Chapter 18

18

KING

Pulling my sweats up my legs, I grab my phone and charger, and walk into Niko's room. My phone died last night, which was why my alarm didn't go off and I was almost late for weight training. Luckily, my internal clock woke me up, but I can’t guarantee that will happen again, so I need to make sure I actually have an alarm set.

Closing his door behind me, I stalk over to the bed and pull back his comforter. Niko is still in the bathroom, doing god knows what, so I lay on the bed and wait for him to come in. He walks in a couple minutes later, no beanie on his head, which has my heart beating wildly, loving that he feels so comfortable with me now. I remember the time he skidded out into the hallway the first day we met, freaked out, and ran back into his room to grab it.

"How come you don't wear your glasses around me? Your contacts have to be uncomfortable at the end of the day."

He walks over to the bed and sits on the edge sighing. "I can't risk something happening to you. Yeah, the lenses in my glasses stop the worst from happening, but you know what can happen if I look at you and they're not on my face. It's too much of a risk. I try not to wear my glasses if I don't need to. Hell, you remember what happened that day in the quad when they fell off and broke. That day was so fucking hard for me. Not being able to see a damn thing and struggling to get around. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what I would have done. Wearing my contacts is safer."

"I know it was hard for you, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable sleeping. If you need me to, I can go back to my room."

His head whips around and he looks at me completely panicked. "No, please don't go. Please. I really don't mind sleeping in my contacts. I don't want to risk you turning to stone, but I need to sleep next to you. Especially after what we did this morning before class."

"Okay," I coo, rubbing his back reassuringly. He knows what he needs to do, and I need to make sure I'm here to support him. "Come on, let's lay down and talk about sex. I’ve been waiting all day."

Niko barks out a laugh, shoving me in the chest. "Way to ruin the mood, ass."

"You love my ass," I joke, moving back to my spot against his headboard. Patting the spot next to me, I wait until he's within reach before pulling him into my lap. "Hi," I whisper, kissing him softly. Moving my head back, I give each of his snakes a small pat on the head, greeting them individually. "So, back to what we were talking about this morning in the bathroom."

"Ah, yes. What's your preference?"

Shrugging, I look at him with open eyes. "Honestly? I don't care. I'm good with anything."

"So, if I wanted to fuck you?" he asks, grinding down in my lap.

Hissing, I place my hands on his hips. "I'm good with that."

"And if I wanted you to fuck me?" He rolls his hips again, and I throw my head back against the headboard.

"You already know I would give you anything you wanted." Lifting my head up, I gaze into his eyes. "Anything, Niko. I mean it."

"Fuck, why did you give me another chance? I was such a dick to you."

"You were a dick for a reason, and I'm over that. I'd like to think of all the hatred and anger as foreplay leading up to this."

"Oh, it was definitely some weird foreplay thing." Niko yawns loudly, his eyes starting to droop.

"Come on, we have class tomorrow. Let's go to sleep."

"Okay."

Reaching over, I make sure my alarm is set and my phone is plugged in, then gather a sleepy Niko in my arms. His eyes start to drift closed, and I gently rub his back helping him fall asleep. His breathing evens out soon after, but I'm still wide awake. Niko bringing up sex has got me thinking–like the fact we haven't even been on a date yet.

I get it, most guys our age like to hook up and have sex. But I've never been like that. Every person I've ever been sexual with has been someone I was dating. And I don't want to take that next step with Niko until I've at least taken him out.

Deciding to plan a proper date, I settle in, getting ready to go to sleep myself.

A tickle hits my ear and I jerk to the side, opening my eyes. Bo is right in my face, hissing wildly. "Oh, Bo. I have to go to sleep. I have training in the morning."

He hisses again, running into my face.

"Fine. But only for a little bit."

I spend a few more minutes playing around with Bo and giving him some extra love. Once he's had enough, he slithers over to the pillow and falls asleep. Finally, I slowly drift off too.

It's been a few days since I decided to take Niko out on a date. He had to work after class yesterday, so I didn't want to plan for us to do something knowing he would be tired. This morning, before he left for class, I told him not to make plans for after. He peppered me with a million questions, but I'm proud of myself for not giving in. I want to surprise him; I'm just not sure with what yet.

Rushing out of the locker room after practice, I pull out my phone and dial Mateo. The phone starts ringing and I silently pray he'll pick up.

"Hello?" His gruff voice comes on the line followed by, "King? You never call me."

"Hey, are you busy?" I weave in and out of the players, one finger plugging my ear since it's so damn noisy in the hallway.

"Nope. I'm about to head back to the dorm."

Oh, that's perfect. Niko still has class for another hour, so that'll give me time to talk with Mateo. "I'll meet you there. I need your help with something."

"Sounds good. I'll be there in ten." He ends the call, and I look at the screen. I guess Mateo doesn't say goodbye on the phone.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, I walk out of the Athletics Center heading straight for our dorm room. Mateo is Niko's best friend, so he has to know of activities he would want to do. While I’m familiar with some of his likes, I don't want to get anything wrong, especially with it being our first date and all. I want to woo and wow him.

After bypassing the elevator, I rush up the stairs, taking two at a time. I don't know why I’m in such a hurry, other than the fact I really want to talk to Mateo and start planning this as quickly as possible. The guy in question reaches the front door at the same time as me. I lean over, out of breath from taking the stairs.

Mateo looks over my shoulder, eyeing the entrance to the stairwell. "Did you... did you run up all those damn flights of stairs?"

Resting my hands on my knees, I huff loudly. "Yeah, I probably didn't need to do that. But, whatever, it's too late now."

Mateo chuckles while walking into our room, me slowly following behind him. "So, what's up? What did you need help with?"

"Well," Damn it. Now that I'm here, I didn't think this through. What if Niko hasn't told him anything about us? We did previously say something about keeping it a secret. Was it just a secret from his dad? Or was it a secret from everyone? Well, fuck. Now I don't know what to do.

"Is this about you and Niko?"

"What about me and Niko?" I say slowly, wondering what he knows and if he's going to tell me.

He rolls his eyes walking further into the room. "I do have eyes and ears. Plus, you sleeping in his room the past few nights sure wasn't because you guys were studying, I know that much. And the hickey. One day you don't have it, then you come out the next morning with it."

Slapping my hand to my throat, I groan, closing my eyes. I forgot about the damn hickey. My mind flickers to when Niko was sucking me like a Vampire who was dying of thirst. Oh god, I could only imagine if he was a Vampire. He had latched on tightly and didn't want to let up. And honestly, I didn't want him to stop either. My neck is one of my erogenous zones, and I would have been fine if he sucked on me all night.

I shrug, looking at Mateo. "Okay, well, since you already know, then I'm glad I came to you. But, uh, sorry for any noises you might have heard. I'll keep it down."

"It's cool, I just put on my headphones. Nothing a little rap music can't cure."

"You listen to rap?" I ask, baffled. I don't know what I was expecting, but Mateo with his polos, chinos, and boat shoes did not scream “rap music” to me.

Shrugging, he says, "I listen to everything. Depends on my mood. Now, what did you need advice about?"

"Oh, right. That. Well, um, so Niko and I started hooking up a couple of days ago. Well, no. I hate the term hooking up. We're dating, but haven't actually dated yet, if that makes sense. We haven't gone on a date."

Mateo chuckles, moving over to the couch. "So, what's the problem?"

I sit down next to him. "I want to take him on a proper date, but I don't know where to take him. I figured, as his best friend, you would know what he likes to do."

"I think he would like anything you planned for him."

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him huffing. "That doesn't help me."

"Fine. He likes music, reading, museums, and hanging out by the river. Honestly, he's not hard to please. The fact you're trying to plan something for him is enough. I think you're overthinking it. Plan what you think he would want and do it. I promise he'll love it."

"Okay, thank you."

"No problem. I'm going to change and head out, but good luck with your date. I knew you two were going to fuck it out sooner or later."

My cheeks heat from his words and I sputter out a cough, unsure of what to say. Mateo doesn't give me a chance to respond before he's up and laughing on the way to his room.

Mateo words ring in my head. No, not the “fuck it out,” but the ones about me overthinking it, and I know he's right. All I want is for things to be perfect for Niko. But maybe I’m thinking about this too hard, and I only need to do what feels right. Glancing at my phone, I take note that Niko is due home in about half an hour.

Time to make a plan and get to work.