Chapter 15 Nightmare
Liam Carter
The moment the door shut behind Coach, the silence in the room stretched so much, settling between Ava and I like a barrier neither of us wanted to acknowledge. I exhaled sharply, raking a hand through my damp hair, still processing the conversation.
No dating. No sex. And six months of living under the same roof with this woman who looked at me like I was the gum stuck under her boots.
Perfect.
She crossed her arms over her chest, shifting her weight onto one hip, her expression unreadable except for the slight crease between her brows. She was thinking, probably about how to get out of this arrangement. Well, too bad, sweetheart. We were stuck with each other now.
Why did that almost make me feel good?
"I don't know what's more offensive, the fact that my father thinks you'd actually be interested in me, or the fact that you choked on air at the thought of dating me," she said, one perfectly sculpted brow arched.
"Trust me, Snowflakes, neither of those things are happening, at least not again. I like my women soft and sweet, not looking like they’d stab me in my sleep." I scoffed, shaking my head.
Her eyes narrowed, lips twitching in what I knew was barely restrained annoyance.
"Good. Because I’d rather bathe in boiling oil than even entertain the idea of you touching me again."
Liar.
I saw the way her breath hitched when Coach had laid down the rules. The way her body had stiffened like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. I wasn’t the only one remembering the way she had moaned my name a week ago, her nails clawing down my back as she came apart beneath me.
Yeah. I wasn’t the only one.
"That’s settled then." I smirked, leaning back in my chair, arms resting behind my head.
"Now, let’s talk about living arrangements. Since you’re the one playing nurse, I assume you’ll be moving in right away?"
Ava made a sound of protest, her nose scrunching up like I’d just suggested she sleep in a rat-infested alleyway.
"I am eager to move in with you. That’s not happening. I can come over for therapy sessions for now, until im mentally prepared to be living under the same roof as you."
I sat forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I stared at her.
"So, you want to drive across town every single day till you tiny little brain is ready? What happens when I need treatment in the middle of the night? Or when I wake up with my muscles screaming and you’re nowhere to be found?"
She opened her mouth, then shut it, as if realizing I had a point. I did, and she knew it. Her fingers tapped against her arm, the gears in her head turning as she tried to find a loophole that didn't exist.
"Fine." She exhaled, clearly pained by her own agreement. "But I’m setting ground rules."
I grinned. "By all means, sweetheart."
"First, you will respect my personal space."
"I always do," I replied smoothly, watching as her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. We both knew that was a lie, but I let her have that one.
"Second, you will not, under any circumstances, be naked outside of the bathroom or your bedroom."
I grinned wider.
"Can’t promise that. I like to air dry. Plus, it's my house"
She rolled her eyes again, muttering something under her breath.
"Third, you will take this therapy seriously. I am not here to babysit your ego. You need to listen to me if you want to get back on the ice."
That one stung more than I cared to admit, but I covered it up with a lazy shrug. "Noted. Anything else, Your Highness?"
She gave me a pointed look before turning on her heel. "Yeah. Try not to be an asshole."
I laughed. "No promises."
As she walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Six months.
Six months with the one woman who had already gotten under my skin. This was going to be a nightmare.
Or maybe, just maybe, the best kind of torture.