“So you’re a Marlins fan?” She turned to Chuck as Matt and J.T. headed for the exit. The lookie-loos dispersed, leaving her alone with the man who could get J.T. in a lot of trouble if she didn’t handle him properly.
“Since their first season in ’93.” He frowned, which made his two bushy eyebrows come together in such a way that he appeared to have a caterpillar across his forehead. “That idiot was talking trash about my team. I couldn’t let that go.”
“I understand,” she said with a sympathetic nod. “I’m sorry this happened and I totally get why you feel the need to press charges.” She put her hand on his arm and squeezed lightly. “But I’m sure we can settle this without any police involvement.”
Chuck’s caterpillar brow lifted. “Are you trying to bribe me?”
“That depends.” She smiled. Chuck’s expression was one of interest, not outrage. This was going to be easier than she thought. “Can you be bribed?”
Chuck tilted his head and regarded her with a calculated expression before replying, “Maybe.”
“Then let’s get a beer and have a little chat.” Kelly slipped her arm through his and led him toward the bar. “I think you’ll be very happy with what I have to offer.”
* * *
After kissing Chuck’s ass for almost an hour, Kelly let herself into her room and made a beeline for the bathroom where she stripped off her clothes, pinned her hair up and took a hot shower. Once she’d washed the stench of Trouble off of her body, she dried herself and slathered scented lotion over her skin. Grabbing her robe off of the hook on the door, she slipped it on, gathered her clothes and returned to her room.
The Blaze were leaving for Washington, D.C., tomorrow morning so she shoved her clothes into a plastic bag with the others she’d worn this week and set it next to her suitcase on the floor. The hotel they’d been booked into had a laundry service and she planned to use it. She wasn’t one to pack a lot of clothes and counted on either a laundry service or coin-op washing machines to get her through long road trips.
A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand caused her to wince. It was nearly two, and not only was she wired, the beat of Latin music still throbbed in her head. How many times could they play the extended version of “Conga” in an hour? Three times, that’s how many. Evidently Gloria Estefan was big in Miami.
Damn Matt and J.T. They were the reason she’d be one of the walking dead tomorrow. Their charter flight was leaving at nine-thirty, which meant she’d have to be up no later than seven. That meant virtually no sleep since she wasn’t going to be nodding off into dreamland anytime soon.
The sharp knock on her door didn’t surprise her. It had to be J.T. come to find out about his fate. She squared her shoulders, moved to the door and pulled it open.
“You’re damn lucky...” she began her rant and then went silent. It wasn’t J.T. at her door, it was Matt. “What do you want?” Kelly demanded, taken aback by his unexpected presence. And it didn’t help that despite his well-worn jeans and faded UCLA T-shirt, he looked just as sexy as he had in the sport coat and dress pants he’d worn to and from the ballpark.
“To find out what happened after J.T. and I left the bar.” His gaze slid downward, reminding her she was wearing just her robe. It was short, and the coral-colored fabric brushed against her skin like satin. Feeling practically naked, she reached for the belt and tightened the knot.
“You could have asked me tomorrow.”
“I want to know now.” Matt lifted his gaze. His eyes were unreadable, but by the stubborn set of his jaw it was clear she wasn’t going to get rid of him easily. “Can I come in for a few minutes? I don’t want to talk about this in the hall.”
Even as her common sense screamed don’t let him in she motioned for him to enter. “Fine. It shouldn’t take long.”
As he brushed past her she caught a whiff of his scent and steeled herself against the memories it evoked. It didn’t work. She was transported back to their last kiss; she could almost feel his mouth on hers, devouring her. Her body reacted just as it had that night—her nipples pebbled against her silky robe and frissons of heat raced up her spine. Flustered by her response, she closed the door and took a deep breath before she turned to face him.
“Is J.T. in trouble?” he asked. He stood at the foot of her rumpled bed. The sight conjured up erotic images she couldn’t shake and deep in the center of her being was a sweet ache that didn’t want to be denied. Jesus. What was wrong with her? She’d been avoiding Matt since they’d left San Francisco and within the space of two minutes she was turned on. It had to stop. She had to make it stop before she did something really stupid. Like have sex with a man who’d left a long trail of women in his wake.
“No.” Kelly averted her eyes from the bed and cleared her throat. “I saved his sorry ass and yours too. Chucky isn’t going to press charges and I’m not going to report you for being out past curfew.”
“How’d you get him to back off?”
“I called a friend from college who works for the Marlins. He wasn’t too pleased about being woken up at one in the morning but he owes me so I cashed in the favor. Chuck will be getting field-level Marlins seats for the rest of the season.”
“Sweet. You saved the day,” Matt said with a hint of admiration in his voice.
“I wouldn’t have had to ‘save the day,’ as you put it, if you and J.T. had been in your rooms where you were supposed to be.” Irritated, she put her hands on her hips and glowered at him. She wouldn’t let his approval sway her. “So much for changing your ways.”
His expression darkened. “For your information, I was in my room at curfew until J.T. called. He was well on his way to getting hammered, so I went downstairs to get him.”
“Yet you ordered a beer. That doesn’t sound like you planned on leaving anytime soon.”
“So sue me.” Matt dragged a hand through his hair. “I was thirsty.”
“Oh, I’m sure you wanted to sample more than just a beer.”
“What the hell does that mean? Do you think I went down there to pick up a woman?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Matt took two steps, halted in front of her and pinned her with a stare so intense she had to force herself not to take a step back. He looked like a pirate—dark, dangerous and forceful. “Do you know what I think?”
She rolled her eyes. “Do I look like a mind reader?”
“I think you want to think the worst of me. Because as long as you let yourself believe I’m the same guy I was a year ago you don’t have to deal with what you’re feeling.”
“What am I feeling?” She met his gaze head-on despite the thundering of her heart and the slight quivering of her knees. “Come on, Mr. Know-It-All. Tell me what I feel.”
“You want me.” The hunger in his eyes stole her breath. “Just as much as I want you.”
“Could your ego be any bigger?”
“Could you be in any more denial?” he shot back.
“Denial?” She almost snorted. “You—you’re the one in denial. You can’t seem to get it through that thick skull of yours that I’m not interested.”
“Wanna bet?” he said, just before his hand snaked around her waist to pull her roughly to him. Her outraged protest was smothered when he took possession of her mouth, his kiss so voracious her mind went completely blank and her insides melted like butter on a hot griddle. His fingers burned through the fabric of her robe and his lips tasted like everything she’d been dreaming about since the first time he’d kissed her.
When he pulled his mouth from hers she was breathless. Their eyes locked and the air around them crackled with sexual energy.
“Do you want me to leave?” Matt asked in a low voice, not loosening his hold on her.
Her heart pounded in double time as she considered his question. She should tell him to go. To get the hell out and never touch her again. But the words wouldn’t come. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right; she c
ouldn’t deny it any longer. Her body ached from wanting him. She was going to have him right here—right now—even if she regretted it tomorrow.
“No,” she whispered and slid her hands up his biceps to his shoulders to plunge her hands into his hair. She pulled him to her and kissed him; there was no mistaking the hungry, sensual growl low in his throat as she opened her mouth, eager for the feel of his tongue stroking hers.
Now that her decision was made, Kelly’s pulse spiked when he reached between them and fumbled with the knot of her belt. Reluctantly, she tore her lips from his, lowered her arms and took a step back. Matt scrubbed his jaw, puzzlement evident in his dark eyes.
“You first.”
A slow sinful smile transformed his face. “Not a problem.”
Obviously it wasn’t. In less than a minute he’d divested himself of his clothes and stood before her as naked as the day he was born. And, holy shit, he had the most perfect body she’d ever seen in her life.
“Satisfied?”
Not yet. Kelly couldn’t help but let her gaze steal down his wide shoulders to his sculpted chest where, hidden beneath dark hair, she saw small brown nipples. Glancing lower, her gaze rested on his rippling abs and then she followed the trail of dark hair that started at his navel and ended at his groin. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw proof that she wasn’t the only one turned on. Anticipation surged through her veins and turned her knees to gelatin.
“Wait,” Matt ordered as she began to loosen the knot on her belt with trembling fingers. She paused as he bent over, grabbed his jeans off the floor and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. He dropped the jeans, opened his wallet and, with a roguish grin, pulled out a condom.
She couldn’t suppress her smile as he held up the foil packet and let the wallet fall to the floor. “You carry a condom around with you?”
“Better to have one than none.” He tossed the packet on the bed behind her and met her gaze with an amused glint in his eyes. “You’re overdressed,” he said and moved to stand in front of her. He covered her hand with his. “I’d like to do the honors, if you don’t mind.” He nudged her hand away and began to untie the knot.
When the belt was undone, Matt slipped his thumbs under the lapels of her robe and slid it off of her shoulders. It fell to the floor and pooled around her ankles. His gaze raked boldly over her. Kelly’s heart pounded. Before her stood a man with the perfect body, and hers, well, hers wasn’t. Just as those old fears began to take hold Matt looked up; the sexual heat in his eyes chased them away.
Without saying a word, he reached behind her and removed the pins from her hair. As it cascaded to her shoulders, he pulled her against the hard wall of his chest and covered her mouth with a blistering kiss that was hotter than any one of the four that had come before it—not that she was counting, or anything.
Like before, everything faded away and the only things that registered were his warm moist mouth, and the exquisite feel of his bare skin against hers. Every part of her body seemed fused to his. Her breasts crushed against his chest, his erection nudged between her legs, and his thighs felt like granite against hers. Slipping her arms around his muscled back, she didn’t resist as he urged her toward the bed and broke their kiss to gently ease her to the mattress.
A mixture of anticipation and desire throbbed through her veins as he settled beside her. “I’ll bet you never thought we’d end up here.” His mouth quirked with amusement as he gazed down at her.
“Never.” She reached up to brush a lock of hair from his forehead and then lightly caressed his temple. “It’s funny how quickly things can change.”
“Yeah. It is.” His gaze roamed over her face, then he lowered his head to reclaim her mouth. His kiss was scorching; every nerve ending in her body started to sizzle. She sifted her fingers through his hair as he expertly seduced her with his firm lips and hot tongue.
Dear Lord, the man could kiss, and more than that, he didn’t seem to be one of those guys who kissed a woman once and then proceeded directly to the main event. No, Matt was thorough, and in a matter of minutes his kisses alone had reduced her into a mindless puddle of desire.
As he trailed his lips to her jaw, he moved his hand to her breast. Her breath hitched as he lightly brushed his thumb over her taut nipple and then leaned down to draw it into his mouth. The sensation was incredible, the throbbing ache between her legs intensified. Again, he was patient, content to tease her by tonguing and sucking her nipples as if he had all the time in the world. By the time he slid his hand to her abdomen, her body was practically screaming for him to touch her where she was wet and oh-so-ready for him.
He was ready for her too. Kelly could feel his cock pressing insistently into her hip. The thought of him hot and hard inside of her was almost too much. She loved everything he was doing, but if she didn’t have him soon she was pretty sure she’d lose her damn mind. She was a woman with needs—damn it—and right now she needed him to make her come.
“Matt,” she managed to whisper. He lifted his head; a wicked gleam sparkled in his eyes. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“Good.” He slid his hand even lower. Her body pulsed with anticipation. “That was my intention.”
“Then you’ve achieved your objective.” She slid her palm down his shoulder to smooth her fingers over the light coating of dark hair on his forearm. “And I’m really close to achieving mine so...”
“Cut to the chase, right?” The corners of his sensual mouth tilted in a sexy half smile. “No problem,” he said and in one quick movement slipped his finger into her wet heat. She gasped in surprise and couldn’t contain a soft moan as he stroked her expertly, brushing her clit with each movement of his finger. She met his hot gaze, unable to look away.
Over and over, he teased her. Bringing her to the brink with his languid and swirling strokes and then backing off, leaving her breathless and almost begging him to make her come.
Grasping at the bed, she fisted the sheet with her fingers, closed her eyes and lifted her hips, seeking relief. He still didn’t give it to her. Her body was on fire and it wasn’t until a low moan slipped past her lips, a helpless sound of want, that he zeroed in on her clit and set her off. Her orgasm was so intense she couldn’t contain another moan—this one much louder as wave after wave of pleasure rocked her body and left her breathless. He stayed with her, gently stroking her as she calmed from his sensual onslaught.
Her body was still radiating with pleasurable aftershocks when she felt Matt move. She opened her eyes and found him kneeling beside her and reaching for the foil packet he’d tossed on the bed earlier. She watched, enjoying the play of his muscles as he made quick work of slipping the condom over his rock-hard erection.
He turned and their eyes locked. No words were spoken; none were needed. The pure unadulterated hunger in his eyes said it all. This moment was inevitable and had been since the first time his lips had touched hers.
When he lowered himself over her and entered her with one smooth thrust, a ragged murmur of satisfaction slipped from his throat. Sliding her hands to his shoulders, she arched up to meet his next thrust and then dug her nails into his skin as he fucked her with excruciatingly slow strokes that stimulated her already sensitive clit. Could she possibly come again? For her, it wasn’t always a sure thing when it came to intercourse.
“You feel so good.” He lowered his head to plant a searing kiss on her lips. “Wrap your legs around me, baby,” he whispered against her mouth.
Kelly did as he asked and let out a soft gasp as he drove into her even more deeply. She clung to him as each stroke became a little bit harder, went a little bit deeper, and brought her a little bit closer to another orgasm. Stunned by the unlikely occurrence, she found herself grinding her hips against his at each thrust. Within seconds she was over the edge again, the pleasure just as explosive as the first time. As it crashed over her body, she couldn’t stop the passionate moan that slipped past her lips. It was probably loud enough
to wake the dead, but she didn’t care. Not when it felt this good.
“Jesus,” he whispered huskily and began to move faster. A few strokes later, he drove into her one final time and let out a masculine groan of pleasure as he collapsed on top of her.
With her legs still wrapped around his hips, Kelly trailed her fingers down his back. His skin was moist with perspiration, as was hers. The room was quiet except for the sound of their slightly labored breathing. She savored the moment, unsure of what was next. Was this a one-night stand, or something more? God help her, she wanted it to be something more.
Matt lifted his head and grinned. “I’m crushing you.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him, and relaxed her legs to cradle him between her thighs.
“You won’t be in a minute.” He pushed himself up and eased off of her. “Besides, I need to use the bathroom.”
After he’d shut the bathroom door behind him, Kelly was at a loss as to what was going to happen next. Would Matt leave or would he stay? Should she get up and put her robe on or stay put? She was still mulling her options when he left the bathroom sans condom and crawled into bed beside her.
He was staying. Her heart did a happy dance and then resumed its normal beating.
“It’s after three,” he said as he stretched out beside her and rolled to his side. “I guess we’ll have to get some sleep on the plane tomorrow.”
“I can’t sleep on planes. Or any type of public transportation. The thought of people watching me sleep freaks me out.”
“Then I promise not to stare at you when you fall asleep.” His brow furrowed. “That is if you want me to stay. I want to, but we are on a road trip and there’s a chance someone might see me leave your room.”
“I’ll take that chance.”
Matt touched the faded scar on her abdomen. “What’s this from?”
“Appendectomy.” Goose bumps rose on her skin as he traced the scar with his finger. “When I was sixteen. It hurt like hell.”
The Winning Season Page 18
