Unknown Beginning

Part 50

Riley slowly entered the room and avoided eye contact as she started unpacking her stuff and said "What are the chances we'd be roommates again?" with her voice giving away her anxiety as it was slightly higher than normal.

"Well it isn't exactly a coincidence." James corrected. "I talked to Coach V and told her it might be helpful if we could room together so we could collaborate on team stuff."

Riley still had her back to James and couldn't think what to say and settled on "Oh. Good thinking."

"Riley"

Without turning, "Uh huh?"

Riley heard the bed creak and then James' voice behind her, "Riley."

Riley froze.

"It's ok. I'm not expecting anything. I just wanted to be with you."

Riley tried and failed to take a deep breath.

"Can you look at me?"

With great trepidation, Riley turned to face James.

James took both of Riley's hands and led her back to the edge of the bed she had previously been sitting on. James sat so that Riley was now above James, standing between her legs.

"Do you want me to ask Caroline if I can room with her instead? She's paired with Kenny so you two could be together." James offered.

Riley shook her head.

"What then?" James asked with concern coloring her voice.

"I don't want that" Riley clarified.

"What do you want?"

Riley stepped even closer to James so that she now felt James' inner thighs pressed against the outside of her own. "You." She inhaled before continuing, "I'm just nervous."

"Riley, we don't have to do anything. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to."

Riley reached up to touch the end of James' hair that fell just past her collarbone, letting her fingers feel the softness. Timidly she stated, "There isn't anything I don't want to do." Then, "I just don't know if I want to do everything tonight."

James brought her own hand up to catch Riley's before weaving her fingers into Riley's, interlocking their hands, as their eyes met. "My only intention for tonight was to be with you. Just exist in the same space as you without prying eyes. Without having to pretend I don't feel anything for you. Pretend you're not my first thought when I wake up or the last before I fall asleep. I wanted a night where we can be ourselves and interact without the guise of 'teammate'. And of course I want you. Want to do everything with you. Want to learn every inch of you. But it's enough just to be here with you tonight. And that will always be enough for me. Just you and me, together." James finished with a gentle squeeze of Riley's hand.

At that, Riley glanced down at their entwined fingers and felt a wave of reassurance wash over her. This lack of pressure or expectation seemed to finally break her restraints and allow Riley to feel all the pent up lust she had been suppressing for weeks. With a small smile playing across her lips, she leaned down to place her lips on James'.