by Lori Ryan
“You like it when I tell you what I’m going to do to you, don’t you?” he asked and watched the flush of red climb her cheeks, making her even more beautiful.
“Yes,” she whispered, “and I want you inside me now, Rafe. I need to feel you inside me, now.”
“Do you want it hard and fast or achingly slow and teasing?” he asked, letting his erection dip into the wet folds of her center, taunting her with just the tip.
“Can I have both?” she asked with a gasp, her hips pushing toward him.
Rafe laughed and pulled back, drawing a whimper of protest from her. He grinned and reached to the side of the bed for his pants and the condoms he’d thrown in his pocket back in the locker room after the game.
“You can have anything and everything you want, Ash,” he said, rolling on a condom, and then he entered her in one swift, deep thrust. Then he stilled. Holy hell, she was tight and so hot and wet, her muscles already milking him. She pressed up into him and he had to pin her hips down with his hands.
“Hold still,” he gritted out through his teeth as his forehead came to rest on hers. “Hold still for just a minute, gorgeous, or this is going to be a bit too hard and fast.”
She did as she was told and held perfectly still as he struggled for control.
“You feel so fucking amazing, Ashlyn. So incredible.”
“Right back atchya,” she said with a wicked grin as she began to move her hips in tiny circles, eliciting a groan from him. “You feel so good,” she said, drawing out the words on another endless moan that shot straight to his groin.
He pulled out slightly before slamming back into her, her moans driving him on. Her hips rose to meet him with each thrust and he knew he wouldn’t last long at this rate. But, he could also feel how close she was, her muscles clamping down on him.
“Come for me, Ashlyn.” He reached around and cupped her ass, tilting her hips and pulling her tighter to him as she clenched around him even more. Rafe plunged into her again and again and felt her orgasm clear to his toes. The familiar sensation at the base of his balls told him he couldn’t hold off anymore, and he let his own release rip through him as he pounded into her and she cried out his name.
Somewhere, in the middle of his befuddled, foggy brain, a small piece of him knew he was in way over his head. That somehow, Ashlyn was different from any other woman he’d been with, despite the fact that they hadn’t even really begun to experiment with all of the things he wanted to teach her. This had been mild by his standards and he had a feeling she’d want to play with a lot more than just a blindfold down the road.
Somehow, though, this had been more than he’d ever experienced with another woman. He shoved the thought away as he pulled her small body tight to his and wrapped her in his arms, holding her close. He’d worry later. Right now, he wanted to focus on recovering quickly so they could start over and he could get back inside that heavenly body as soon as possible.
Chapter Eight
Rafe was a few minutes later than usual when he entered the locker room and went straight to his locker to change. He’d lingered too long with Ashlyn in bed that morning. Well, actually, that morning and early afternoon. They’d gotten up for breakfast, then into the shower before falling back into bed. Turned out, Ash had a thing for sex from behind. She quivered at the slightest touch to the creamy skin of her back, to her gorgeous rounded ass, and when he took her from behind, she all but threw herself back into him, writhing and gyrating her hips to get more.
He felt more than saw his teammates come up behind him.
“Tried calling you this morning,” Gage said, not bothering with a greeting.
“Tried calling last night, too,” Aiden chimed in and Rafe turned to look at them.
“What’s got your panties in a bunch, girls? Did I miss a tea party? Or did you just want help braiding your hair?” Rafe asked.
“I thought you said she was just part of your new pregame routine,” Aiden said, ignoring the dig at their manhood.
Rafe wanted to say that’s all Ashlyn was. In fact, he opened his mouth to say just that, but what came out instead was, “It’s none of your damned business what she is. What are you, my keepers, now?”
He heard the defensive tone in his own voice and knew his friends wouldn't miss it. And, they didn’t.
“It’s our business if you’re going to fuck up and trigger the curse,” Gage said, his voice low as though talking about the curse out loud wasn’t wise. Which, they all knew it wasn’t.
“I have no intention of activating any curse, guys. Give me a freaking break. I don’t plan to settle down anytime soon,” Rafe said and he meant it. He liked his freedom. He liked playing the field and not answering to any one woman. He liked to keep things easy and fun, and he always walked away when a woman tried to reach for more.
And, if there was a tiny tweak in his chest when he said the words, he buried it and turned his back on his friends, grabbing his cleats from the locker.
He knew Gage and Aiden were eyeing him as he kicked off his street shoes and pulled on his cleats, snugging the laces on first the right shoe, then the left. He tied a double knot in the left shoe before doing the same on the right. It was the same pattern he followed every time he put on his shoes for a game or practice.
“Nothing to worry about, girls. I don’t plan to start the curse. She’s just part of the routine. That’s all. Nothing more.” He hoped he sounded firm as he turned and walked from the locker room. He needed to get out on the field where he could focus on his game and not think about the way Ashlyn had looked in the shower, sweet eyes peering up at him as she took him into her mouth. Deep into her mouth.
Damn. He shifted his dick in his pants and kept walking. Damn.
Chapter Nine
They went to his house one night instead of hers. Rafe was still high from their win against the Titans, finishing out the four game series on top. They’d play the Jays tomorrow. It was an away game and Ashlyn had arranged her tutoring schedule so she could fly with him for the three game series. Then he’d have a day off after that and he wanted nothing more than to spend it with her.
He watched as she took in his place. The dark leather couches and prints on the wall had all been chosen by a decorator. He almost winced as Ashlyn’s eyes skimmed the huge picture of Rafe at bat that hung over the mantle. How tacky was it to have a picture of yourself on the wall like that? But, the decorator had insisted and since Rafe rarely had anyone at his place, he had let it go.
He also let go of the nagging doubt in his head about bringing Ashlyn to his place. He wasn’t sure why he’d done it. He normally went to the woman’s home when he wanted to get laid. It was a lot less complicated that way. And, yet, here they were.
Rafe shoved the thought aside and drew her down on the couch next to him, tugging her clothes off as he went. Her hands reached out to him, pulling his shirt over his head and reaching for the button fly of his jeans as he unzipped her skirt. Rafe pulled off his jeans then drew her up to stand between his legs and let his hands glide down her hips as he pushed her skirt to the floor. She stood before him in a matching lace panty and bra set. Hot pink with tiger patterned trim. Not what he expected from his little teacher.
“My little wild thing,” he said and watched as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “You’ll need to tell me what you want to try next, wild thing.”
Now he saw her flush and knew she was holding back.
He shook his head slowly. “I can’t read your mind. If you don’t tell me what you want, how will I know how to get you all hot and wet and writhing for me?”
She let out a small laugh. “I have a feeling you could come up with something.”
He shrugged a shoulder and grasped his erection with one hand, letting his grip work slowly up and down the length. He was hard as freaking steel for her and all she’d done so far was stand before him looking so damn unsure of herself yet so incredibly gorgeous at the same time.
“But, it might not be what you want. I want to know what you want, Ash. Everything you want.”
She shifted on her feet a little then all but whispered.
“Will you spank me?” she asked softly and his cock jerked in his hand, growing harder still. His hand itched to reach out and grab her but he forced himself to move slowly.
“Anything and everything you want, wild thing. Always,” he said, then took her hand and drew her down to his lap. She wriggled as her side pressed into his erection when he draped her over his lap and slid one hand over her round bottom. He tugged her panties down off her legs and gritted his teeth at the sight of her cheeks bared to him, so creamy white and gorgeous. He could feel her tense beneath him and knew the anticipation itself was adding to the experience for her. He leaned in close.
“Are you sure, wild thing? Are you absolutely sure you can handle this?”
“Yes,” she gasped, her breath nothing but a pant as he let one hand fall on her gorgeous white cheek, drawing a beautiful pink tone to the surface and a mind numbing moan of pleasure from her. Her moans and wriggles grew as he let loose another five slaps, the sound resonating as her skin grew more sensitive and his erection screamed out to be inside her.
Rafe slipped his hand between her thighs and delved into the silken folds, creamy and wet and waiting for him. He drew his fingers up and down, murmured to her, telling her how wet she was, how hot she felt in his lap. She cried out in pleasure as he let his fingers and the slick moisture he’d found in her folds coat her between the cheeks of her ass.
“Please,” she gasped, her wriggling never stopping long enough to ease the pain of need that had now taken over his cock.
“Please what, Ash?” he asked, his hands continuing to tease.
“I can’t say it,” she said, squirming.
“Then I can’t do it, baby,” he said and laughed when he heard his good little teacher curse under her breath. She shifted back, pressing herself into his hand, but he resisted, not letting her have what he knew she needed without asking him.
She groaned and whispered her answer. “Please, put your fingers inside me.”
“Where, Ashlyn? You’ll have to be very specific.”
She wriggled more and he could imagine the pout on her sweet lips. “Everywhere. Please, Rafe,” she whimpered her plea and he gave her what she wanted, sending her writhing again. He couldn’t take much more of this, and yet, at the same time, he wanted to do this to her—for her—forever.
“Why does that feel so good?” she asked as he caressed her skin and reached beneath her to take one nipple between his fingers and squeeze. He felt her orgasm race through her as she threw herself into his hand, pressing him further into her. He felt her muscles clamp down on him as she cried out his name and realized he’d never known a bigger aphrodisiac than the sounds of her pleasure.
When she went limp in his lap, he slid his hands to her waist and lifted her so she straddled him, falling forward onto his shoulder, eyes glazed. Rafe reached for the pants he’d abandoned nearby, keeping one hand wrapped around Ashlyn’s waist to hold her snug to him. He pulled a condom from the pocket of his jeans and lifted her onto him, groaning as her heat wrapped around him and she slowly began to move, coming alive for him again.
But, he couldn't handle slow right now. He took control, lifting her up and down, thrusting up into her until he felt a snap and he was coming in waves inside of her, never wanting this moment to end but knowing it would have to. Knowing someday he’d have to give her up. He wouldn’t keep her no matter how much he wanted to—but right now he didn’t know how he’d manage to let her go when the time came. So, he stayed inside of her as she snuggled into his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and held on, ignoring reality for just a short while and focusing instead on the feel of her curvy, soft body lying contently on top of him, completely sated, just as he was.
Ashlyn stirred as Rafe lifted her and carried her to his bed. Her whole body felt completely at ease and content and that, honestly, scared the daylights out of her. This was temporary. She knew that. She wasn’t an idiot. She was very aware of what Rafe could and couldn’t offer her. He could offer her a good time. He could help her learn to speak up about her needs in the bedroom. He could bring her to mind-blowing orgasms, the likes of which she had to wonder if she’d ever be able to repeat again.
But, he couldn’t give her more than that. What Elise and Kane had found was rare and she couldn’t expect that of Rafe. She knew he was a player, one hundred percent committed to maintaining his bachelor status. When her pregame kiss was no longer part of his routine, when she no longer brought him the luck he thought he needed to play well, she would be gone. And, somehow, someway, she needed to brace herself for that.
She needed to keep herself from falling for this man.
He lay her down and let his body cover hers, kissing her softly, tenderly, and it took all her strength not to read more into his actions than he intended. This time, when he entered her it was slowly, with all the gentleness she’d have thought came with love, not a deal. They moved together, not talking, no more whispers, just their bodies moving as one. They reached their orgasms together again, and she cried out, clutching his arms as a wave of sheer pleasure hit her almost as hard as the emotions that had been washing over her. Unbidden and unwanted emotions she didn’t seem to be able to control.
Rafe drew the covers over her then went to the bathroom, where she heard the water run. He returned and tugged her close, falling asleep almost the minute his head hit the bed. Ashlyn lay still in his arms, listening to the sound of his breath, watching his chest rise and fall. She wanted to run her hands over his body, memorize the feel of him beneath her fingers. But, she didn’t. She wouldn’t let herself. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep but it didn’t come for a long time. She was falling, and she didn’t seem to be doing a damned thing about it.
Chapter Ten
The nights with Ashlyn were more than Rafe had ever hoped for and weeks flew by without him giving any thought to how long he'd been with her or whether he might be getting a little too attached. Each night, she’d tell him a different fantasy or he’d come up with something on his own. A week ago, they’d sat in his bed, her cradled between his legs with her back to his chest as they watched a porno he’d pulled up on the large screen TV on his wall. When he’d whispered into her ear that he wanted to watch her masturbate then led her hands to her body, she hesitated only a minute before she’d begun to touch her breasts. He’d been enthralled, watching her as she watched the scene play out on the screen in front of them, her breathing becoming ragged as her fingers slid over her clitoris and dipped between her legs. Christ, when she’d come apart in his arms to her own hand, he’d nearly come himself from the sight alone.
They spent every night they could together, her packing as many of her tutoring appointments into his pregame practice time so she was free for games and long, sexy nights with him. They often spent his nights off at a restaurant, talking long into the evening. He used to view dinners as something he had to get through to get to the good stuff with a woman. Even though he couldn't wait to get Ashlyn home and strip her clothes off, he wasn't as impatient to get through their meals. He liked spending time with her dressed as well as undressed.
There had been one away game she hadn’t been able to make it to. She’d had to fly back early for an appointment she wasn’t able to rearrange. They’d made up for the missed pregame kiss when he called her before the game, whispering into the phone as she masturbated for him, her needy moans nearly killing him as he jacked off in one of the bathrooms, gritting his teeth in silence so no one would hear him if they came back to the locker room for anything.
Now, back at the Strikers’ home field, he walked in the locker room to find Aiden and Gage glaring at him from the chairs in front of their lockers. He knew what they were ticked off about. His last few games, he’d played like crap. His batting average was slipping lower than it ever had. He
didn’t know what was going on with his game, but he did know his focus was shot. His mind was with Ashlyn, not on the game.
He scowled right back at his friends and threw his bag into the locker with a lot more force than necessary. He was determined to focus on the game today, to figure out what the hell he needed to do to get his game back. He knew what he needed to do, though. He needed to back away from Ashlyn. Aiden and Gage had told him it was time to change his superstitions. They’d even used that word instead of talking about it as a routine, and that had stung. But, they were right. He had to put some space between he and Ashlyn and get back to what worked. She wasn’t working for him right now.
She knew it, too. She’d looked at him with worried eyes the last couple of nights when they met up after the games. He’d shrugged it off and told her not to worry, but he knew she had. And, he had a feeling it wasn’t simply because she wanted him to play well or because she felt concern for him. He could see the fear in her eyes, the fear that he was going to leave her, and that raked at his heart. But, he needed to focus on what mattered. She was a good luck kiss and nothing more. After a month, that luck had run its course.
That afternoon, he didn’t go to her for his pregame kiss. He kept his head down and focused on the game. A game he played for shit in and a game his team lost. He didn’t go to her after the game either. Instead, he texted her like a freaking wuss, telling her that he had a car waiting to take her home. That he needed to focus on his game right now.
If he’d thought she would go quietly and let him slip away, he was an idiot. Even more of an idiot than he was for leaving her in the first place.
Chapter Eleven
Ashlyn blinked back the tears on the ride back to her house. She’d known this was coming, and she’d done her best to prepare herself for it, but damn it hit her hard anyway. She wouldn’t cry in front of the driver who’d been tasked with taking her home, though. Seeing his sympathetic glances in the rearview mirror of the Town Car was bad enough. She watched the scenery whisk by the windows and thanked him when he dropped her at the entrance to her apartment complex. He offered to walk her upstairs, but she declined. The apartment common areas were well lit and she’d never had to worry about her safety here.
