Love Is In the Air Volume 1

by Susan Stoker

  If I thought the reaction the attendant experienced was over the top, it had nothing on when I step inside the private suite. Well slap my ass and call me Sally. Or better yet, maybe I should slap E for not warning me. Not sure what I should have expected from his “I’ll take care of it”, but this feels-like-an-ambush was most definitely not it.

  My eyes are bouncing from the chafing dishes and buffet of food to the framed pictures on the wall and the people filling the room when a body practically tackles me where I stand. A high ponytail whips me in the face, and a huge blue bow fills most of my field of vision when I look down to see Kay, E’s younger sister, hugging me.

  “Eep! I’m so excited you’re watching the game with us.” Kay bounces on the balls of her feet, clapping her hands. She might be the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. How the hell E is over six and a half feet tall when she doesn’t even come close to five, I have no idea.

  “Kay, sweetheart, why don’t you let Bette actually enter the room before you accost her,” the man I recognize as Mr. Dennings advises with a fatherly smile.

  “Don’t even think about it, Tessa Marie,” Pops Taylor, as I’ve been instructed to call him, adds before tacking on a “You too, Savvy” so that the two ten-year-olds remain seated by the large glass wall overlooking the football field below.

  Sure…them all being here is a shock—again, thanks a lot for the heads-up, Eric—and yes, this may be the first time I’m meeting them all in person, but with the number of video chats I’ve been present for, I feel like I’ve been hanging with these six people forever.

  Undeterred by her father’s scold, Kay wraps both hands around my wrist, guides me over to the open seats by her best friend JT, the oldest of the Taylor siblings, and sandwiches me between herself and Tessa, the youngest Taylor. Savvy, Tessa’s bestie, rounds out our row as the dads settle onto the leather couch behind us.

  When I woke up this morning, I thought following today’s football game would be a challenge. Who knew the pregame Q&A would eliminate any chance of that.

  I’ve told E he might be the most charming person I’ve ever met. Yeah…well…that was before I spent the day with his sister. Kayla Dennings has an effervescent personality that draws you in while at the same time making you want to put her in your pocket and take care of her.

  Thankfully, in the midst of the 1001 questions she asked me ranging from my favorite late-night snack (Oreos and peanut butter) to my ten-year plan (to open my own salon), she did teach me the basics of football. By the end of the game (Penn State squeaking out a win thanks to a touchdown from E), I actually understood things like what a first down is and at least seven other terms.

  Guess there’s hope for me yet.

  8

  Eric

  It’s well after three in the morning by the time Bette and I make it back to the house I share with a few of my teammates, and I’ve never been more thankful that, for once, the victory party was held somewhere else.

  Kay did her best—and by best I mean laid a guilt trip on me a person of her size shouldn’t be capable of—to convince me to stay at the house they rented. Not gonna lie, I was close to caving, wanting to soak up as much time with my family as possible. But with the constant sight of Bette in my jersey, long hair flowing around her shoulders, beaming smile on her face, my number stamped across her front, the urge to be alone with her grew until I could no longer ignore it.

  “You know…” Bette trails a path of kisses down the side of my neck, her slim fingers slipping under the hem of my sweatshirt. “I should be pissed at you.”

  “Oh yeah?” I crane my neck to the side to allow her better access, kicking the bedroom door closed with my foot at the same time. “What for?”

  She scoffs but doesn’t stop kissing me, her hands continuing their ascent up the plane of my body. Being the gentleman I am, I reach behind my head and remove my shirts, living for the way her eyes darken and grow hazy when they latch onto my bare torso.

  “Don’t try to distract me with your nakedness, Eric.” She goes as far as to waggle a finger at me, but the curl to her lips takes the edge off her ire.

  “Ooo, I think I like it when you call me Eric.” I use my body to back her toward my bed, the edge of the mattress hitting behind her knees and causing her to fall backward.

  “Don’t try to be cute.”

  I smirk, resting a knee between her spread legs to lean over her. “Can’t help it.” I shrug. “It just comes naturally.”

  She rolls her eyes, lips pursing in displeasure only to fall open on a sigh when I slip my hands under the jersey she has on and skim them up her sides, fingers spread along her ribs, tracing patterns on her soft skin. Her eyes fall closed, long lashes fanning across her high cheekbones, mouth opening slightly as her chin tips up, neck arching when I toy with the band of her lacy bra.

  I shift back onto my haunches, leaning down to drop an open-mouthed kiss to the skin beneath her navel. Bette trembles, the slight vibration to her body only spurring me on.

  Her sweet apple scent isn’t overpowering, but it is heady, wrapping around me and sucking me further into her orbit.

  Up and up both my hands and my mouth travel until I come to the center of her breastbone. I place a single kiss there then trap the material of the jersey in the hooks of my thumbs to hold on while I rise up to hover over her like I’m doing a pushup.

  “You are so fucking beautiful I can’t stand it.” Eyes dark as the midnight sky outside blink dazedly at me as I lean down to press a kiss directly over her heart. “My beautiful Bette.”

  “Eric,” she moans, hands threading into my hair, holding me close.

  From there, everything seems to happen both in slow motion and fast-forward.

  I finish removing my jersey from her delectable body, placing kisses along the edge of the bra before that gets tossed on the floor as well.

  I suck on anything I can: her lips, that spot behind her ear, the pulse at the side of her neck, and both nipples until they’re pink and standing at attention.

  I worship her, no longer able to hold back. I tried…fuck have I tried to take things slow, not wanting her to think I was just another jock looking to score only to move on the next day. Bette is so much more than a quick fuck, and I will do everything in my power to make sure not only does she know it, but also that that thought never gets the chance to take root.

  She helps me shimmy her skinny jeans down her legs, and when my thumbs slide under the thin string of her matching panties, she sighs out a breathy “Finally.”

  There’s a smile on my lips as I press them to the lips of her pussy, my tongue darting out to lick her from entrance to clit.

  Wrapping an arm over her hip, I press a palm to her lower back, fingers spreading to span most of her torso, easily shifting her to lie properly on the bed, and I settle in to eat, driving her to incoherent pleasure—twice.

  My dick feels about ready to burst through my zipper when I finally move back to a kneeling position. Bette’s hair is a tangled mess on my pillow, that pretty pink blush covering most of her body, and the sheets are wrinkled under her crushing grip on them.

  I lick my lips, taking one last taste of her before wiping the excess off with the back of my hand.

  Fuck I’m gone for this woman.

  “E…” She reaches out a hand for me, and I take it. Of course I do.

  “Bette.” I place a soft kiss on her palm before linking my fingers with hers.

  She tugs, and I roll to lie down beside her. “Please don’t stop. I need to know what it feels like to have you inside me.”

  “Fuuuuck, babe.”

  She giggles, throwing a leg across my body, hooking it over my hip, and tugging me closer. “Please, Eric.”

  Who the hell am I to deny her? “Are you sure? There’s no rush here, promise.”

  She cups my face in both her hands, ghosting a kiss to my mouth before pulling back to rest her forehead to mine. “I was sure more than a month ago. Please d
on’t make me wait any longer.”

  My balls may actually remove themselves from my person in protest, but I need to give her one last out. “There’s no going back if this happens.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to talk me out of this?” She flexes the muscles of her leg and grinds her pelvis into mine. “I’ve spent my fair share of time humping you. I know you don’t have a pocket rocket.”

  “Listen, smartass…” It’s my turn to thrust my hips at her, only helping to emphasize her point. “I’m just saying…this?” Thrust. “And you’re mine.”

  She loops her arms around my neck in an almost chokehold, lips brushing mine as she whispers, “Promise?”

  I bring my hands to her ass, grabbing hold of each firm globe, rolling her beneath me one more time. Stretching an arm out, I fumble around with my nightstand until I find the box of condoms I keep there and fish out a foil packet.

  Together, Bette and I make quick work of both my belt and zipper, freeing my erection, which I swear to Christ expels a sigh of relief at no longer being confined.

  When she reaches out to help me sheath myself, I wrap a hand around both her wrists and lift her arms until they’re restrained above her head. Again I thread my fingers with hers.

  She wraps her legs around me as soon as I’m done suiting up, and I drive myself inside her in one powerful thrust.

  Twin groans echo in the room, and I start to pump my hips in earnest.

  In.

  Out.

  Over and over I sink inside, her inner walls doing their best not to let me go when I pull back.

  There are kisses and murmurs and holy fuck the emotion that swells inside my chest is everything I’ve been searching for and never knew I needed.

  Bette comes on a cry, me following her over the edge a moment later, the force of my own orgasm making my legs weak and causing spots to dance in my vision.

  With the last bit of conscious brainpower, I drop to the side, bringing Bette with me and tucking her close to cuddle against me. I need to get up to take care of the condom but can’t bring myself to do it just yet.

  Warm breath blows across my chest, a shiver chasing down my spine at the chill of it catching on the sweat speckling my skin. Hair tickles my nose and I smooth the tangles back, cupping her cheek and angling her face up for a kiss.

  “I love you.”

  My heart pounds wildly behind my ribcage. Is it too soon? Will she think I only said it because we had sex? The seconds stretch into what feels like days with the weight of me never having said those three words to anyone outside my family before.

  “I love you too, Eric.”

  I let her declaration wash over me, and as I hold her tighter, I think, I’m going to marry this woman one day.

  Did you love E and Bette?

  Find out how married life is treating them in Kay’s story told in Looking To Score, Game Changer, and Playing For Keeps all free to read in KU.

  Also by Alley Ciz

  #UofJ Series

  Cut Above The Rest (#UofJ Prequel)

  Looking To Score (#UofJ1)

  Game Changer (#UofJ2)

  Playing For Keeps (#UofJ3)

  Off The Bench (#UofJ4) Preorder: Releasing 12/2021

  The Royalty Crew

  Savage Queen Preorder: Releasing 4/2021

  Ruthless Noble Preorder: Releasing 6/2021

  BTU Alumni Series

  Power Play (BTU1)

  Musical Mayhem (BTU1.5) Preorder: Releasing 3/2021

  Tap Out (BTU2)

  Sweet Victory (BTU3)

  Puck Performance (BTU4)

  Writing Dirty (BTU5)

  Scoring Beauty (BTU6) Preorder: Releasing 9/2021

  About the Author

  Alley Ciz is an internationally bestselling indie author of sassy heroines and the alpha men that fall on their knees for them. She is a romance junkie whose love for books turned into her telling the stories of the crazies who live in her head…even if they don’t know how to stay in their lane.

  * * *

  This Potterhead can typically be found in the wild wearing a funny T-shirt, connected to an IV drip of coffee, stuffing her face with pizza and tacos, chasing behind her 3 minis, all while her 95lb yellow lab—the best behaved child—watches on in amusement.

  * * *

  You can stalk her:

  www.alleyciz.com

  IG: @alley.ciz

  TikTok: @alleyciz

  FB: Alley Ciz Author

  Her Risk To Take

  A R.I.S.C. Valentine’s Day Novella

  Anna Blakely

  About the Book

  Danger found them once before. Now it’s back, and this time…the stakes are even higher.

  It’s Valentine’s Day, and restaurant owner Lexi Matthews is finally going to reveal the secret that will fill her husband’s heart with joy…and change their lives forever. She’s planned the perfect evening, right down to the last detail. But when a group of robbers storm into her place of business, Lexi finds herself trapped in a deadly nightmare.

  Two years ago, R.I.S.C. operative Trevor Matthews saved Lexi from a sadistic killer who nearly stole her away from him. Then he married her, vowing to always protect her from that point forward…no matter what.

  So when he discovers Lexi, her staff, and a restaurant full of customers are being held hostage, Trevor will stop at nothing to get to her. Because Lexi isn’t just his wife. She’s the other half of his soul. And if he loses her, it’ll be a loss from which he’ll never recover.

  1

  “Hey, angel.”

  Lexi Matthews swung her gaze from the mirror to find her husband standing in the bathroom doorway. With one of his broad shoulders resting against the doorjamb, Trevor stared back at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world.

  When she was with him, she felt as if she was.

  “You’re home!” She dropped the lip gloss down onto the vanity and rushed to him.

  Encircling her waist with his strong hands, he smiled wide and lifted her effortlessly. Lexi instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips and locked her hands together behind his neck.

  Trevor pressed his lips to hers, and after a thorough kiss full of promises and need, he pulled back just enough to say, “God, I missed you.”

  “Missed you more.” She stole another kiss. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it tonight.”

  “You kidding?” He set her down gently. “No way was I missing Valentine’s Day with my beautiful wife.”

  A familiar heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. Though they’d been married nearly two years, Lexi still blushed when he said sweet things like that.

  “How did training go?”

  “New guys are solid.” He referred to R.I.S.C.’s new Charlie team.

  R.I.S.C.—which stood for Rescue, Intel, Security, and Capture—was the private black ops company Trevor worked for. It was owned by Jake McQueen, Trevor’s former Delta Force brother and best friend, and together, the two men ran the company and led R.I.S.C.’s Alpha Team.

  “That’s good.” She placed a hand on his t-shirt-covered chest. His heart beat strong and steady beneath her palm, the best kind of reminder that he’d once again made it back home, safe and sound. “I bet Jake’s excited.”

  “Guy’s like a kid at Christmas.” The corners of Trevor’s eyes crinkled when he smiled. “Not that he’d ever admit it.”

  “What about you? How do you feel about the new change?”

  “I think the choice to expand to other areas of the country was a good one. The need is definitely there, though it does seem a little strange knowing we’ll have three teams instead of just the two. And that the new team will be stationed on the East coast, rather than in Texas like Alpha and Bravo.”

  “I’m sure it’ll take some getting used to, but needing another team means business is good.” Lexi glanced at her watch. “Speaking of business, I need to finish getting ready.” She went back to the discarded lip gl
oss. “I still need to stop for gas and make a quick run to the store for a couple of things before I head in.”

  “You sure you have to go?” Trevor came up behind her. He placed his hands on her hips before slowly running them up her sides, along her ribs. His thumbs caressed the underside of her breasts while his lips found that place just behind her ear. The one he knew drove her wild. “I’m sure the others can manage a night without you.”

  The heat radiating from his strong, masculine body was like a magical switch. He touched her, and her insides quivered with need.

  It had been that way from the moment they met.

  “It’s only for a couple of hours.” Lexi tilted her head to the side to give him better access. “To help the staff”—she moaned with approval—“survive the initial rush.” As much as she hated to, Lexi brought her thoughts back into focus. Rolling her lips inward, she spread the translucent gloss before turning to face him. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Fine.” Her sweet husband pretended to pout. “Text me when you’re on your way?”

  “Scout’s honor.” She held up two fingers.

  Trevor’s mouth curved upward and one of his dark brows arched high. “That’s the Boy Scout sign, Lex.”

  “Oh.” She chuckled before lowering her hand. “Well, you get the idea.”

  “Yeah, angel.” He pulled her body flush with his. “I do.”

  Staring down at her, his brown eyes soaked her up with his heated gaze. With a slight shake of his head, he used a finger to brush a sprig of hair from her eye.

  “You’re absolutely stunning.”

  God, she loved this man. “You’re not so bad, yourself.”