by Alice Gaines
“You got it, big guy.”
“I swear to God, Katy,” he said. “You’re the only woman I ever loved.”
“And you’re the only man I want in my life,” she said. “Until death do us part.”
…
When Reverend Paxton decided to stay for the reception in the Tap Room’s small banquet hall, Grant knew he’d chosen the right venue. After all, they’d be serving the best prime rib—and it was truly prime grade—and offered the world’s best martinis. But as it turned out, the good reverend preferred bourbon. No matter. They had everything a gourmand could want.
Now, he stood with his two friends—the other Players, although now only Ryan could claim the title—and watched the party in full swing. A small jazz ensemble played a sexy tune, and couples danced with various levels of intimacy. Ryan would no doubt join them, once he’d chosen his date for the evening and maybe the night.
“So, you went and did it,” Ryan said.
“Yup, I sure did.” The ceremony had been small—just family and close friends. And, of course, Katy’s colleagues from the firm, some of whom seemed enchanted by Xandra, Katy’s free-spirited friend from upstairs.
Katy’s mother had come alone, since Katy’s father had declined the honor of watching his daughter marry “the football player” for a second time. She and his mom had immediately become friends and were now getting tipsy on champagne. The professor would never approve. And Grant really didn’t give a damn.
“Is it going to be different this time around?” Ryan asked.
“We’ve both grown up a lot. And we’ve worked through what separated us before.” The issue of children, for one thing. Plus, they’d both faced their fears—Katy’s insecurity about her job and Grant’s impending departure from pro football. The knee was mending, but for now, he still used a crutch. “I know it’s going to work this time. Ask Adam about second chances.”
At the sound of his name, Adam’s head turned. “You were talking about me?”
Grant laughed. “If you could take your eyeballs off your wife for a minute, you would have heard us.”
Adam grinned. “Like you haven’t been staring at Katy the whole time.”
Guilty. Who could help but look at the most beautiful woman in the room? Maybe in all of Manhattan? And he’d be sharing her bed tonight and every night from now on.
“The two of you are nuts,” Ryan said. “I’m not tying myself down to one woman.”
Adam put a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “Go for it, player. When you’ve found the right woman, one is all you need.”
Ryan made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat and grabbed a martini from the tray of a passing waiter.
“What about the knee?” Adam asked.
“I’ll be walking normally again before you know it,” Grant answered. “Football, though, is another matter.”
Adam and Ryan remained quiet, which was more honest than offering false assurances. They were just with him, the way only real friends could be.
“I’m thinking of hanging it up,” Grant said. “I have all the money I’ll ever need.”
He didn’t mention that Katy’s job would be bringing in the big bucks as she progressed upward through the levels at her firm. And Stu’s colleague was already lining up endorsements for him. Plenty of money to bring up a couple of kids, even in Manhattan. He was truly blessed.
Still, neither of his friends spoke. Out of sympathy for him, never pity.
“Don’t get complacent,” he said. “I’ll be able to wipe the basketball court with your asses before you know it.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to manage that, seeing as you never could before,” Ryan said.
“Don’t count the old man out,” Grant said, even though they were all about the same age. He was getting up in years for the NFL. Best to go out at the top of his game, leaving a legacy he could be proud of.
“How’s your backup taking the news of your retirement?” Ryan asked. “I don’t suppose he’s crying in his beer.”
“Harrington? The kid turned out to be okay,” Grant said. “He even visited me in the hospital.”
“That’s because an injury like that scares everyone a little,” Ryan said. “It reminds them of what could happen to them.”
“Maybe. Anyway, he said he never wanted to get my job this way, and I believed him.” Harrington had seemed sincere. He was a bright guy and a good quarterback.
Their little male-bonding session ended when Adam’s wife, Nicole, came up to them and took her husband’s hand. “I congratulated Katy. Now, the same to you, Grant.”
“Thanks,” Grant answered. “I hope we’ll be as happy as you two are.”
Adam tugged Nicole against him. “Pretty tall order.”
“That’s my cue to exit,” Ryan said. “All this sweetness is going to give me cavities if I stick around much longer.”
Adam, Nicole, and Grant laughed, and Ryan did exactly what he’d said he’d do—disappear into the crowd, no doubt looking for a little entertainment.
Nicole tugged on Adam’s hand. “Let’s go dance.”
Adam smiled at Grant and let his wife lead him away. Grant wouldn’t be dancing any time soon, but that didn’t stop him and Katy from putting on some moves in bed. They’d worked out several ways to get around his injured knee. Tonight, they’d be doing it in their old room at the condo. So far, he’d stayed at his own place, kind of making this night even more of a special occasion. It was the perfect start to a honeymoon. To help things along, Katy’s mother would stay with his mom and Beth in his apartment, so they’d have the whole place to themselves.
The two moms-in-law made their way toward him, each holding a glass of champagne.
“There you are, my lovely son-in-law,” Katy’s mother said. “I’ve known all along you and Katy belonged together.”
Grant’s own mother carefully tucked herself under his arm on the side with his injured knee. “I’ve been praying, and now my prayers have been answered.”
“You two make a great team,” Grant said.
His mother-in-law snuggled up to him on his free side. The champagne had definitely loosened her up a bit. Then, too, her husband wasn’t around to disapprove. “Wonderful party, Grant. Wonderful.”
“I think you two might want to pace yourselves if Katy’s going to take you shopping tomorrow,” Grant said.
“You and Katy should have a honeymoon,” Katy’s mother said.
“We did that the first time. We just want to settle into our new life together.” Damn, but that sounded good. They’d worked out so many of their earlier problems now. They only needed to keep lines of communication open, and they’d have the long life together they’d hoped for since college. They might have discussions now, but their days of arguing had ended.
“Did you get some of the prime rib?” Grant asked.
“I’m too excited to eat,” Katy’s mother answered.
“That’s no good. You’ll need your strength for the Olympic-level shopping Katy’s planned,” Grant said. “Mom, you can take care of that, right?”
“Right,” his mother said. “Come on, Louise. The roast beef is calling.”
They left him, arm in arm, like sisters. He and Katy had allies on both sides of the family, and they’d make awesome grandmothers. Add Beth and children, and they’d all soon make a big, happy family.
That was unless he’d lost his new-again wife in the crowd somewhere. He scanned the room, and her laughter let him find her before his eyes did. She was standing with Jim Brandenburg, Charlie Grey, and a few other people from her law firm. She still wore the pretty off-white dress she’d had on for the ceremony, and she was joking and completely at ease with her coworkers. He headed toward them. From now on, he was supportive husband, although at this moment, she didn’t seem to need any help.
“Thanks.” Because this was Katy’s work environment, he stood beside her without touching her. Maybe you didn’t cuddle an attorney in the presence of her colleagues.
She took care of that idea by running her arm around his waist. “We’re both very happy.”
“Sorry the NFL is losing you,” Jim said. “You’ve been one of the greats.”
“I appreciate that, Jim,” Grant said. “But it’s time. Besides, I’ll be busy assisting my wife as she advances in her career.”
Katy gazed up at him with pure adoration in her face. He should have thought of this before—instead of scolding her for working too hard and generally telling her how she ought to do her job. He needed to let her tell him what she needed. Thank the powers of heaven and earth for giving him a second chance.
“She’s going to be a real star,” Charlie said. “Don’t let her work too hard.”
He stared down at her, no doubt with the same adoration on his face. “I’ll make sure she gets her rest.”
“Say, why don’t you two spend some time with my family at the lake next year?” Jim said. “We have plenty of room.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Grant said, though he had no idea which lake Jim was talking about.
“We’d love to,” Katy chirped right in. An invitation to the lake must be a Good Thing.
“That’s settled, then,” Jim said. “I’ll have to talk to my wife about scheduling it. Say, where is she, anyway?”
“Probably with mine,” Charlie said.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to borrow my husband for a minute,” Katy said, backing off just enough to take his hand. With friendly nods, he and Katy left the clutch of lawyers. She didn’t take him to the dance floor or to where waiters were carving slabs of beef. Instead, she led him to an alcove off the restrooms, and when she stopped, she ran her arms around his ribs.
“Do we have to stay much longer?” she said.
“You want to bail on your own wedding reception?”
“We did all this once before. I want to get home now.”
By which, she meant she wanted to head straight for their bedroom and their private celebration. They’d made love constantly since the hospital had released him. It was honeymoon sex, and it didn’t seem to get old. All the better to make a baby when the right time came.
“I guess Beth can get the moms to my old place,” he said.
Speaking of his sister, she appeared headed toward the ladies’ room.
Katy took a step forward and grabbed Beth’s arm. “We want to make an escape. Can you cover for us?”
“I know what you two are up to.” Beth winked at him. “Get lost. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Thanks,” Grant said, and he and Katy did exactly that.
…
There was no leather bustier needed tonight. No mirrors on the walls, piped-in porn noises, or riding crops. Katy had considered wearing a negligee, but then Grant would only have had to take it off her. So she settled on wearing nothing at all.
She’d gone to the bathroom to get ready, taking a quick shower using lavender-scented soap. It was the only perfume she’d need. Now she stood in front of the mirror studying her image. She was years older than she’d been when she’d met Grant in college, and she’d put on a few pounds. He swore he loved every one of them. Her breasts were fuller, and now her skin glowed from the hot water. He’d like what he saw.
She shut off the bathroom light and went into the bedroom. He must have had the same idea about clothing, because he sat on the bed, propped up by pillows, buck naked. He’d thrown back the covers so they could gather them around their bodies easily. And his erection rested against his thigh, all hers for the taking.
She went over to him, crawled up onto the bed, and straddled him, her sex only inches from his. “I see I don’t have to do much to get you ready.”
“I had a hard-on all the way here in the cab.”
“We won’t let it go to waste.” She kissed him, her mouth possessing his. This was the ultimate union—sex with her husband. And this time, nothing would separate them.
He answered, of course, his lips moving against hers with just the right amount of pressure to steal her breath. How had she ever lived without his kisses, knowing the intense pleasure he could give with a mere caress?
“Oh, Katy,” he whispered as he nipped along her jawline and dipped lower. He cupped her breasts, massaging and teasing the nipples with his thumbs. “Katy, Katy, Katy.”
“I’m getting so hot,” she whispered back.
“That’s one of the many things I love about you.”
Now, he bent his head to take a nipple into his mouth, and the heat and suction sent her mind off into a world where it was only the two of them. All she could focus on was his mouth, his hands, his sex, and all the sensations they could create in her body. If she took him now, before the fever became too overwhelming, she could ride him longer and enjoy the slow thrust and withdraw. Orgasms would follow. They always did.
She raised herself up, grasping his shaft and positioning him to enter her. When she had the tip between her nether lips, she lowered herself down onto him with a long, “Ahhh.”
“I swear, it’s like the first time, every time,” he said as he flexed his hips upward.
Yes, it was new and sweet and zinging along all her nerves. He always filled her completely, creating delicious friction along her inner walls. She became wetter and wetter as she took him all.
“Is the lake a big deal?” he asked.
She had to stop and think about that one. “Lake?”
“Jim’s invitation.”
“You want to talk about that now?”
“I’ll forget,” he said. “You drive everything out of my mind but making love with you.”
“Okay.” She held still for a second and collected her thoughts. “Yes, the lake’s a big deal. Only for special people in the firm.”
“Like Charlie?”
“Grant.” She pounded her fist on the bed next to him. “More sex, less talking.”
He chuckled. “As you command.”
He picked up the pace, driving into her, and she closed her eyes in bliss. No one else made love like this man. She was going to climax, and oh, it would be sweet. She squeezed her inner muscles around his hardness, savoring the bulk of him.
“You’re tight,” he said between gritted teeth. “Not going to last.”
Neither would she, but they had the whole night ahead of them and then the rest of their lives to keep doing this in new and creative ways. No rush, no worries. Just the two of them creating magic.
So, he did his favorite trick—and hers. He eased a hand between their bodies and searched with his thumb for her clitoris. As soon as it made contact, she shot higher, her body tensing as her sex clenched around his.
“I love you, Katy,” he said. “Climax for me.”
“Yes,” she shouted. “Yes!”
Then her sex went wild, grasping and grasping. Her mind blanked out except for the orgasm. His climax only dimly registered as he shouted and thrust up into her a few more times. They came together in a powerful explosion of lust and love—the union greater than the sum of their humanity. Heaven, earth, and the universe all rolled into one.
When it ended, she rested her head on his shoulder and reached up to stroke his cheek. “I love you, Grant. No one else. Ever.”
They’d almost thrown all those years away because of foolish pride and even more foolish fears. But love was stronger than any of that. And their love would keep them together through this life and beyond.
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About the Author
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sp; USA Today bestselling author Alice Gaines is the author of several full-length books and dozens of shorter works. She lives in Oakland, California with her pet corn snake, Casper. While Alice isn’t writing or reading, you’ll find her pottering in her garden or cooking something in her kitchen. She’s passionate about her church and funky soul band, Tower of Power, not necessarily in that order. Alice loves to hear from readers. Email her at [email protected]. If you visit her website at www.alicegainesbooks.comand sign up for her newsletter you’ll be entered to win her hand-knitted and crocheted projects.
Also by Alice Gaines…
The Revenge Game
His for the Week
Just One Week
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