the table a woman walks up to Rick and puts her hand on his shoulder, smiling at him like she’s offering him everything. I pick her hand up off of my man and stare at her directly in the eyes with a look that could kill, “He’s taken, honey. Hands off.”
“I don’t see a ring.” She says glibly and puts her hand back on Rick. Chase is watching, suspecting there could be blood. Why is he letting her touch him!
I turn to Rick for direction because I keep hearing Sam say not to embarrass him with the guys. “I’m so taken. I’m fuckin’ addicted to you, my queen.” Rick’s eyes are heated and focused on me. He pulls me into his lap and I put my arms around his neck, ignoring the player chaser as he claims my mouth with his. I wanted to flip her the bird as she walked away, but my hands were busy in Rick’s hair and that’s more important. Rick moves to whisper in my ear, “How about we get rings to wear, so we can avoid this crap?”
I’m not sure what to think, but I don’t want a ring that doesn’t mean anything. I don’t care if I ever get a ring, as long as I have him. I whisper in his ear, “I’m not after a ring, my king. Just you.”
He whispers back to me quietly, “You have me. What if I want you to have a ring? A pretty one with diamonds that means I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
Tears are building at the thought and I’m struck with the reality of never wanting this until now. Never wanting to get married, but Rick makes me want things. What happened to keeping things the way they are and not talking about taking things further until the season is over? I kiss him passionately and speak breathlessly, “I’ll never say no to you.”
Rick stands and picks me up with him, throwing me over his shoulder. “Good game today, guys. Have a good night, gentlemen. I’m going to leave you now to handle some personal business.” I wave as we leave and he carries me all the way back to the stadium parking garage. I can’t wait to see this on the internet.
Chapter Nineteen
I snuggle up to Rick for the drive home and he wakes me up taking me out of the car. I admit I’m tired and it’s been a long day, following an emotional week. My head is spinning at a different speed than the world around me. I need to pack for away games, make sure work is caught up, and all kinds of other things, but all I can think about is the player chaser at the bar and a ring with diamonds that means he loves me. I'm tired. My brain isn’t functioning. I nestle against Rick’s strong chest and hold on with my arms around his neck, letting him carry me in. He kisses my forehead while we ride up on the elevator, “You’re being quiet and that worries me. What’s going on in there?”
“I didn’t like that girl touching you.”
“I know, you took her hand off of me and claimed me like a cavewoman.” Rick chuckles.
“But, when she did it again then I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries, especially with the guys there.”
“What did you want to do?” Rick unlocks the door, and takes us to the bedroom where we continue our conversation.
Tell her to get the fuck away from my man and knock her on her ass, oh wait, I can’t say that. “I don’t know. It made me possessive and I wondered why you were letting her touch you.” Which is also true.
“Its like that a lot. I pretend they aren’t there and they usually go away.”
“Usually?”
“If I don’t give them any attention they move on to another player. I’m only interested in you, my queen.”
“What happened to keeping things the way they are until the season is over? Not making any relationship decisions.”
“As soon as I suggested rings, I knew it came out wrong. I heard myself say it and thought ‘what an asshole,’ rings aren’t to make chicks stay away. One special ring is for the one special woman in my life, because I love her and only her forever.” Rick stops, “Don’t worry about the team being there, just be you. It makes me happy you won’t say no.”
I grin at him and roll my eyes, feeling like a fool.
“It’s late, come here my queen.” He holds me and we fall asleep in each others’ arms.
Early in the morning, Rick whispers in my ear, “Come here, baby. I need to have you.” He pulls me up on top of him and pulls my panties off while he kisses me, needing me. I don’t know where this comes from in the middle of the night, but I’ll never get tired of it. It’s hot, needy, and quick while we’re half asleep. He holds me on top of him. I sleep there with my head resting on his chest, and his cock still inside me. I’m his home.
The alarm goes off and I smell the coffee brewing. I’m still lying on him. “Good morning, my king.”
“I love you, my queen. I’m so happy you’re going on the road with me. I hate empty hotel rooms and every hotel room without you in it is empty. I hug his chest as I appreciate his words and I don’t want to
