The Baller's Baby by Cristina Grenier

around her slender waist. “I don't claim to know everything, or even a lot of things. I can tell you though, that I've never in my life been as comfortable in someone's home as I was in yours. Normally I get it and get out, even if I've been there before. Even if we're great friends. I just don't like being in other people's homes. But when I'm with you I feel free in a way I never have, except when I'm here or on the court. That scares the hell out of me. The way I feel about you scares the hell out of me. I like being with you and that's big for me, because I don't even like being with my best friend all that often. Now I'm going to have to listen to him break my balls about bros before hoes, no offense.”
    “None taken,” Stacey smiled. “I'm scared too. I don't take relationships lightly and to know that I feel the way I do about you is a little daunting, to say the least.”
    “Yeah, I get that.”
    “Okay, so now that I've put a downer on the entire afternoon-”
    “You didn't put a downer on anything,” Cole laughed, giving into the tenderness that she easily drew from him, he bent and gave her an Eskimo kiss, rubbing his nose very, very gently against hers. “Why don't we go meet these grandparents you've told me almost nothing about. Then we'll pick up dinner on the way home and get me back to the Bixby Center in time to puke all over the court.”
    “You're funny,” Stacey said, punching him not-so-lightly in the arm.
    “Hey, I have to use that arm tonight.”
    “Oh, you poor baby,” Stacey teased, animating Cole with a sore arm, trying to play basketball.
     
     

Chapter 4: Greetings and Resentment
     
    It took forty-five minutes, just like Stacey had said, to reach the Pavilion Health and Rehabilitation Center. Cole couldn't say he was extremely comfortable when they started walking toward the entrance, but it was a beautiful campus, for a retirement home. “So tell me a little bit about your grandparents. Maybe they won't know that we haven't been dating long.”
    “I didn't know we were dating,” Stacey said bluntly. Instantly upset, Cole snagged Stacey's hand, tugging her none-too-gently toward a space in the architecture of the largest building.
    “What do you feel when I touch you like this?” Cole asked, his voice deep, needy. Running a hand up Stacey's ribcage, Cole softly kneaded her breast, pinning her against the wall and take her mouth in a desperate, hungry kiss that left her dizzy with need.
    “Cole-”
    “What do you feel, Stacey?” Looking up, she could see the storm behind those dark blue eyes. A storm she was already caught up in, even if her rationale brain wanted to deny it.
    “Too much and not enough,” Stacey finally told him. Resting her head against Cole's chest, Stacey sighed. “I've never let anyone effect me the way you do and it scares the hell out of me.”
    “Well, finally, some honesty,” Cole started, ignoring the way her head jerked up and the light of argument in her beautiful brown eyes. “Don't you think I'm scared? I've never lost myself so completely in anyone before, never wanted to, to be honest. With you, I can't seem to get my footing. One minute I want to tear your clothes off and bury myself in you, the next I'm worried that saying the wrong thing will incur your wrath. I want so much to do this right all the while worrying that I'm screwing it all up.”
                                                                          ***
    Oh, Stacey could certainly understand him now. She didn't just worry about screwing it all up, she knew she was. What sort of athletic agent slept with their client? What sort of professional did she delude herself she was being? “Cole, I don't know if it's just wishful thinking on my part or if there really is something more here, but I do know that I don't want to turn away from this, from you. I've learned more about myself in the last week. I want