Slam: A Colorado Smoke Novel

by Andee Michelle

  “Thanks,” he chuckles.

  “Can I give you the full tour later?” he mumbles against my skin.

  Turning my head to the side to give him better access, I feel him smile against me.

  He continues to kiss my neck and shoulder as he places his hands on my hips and steers me in the direction of the stairs.

  Taking the steps slowly, my heart is going a million miles a minute.

  When he flips the light switch on and a soft glow lights up his room, my eyes widen at the expanse of it. A California king canopy bed takes up a large portion of the huge room. I had no idea this place was so big. Everything about this room scream Bryant. Dark wood. Deep blue bedding with white accents. It’s masculine and classic.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper as he grips my hands in his.

  “Baby, as much as I’d love to chitchat about my amazing interior design skills, I really don’t know if I can survive another second without laying you across my bed and—”

  I don’t let him finish. I wrap my arms around his waist and press my lips to his firmly. His fingers find their way into my hair, and he quickly deepens the kiss.

  Backing me up to his bed, his lips never leave mine. When the mattress hits the back of my legs, Bryant grabs my thigh with his good arm and hoists me up onto the tall bed.

  It doesn’t take long before he’s stripped my clothes from my body and stands at the end of the bed staring down at me.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, rubbing his hand up and down my leg.

  “Thank you,” I reply. “Now, please, for the love of all things holy, take your clothes off and get up on this bed with me.”

  He chuckles but does what I ask. I watch in earnest as he slips his shirt over his head and starts to unbuckle his pants. Biting my lip, I almost let the moan I’m holding back go when his pants drop to the floor and he steps out of them, completely naked.

  Someone should really write a song about how perfect this man’s body is.

  Gently crawling up the bed, leaning his weight on his good arm and reaches for me with the other, running his hand up my stomach, between my breasts, and to my throat before cupping my cheek. Leaning down, he presses his lips to mine as he slides between my legs.

  “You ready for your happy ending?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” I reply, pulling his lips back to me.

  He takes his time, worshiping every inch of me. When his left arm starts to shake from holding himself up with one arm, I press him back so he’ll let me up.

  “Lay down, Slam. I got this,” I tell him with a smirk. He chuckles as he flips over and lies back against the pillows.

  I straddle his hips, and he immediately hisses when I settle over the top of his length, rocking my hips against him.

  “Baby, if you don’t stop that, this is gonna be over before it starts,” he complains, his chest rising and falling quickly as he pushes his pelvis up toward me.

  After taking care of protection, I lift up, letting him guide himself to me, before slowly sinking down onto him. Both of us still the moment he is fully seated. My eyes lift to his, and the look on his face almost makes my heart stop.

  “I can’t believe I almost didn’t give this, us, a chance,” he whispers. Lifting his hand to cup my face, he runs his thumb across my bottom lip. “I was so stupid.”

  “But we’re here now, together, moving forward,” I reply before lifting up and slowly sliding back down again, watching his eyes roll back before closing. Our rhythm is in sync, and it doesn’t take long before we are both out of breath and sated from our lovemaking.

  When I curl up into his side, he kisses the top of my head.

  “I’m falling in love with you, Layne,” he whispers against my hair. “And it scares the hell outta me.”

  “I’ve already fallen,” I reply honestly before sleep takes us both.

  Nine months later

  Layne

  “RUN, RUN, RUN!” I scream, watching as number seven runs like a bat out of hell toward first base.

  When number eleven’s foot hits the home plate, the stands go wild.

  “And St. Marten’s High School has won the State Championship!” the commentator screams through the mic.

  Gracie and I jump down from the bleachers and run to the dugout.

  The moment his head pops up looking for us, my breath catches.

  Every single game, he scouts us out the moment the game is over.

  To say I am head over heels in love for the very first time in my life would be an understatement. Some days I wonder if the love I feel for him is bordering on psychosis.

  He picks Gracie up and throws her up on his shoulders as he makes his way to me, smirking like usual.

  I press up on my toes and kiss him quickly, causing Gracie to laugh and smack the top of his head. Like always.

  “Stop kissing my mama in front of me, Bryant. It’s gross,” she shouts over the noise of the crowd.

  “I like kissing your mama,” he returns, like always.

  The smile on both of their faces tells me how truly happy they both are. Bryant adores her and she him.

  “I promised the boys I’d take them to pizza if they won. You guys wanna join us?” he asks.

  “Um, hello. Pizza,” I retort, looking at him like he’s lost his mind.

  The pizza place is in absolute chaos. The parents of most of the players join us, and by the time you throw in girlfriends and siblings, it’s a free for all. And Bryant smiles through the whole thing.

  Gracie was supposed to be with Garrett, but he let her stay with me because she wanted to see the game tonight. I’m sure they could use a break too. Their baby isn’t a great sleeper.

  As the boys finish up, I walk around with the trash can, scooping up all their plates and napkins.

  “You know they have people who work here to do that, right?” Bryant mumbles into my ear, leaving a trail of kisses on my neck.

  “I know, but they made such a mess. I thought I’d get the bulk of it before they have a heart attack,” I reply, giggling at the tickle of his beard on my ear.

  “Move in with me,” he blurts out.

  Turning me in his arms, he chuckles as my eyes go wide.

  “What?” I stammer.

  “I want you and Gracie to move in with me. You two are the reason I bought the bigger house.” I search his face, for what, I have no idea. I know he’s serious. He’s made hints about it before but never come out and said it.

  I don’t answer him. Instead, I jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing him like I need him to breathe.

  I hear Gracie moan in disgust before slapping the table to get our attention.

  “Standing right here,” she shouts.

  I giggle against his lips and pull away slowly, dropping my feet to the floor.

  “Yes, but I need to talk to her first,” I tell him, watching as his face shift to concern. “She’ll be thrilled, babe, but between having a new baby brother, and now this, I want to make sure she’s okay with it all.”

  He smiles before kissing me quickly again.

  “Will you do it tonight, because I already booked a moving company to come get your shit on Monday.” He chuckles against my lips.

  “Pretty sure of yourself, huh, Slam?” I tease.

  “You know it,” he growls.

  Bryant

  AS SOON AS the movers have put all the boxes in the rooms they need to be in, I rush them out. I have plans. After finishing up the last little touches, I go in search of her.

  I find her in Gracie’s room, of course, trying to get things put away. Garrett agreed to keep Gracie tonight so that we could rest after a full day of moving. Plus, we need to get her room set up here. In my house. Our house. He also knows my plan, and I’ve never seen him smile as big as he did when I told him about it.

  Walking up behind her, I place my hands on her hips, startling her.

  “Dammit, Bryant,” she screeches, then lau
ghs. “Don’t sneak up on me.”

  Turning her to face me, I press my lips to hers, needing to kiss her for only a minute, and try to calm my racing heart.

  “Come with me,” I tell her, lacing my fingers through hers and starting toward our bedroom.

  “I’m all sweaty and gross, baby,” she replies with a giggle. “At least let me shower first.”

  When I push the door to our bedroom open, she gasps from behind me. Turning to her, I grab both hands and back into the room, watching her face as she takes in what I’ve done.

  It’d been hard to keep her out of this room while the movers were unloading boxes. I’d told her to focus on Gracie’s room and I’d take care of the rest. It had irritated her, but she can’t stay mad at me for long.

  I can see the reflection of the twinkle lights in her eyes as the first of her tears start to fall.

  “Bryant,” she whispers, tearing her eyes away from the scene, and they clash with mine. “What did you do?”

  Everything in the bedroom is new. When I’d decided to ask her to move in with me, I wanted to make this room about us. Our love. Our future.

  The walls are painted a light gray with white trim. The padded headboard is a darker gray, while the bedding is all white with several shades of gray accents. The walls are covered in bright colored pictures of us over the past nine months. Some of Gracie, some of me and her, some of all three of us. All printed on canvases of varying sizes.

  She walks past me into the room, one hand covering her mouth. I know the moment she sees the huge Mr. & Mrs. sign I had made leaning on the pillows of the bed because a sob tears from her throat, and I have just enough time to drop to one knee before she spins around, searching for me. When her eyes connect with mine, another sob rips from her.

  “Bryant,” she whispers, taking a step to me.

  Grabbing her hand, I kiss it gently before starting my speech, never taking my eyes off hers.

  “From the moment I saw you in your bar, I knew you were different. And then you opened that sassy mouth, and I was yours. Even when I ran, I think I knew in my heart, even then, that you were it for me. My dad always told me that one day I’d meet a woman that would turn my world upside down. He was right.” I pull the ring from my pocket and hold it up, watching as more tears spill down her face. “Layne Parker Scott, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and letting me give you happy endings for the rest of our lives?”

  She gets down on her knees with me, pressing her lips to mine, her tears wetting my cheeks too. “Yes,” she whispers, over and over again, peppering my face with kisses. “I love you so much, Bryant.”

  Pulling back from her, I grab her hand and slide my mom’s engagement ring on her finger, watching her face as she takes it in. “I love you too,” I reply, my voice thick with emotion.

  “Mrs. Layne Nash,” she whispers. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too, baby.”

  Me too.

  As always, to all my boys, who continually support my desire to spend too much time writing and reading, less time cooking and cleaning, and who are always my biggest cheerleaders. I love y’all big heaps.

  To Virginia Cantrell and Becky Johnson at Hot Tree Editing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always putting up with my unorganized shenanigans. My books just wouldn’t be what they are without y’all.

  To Megan Gunter at Mischievous Designs. Dude. Thank you for not giving up on me when I was a HUGE pain in the ass on this cover. It turned out absolutely beautiful and everything I had hoped it would be.

  To Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Designs. Thank you for always working me in and for giving me beautiful formatting.

  To Andrea Johnston (#unicorn) and Dawn Chiletz (#soulsister). There are NO words to express my gratitude to both of you. SLAM would not be what it is without your help, encouragement and continually letting me talk through the story, over and over and over... I love you both big time and am thankful every single day for your friendship.

  To my betas: Donna, Molly, Dawn, Nikki, Christine and Laurie. THANK YOU! I know this book took FOREVER for me to get done, but it would be a total shitshow without y’all. Thank you! Thank you!

  To Sara Ney. The blurb, tag line and teaser-making master. Thank you! You’re continued help with all the things I can’t figure out is appreciated more than you know.

  To Sara Eirew and Alex Biovin Lippee. Thank you for bringing Bryant “Slam” Nash to life. I couldn’t love my cover more.

  To my reader group, Andee’s Circus. Y’all now know why I chose this name for the group. Lol. Thank you for all your support and encouragement this past year. ;)

  To my girls in the Nerd Herd. Thank you for your continued support and friendship.

  And last, but definitely not least, my readers. Your support and words of encouragement as I struggled this past year mean the absolute world to me. Thanks for not giving up on this story. I hope you love it as much as I do.

  Standalones:

  Raising Landry

  Defining Moments series:

  Defining Moments

  Finding Our Forever

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  Find Andee on Social Media at:

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  Or email Andee at:

  andeemichelle@yahoo.com

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