Booker didn’t watch the games. He knew the U.S. had brought home the bronze. Otherwise, he avoided any details. Booker couldn’t watch people cheering on the sidelines and lusting for what Booker hadn’t known how to keep. He already felt like the biggest of losers.

  His drive home from the airport was made in stop and go traffic. For not the first time, Booker seriously considered the offer Lev made him before he left. Booker could keep working for him permanently or until he found a head coaching job. He could leave the only city he had ever truly known and start a new life. It was the only option that felt doable at the moment. He didn’t know if he could ever face Dash again. Booker just wasn’t that strong. Truthfully, he still didn’t know if working for Lev meant living in Phoenix or New Orleans. Heated contract discussions were still taking place. If Lev drove talks into the preseason, he could make real bank like most players had never seen. Unfortunately, it was a strategy that could backfire. Then they would both be out of the job.

  Booker’s foot automatically lifted from the gas as he neared his home. Dash’s truck sat in the driveway. He almost kept going. Then he spotted Dash at the bottom of the front steps, looking as if he debated leaping from his chair to ring the doorbell. Booker hit the button to open his garage door. Dash’s head turned his way. Booker’s heart ached. He parked and took his time, dragging his luggage from the car. Dash waited outside the garage door. Booker couldn’t even look at him. It hurt too much.

  “Did you take a trip?”

  Booker finally found the courage to look Dash’s way at his question. “Something like that. I had to work somewhere during off season.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Booker didn’t want to be angry or hurt, but he was. “My dad fired me when I wouldn’t tolerate him disrespecting you. I had to find an alternative way to support myself.” The bitterness in his voice couldn’t be missed.

  “Out of state?”

  “What do you want?” Booker couldn’t handle this right now. Maybe not ever. He needed Dash gone. Booker had underestimated how badly being near him would hurt.

  “I came to apologize.”

  “For what?” Booker knew he was being difficult. He didn’t know how to stop. No one had ever hurt him as badly as Dash.

  Dash rolled his chair back and forth a hair as if nervous. “For accusing you of cheating. You didn’t deserve that. For what it’s worth, I don’t think it had anything to do with you. I guess I didn’t realize how insecure I’ve become until I heard your name paired with someone else.”

  Booker pinched the spot between his eyes where a headache raged. “Look. There’s no need to apologize or have hard feelings. My stepmom is right. I had to wait for you to lower your standards to even look at me. So maybe this is for the best. You can find someone better now.”

  Dash swallowed. “Is that what started the fight with your dad?”

  “Does it matter?” Booker wanted to fight, but he also just wanted to be alone. His heart hadn’t been ready for this confrontation.

  “It does to me.”

  Booker blew out a sigh. “Yeah. I decided I wouldn’t let them disrespect us and told them to go fuck themselves. Dad left a voicemail, letting me know not to come back. None of this matters now. It’s been a long time coming.”

  “It matters to me.”

  Exasperation nearly took out his knees. “Why? You’re free now. You’re an Olympic champion. Go meet your standards and leave me behind like the bad dream I’ve been.”

  “Why in the fuck are you being so flippant about us? I love you. You are the most incredible man in the world. I don’t want anyone else.”

  Booker lifted his suitcase an inch and slammed it back down in his frustration. “I spent the past few weeks in Phoenix, staying with Lev so I could work as his assistant.” There. If nothing else ran Dash off, that would.

  Dash looked slightly confused. “Okay. Did he pay you enough to cover your bills, or do you need my help?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Booker was on the edge of tears. He had never wanted anyone as much as he had Dash, and now they were done. There was no way Dash understood how much his presence broke Booker. He didn’t want to hurt anymore.

  “I love you.”

  “Stop.” Even Booker heard the crack in his voice.

  “No. I love you.” Dash looked so damn serious.

  Still, Booker couldn’t let down his guard. There was already nothing left of his heart. “Please go away.”

  “I love you.”

  “Goddamn it, Dash. I don’t want you here.”

  “I love you.”

  It hit Booker. Dash used the same tactic Booker did when he wanted a subject dropped. The first tear fell. Booker looked away. He wasn’t a crier. His dad would never tolerate a crier. Booker had grown up and taken a real man’s job. He was strong now and didn’t have to take the hits. Crying always only made things worse.

  Dash took his hand and kissed it. “I love you.” His voice sounded soft and cajoling. “Please, baby. Don’t walk away from us. I love you. I should’ve trusted you. Truthfully, it wasn’t you at all. I didn’t think I could keep someone as amazing as you. You deserve a man who can give you everything the way Lev can. That’s all I could think. I just knew you’d seen your worth and left me in the dust. But I love you. No one else could ever give you as much love as I can. That I know as a fact. No one could love you more than I do. This pressure in my chest is too big. There’s no way anyone could match it.”

  Booker stared at the sky, seeing nothing. He wanted to believe.

  Dash kissed his hand again. “Please look at me, baby.”

  Despite his common sense, Booker dropped his chin. He didn’t want Dash to see him cry, but he couldn’t resist Dash.

  Dash tugged a little at a time, drawing Booker closer until he had Booker on his lap. He kissed the tip of Booker’s nose. “I love you.” Booker’s heart squeezed. Dash kissed the corner of his mouth. “I love you. Tell me you love me too.”

  Goddamn him. Booker didn’t want to give in, but his heart betrayed him. “I love you too.”

  Dash grabbed Booker by the jaw and pulled him in for a kiss. Goosebumps rose on Booker’s skin. He didn’t understand why everything Dash did had to be so goddamn sexy. It wasn’t fair. The way Dash cradled his throat and controlled their kiss had Booker hooked. His fingers dove into Dash’s hair. He held on while Dash explored his mouth. They had been apart too long. Booker’s body burned. Most of all, his heart craved Dash’s affection. He didn’t know how to walk away. Booker feared he couldn’t.

  In his time away from Booker, Dash had done some real soul searching. He had a breakthrough that all the therapy in the world hadn’t managed. Dash felt insecure because he had stopped being the take-charge guy he had been before his accident. He had let that wreck steal more than just the use of his legs. Dash had turned passive. That wouldn’t work for him. Plus, Booker deserved a man who wasn’t afraid to do whatever it took to keep him. He would fight. Booker belonged to him.

  Thankfully, Booker kept a ramp in his garage so Dash could get inside. The moment he had Booker alone, he snagged Booker’s waist and towed him into his lap again. Booker laughed and clung to Dash’s neck as Dash wheeled him down the hall.

  “I’m holding my baby. I’ve been sick thinking about never getting to touch you again.” Not to mention, he had never thought he would make Booker cry. He definitely hadn’t considered how seeing Booker’s tears would break him. Booker worked a job made for tough men. He knew Booker hated Dash had seen him that vulnerable. That needed to end, though. This was forever. If they couldn’t expose themselves completely to each other, then they couldn’t show their true selves to anyone. Dash didn’t want to live like that. He couldn’t imagine Booker did either.

  At the edge of Booker’s bed, Booker climbed from his lap onto the mattress. Dash positioned his chair so he could do the same. In no time, he had Booker in his arms again. “God, I’ve missed you like crazy. I can’t tell you how many times I was ready to ditch the games so I could be with you.”

  He felt Booker laugh. “Do you know how angry I would’ve been?”

  “That’s the only reason I didn’t do it. I knew you’d never forgive me if I gave up what you helped me achieve.”

  For a while, they quietly held each other. Finally, Booker broke the silence. “I should’ve at least texted you before going to dinner with Lev.”

  Dash shook his head. “You’re allowed to have friends. Like I said, my reaction had nothing to do with you. I know I can trust you. You needed a friend after everything with your dad. I wasn’t here.”

  “I was just so damn upset that night. You weren’t answering my calls and everything was a fucking mess. Dad just—ugh. He makes me so fucking mad. Why would a father let his wife talk to his son the way he lets Jenny talk to me?” Before Dash could respond, Booker answered his own question. “Because he doesn’t love me. Probably he never has. I’m just the obligation my mom left behind when she died.”

  Dash squeezed Booker. He didn’t know how to fix it. “Obviously, I can’t replace your biological family, but you have me.”

  Booker’s hand found its way beneath Dash’s shirt, as if he needed to be skin on skin. Dash’s eyes fell closed. He craved the connection. His throat swelled. He had come so close to losing this. Too close. Booker meant everything to him. Dash couldn’t let this happen again. He couldn’t go back to feeling the way he felt before Booker saved him. A horrible realization washed over Dash on the heels of his thoughts. Booker probably always felt the same way. All they had was each other. If Booker didn’t have him, who would hold Booker like this? His heart felt like it was being crushed. He honestly didn’t believe Booker would have let him down the way Dash had done him. From day one with the Chuckers, Booker had been there for him. Quietly and steadily at his side. He didn’t know how to live without Booker. Booker was his other half.

  He sniffed, trying not to cry.

  Booker cuddled closer.

  He kissed the top of Booker’s head. A tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

  Booker made a sound that he only made when he slept.

  A chuckle escaped Dash. He swiped at his eyes. Dash grabbed a handful of blankets and covered them. He was exhausted. Between the nonstop working and not sleeping, his eyes felt heavy. Dash was home. He could rest.

  Chapter Eight

  A warm body moved beneath him, stirring Booker. Dash’s heartbeat pounded beneath his ear. Relief poured through him. It hadn’t been a dream. Dash loved him. They were okay.

  Booker smiled as he realized he had his whole arm shoved inside Dash’s shirt, no doubt looking for warmth and bare skin. His fingertips brushed Dash’s nipple. He enjoyed the way it felt as it hardened.

  “Are you starting something?”

  Booker moved lower and kissed Dash’s stomach.

  “So you are starting something.”

  Booker laughed against Dash’s stomach as he moved lower. His abs were even more defined than usual, proving he had worked hard the past eight weeks. It was also possible he hadn’t been eating. Booker would fix that. He unbuttoned Dash’s jeans and slid his zipper down. His cock jumped as he released Dash’s erection. Booker licked him before swallowing his dick. Damn. He was so in love with this man. Obsessed. He never wanted to be with anyone else. This was his one.

  Two deep swallows in, Dash grabbed his hair and pulled his head up to meet his stare. “God. You look so turned on right now.” That was because he was. “Turn around and give me that dick. You know it’ll take me forever to come and I want to suck you.”

  Goddamn, he loved this confident and take-charge version of Dash. Booker shifted to his knees and pulled his shirt up and over his head. He stole Dash’s clothes before removing the rest of his. The second he was nude, Booker didn’t hesitate to straddle Dash’s face. He fully intended to stay there as long as possible. The moment Dash took Booker into his mouth, he called himself a liar. Dash always made him come too fast. Booker got to work. He needed Dash’s cum.

  Dash made noises around Booker’s dick that had him seeing stars. The vibrations drove him crazy. Dash played with his hole and balls. Booker returned the favor.

  Dash groaned. Booker bobbed faster. He needed to come. The pressure already built. Booker chased the high. He wanted the orgasm Dash’s mouth promised.

  To his surprise, cum filled his mouth. Dash cried out around his cock. Booker swallowed. Dash sucked him hard. Booker blew. Cries tore from him as he rode Dash’s tongue. His mind was nothing but a sea of pleasure.

  By the time Booker crawled back into Dash’s arms, his muscles were weak. He collapsed and Dash claimed his mouth. They kissed, tasting each other’s cum. Dash stroked his chest, making him feel treasured. From nowhere, Booker’s eyes burned. He had almost lost this. What a nightmare his life would be without Dash.

  Booker turned his head. “We can’t let this happen again.”

  Dash pulled away, looking confused. “What? Why?”

  A laugh burst from Booker as he realized he made it sound like they couldn’t blow each other again. “I meant being apart. We can’t let that happen again.”

  A smile exploded across Dash’s face. “Agreed. Come here.” Dash pulled Booker tighter into his arms. He kissed Booker’s forehead. “I have some things to say.”

  Dash sounded serious. “Okay.”

  “The very first time we met, you had on this yellow shirt that was damn near blinding. We were in the sun, getting ready to head into the arena for my first time. Teddy had offered to train me in sled and you had agreed to meet us to help. I didn’t know how things would go. Honestly, I thought I’d make a fool of myself. But you looked at me with those sweet brown eyes that outshined your bright-ass shirt and said, ‘You’re the most amazing athlete I’ve ever seen. I know there’s nothing you can’t do.’ And I believed because you did. I noticed you. You’ve always been part of me. So, yeah. We can’t be apart again.” Dash’s voice cracked. “I don’t want to be here without you.”

  Booker sniffed. He fought not to cry. It had been a waterworks day, and that wasn’t like him. It was just that Dash meant everything, and Booker didn’t want to exist without him either. They would make it. They loved each other too much for things to be any other way.

  That sniffle murdered Dash. He loved Booker with every fiber of his being. Dash wanted to give him the world. No. He needed to give Booker the universe. That meant Booker had to stop being so damn prideful.

  He took Booker’s hand and linked fingers with him. “I’m not done.”

  “Okay.”

  Dash smiled at Booker’s quietly spoken agreement. He brought Booker’s hand to his mouth and kissed it before continuing. “You know winning the championship came with a huge bonus, then I also received a medal bonus from the games. But the reason I didn’t come see you the day I got back from France—not that you were here. But the reason I didn’t was because I didn’t want to show up here until I finalized two different multi-million-dollar contracts for product sponsorships.”

  Booker lifted his head. He looked stunned. “Are you kidding me? That’s fucking amazing. I told you there’s nothing you can’t do.”

  Dash stroked his knuckles down Booker’s cheek. “I know, but I’m saying this because I want you to come live with me. I need you to know I can take care of you, and you don’t have to struggle.” He saw Booker gearing up to argue. Dash shook his head. “No. I don’t want to hear anything born out of pride. We’re a team. It’s our job to take care of each other. Plus, this place just really isn’t very accessible.”

  Booker chuckled. “You’re right. I was gearing up to argue, but not about the money. My argument was you didn’t need huge contracts to convince me to live with you. I love you. I want to be wherever you are, and you’re also right about the accessibility. You need to be where you can be comfortable.”

  A random thought hit Dash, and he fought a wince. He would never be able to get down on one knee for Booker. Booker deserved that. Dash hated how he found something new every day that wreck had stolen from him.

  “What? Why do you look sad? If you’ve changed your mind—”

  “No,” Dash said, a little louder than necessary in his panic. “I just realized I can’t get down on one knee to propose. You have no idea how much I hate that.”

  A sweet smile touched Booker’s lips. “Maybe I’ll be the one who gets down on one knee.”

  Dash snorted out a laugh. “We’d still be eye level.”

  Booker chuckled. “Yeah. I got the string bean height from my dad.” Booker’s smile fell.

  Dash stroked his face again. “I know, baby. You fought so hard to hang on to him. He never deserved you.”

  Booker settled back down onto Dash’s chest. His silence was heartbreaking. Dash held him and tried to make things better the only way he knew how: by loving him. An odd thought hit. He was glad Lev had been here. It broke his heart to think of Booker dealing with this alone. He probably owed Lev an apology, even though they had never met.

  Dash kissed Booker’s forehead. They would meet when he married Booker because he fully intended to marry Booker. That was a vow.

  Chapter Nine

  Dash drove around the block three times, questioning his sanity. Even though he knew he should stay out of things and hold his tongue, he couldn’t. He equally couldn’t afford to lose everything twice in his life, especially when he needed to support Booker. That meant Dash had to keep this civil, even though he didn’t know how. He certainly didn’t want to be the bigger man.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7