"I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself,” he groaned."
"I don't mind," I said shyly.
"Good." He opened the door for me. "Because I can't get enough of you."
I climbed into the passenger seat, my heart beating a hundred miles per hour.
I had always been fond of Nick. Always connected with him, always cared about him, had the best time with him. But this was different—the way I felt now. This new thing where I was about to spontaneously combust around him—that was new.
On the way home he held my hand, and we talked about the game.
"You know, you really are amazing," I gushed.
He made a face and lifted a shoulder as if to say it's nothing really.
“Thanks."
“The Athletics are lucky to have you."
"I feel lucky to be here. I think with Legion and me we have a real shot at the championship this year. I don't want to get ahead of myself. I mean, the season’s just getting started, but I'm optimistic. If we can just stay injury-free I think we have a good shot."
"I agree."
The rest of the drive we talked about the various plays during the basketball game, and the upcoming Dallas football team game. When we got to my place I said, “Would you like to come in?”
He groaned. "I really shouldn't. I've got to be on a plane early tomorrow morning for a road trip. I need my sleep."
"That's okay. I completely understand." And I did. I knew how it was. During the season his life wasn't his own. He had obligations. He had to take care of himself. And if they wanted to win the championship, he was going to have to stay focused…
Then he took me in his arms. "Fuck it," he muttered under his breath as he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom.
CHAPTER NINE
Nick
I should have been focused on conserving my strength, resting my body, focusing on basketball. Instead, I was nibbling on the ear of the most delectable woman imaginable. How was it possible that she and I had been in the same city for a year, and I hadn't known it? As attracted as I was to her you would have thought the minute the wheels touched down in Austin. I would have sensed her presence. That something should have pinged in my brain alerting me that my soulmate was only miles away.
In a way I guess that's what finally happened. When I went to that game and I saw her, the world stood still and my life hadn’t been the same since. Oh, in front of people I liked to pretend that everything was business as usual, but in reality, Eden Evans had turned my world inside out.
I'd given up other women a while back after that scare with the sperm thieves, but now that I had Eden in my life again, other women simply didn't exist for me. The groupies that followed us around were not even on my radar.
Eden moaned when I caressed her breast. I brushed my tongue over her hard little areola, and her hips squirmed. It filled me with immense satisfaction that I could turn her on like that. In fact, I don't think anything has ever gotten me so hard as seeing her in such an aroused state. I donned a condom and climbed on top of her, wedging her knees apart before coming to rest the head of my cock poised just outside her slick opening.
"God, Eden, I knew you’d grow up to be a good-looking woman, but I never dreamed you’d be like this." It was true. I hadn’t spent much time thinking about what sort of woman she’d grow up to be, but I couldn’t have conjured a more perfect girl for me.
"I feel the same way about you, Nick."
I touched my lips to hers, and she reached around and grabbed my buttocks and pulled me inside her with an unexpected wantonness that made me catch my breath.
Thrusting deep inside her, we took up a rhythm unique to us. This thing between us was so new, so raw, that the sex was hurried—athletic—as our passion spilled forth and we clawed at each other, rode each other hard, never quite getting our fill of each other.
From a career standpoint, spending the night with Eden was ill-advised, but from a personal perspective, it was exactly what I needed. Because the second time we started our sexual gymnastics, we took it slower. Her face staring down at me, her gorgeous body pulsing above me, her hair feathering across my chest as she moved—I thought I’d died and gone to heaven as I pumped my hips up into that glorious pussy of hers. I swear it was the best ab workout of my whole fucking life.
When I finally drifted off next to her, our legs and arms entwined, I was the happiest I could remember.
***
That was the way things were with us. I’d go on the road for a few games, then when I was in town—if I wasn’t at practice or working out—I was with Eden. At first, we went out a lot with lots of dinners, movies, dancing, but after about a month we started staying in more. Sometimes she cooked, sometimes we got takeout, but we quickly became a couple of homebodies who preferred to Netflix and chill over most other endeavors.
She got me hooked on House of Cards, and I got her hooked on Flashpoint. We’d watch our shows for a while. Until the close proximity of our bodies on the couch had us panting and groping for each other. Then we’d wind up naked on the couch, yearning for each other, wanting, always wanting. Until we finally came together and found our release. Afterward we clung to each other with the desperation of a couple on a lifeboat, our discarded clothes in a pile on the floor. Our love was filled with great joy, but it was also marked with an odd mistrust of anything outside our little bubble.
We had loved each other before. Not in the same way, but we’d loved each other nonetheless. And the world had ripped us apart. Now we snuggled together under a big blanket, watching TV, hiding from that world—the one we couldn’t trust because it had failed us before.
“Want to go out tonight?” I’d say.
“No, let’s stay in the bubble,” she’d respond, and I knew what she meant.
Things were perfect inside the bubble, and we were both afraid that once we left it they might not be anymore. Once the real world, life, got ahold of us we knew it might not last.
So we stayed in the bubble, where nothing could touch us—not family pressures, not travel schedules, not other women—and waited for the ticking clock to go off.
It was a brilliant time in our lives, and I wish I knew how to make things stay that way.
Eden
The first time I really left the bubble it was a Wednesday, and I was flying to Atlanta for Ivy and Leo's concert. Nick had invited me and since the Scorpions had an away game this week, I was able to clear it with the director for me to miss one practice so I could attend the concert.
Nick had a game the night before in Atlanta so he was already there. Thursday morning he would catch a flight to Toronto for his next game. It felt a little naughty snatching a few hours of his time between games, but that was his life, and it was definitely taking some getting used to. Before this trip I hadn’t left the state of Texas in three years, that’s how much I traveled.
I wasn't sure if Lucinda would be at the concert or not. And now I wish I'd thought to ask Nick. For some reason the idea of seeing her after all these years made me nervous. Maybe it the way my mother talked about her old friend. She made it sound like there was some bad blood between them. And if there wasn’t, why had our families been so close until Ziggy and Ray’s deaths and so estranged afterward? I guessed the band had been the glue that held our families together, and without them we fell apart, but something told me there was more to it than that.
Settling into my seat on the plane, I thought about the rest of the Barnes family. It would be good to see Ivy and Leo. It seemed like a lifetime since I’d seen them. They might be a pop prince and princess now, but I could still remember them in diapers. Wow, that made me feel old.
Then I smiled, remembering what Dynassy said when I told her about Nick and me. She’d squealed into the phone, “OMG! Now you can be my sister-in-law!”
I laughed and told her I didn’t think things were quite that serious, but my fledgling romance with Nick did have me glowing. Dynassy was modeling in New Yor
k so she wouldn't be at the concert. I wasn't sure I would ever get used to the jet setting lifestyle of the Barnes’ but I had to admit I did enjoy traveling, and it was exciting to be around them. I had known these people my entire life, but the special energy that surrounded them was contagious. Not only were they really good at whatever they attempted to do, or at least they presented it that way, but they had cameras rolling all the time, showing the world how great they were. A family filled with stars could be intimidating for anyone, but thankfully it was easier for me because I’d known them when we were all just little kids.
Nick met me at the airport and when I saw his green eyes searching for me over the crowd, my stomach did a flip. It wasn't hard to spot him. He was the only six-foot-seven-inch guy in the baggage claim area. And the hottest.
The concert wasn't until nine, so Nick took me out to dinner first. Even in Atlanta people recognized him. Men and women alike stopped their conversations to stare at him as we walked past following the waiter to our table. Simply because of his height some people probably assumed he was a basketball player, but other people held their hand out to shake his, calling him by name, or asked him to take a selfie with them. Nick was always kind and patient with his fans. I don't know if I could have been as gracious.
Once we sat down, I told him how impressed I was. "You are always so nice to people. I don't know how you do it."
"Lucinda taught us from a young age that our fans are our bread and butter. She taught us that we’d be nowhere without them. I guess it has always been part of the job description for me, even before I started playing professional basketball."
"So people were taking your pictures before you started playing basketball? Before her reality show?"
"Sometimes. It depended on where we were, but somewhere along the way the media dubbed us “the new Kennedys”, and paparazzi started tracking our family vacations and other activities. Maybe that’s what got my mom thinking about capitalizing on Ziggy’s name. But that's Lucinda for you, always using family to make money.
Now that he mentioned it, I did recall occasionally seeing photos in magazines of their family on vacation in various places over the years. I gobbled it up as vigorously as any other fan. Which felt strange then, but even more strange now that I looked back on it.
"How about you?” he asked. “How did your mom keep you out of the spotlight?"
"For starters, I don't think my dad was nearly as interesting to the media as yours, but also it was just me and my mom. When she moved us to Texas, she wanted a ‘normal’ life. Then I went to college, and it was just all very quiet. The media doesn’t care about me or my hippie mom, I guess." I laughed.
"I get that. Consider yourself lucky." He paused. "Speaking of Lucinda, she's going to be at the concert. I hope you don't mind. I forgot to mention that."
Suddenly my palms went clammy, and I wiped them on my jeans. "No, of course. Ivy and Leo are her kids, where else would she be?" I attempted a nonchalant laugh, but it came out a seal’s bark.
"I got the feeling that our moms had some sort of falling out, so I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about seeing Lucinda."
"Yeah, I don't know what happened between them exactly, do you?"
"No. But it just seems like they must've had some sort of fight because when we were little we were always together. Then it just stopped. That always seemed strange. Don’t you think?"
"I agree, definitely something went down between those two, but I don't know what it is. I'm not sure my mom is a big fan of yours." I made a face to show that made me uncomfortable.
Nick grinned wryly. "I know. Same with mine." He took my hand across the table and squeezed. "But that has nothing to do with you and me. We are grown adults, and whatever their problem is, it has nothing to do with us."
Being with Nick was becoming my favorite pastime and we certainly were not going to let our mothers’ feud come between us.
After dinner we took a car to the arena where the concert was to be held. The closer we got, the more anxious I grew. Why was I feeling like this? I had known all these people when I was little, but it still felt like I was going to meet a movie star or something. I reminded myself that I spent time with Nick and Dynasty all the time, and they were just regular people, so why should Ivy and Leo be any different?
Maybe it was the prospect of seeing Lucinda that had me unnerved. My instincts told me the Barnes matriarch would be very protective of her older son, and if she harbored the sort of feelings toward my family that my mother had toward the Barnes, she might not be too keen on Nick and I spending time together.
Ultimately, I needn't have worried. The minute we walked into the dressing area where Ivy, Leo, and Lucinda were congregated, I was greeted by Ivy, who ran to me and hugged me so tight I thought I might fall over.
"Eden!" Exclaimed the gorgeous young girl with the rainbow-colored hair. She wore a jean jacket over what looked like a pink tutu paired with high-heeled boots that came up over her knees. Rhinestones marked her pretty pink cheeks.
"Ivy, it's so good to see you. You look so different than the last time I saw you."
"I'll bet. The last time you saw me I was just a baby. Probably with blonde hair." She lifted up a green section of her locks. "But you weren’t that old yourself." She laughed.
"True." I looked around and Lucinda was the next to greet me. She crossed the room, all grace and sophistication, and gave me a polite hug.
"It's so good to see you, Eden. Nick tells me you're a doctor. Sounds like you’re doing well. I'm so happy to hear that."
Lucinda sported a leopard-print jumpsuit with heels higher than I could have ever pulled off. She looked fifteen years younger than my mother, even though they were the same age. "Thank you, Lucinda. It's great to see you too. I was thrilled when Nick invited me to see Ivy and Leo’s concert. I’m a big fan. I’ve followed their career over the years, but this will be my first time to see them perform. It's so exciting."
Leo stepped out of the background. He’d always been the most quiet of the Barnes, and he silently proffered me a hand which I took. His handshake was firm and confident, just like his gaze when his eyes met mine. I smiled. "Leo, it’s so good to see you.”
His t-shirt didn’t conceal the tattooed sleeve of his left arm, and I could tell by the definition in his biceps that he worked out. His jet-black hair was a dark contrast to Ivy’s colorful mop, and his cool, blue eyes were so captivating I found it hard to look away.
"It's good to see you, Eden,” he said warmly then strode back to the corner of the room where he hooked a foot on the bottom of a chair rung and started fiddling with his guitar strings.
Nick said hello to everyone and there were more hugs.
Lucinda offered us drinks—nonalcoholic as the twins were still under age by a few months.
“I’d love some water, thanks,” I said.
"How is your mother?" Lucinda asked, heading to a refrigerator against the back wall and pulling out some bottles. She grabbed glasses from a long counter and began to pour, her back to us so I couldn’t see her expression.
"She's good." Of course, I neglected to mention my mother was less than happy I’d gone to the concert.
"I’m glad. It's such a shame we lost touch all those years ago," Lucinda said, handing me a glass of sparkling water.
"It is,” I agreed, trying to be as pleasant as possible. “Thank you.”
We sat around engaging in small talk until four stylists came in buzzing around Ivy and Leo, doing something about their makeup. Lucinda stood over them all, barking orders. Nick took me by the hand and recognizing the opportunity for an exit, we slipped into the hallway.
"I thought I’d never have a chance to get you all to myself," he groaned, kissing my earlobe. His hands traveled up and down the sides of my body. Boldly, I sought out his lips and drank him in as though I’d been parched for days. And I had. I was becoming addicted to this man and his kisses. We stood in the hallway making out until one of th
e roadies interrupted us to say we should probably find our seats.
Lucinda had seen to it that Nick and I sat front and center. Ivy and Leo's music was probably geared to a slightly younger audience, the kind of catchy tunes you heard on the radio, but I loved it. They consistently topped the charts with their popular brand of music, and the dance moves they executed rivaled those of the Scorpion cheerleaders any day. Ivy, who was the lead singer, did most of the dancing, while Leo played a variety of instruments. To close the show, he played keyboard in a particularly moving duet with Ivy—it was one of Ziggy’s most popular songs, but they’d slowed it down and added a tenderness lacking in the original version. The energy of the crowd was electric, and I could see how it could become addictive to have that many fans screaming for you. I was much too introverted to want something like that for myself, but Ivy seemed born for it. She was quite the showman, queen of the stage, with numerous costume changes, each one accompanied by a different hairstyle or wig. And Leo’s musical talent was undeniable. The crowd wanted to eat them up. The twins truly held them in the palms of their hands. I was blown away by it all.
Afterword, Nick and I went back to their dressing rooms and congratulated them.
"Where's your mom?" I asked Nick.
"I don't know, but we don’t have to wait on her. I'm sure she'll call me later if she needs me."
“Okay. Shouldn't we do something after the show with your family? I know you don't get to see one another very often."
"True, but I don't get to see you that much either, and that's what I'm most interested in tonight. Besides, they know I have to catch an early flight tomorrow for Toronto so I don't think they were expecting to spend much time with me tonight since it's already almost midnight."
"So, what? You're going to turn into a pumpkin?" I giggled
He smirked, “Something like that."
The Barnes Family Romances: (Books 1-3) Page 6