My issues could wait. When I was done fighting, I needed quiet after all the feedback from my corner. So I would respect his preference for silence, too.
When he closed the door, he tossed his head for me to follow him again. Was he going to the showers? Did I want to go there, too? But Ashton left out of the locker room for the dim, quieted hall again.
Walking with his head low and shoulders seemingly heavy, he finally asked, “What’s up, McNabb?”
His voice was thick, hardly inspired—but friendly. This Ashton was being friendly, at least.
I perked up, swallowing a deep breath behind him. Where did I start? It had been the longest day since seeing Samantha earlier in our room.
We turned another corner and finally entered a dark room where Ashton had to key in numbers to get access. When Ashton hit a few lights, I realized it was a bathroom with an open, big ass shower and a lounge area across from it. He kept the room’s lighting low and dropped his clothes on the marble countertop of the vanity. Feeling weird, I dumped myself on a fancy padded bench and tried to find my words.
“I think Samantha’s mad at me.” Ashton didn’t respond, didn’t even look at me as he began to strip off his clothes. “She found your condom wrapper and your jacket and asked me about it earlier. She ain’t been around lately, and I thought it was because she’s been with her girls. But…” I hesitated, thinking. “…now I’m wondering if it’s because she knows what’s been going on between us—you and me.”
Ashton tossed his dirty clothes into a laundry string bag he pulled from one of the drawers. It had his initials on it. “What’s going on between you and me?” he muttered.
I swallowed, forehead tightening. “You know.”
He sauntered into the open shower, ass tight and legs long and hairy. “We’re friends.”
Huhn?
Water began to sprinkle down from the ceiling then he turned another knob, and more shot from a side faucet. When he moved out of the way of the stream, I guessed to wait for the water to warm, I saw a big purple bruise on the left side of his lower back. Ashton was hurt.
Hurt and so damn…sexy…
Most people I knew spoke that way about guys or girls they thought were attractive, so I didn’t think it was crazy for me to feel that way about the tall, muscular guy before me. It was just wrong for me to think it. But I couldn’t help it. Ashton was…beautiful. His back was wide with muscle definition, and his ass was a shade lighter than his back and thighs. Why did that make my nipples tingle? My mouth was extra moist and pulse raced. The guy wasn’t paying me a bit of attention and I was going horn dog over him.
I turned my head in shame, frustration crashing over me. I came to give him the heads up, and now I was back to the feels with this guy. It was annoying, the shit the body could do over nothing. I’d seen Ashton naked before. Why was I feeling crazy like this between my legs as though this was the first time?
“Take off your jacket and shoes and come here, McNabb.”
My head snapped up. Ashton was rinsing suds from his head and body. Without thinking, I obeyed. My jacket was tossed on the bench and sneakers were kicked in the middle of the floor. My socks absorbed the water right away, making my steps heavier. I tried moving around the ceiling water flow and went to his side, tapping his shoulder to let him know I’d arrived.
Ashton’s eyes opened, droplets of water falling from his curled lashes. He pulled me in front of him and kissed me soft and slow at first. He wouldn’t touch me, but his mouth said and did it all. I melted into his mouth easily, wanting to ask about his bruise. I knew the Panthers had won, but maybe I could have been a better friend if I’d asked about the game. How could I be a better friend to a person who made me feel like this?
He pulled back, out of breath and studying my face. I hoped he couldn’t see how raw in the moment I was. How I’d do anything for him. By the way his fingers rubbed my lips then pushed beyond my teeth and brushed over my tongue, I think Ashton did. I