Silk Encased Steel

Chapter six

“So you were on the way to the airport from practice when we spoke on the phone?” She asked curled

up on the couch again. Watching him rebuild the fire in the stove. He knelt there placing logs with

confidence, having built his share of fires and bonfires over the years.

JT nodded, “Yup pretty much, way better way to ring in the new year than junk food and TV wasn’t it?”

He sat back down beside her on the couch, “ I have to fly back out tomorrow night, I got a red eye flight

back so I won’t miss team meetings.”

Valentina groaned, “I would die from that much jet lag. What if you play horribly because you flew 6

hours for a booty call on new years.. what happened to your stellar work ethic?” She snuggled into his

broad chest when he offered her his arm.

JT smiled, “Oh are you worried that I and my team that you refuse to route for will lose?? Not good

enough to route for but good enough to keep you warm.”

Valentina hit his leg, “Not at all! But if you got injured because you were s*x exhausted I would feel

slightly bad, even though it was your idea to hop a plane.”

JT laughed, “There are very very few weeks that I am not playing injured, especially this late in the

season. I’ll be fine, but thank you for worrying. Even though you still don’t know if you like me enough to

meet me part way between here and Houston.” He teased. He watch amused out of the corner of his

eye as the dogs slowly started to become accustomed to him and inch a bit closer. The dog his family

had was the same way. Wary then would slobber all over you after a few hours as if you were a long lost

relative made of meat.

“I am pretty sure you could wear me down with lots of s*x and catch me at a weak point.” She offered.

He lifted her over him, so she was straddling him on the couch, “I like the lots of s*x part... but I kinda

want you there because you chose to be. Because you are as into whatever this is between us as I am

and had couldn’t not get on a plane...”

Valentina looked away uncomfortably, then shrugged it off, “Ahh I bet you say that to all the groupies.”

He kissed her and shook his head, “No groupies? Yeah right, pretty sure they are a part of the

professional athlete reality. Groupies, strippers money and infidelity... I’m not the sharing kinda girl,”

JT lifted the sweater over her head again, “They are a reality, and if you were an irrationally jealous

kinda person I’d head for the hills. I’ve been there, done that. Dating someone who goes postal when

you even talk to a female fan, that goes through and reads every tweet, every message, steals your

phone to find out what you replied... it is not cute at all. It’s not something I want distracting e from my

goals. I’m not going to lie, i’ve fallen into the groupie trap a few times when I first started out. Some were

obviously groupies, others pretended not to be. But never when I was with someone. I’ve chosen to stay

single rather than cheat, or settle for less. I don’t want or need groupie validation. I have fans, I have

family and friends, I have you... Sometimes the sanest part of my day is talking to you about the

weirdest offbeat topics.” He confessed as his hands fondled her intimately, still learning her every curve

and sensitive spot.

“Sometimes it’s the most sane part of mine too.” She admitted hesitantly. She added as logically as she

could, “But long distance rarely ever works and when the other person is you and is as busy as you are…

I think the only reason we have stayed in contact and it’s worked out so far is that there is no label, no

pressure, I’m not there to ask for anything. If all you do is a short, busy today but hope you are well text,

it’s not a big deal cause I’m not sitting at home waiting for you to come by. We are friends, who

aparently really like the nakedness…”

He silently admitted to himself that she wasn’t entirely wrong, the reason why he wasn’t a big ball of

stress and anxiety about her was the limited expectation. But he found himself wanting to be around

her, wanting to pick up the phone and call her and talk. It wasn’t a chore, it wasn’t like with a lot of his

friends where during the season he actually had to schedule reminders to himself. And his buddies were

good about it, they understood, they had mostly all grown up with him. They had lived through his

obsessiveness with the sport for years. If he forgot to call back because they were on a losing streak and couldn’t wrap his mind around it, they got it. They weren’t offended.. much. But he spoke with

Valentina more than with anyone else lately, because it was a drive in him to do it, not a responsibility,

or something he had to do. He felt about communicating with her on a daily basis the same way he felt

about his workouts and bettering his craft. When he wasn’t able to get it in, he felt.. off, wrong, antsy.

He didn’t say any of that, he recognized a plea for space and time when he heard it. And he understood

it, he wouldn’t burden her with his intentions yet. He wasn’t even really sure how to bring them to

fruition yet so there was little point to it.

Instead JT kissed her, “Lets take it a day at a time, see where we end up.” He offered before picking her

up and carrying her back to the bedroom. “I like the place by the way. It’s comfy, warm. Like you.”

Valentina stared at him suspiciously, “It can fit in your house at least 4 times. But thanks… Again really?”

He smiled, “Gotta get in as much Valentina as I can in such a short time frame.” He answered with a

shrug. She laughed as he fell onto her, them both bouncing on the bed.