Red Card (14 page)

Someone cleared their throat behind us. "Uh...yeah, I'm just going to slip out. Leah, Bridget and Emma won't be home for an hour. Just saying. Bye!"

Heidi slipped out and I moved Leah further into her apartment without taking my hands from her face or breaking eye contact.

"You look tired." She whispered.

"It’s been a rough couple of days." I stroked her cheek, pressing my thumb against her beauty mark.

I walked her backward to her bedroom, a place I'd only been twice before. Roommates didn't bode well for orgasmic sex, and we usually stayed at my place to make it look like work instead of what it really was.

We slowly undressed each other, murmuring "I miss you's" and "I need you's" softly as our fingertips grazed each other's naked flesh. I pulled her to me when we were completely bare, nothing in between us but the rapidly beating hearts in our chests.

"You're such a beautiful, amazing woman. You didn't have to forgive me. You didn't have to be understanding. But you were. Don't you get it? I'll never be able to walk away from you. I need you too much."

I eased apart her lips, tangling my tongue with hers in an erotic dance that had my already hard cock straining to be inside of her. I lifted her by the hips onto her tiny twin bed and then followed, never breaking the connection of our kiss.

My cock nudged against the warm, slippery entrance of her slit and I groaned, canting my hips just enough to lodge my tip inside of her. Leah inhaled, long and slow, and I knew we were both relishing in the bliss of being connected again.

I thrust all the way in and then looked into her eyes, which were glistening with unshed tears.

"Please don't break my heart." She whispered.

My right hand reached up to pin her left hand down on the bed, the other I fit against her cheek. "I'm falling for you too."

We moved together, fusing our lips while I rocked gently in and out of her. And as our climaxes rolled over our bodies simultaneously, I couldn't help but marvel in the second chance not only Leah, but life, was giving me.

T
he media backlash
from Killian's assault on Roman Judarsky was actually less negative than I thought it would be. And Killian and Jimmy had thanked me for that.

All I'd done was stood up on that podium and told the reporters the truth. Roman had said terrible, awful things about the death of Killian's late wife, and he couldn't control his temper. Killian was deeply sorry for taking it to a physical level, but he was also provoked.

Cressida Bennett had even emailed me. Two words: Nice work. I'd taken so much pride in just that text that I'd floated around my room before crashing back down onto my bed.

Since I wasn’t working, or seeing Killian, or doing much of anything, I’d also had time to follow the draft. Taylor had been taken first overall, just like I’d suspected he would. I almost went to text him or call him, but realized that would be weird. What was also strange was that I no longer felt hurt or resentment when I thought about him. Oddly, I felt happy for him. Happy that at least one of us was living the life we had once set out to achieve. My ill will towards him had evaporated, Killian left no room for another in my heart.

For the week that Killian hadn't reached out, I was a mess. I woke up, cried and got angry, and went to class. I came home, cried and got angry, and slept. That was pretty much how it had gone for a week, prompting Heidi, Bridget and Emma to try everything in their arsenal to get me to cheer up.

Bridget, the true Irish woman in her, tried to get me to drink away my sorrows in a nice glass of whiskey. All it ended up doing was making me weepy and pathetic after three sips.

Emma had tried to take me shopping, in her own closet, telling me I could wear whatever I wanted. What she didn't realize was that retail therapy meant way more to her than it did to me.

And Heidi had tried to hook me up with someone new. Told me to "get under someone to get over that bloody twit.” Yeah, suffice it to say I hadn't jumped at that idea either.

But then he'd shown up at my door, looking like hell warmed over. He was still the handsome, dapper British man who could turn my ovaries to mush, but it was like the light had gone out in his eyes. And when he pled his case for me, I couldn't help it. I couldn't say no.

I know I probably should have. He was going to break my heart one way or another, but this was different than Taylor. I couldn't breathe when I thought about life without Killian. He had become such an integral part of my every day. I missed his body, his laugh, those eyes, every time I had to leave him. I was in love with him, I knew it, even if I didn't say it out loud. I knew it because I’d completely agreed when he said we couldn’t go public, even though the sensitive woman in me was disappointed. But he was right, especially about my career. If nothing else, at least he was looking out for me.

Our future might not be bright, but like a player who was off sides, I couldn't help but score even though I knew it wouldn't count.

So here we were, my roommates and I getting ready to attend my "Girlfriend Reveal Party." I snorted at how ridiculous that sounded, but a night in front of people being able to hold Killian's hand and kiss him whenever I wanted without fear of getting caught? Yeah, that sounded awesome.

Heidi lounged on her bed, her hair and makeup flawlessly done, with nothing but underwear on. I was almost getting used to that. I knew she'd throw on something three seconds before we walked out the door and she'd look effortlessly sexy and cool.

Bridget came in, her red curls shiny and bouncy as she swung her head. Her dark green skater dress was cute but playful, and she looked like some warrior princess ready to dance on a bar all night.

"Are you girls almost ready? I called for a car like a minute ago."

I looked down at the navy blue dress Emma had lent me. With short off-the-shoulder sleeves that showed my collarbone, a tight bodice and a lace overlay, I thought I looked pretty good. My goal had been to tease Killian with my cleavage all night, and I thought I had a good shot at succeeding.

I'd left my hair straight but pinned half of it up, and Heidi had given me a little help on the makeup.

My stomach was in knots, I was actually nervous. This night was kind of about me, and I was giddy like a child to finally parade Killian around. Come on, my man was hot!

"Yeah, I'm good to go. You have to get dressed." I directed that at Heidi, who was taking naked selfies on her phone.

Five minutes later and we were out the door, bustling into the car and out of the chilled night air.

"I can't believe we're going to Killian Ramsey's apartment!" Emma squealed.

I rolled my eyes. "He's an overgrown man-child with a temper. Calm yourself. He's not that great."

"Says the lass who is so hooked on the orgasms he's giving her that he roped her back in with just a crook of his very skilled fingers." Bridget laughed.

I frowned, not liking the weak way she summed me up.

My fingers went all tingly with anticipation as we walked the lobby of his building, Emma and Bridget oohing and awing over the expanse of it all. I had to marvel too. It hadn't been long ago that this had all felt so over-whelming.

As the elevator made its way up, I couldn't help the silly grin that cracked my lips. Tonight was going to be aces, as Killian said.

The doors opened and my jaw unhinged.

"Holy balls..." Bridget trailed off, walking into Killian's apartment.

Except this looked nothing like Killian's apartment.

I don't know what he'd done with his furniture, but the open floor plan was dotted with cocktail tables and seating areas, all in a sexy, scarlet color. Votives covered every available surface and white and red roses were stuffed into vases that littered the space. Soft music played, Coldplay maybe?

The whole party had a sexy, edgy vibe. I already wanted everyone to leave so Killian could take me among the flowers and candlelight.

"Good evening, beautiful." His voice sent shivers pulsing through my clit as I turned to take the hand he offered and stepped out of the elevator.

Killian looked positively edible. His black locks were smoothed back, except for the one stubborn piece that always fell into his eye, making him look even sexier. He was clean shaven and I wanted to lick the olive skin covering his strong jaw.

The black trousers he wore were tight against his bulging leg muscles, and I knew that underneath that zipper he was feeling just as pent up as I was. I wanted to bury myself in his chest, unbutton the soft white shirt he had on that was rolled up to his elbows. He looked casual but lethal all at the same time. It’s how he always looked.

And then he was pulling me in, kissing me so erotically that I almost forgot we were in a room full of people. I fisted my hands in his shirt, trying my best not to lift my leg and wrap it around his hip.

A loud whistle cut us off, pulling away from each other panting and smiling.

"Alright, buddy, you can do that later. Right now, let me introduce your girlfriend to my wife." Olivier smiled at me, motioning to a stunning woman with a sleek black bob framing her foxlike face.

I mingled for the next two hours, trying my best to meet each of Killian's teammates and friends as myself and not his publicist. Everyone was so warming and welcoming, wanting to know about my life back home and how I put up with an asshole like Killian.

"You really like the old man, huh? Cause you know, I could show you how new dogs learn new tricks." Reese McAteer, one of the younger members of the squad winked at me.

"Shut it, Reese." Killian grumbled, hugging me from behind.

"I'm just saying, grandpa, you're a lucky bloke to be able to call her your girlfriend. Especially with how grumpy you always are."

"Oh, he is grumpy yes. But I know how to handle him." I winked and a bunch of his teammates roared with laughter.

Emma stood nearby, and I could see her gaze flick to Reese only every second or so.

"Reese, have you met my roommate Emma?" I called her over, trying to initiate something between the two of them. Call it being-in-a-relationship fever, you always wanted to try to set your single friends up.

"Hi." Emma took his hand, and I could see the blush spread through her cheeks.

His eyes went wide as he grabbed her hand, holding onto it for more than was politely called for.

I tilted my head back, looking at Killian and smiling. He bent down to place a scalding kiss on my neck, and I knew I wouldn't last much longer with everyone here.

"I want to be alone with you." I whispered in his ear, grabbing him through his pants as I shielded him with my body.

"Everyone get out!" He bellowed. I giggled as he began shooing everyone to the elevator, not even trying to hide the fact that yes, we wanted to have crazy sex and needed privacy. I hugged my roommates goodbye and raised an eyebrow at Emma as Reese escorted her out of the party with his hand on the small of her back.

When the last person had finally left, Killian stalked towards me with a devilish grin splitting his ruggedly handsome face.

"I have an idea." He whispered in my ear once he stood in front of me, running a sole finger up and down my bare arm.

"Okay..." I couldn't think, let alone form a coherent sentence with the testosterone coming off of him in waves.

"You want me to claim you out in public, that would be the end goal, right?"

"Yes." I shivered as his hand moved to the zipper on the back of my dress, slowly pulling it down tooth by agonizing tooth.

The material pooled at my feet, leaving me in my strapless black bra and thong and cream-colored heels. Killian's eyes were blazing as they raked over me, until he leaned over and kissed the spot on my neck that made my knees buckle before removing my bra. Then went the underwear, which he had me step out of as he laid one kiss right over my slit. I whined with greed.

"Go stand on the balcony. Put your hands on the railing and don't turn around."

His command sent raw need zinging through me, and I could feel the wetness coating the insides of my thighs as I walked in my heels over to the open wall of windows. I did as he said, pushing my butt up in the back, and waited for whatever came next.

He surprised me when he came to stand at my back, rubbing his massive erection between the cracks of my cheeks.

"I wanted to make tonight extra special for you. A night you wouldn't forget. They may not be watching, but here we are. Out to the world."

I shuddered at his rough whisper in my ear and then flinched as a soft material touched my hands.

"Don't move now." Killian stood next to me, looping one of the scarlet table cloths around my hands and the balcony, essentially tying me to the metal railing.

"Have you ever been tied up before?" His control was snapping.

"No. I never thought about it." I moaned as his tongue darted out to lick my shoulder blade.

"And what do you think about it now?"

"I love it..." I sighed, sagging against the restraints; my body felt so heavy with the need for release.

Killian slid back to stand behind me, his cock resting against my ass once more, so hot and pulsing that I thought he might brand me with it.

"You look so fucking gorgeous like this." He ran a hand down my hip as his other dove in between my legs, his fingers circling my wetness and spreading it to coat my entire clit and opening.

I whimpered, seconds from exploding. "What do you need, Leah?"

I had never done anything this dirty or taboo before. I found it heady, and such a turn on that I almost couldn't breathe.

"Your fingers...please."

He stuck two inside of me, going fast and hard, curling them up in just the right way to hit the spot inside of me that sent the world spinning on its axis.

I don't even know when the orgasm began or when it ended. All I knew was that I felt like I was flying off the balcony, a scream exploding somewhere in my ears that I realized later was my own.

As the last tremors of my climax work their way down to my toes, I heard Killian.

"Spread your legs wider, baby."

Baby. It was the first time he'd called me that. My heart warmed as I did as he asked. My hands pulled on the restraints, and I found that not being able to touch him but wanting to so badly only made me needier.

His thick head split my lips, and then he was cursing as he slid in all the way to his balls.

"Fuck, Leah. If you could see my view right now."

I groaned, feeling so full of him and yet getting no friction.

He bent over, putting a hand on my back to push my ass down. His dick twitched inside of me with the movement and I let out a long wail.

"Do you like showing the world just how good I make you feel?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to scream again when you come all over my cock?"

"Yes."

"Good, now hold on."

The lights of London below became a blur as Killian pummeled into me, no other sound filling the air but our grunts and the slapping of skin on skin.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I could hear the chant in my head as I reached that supernova state.

"Come for me, baby." Killian grunted, and that was all it took for me to implode.

He hefted my sagging body up as he thrust once, twice and then growled so loud as he emptied himself inside of me.

After untying me, he carried me to the bathroom where he cleaned me up, and then tucked us both into bed. I fell asleep next to my boyfriend, finally feeling completely secure in my life for the first time in a very long time.