CONNECTIONS: A Romantic Suspense (DESIGNER CHILDREN Book 2), page 12
He pulled away, his breath heaving as if he’d sprinted forty yards. “Let’s take this somewhere private, Kat.”
Her nails were raising goose bumps on his back. “This seems pretty private to me.”
There were probably fifty people wandering the stadium. Any one of them, including his dad, could walk out and catch them. “You didn’t drive, right?”
She trailed a finger up and down his chest. “You told me not to.”
He took her hand and tugged her to his car. As they headed toward his home, he asked, “You’re pretty relaxed.”
Her giggle was so out of character, Ashe worried if they slept together, he’d be taking advantage of her. “Jerry said my pacing was driving him crazy. He made me drink Book alcohol.”
Ahh, that explained a lot. “Booker Bourbon?”
She snapped her fingers, but they didn’t make a sound. “Booker Bourbon. That’s what he called it.”
He glanced at her sprawled in the front seat of his Porsche. She looked good there. Perfect. He’d vowed to concentrate on having the best season of his career. Instead, he was preoccupied with thoughts of a crazy blonde and worrying why the hell he was related to strangers.
“Please tell me you’re not drunk?” He didn’t sleep with drunk women.
“I’m not. I’m very relaxed, and I would not have driven, but I’m not drunk.” She beamed a smile at him that shone stronger than the stadium lights.
He concentrated on remembering how to get to his home. It wasn’t second nature yet. He almost missed his exit.
“You looked good on the field tonight, Bristol. What’s it like being coached by your father?”
“Probably what you’d imagine.” He waved at the security guard as the gate automatically rose.
“No. I can’t imagine. My dad had nothing to do with my formative years. I’d like to know.”
He didn’t want to dig through the detritus of resentment because of the expectations Coach heaped on him. “Let’s say, my work ethic is held to a different standard than any other player and leave it at that.”
“Wow. My reporter radar just went crazy. Wish I covered sports dynasties. You two would be a great case study.”
“No way.” He hit the garage remote. “Home sweet home.”
He threw his keys in a basket on the small table in the laundry room. A few boxes littered the hallway. “Sorry, I’m not totally unpacked.”
Although he’d cleared the boxes in his bedroom and changed the sheets. He needed to hire a cleaning service, but he wanted to finish unpacking first.
She trailed a pink-painted nail along the top of a box. “Maybe I’ll volunteer my services.” Her blue eyes almost scorched him as her gaze landed on his. “Assuming I’m happy with your services.”
Yowza. The woman made him hard just talking. “Can I get you anything to drink? Eat?” Hell, he’d been gone for the last two weeks. He didn’t even know what food was in the kitchen.
“Maybe a bottle of water if you have it.”
She kicked off her heels as he dug in a small fridge. All he had was Gatorade. “Will this do?”
“Perfect. You might want to grab one for yourself.” Her seductive smile had his breath backing up. “You’ll need to replace liquids once I’m though with you.”
He came toward her, a bottle in each hand. “That sounds like a challenge.”
Kat wrapped her arms around his neck, hopped up and wrapped her luscious legs around his hips. “You bet it is, Bristol.”
He grabbed hold of her denim clad ass, dropping the bottles but hanging onto what was important, Kat.
“Lord, you’re a tall one.” She nibbled and sucked his bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking about this for too long. It makes me mad that I keep thinking about you. I need you out of my system.”
Her words should have been a dream come true. He didn’t have time to focus on anything but his career. A woman just looking to get off should have made him smile.
He didn’t like it.
With her legs wrapped around his waist, he headed toward the stairs. His shoulder complained, but he didn’t pay any attention to the aches.
He was tired of one-night stands or even serial one-night stands. Hell, he hadn’t been with a woman since … before his knee injury? What was wrong with him?
He would take what Kat was offering and when she was through with him, figure out what he wanted.
“I love a man who can carry me around.” She worked his buttons open. “And a hairy chest. Numm.” Her tongue lapped his nipple. Sparks shot through him, and he almost dropped her.
“Jesus,” he whispered, hoisting her a little higher so she couldn’t repeat the action.
Her laugh drilled right to his groin. What was it about this handful of woman that attracted him?
Trying to get the upper hand, he dropped her in the middle of the bed. Her dimple flashed as she bounced. He rolled on top of her, making sure he didn’t hurt her.
“What about removing some of these clothes,” she complained. “I want to see your multi-million dollar body.”
Kat arched her hips and their groins rubbed together. He shifted and wedged her legs between his, keeping her from moving. “I want to kiss you.”
“Ashe …” She squirmed as he fused their mouths together.
She tasted delicious. He nibbled and licked. It wasn’t the whiskey, although that added a smokey tang, it was an elusive spicy taste that was all Kat. He delved into her mouth again and again.
Kat’s moan reverberated through his body, zeroing in on his erection that strained against his slacks. Her hands didn’t stop caressing his hair, his arms, his back, and his face.
Kat wrenched her mouth away from his lips.
“Clothes. Off,” she gasped. “Now!”
Compliance seemed a good idea. He flipped Kat so she sprawled over him and then stripped off her top. He didn’t stop to admire her hot pink bra before it followed her shirt to the floor. His hands molded and formed around her sweet breasts.
“Wait, I’m the only one naked.” She sat up, the perfect position. “Come on big guy. This is the most clothes I’ve ever seen you wear. I want them off.”
They struggled to strip each other, hampered by buttons, zippers and interfering hands and lips. He’d never laughed so much trying to get naked.
“Finally,” Kat called triumphantly. She ripped his boxers off his ankles and dove up to wrap her hand around him. “Oh Lord, are you sure this will work?”
Her lush warm mouth enveloped him. He embedded his fingers in her hair, wanting to pull her up to him, but her tongue was doing magical licks along his shaft.
“Keep that up, and we won’t get to the good stuff.” He finally hauled her up and once more pinned her to the bed.
No more subtlety. He worshipped her breasts with his lips and teeth, feeling her groan through his mouth. Then he slid lower, dipping his tongue into her belly button and around the red jewel he discovered there. Kneeling between her slim legs, he dipped lower, planting kisses on the smooth skin of her thighs, letting her sweet musk make him drunk.
“Damn it.” Kat quivered under his hands. “Touch me.”
He stroked a finger into the petals of her body, finding her dew. Her body clutched the finger he slipped into her heat. Then he followed the same path with his tongue. With his hands cupping her ass, he pulled her to his mouth and feasted.
“Stop,” she cried weakly.
No way, babe.
She came apart. As her tremors slowed and then stopped, he rolled and slipped on a condom.
“Stay with me, Kat.” He settled between her legs and eased into her body. “You feel amazing.”
Even though she was ready, Ashe was large. Of course he was. He was a foot taller than she was. Kat tilted her hips, wanting to seat him fully. Wanting to see him come apart.
She’d had her fun. For some reason she was never able to come more than once. A weird problem with her sexuality. Not that she hadn’t had fun, she just wished he’d been there with her.
Maybe next time.
“Kat,” he groaned.
She felt full, marvelously, wonderfully filled with this incredible hunk of man. She rolled her hips and kegeled.
He groaned. “I want this to last. Stop driving me crazy.”
Ashe pinched and plucked her nipples, suckling. Electricity zinged through her.
“Move,” she groaned.
He did move. But he was too slow. She tried to speed him up by shifting her hips. “Ashe, stop teasing me.”
“I want to enjoy this, enjoy you, for as long as possible.”
When he hovered over her, she nipped his flat nipple.
He pushed deeper. She clawed his magnificent ass, and he slid in and out again.
She couldn’t contain a little whimper. How could he be in control while she crumbled?
She pulsed her hips matching his motion.
His eyes rolled back. A sheen of sweat made his body gleam in the dim light.
Reaching up, she ran her hands through the dusting of black hair on his contoured chest. Everything inside her shivered.
She wrapped her legs higher, feeling like she was too open, too wide, too vulnerable, too everything. Then he hit her G-spot and lights flashed. “More.”
He assaulted her with pleasure. She was battered and tossed, unable to anticipate or control. She could only react and take. She took and took.
Fireworks, more powerful than her first orgasm exploded behind her eyes. She came for a second time.
“Look at me, Kat.” Ashe’s large hands cradled her head, forcing her to look into his gray eyes. He drove into her, forcing her orgasm higher than rockets on Fourth of July.
He groaned and thrust one last time, joining them together as if they’d been welded by the heat of their passion.
His heavy body dropped on her. She loved the feel of his sweat-slicked skin and his heady scent of sweat, sex and a hint of citrus.
He was heavy. Claustrophobia should be setting in. Instead, she wanted to curl into him and sleep.
Two orgasms. Maybe three. Who would have guessed.
“Are you okay?” he murmured, brushing kisses in her hair.
She wanted to wallow in the peace and comfort of his arms. Curl into Ashe’s fabulous chest and toy with the hair that covered his chest.
But she couldn’t drop her defenses. Not for a minute. She’d watched her mother and sisters cry too many times. She pulled in a shuddering breath. “I am A-okay.”
He rolled to his side and tugged her so they were face-to-face. “I wasn’t too much for you? You were pretty tight.”
She would be feeling the way he’d stretched her for a couple of days, a reminder of this fantastic night.
“I’m great, stud.”
Ashe’s blue gray eyes stared into hers as if he could see through the barriers she’d erected years ago.
He kissed her. Sweetly sipped at her lips and gently chased her tongue with his. She could almost feel cracks battering the foundation of her control.
“I’ve got to clean up.” He rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
She curled into a ball. No way. He wouldn’t break through her defenses. She’d taken a vow never to become her mother or her sisters. Ashe was not changing her decision. Nope. No way.
She jumped off the bed and scrambled for her clothes. She had to leave. Her bra was at the foot of the bed, her jeans on the floor, her top. Where were her top and underwear?
Water ran in the bathroom.
Flipping up the comforter, she found her top, but no thong.
The hell with that. She thrust her legs into her jeans, uncomfortable with the way the seam rode her tender skin, but she had to get out of here. When the bathroom door opened, she was snapping her bra.
“What are you doing?” Ashe looked glorious standing with his hands on hips. He was an Adonis, naked and worthy of sculpting.
“I’m through with you lover boy. It’s time to head home.” She shoved her tangled hair back in what she hoped was a jaunty flip. It was time to escape.
“Stay.” He crossed the room in his long-legged, predator walk. Clasping her shoulders, he pulled her flush to his body. His heat penetrated her thin layer of clothes. “It’s late. Stay the night.”
If she stayed, it might be too late. “Can’t.”
She stepped away from his heat and intoxicating halo of scents. “I’ve got to say, you hit the top of my scale. I never come twice, and man oh man, that last climax might have even been two together.”
His hands fisted. His jawbone protruded in sharp angles. “I’m not looking for a fucking grade here, Kat. I get that every day at work. Pass completion, number of sacks, yards passed.”
He reached for her, but she skittered away.
“Got to go.” She tugged her top over her bra. Damn it, inside out. “Thanks. Talk to you later.”
She could hear him walking behind her as she stumbled down the steps. Where had she set her purse? She spotted it on the kitchen floor and snatched it up. His quiet footsteps halted next to her.
“How are you getting home?”
Her mouth dropped open. She didn’t have a car. She was stuck. With Ashe.
Refusing to look at him, she dug out her phone. “Ride share.”
As she searched her phone for the right app, Ashe covered her shaking hand. He tugged her purse and phone out of her hands and set them on the counter. Then he gathered her into his amazing chest. Oh God, oh God.
“What are you afraid of, Kat?” he murmured into her hair.
She could try to deflect his question with prattle, but the words popped out of her mouth. “You. I’m afraid of you.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
She bit her lip, not believing him.
“Come back to bed." He kissed the corner of her mouth. “What time do you need to wake up?”
Kat never stayed. Never let any man stay at her place. But she let Ashe lead her back to his bedroom, to his massive lake of a bed. He undressed her, handing her a T-shirt that fell to her knees.
She slept tucked into his shoulder, his arm cradling her like she was fragile. Precious.
He made her feel special. Damn it. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Thanks.” Ashe took the towel and ice pack Sunee handed him and wrapped it around his shoulder. He was in Harris’s house for a quick meeting on the latest DNA results.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything else?” Sunee asked.
“This is all I need.” Ashe had come directly from practice. “I already iced my knee but figured I could do my shoulder here.”
Sunee rubbed his none-throwing shoulder. “How much longer will your body hold up?”
“Until I say otherwise,” he lied. “I can handle it.”
To get her to change the subject, he asked, “Where’s Harris?”
“He went into the office, but …” The garage door sounded. “That’s probably him.”
Sunee rushed to the back of the house.
Ashe hadn’t liked the fact Harris had gone after Sunee. He’d even warned Harris away from her. He’d been protecting Sunee for years.
But somehow Harris and Sunee worked. He would never have put the brainiac, introverted scientific doctor and the cynical, cautious politician together. Hopefully Sunee, who had anxiety attacks at the political parties her father hosted, wouldn’t have to deal with that for Harris.
The front door opened.
“Hello?” Kat called.
Hail, hail the gang’s all here. At least the original four.
“In the media room,” Ashe called.
Kat rushed in and bounced a kiss on his lips. “Hey, good looking.”
“Hey back at ’cha.” He was keeping it light with Kat. But he had plans. Ones she wouldn’t like, so he wouldn’t let her know.
He wanted a relationship.
“I’m getting something to drink.” Kat dropped her bags on the floor. “Do you want anything?”
“A glass of water.”
She tugged his ponytail. “You’re reckless.”
In the last week, they’d been together almost every night. And every night after sex, he’d had to convince her to stay. His success rate was about fifty-percent. He wasn’t satisfied with it.
Being with her was like trying to score a touchdown from the one yard line with a quarterback sneak. The entire defensive line had one objective. Keep him out of the end zone.
Kat didn’t want him breaking through to her real emotions.
He wanted the touchdown. A relationship.
They were great in bed. And could talk for hours. When they’d first met, all he’d wanted was sex with Kat. He was focused on his season, his career.
And everyone knew Kat was all about her job and taking the next step to national news.
He planned to take the Texans to the Super Bowl. This team had all the pieces. He could do it if he kept his mind in the game.
But he wanted Kat too. And that was asking for trouble. He wanted more than the flirty, sexy Kat. He wanted … more. He wanted the woman who was dedicated to her friends. Who would give them the shirt off her back. The one who’d set up Harris with Sunee and then helped Sunee through their first date. He wanted to hold her when she was sad and celebrate when she was happy.
But if Ashe told her he wanted more, she’d run so fast, all he’d see was her dust.
He would keep chipping away at her hard outer shell. Eventually it would crack and break. The loving Kat would emerge.
Only then would he mention he wanted more than sex.
Sunee and Harris came into the room arm in arm. Kat followed them with a couple of glasses in her hands.
“Hey, Harris,” Ashe said.
“Ashe.” Harris looked exhausted. Couldn’t be easy going back to work after being shot.
Ashe checked the time. He’d iced for ten minutes. Good enough. He unwrapped the ice pack from his arm and rolled his shoulder. Then he took the glass Kat handed him and downed most of it.
Kat retrieved her notebook and sat next to him.
“Okay, same drill.” Sunee turned on her computer. DNA results flashed onto the screen. “As suspected, Piper is a match. There was one thing different. She’s more closely related to Drew than either of you two.”
