Not that I was ready for a baby or anything, but I liked the idea of having someone to come home to who was as easygoing as he was supportive. That hadn’t been Pete at all. He was supportive, as long as I was focused on surfing, but he’d been the opposite of easygoing. He’d always been on me about my workout, my diet, my training. I’d thought it was because he cared about me, but Jace had shown me in one short week that there were other ways to show someone you cared.

  Ironically, I was performing so much better now that Pete was gone, and the guilt could be crippling if I let myself think about it, so I wasn’t going to.

  As the food and drinks wound down, I leaned over to Jace. “You want to stay at my house the next couple of days?”

  “I want to stay wherever you are,” he whispered.

  “I figure Kalea and Connor can use some alone time to swing from the chandelier or whatever they’re gonna do.”

  He chuckled. “Works for me.”

  We said our goodbyes to everyone as the group began to disperse, and I noticed Wolf and Scarlett talking in heated whispers as we got outside.

  “You have a ride, Scarlett?” I call to her.

  She nods. “I’m good, Tawny. See you in Brazil!”

  I waved, and we got into Kalea’s car, since I was still driving it. She and Connor had his car, and she’d promised me I could use it as long as I needed. Sometimes I felt like I took advantage of our friendship, but she assured me cars and condos were just things; our friendship was far more important.

  “You think something is going to happen with Wolf and Scarlett?” I asked him as I headed north on the highway.

  “I think they have unresolved feelings,” he said, chuckling. “They’re either going to fight or fuck.”

  “You think he still has… romantic feelings for her?” I asked in surprise.

  “I honestly have no idea. Wolf isn’t the kind of guy who shares his feelings, you know? I don’t think he said more than ten words to me in the locker room last season. I was shocked when he and Cam invited me to go on vacation with them.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t really know them. And Wolf is aptly named because he’s seriously a lone wolf. He’s not much of a talker and keeps to himself. As far as I know, he’s perpetually single and likes to party. I don’t know how he feels about women, especially not Scarlett, though he does act kind of funny when her name comes up.”

  “She’s mentioned him a few times over the years, talking about the guy she loved in high school.”

  “Yeah, he said it was a summer romance, and they parted ways because he was headed to the Major Juniors, and she was going pro in surfing. Not a lot of overlap in those worlds.”

  No, there wasn’t.

  Did I bring that up now and chance ruining what little time we had left? Or did I leave it until the last minute when things might go south in a hurry?

  I didn’t know what to do, so I did what was easier: I deflected.

  “There’s really no one waiting for you back in Atlanta?”

  He cut a glance in my direction, and there was no doubt he was annoyed. “You honestly think I’d be with you like this if I had someone back home?”

  “No, I don’t.” I reached across the center console for his hand. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just can’t understand it. How is it possible a wonderful, gorgeous guy like you is single?”

  “I hadn’t met you.” His voice was light. but since he wouldn’t look at me it felt like he wanted to say more.

  Oh, boy. My insides turned to liquid fire, reigniting my ever-present need for him.

  I already knew what was coming tonight—and hopefully every night we were together—but it never got old. In fact, there were still so many things I wanted to do to him. With him. For him.

  He didn’t elaborate, and since I didn’t know what we could do about the looming deadline where we’d inevitably go our separate ways, I let it go.

  Chapter

  Seventeen

  Jace

  We got back to her house, and though we hadn’t stopped to get clothes or anything else, we immediately settled in. There was a strange electricity in the air tonight, and I didn’t know what it was about. Whether it was related to her win today, the fun dinner with our friends, or what I’d said in the car, I couldn’t tell, but the moment we’d opened the windows, she pushed me against the wall and kissed me. And it wasn’t just the sweet, foreplay kind of kisses we usually started off with. These kisses were intense.

  Her warm hands slid up my torso beneath my polo shirt, eliciting a low growl from my chest. I liked a woman who took charge, like she had that first time she’d sucked my dick, but she seemed hesitant and conflicted sometimes. As if she really wanted to, but at the same time wasn’t sure how. I wanted to help her, let her know I didn’t care how skilled she was, but my gut told me to encourage her without saying anything. Whatever this was, she needed to do it, and I’d do my best to follow her lead.

  She slid her tongue between the seam of my lips, taking deep pulls and sealing our mouths together. I cupped one of her round ass cheeks, pulling her closer to me while allowing her to continue exploring the skin beneath my shirt. Her hands were everywhere… on my stomach, my nipples, my shoulders, all while continuing to kiss me like a woman on a mission. Like she couldn’t get enough of me.

  Because our time together was almost over.

  I wasn’t much of an overthinker, especially when the hottest woman I knew was sucking on my tongue while simultaneously pinching my nipples, so the thought came and went quickly. It still lingered in my subconscious, though, and I knew we had to talk at some point.

  Not now, though.

  She fumbled with the button of my shorts, and I used one of my hands to help edge them down. My cock sprang free, and she dropped to her knees in front of me. Watching my cock disappear into her mouth was nearly enough to send me over the edge embarrassingly quickly, but I closed my eyes and held on. I didn’t want this to end before I could enjoy it. I’d be ready to go again in five minutes, but that didn’t mean we had to rush the first time.

  She put her hands on my hips as I started sliding in and out of her mouth, and a familiar tingle started at the base of my spine. Her hot, wet mouth and pink little tongue were making me crazy. I didn’t know how she did this to me every damn time, because I could usually go for a lot longer than this, but there was no stopping what was about to happen. I grabbed her head, holding her in place as I shot off into her mouth. When I finally opened my eyes, there was a triumphant look in hers.

  I wanted to ask what that was about, but I was too busy picking her up and tossing her over my shoulder.

  “Time to reciprocate,” I said.

  “Jace!” She laughed breathlessly.

  “Where do you want to do this?” I asked her. “Because I can’t wait to dive between those gorgeous legs of yours.”

  “The bed?” she asked slowly, as if that were a foregone conclusion.

  “Not this time.”

  “Uh… kitchen counter?” The sudden mischief in her voice got me hard all over again.

  “Oh yeah.” I stalked into the kitchen and left the lights off as I set her on the counter. I made short work of her dress and panties, staring at the feast before me. The well-groomed line of auburn curls covering her mound was a beautiful view, but I was more interested in the parts I couldn’t see yet. I dropped to my haunches and pulled her legs over my shoulders.

  She moaned as I nuzzled her sex, stroking my hands up and down her silky thighs. Her skin was soft and tan, without a mark on them, and someday I wanted to press kisses along every inch. Maybe with her hands tied to the headboard. I’d love having her at my mercy, where I could take my time and explore her.

  Tonight, however, I was going to eat her pussy and make her scream. She needed release, but I wanted to give her something else too. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Despite the excitement in her eyes, she looked almost nervous. And after a week of constant lovemaking, she shouldn’t have been nervous anymore.

  I rubbed her clit with little circles, waiting for the tension to leave her body. She was aroused but also on edge, and the only way to take care of that would be to get her off. Maybe more than once. Then we were going to talk.

  I spread her open and teased her, starting with soft licks and kisses, lightly sucking on her clit. She was so wet my finger slid into her easily, so I added another and curved them up until her hips lifted. Her breath hitched when I settled my mouth on her clit, and I stroked it until her legs started to tremble. She was close, so I strengthened the pressure of my tongue while increasing the speed of my fingers working in and out.

  “God, Jace, yes…” Her whimpers turned into screams, and she convulsed around my fingers. I didn’t let up, though, continuing to stroke, lick, and finger-fuck her until she went over the edge again.

  She whimpered when I pulled my fingers out of her, but I stood up and lifted her into my arms. I carried her back out to the living room, settling on the couch with her on my lap. She started to move, but I tightened my arms, nuzzling her neck.

  “Don’t go anywhere, beautiful. I need to hold you.”

  “Mmm. Okay.”

  She relaxed against my chest, the fingers of one hand absently toying with the light spattering of hair there.

  “What’s going on with you, babe?” I asked after a little while.

  “Hmm?” She tilted her head, frowning in the semi-darkness.

  “There’s been something on your mind that’s making you tense,” I said gently, rubbing my hand in gentle circles on her back. “It feels like there’s something we have to talk about.”

  She sighed. It was barely perceptible, so I felt it more than I heard it.

  “This thing with us happened so fast,” she said finally.

  “I know.”

  “And I’m not used to… the things we do. In bed.”

  She seemed embarrassed, and I wasn’t sure how to help alleviate that. “You and… Pete… didn’t have much sex?”

  “Yes, we did, but…” Her voice trailed off, and she took a breath. “It wasn’t like it is with you.”

  Part of me wanted to pound my chest and go all caveman on her. What guy didn’t want to hear he was better in bed than the ex? But I sensed there was more to this. Lots of women were unsatisfied in bed from what I’d been told and read, so there had to be something specific she was referring to.

  “Let me guess, he didn’t go down on you?”

  She shook her head. “Only a few times in all the years we were together. He said it took me too long to orgasm, and he preferred being inside of me. Where we had both the physical and emotional connections.”

  I managed not to roll my eyes. Dudes who used that excuse were just fucking lazy. Too lazy to please the woman they were with. Too selfish to understand how incredibly intimate it was to have a woman come all over your face.

  “Doesn’t take you long at all,” I said instead, stroking her hair. “And frankly, maybe he was just too inexperienced to understand the intimacy of going down on a woman. How amazing it looks to see your pussy up close—wet and ready for me to please you. How it tastes, all musky woman and sexy arousal. He didn’t know what he was missing.”

  “We were each other’s firsts and only,” she whispered.

  “That explains a lot.”

  It didn’t, but I wasn’t going to say that out loud about a dead guy.

  “And I didn’t come either time he did it, so I think he got self-conscious.”

  “He wouldn’t let you… guide him?” I asked slowly.

  “Pete was… controlling.” She took a breath. “I didn’t realize it until recently, like watching Connor and Kalea together. Don’t get me wrong. Pete was hardworking and caring. We shared money and a home and traveled together, and we had a fun life. He made sure I met all the right people so my career could move to the next level along with his and was always watching so no one took advantage of me. He wasn’t a bad guy. Truly. Just young and, in retrospect, not very worldly.”

  “We’re the same age,” I said. “You can be inexperienced and still understand there are things you can learn. You can grow up with a controlling father and still recognize you don’t have to be like him.”

  “No, you’re right. I just didn’t realize it until now. Until you. You’ve brought so much to my life, Jace. It’s only been ten days, but I want you to know I’ll always cherish the things we’ve shared.”

  My gut tightened.

  This was it.

  She was going to dump me and didn’t know how.

  She was inexperienced too.

  She’s never dated anyone but Pete and now was struggling with how to send me packing. I’d been her fling-with-a-tourist foray back into sex and dating, but that’s all it had been for her. Part of me was bummed, but I’d been expecting some version of this. It wasn’t like we could be together anyway.

  “Look, I’m a big boy,” I said slowly, realizing how difficult this was for her. She’d been through a lot, both personally and professionally, and I was never going to be the kind of guy who made a woman feel bad, even if I didn’t want things to end. “If you’re trying to find a way to tell me that once we go our separate ways on Sunday, that’s the end, it’s okay. You don’t have to be nervous and edgy.”

  “What?” Her head snapped up, and the look on her face was pure confusion. “You think I never want to see you again?”

  “What else could be making you so nervous with me?” I asked, gently lifting her chin.

  “Jace, that’s the opposite of what I want,” she whispered.

  Now I was even more confused.

  Chapter

  Eighteen

  Tawny

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said after a slight hesitation.

  “I really like you.” I scooted up, so I was straddling his lap, my face close to his. “I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like when you leave. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t want you to go.”

  “I’m crazy about you, Tawny.” He put one of his big hands on the side of my face. “But I have to go back to Atlanta and—”

  “Do you have to?” I asked impulsively, interrupting him.

  “Well, yeah. Kinda. What else would I do? I live there.”

  “Yes, but…” God, what was I doing? This was crazy, but I couldn’t help myself. “Do you have to go now?”

  “Honey, you’re going to leave on Sunday too. I can’t go with you.”

  “Why not?” An idea suddenly took hold. “Tobias chartered a plane and told me I could bring anyone I wanted. He’s covering travel to Brazil and then to South Africa, so it would be free for you. My hotel rooms are covered, whether it’s paid for by my new travel budget or on my own—I have to have a room even if I’m alone. And it’s the off-season for you. Why can’t you just come with me?”

  He stared at me, as if he wasn’t quite sure what to say.

  Crap.

  He was going to say no.

  It took a lot of self-control not to show my disappointment, so I dipped my head. “It’s okay if you can’t,” I said. “I was just throwing it out there. I thought maybe…”

  “You thought what?” he asked, lifting my chin and forcing me to look at him.

  “I thought we could… see what there is to see.”

  “I’d like that. I would. I just don’t know if I can.” He seemed conflicted.

  “Why? You don’t have to work. It’s not going to cost you anything beyond food and personal expenses which you’d have at home too.”

  “Yes, but what about in between the competitions? Where will we be between Brazil and South Africa?”

  “Either back here or at a hotel in South Africa. The two competitions are pretty close together. I can get in some time on the new boards, and you can work out at the hotel or go exploring or whatever you want while I’m training. And we can be together the rest of the time.”

  He seemed to be considering it, his blue eyes piercing mine. “I have to think about it, babe. Talk to my roommates in Atlanta, get a feel for what I need to do until hockey season starts. Can you give me a day or two to figure it out?”

  My eyes fluttered closed as he leaned in to kiss me, though his lips were chaste against mine.

  “Yes,” I whispered against his mouth.

  “I want to,” he reiterated. “I just have to make sure I can make it work. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “And I want you to think seriously about what it would mean for me to tag along.”

  “What do you mean?” My eyes popped open.

  “Am I going to be a distraction? When I’m on the road, I’ve got a million things going on. I know it’s a bit different for you, but there are still meetings and practices, training, getting enough sleep. Things we sometimes don’t want to focus on when we’re busy getting to know someone we really like.”

  “My world is different than yours,” I said slowly. “I don’t play on a team, and it’s rare that I have meetings when I’m traveling unless there’s a local company interested in endorsing or sponsoring me. Beyond that, yes, we’d have to get more sleep than we typically get when we’re together, but I just had one of the best rides of the season after spending a week with you. You’re more like my good luck charm than a distraction.”

  He dug his fingers into the hair at the back of my neck. “Considering you saved me from a shark, I think you’re more like my good luck charm.”

  Then he kissed me, his mouth capturing mine with so much heat and need my toes curled. His touch all but seared my skin, all the damn time, and it was never enough. Having him on tour with me would definitely be a distraction, but in the best possible way.

  “I’m going to take you to bed,” he murmured against my mouth. “And you’re going to tell me every little thing you’ve ever wanted a man to do to you. Then I’m going to do them.”

  “All of them?” I whispered, my gaze landing on his.

  “We’ll make a dent and start over in the morning.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23