I wake up in an increasingly familiar, comfortable tangle of arms and legs, opening my eyes to see again the increasingly familiar poster of Einstein with his tongue poking out that’s next to the closet. I stretch, feeling Kat’s breast shift to press against my ribs warmly. “Mmm, good morning.”

“Mid-morning,” Kat yawns sleepily. “You better be glad that my job lets me do flex time, stud. Let’s get brunch.”

I hum happily, turning over and kissing her forehead. “I don’t know about brunch, but I’ve got a nice sausage for you if you’re interested.”

Kat chuckles, but reaches down and gives my cock a good morning stroke. “I’ve never thought of myself as sexually insatiable before meeting you. Now it’s like sex is as necessary as oxygen or high speed Wi-Fi.”

I laugh and give her a kiss. I can feel it though, after the passionate heat of last night, both our bodies are taken care of for now, and we roll out of bed, getting ready for the day.

“How’s the eye?” Kat asks as she quickly showers. “Oh, and if you don’t mind pink, I’ve got some disposable razors in the medicine cabinet. Gonna have to use soap though.”

“Conditioner will do the trick,” I reply, finding a bottle and squeezing it out. “Did a show on grooming for lovemaking once, found out that conditioner is better for softening the hair and the skin than soap. As for the eye, not too bad, the tape held it together.”

We swap places, and I wash carefully, avoiding my eye. When I get out, Kat’s already in her bedroom getting dressed. What I see stirs both my loins and something else as she pulls on a pair of her ever-present jeans, but instead of one of her normal shirts, she has on one of mine. “Where’d you get that?”

“You left it the second night you came over,” Kat says, blushing. It’s adorable, my shirt practically swallows her to the point she could wear it like a dress if she wants. “Mind if I wear it?”

“Looks better on you than it ever did on me,” I say, pulling her in close. “You’re beautiful, Katrina Snow. And you make me feel lucky to be part of your life.”

We kiss tenderly while I pick her up, amazed at how far things have gone and glad at the same time. I set her down, looking at the way my shirt covers her, wrapping her up the way I’d like to, but knowing we need to get some food . . . fuel, whatever.

She steps back, putzing with the oversized shirt, rolling the sleeves and tying it at the waist in an almost country-girl fashion, but when she’s done, I whistle. “Woman, you definitely make that shirt look better than I ever did. As far as I’m concerned, it’s yours. And I want to see you in that and nothing else very soon.”

Kat looks at herself in the mirror, and gives me a grin. Reaching down, she unbuttons one more button, giving me a hint of her cleavage. “You make me feel sexy, and I want the world to know it. Now . . . pancakes!”

We drive to a nearby restaurant, ordering complete brunch specials, and chat innocently while sipping our orange juice. Just after our plates arrive, I hear a voice call out my name. “Hey, D!”

I turn, grinning as Jacob dominates the room, his massive presence almost making the tightly packed tables and booths melt away. “Jacob, I didn't even know you were in town.”

“Yeah well, team’s got a long week with the Monday night game, so Coach gave us an extra day off. Who’s your friend?” Jacob asks, giving Kat his Sports Illustrated megawatt smile. “Jacob Knight, pleased to meet you.”

“Jacob, this is my girlfriend, Katrina Snow. Kat, Jacob’s my old college roommate.”

His eyes widen a little at me calling Kat my girlfriend, and I didn’t even mean to say it at first, it just sort of came out. But it feels right, and as the surprise melts away, I can see that Kat’s pleased as punch with the designation.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Kat says. “Join us for brunch?”

“That little snack? We’re in the middle of the season, I need protein, so excuse me . . .” He motions to the waitress, who buzzes to the table, seemingly overjoyed to be asked to come over judging by the way she’s been eyeing Jacob. “Can I get a half-dozen eggs, scrambled, four slices of bacon, extra crispy, and a bowl of oatmeal with a touch of brown sugar.” The waitress nods absently in a trance as she stares at Jacob’s mouth before she snaps out of it and scurries off. Jacob laughs, looking back at us, “What do you think the chances are she’s going to get that right?”

He settles in, and under the table I can feel Kat’s hand rest on my thigh. She gives me a squeeze, and when I look in her eyes, they’re full of emotion that I know we’ll talk about soon.

For now though, Jacob’s full of energy and questions. “So where’d you get the shiner, man? Didn’t I teach you enough to avoid a beating?”

“It’s not a shiner, it’s a cut. And that deflection move that you and I drilled for two summers came in handy,” I tell him. I fill him in on the incident with Kevin, Jacob’s face clouding at first before clearing.

“So he did you right?” Jacob asks Kat, who smiles and nods. “Good. Because if he doesn’t, give me a call. I’ll show him a few moves that I haven’t taught him yet. I wouldn’t worry though, D’s a good man.”

I watch as Jacob and Kat get to know each other, and I’m glad to see that they get along well. They’re total and complete opposites, the towering physical gladiator who makes his millions by terrorizing quarterbacks while she makes apps for smartphones and tablets, but it seems to be working. He’s gregarious and rarely stops talking, asking questions and giving her quieter approach a direction to keep the conversation rolling.

“So you listen to Derrick’s show?” Kat asks in surprise. “Just didn’t think that’d happen. You’re sort of . . ..”

“Big?” Jacob asks ironically, making Kat laugh. “Yeah well, if anything, that helps guys like me. I ain’t ashamed to admit it, I’ve used a few tips D’s said to help things along. Haven’t found the right girl yet, but that’s okay. I gotta say though,” he says as he stares Derrick down. “You’ve never called me up after a breakup to see if I was doing okay?” He fakes a sniffle, tracing a dry fingertip down his cheek like it’s a tear before grinning madly.

I see Kat blush, and I know just what she’s thinking about. “You’re a big boy. I figure you know to pick up the phone if that’s what you need. No offense.”

“None taken,” Jacob says. Kat gets up, and he rises like a gentleman. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Kat giggles, charmed. “Just two cups of coffee and then OJ . . . ladies’ room is calling. Excuse me a moment.”

Kat walks away, and Jacob turns back to me. “Seems like a good girl. She gets the stamp of approval.”

I laugh. “Didn’t know I needed one, but thanks. Why’s that?”

“Just seems like the girl for you, that’s all. Listen D, I’ve known you for almost a decade now. Everyone has a type that’s meant for them. Me . . . I need some kick ass chick who’s going to take no prisoners and probably butt heads with me right up until the point we’re tearing each other’s clothes off. You though, you’re the kind that needs someone that you just gel with. And while you two aren’t peas and carrots, you gel.”

“Peas and carrots?” I ask, smirking. “Let me guess, Forrest Gump on the last cross country flight?”

“Besides,” Jacob continues, not getting thrown off at all, “you like her too. I can see it in your eyes and not just that cut over your eyebrow. She’s doing something to you man. And in my opinion, it’s a good something.”

“Yeah well, I gotta take my time. The asshole ex we told you about isn’t the only guy who’s treated her like shit in the past. So I plan to just treat her right, go slow, and treat her with the respect that I don’t think any other man has ever given her and we’ll see what happens.”

Jacob nods sagely. “Well said, brother. Might not be a complex game plan, but it’s a solid one. Hey, I can get you another ticket for the game if you want to bring her with your dad.”

“Fuck yeah!” I reply, grinning. “You’re the best, man.”

“I can get you one of the cheerleader outfits for her too . . . if the Love Whisperer is into that.”

I close my eyes, imagining Kat in a cheerleader outfit, not a bad idea, but maybe later. “Probably not a safe idea for now. But thanks for the offer.”