But I don’t say anything to her about it, because now isn’t the time, and also, our relationship is new and I want it to stay on track. Maybe tomorrow night we’ll be able to chat in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“Well, thanks for coming by to see me,” I tell her gratefully, giving her a hard return hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

She pulls away, stares into my eyes with a gentle look…almost nostalgic. “Okay, see you tomorrow night. We’ll have so much fun and I can’t wait to hear you perform.”

“Same here,” I say, and then watch as she leaves the family room. Roman doesn’t give her a glance but pushes away from the doorjamb before she reaches him, walking by without a word.

My gaze slides to his and he’s looking at me with raised eyebrows as if silently asking, So…what did your sister have to say about me now?

I turn and grab my purse from a small table where I had set it and cross the lounge to him, which is almost empty. When I reach Roman, I immediately step right into him and it feels natural and right. His arms come around me, although his gear bag makes it a bit awkward.

As I hug him, I whisper, “You okay?”

“I’ve had better days,” he admits in a tired voice as he releases me. “Ready to go?”

“Sure,” I say as I hitch my purse strap up a bit and smile at him tentatively. “What do you want to do?”

I ask because our plans hadn’t been firmed up. We had discussed going out to a nearby hangout where the rest of the team goes, or going for a few drinks somewhere quiet. I’m fine with either, to be honest.

“I’m kind of beat,” he says as he takes my hand and leads me out of the lounge. When we hit the hallway, he says, “How about I just take you home and we call it a night?”

I stop suddenly and pull my hand forcefully from his. He turns to look at me in surprise.

“Oh no you don’t, Roman Sýkora,” I snap at him as I cross my arms over my chest. “You are not going to pull away from me because you had a shitty game and probably a shitty encounter with my sister.”

I half expect him to get mad, but instead his lips curl slightly in amusement. “Oh yeah?”

“Yes,” I say softly, and then step back up to him. Resting a hand on his chest, I tell him, “I’m sorry you had a bad game. I don’t think I really understand what happened tonight. All I know is you look unhappy, and Gray was clearly unhappy, and I’m now not happy because of that.”

“See, that’s what I hate about this shit,” Roman says in frustration. “Whatever this shit is between Gray and me shouldn’t touch you.”

“Well, I’m not so sure about that,” I say uncertainly.

“She clearly said something disparaging about me just a few moments ago.” The anger in his tone is unmistakable. “That’s not her place to do that.”

Pressing my fingertips into his chest, I nod with an impish smile. “I absolutely agree with you. She’s your boss and she shouldn’t be telling me her problems with you. But I do think, since you and I are dating, you should feel free to tell me your frustrations, even if they deal with my sister. You know my job is much more than to entertain you with my ukulele and give you orgasms, right?”

“Well, how could I ever want more than ukuleles and orgasms,” he says on a snort. “I mean…do I really deserve more?”

“You totally deserve more,” I say with a laugh, then go up on my tiptoes to give him a small, quick kiss. “So I think tonight we should go to your house—after a quick stop at Burger 21 for a late snack—then we’ll get naked, I’ll give you a massage while you tell me all your problems, and then I’ll give you an orgasm.”

“I’d rather just have you sing to me with your ukulele,” he says, but I know that is an absolute lie. As much as he loves my music, I know he’d enjoy a massage and some amazing sex after.

“You can have whatever you want tonight,” I murmur, and love the way his eyes flash hot, wondering how many filthy, dirty things about me just crossed his mind.

“Do we really have to stop at Burger 21?” he asks on a low growl, one arm snaking around my waist.

“Yes,” I tell him primly. “I need nourishment for what I’m going to do to you.”

“Jesus fuck, you’re just about perfect,” Roman mutters as he releases his hold on me, takes me by the hand, and starts to drag me down the hall toward the exit to the players’ parking lot.

—

“Are you relaxed?” I ask Roman as my fingers press down into his shoulders while I straddle his lower back.

“Not really,” he mutters.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I dig into his muscles with my thumbs.

“You’re sitting on top of me naked, I’ve got a hard-on that smashed between me and the mattress, and I’m horny,” he says sarcastically. “That’s what’s wrong.”

I giggle and then coo at him while I work his muscles. “Poor baby. Just try to relax and let me make you feel better.”

“I’d feel much better if you let me roll over and then rode my cock,” he grumbles, although I can hear the teasing in his voice.

“I love it when you talk dirty to me,” I murmur, my voice sounding extra raspy because I truly am turned on.

“Then let’s fuck,” he suggests brightly, lifting his head from the pillow and craning it so he can look at me.

With an exaggerated sigh, I flop off of him. Lying on the mattress so we’re face-to-face, I tell him gently but firmly, “First tell me what happened with Gray.”

Roman rolls to his side to face me and snakes an arm around my waist. With a jerk, he pulls me to him, and yes, indeed, he does have a hard-on, which is warm and thick pressed into my belly. My head swims for a moment, and I completely forget what I just asked him.

“Are you sure you want to hear this?” he asks me skeptically, his nose just inches from mine.

I’m still aware of his hard cock and the way it feels against my skin, so it takes me a moment to focus. Finally, I say, “Yes. I want to hear it. I want you to be able to vent to me.”

“No repercussions?” he asks quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if I say something about your sister that you don’t like, are you going to take it out on me? We’re kind of in murky waters here.”