Bryce: Sports Romance (The Player Book 1)

by Nana Malone

  He tasted faintly of mocha, and something sweet and growled low in his throat. He deepened the kiss at the same time as he backed her into the apartment and kicked the door shut with his foot. Pressing her up against the wall, Bryce deepened the kiss, licking into her mouth.

  Tami couldn’t think. Fog clouded out rational thought. All she wanted was more of this. More of him. She might not be able to keep him, but she could have him now. She just had to steel herself against the broken heart when it came.

  Because it would.

  Fourteen

  Fucking perfect. God, she tasted so good. Bryce couldn’t think as the blood rushed in his head. Her fingers threaded into the hair at his nape and she scored her nails gently over his skin, and an involuntary shudder wracked his body. When he teased his fingers under her worn T-shirt, he hummed with pleasure. She was so damn soft. Softer than he’d imagined.

  With every stroke and dip of his tongue, she rocked against him more. She moaned against his lips as she tilted her body into his. He’d thought his cock was hard earlier, but damn, there was hard, then there was whatever the hell was happening to him. Like the weeks of sexual tension had turned his dick into pure steel. Take your time, numbnuts. Do not blow this. For her or for you.

  While he gently pressed her into the wall in her foyer, Bryce slid his hands down over that silky smooth skin, wanting her as close as possible. He slipped a hand down her back, and, pausing just above her ass, anchored her lower body to his. Tami moaned low in her throat when he slid his thigh between hers and pressed against her intimately. When she gasped, he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, relishing the feel of her sweet core on his thigh.

  Shit, he wanted more, needed more. He could kiss her all day. She was tentative at first, but with every stroke of his tongue, she softened, opening for him, baring a little bit of her heart. Jesus, what was she doing to him? His skin tingled like someone was lighting it on fire from the inside. It made him hot. Tight. Itchy. And the only cure was to keep touching this girl.

  Who the hell was he kidding? Even if she said to stop right now, he’d still beg to be near her. He’d keep his feelings to himself because he just wanted to be near her. Holy shit. If he didn’t do something, he’d lose hold of the cords of his control. He wanted her, but not just for tonight. He wanted to spend time with her, even if they were just hanging out, Netflix and chilling.

  With a growl, Bryce lifted her so her legs wrapped around his waist. The motion brought her heated core directly in contact with his cock. His legs shook as he fought the urge to shove her back up against the wall and rub his cock up and down her sweet center until she was screaming his name. Until they were both coming just from dry humping. At this point, he didn’t care, just as long as he didn't have to let her go.

  Refusing to stop kissing her, he found his way by memory to her bedroom, but when he nudged the door open, he had to break the kiss so he could see where the hell he was going. He located the bed at the far wall of the room and laid her down gently. But he didn’t follow her.

  “Bryce?”

  “You okay, baby? Do you want to do this? Just say the word.”

  She stared at him for a long moment, arousal shimmering in her eyes. “Yes, I want to do this.”

  He groaned in excited anticipation and tugged at his collar. “I think we’re both wearing far too much clothing,” he muttered as he toed off his shoes. His shirt and shorts went quickly, but he kept his boxers on. She started to tug off her T-shirt, but he shook his head. “If you don't mind, let me.”

  She giggled and his blood hummed. That sound. He would give anything to hear it all the time. “You’ve been imagining taking my clothes off yourself since you met me, huh?”

  He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a guy.”

  Her gaze slid over his body and settled on his straining erection, threatening to peek out over his boxers. “I noticed.”

  “Oh, you did? Not sure how you clocked that.” With a laugh, he tugged up her T-shirt. Her shorts went next. Even in the worn sports bra and boy shorts, she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen in his life. All sleek muscle and soft curves.

  He licked his lips as his thumb traced the stretched elastic of the sports bra. “Do you mind?” Why did his voice sound so husky and shaky?

  Tami shook her head. He had the fabric off in seconds. When she lay back, all he could do was stare. Holy hell. He’d known she was full, but—wow. Her breasts were soft and rose tipped, and he knew without a doubt he could spend hours kissing them. And hell, he wasn’t even a boob guy. Legs were his thing, but he might be changing teams now. Then, he slid her boy shorts down her mile-long legs.

  He didn’t even know what he wanted to touch first. With shaking hands, he explored every inch of soft, exposed skin. The moonlight spilled through her blinds, casting shadows on her tanned skin. Cupping her ass, he ran his fingertips over the small of her back before running his hands around her ribcage and over her breasts. Fuck yeah, he might be Team Boobs from now on.

  “B-Bryce… Oh, my God.”

  He was so focused on watching as she arched her back, offering up her breasts to him, that he barely heard her. “Mmm?”

  Shifting slightly, he kissed her again as he tested the weight of her breasts and teased the pebbled tips with his thumbs. “Is this what you needed?” he whispered against her lips.

  Tami dug her nails into his shoulders, attempting to pull him closer still. Fuck, she was hot. So hot. She moaned into his mouth as he teased her other nipple. He swallowed the mewling sounds that slid from her lips.

  Dragging his lips from hers, Bryce kissed along her jawline, then the column of her throat. She tasted so good, like she’d bathed in honey.

  When he hovered just above her right nipple and blew, and Tami bucked. When he wrapped his lips over the taut tip, they both moaned. She slid her fingers into his hair again and held him steady, arching her back to give him better access. He sucked the pebbled tip deeper into his mouth and suckled her, needing to consume every inch of her. When he drew back, she cried out.

  “No. Don't stop.”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “But I have other plans.” Trailing kisses along her stomach, he stopped at her belly button to dip his tongue inside, tasting her.

  He kissed lower still. “Open your legs for me, Tami.”

  “Bryce, what are you—?”

  “You can be patient, can’t you?” Shit, like he could. There was still a distinct chance he might come in his boxers. But fuck, he really hoped not. “A little wider. Yeah, that's it. Like that.”

  Her muscles tensed. “Bryce, I’ve never— No one’s ever—”

  What? His gaze snapped to hers and he saw the truth in them. No one had ever gone down on her before. How was that possible? He licked his lips. “Okay, no big deal. Is it because you don’t like it?”

  She flushed. “I, uh— I’ve only— uh…”

  He kissed her inner thigh and she shivered. “It’s okay. Do you trust me?”

  She nodded.

  A smile tugged at his lips. “Okay, that’s good. I’m not going to hurt you. If I do anything at all you don't like, you just tell me, okay.”

  She nodded, and relief washed through him. He kissed her inner thighs again, relishing in the strength in them. She was so wet already. He loved it. Tracing his knuckles across her downy curls, he teased apart the lips of her sex. “Is this okay?”

  Her reply was a whispered, “Y-yes.”

  “Okay, good.” Kissing her softly, just above her mound, he used his thumbs to separate the slick flesh, and she whimpered. Leaning forward, he lapped at her folds with his tongue. Her hips bucked off the bed, and he stopped immediately. “You okay?”

  “W—wow. Oh, my… Good. Yeah. I’m okay.”

  He grinned. “So you like that, then?”

  She grinned down at him. “Uh, I don’t know. You’d better try again, so we can be sure.”

  “Coming right up. In the name of science, of course.
”

  She giggled again, but stopped when he applied firm, lazy licks from her cleft to her clitoris. She didn’t say much after that. Just moaning and some shaking. He dipped his tongue into her core, working it in as far as it would go, lapping up her juices as he gently made love to her with his tongue.

  It didn't take long before her thighs began to quake. Even with his tongue, he could feel the tiny tremors. He could feel the inner walls of her sex as they contracted around his tongue. While she came, he kept up the steady rhythm. Stoking her until she came down, then crashed again.

  “Bryce, I can’t. Please—”

  He kissed his way back up her body. Pausing at her nipples again, he gently scraped one with his teeth. When she gasped and threw her head back, he wrapped his lips around her nipple. Languidly, she slid her arms around his neck.

  He wanted to see if he could get just one more orgasm from her. Just one. Then he’d stop being greedy.

  His teeth scraped her nipple again, as he eased a finger into her. Holy shit, he could still feel the aftershocks as her tight, slick channel clutched at his finger.

  “You are so unbelievably beautiful,” he muttered against her flesh. “Let me feel how much you want me.” He withdrew the one and slid in two.

  Tami whimpered, and Bryce squeezed his eyes shut. He needed to come. But he could wait for her. Just one more. That was all he wanted. Hooking his fingers inside her, he teased her G-spot. He wanted to take his time with her now, because once he had his dick inside her, there’d be no exploration, no taking his time. He was too raw. Too ready. He’d been riding the edge of need since he met her.

  He laved her nipple again, and with his thumb, he circled her clitoris again, and again. The orgasm that rocked through her was enough to make her go limp and bring him to his knees as her body trapped his fingers inside her.

  The only sound that broke the silence was the sound of Tami’s ragged breaths. Bryce reached over her to where he’d tossed his shorts and pulled out his wallet. Shit. Three condoms. Would that be enough? Now that he had Tami with him in bed, he wasn’t letting her go so easily.

  He shucked his boxers and made quick work of the condom.

  He nuzzled her throat. “How’s my girl?”

  “Limp. Boneless. But somehow I still want you.”

  He kissed her, relishing how she shuddered in his arms. “Hmm. I think we can figure out what to do, don’t you?”

  She ran her hands over his back, urging him to roll on top of her. A mischievous glint lit her green eyes, and he cursed. “I figured you might have what I need.”

  “You figured right.”

  His dick nudged at her entrance and he gritted his teeth, desperate to make this last. To make this good. To bond her to him so she could feel what he felt.

  As he sank into her, inch by inch, her big eyes widened, and she moaned low. He retreated until only the tip of his cock was still inside her, then he sank in again. That’s it, nice and steady. You can do this. Not too fast. You’ll be—fine. Holy fuck. Her inner walls milked him, and his eyes crossed as the tingling fire burst forth from the base of his spine.

  He was going to come. And from the fire racing over his skin, he was going to be out, but not before making her break apart again. He dipped his head and arched her back so he could lave at her nipple, and her breath caught. But when he slid his hand between them and stroked his thumb over her clit, she started to shake. Jackpot.

  Again and again, he stroked her clit, adjusting their position so that he was on his knees, and her heels were on the bed with her legs splayed wide. Holding her legs wide as his thumb circled her clit and his cock sank deep.

  When the harsh cry tore out of her throat, her body convulsed around his cock like a vise, and Bryce lost any thread of control he might have once had.

  Fifteen

  Bryce toyed with her hair and Tami rolled into his embrace. His erection pulsed against her belly and she stared. “Seriously? Again?” They’d made love three times. At this rate, she was going to be sore. She was already tender. Her body didn't seem to care, though. She was wet already. Ready with heat pulsing over her clit again.

  Bryce kissed her nose. “Don’t worry about him. That’s sort of a constant state when you’re around.”

  Tami threw a leg over his hips and his cock lined up with her slick center. Oh, God yes. The tip of his erection slid over her clit and they both shuddered.

  He groaned into her neck. “You’re killing me. But we’re out of condoms.”

  How the hell had that happened? And then it dawned on her that they’d used three, which was all he’d brought. Her ragged breath skipped out of her mouth. “I guess we need to get more.” The tip of his cock slid over her clit again, and Tami moaned deep. She was on the pill. They could just… Another slide. She arched her back, so close to giving in, and then she remembered why it was a rule. She slid a hand between them and shoved at his chest. “Bryce, stop. We need a condom.”

  He pulled back, his sleepy, half-lidded gaze going into sharp focus. “What? What did I do wrong?” His lips stopped moving as his brows snapped down.

  “Nothing. We just need a condom. We have to. You said so, yourself.”

  He blinked and stared for a moment. “Tami, I’m not going to make love to you now. I know we’re out of condoms. I’m careful, always have been. I don’t take risks like that.”

  “Must help keep the gold diggers at bay.” She muttered as she tried to roll away. But he didn’t let her go.

  “No, you’re not running. Not again. Why would you say that about gold diggers? It’s just not safe. Even if you are on the pill, I want to protect you. Both of us. I’m not some asshole who’s not paying attention. There is plenty we can do without making love.” He frowned. “Talk to me, Tami. This won’t work if you don’t talk to me.”

  Could she tell him? She didn’t want to see the judgment and condemnation in his eyes. “I—let me go, Bryce.”

  “Not until you talk to me. What’s going on?”

  Tami met his gaze and licked her lips. “I’ve been here before. I followed my idiotic heart and I got hurt.”

  “No dice.” He tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Tell me. I won’t hurt you.”

  And then, because she wanted to believe him, she started to talk, dredging up the past. “There was this guy.” His arms stiffened around her, but he didn’t speak, didn’t let her go. “I met him just after Dad died. I had started bartending at night to make extra cash, and Michael came in with friends. He had money and looks and was nice to me. It was great not to think about anything for a while. He told me he loved me in a matter of weeks. And I’d only had one boyfriend before him, so I didn’t really know better. He was great. Until I finally slept with him. I’d been holding off, because part of me didn’t believe it. We were careful, but I still got pregnant. When I told him, he was so cruel. Called me a slutty little gold digger, and told me I was on my own.” She continued before she could stop herself. “A few weeks later, I miscarried. I knew I’d made a mistake with him. When he left, I realized that everyone I ever cared about had left me. You, this, it can’t be real.” Hell. Tears incoming. She ducked her head.

  But he didn’t let her hide, instead, tucked his finger under her chin and insisting she look at him. “Tami, I’m not that guy. I’m not him. Matter of fact, one day soon, we’re going to talk about me tracking him down and beating his ass for the way he treated you.” She tried to protest, but he continued as if he didn’t hear her. “It’s happening. Find your peace with it. And also, I’m not going anywhere. Being with you, I feel calmer, centered. Like you ground me. I’m not leaving until you kick me out of your heart, and maybe not even then.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “You realize that’s called stalking, right?”

  He nuzzled her nose with his. “Tomato, tomahto. Semantics. My point is, I’m in. I certainly don’t think you’re trying to trap me. And you know what? It wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
>
  She stared at him. “Where did you come from?”

  He grinned. “Right here in San Diego. I know, native San Diegans are a rarity.”

  He held her tight, simply playing with her hair, and eventually, she relaxed. She wanted to be here. She just hoped she could guard her heart.

  Sixteen

  “Why did you bring me here again?” Tami asked as Bryce led her past the security guards at the tennis club.

  He laughed, using his hold on her hand to tug her along as they passed through the pro shop—he knew she wouldn’t be able to keep from looking for Stella, and he wanted to distract her as much as possible. “I told you, you’re the only one I trust to help me with this.”

  “But—” Tami began to protest.

  “I can’t ask any of my coaches to watch and help me, because they’ll be looking for me to try things I probably shouldn’t. Same thing with my family—they’ll be worrying aloud so much it’ll drive me insane.” They were at the members’ locker rooms where Bryce had to drop her hand in order to punch in the key code.

  “What makes you think that I won’t do all those things?” Tami challenged. She had her battered gym bag with the outfit Echo had donated to her. Bryce had offered to buy her something else, but she still wasn’t comfortable with him impulse buying things for her, even though they’d officially been together for almost three weeks.

  “I know you’ll do those things,” he agreed with a chuckle. “But when you do them I don’t mind as much. Probably because I enjoy the ways you make it up to me more.” He wagged his eyebrows at her and grinned when she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You can put your things in here when you’re done changing,” he told her, indicating an empty locker. “There are stalls back there—showers to the right for when we’re done—unless you think you can wait till we get back to your place and I can join you,” he teased, watching as she looked around to be sure they were alone before giving him a swat on the arm. “I don’t think they’d appreciate it if we tried anything like that here—though we certainly wouldn’t be the first, I’m sure,” he added.