Page 131 of Stroked by (Stroked)
Needing to get the elephant out of the room so we can move on, I say, “I’m sorry Bellini treated you so terribly. You didn’t deserve that, and you didn’t deserve to be exiled either.”
“I should have talked to Melony. I was just so scared of what Bellini would have done if she found out. She’s kind of stealth.”
I chuckle. “She’s a psychopath. That’s why I got out of my contract with the production company. I couldn’t go on pretend dating her, not when she hurt you like that.”
“I know.” She smiles up at me.
“You know?”
She nods. “Jasper talked to me today. He asked me to be an assistant producer for the show. Plans on paying me well, because apparently, I’m the only one who can handle Bellini and put her in her place. He told me all about your contract.”
“Did he now?”
“He did.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“I feel like I want to be your girlfriend again.” That damn smile will be the death of me.
“Baby, you never stopped.” Leaning down, I kiss her again and then pull away quickly.
“What’s wrong?” Confusion is clear in her eyes.
“I love you and I’m so proud of you right now, but baby, you have to go take a shower. You smell like one giant slab of bacon and it’s freaking me out when I kiss you.”
“Don’t want to make out with a grease pan?”
“No so much.” I laugh.
“Shower with me?”
The way her eyes light up with lust . . . with love, how can I say no?
“Gladly.”
Without even skipping a beat, she pulls me toward the bathroom, her hand in mine and starts to undress me when we get inside, wasting no time in getting me naked. She does the same, and before I know it, we are waiting for the shower to heat up while she has my back pressed against the cold bathroom door.
“I missed you.” Her voice is quiet, sad almost.
“I missed you too, Paisley.”
Her fingers play with the short hairs of my beard. “I wanted so badly to be there for you when you won gold. It killed me that I wasn’t able to shout for you in the stands, but I watched every moment of it here. I cried . . . a lot.”
Lifting her chin so she’s forced to look me in the eyes, I say, “Knowing you were here, watching me, means everything to me, baby.”
“I’m so proud of you, Reese.”
My hands caress the curve of her hip as I say, “Thank you. It was one hell of a way to end my career.”
“Save the best for last, right?”
“Right.” I wink. “Now onto the next chapter of my life.”
“Which is what?” Steam starts to fill the bathroom so I walk her over to the tub and help her in and follow behind.
Watching water fall over her curvaceous body, I say, “Finally starting that swim camp for children, and I plan on spending a lot of time lounging out on my deck with you right next to me.”
“Are you going to turn flabby on me?” she asks, running her fingers along my abs.
