Gavin

 

It takes monster strength to live in my small apartment with a hot and wickedly funny female, knowing that I can’t do any of the things my horny brain fantasizes doing with her. I can’t touch her because she’s off limits while she’s living with me.

How I haven’t succumbed to her bewitching sexual power, or turned into a bumbling heap of horniness since she’s been here, is beyond me. My willpower has never been my greatest asset. I have impulse control issues and she’s quickly become my very own torture device in a petite and diminutive package.

Like right now, for example. I step out of my bedroom after a fitful night’s sleep and am assaulted with the view of her perfect round ass pointed in my direction. She’s bent over the table, chatting on the phone with her friend, detailing out a plan to meet up in Spain. My fingers twitch to place my palms on each of her plump cheeks, push her down across the table and slide inside her. We’d fuck so hard the table would shake, scattering the maps she’s looking over to the floor.

But instead of listening to my overactive imagination, I grab a juice bottle out of the fridge, trying, but failing, to avoid the allure of her curvaceous backside. Kady catches me staring when she glances over her shoulder, giving me a disconcerting eyebrow raise.

“Do you know?”

Uh. What now?

I stammer a feeble response, pulling out the chair next to her so I can sit down and avoid any further showdowns with her ass.

“Do I know what?”

“Men, they never listen,” she sighs disparagingly. I can hear her friend snort loudly on the other end of the line. “Listen, I’ll give you a call later once I know more. Stay out of trouble a little while longer, will ya? And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Her sweet, through the room, and my dick responds as if it’s been snake charmed.

My juice helps douse some of the slow burn that has built up in my lungs and chest cavity from the view of Kady’s long, shapely legs on display in her little romper she wears. I guess that’s what they call it. It’s a flouncy navy-blue tank and short set with straps at her shoulders that billows open and hangs low at her boobs.

Which, of course, is where my eyes automatically gravitate toward as she heaves deeply, her chest rising and falling in an exaggerated fashion, capturing my attention. When she sees where my eyes have landed, she smacks her hand on the table.

“Eyes up here, dude,” she snaps her fingers in my face, drawing me out of the sensual trance. “I know I’ve got a great rack, and my girls are rather eye catching if I do say myself, but now’s not the time. There’s work to be done.”

I’ll admit, all I heard from her was rack and now’s not the time. Which translated in my sex addled brain means that there might be another time. As in not right now, but later maybe. Which gives me some ideas. Lots and lots of ideas about what could potentially come later.

No. Absolutely not. You can’t touch this girl. Ain’t gonna happen.

When I finally gather my wits, and find my resolve, I lift my eyes to hers to prove that she has my full attention. Taking another swig of the juice, I mumble out an apology.

Kady stands erect, placing her hands on her hips and tilts her head with a quirk of a smile. Maybe more like a sneer.

“You can look all you want, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you because you’re letting me stay here. That’s not gonna happen.”

I swear, just to yank my chain, she juts her hip out further and pushes her breasts out a fraction of an inch more to amplify her point. 

“The thought never even occurred to me,” I lie smoothly, swallowing it down along with my juice. “You’re pretty presumptuous for not knowing me very well.”

Kady smiles wryly. “Oooh…big word, big guy.”

“I’ll show you big,” I mumble, closing my mouth around the bottle so she can’t hear what I said.

She’s quiet for a moment before she laughs and shakes her head, pointing to the map out in front of her. “Getting back to my question. Izzy and I want to meet up in Madrid. I’m trying to figure out, and what I asked you about is what’s the best way to get from here to Madrid. The map shows it’s just right there, but it’s across the water.”

“Spain?” I brilliantly question, looking down to the spot she’s pointing out on the map.

Kady rolls her eyes as if I’m the dumbest person in the world. She’s not wrong. Sometimes I feel that way.

“Yes, Spain. Izzy’s decided she’s not coming back to Florence, but wants me to meet up with her in Madrid. I just need to figure out how to get there.”

Her frown burrows into her forehead, creating tiny crisscrossing lines between her brows.

“The cheapest way possible. Money is still an issue until the end of the month. And I also need to get my ID replaced.”

The words are out of my mouth before I can even think about implications.

“I can help, you know. I’ve got money I can loan you.”

“Absolutely not,” she laments, sweeping her blonde hair out of her eyes. “I need to figure this out on my own. I have time to get my passport replaced, and my trust allowance will be available soon. Then I’ll be able to meet up with Iz. In fact, I was considering asking Mr. da Rossi across the street if he needs help in his trattoria. I could bus dishes or something.”

There’s no doubt that Kady made a favorable impression on the old man last night when we stopped in for dinner, and I’m sure he’d bend over backward for her. But we both know she can’t work without a visa and the language barrier would cause problems. The Italian language is not an easy one to learn, but you do pick things up the longer you’re immersed in it. Given more time, I’m sure she’d pick it up quickly.

I nod my head, pressing my lips together. Her gaze lands on them. Just for shits and giggles, I rub my tongue over my bottom lip. When I draw the corner of my mouth up into a knowing smirk, she looks away. She’s easy to read.

But that doesn’t mean we should do anything about it. I have my own reasons not to get involved, and I’m sure she has hers.

It’s actually been nice getting to know a girl without the complications We spent our first night together shooting the breeze after a late dinner, drinking wine on the floor of my small living room and telling stories about our families. She’s a wild one, that’s for sure. But we both seem to connect and understand each other and it’s been fun having her around and finding ways to make her laugh.

“Yeah, I bet Massimo would totally hire you. He likes the pretty girls,” I wink, letting my own gaze linger on her face and watch her bold, azure eyes widen with interest.

Kady is not your typical beauty. While her blonde hair is luscious and silky, her style is a little steampunk. When she pulls it back it in a ponytail, it displays the shaved sides of her head.

She also wears a swatch of blue down one side of her hair. Her cute ears, just a tad too big for her impish face, are adorned with about six piercings and a barbell at the top ridge of her ear. It makes me wonder where else I might find piercings. Belly button? Nipples?

Oh, she’s absolutely fuckable.

Which has quickly become a problem for me. My dick perks up in interest at that thought, but I smash his dreams with a stern reminder that I can’t mess with Kady.

Why did I think this arrangement would be easy? And fuck me, but she does wear a pair of boy shorts and a tank to sleep in. And you wonder why I had a sleepless night?

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. There are other reasons this thing between me and Kady can’t happen. I don’t need a distraction in my life right now. My entire focus has to be on improving my game so I can get my shot in the NBA. Over the last few months, my play hasn’t been as strong as I’d like it to be and I know the coach and owner feel the same way. Performance anxiety is a real thing, no matter how good you are.

Getting involved with Kady, even for a short-lived hookup, is out of the question. There’s also the promise I made to Cade to watch out for her. To make sure she’s safe and doesn’t get into trouble. What would that make me if I messed around with her?

My honor and integrity are important to me. He’s also my brother’s good friend and I don’t want to make things awkward for anyone. 

I open my laptop and enter my password, pulling up the local train schedule so we can look at some options.

“I don’t think there’s a direct flight from here to Madrid…but you should be able to take the train up north to Milan and fly out from there, or train down to Rome and fly from that airport. It’ll take you about the same time either direction, so I guess it’s just where you can find the cheapest flight.”

Out of the corner of my eye I notice Kady studying me like she’s trying to figure me out. Determine whether I’m worthy of her company. Of her time.

She speaks soft; pensively. “Have you had a chance to do the touristy things since you’ve lived here?”

It’s only been twenty-four hours and her scent already lingers everywhere. My bathroom now reminds me of a peach orchard from her body products. It’s not overpowering, but subtle. And sexy-as-fuck.

I’ve always lived with dudes – and peach was not present in their company. Smelly, raunchy, filthy man-boys who leave stains on the toilet bowl and dirty towels on the floor. Kady is a pleasant change, more tidy and helpful around the apartment. She does snore like a logger, though. I can hear it through the thin walls of the bedroom.

And she swears like a sailor. Maybe even more than the guys out on the court.

I lift my gaze from her legs and consider her question. The team has kept me busy with practice and games, but I have had some downtime to myself since moving here. I’ve tried to explore whenever possible.

“Yeah, I’ve been able to travel a little outside of the team trips. Spent a few days in Rome a few months ago. Been to the more touristy places like Pisa and the Cinque Terra. That area’s fucking cool. You should definitely try to make it there if you can. The hike between the five villages along the coast is something I’ve never seen before. And I went backpacking up in the Alps with my friend, Stefano Perilli who I play ball with. He’s local and was my guide. Amazing scenery.”

Kady’s sweet lips turn into a pout as her chin drops to the top of her knees. They are pink and full, glistening from whatever gloss she slicked across them. Or maybe it’s just her natural appeal. Whatever it is, I could easily lean across the table right now and pull that bottom lip in between my teeth. Run my tongue across it before closing my mouth around hers.

Her response interrupts my lustful thoughts and I meet her eyes with a guilty look.

“God, that sounds amazing. There’s so much to do here and I want to do everything,” she exclaims, her voice filled with wistfulness.

Kady eyes close and she nibbles on that lower lip I was just picturing on mine. The sexy image sends dirty thoughts to my head. No, my other head.

I turn away, trying to refocus my attention back to my laptop as I pull up my game schedule. We have a break for a few days before we play in Rome, which means I have some downtime. In fact, an idea pops in my head that has me throwing caution to the wind.

“It looks like I’m free over the next few days. If you wanted a travel guide or partner, I’d be willing to hang out if you want.” The last word lingers on my lips – a hopeful prayer of sorts -  as I hesitantly look up to find her staring at me.

The intensity of her blue-eyes throws me for a loop. “What? I didn’t mean to imply…”

Before I know what’s happening, Kady jumps off the kitchen stool and throws her arms around my neck in exuberant delight. Her lithe body is warm, pressing against the side of my shoulder.

“Gavin, you are awesome.”  

I twist my torso to face her and my hands instinctively wrap around her small waist, mainly to keep her balanced and upright. That’s what I tell myself, anyway. My fingers hold tight and don’t seem to want to leave the softness of her body. This is the most contact we’ve had since she’s been here.

Even though I should let go, I don’t want to.

I shake off the thoughts when she pulls away from me. She startles me when she cups my cheeks in her palms, smooshing them together like I’m a baby or stuffed animal. I’d be offended if it were anyone else.

“You are just so fucking cute,” she coos, jostling my head back and forth before placing a chaste kiss on my lips.

My body isn’t fast enough to catch up because before I can react – to pull her hard to my lips and kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her – she’s already pulling out of my arms and running back to her bedroom. Had I employed my basketball reflexes to my advantage, I would’ve taken that kiss in an entirely different direction. Probably a good thing we didn’t go there.

Who said apples are the only forbidden fruit?

I need to clarify. “Is that a yes, then? Do you want me to go with you?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?” I hear from behind her closed door.

I laugh when she concludes with an overly-exaggerated enunciation of, “Y. E. S.!”

And maybe I want to be the one to light the fuse.