Endless Nights: Vegas Nights, Book 3

by Karen Erickson

  “I missed you.”

  She rested her hand on his stomach, noting the way the muscles tensed up at her light touch. “I missed you too,” she admitted. Damn it. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t make any sort of confession like that and there she went, not even five minutes into the visit.

  “You hungry?”

  “No.”

  “Thirsty?” He pulled away from her when the elevator came to a stop, his hand falling to her lower back as he escorted her out into the garage.

  “Um, no.” What was up with the weird questions?

  “Good. We’ll go straight to my place then.” The look he shot her was full of heat, his gaze running over her quickly, and she shivered as if he’d actually touched her. “You are a sight for sore eyes, I hope you know.”

  That saying had never made much sense to her, but that didn’t matter at the moment because he’d missed her. Looked at her as if he wanted to gobble her up, which she was a big fan of because the man had a very talented mouth. And hands.

  Hands that could catch footballs, sure, but they were also magic hands that had her trembling and falling apart rather quickly…

  “Here’s my truck.” He stopped at a gleaming brand-new blue Toyota pickup and unlocked the doors with a keyless remote, going to the passenger side to open the door for her. She hopped into the truck with his assistance, turning to look at him and say thank you, but he cut her off with his lips, kissing her so fiercely she had no choice but to lean back against the seat.

  She grabbed hold of the back of his neck, her mouth opening to his, letting his tongue slide inside. A groan escaped her and she tunneled her fingers into his soft hair, gasping when his big warm hand maneuvered beneath her shirt and settled on her stomach.

  “We keep this up, I’ll be fucking you in the parking garage—I don’t give a damn who sees us,” he said when he finally tore his lips from hers.

  Exhaling a shuddery breath, she released her hold on him. That sounded perfect, which was totally crazy. She couldn’t allow him to do any such thing to her in a public parking garage. “Take me to your place,” she murmured, making him smile.

  “Will do, baby.” He shut the door and rounded the back of the truck, opening his door so he could slip her suitcase on the bench seat behind them before he hopped into the driver’s seat. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  She smiled. “I can’t believe it either.”

  “I’m glad, though.” His deep voice washed over her, making her shiver, and she watched as he settled his big hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. “Fucking ecstatic, if you want me to be honest.”

  Andrea laughed, loving his honesty. Probably way too much. “Me too.”

  Luke really couldn’t believe Andrea was here with him in Seattle. She looked beautiful, a little apprehensive, a lot excited. Her hair was down, soft and wavy, and he wanted to touch it. Bury his hands in it. She wore dark-rinsed jeans that clung to her long, slender legs, and an oversized black T-shirt with a neckline that kept sloping off one shoulder, revealing the thin black strap of her bra.

  That drove him fucking crazy. And by the looks of it, she was wearing the bra he bought her when they were in Vegas. The very bra she wore when he fucked her with his fingers in the dressing room and made her come with his hand locked over her mouth.

  He’d replayed that moment way too many times over the last two weeks since he was with her. He’d jerked off to that memory, not that he’d ever admit it to her. But damn, she’d been hot. So responsive. Excited and worried and scared and aroused, all at once. Talk about a rush.

  Hell, having her in his truck at this very minute was a complete rush. For the next twenty-four hours, he planned on doing nothing else but spending naked time with Andrea. For the twenty-four hours after that, he needed to find a way to tell her that he wanted more than just an occasional hookup with her. Even more than a long-distance relationship, though that was what he’d settle for. Temporarily. Truthfully? He wanted more.

  He wanted it all and he wanted it with Andrea.

  “How far to your place?” she asked once he steered his truck onto the freeway.

  “Twenty, thirty minutes, give or take. Depends on traffic,” he answered. He lived in a high-rise condo in the city for now, not wanting to invest in a house for fear he might need to move again. His future with the Seahawks when he first started with them had been shaky at best. He’d believed he would be traded at one point, but that never came to be. He was thankful. He liked having one team, a group of guys he could count on. He’d made friends with many of them, had been envious of the relationships many of them had with their girlfriends and wives while he’d been alone. The single guy.

  There were plenty of single guys within the team, but he was over it. He wanted stability. Damn it, he wanted love.

  Andrea could take care of that in an instant, as long as she was on board with him.

  “It’s beautiful here,” she said, breaking into his thoughts.

  “A little gloomy at the moment,” he replied. “Sun might break through here later this afternoon. Then it’ll be gorgeous.”

  “Do you have a nice view from your apartment?”

  He flashed a grin at her, concentrating on the traffic. “It’s decent. No awesome Las Vegas view like I had back at the suite, but it’ll suffice.”

  “Well, I don’t need a view as long as I have you.” She clamped her lips shut, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  It pleased the hell out of him that she said that. “Why not?”

  “I’m supposed to be playing it cool with you.” She met his gaze briefly before she looked away. “That’s what Reagan and Natalie said I should do. Play it cool.”

  “As in, act like being here with me this weekend isn’t a big deal?”

  She didn’t say a word. Her nod was a good enough answer.

  “Well, it’s a huge fucking deal for me, Andrea. I’m glad you’re here. I can’t wait to get you alone so I can touch you again. Kiss you. Take off your clothes…” His voice drifted, and that was all he said for a long time. But that was enough. She got the gist of what he was saying. And he was done playing games. He did enough of that on the field.

  This weekend was all about honesty.

  “So you’re happy I’m here because you can get me naked?” she asked casually. Too casually. “Is that what this is all about? Sex?”

  Hell. This conversation was too serious to be having while he was driving. He wanted to be focused on her. Only her. Not the other cars on the road.

  “Because if that’s what it’s all about, I get it. I really do. What happened in Las Vegas was amazing. But it was just sex. Right?”

  Was she asking him? Or asking herself?

  “Andrea, I don’t want to talk about this now, when I’m trying to drive.” He flashed her a quick smile, saw that she was watching him with those big brown eyes, her lower lip caught in her teeth as she clutched her hands together in her lap. “Let’s get back to my place first, okay?”

  “Okay.” She nodded, and he resumed his gaze onto the road ahead of him. “But it’s just…I really like you, Luke. Probably too much. I know I’m going against my play-it-cool plan, but I can’t help it. I don’t want to lie to you or to myself.”

  Everything within him seized up. She was going to say something else. He could feel it coming.

  “I’m not the fling type. I don’t have affairs. I don’t do casual. It’s just not part of my DNA or whatever.”

  He chuckled. “Aren’t nurses supposed to know what’s part of their DNA or whatever?”

  “Hush.” She laughed too, and the sound eased something within him. She was trying to take this conversation down a serious path, but she was still able to find humor in it, and he could appreciate that. More than she’d ever know. “I guess…let’s see how t
hese next few days go. Maybe…maybe it could turn into something more.”

  Her voice squeaked on that last part and he reached across the console, resting his hand on her slender knee and giving it a squeeze. “I like the sound of that,” he admitted, offering her another reassuring smile. “I’m glad you’re here, Andrea. I have a feeling these next few days are going to be amazing.”

  She placed her hand over his, interlacing their fingers. “I do too.”

  His heart soared. Yes, his fucking heart. He was so gone over this girl it was ridiculous. Too soon, his brain warned him. You’re moving way too fast.

  But his heart? His body? Both were screaming more, more, more.

  Mine, mine, mine.

  Chapter Eight

  “Breakfast in bed?” Andrea sat up straighter, smoothing the comforter around her waist before she sank into the fluffy pillows behind her back. Thank goodness she’d slipped on one of Luke’s giant T-shirts sometime during the night. She wouldn’t want to be served food while she was naked. That would be weird. “What did I do to deserve this?”

  Luke approached the bed, clutching a tray in his hands. It was laden with good stuff—a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon and toast, accompanied by a glass of orange juice and a cup of steaming coffee. Her stomach growled and her entire body went warm as she drank in what Luke was wearing.

  Black sweats and nothing else. They hung loosely from his hips, showcasing those delicious V muscles that led to the promised land. His hair was a bit of a mess, sticking up all over the place, and his face was covered with a healthy amount of scruff. She’d never seem him look yummier.

  Making it hard for her to decide what she was hungrier for—the man or the food he brought her.

  “You’re here. Isn’t that enough?” He set the tray stand on her lap, then leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning. Sorry I slept in.” She smiled up at him, then let her gaze drop to the food in front of her. She was starved. The eggs were fluffy, the toast golden and the bacon cooked to crisp perfection. But she grabbed what she desperately needed first.

  Coffee.

  “So good,” she said after she took a big sip. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He walked around the bed and joined her on the other side, swiping a piece of bacon from her plate and shoving it into his mouth. “I make some damn good bacon,” he said after he finished swallowing.

  She gave him a gentle shove on the shoulder, which was a joke because the man was solid as a rock. “Hey. That was mine.”

  “There’s more out in the kitchen. Don’t worry.” He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  Fantastic. Perfect. Incredible. They’d never left his apartment once they arrived. She hoped today they could get some sightseeing in since she’d never been to Seattle before, but yesterday? It had been all about being with Luke and the many ways they could give each other orgasms. Her body ached in the best way possible. “A little tired.”

  His grin never wavered. “I wore you out.”

  “You seem proud of that.”

  “I am.” He cupped the side of her face and kissed her, his lips lingering. “I’d like to wear you out some more, but I’m afraid you’ll get mad that I kept you in bed the entire time you’re here.”

  “I wouldn’t necessarily be mad…” She trailed off, grabbing a piece of bacon and munching on it. The man did make damn good bacon. “But I did want to see the Space Needle.”

  “I think we can manage that.” He plucked a piece of toast from her plate and took a big bite, then held it in front of her mouth. She bit into the crunchy bread, telling herself she needed to savor this moment, soak it up and revel in it.

  Waking up to Luke bringing her breakfast, looking so handsome, so freaking sexy and being so sweet despite eating her food. She didn’t mind, as long as she had him by her side. In his bed.

  Tingles swept over her skin, and she looked away from him, taking another swig of coffee. She was still trying to play it cool, but it was so damn hard. She knew her friends had told her to do that so she would protect her heart, and she understood. Really she did. She’d let her heart get broken before a few times and she didn’t want to go through that again.

  Luke had power over her and he probably didn’t even know it. If she were smart, she’d be nonchalant the entire time she was here. Keep a part of herself locked away so she wouldn’t make the ultimate mistake and show all her cards.

  That she really liked him. A lot.

  But forget cool. She wanted to tell Luke she was halfway in love with him and see how he reacted. She had the distinct feeling he would be happy. He might even reciprocate the sentiment. And wouldn’t that be something?

  He grabbed her glass of orange juice and drained it, making her laugh. “Who did you make this breakfast for anyway?”

  “Us.” His expression turned solemn and he kissed her again. Deeper this time. With a little bit of tongue and a low groan, his fingers on her neck. “I made this breakfast for us,” he murmured against her lips when he ended the kiss.

  Oh. Dear. She could take that statement so many ways. His using the word “us”, she was probably putting too much into it. He was being casual and she was all about the serious.

  But they’d talked a teeny bit last night, in between bouts of lovemaking. He mentioned her visiting again. Said he’d like to see her place. He’d said it all so matter-of-fact, like it was no big deal. Luke spoke of the future as if there really was an “us” for them.

  Andrea liked that. A lot. Probably too much.

  He pulled away from her, his gaze locked with hers. “How about this,” he started. “We take a shower. Together.” His smile turned wicked and she rolled her eyes, but she was down with that. “And then we’ll get dressed. I’ll take you to Pike Place Market and we’ll look around. Then we’ll go to the Space Needle and you can be dutifully awed by the amazing view. After that, we’ll grab something to eat and then come back here. What do you think?”

  “I think that all sounds…amazing.” She let her smile grow. He wanted to show her around and she loved that. But she also wanted to spend more time with him. Alone. As much time as she could get. “Especially the shower part.”

  “That’s what I thought.” He climbed out of bed and started to leave the bedroom. “I’ll go clean up while you finish your breakfast and then we’ll hop in the shower,” he called over his shoulder before disappearing.

  “Okay,” she answered weakly. She took a couple of bites of the scrambled eggs, ate a piece of bacon, drank half of her coffee, then broke down and grabbed her cell phone from where it sat on the bedside table. She’d kept it on silent and wanted to check her messages, see if she had any. And of course she did, from her nosy friends.

  One from Reagan. I’m sure you’re having mind-blowing sex at this very moment and I’m incredibly jealous, but I wanted to check on you and make sure you’re okay.

  And a message from Natalie. Bitch. I know you’re naked with your man right now, so whatever. Let me know you’re alive.

  Andrea smiled and typed out a group message to her friends.

  I’m alive. And okay. He brought me breakfast in bed.

  Natalie responded first. Was breakfast in bed code for his penis in your vagina?

  Andrea burst out laughing. What had happened to her friend? She’d become much bolder since she spent the weekend with the sexy, mysterious Noah Wilde.

  No, he really brought me breakfast. An actual meal. With bacon and eggs and all the trimmings. Not just his penis. A girl needs to keep up her strength.

  Reagan responded next. Was his penis dessert then?

  Shaking her head, Andrea smiled. Her friends were perverts.

  She didn’t know what she’d do without them.

  The Space Needle was crowded
with tourists, but Luke didn’t mind. They weren’t paying him any attention—thank Christ—and all he could focus on was Andrea, so he was happy.

  Andrea gripped the thick concrete ledge, gazing at the city of Seattle spread out before them. “Wish this fence thing wasn’t here,” she mumbled. “But I get it. They don’t need any jumpers.”

  “Yeah.” He stepped up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Great view, though, right?”

  “Wonderful,” she agreed, leaning her cheek against his. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “Thank you for coming to see me.” Best freaking time he’d ever had with a woman. Hell, best time he’d ever had, period. Having her in his arms made him feel content. Complete. All those corny words he had no business telling her because Andrea was a sensible person and she’d probably freak out. She should freak out. No, he should be freaking out.

  But he wasn’t. He’d finally found what he wanted and he wasn’t about to let it go.

  “This city is beautiful,” she said, turning her head to the side so she could look at him. “Do you like living here?”

  “It’s all right. I’m from Northern California, so the weather here is a hard adjustment. All the rain can bring a person down sometimes.”

  “That’s right, you grew up in California. What part exactly?”

  “Near Sacramento. Should’ve become a 49er. Wanted to be one, because that would’ve made my dad’s life, his son playing for his favorite team, but that wasn’t in the cards.” He stood to his full height, never letting her go though. “I like playing for the Seahawks. They’re a good team, a great group of guys. I go and visit my folks whenever I can, which isn’t often, but they understand.” He was close to his family. His parents were still together and he had two younger sisters who were pains in his ass, but he loved them just the same.

  “Were you homesick?” she asked softly.

  “Kind of. But at least I’m still on the West Coast.” He didn’t want to admit he was lonely. Then he’d just sound pitiful, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. “Let’s do the full circle so you can check out the entire view.”