“Take off your jeans,” she said, her voice a velvety whisper.
He toed off his shoes and stripped down to his boxers. He smiled, thinking how lucky she was that she stood a good three feet away. Any closer and he would’ve had her on the bed by now. She clearly knew it, too, and stayed just out of arm’s reach.
“Your turn,” he said with a nudge of his chin, his hungry gaze fixating on her right nipple. This standoff was about to come to an end whether she cooperated or not.
She gathered her hair back and then brought it over her shoulder, draping the long honey-colored curtain over the breast he’d been staring at. And then she smiled, an annoyingly triumphant smile.
“I knew you’d push too far,” he said, and lunged for her.
Letting out a small squeal, she tried to get away but the struggle was over before it started. “Great reflexes,” she murmured grudgingly, and then tested his hold by twisting her wrist.
No way he would let go. She was his now. He hauled her unresisting body against his, shoving her hair out of the way so he could feel her nipples rub his chest. Her head fell back, and he kissed her throat and the side of her neck, then used his teeth and tongue on her shoulder.
Her quivering response sent a shaft of heat through him. He found the top of her panties and followed them down as he tugged, kissing her breasts, her belly, the fleshy mound at the juncture of her thighs, groomed smooth but for a token strip of hair.
She stepped out of her heels and then the boyshorts, whimpering when he slid his hand between her thighs and stroked her pussy. Man, she was slick and wet. So damn ready. So was he. His cock felt thick and heavy, and if he didn’t hurry and slide home soon…
She cupped him through his boxers.
Shit. He nearly came right there.
THE BEDROOM LAY only yards away yet it seemed like a mile. Yes, Tori was guilty of starting this whole cat-and-mouse nonsense but now she wanted it over with. She wanted him naked and for them to be doing deliciously wicked things to each other.
Weird how the helpless longings she’d felt as a teenager with an impossible crush could still sneak in. Very few times in her life had she felt insecure, the most memorable having been with Rob just before her twenty-first birthday. Her desire for him to kiss her and touch her had been fiercer than anything she’d ever experienced. She’d schemed, manipulated, done everything she knew to try to get him alone.
With his away schedule and her being in Duke halfway across the country, their paths rarely crossed. When the opportunity had presented itself, she’d used every trick in her sexual arsenal. And still, Rob had ignored her. Frustrated her. Made her so angry she’d lain awake plotting revenge that always ended up an elaborate fantasy of Rob begging her to make love to him.
It had taken her a long time to realize he hadn’t rejected her because he hadn’t liked her. She’d been too young. Too vulnerable. And she’d had yet to figure out that there was a great big difference between making love and being loved. Other men hadn’t noticed or cared. Only Rob.
Mimicking what he’d done to her, she hooked her fingers in the waistband of his boxers and slid them down, trailing kisses along the path of bare skin she exposed. It took every bit of her willpower to disregard his long hard cock as she made her way down his thigh. At least outwardly she seemed controlled, because inside she was on fire, her nerves a quivering mass of short circuits that threatened to thwart her plan to take it slow and easy.
This…this wasn’t making love. She had known that when she’d formed her plan. This was something else, and she had no expectations past getting them through the next week. It was important for her to remember that when her blood was this hot and her need so real.
He suddenly gripped her upper arms, startling her, but not so much that she allowed him to pull her upright. “You’re killing me, Tori.” His voice was a hoarse whisper that further undermined her tenuous grasp.
“Good.” She kissed the base of his penis, using only her lips to probe the velvety hardness, smiling when he groaned.
She stopped long enough to let him kick away the boxers, then used her flat tongue on the wet, glistening slit of his crown.
His fingers dug in harder this time, and on a tortured moan he forced her up, until his labored breathing laved her cheek and his open mouth descended roughly on hers. She put her arms around his neck, her breasts pressed to his chest, and felt a shudder thunder through his body. Or maybe she was the one who’d nearly been rocked off her feet.
He cupped her ass with his big strong hands and moved his hips, pushing his hot cock against her belly, his kiss growing more insistent.
It wasn’t until she’d taken several steps that she realized he was walking her backward toward the bedroom. She didn’t trust her legs to go that far and broke away from him, then hurriedly led him through the doorway.
The maid had been here earlier, as evidenced by the folded-down silk coverlet, the turned-back sheets, the Godiva chocolate and white rose lying on the pillow. Tori slid up the middle of the king-size bed, and Rob crawled in directly behind her, his lips and teeth nipping at her ass.
She giggled and rolled over. “That tickles.”
With an unconcerned grunt, he bellied up to her breasts, drew a nipple into his mouth and suckled greedily. She trembled as much from his touch as his determination when he switched to her other breast and wedged his hand between her thighs. She parted them a little, though apparently not enough because he forced them open wider.
She expected his finger.
He slid down, maneuvered himself between her legs and put his hot mouth on her.
Even as she welcomed him, instinctively she tried to evade him. He grabbed her calves and firmly placed them over his broad shoulders. Her butt came off the bed and she fell back, eyes closed, reminding herself to breathe as his fingers and pointed tongue stroked and rubbed in just the right places with just the right amount of pressure.
Lord help her, she wanted to make it last but…
He came up on his elbows, bringing her up with him, and it seemed impossible that he could have improved his mouth’s access but his tongue dipped and stroked and in any second she’d fly apart.
“Don’t.” She clutched at his short hair and pulled hard.
He jerked back. “What?” he growled.
“I don’t want to come until you’re inside of me.” She shoved at him, and squirmed until her legs slid off his shoulders.
“You’ll come more than once,” he protested, fighting to regain his advantage.
“Condom?”
“Shit.” He pushed off the bed, disappeared into the parlor. Reappeared seconds later.
She held out her hand in silent offering.
He ignored her, did the job himself and then pushed the head of his penis between her nether lips, shocking her by inching in slowly.
Her gaze went to his face. A faint smile played at the edges of his mouth. The bastard knew she was expecting it fast and deep. Knew that’s how she wanted him to take her. She bucked up to meet him and he withdrew.
“Damn you, Perry,” she ground out softly. “Don’t think I won’t make you pay for—”
He rammed into her, hard, deep, and she gasped, throwing her head back against the pillows. Then he pulled back, almost out, before edging forward again.
Tori laughed breathlessly. “You are such a jerk.”
“Want me to stop?” He’d slid halfway in, and she tensed her muscles around him, gripping his cock as hard as she could.
“I’m too close.” Swearing softly, he wrapped his arms around her and flipped onto his back, taking her with him.
They didn’t quite make it intact, which made him mutter another curse and made her laugh again.
Still straddling him, she pushed up, waited until he positioned himself to receive her, then sank down on him. They both moaned at the same time. She thought about teasing him like he’d tormented her, but the notion only lasted for the second it took his hands to
close on her breasts.
Heartfelt pleasure shimmered through her, and she rode him hard and fast, wincing when he reached so deep she didn’t think she could take him all the way in again.
It wasn’t an issue.
The spasms exploded inside her, over her, around her. It came in huge gulping waves that swept through her again and again, pummeling her senses, overpowering her, leaving her dazed and confused. Hazily she heard Rob’s guttural cry, felt his fingers dig into her hips when she slowed her rhythm. She was pretty sure he’d climaxed with her…sincerely hoped so, because unfair as it might be, she could barely move.
Drained, she slumped against his chest, felt his penis pulse inside of her. His arms came around her shoulders, not too tight, as if he’d been zapped of energy, as well.
“Wow,” she half murmured, half panted.
“Yep.” He kissed somewhere near her ear.
She summoned all her strength to draw back and kiss his mouth. A really brief and sloppy attempt, but still, her aim hadn’t been too bad. She started to roll off him, but his arms tightened around her.
“Stay.”
“I’m crushing you.”
“Right.” He pushed back the tangle of hair that seemed to be all over the place.
She liked wearing it long, swore she wouldn’t get anything more than a trim until she was fifty. But right now, with it in the way, obscuring part of his face, she would’ve gladly whacked it all off. Still straddling him, she forced herself to sit up, gathered the whole mess at her nape and wove it into a quick loose braid down her back.
He watched her, his gaze briefly wandering to her breasts as he splayed a hand over her rib cage. Then as if having read her mind, he said, “Don’t ever cut it.”
“Ever?”
Rob smiled. “Ever.”
She almost asked if he was going to be around to notice but caught herself. What was wrong with her? She’d never been the clingy type, and she wasn’t about to make an ass of herself now. “Are you going to stay the night?” She shrugged a shoulder as if the question was innocuous, as if his answer mattered only pertaining to her convenience. “I don’t want to have to drive you back at some ungodly hour.”
His smile reached his whiskey-brown eyes. The corners crinkled, not with amusement but a tenderness that melted any sassy retort she might’ve volleyed to hide her embarrassment.
“I want to stay, if it’s all right.” He dragged his palm down to her belly. “I promise to let you get some sleep.”
“You’re the one who has to play tomorrow.”
“Will you come to the game?”
She nodded. “I’ll buy a big ole wide-brim Southern belle hat and sunglasses that’ll hide half my face.”
His hand stilled. “Ah, I forgot about that factor.”
“No worries. I’ll pile my hair up under that hat and no one will even notice me.” She missed the tiny patterns he’d been tracing with his thumb.
“They will if I’m trying to pitch but can’t keep my eyes off you.” He curled up to kiss her, and her foolish heart nearly thumped out of her chest.
8
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU been awake?” Tori’s sleepy voice drew Rob’s attention away from the spot on the ceiling he’d been staring at for the past half hour.
“Not long.” He moved his arm so she could snuggle against his chest. “I’ve kept my hands off. You woke up on your own.”
She smiled. “Just so you know…you can wake me anytime you want.”
“Ouch.”
She’d tweaked his nipple, and he flattened a palm over it, protecting himself from a repeat.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that so hard. Guess I’m still groggy,” she murmured, and then pushed his hand away so she could brush an apologetic kiss over the sensitive nub.
It was 4:40, and the bedroom was mostly dark but for the light seeping in from the parlor lamp. He could see part of her face, the drowsy blue-green eyes, the full lips that stretched into a yawn, which she quickly covered with the back of her hand.
They’d made love twice already, but it was the slow emotionally-charged touching in between that had him wide-awake and thinking too much. Tonight should have been simple. Just sex with someone he liked and trusted. The best kind of distraction. Hell, not too long ago he’d have sex with women he barely knew. They’d been willing and available, and he’d been roaring with adrenaline after winning a game. Consenting adults. No problem. Until a groupie had gone camera crazy and flashed his business all over the internet. But he didn’t want to think of her now. Not when he had Tori in his arms.
“Hey.” Tori touched his chin, absently tracing the tip of her finger over the cleft, something she’d done a dozen times tonight. He’d discovered she really liked that feature, just as she’d learned that his right nipple was hypersensitive, his left one not so much. “Is anything wrong?” she asked, more awake now, her eyes troubled.
“No.” He hugged her warm, sleek body against his side and kissed her hair. “Go back to sleep. You’re not wringing any more out of me for at least a couple of hours.”
She barely smiled at his teasing. “You’re the one who needs to be rested.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Please tell me you don’t regret this.” Her voice shook a little, really getting to him.
“Ah, Tori.” He turned on his side to face her. “No, I don’t. Not one second,” he said, disturbed, when she didn’t seem reassured. “What?” He slipped a hand around the back of her neck, lightly massaging the tense muscles there.
“I didn’t know it would be like this,” she said, pausing, visibly swallowing. “It was kind of like a game for so long, you know? Between us. Well, probably not for you. I was a kid, and you ignored me.”
“You were never a kid. You were sixteen going on thirty. By the time you were eighteen it was hell trying to stay away from you.”
She gave him a wry smile. “But you did. You were always a gentleman.”
“Yeah, or risk getting traded to a Little League team.”
“I know that’s not why.” She made a soft sound of exasperation. “I’m being serious.”
He kissed her forehead. “You’re right.” He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed.
“Don’t freak out. I’m not asking you to be my boyfriend or anything.”
He faked a cough, laughing when she glared at him. Then he sobered. “I know that,” he said, the surprising lump in his throat making his voice sound raw. He rubbed her arm, kept his gaze level with hers even though he was worried she might see too much, even in the dim light. “I didn’t expect this, either.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened a cautious fraction.
Come to think of it, she was right. So much back and forth between them, so much of his time privately spent keeping track of where she was over the years, what kind of trouble she’d gotten into—he should’ve seen what they had was more than idle friendship. And now that they’d torn down that last barrier, what they were left with stunned him. Yet he hadn’t seen it coming. Rob sighed. Not good. He should have sent her home the moment he found her in his room. “Damn.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
Tori pursed her lips, then absently shook her head. “You seem as confused as me.”
He didn’t deny it.
“I’ve changed, Rob. Or I’m trying to. It’s not simply about not acting out, either.” She bit nervously at her lip. “And for the record, the tabloids exaggerated the sleeping-around crap. I’ve never been that indiscriminate, even in my wilder days.”
“Hey.” He cleared his throat. “I’d be a fine one to judge.”
She pressed her lips together, but he saw the smile she was trying to hide.
“I behaved like an idiot. Partied too hard, tried to prove I was still a young turk. I let down my guard and the team. Worse than those pictures, worse than anything, I got sloppy on the mound. I’m not sloppy anymore, but I have no idea if the damage h
as already been done.” That was the terrifying bottom line.
Tori came up on one elbow, her eyes serious and focused. “I wish I knew what was going to happen. I wasn’t lying when I said I believe you’ll be called up, but even if you’re not, it’s not the end of the world.”
“It’s the end of my world.” He scrubbed at his face, rubbed his beard-roughened jaw. Her optimism made the impossibility of their situation even clearer. Even if he wanted to see where this thing with Tori would lead, it was a lost cause. She was a bright young thing who had the world at her fingertips. He was immeasurably glad she’d found something to focus on, something she had passion about. Something that wouldn’t spit her out when she hit her thirties.
“It’s only the end of the world if you let it be. You’re thirty-three, Perry, not seventy-three.”
“Might as well be.”
“Oh, come on. Are you trying to tell me that all you have to offer is your arm? I don’t think so.”
“Ending my career as a relief pitcher for a Double-A club…not the way I want to go out.”
She leaned forward, kissed him, her face thoughtful when she drew back. “I could put in a word with Daddy, make sure you finish with the Talons.”
That she thought he needed the leg up disappointed him.
Or maybe he’d disappointed himself because for a split second, he actually wondered what would be the harm.
“I’m sorry.” She briefly squeezed her eyes shut, then with contrition, met his gaze. “Forget I said that.”
Sighing, he fixed the pillow behind his head and shifted positions so that he laid on his back again. He tightened his arm around her, and she pressed her cheek to his chest. “Let’s try and get some more sleep.”
TORI STAYED PERFECTLY still, enjoying their closeness but far too wired to sleep now. She hadn’t been completely honest with him, and she wasn’t sure she could be. Making love with him hadn’t just been a long-desired fantasy come true. It was so much more, it scared her down to her toes.
Extra Innings and In His Wildest Dreams Page 12
