King of Campus (31 page)

Even from the outside, I can tell that a lot of love, attention, and detail went into restoring this house to its former glory.  It’s absolutely beautiful.  In a way, it kind of reminds me of my dad’s house.

“Hello?”

Both Daniel and Linc appear from the back of the house.  Right away Daniel pulls Roan into a brief hug before Linc gives him a pat on the shoulder.  It’s obvious there is a lot of affection between all three of them.  And then, rather surprisingly, I’m being swallowed up in hugs from both men.  After everyone greets one another, we move onto a large deck overlooking a small, secluded backyard.  Tons of trees border the property giving it a lush, private feel.

“This is beautiful.” I can’t help but admire just how tranquil it feels out here.  A small slice of greenery in the midst of the city.

“Thanks, it’s one of the reasons we snapped up the property when it became available.  Great location. Secluded backyard.  The house itself needed a lot of work but the bones and foundation were solid.  Since the house had fallen into disrepair, that meant we could gut it, start from scratch, and make it exactly what we wanted.”

“Wow.  I’m really impressed.”  My eyes slide around the meticulously landscaped yard.  There are vegetable and herb gardens along with several different flower beds dotting the leafy green area.  It looks more like a well-cared for park than someone’s backyard.

Looking pleased by the comment, Daniel merely shrugs.  “It took a few years but the blood, sweat, and tears have been worth it.”

Linc comes out with a serving tray that holds two bottles of vitamin water for Roan and I and glasses of wine for himself and Daniel.  Handing us our bottles, he says, “Can I assume you’ve been laying off the alcohol?”

Roan shrugs.  “For the most part.  Every once in a while I’ll kick back with a beer, but that’s about it.”  From what I’ve seen, that’s probably true.  I never see him drink very much.

The blond haired man levels him with a stern look.  “The next couple of months are important.  Come January, you’ll be entering the draft.  You need to be in peak physical condition for the combine in February. All the top scouts will be there.”

Tensing up just a bit, Roan nods before taking a drink of his water.  “I know what needs to be done.  It’s not a big deal if I have a beer every once in a while. I’m working with the team trainer on a daily basis.  I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been.  You don’t have to worry, Linc, I’ve got everything under control.  I’m putting the time in and seeing the results.”

“I know.”  His expression softens before he continues, “We’re just so close to making this happen.  And the team is doing so damn well this season.  Three and zero, so far. You guys keep playing like this and you could have a perfect season.  Big game this weekend.  Have you been watching film on UMass?”

“Hours of it.  And I think we found a few weaknesses we’ll be able to exploit.”

Apparently liking that notion, Linc’s smile widens.  “We’re still working on snagging some tickets for the game on Saturday.”

“I spoke with Kevin yesterday about which teams seem interested so far.  Looks like Green Bay, the Bangles, and the Jets have all put calls in to him.”

For a while, the two of them discuss possible teams and which ones look like they would be a good fit for Roan.  As I sit back and watch their interaction, it becomes increasingly clear that Linc is extremely involved in Roan’s NFL prospects.  More so than Daniel.  Which is interesting.  Although it’s nice that the man in Daniel’s life cares so much about Roan’s future, his involvement seems a little over the top.

After a while, the conversation circles back to the Barnett Bulldogs and their upcoming game schedule. After about fifteen more minutes of nothing but football talk, Daniel finally shuts down the discussion with an announcement that dinner is ready.

Thank god.

Because my eyes were just starting to glaze over.

Although I’ve never been interested in football, because Roan plays, I feel like I should try to learn a little bit more about the sport.  But with Linc firing off in depth questions, talking stats, and using a whole lot of sports terminology, I’m pretty much clueless as to what they’ve been discussing.

Dinner consists of a garden salad full of fresh vegetables and then a delicious pesto salmon grilled on a cedar plank set on top of a bed of nutty tasting wild rice.  The salmon is so flakey and fresh that it practically melts in my mouth.  I may love to eat but I have zero time to cook, so I’m appreciative of a home cooked meal.  And this one is excellent.

Linc shoots Roan a look before asking, “You eating a healthy mix of complex carbs and lean proteins?”

As soon as the question leaves Linc’s lips, Daniel holds up a hand effectively silencing him.  “No more talk of football, proteins, carbohydrates, or training schedules, okay?”  He flashes a quick smile in Linc’s direction before turning his attention towards me.  “I’m sure all this football talk is boring the hell out of Ivy.”

With a mouthful of salmon, I shake my head.  Quickly swallowing, I say, “No, of course not.”  Okay… pretty much.

His eyes twinkle with undisguised humor as he asks, “Are you a football fan?”

I’m guessing he already knows the answer to that question from the vacant look in my eyes when they had been discussing the draft and what Roan was doing to prepare for it.  “Um, no… not really.”  Rather hastily I tack on, “I mean, I haven’t been in the past.  I’m trying to learn more about it now that Roan and I have become friends.”

Very gently, Roan squeezes my hand under the table.  “She’ll be coming to the next home game to help cheer us on.”  He gives me a little wink.

I nod, because I’m looking forward to watching Roan out on the field.  He’s obviously very good at his position or NFL teams wouldn’t be scouting him.  I think watching a Barnett game will be more fun now that I actually know someone playing.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten to know quite a number of the football players.  They’re all pretty nice guys.  Not at all the Neanderthals I assumed they would be.

Alright, alright… maybe a few of them are.  But most aren’t.

Cutting into my thoughts, Daniel says, “Roan tells us that you dance.”

Again, feeling much like a bobble head, I nod.  It’s always a bit awkward when you’re meeting someone’s parents for the first time.  “Yes, I’ve been dancing since I was three.  I’m double majoring in dance and finance.”

He looks impressed.  “Wow, that’s quite a combination.”

“Well,” I shrug, “I just want to have something to fall back on in case a career in dance doesn’t work out.  Being a professional dancer is highly competitive.  And I’ve always been interested in business, so it seemed like a good fit for me.”

“That’s a smart way to approach it.  Shoot for your dreams but have a backup plan in case it doesn’t work out the way you hoped it would.  And you were involved in a study abroad program last year?”

“Yes,” again with the bobble head action, “I studied at the
Conservatoire de Paris for fifteen months.”

“We were in Paris two years ago on vacation- incredible architecture.”

“Yes,” I smile in earnest finally feeling a bit more at ease with the flow and direction of our conversation, “it’s absolutely beautiful.  There’s so much to do and see.  Cathedrals and gardens.  Statues and arches.  Everything is just so amazing.  And you can walk almost everywhere.”

Warming to the topic, his eyes sparkle.  “You didn’t even mention the Eiffel tower or Opera House.”

I laugh.  “Or the Louvre!”  Talking about Paris and the time I spent there is usually enough to bring a little pit of sadness to my gut.  Oddly enough, it doesn’t happen this time.

He grins.  “How about the catacombs?”

Quickly I shake my head before giving a little shudder.  “I was roped into a tour of the catacombs when I first arrived in Paris.  That’s pretty much when I realized I’m a bit claustrophobic.”

“But it’s certainly interesting.”

“And spooky,” I can’t help but add.  Long dark tunnels under ground with tons of old bones stacked in them does not equate to a good time in my book.  Call me crazy… 

Linc takes this opportunity to steer the conversation in a different direction. “So will you be graduating this year, Ivy?”

My eyes hold his inquisitive brown ones.  “No, I’m a junior.  I have at least another year and a half after this semester and I’ll probably need to take a few summer courses because I’m working towards a double major.”

He nods and I can tell he’s digesting everything I’ve just said.  “So what are your plans as far as dance is concerned?”

“Well,” I blow out a small breath, “I’m actually hoping to audition for a few ballet companies this spring. If I can get in somewhere, then obviously I would leave school, otherwise I’ll keep working towards my degree.  One of my professors has a few contacts in Chicago and Cincinnati, so he’s been keeping an ear open for me.”

From the corner of my eye, I notice both of Roan’s dark brows shoot up.  My plans, as far as dance is concerned, isn’t something we’ve really discussed before.  I think he just assumed I would finish out my degree here at Barnett first.  And more than likely, that’s exactly what will happen.

“I didn’t know you were planning on auditioning before you graduated.”

I shrug.  “Well, there isn’t anything definitive set up, so there didn’t seem much point in mentioning it.”

Looking thoughtful, he nods but doesn’t say anything further about it.

I’m suddenly wondering if I should have told Roan about the possibility that I could leave Barnett before graduating.  But honestly, it doesn’t even sound like Roan will be around after this year.  He could be anywhere in the United States.  He has absolutely no idea where he’ll end up if he gets drafted.

And it’s not like we’re going out.  We’ve been spending time together and I’m hoping we’ll continue doing that but still… this is all so new.  It’s not like we’ve sat down and exchanged life histories or talked extensively about our plans for the next year or so.

The rest of the evening turns out to be a lot mellower than the first half.  There’s no more talk about Roan turning pro or questions for me regarding what my plans for the future look like.  It’s well after nine o’clock when we finally decide to head home.  I have to admit that the evening turned out to be more enjoyable than I thought it would.

When we’re outside my apartment door, Roan finally says, “So how come you never talked about auditioning this spring?”

I shrug.  “Because everything is just so tentative right now.  And nothing may come out of it.  There just didn’t seem to be a point in bringing it up.”

“But if an audition comes along and you get a part, you would definitely take it?”

It’s not even a question I have to think about.  “Of course, I would.  That’s what I’ve been working towards all these years.  It would be a dream come true to be part of a company.”  Ever since I was eight years old, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Both Roan and I have dreams that we’re pursuing and neither one of us are going to change the course of them because of a budding relationship.  He could be drafted anywhere in the United States.  And my future is equally uncertain at this point.  I could spend the next year and a half finishing up my degree and then move to a bigger city where the possibilities for professional careers in dance are more plentiful.

Instead of asking more questions, he leans in slowly before covering my lips.  Oh so softly his mouth strokes over mine.  Rather gently he sucks my lower lip into his mouth.  A spark of heat ignites in the pit of my belly.  It’s always like that when he touches me.  Instantaneous.  No one else has ever made me feel like that before.  It’s completely addictive.

I can’t help but groan, wanting to taste more of him.  I’ve never met anyone who could take me from zero to sixty the way he does. Almost leisurely his lips slide their way across mine.  It’s as if he knows exactly how much I want to feel him and he’s toying with me.  When his tongue finally slips in between my lips, I open fully to him.

Wanting more.

Wanting everything he’s willing to give.

Our tongues tangle.  Stroking against each other until he sucks my tongue into his mouth and it feels as if I’m going to come right out of my skin.  Or maybe melt into him.

My hands slide their way across his broad chest feeling all the chiseled hardness under the pink polo he’s wearing.  Yeah, he’s wearing pink and with his dark coloring, he totally owns it.  I swear, I’m just about to climb up his big body when he suddenly draws away, breaking contact before resting his forehead against mine.  It takes a moment for me to realize that he’s panting just as harshly as I am.

When he finally speaks, his voice sounds as if it’s been roughed up and scraped raw.  God, what a turn on…  It arrows clean through me right down to my core.  “You should probably go inside, Ivy.”

I’m so freaking turned on right now. Everything aches.  I can’t stop the husky words from tumbling out of my mouth. “Do you want to come in for a bit?”  Because I really,
really
want him to come in right now.  I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more in my life.  It’s been a good nine months since I’ve been with someone.  Normally sex isn’t something I think too much about.