IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS since Layton and I first had sex, and I’m slowly getting her to see things my way.

Like right now, I got her in my tub, soaking with me while I get her off.

“You’re almost there, aren’t you?” I bite down on her earlobe. She likes her pleasure with a side of pain, just a little though, because she so fucking sensitive.

She claws at my thigh. “Yes. Oh, God.”

I rub her clit between my fingers. She writhes in my arms, her nails now in my arms, digging in. I watch her in the mirror, her mouth open and her eyes shut.

“Fucking beautiful.”

I caress her everywhere I can reach with my free hand, until she’s totally relaxed against me.

“How was that?”

“No words.”

We sit there in comfortable silence. I add more hot water and bubbles to make her smile. She scoops up some of the bubbles and blows them out of her hand.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Have at it.”

“Why did you think sex during the football season was bad luck?”

Our eyes meet in the mirror. “You sure you wanna know?”

She nods.

“I’ve never been a monk about sex, but I’ve always been careful. Didn’t want to end up a teenage dad or with kids I couldn’t afford. Plus, I had dreams. I had to get out of Dorchester. I had a talent for football that couldn’t be ignored. But I had to work hard at it. Had to get a side hustle to pay for all the food I ate because I trained so much. Food stamps don’t pay for shit.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.” She lowers her gaze.

“I’m glad you didn’t know.” I push her chin up with my fingers. “Don’t be ashamed of where you come from—poor, rich, or middle class. Doesn’t matter to me.”

She takes my hand in hers, turning it so the palm faces her, and kisses the center. “Doesn’t matter to me, either.”

She’s killing me. Can’t she see she’s in love, or at least falling? You can’t fake that shit.

I push away my thoughts. “Before... I, ah, treated sex like a four-course meal, something to be savored, enjoyed, and fucking expensive to buy when you got no money for jim—condoms. Other times, it was more like a fast food place. Get in. Get happy. Get out.”

“I don’t know how I feel about your food analogies,” she mutters.

“Just go with it.”

“Okay.” She bends her head, her long neck curving. I kiss her there, enjoying the way she shivers with pleasure.

“Anyway, when I was playing for the Pats and having a shit season, your brother came to visit. While we were partying, he got concerned that I was getting more fast food than four-course meals because my game was off. So he had a talk with me. Made me see where I was going wrong and suggested fasting—although I don’t think he meant for an entire season at a time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t soon enough, and I got traded to the Renegades.”

“Did you my brother rep you then?”

“No, I fired the guy who did and hired Kingston. I was his first client. Had no fucking clue he worked with Finely.” I laugh. That had been a shocker.

She tenses.

“What’s wrong, LT?”

“You and Finley have a lot of history together. I remember when you dated, and she was in love with you.”

“Yeah, and I was there when you got engaged. I call that even.” I shift her so her ass isn’t directly on my dick. “Now you have to answer a question.”

“But you know all about me.”

“Ask a question, answer a question. That’s the name of the game we’re playing.”

“Fine.” She leans back again, her head coming to rest on the right side of my chest. Her tits are playing peek-a-boo with the bubbles as they float. “Ask away.”

“Who did you piss off when you were born?”

“Excuse me?”

“Layton Tallulah Price.”

“Layton’s my momma’s maiden name.”

“Not that, the mouthful.”

“Oh, that.” Her cheeks pinken. “Actually, I’m named just like my brothers.”

“I don’t see the connection.”

“Kingston was conceived on my parents’ honeymoon in Jamaica. I was on a camping trip to Tallulah Falls, and Boone was a surprise from their anniversary trip to the mountains.”

My mouth drops open. I don’t quite believe her. “You’re telling me that if you’d been conceived in BumFuck, USA, they would have named you BumFuck?”

“Oh please, you already think you’re in BF, USA.”

I turn her around in my lap. “Say I knock you up here, you gonna call our kid Raleigh or Bathtub? Or Bubbles if we want her to grow up to be a stripper?”

“I didn’t say it was my tradition.” She wriggles around, making my cock swell. “I always thought it was romantic and original.”

“I’ll show you romantic and original.” Then I make her stand up so I can eat her pussy before putting her on my cock, but she manages to get on her knees and takes me in her mouth, using her wicked tongue to make my eyes water. I last exactly five-point-three seconds before I try to pull away, but she grabs my hips and takes me to the back of her throat.

I shout her name when I come.

Finally, I sit down so my legs don’t give out on me, and grab her. “What the fuck was that?”

“Me being original and romantic for you.”

I throw me head back and laugh. “I fucking love you, LT.”

Layton’s eyes round. “I... uh... the water’s getting cold.” She grabs a towel and wraps it around herself. “And did I tell you that Paige and I have plans tonight? I totally forgot.”

“Really?”

She nods emphatically, like it has the power to convince me she’s not running from me.

“Have fun.”

“Thanks.” She starts for me, then shakes her head. “See you later, Aiden.”

Like the fucking coward I accused her of being, I let her go.