Ask For It (9 page)

Make love? Properly?

A tremor of excitement quaked through her belly.

“There's no need—”

“There's every need sweetheart. I can't wait much longer and I refuse to take you in the hallway of your apartment building.” She loved when he called her sweetheart. Every shred of femininity inside her melted. The tension in his voice prompted her to open her eyes. His smile was tight, strained.

“No, I mean I have a friend who has a key.”

“In this building?” he asked; his voice full of hope.

She shook her head.

“I'll call her. She doesn't live far from here.”

He nodded and took a step back. “Use my phone.”

She took the smart phone and dialed Cindy's number, amazed that she could even remember it. Taking a deep breath, she smiled up at Trevor. This was going to be awkward since she hadn't mentioned dating anyone recently.

“I'm not buying,” Cindy said quickly, obviously trying to head off a telemarketer.

“Cindy, don't hang up. It's JJ.”

There was a pause. “JJ? I didn’t recognize the number.”

“I'll explain everything later. I'm afraid I locked myself out. Can I borrow my key?”

What a thing to have to say. But it was just as much her fault that they were locked out of her apartment. She’d been kissing him just as voraciously.

“Sure, I'll be right over.”

“No, don't worry about it.” The last thing she needed was Cindy showing up, causing another delay. “I'm on my way.”

“JJ—”

“See you in five,” JJ said and disconnected the call.

Eyeing Trevor she handed back the phone. “She’s only five blocks away. Do you want to walk it?”

His eyebrows headed north. “I think we’d better drive.” He picked up his duffle bag and then wrapped an arm around her waist. “The sooner we get that key, the sooner I can have you all to myself.”

This time on a Thursday night, the streets were busy. It took them fifteen minutes to get through the lights thanks to events at the local theaters. When they pulled up in front of Cindy’s apartment building, JJ’s heart sank a little. Her beautiful friend was waiting in front, a mischievous smile on her face.

Before JJ could jump down from Trevor’s rented SUV, Cindy had spotted her and came trotting over. There was no getting around an introduction now.

“Is that your friend?” Trevor asked.

JJ nodded, mind racing. She wasn't ready for all the questions. The demands of who, what, where, when...one question Cindy wouldn't need to ask was why. One look at Trevor Wyatt and any woman with a pulse would understand
why
.

Trevor rolled down the window and she cut him a look. Neither of them was making this easy on her.

“JJ...”

JJ took a deep, steadying breath and prepared for her two worlds to collide. She knew the instant Cindy got back up to her apartment she'd phone Baby and Gretchen to inform them of Trevor's presence in JJ’s life.

For years she’d tried to keep her work life separate from her private life. Being surrounded by the fame of NFL stars was a very different world from the quieter life she experienced with her friends and family. More than once she’d had acquaintances and even complete strangers try to use her to get to a pro athlete.

Tickets, introduction requests, one woman had even tried to get JJ to give a third baseman a pair of panties with her number written on them.

Not that Cindy would do any of that. And Trevor wasn’t so much a part of that old world anymore as he was her private life.

That realization shocked her like a jellyfish.

“Cindy Smith this is Trevor Wyatt. Trevor, my old,” she stressed the word with a teasing smile, “friend Cindy.”

“Well, well, well... It's so nice to meet you Trevor. I'm glad to finally put a face to the man who's had JJ glowing like a firefly. Must have been a fabulous visit up in New York.”

How did she know all that? And why did Trevor have to laugh like that and make her insides melt?

“It's nice to meet you. I've been anxious to meet Julia's friends.”

“Julia?” Cindy parroted and gave JJ a surprised look.

She was never going to hear the end of this. Cindy's smile said so.

“I know you two are probably in a hurry, but if you wanted to come up, I just got home from the store. I found a fabulous new wine.”

JJ shook her head, probably quicker than she should have.

“That's what I figured, but...hey, Adam's coming to town tomorrow. Do you guys have plans?”

JJ's gaze swerved to Trevor's. While a part of her desperately wanted to show him off to her friends she didn't need him getting too entrenched in her life if he was only in this for casual sex. Problem was, she felt like a prude bringing up the topic after a nice weekend and two weeks of phone calls.

She liked how things were going, loved the way he looked at her and was trying desperately not to think of the future. She didn't want to explain to anyone when and why he was no longer a part of her life. If she’d learned anything these past two weeks it was that long distance relationships were hard. Sure, technology made it easy to stay connected, but she missed being in the same room with him. It’d only taken her one weekend to become addicted to holding his hand.

But with the way he was looking at her right now, she wondered if he'd stick around forever. The very thought made her all melty and tingly and ready to pick out a china pattern at Macy’s.

“None yet,” Trevor told Cindy, still holding JJ’s gaze. He reached over and squeezed her hand as if understanding the turmoil inside her.

“Great. Why don’t you come over for dinner?”

“We'd love to, Cindy. What time?”

This was all some alternate reality, JJ was sure of it. So…moviesque. The female lead’s friends meet and inspect the male lead. Even the dialog sounded scripted.

“Let's make it early. Say six thirty?” Her eyebrows wiggled up and down suggestively. No doubt she wanted an early dinner so she could have a longer evening with Adam.

JJ didn't blame her.

She was chomping at the bit to get some alone time with Trevor, even if he was a traitor of epic proportions. She'd make him pay for that tomorrow. Although, in the scheme of things, she supposed they shouldn’t have sex twenty four hours a day. She’d hate to give him a heart attack. And dinner with friends wouldn’t kill her.

Trevor rubbed the side of her hand with his thumb, as if urging her to end the conversation.

“Cindy, do you have my key?” JJ asked, more than ready for the interlude to be over.

“Oh, yeah.” She leaned back from the vehicle and dug in her pocket. “Here you go. You kids have fun.”

After handing JJ the key, she stepped back and waggled her fingers at them.

“Nice dress, by the way,” she called.

Wordlessly, Trevor put the SUV into gear, looked in the rear view mirror, checked his blind spot and pulled away from the curb.

“She seems nice.”

JJ clutched the key in her hand, praying that it wouldn't take long to get back to her place. Her insides were on high alert, had been ever since Trevor had called to tell her he was in Atlanta. For the first time in her life, she was actually quivering with desire. And if he didn't get her home in record time she was afraid she was going to have to do something totally out of character...like climb across the expanse between them and straddle his lap.

“She is nice,” she said.

“But?”

“But nothing.”

“Don't but nothing me, Julia. You've been off since you called her.”

JJ exhaled a sigh.

“I'm sorry. I'm trying not to be.”

“Then what is it? Did you not want me to come?”

“Of course I wanted you to come.” She reached for his hand. He was so big. So warm. Gracious, she could just curl up in his arms and lay there forever. She would if he'd let her. “I'm excited you're here. You didn't have to fly all this way, but I'm glad you did.”

She smiled over at him, wishing she could just lay everything on the line. But it was still too new. Two weeks. She was uncertain of, well, everything. Most of all, him. What exactly did he want from her? Aside from sex.

Fabulous sex.

Sex that should be documented by an expert it was so freaking fabulous.

“Really glad.”

“So am I.” He kissed her hand. “I want to meet your friends.”

“Really?” Boy, if that wasn’t getting entrenched…

“Absolutely. Your family too. They're important to you. And you're important to me.”

Oh...my...

“We're here,” he murmured, sucking her index finger into his mouth.

She'd been so absorbed in him she hadn't even noticed they’d turned into visitor parking.

Oh...that was naughty. Her insides clenched and as she shifted and squirmed in her seat, she felt the wetness between her thighs.

“We—” she licked her lips and tried again. How was she supposed to form coherent sentences when he was driving her out of her mind? With the engine turned off, the overhead light came on, spotlighting them both. The mischievous look in his beautiful blue eyes said he knew exactly what he was doing to her. “We should go upstairs then.”

He let her finger slid from his mouth.
Oh...my...

“Let's go then.”

Moments later he'd gathered his luggage and helped her down.

As soon as she typed in the keycode to enter the building, he pulled open the door and ushered her inside. So this is what she'd been missing for years. A man at her side. A hand to hold hers. A strong shoulder to rely on.

How easy it would be to get used to this. To him.

The second the elevator doors closed, he reached for her. She braced her hands against his chest and leaned into him. Stretching upward, she kissed him. Her eagerness made him chuckle against her lips.

She was a complex woman, but Trevor intended to figure her out. He just had to figure out which buttons to press.

Hands locked around her hips, he deepened the kiss. Her response was so eager, so pure it took his breath away.

He knew now why he'd kept asking her out all those years ago. She was just as incredible as he'd known she would be. It was all there in her eyes, in her smile. She was an open book and yet full of mystery. A puzzle he was going to have to figure out, no matter how long it took.

The elevator chimed, letting them know they'd arrived at their destination. Much too soon, in Trevor's opinion. Whatever happened to elevators getting stuck? He didn't want to let her go, not even for the distance to her door.

“Got that key, sweetheart?”

He didn't miss the way she shivered with pleasure at his endearment. He'd have to use it more often.

She nodded, stepping back. The doors started to close, but she quickly pressed the
door open
button.

Pulling her against his side, they started down the hallway.

For a brief moment on the flight he'd questioned his sanity for flying south, showing up on her doorstep. But now, seeing the way she kept sneaking covert glances at him, he knew he'd done the right thing. If he wanted a relationship with Julia Fairchild, he was going to have to work for it.

But he'd never met a challenge he didn't like.

In front of her door for a second time, he reached for the key. She handed it over quickly and stood to the side, her hands clasped loosely. Pushing the door wide, he used his foot to hold it open as he tossed his bag into the entryway. Then, without a second to lose, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her inside.

“Trevor,” she said, the tone of her voice somewhere between a surprised squeak and husky with lust. She was going to have to get used to him picking her up.

He’d never felt the desire to ferry a woman around, but he loved the feel of Julia in his arms, high against his chest, within easy kissing distance. The fact that she weighed hardly anything at all just meant he’d do it as often as he could. There was something wonderful about knowing he had a hold of her and she couldn’t go anywhere.

“Which way to the bedroom?” He'd see her apartment later. Right now he needed to do something about the erection that had plagued him for a thousand miles.

“Straight ahead.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and snuggled close.

A dozen steps later he entered her bedroom. A quick glance gave him an impression of the space: bed, nightstand, and an armoire. Dark wood. White linens.

He wasted no time laying her down on the fluffy comforter. Wondering what sort of treat she had on beneath her dress, he settled himself beside her and ran his hands over her stomach. She curled toward him, a seductive smile gracing her lips.

A part of him wanted to lie here, holding her, breathing her in. But another part couldn’t wait to feel her skin against his again.

“I’ve been thinking about this for two weeks,” he murmured before slanting his lips across hers. She curled an arm around his neck and hooked a leg over his hip.

Unable to resist, he rolled to his back, pulling her with him. Draped over him like a blanket, she smiled. Damn she was beautiful. Trailing his fingertips down her spine, he kissed her again, the way he’d been wanting to do for the last ten days. Not that he was counting…

Long, deep, thorough, with plenty of tongue.

He lost track of time as their tongues and legs tangled. Her hips rolled against his, giving his cock an erotic massage that had his whole body standing at attention. Mind blowing as it was, he wanted more.

Make that less.

Tugging up with hem of her dress, he cupped the globes of her ass. She moaned against his lips and kept up the exquisite circling with her pelvis. For just a second he wondered if she’d been a hula-hoop champion when she was younger. She certainly had the motion down.

It wasn’t enough. Impatient, he tore his lips from hers. “Sit up, sweetheart.”

Slowly, painfully so, she placed her palms against his chest and sat up, gazing down at him in a daze of lust.

“You took out the contacts,” he said a moment later, finally realizing what was different about her.

“Yeah.” She sounded shy again.

“Why did you wear them in the first place?”

“My new boss didn’t take me seriously when I was blonde and blue eyed.”