Jaci Burton (36 page)

He was staring down at her, his expression fierce as she put the crest between her lips and closed her mouth over it. She kneeled on the shower floor and pushed forward, taking his cock into her mouth as she did.

“Christ,” he whispered, then laid his hand on the top of her head.

She focused on his cock, flicking her tongue over the different textures as she pulled the shaft deeper into her mouth. Pulses of salty flavor spilled onto her tongue when she withdrew and she lapped them up, teasing the crest by rolling her tongue over it.

“You’re killing me, Peaches,” he said, and she hummed as she took him deep into her mouth again, then reached underneath to cradle his ball sac, giving them a gentle squeeze as she began to move her mouth back and forth over him.

“Yeah, like that,” he said, using his hand to guide her movements. “Suck me harder.”

She loved when his voice got rough, when he gave her those commands that told her what he liked. It made her pussy quiver, her nipples tighten, just as his balls tightened into hard knots in her hand. She squeezed them again, and took his cock deep into the back of her throat, using her other hand to stroke him as she sucked him.

“Oh, fuck, that’s going to make me come. Harder,” he said.

She did, giving him the suction he needed. And when he thrust deep into her mouth and came, she milked him, swallowing his come and holding on to him while he rocked against her lips, shaking with the force of his climax.

He leaned against the wall for support and she licked the last of his come from the tip of his cock, then rose and kissed him as he had kissed her. He pushed her against the wall and devoured her lips, licking at her tongue until her legs were weak and her clit trembled with need.

They both washed, and Cole turned the shower off. They climbed out and towel dried, then Cole took her to bed.

“I hope you’re not too tired, because I’m not finished with you yet.”

She smiled at him and rolled over, spreading her legs. “I’m not too tired.”

“Good. But you’re facing the wrong way.” He threw a pillow in
the middle of the bed. “Get on top of that. I want you from behind.”

Swells of desire and anticipation filled her as she positioned herself on her belly on top of the pillow. She heard Cole tear open the condom wrapper, and then he was on top of her, inside her, and she raised up, pushing back against him as her pussy latched on to his cock.

“Fuck. That’s good,” he said, settling on top of her to lick the side of her neck.

He reached underneath her to rub her clit.

“I’m going to make you come again, Peaches. Then I’m going to come inside you. Hard.”

She shivered as he thrust deep, then pulled out only to power inside her again, each time strumming her clit with unbearable sweetness. She was rolling toward another orgasm, he was slamming her deep into the mattress, and she wanted it to last.

“Harder,” she said, pushing his hand away to rub her own clit. “Grab my hips and give it to me harder.”

He pulled her up onto her knees so she’d have better access to make herself come, and so he could hold on to her and push deeper inside her. And when he thrust, she cried out, chills breaking out on her body. This connection between them was intense, nearly unbearable. And when he grabbed her hair and jerked her head back, it only intensified her pleasure.

“You’re mine, Savannah.” He plunged deep.

Oh, God. “Yes.”

“Mine.” Harder this time.

“Yes.”

When she shattered, she screamed. Cole dug his fingers into her hips and buried himself inside her, yelling as he came with a series of quick thrusts.

She collapsed onto the bed and he went with her, falling next to her.

She was certain she couldn’t breathe, at least not for a full minute. When she could, she rolled to her side and swiped her hair away from her face so she could look at Cole.

His eyes were open—or at least partially open.

“I’m convinced you’re trying to kill me.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure who’s trying to kill who.”

He left only long enough to get rid of the condom, then came back, pulled the covers down and pushed the pillows up on the bed, dragging her against his chest.

“You’re like no one I’ve ever known, Peaches.”

She drew circles over his chest. “I suppose that’s a compliment.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “It means you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You’re special to me in ways I can’t explain.”

She shuddered, so pleased by the compliment.

The two of them lay there quietly for a while. She was content to listen to the sound of his heart beating. Just being there with him was enough for her.

“What would you think about the two of us moving in together?”

She shot up in bed. “What?”

His lips lifted. “You heard me.”

“Where did this come from?”

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

She grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“And why have you been thinking about it?”

He shrugged. “We spend a lot of time together. We obviously…like each other a lot. We’re compatible.”

Her stomach fell. No declaration of love. They
liked
each other. They were compatible. For all he’d just said, he could have been advertising for a roommate. Or a pet. “I see.”

He shifted to face her. “What’s wrong?”

She slid out of bed and grabbed her robe. “Nothing. I’m just tired. And I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow. You should probably go.”

He got out of bed, too, and came over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Peaches.”

She backed away. “Really, Cole. I’m tired and I need to get some sleep.”

“It’s what I said. About us moving in together. You’re freaked out.”

“No. I’m tired. Really, you need to go.”

“I want to stay tonight.”

“No.”

He studied her for a minute, then nodded. “Okay.”

He grabbed his clothes and got dressed. She followed him out to the living room and walked him to the door. He turned to her.

“You want to talk about this? If you don’t like the idea of us moving in together, that’s fine. We can keep things as they were.”

Right. Where they were friends and compatible. She fought back the tears. “I really need to get some sleep.”

“So we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

He leaned in to give her a kiss, and she turned away. His lips brushed her jaw.

She saw the confusion and hurt on his face, but she couldn’t deal with his issues right now. Not when she was minutes away from falling apart.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She nodded and held the door. “Sure. Good night.”

The tears began to spill before she had the door completely shut.

Stupid. She was never girlie, never cried over stuff like this. She’d never cried over a man, because no man had ever meant anything to her.

Until now.

He’d asked her to move in with him. That was a huge step. So he hadn’t gotten all romantic and said he loved her. Big deal.

But it was a big deal.

Maybe to someone else the words didn’t mean anything. But she was in love with him. And if he didn’t feel the same way, there was no point in taking this any further. Otherwise she’d only end up feeling more hurt than she felt right now.

And this hurt a whole hell of a lot.

TWENTY-ONE

SAVANNAH WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED AVOIDANCE.
Avoidance of any personal problem was always her best solution.

Unfortunately, she had a meeting with the GM of the Traders that morning, and of course the team had practice.

Which didn’t mean she’d have to run into Cole. In fact, she was adept at not running into people she didn’t want to run into. So after her meeting, she was on her way out and the team was still on the field.

“Hey, girl, what are you doing here?”

Elizabeth. Damn.

She pasted on her brightest smile.

“Hi. I had a meeting with McNee.”

“Oh. Fun for you, I’ll bet.”

“Always. Well, I’ve got to go.”

Liz frowned. “Do you have another meeting?”

“Uh, actually, no I don’t.”

“Great. Let’s go get some coffee. And maybe a muffin or a scone. I’m starving. I had an early meeting this morning and didn’t have a chance to have breakfast.” She linked her arm with Savannah’s and led her down the hall. “Gavin’s in town for a stretch of home games and I traded food for sex. Can you blame me?”

“Not in the least.” Maybe some breakfast and conversation would take her mind off Cole. And at least she could get out of this building and away from him.

They went to a nearby coffeehouse. Savannah ordered a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. Liz decided on a scone.

“I’m sure you’re happy to have Gavin in town,” Savannah said.

Liz popped a piece of scone in her mouth, chewed, moaned, then swallowed. “I’m just glad to
have
Gavin.” She grinned. “I don’t get him often enough during the season, which, by the way, lasts too damn long. A hundred and sixty-two games? What fucking idiot thought that one up?”

Savannah laughed. “Either someone without a wife or someone with a wife he couldn’t stand.”

“Amen to that. Poor Gavin. He probably hates home stretches. I wear him out.”

“I seriously doubt he hates that part.”

“Okay, you’re right. He doesn’t hate it. And speaking of sex, how are things with you and my oh-so-hot client?”

Her heart clenched. She shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

Liz frowned. “Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” She picked at her muffin. “Things are great.”

“Did I ever mention I have an excellent bullshit meter? Tell me what happened.”

She could hedge, make something up, but Liz would push until she gave in, so she might as well avoid the battle now. “He asked me if I wanted to move in with him.”

Liz’s brows lifted. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“No. But he said it’s because we like each other and we’re compatible.”

Liz laid her coffee cup down. “Fuck a donut sideways. He did not.”

“He did.”

“What the hell does he think you are? A cocker spaniel?”

Leave it to Liz to make her feel better. “I don’t know. I don’t think I reacted well. I asked him to leave.”

“Hell, I’d have kicked his ass. What is wrong with that man?”

She lifted her gaze to Liz. “He’s probably afraid to tell me how he feels. Or maybe he doesn’t feel the same way I feel.”

“And how do you feel?”

She sighed. “I’m crazy in love with him. And it scares me.”

“Why does that scare you?”

“You know why. I’ve purposely set up my life to be alone so I won’t be hurt.”

Liz waved her hand. “Yeah, yeah. And how’s that working for you?”

“Not very well. I didn’t set out to fall in love with Cole, you know. It happened purely by accident.”

Liz snorted. “It usually does. Honey, you can’t control love. It blindsides you. It’s what you do about it when it does happen that counts. Have you told him how you feel?”

Savannah’s eyes widened. “Oh, god no.”

“So he’s supposed to be psychic. Maybe he’s afraid to tell you how he feels because he thinks you don’t feel the same way.”

She laid her hands on the table and looked at Liz straight on. “Mercy. I never thought about it like that.”

“I’d like to knock both your heads together. But especially his. Men are such dickheads sometimes. Most of the time, actually.”

“Please don’t say anything to him. I’ll handle this.”

Liz shrugged and picked up her coffee. “Whatever you want. My lips are sealed.”

COLE HAD A TERRIBLE FEW DAYS OF PRACTICE, AND
an even lousier game on Sunday. It didn’t help that it was an away game today, even though they weren’t that far away since they’d played Kansas City. It still wasn’t the home crowd.

Not that it had made a difference.

The whole team had played like shit, so he couldn’t even chalk it up to it just being him.

And they’d lost. By two fucking points. A blowout you just accept and move on. But to lose when the game was that close sucked.

Coupled with that, he hadn’t talked to Savannah in five days. He hadn’t seen her at practice, or at the game. They had even talked earlier about her making the drive over to see the game in Kansas City.