Long Shot (Lauderdale Knights Book 3), page 14
“Take me back to the room and tie me up,” she whispered.
I held her hair while she retied her top, and then we ran back to the hotel hand in hand. I didn’t know what I was going to tie her up with since I hadn’t brought any neckties, and I was fairly certain she hadn’t brought scarves, but we’d find something.
I didn’t consider myself kinky, but I liked to mess around with different things in the bedroom, and tying Tawny spread eagle to the bed left us open for so many possibilities. We hadn’t explored much in the way of ass play, so that was a possibility, but I wouldn’t do it until we talked about it.
“Here.” She handed me the tops to two of her bikinis. “I don’t know what else we could use since I’m guessing you don’t travel with rope or handcuffs.”
I laughed, leaning over to kiss her. “Do you have more?”
Her eyes widened slightly but she turned and dug around in her suitcase, pulling out a handful of bathing suit pieces.
“How many bikinis do you have?” I asked in surprise.
“How many do I have or how many did I bring?”
“Uh, either?”
“I probably own thirty or forty. I brought about ten. Not counting the suits I wear in competition.”
“We are going to have so much fun.” I yanked them out of her hand and motioned with my head. “Undress and get on the bed.”
“You’re kinda bossy,” she said, grinning as she shed her clothes.
“You’re about to find out how much.”
God, she was beautiful.
Sweet and sexy and all mine.
Probably not for much longer, but that didn’t matter right now.
All that mattered was what we had right this minute.
Most hotel beds didn’t have footboards, but this one did. Karma? I had no idea, but Tawny didn’t move or say anything as I made awkward knots with her bikini tops, spreading her out on the bed like a fucking Vegas buffet.
“I don’t even know where to start,” I said, running my hands down her torso.
She still didn’t say anything, merely watched me with those gorgeous green eyes.
“How did you find me this morning?” I asked, straddling her. I used my thumbs to make circles on her taut nipples.
“I figured you wouldn’t go far on the first day, and I spotted you right away.”
“We both know the beaches here aren’t topless.”
She smirked. “It worked, didn’t it?”
I pinched her nipple hard enough to make her gasp, but then I lowered my head and ran my tongue over it, sucking lightly to soothe the sting.
“You’re something, you know that?” I whispered. “You could’ve been arrested.”
“Nah. They love me here. I would’ve gotten a warning. And anyway, it’s early. There were no cops anywhere. I was keeping an eye out.” Her breath hitched when I bit down on her nipple again.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate you,” I said softly, even as I blew on her nipple and watched it tighten even more.
“And you have no idea how much I adore you.” Her voice was breathy, but her eyes were trained on mine.
Fuck.
She was every wet dream I’d ever had and then some. She was also everything I wanted in a woman. Beautiful, independent, hardworking, thoughtful, even a fucking athlete. When else was I ever going to find all of that in one gorgeous, sexy, tawny-haired angel?
All of that was why I was in Brazil instead of home in Atlanta, even though we had so much working against us.
Of course, all of that was also why I was afraid of what was happening between us.
Worse than that, I had zero control of any of it.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Tawny
I wasn’t sure what I’d been thinking when I’d offered to take off my top, but I’d been willing to do almost anything to help him when I’d seen how frustrated he was standing there at the water’s edge. The pseudo-dare had come out of nowhere, something I never would have done with Pete. Or anyone else for that matter. After what happened on the plane with regard to the Shine On commercial, and how quiet he’d been last night, I’d been desperate to reestablish our bond. And while flashing him on the beach had been a fun way to get his attention, it was more about the trust he’d shown me.
Jace was a good-looking guy who didn’t need the woman he was currently sleeping with to show him her breasts on a dare. He’d understood what I was doing, even that going topless was illegal here, but he’d gone deeper into the water anyway. Whether it was because he trusted me or just wanted to make me happy, I couldn’t be sure, but now I was returning the favor by trusting him to tie me up. It was something I never would have let Pete do, though he’d never asked. Not that I was going to unpack any of that baggage while the hottest guy I knew was about to ravage me.
“I’m going to fuck you, baby,” he growled, all but voicing my thoughts. And those five words, in his deep, sexy voice, made all the blood rush to my crotch.
He told me what he was going to do, and then he did it, sliding into me easily because I was so damn wet. I’d had no idea just being tied up would arouse me like this, and I was anxious for more. It felt incredible, but it was different this way. I couldn’t hook my legs around his hips or dig my fingers into his hair. I unconsciously struggled against the restraints, and he lifted his head to meet my gaze.
“Do you like being tied up?” he whispered. “The way it feels for me to be in control?”
“I need to move,” I panted, arching my back.
“Your hips are moving just fine,” he said, sliding out before thrusting deep. He moved slowly, purposefully, relentlessly. He’d fill me and retreat, almost teasing me, until I was frustrated and needy, my core aching for more. He was taking his time, and it wasn’t enough.
“Please, Jace…” I might have whined a little.
He picked up speed and angled his hips, hitting a spot inside of me that made me see stars. He hit it over and over until there was nothing but an explosion of pleasure rocketing through me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I felt him get off too, throbbing against my sensitive inner walls, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I loved the feeling of him being bare inside of me, and how it felt when his semen ran back out.
I’d never experienced it with Pete because he’d been incredibly careful about birth control.
“You okay, babe?” Jace’s beautiful blue eyes searched my face as he freed my arms and legs.
“I’m wonderful.” I latched on to him as if I was falling, and he pulled me close.
“What did you think of being tied up?”
“It was frustrating at times, and then super hot too. So I’m not really sure?”
“That’s the whole point… to keep you on edge, not knowing what to expect since you can’t fully participate. You just lie there and take it, so to speak. But only if you like that feeling. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I trust you,” I said simply. “The discomfort was sexual—needing more, wanting to touch you, that kind of thing. I wasn’t afraid or anything.”
“Good.” He kissed the side of my face. “We should probably shower and get ready to meet everyone for breakfast. I’m going to talk to Tobias in private, tell him why I can’t get in the water, and leave it at that. If he continues to press me, then that tells me everything I need to know about him.”
I nodded, reluctantly pulling away from him and sitting up. “You don’t have to, you know.”
“I don’t have to do what?”
“Tell anyone the real reason you don’t want to do the commercial.” I got to my feet and stood in front of him, forcing him to look at me. “Don’t do it to protect me or whatever. I can handle Tobias and Eddie.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’m not. I’m a big enough man to shoulder my own burdens. And frankly, Tobias and Eddie were being dicks about it, which makes me that much less inclined to do it. Even if the water phobia wasn’t a thing.”
“I just…” I hesitated. “I felt like last night was the first time there was something between us. Like you were mad at me or something.” I dipped my head, almost embarrassed to admit something like that after what we’d just shared.
“I’m sorry.” He slid an arm around me. “I probably let Eddie get under my skin more than I should have, in addition to the frustration about this new water phobia, and I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have.”
“You know I don’t care what Eddie thinks, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but if he thinks those things, he’s probably not the only one. I’m sure if we go online we’ll find some sports gossip pages talking about the nobody hockey player the sexiest athlete of the year has been seen with.”
“You’re not a nobody.” I tugged a lock of his hair. “And anyone who says that can fuck off.”
“Let’s just get in the shower, beautiful.” He pulled me into the bathroom.
“I’m not the sexiest athlete of the year,” I whispered as we stepped under the warm spray.
“You will be.”
We went up to Tobias’s suite after I’d texted him and told him we wanted to talk to him. He greeted us with a cup of coffee in hand, a smile on his face.
“Good morning,” he said cheerfully. “I hope you’ve come to tell me you’ve changed your mind.” He looked at Jace.
Jace shook his head. “No. But I’ve come to tell you the reason why.”
Tobias frowned slightly but nodded and motioned for us to sit down.
“Toby, is there coffee yet?” A soft female voice called from the bedroom.
“We have company, love, so put something on, yeah?”
“Oh.” A pretty brunette I’d never seen before peeked out. Then disappeared.
“So, what’s going on?” He turned to Jace, while pouring us each a cup of coffee.
“It’s not that I don’t want to do it,” Jace said evenly. “It’s that I can’t.”
“Your agent said—” Tobias began.
Jace shook his head. “No. Please. Let me explain.” He told him what was going on, and to his credit, Tobias listened intently.
“I had no idea, Jace.” Tobias shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I never would have brought it up had I known.”
“And that’s why I’m telling you. I just don’t see me being comfortable enough in the water for us to shoot a commercial. At least not now. I know how long that kind of thing takes and the idea of freaking out on camera… I don’t want to do that to you, or to Tawny, and frankly, not to myself.”
“Right. Absolutely.” Tobias scratched his chin. “What if we did some shots right on the water’s edge? You and Tawny getting ready to surf, but then we’ll edit it so that it’s just her doing the actual surfing?”
“Will that still work with your plan to show people that anyone can surf on your boards?”
“I’ll make it work.” He smiled as the brunette came out of the bedroom in a blue bathrobe. “Good morning, my love. This is Tawny and Jace. Guys, this is Belinda, my girlfriend. She flew in from L.A. yesterday.
“Good morning.” Belinda yawned and then clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.” She leveled a dark look at Tobias. “Someone kept me up all night. But it’s nice to meet you.” She sank down on the couch, and Tobias immediately poured her a cup of coffee.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said politely. For some reason, I hadn’t pictured Tobias with a girlfriend or wife.
“And please,” Tobias said, talking directly to Jace. “If there’s ever an issue like this, just come to me. I’d like to think I’m not unreasonable. I get excited and loud and sometimes over the top, but it’s because I’m passionate about my company. I’m still a human being who values relationships and people over money.”
“Thank you.” Jace held out his hand, and Tobias shook it. “I appreciate that. It’s hard for me to admit to something like this, but I didn’t want anything to reflect badly on Tawny.”
“Tawny has nothing to worry about,” he said. “I’ll make sure Eddie shuts his trap too. And don’t worry—your secret is safe with me.”
We chatted over coffee for the next ten minutes before Tobias nudged Belinda. “Time to get dressed if you want to come to breakfast.”
She laughed. “I’m going back to bed, big guy.”
“Don’t tease me, woman,” he called after her.
She said goodbye to us and closed the bedroom door behind her.
“Would you mind if we skipped breakfast?” I asked him. “I need to get on the water, and Jace said something about hitting the hotel gym.”
“I’ve arranged for a van to take all of you to a private beach after breakfast anyway, so come eat or don’t, but I arranged the transportation for your group since I figured you’d need time on the water.”
“You’re the best,” I told him, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“Aw, shucks,” he said, laughing. “Now go do your thing. The women’s heats don’t start until Friday, so you have time to relax. And my hope is that I can have everything set up to shoot the commercial by Tuesday. Though I may not be able to keep my promise about making it happen in one day. Tawny’s going to need hair and makeup for the parts that aren’t in the water, and then it’s a totally different thing when she’s on her board.”
“Do what you need to do.”
“Thank you.”
“See you later.” I waved.
“Dinner here in my suite?” he called as we walked away. “Away from Eddie and the public?”
“That sounds like a horrible new punk band,” Jace murmured, making us all laugh.
“We’d love to have dinner,” I said after Jace gave me a little nod.
“Eight o’clock?”
“See you then.”
Jace took my hand as we walked back toward the elevator bank.
“So, am I going to the gym or with you?” he asked.
“Whatever you prefer. I only said that because I’m not in the mood to sit at a table with Eddie.”
“Agreed. And I think I’d like to come with you.”
“I’d love to have you.”
“Would it be okay if I spent an hour at the gym before we go?”
“Absolutely. I’m pretty sure Scarlett is going to breakfast. I can check in with Kalea and see what they’re up to, and we’ll figure out what time we want to leave.”
“Perfect.”
We got into the elevator just as Eddie came around the corner.
“Wait up!” he yelled, practically skidding into the elevator with us.
“Hey, Eddie.” I tried to hide my annoyance.
“You guys are going up?” he asked as the doors closed behind us. “Aren’t you going to breakfast?”
“We already ate,” I said smoothly. “I’m going to stretch, and Jace is going to the hotel gym to work out. Then we’re hitting the beach so I can get some time in the water.”
“Tobias might be offended,” Eddie said, frowning. “You should think about—”
“We had coffee with him earlier,” I said, interrupting him and relieved when the elevator stopped. “He’s fine. Anyway, here’s our floor. See you later.”
“But—”
“Bye, Eddie.”
We stepped out, leaving him standing there with his perpetual scowl.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Jace
I changed and hit the gym. It was just after eight, and we were meeting the others to go to the beach around ten, which left me time for a decent workout now that the bite on my thigh was mostly healed. I got on the treadmill and put in my wireless headphones. I’d run a handful of times in Hawaii, but it had been a month since I’d done any serious physical activity, and I felt it as I picked up speed on the treadmill. It felt good, though, to get my body moving again. I did cardio and flexibility training year-round, but summer was when I worked on weight training. I hadn’t started that at all, and I mentally calculated how many reps and what kind of weights I wanted to use since this wasn’t a full-service gym.
After running for thirty minutes, I logged into the hotel’s Wi-Fi and searched the NHL website, scanning for articles about the Knights, the Lieutenants, or me specifically. There were a couple of stories about the shark attack, but I skimmed those as I worked my biceps. I’d just started on my quads when I saw an article that had been posted yesterday. It was an interview with Coach Petrov, and I momentarily stopped my reps to read it.
The reporter had asked him about the playoffs, the loss during the championships, and what was coming next season. Coach gave him a lot of typical responses about being excited about training camp, how good he felt about the team’s draft picks, and that he didn’t foresee too many off-season trades. Then the reporter asked him who fans could expect to see on the roster come October and whether Jace Sutherland would be one of them. The rest of the article made my stomach clench uncomfortably.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids hungry to play. No one’s place is guaranteed until training camp is over,” Coach Petrov said.
With the strong draft picks chosen, like Elias Haverstrom and Mikael Fontaine, who are touted to be NHL-ready, players like Jace Sutherland will have to work extra hard to prove their mettle. At twenty-four, Sutherland has shown inconsistency on the ice, something the newcomers can use to their advantage. He and Jordan Palmer, who had a frustrating rookie season, may not be the future of this club, and no one will blame Coach Petrov for focusing more heavily on the newcomers.
Well, that hurt.
Maybe Eddie was right, and I just didn’t have what it took to be in the big leagues. God knows I hadn’t managed to get there yet, and I’d been in the minors for six damn years. I couldn’t afford to keep playing hockey at that level. We just didn’t make enough money, especially if I was going to get married and have a family. It was enough to survive, but we’d be broke all the time. And that wasn’t what I wanted for my future family. Especially if it included Tawny.
