Shifting Gears: The Complete Series (Sports Bad Boy Romance)

by Alycia Taylor

  I just rested my hand on his lightly and enjoyed the feeling of him stroking my outer lips lightly. The tips of his fingers were still inside where I put them and after a few seconds, I felt them begin to move. He let his two fingers slide inside of me slowly I still had my hand on his and when his fingers moved inside, so did mine. That elicited another moan from him and caused him to pull harder on the nipple he had in his left hand.

  He pulled his mouth away from mine just slightly and said, “Is that what you want, baby?”

  “Oh yeah, that’s it. Mm hmm…”

  He moved his lips down and kissed across my shoulder to my neck. His tongue took over there and he began to lick and then suck on my neck. I let my head lie back against his shoulder and I began to move my hips slowly and moan. It felt amazing, but I wanted more. With the hand that was still on top of his between my legs, I pushed him a little deeper. He used his thumb to make circles around my engorged clit and let the fingers inside of me…his and mine, find their spot and once they did, he pressed down hard on my clit like it was a doorbell and he was ringing it.

  “Oh baby! Oh yeah, that’s it.” He unbent one of his fingers and let it slide up all the way inside of me. “Oh God, yes…more, please.” I pulled my hips up and he slid a second finger inside of me. I was panting by now, it felt so good. He had switched nipples and he was still sucking on my neck. It was pure, ecstasy. He began sliding those two fingers in and out of me. I was pushing him at first, so the movements were frantic. I finally pulled my hand away and let him do the work he knew how to do.

  He reached for that hand with his left one and brought it up to cup one of my own breasts. I let my hand and my fingers travel across it and as he stroked harder and faster, my nipple got harder and harder. I was splashing up and down now and "the more I moved and squirmed, the faster he would stroke me. He fucked me with his fingers in and out, up and down and while he did that, I strummed one nipple and he strummed the other.

  I had to bite down on my lip as he increased his pace and when he saw me do that, he pressed his mouth against my ear again and said, “Mm, that’s it, baby, come for me.” His voice was deep and husky and he sounded like he was almost out of breath. The sound of it and the feel of it against my ear put me over the top.

  “Oh God! Paul!” I panted the words out.

  “Yeah baby, come for me.”

  My back arched and my body stiffened. I clamped down on that bottom lip to keep from screaming and Paul just kept doing what he was doing as I came. My body convulsed and I released the pressure on my lip and sounds that were not even intelligible escaped through my lips. Finally, he slowed his pace and I collapsed down into the water and back against his warm body. I could feel how hard he was against my back as I let my head roll back and my tongue reach out and swipe along his bottom lip.

  He moaned again and caught my lips with his. He kissed me hard as he slid both hands up and captured my breasts. After a few minutes, when I had to break the kiss so that I could breathe, I rolled over so that I was facing him. I just lay there for a few minutes, letting the soft flesh of my belly slide up and down against his throbbing erection. He reached down and grabbed my ass and as he held it tightly in both of his hands he urged me up and down, stroking himself against my belly. On one of the upward strokes, I spread my legs wider and slid up so that I could grasp his face in my hands and kiss him on the lips. As we kissed, I pulled my hips up and reached down between them and found his hard cock. I guided it to my opening with my eyes locked into his the entire time. As the head of his cock began to enter me, he wrapped one hand behind my neck and tangled it up in my hair, pulling my face into his and sucking my bottom lip in between his clenched teeth.

  I slid down further and took him all. I put my hands on his strong shoulders and gasping against his hot mouth I began to rise up almost all the way and then slide back down as far and as fast as I could take it. I was whimpering and he was moaning and our kiss had turned into some kind of wet, sloppy, teeth and tongue and lips wrestling match. He moved his hands to grasp my hips and I sat up straight and braced my hands firmer against him as he urged me up and down harder and faster. I could tell by the way he was breathing that he was getting close. I pulled my knees up and drew my thighs in tighter and rode him. He pulled me back down and kissed me again, tangling his tongue up with mine and stroking it in time to our rhythm below.

  I felt his muscles begin to stiffen just before he said, “Baby, I’m not going to be able to last much longer. You’re so fucking hot. You’re so fucking sexy. I love you Jessie.”

  “Ahh! Oh Paul! Oh God! You’re the hot one baby. God you feel so good. I’m going to come again. Come with me baby.” I started pumping faster as I felt it boiling to the surface. Just before I exploded again, I had to grip the sides of the tub and with no regards to hotel neighbors, this time I did scream.

  I think that uninhibited scream put Paul over the top. I felt him grip my hips tighter, almost painfully and shove his cock upwards until it was buried so deep inside of me, I couldn’t have taken any more if I tried. He groaned and pumped up and down like that, hard and fast before he finally let out a loud cry of his own and came inside of me.

  Paul collapsed back against the tub and pulled me up so that I was lying on his chest with my head cradled against his arm. He held me and stroked the skin on my back with his fingertips until we both calmed down and could actually breathe. I was still shaking all over when he said, “I think we got some water on the floor.”

  I lifted my head and glanced over the side of the tub. “Some” was an understatement. I put my head back against his chest and giggled. “Hopefully it doesn’t drip and cause them to send someone up.”

  “If they would have knocked on the door during that, all they would have gotten is ignored anyways. Nothing could have stopped me from ravaging you.”

  PROLOGUE

  Spring had burst onto the scene and the branches of the trees that stood sentry in the park were bursting with tight wads of green buds that tried to stretch out and reach the warm rays of the sun. The wind had lost its bite, it had become congenial, lightly blowing across the branches and tousling the hair of the wedding guests who sat outside around the little pond and waited for the ceremony to begin. Daffodils and bluebells could be seen here and there, as if Mother Nature had sensed the need for a burst of color to lighten up the solid green hues of the grass and the leaves. Big puffy clouds lingered above but the sky was bright and the weatherman said that it wouldn’t dare rain on my wedding day.

  I had woken up with a singular thought…My wedding day is finally here! This week would be one year to the date since Paul and I took a swim in the little pond in the park. That was the day I began to realize how dangerous Mitch could be. Today, we will stand at an altar in front of all of our friends and our family and say the vows that would join us together, forever. I was standing inside the little tent that the wedding planner had set up for the bridal party, dressed in my wedding gown and trying to peek out and see my handsome groom.

  “Jessie honey, someone is going to see you. It’s bad luck.”

  I turned and looked at my mom. She was so pretty in her champagne lace dress. It fell to just under her knees in a scalloped pattern and the neckline was rounded and tasteful. She had on heels that matched and her shiny red hair framed her face and rested on her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, “I’m just really excited…and I miss Paul.” I heard Marie laugh. “What? I did miss him.” Keeping with tradition, we had spent last night apart.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie, I’m sure you did…it’s just hard for me to imagine,” she winked at me. “He’s my little brother. I’m not supposed to be able to imagine it. Seriously though, I’m so glad he found you. You’ve been so good for him. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

  “It could be because he’s a champion,” I joked.

  Marie grinned and said, “Yes, knowing my brother and his incredibly large ego…I’m sure that h
as something to do with it. But I’ve never seen his eyes light up the way they do when you walk into a room, Jessie…not even when he looks at the octagon.”

  Laughing I said, “Good to know who…or what my competition is.”

  “Oh and thank you for not making me wear a weird dress,” she said. “I always pictured Paul marrying some girl who would want me to walk down the aisle with her in pink taffeta.”

  “God forbid,” I said. “Where did Victor go?”

  “He went to sit with Justin until the wedding starts. He said he looked lonely out there.”

  “Oh, he’s so sweet.”

  “He really is. He inherited his uncle’s good heart. Justin is pretty sweet too.”

  “I’m so glad you’re happy, Marie. After all you went through, you deserve it.”

  “Thank you,” she said, “I am happy, deliriously so.”

  “We’re here!” Debbie and Victoria came racing in the tent. They were dressed in their bridesmaid dresses. Marie was maid of honor so she had the same dress, but hers was cut just a little differently. I wanted everything to be light so the bridesmaid dresses were light green and made mostly out of lace with a silk underlay. The three women wore braided straw halos with orchids attached to it. Mine was similar, only I had a veil as well.

  “Hi ladies, so glad you could join us,” I said.

  “It’s her fault,” Debbie said of Victoria.

  “It is not. It’s Sam’s fault.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s true. He couldn’t find his tie. He was panicking a little bit. But then Vicki decides to take the 405…”

  “It’s really fine,” I told them. “You’re all here. That’s all that matters. I’m so glad that you could all be here.”

  “Oh my God, Jessie, you look gorgeous!” Debbie had been in the tent for a full five minutes and she’d just now noticed my dress.

  “You like it?”

  “I love it!” she said.

  “Me too!” Vicki said. “Where did you get it?”

  “I got it when we were in Barcelona. There was this shop on the beach where the lady made all her dresses by hand. I love it.” I went with a classic white dress. The top of it was bandeau style with a lace overlay and tiny little spaghetti straps. She created the skirt by using layers of vintage and recycled fabrics and laces which was the part I thought was the coolest. They’re all different shades of white and the sash that ties just under my breasts is a light gray silk. The dress is completely lined in silk and it was all fit and tailored just for me. The other great part, I thought, was that it cost less than half of what something comparable would have been in the U.S. I loved it so much that I almost couldn’t bear the thought of only wearing it once. I was holding out the hope that someday Paul and I would have a little girl and she could grow up and wear it at her wedding. I do wish her luck with ever getting married though…with Paul as her dad.

  “I have champagne!” The wedding planner brought a bottle in that she told me she set aside especially for the bride and her “attendants” to toast with before the wedding began.

  She poured five glasses, but when she tried to hand one to Mom she said, “I don’t drink, but I have water I’ll toast with. Thanks.” I smiled at her and she smiled back. She’d come so far this year. We all had, really.

  Debbie raised her glass and said, “To Jessie and Paul, may your lives always be full of love.”

  They all toasted to that and drank. Marie held hers up next and said, “To Jessie and Paul, may your lives be better than those examples set before you.” I knew she was talking about her parents, but I think she suddenly realized what it may sound like to my mom and she added, “Or may you at least be wise enough to seek out help and make changes.” We all drank to that as well. I was sipping, I started out this relationship with Paul drunk and in wrinkled clothes…I really didn’t want to go into our marriage that same way.

  “Okay, here we go! Where’s the mother of the bride?” The music had started and Jeff was at the tent to pick up mom and take her down the aisle.

  She kissed me on the cheek as she passed and said, “I’m so proud of you I can hardly stand it. I love you Jessie girl.”

  “Right back at you mom. I love you too.”

  I peeked out and watched her and Jeff walk slowly to the harp music that was playing. He helped her take her seat up front and then he went to take his place near the groom, my groom…my man…Every time I had that thought, I had to stop what I was doing and smile. Victor came back into the tent and Marie helped him straighten his tie and find his ring pillow. He looked so cute in his little navy blue suit. After he was on his way, Sam was at the door of the tent. He and Debbie started down the aisle and when they were halfway there, Victoria and Jeff started their ascent. My stomach was suddenly full of butterflies. I knew I had nothing to be nervous about…I was marrying the man of my dreams. Everything was perfect.

  “Hey, you ready to do this?”

  “Hi Greg, I’m ready.”

  Greg Madison held out his arm to me and when I took it, he kissed me on the cheek and said, “You look really pretty, Jessie…but are you sure you want to marry a fighter?”

  I laughed, “I guess I have to. I wrote the vows around that theme already.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re stuck then,” he said, “They probably wouldn’t work for another kind of athlete.”

  Laughing again I said, “Have I told you lately that you’re the best boss ever and I’m really lucky to have you?”

  Greg looked like he was thinking about it and then he said, “Not lately,” with a smile. Then he said, “Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you as a worker and a friend?”

  “Not lately,” I said. “Thank you for everything.”

  He smiled again and said, “Thank you for letting us be a part of your life.”

  I heard the wedding march begin. Greg and I stepped to the edge of the opening in the tent and watched as all of the wedding guests rose to their feet. Greg and I began our walk down the path towards the altar. It was the walk towards my future and I couldn’t wait to get there. Once I was outside where I could see, my eyes found Paul. He was standing there all dressed up looking like every woman’s fantasy man, and I still sometimes had a hard time believing that he was all mine. I can’t even begin to imagine how I got so lucky but I will be eternally grateful that I just happened to work at the gym that my soulmate was going to walk into.

  When we reached the altar I heard the guests behind us take a seat as Greg lifted my veil and kissed my cheek again. “I love you, kid,” he said.

  “I love you too.”

  He smiled through the tears that had sprung up in his eyes and turning slightly, he gave my hand to Paul. Paul took it and wrapped his fingers through mine. The pastor from the church where Mom did her NA meetings was performing the ceremony. He did the whole “dearly beloved” and “who gives this woman?” yadi yada and then he turned it back over to Paul and I for our vows. We had written part of them together and then each of us had also written our own part to read to the other. We did rock, paper, scissors the night before to see who had to go first. It was a very diplomatic process, I thought. Of course I had won and that meant Paul had to go first. I may not have thought it so diplomatic if I’d lost. Paul looked a little nervous as he cleared his throat and turned towards me.

  With my hands in his he said, “Jessie, I promise as your husband to be spontaneous and to cherish each moment we have together and to always be fair and willing to try new things. I promise to witness your beautiful life to always take time for us, to dream with you, to fight for you, to always be in your corner and never take another side. I promise to be your biggest fan and while you chase your dreams I promise to encourage you and to love you with my actions and not my words.” God, I love this man. I was crying and my make-up was probably running and I didn’t even care.

  “Paul, I promise to laugh at all of your jokes, to appreciate you always, to hug you just because and to never f
orget how to play just for the sake of playing. I promise to never leave your side no matter where life takes us. I will always be ready to do battle for you. I will watch UFC on pay per view with you; I will go to everyone of your fights and no matter how strong the impulse is I will never throw in the white towel. I love you so much, Paul. I feel like my life has just been hanging around all of these years, waiting for you.”

  My big, tough fighter had tears in his eyes.

  We both had to dab at our eyes before we went on to do the next part together, “I Jessie” and “I Paul” take “Paul” and “Jessie” to be my partner, sparring or championship, to love what I know about you and trust what I haven’t yet discovered. I eagerly anticipate the chance for us to grow together getting to know the people we will become and falling a little bit more in love every day. I will love and cherish you through whatever life may bring.”