Loving The Game (Thirty-Something in the City - The Lunchtime Sorority Book 1)

by Bailie Hantam

  “Many things would be easier if I was more compliant.” It wasn’t the time to argue with him, but she hated feeling so helpless. “But I think I’ve just proven, things with me are never easy.”

  “Maybe if you worried less about consequences, things would run more smoothly.” The serious tone had gone, he was teasing her.

  “Tyler, please.” If all else failed, she’d try pleading. “I just need to adjust—”

  “I’m holding the skirt down.” Tyler said calmly. “No one will see your day of the week white cotton panties.”

  He was of course referring to the one and only time he had seen her underwear. She was wearing day of the week panties back then.

  “It’s not white cotton.” She needed to regain some ground with him. Jill tried to bring her mouth to his ear. She wasn’t successful. Instead she lowered her voice to a small whisper. “It’s a red lace thong.”

  He stilled and his body tensed. He grabbed the hem of her skirt, pinning it down a little more. His bare knuckles grazing her upper thigh sending a jolt to her core.

  “Jeez, woman,” he said. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  Jill couldn’t help smiling. It was good to know she had the same effect on him. “It wasn’t like I intended for you to find out.”

  “Sure.” Tyler walked through his parents’ back door. “You keep telling yourself that.”

  ***

  Tyler

  “No Ms. S.” Tyler placed his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he got a cup of coffee from the vending machine just outside the emergency room. “It’s just a strain. She’s in with Derrick now. There’s no need for everyone to come to the hospital.”

  He placed the cup on the table nearby and put in a second cup while he listened to Jill’s mother rant about Jill’s tendency for melodrama. He had to admit the older woman had a point, but honestly, he found it amusing.

  “Ask her to call me.” Mrs. Sanders was more frustrated than worried. “And make sure she follows Derrick’s instructions. If she needs my help, I can always sleep at her place tonight.

  Tyler doubted Jill would appreciate that little sleepover. As much as she loved her parents, Tyler suspected that the reason she went to Cape Town University was to get some independence.

  He assured Ms. Sanders that one of them would be in touch soon and hung up before taking both cups of coffee to the cubicle where Derrick was attending to Jill.

  “Stay off the foot for today,” Derrick was saying to Jill behind the pale green screen. “It should be fine in the morning.”

  “Thanks.” Jill sounded less stressed than she did a few hours earlier.

  Derrick opened the screening smiling at Tyler. “I’ve wrapped her ankle and given her a prescription for painkillers. You driving her home?”

  “Of course.” It never occurred to him that anyone else would be. “Someone will take her car to your place. Apparently, Tina will get it from there.”

  Derrick nodded. He and Tina had some sort of friends with benefits arrangement whenever she was in town. If she wasn’t staying at her parents’ place, she was usually at Derrick’s. “Get some food.” He folded his arms and gave Tyler a stern look. “She can’t take the meds on an empty stomach. And then you go home and get some rest. She doesn’t need some misguided knight in shining armor. The rest of us need you to be distraction-free on the field on Saturday.”

  Saturday was not a charity match. Derrick usually came to watch his games when he wasn’t working. Most of the time at least.

  “I’ll be fine.” Tyler knew what Derrick was trying to say. “I take it you won’t be in the stands.”

  “I plan on watching it on TV.” Derrick smiled. “Other than those ninety minutes, I will be otherwise distracted.”

  Tyler smiled. He nodded his head to the cubicle. “She ready to go?”

  “Bring your car to the front entrance.” Derrick caught the attention of a nurse, making a rotating motion with his hands. “I’ll wheel her out to there.”

  Jill was not going to like that, but she wouldn’t have much choice. “Good luck with that.”

  “I can hear both of you,” Jill called from behind the screen.

  Tyler turned and headed out of the hospital building. If Jill heard everything, then she heard Derrick warn him to stay away from her. He didn’t have a problem with everyone knowing about the two of them, he just didn’t know how she felt.

  She did feel something, though. Their kisses were too heated, too passionate, too everything to just ignore. Whatever was happening between them, it was no one night stand. She walked away from him once before without giving them a chance. He had to make sure that didn’t happen again. For that he needed to take things slow. Hence, the idea of taking her on a date. Getting to know her.

  Tyler pulled up to the front entrance of the hospital just as Derrick wheeled Jill through the sliding doors. She was pouting, and her arms were folded. Anger may have looked adorable on her, but Tyler knew her temper too well to show his amusement.

  He made to get out of the car but Derrick was already helping Jill move from the wheelchair. His body tensed at the comfort between the two of them. There was no awkwardness. Nothing remotely sexual. They had the sort of intimacy that only comes from years of friendship and Tyler couldn’t help envying Derrick a little. He wanted that with Jill. He wanted a lot more, too. But he would settle for friendship, if he couldn’t get anything else.

  Derrick greeted them and closed the door, shutting out the sounds of the city.

  Tyler grabbed his team jacket from the back seat and handed it to Jill. “Your legs must be cold.” Besides those delicate caramel colored limbs were distracting.

  “Thanks.” Jill wrapped her legs in the jacket and tucked her handbag into the footwell, as Tyler pulled into the traffic leaving the hospital. “You do remember how to get to my place right?”

  He just glared at her. Even if he had no sense of direction, there wasn’t a thing about her, he could forget.

  “Food first.” Tyler hadn’t eaten since he got to his mother’s place. The food in the shack was probably still there, uneaten. “What are you in the mood for?”

  “Masala steak sandwich.”

  “Of course.” Tyler smiled remembering Jill’s comfort food of choice. She could always be cheered with the sandwich and—

  “And chocolate ice cream.” The delight in her voice forced Tyler to glance her way. Her eyes lit up as the corners of her mouth lifted.

  Focus on the road, moron. “It will be melted by the time we get to your place.”

  “I’ll put it in the freezer as soon as I get there.” Her voice dripped with mock innocence. “We can have it later.”

  We? Tyler knew better than to mention what she just said. He didn’t want to revert back to their awkwardness of earlier. “Rondi’s it is then,” he said, referring to the halaal deli that had been an institution in Randburg since their childhood.

  After a small argument about who would pay, which Tyler only won because Jill couldn’t get out of the car, they were back on their way to her apartment.

  He pulled into her complex and went straight to the visitor’s parking.

  “You can use my space over there.” She pointed to the bay with the number of her flat painted in the middle. “I’ll probably only get my car tomorrow.”

  “Wait for me to help.” Tyler grabbed the food from the backseat and moved around the car to help Jill out.

  Her boots were stuffed into her handbag and Tyler made the decision that it would be easier all around if he just carried her.

  “You know this is not necessary.” She wasn’t fighting him or protesting. In fact, her arm automatically slipped around his neck as cradled her in his forearms.

  “It’s more efficient.” Tyler headed towards the resident’s entrance. “Besides there are six floors to climb.”

  “Oh no.” Jill shook her head. “I won’t be responsible for injuring the star flyhalf a few days before a match. We’ll ta
ke the elevator. Slow and rickety as it may be.”

  As soon as the doors to the lift closed, the atmosphere around them changed. Gone was the casual ease between them. But far from being awkward, the air seemed to be charged with heat and electricity. Tyler leaned against the back wall of the lift. He lowered his head into Jill’s hair, inhaling her apple scent. He nuzzled just below her hairline and she tensed in his arms. Her ribcage expanded as her breath hitched.

  Tyler raised his head to look at Jill. Her gaze met his. The desire and hunger in her eyes matched what he was feeling. She licked her lips and her gaze dropped to his mouth. He hardened, his erection pressing against the fly of his jeans. He wanted her. But not here. He didn’t want any interruptions. He could wait a few more minutes until they were in her apartment.

  As if on cue, the lift dinged, and the doors opened.

  “We really cannot be trusted to be alone together.” Jill smiled up at him. “You have to let me down.”

  Tyler frowned. “Why?” There was no good reason to let her out of his grasp.

  “I can’t reach into my bag while holding the food.” Her tone was casual, but there was a rough edge to her voice. She tilted her head and gave him a small smile. “My keys are in my handbag, and we really need to get on the other side of the door.”

  “Right.” He eased down and took the food from her.

  Jill made quick work of fishing out her keys and getting them into her apartment. As soon as they were inside, she dropped her keys and handbag on the table by the door. Tyler did the same with the food. With both of their hands free, he pushed her against the wall and dropped his mouth to hers.

  She lifted her head to his and winced. He’d forgotten that her foot was still hurting, and she couldn’t stand on her toes. Tyler lifted her legs around him to take the pressure off. Then pushed his lips to hers.

  Chapter 7

  Jill

  As soon as his lips found hers, a bolt of electricity shot through her body. She settled herself on his waist, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her hands weaving into his hair.

  His tongue grazed her lips and she opened her mouth, inviting him in. Their tongues collided and Jill let out a low moan. The kiss wasn’t gentle like the one from earlier or even impulsive like they’d had the last time they were in her flat. The kiss was hungry. Filled with the desire they’ve been dancing around for weeks. She couldn’t get enough of him. Her hands moved from his neck down his chest, then reaching for the hem of his shirt. She needed to get closer to him.

  It was probably a stupid idea rushing things, but the kiss promised that it would be well worth it. Besides, he was crawling under her skin and she needed to get whatever was happening between them more physical and less… everything else.

  Her hands inched up his back. The feel of her hands on his skin sent her shiver up her spine.

  “Bedroom,” Tyler groaned into her mouth as he pulled her away from the wall, holding her back with his palm.

  “Down the hallway, first door on the left.” She dipped her head back as Tyler kissed her just below her earlobe moving to her throat.

  He negotiated his way to her bedroom. Jill trailed her finger around the waistband of his jeans, causing another heated groan from him. “Patience, woman.” His wicked grin sent a shot of heat through her. She tightened her thighs around him. She was already wet and needy for him.

  Jill flipped the light switch as they entered her bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed then pulled off his shirt. Jill swallowed to prevent herself from salivating. She’d seen paparazzi photos and even promo shots of him topless. But it didn’t compare to having him right in front of her. The defined pecs, the ridges of his six pack, and that tantalizing V leading to the one place she needed.

  He moved onto the bed, resting on his elbows and moving his legs between hers.

  Jill pulled him closer and brushed his lips gently with her own, teasing him. His eyes fluttered closed, as if savoring her. Tyler deepened the kiss pushing his tongue pushing past her lips. Everything inside her lit up.

  Any reservations she may have had melted away. There was no room to question her own motives. And she certainly didn’t want to question his. She didn’t want time to think. She didn’t want to give a second thought to consequences. She’d deal with them later.

  She’d spent many nights imagining what he would feel like, yet nothing prepared her for how overwhelmed she would be. Her body warred between wanting more and wanting to slow down and savor.

  Her hands ran up the expanse of his back. Muscles rippled under her fingers as he responded to her touch. She enjoyed the power she had over his body in that moment.

  Without another word, he pulled her up and gripped the hem of her T-shirt, pulling it over her head. He kissed her neck as he lowered her back down. She bucked under him, savoring the kisses he feathered from her earlobe to her chest.

  Moving the cup of her bra to the side, his rough fingers grazed over nipple. Jill groaned and arched her back, wanting more him.

  “Tyler.” Her voice was low and she couldn’t hide her desire. “Don’t tease me.”

  She felt his chuckle reverberate through her chest. He moved his mouth to her exposed nipple, causing her cry out and send tingles of pleasure all the way to her core. He continued laving his tongue across her nipple as he moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention as the first. She arched under him and bent her knees. He bit her nipple gently, sending a wave of delicious pain through her, lifting her hips to him.

  Forcing her hand between them, she reached for his belt buckle. He raised his hips slightly to help her along. She was hampered by own bucking under him every time he nipped or tweaked her nipples a little harder. After what felt like an eternity, she’d gotten his fly undone. She moved the waistband of his underwear.

  She gripped him, causing a low growl to escape his lips. He quickly grabbed her hand holding it still. “If you continue with that, I won’t have time to do all the things I really want to do.”

  “Well, I figured if you get to tease me,” Jill said. “I get to return the favor.” She gripped him a little tighter before letting go.

  Tyler unhooked the front clasp of her bra and stared at her body. There was something feral and untamed in his gaze that sent a shot of heat through her entire body. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he growled.

  The words made her feel sexy, and she instinctively arched her back. Jill would never label herself as a prude but being with Tyler she shed all her inhibitions. Nothing was off limits for him.

  He moved her hand and trailed kisses from her ribs to the waistband of her skirt. Without looking up he undid the button of her wrap skirt. He took his time as if unwrapping a present.

  “You weren’t lying.” His finger ran along the waistband of her red lace thong.

  She gave him a small smile. Her voice hoarse. “I never lie.”

  Tyler wasted no time removing her panties. He raked his gazed over her body, giving her goosebumps. His gaze made feel treasured, worshipped.

  He lowered his head to continue kissing her around her lower belly and thighs. Everywhere except where she wanted him. Slow and torturous, she was torn between wanting to stop the overload of sensation or push him closer to where she wanted him.

  “Tyler,” she moaned

  Finally, his tongue brushed her folds and then all to quickly moved away, causing her to whimper. That momentary touch tensed her entire body and grabbed onto his hair.

  He lifted his head and growled at her. “That’s right. Call my name. Tell me what you want.”

  Two fingers moved inside her as his tongue continued to flick over that sweet spot. Heat rushed through her as she clenched around his fingers. The sensations built up inside her and she shut her eyes. Reality had shifted, nothing else existed.

  “More.” She was needy and ready for him.

  His hand moved faster. Her body undulated against his mouth. And then all was lost. A ringing in her ears as her body st
iffened and tightened. The sensations overwhelming her as she gripped the sheets and went over the edge.

  He kept up the pace with his hand and his tongue as she rode out the last of her orgasm.

  An emptiness engulfed her as Tyler moved away from her. “Condom,” he said fumbling with his jeans.

  “Bedside drawer.” As soon as she said it, she winced. Her need to get him inside her caused her to forget what else was in that drawer.

  The corners of Tyler’s mouth lifted, and he turned to her as he took a condom from the drawer. “We’ll talk about the rest of the goodies in there later,” he said as he rolled the condom on to himself.

  Her breath hitched as he moved back on top of her. He pulled her legs over his shoulders and entered her with one hard thrust.

  Both of them cried out in pleasure.

  He moved slowly inside Jill. Pulling nearly all the way out before thrusting all the way back in. A sheen of sweat formed above his brow. She gripped onto his forearms at her side, wanting to touch as much of him as she could.

  They moved in unison. They fit perfectly together, their rhythm completely in sync. He filled her, hitting that sweet spot inside her, making her see stars. He was familiar and yet, nothing like the boy she knew all those years ago.

  She arched her hips up as he grabbed her waist, allowing him to get even deeper. Tyler groaned as she clenched around him. His thrusts got deeper and faster. Jill grabbed the cover, twisting it in her hands. She threw her head back, closing her eyes.

  “Look at me.” His dark gaze bored into her. “I want to see you. I want you to see me.”

  He thrust harder and the world disappeared around them. They were floating higher and higher. One more thrust and she went tumbling over the edge. Her entire body tightening around him. She felt one more thrust as he growled her name, following with his own orgasm.

  ****

  Tyler

  12 years ago

  He was being a coward. And an idiot. The girl he’d loved for almost two years had basically presented herself on platter for him, and he rejected her.