Kick (Completion Series)

by Holly S. Roberts

  I finished my burger and headed to the ladies’ room. I applied a little makeup, ran a small brush through my hair, and walked out. Van was waiting. Shit. I almost backed up and returned to the bathroom, but I needed to handle this and not allow my insecurities to push me down.

  “Leave me alone, Van,” I said in a normal voice unwilling to whisper.

  His face was tense; a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I asked you that first night after dinner what was up with you and my brother. You denied even knowing him. I wouldn’t have touched you if you’d been honest, but I guess you decided you wanted us both. Does my brother have any idea what a slut you are?”

  I slapped him. Not the kind of slap you read about in romance books. The kind of slap that left my hand feeling like a thousand pins pushed through it at once. He grabbed me when I went to hit him again.

  “Feel better?” He moved closer so his face was inches from mine. “You’re a little firecracker and I don’t think my brother can handle you. When you figure that out, I’ll be waiting. Maybe after a few times, I can fuck you out of my system completely.”

  He blocked my knee, which was heading to his balls. I almost screamed out in frustration, but a large hand landed on Van’s shoulder. My breath left in a whoosh of relief when I realized it was Mike.

  He was angry, but he spoke softly looking straight at me. “Go find Joel while I have a talk with Van.” I didn’t wait around.

  Joel was outside talking to a few people, obviously fans. He inspected me from head to toe when I practically ran out of the restaurant. I think I could have carried it off, but his brother stormed out after me with Mike on his heels. So much for Mike’s talk. I headed to the bus, letting my anger take over. I was here to do a job and all I’d done was hide away in my seat like I’d done something wrong. Well I had. I slept with the wrong fucking brother, but to hell with it. Van couldn’t think any worse of me and what I really cared about was what Joel thought.

  Joel entered the bus a minute after me. I was in his seat pulling my recorder from my bag, which was lying on my seat.

  “You okay?” He smoothed his hand over my back.

  I looked at him over my shoulder. “I’m fine. I need to interview some of the guys, so I’m going to move around a bit once the bus takes off.” My next words were totally unfair, but I was still pissed at Van. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  His hand left my back and he gave me a long probing look. “Do I need to kick my brother’s ass before he gets back on the bus?”

  I stomped my foot, acting like a complete dork. “Save your macho violence for the field. I can handle myself.”

  Joel backed up. “Then I’ll take the inside seat so you can move around.”

  “Thank you.” And I meant it.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Moving farther back in the bus, I questioned a few of the players. There was a distinct coolness that I should have expected. These guys were trying to win a championship and I was causing trouble between their two best players who happened to be brothers and the team’s owners. Mike gave the guy in front of him a dirty look after the player barely acknowledged me. Mike started answering my questions. Sadly, I needed other input because Mike was a key factor in my second article and I didn’t want to use him again. But at least he tried to make me feel comfortable.

  Two hours later, we arrived in Sexton, West Virginia, the home of the Timberwolves. For some reason I didn’t think of timber wolves when I thought of West Virginia, but when I Googled it, I discovered they were listed as one of two breeds of wolves in the region.

  Gray flags decorating stores and homes let us know whose territory we entered. Sexton was around the same size as Colt and a rugby town. We went straight to the hotel. Joel waited outside the bus and entered the lobby with me. We stood at the back of the pack waiting for everyone else to check in first. Two clerks opened up and we were able to check in and get our rooms at the same time.

  “Let’s grab our bags and find our rooms,” Joel said after we both had our key cards. The bags were sitting by the baggage compartment watched by the bus driver. I grabbed mine, giving Joel a dirty look when he tried to take it from me. For the first time that day he smiled and didn’t argue as I rolled it behind me.

  I was on the eighth floor and didn’t pay attention when he hit the number eight on the elevator. We both got off and I stopped. “How did you know my floor?”

  “It’s the same as mine.”

  “Okay, but how did you know?” I asked as I checked my room number and followed the arrows down the hallway until I came to the correct number. I stopped at my door, Joel hadn’t answered me. “What room are you in?”

  He didn’t say anything. As I opened the door, the heat from his body shadowed me and I turned. His lips came roughly down on mine. The click of the door barely registered. Joel spun me around so my back hit the cool wood. Whereas, his previous kisses were wonderful, this one was more. No gentleness, no questioning tease. He took my mouth while molding his body to every inch of mine. His hands traveled under my top and his fingers grazed the skin beneath my breasts.

  Suddenly, he skimmed lower, wrapping his hands on my hips and lifting me. I could do nothing but circle my legs around his waist. I groaned into his mouth and he gave a low, answering growl back. This was not sweet Joel. Sweet Joel didn’t grind his erection against me. Sweet Joel didn’t move his hands lower cupping my ass, pulling me harder against him.

  The sizzling heat running through me washed away all thought. I was out of breath, desperate for skin on skin, and just as suddenly as it started, he stopped. He nudged my legs from around his waist with one hand. He held me steady as I found I could actually stand upright.

  I looked into his furious eyes, forgetting to breathe. “I won’t apologize for that—ever.” For just a moment his gaze softened as he pulled a section of my hair aside so he could gaze directly at me. “I think it’s time you told me what happened with my brother either before or after I saw you Monday night.”

  “Joel.” I reached up, but he caught my hand and brought it to his chest. I flattened my fingers, feeling the rapid pace of his heartbeat.

  “I need to know, Cami.” His tender side showed even though anger flashed in his eyes. He kept his hand on mine.

  I knew this wouldn’t go over well, but Joel deserved honesty. “He came to my room after you left. I thought it was you, so I opened the door.” I didn’t really want to go on.

  “And?” His finger tightened fractionally on mine.

  “He wanted to get me completely out of his system.” It hurt just saying the words.

  “Did he touch you?” Joel waited, but I didn’t answer. “Cami, I’ll only think the worst if you don’t tell me.”

  “He kissed me.” I couldn’t look at him as I said it. God only knows why I felt so ashamed.

  He released my hand and my fingers slid from his chest. “Did you want him to kiss you?”

  My head jerked up at the hurt in his voice. “No, no Joel. I didn’t want him to kiss me.” He had to believe me.

  He did. He pulled me against his chest wrapping his strong arms around me and just held on. “My brother will never touch you again.” He kissed the top of my head, reached around me, and scooted past me to the door.

  “Joel, no, he’s not worth it. Please stay here with me,” I begged.

  “If that’s what you truly want I will… when I get back.” He walked out.

  Fuck. I couldn’t think straight. A split second later, I went through my bag, found my phone, and called Mike.

  “Yeah,” he answered.

  I rushed the words. “Van kissed me Monday night after I told him I wanted nothing to do with him and now Joel’s going after him.”

  “Got it.” The phone clicked in my ear.

  I sat on the end of the bed and placed my head in my hands, squishing my glasses into the bridge of my nose. I angrily flung them farther up the bed. How had I gotten to this point? It was unfair to Joel, and even t
hough Van was an ass, it was unfair to him. I was the problem.

  Curling up on the bed, I gave into tears. These past two weeks I felt alive for the first time in years. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t understand why life was only safe if I hid from the world. It would be best if I went back to nothingness—a blob of flesh quivering at shadows.

  I must have dozed off, because I wasn’t sure I heard the knock on the door a while later. I reached around for my glasses so I could peer at the clock. Forty-five minutes passed since Joel left, though it felt like hours. I checked the peephole first. He stood in profile. I opened the door and threw myself into his arms.

  “Shhh,” he whispered against my hair. He walked me backward into the room, letting the door close behind us. He sat on the bed and brought me onto his lap.

  “I’m so sorry,” I blubbered. “This is my fault. You shouldn’t be fighting with your brother. The two of you should be concentrating on the game. I feel so stupid. This is all my fault.” I repeated as I cried harder.

  Joel leaned back and rolled sideways so I faced him. He pulled my hair aside so we could see each other clearly. I noticed his swollen lip first. Crap, Mike didn’t get there in time, and I wanted to hide under the bed. There was a small red smear at the corner of his bottom lip and I touched it. This was the damaged side of his face and it surprised me when he allowed my finger to wipe away the blood.

  “No worries, nothing can make that part of me any uglier.”

  My heart squeezed painfully. “Don’t say that. You’re beautiful.” I meant it. He was. A raw groan came from his throat when my fingers moved up from his lip and traced the scar for the first time. His eyelids partially lowered. I wanted to say so many things, but the words escaped me. “Stay with me tonight,” is what spilled out.

  He kissed me. This was softer. Sweeter... forgiving maybe. We gazed at each other throughout the gentle touch of lips. Earlier, he’d shown me his bad boy side. What I saw now was the good man.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  He whispered against my lips, “I want your shirt off.”

  I sat up and pulled it over my head. Joel moved to his back and I straddled his hips, resting my ass on his lower belly. Without giving myself time to change my mind, I slid my arms behind me and unsnapped my bra. How I wish I found a front closure bra in my size. Joel kept his eyes on mine until I put my hands beneath my breasts and lifted them an inch. I didn’t know where this side of me was coming from.

  His eyes dropped. “I have no idea why you hide these.”

  A relieved giggle escaped me. “Because they would be in the way of everything I did.”

  “That I’d like to see. Come here.” He grabbed my arms, lowered me to his chest, and found my lips again.

  I didn’t want his shirt between us, but this kiss shot heat through my nerve endings and I wasn’t stopping it. Not gentle. Bad boy Joel was back. He grabbed the hair at the nape of my neck, controlling my head so he had better access. The kiss went from hot to carnal. His other hand skimmed over my bare flesh traveling to the side of my breast and slipping between our bodies. I groaned when he pinched my nipple. Joel squeezed just a little harder.

  In a sudden move, he flipped me to my back and jerked his shirt over his head. Shadowed lines defined each muscle. He unbuttoned my pants and pulled them from my legs. His muscles rippled with each move. His pants came off next. I would have laughed as he tumbled slightly sideways with the material half down his legs, but holy hell—his cock sprang free.

  Seeing his size caused a moment of fear. I couldn’t help remembering Van’s painful entry. Joel took my hand and placed it on the silky skin covering his erection. “Stop me if this isn’t what you want.” His eyes were intense pools of murky blue, but his words so gentle.

  I grazed my fingers down his length. “I want.” This was Joel, not his brother.

  “Not yet,” he said as he shifted, dislodging my hand so he could straddle my hips while palming my breasts. He pressed my nipples between his thumb and forefinger.

  Suddenly, from a small receptor in my brain, I realized my glasses were on.

  “My glasses,” I said as I reached up to remove them.

  “No.” He stopped me. “They magnify your eyes and I want you seeing everything I do to you.”

  God. My glasses were my shield from the world and with a few words, Joel broke through the barrier. I had no intention of informing him I was nearsighted and could see him this close with crystal clarity.

  I arched slightly as he added just a bit more pressure to my nipples, contracting them to small, tight buds.

  I watched his face—the determined tilt to his lips pulling at his scar. He was so damned sexy. He released my breasts and placed his hands on either side of my head. His carved arms boxed me in. If I turned my head, I could lick the muscles I so badly wanted to taste. His eyes locked me in place and I couldn’t look away. His body dipped and he took a nipple between his lips, his arms straining as he held himself above me. I skimmed his biceps with my fingers. I was like a blind person understanding braille for the first time. His controlled power caused sparks to fire and travel to my inner thighs. His tongue flicked and the sparks turned to electricity flowing across my skin. His thighs pressed into my hips, the skin hot where we touched. I turned my head slightly wanting to taste his flesh for the first time. He growled and my gaze went back to his. I closed my eyes when he tugged at my nipple with his teeth, extending it from my body. I’d never felt anything like it before. I suddenly needed Joel inside me, but I was too shy to beg. He switched to my other nipple, flicking and biting gently, driving me crazy.

  “Please, Joel.” Shyness be damned. I needed him too badly.

  He lifted his hips slightly, sliding his cock across my panties. God I was wet. He had to feel it, but I didn’t care. The damp material heated with each slow glide. I couldn’t spread my legs because his were to either side. He rubbed against me as we both watched. My intense need had me arching my ass off the bed trying to add pressure to his slow teasing.

  I threw back my head in frustration at his rumbling laugh.

  He leaned his chest into me. “I need to grab condoms from my bag before we can go any farther,” he whispered against my ear.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” I grumbled. His low sexy laugh blew against my ear.

  “Don’t move.” He pushed up and moved off of me, taking his heated skin. I only survived because of his amazing backside.

  He squatted, unzipped the side of the bag, and pulled out a box of condoms. He walked back over. Now I could admire the naked front view of his body. I never thought before that a man’s penis was particularly attractive. His cock jutted up to his belly and the muscled V on his abs highlighted the beauty of my new favorite man muscle. I wanted Joel’s cock in my mouth.

  He placed one knee between my legs, removed a condom from the box, and sat it to the side. He took my hands and pulled me so I was sitting on the edge of the bed. My mouth was closer to all the parts I wanted to taste. I licked my lips then gazed up as he groaned deeply.

  “I want you coming on my cock. If your sexy mouth gets anywhere near me I’m in trouble.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t care.”

  He cupped the sides of my face and bent forward. “I care.” He kissed me before laying me back. He slid his knee from the bed and grabbed the condom. He slid it impatiently over his cock and tore my panties down my legs before wrenching my thighs apart.

  “Not fair,” I cried as he went to his knees and buried his mouth in my pussy. His husky chuckle vibrated against my clit before he sucked it. I grabbed hands full of his hair and pulled him closer. I needed more.

  Joel, the mind reader, gave me my wish as he stroked two fingers into my wet, swollen flesh. His fingers slipped in and out making slick, sexy sounds. At any other time I would have been mortified, but, God, I couldn’t think past what he was doing to me. I pulled his hair, not caring if it hurt. He continued the tempo with his fingers, pushing my thigh w
ider with his other hand.

  A raging ball of fire centered where his mouth touched me. My head whipped back and forth on the bed as my fingers clenched into his scalp. The flames burst igniting my core—scorching from that point up, my belly, my breasts—pulsing waves of intensity that had my body arching off the bed.

  The shockwaves didn’t stop, but in a far corner of my brain I became aware of Joel pulling my fingers from his hair. He came up over me holding my hands above my head and in one long stroke entered me. His chest came down on mine at the same time as his lips hit mine. I never realized my taste was sexy until it combined with his.

  Joel wasn’t gentle. He possessed my body with deep thrusts of his hips. His hands imprisoned mine, his body pushing me deep into the mattress. The last thing I wanted was to escape. My orgasm continued, or a new one began. I had no idea. He released my hands and his fingers grasped my hair holding my head still for his lips as he slid in and out. I grabbed his ass, digging my fingernails in deep. His muscles tensed. His groan traveled up his chest and out making a sound I would never forget. He pumped into me twice more and froze while buried deep inside. I clenched the globes of his ass as hard as I could as my vaginal wall convulsed around him.

  I would never be the same.

  Our breathing eventually slowed and he nuzzled my ear. “You marked me.”

  I groaned in embarrassment.

  “Fair’s fair.” He pushed himself up, all the muscles in his arms contracting. He dipped his head to the top of my breast and sucked the skin past his lips.

  It actually pinched, and I couldn’t help the “ahhh” that escaped.

  He drew back, admiring his handiwork. “No one will see, but I’ll know it’s there. When I look at you, your nipples will get hard.”

  This cocksure Joel was a surprise. “You’re horrible,” I laughed, but I also felt his mark deep within me. “Thank you,” I whispered.