Page 88 of The Game Changer
In the timeit takes Isla to go to her house and pack a bag, not including her swimsuit, I manage to get home and tidy up, put a bottle of her favourite wine in the fridge, and make sure the hot tub is ready to go. I’m second-guessing my last-minute decision to light some candles, worried it’s way too cheesy, when I hear the doorbell ring. I go downstairs from the rooftop as fast as I can.
I open the door to see Isla standing with one hip cocked and a smirk on her gorgeous face. “I was starting to think you fell asleep on me,” she teases, brushing past me, letting her fingers trail across my chest.
“Nope. Just preparing the hot tub.”
Isla lets her bag fall to the floor, her gaze never leaving my face, as she then kicks off her sandals and brings her hands to toy with the bottom of her dark blue Thunder T-shirt. “Good.” Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. “That’s good.” In one motion, she peels off her shirt, dropping it to the floor as well.
I don’t hold back my groan ofappreciation as her lace-covered breasts come into view. “I hope you remembered, no bathing suit required.”
She only nods, then pushes her pants down over her round ass, wiggling a bit as she shimmies them down. “I did.” Stepping out of her pants, she closes the distance between us wearing nothing but lace. Placing her hands on the hem of my T-shirt, she peels it off before going up on her toes to whisper in my ear, “Let’s get wet, Luca.”
Before I can second-guess myself, I bend down and grab her behind the knees, straightening up to toss her easily over my shoulder as she shrieks my name. My grin couldn’t be wider, as I take it slow going up the stairs. Every step is a challenge, but one I’m fucking determined to beat. Of course, it could be easier to keep my balance if Isla stopped wriggling.
“Stop moving, woman.”
“Luca, you’re insane. Put me down!”
I smack her lace-covered ass in response. “Are you questioning my ability to carry you up these stairs? I know I’m older than you, but I’m notthatold.”
She falls silent. “No. Of course not. I would never do that, Luca. I trust you.”
I reach the top of the stairs, feeling my quad muscles burn. It’s moments like this that I resent my condition. A normal guy with my fitness level would be able to carry his partner up a flight of stairs without thinking twice. Whereas for me, that was a massive achievement.
I slowly lower Isla down, keeping my hands on her bare hips in case she’s dizzy from being upside down. “Baby, I’m just teasing you.” I drop a kiss to the tip of hernose. “I know you trust me, and I don’t take that for granted. Now, do you want to get in the hot tub or not?”
It takes a second for the concern to fully fade from her face. Which, honestly, just makes me love her even more. She’s always aware, always considerate of my needs and my feelings. Even when she doesn’t have to be.
But her perfect smile comes back, filling me with love and warmth. “Lead me to this magical rooftop patio of yours.”
I reach behind her and open the door. She steps outside and wraps her arms around her waist with a shiver. “This is gorgeous, but I was an idiot for getting undressed inside.”
“A very sexy idiot.” I smirk. “C’mon. The hot tub is over here.” I lead her past the seating area, to where the steam is rising from the bubbling tub.
“Oh Luca,” Isla sighs, and any doubt I had about the candles being too much is banished.
I push down my shorts and underwear at the same time, tossing them to the side. When Isla turns back, her gaze immediately drops to my cock, which is already hard.
“Someone’s eager,” she murmurs teasingly before reaching behind her back and unsnapping her bra. The straps fall down over her shoulders, then to the floor.
“You’ve been teasing me in nothing but lace for far too long, wonder woman. This is what happens.”
She shimmies out of her panties next, and then she’s naked. And still shivering.
“Get in the water,” I command as I move to the chairI placed next to the tub. She does as I say, sighing as she sinks into the hot water. I remove my prosthesis and the liner underneath as quickly as I can, setting it carefully to the side, far enough from the water. Then, in two hops, I’m at the edge of the hot tub. If I was with anyone other than Isla, I might feel self-conscious about having to do that, and the way I have to swing my legs over the edge to get in instead of stepping in like a normal person. But with Isla, I don’t give it a second thought.
As soon as I’m seated in the water, she glides over to me, placing one knee on the bench on either side of me, coming to straddle my hips. I tangle my hands in the hair just above her neck and pull her in for a long, deep kiss.
“So. Rose and thorn for today?” Isla asks when we finally part.
“No thorns. Only roses.”
“No.” Isla laughs, pushing me away when I try to move back in for a kiss. “I’m serious! Roseandthorn for today. I’ll go first.” She tilts her head to the side, as if she’s thinking about her answer. “Okay. I’ve got it. My rose was watching Charlie throw out the first pitch with you by his side. And my thorn was worrying about the possibility of a rain delay all morning.”
“Mother Nature knew better than to mess with all of your plans.” I smile and press a kiss to her forehead. “Fine, I’ll play. My rose was seeing all of our hard work pay off, with a stadium full of happy, excited fans. And my thorn was not getting to watch the game with you.”
She rolls her eyes, but I just shrug. “Hey, it’s true. Next game, I want to watch with you on one side and Charlie on the other. That’ll be a perfect day.”
Isla melts into my arms at my simple words. “How are you so sweet?”
