by Terry Towers
My orgasm took every last ounce of energy from me and I suddenly found her weight too much to continue holding up, even with the assistance of the wall. With great regret, I lifted her up and off my hips, placing her on her feet before me. She stumbled a little bit; it was then that I realized that she was still wearing heels. Ungodly high heels that she struggled with each time she wore them.
“What are you grinning for?” she asked looking up at me.
Fuck, she was gorgeous, especially with her face flushed with that freshly-fucked look in her eyes and expression. I hadn’t even realized I’d been grinning until she brought it to my attention, which only made my grin widen.
“You’re fucking beautiful.” Reaching out, I cupped the back of her head in my hand and lowered my lips to hers. This time I kissed her softly, wanting her to feel what was stirring deep within my heart and soul through the kiss.
“Thank you.” She smiled and there was something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite decipher, and she looked away.
Hooking my index finger under her chin, I forced her eyes up so our gazes met. “Please don’t think this was planned. It was supposed to be a kiss and…”
“I know.”
I released a loud huff of air that I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding as I tried to figure out my feelings. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us. It’s only been four days, but I swear it’s been the longest four days of my life.”
She leaned in to me and wrapped her arms around my waist pressing herself tight against me. Her naked body felt so damned good against mine. So good that my depleted dick started to come alive again. Shit, we needed to get dressed before I initiate round two, when we haven’t even figured out how things were going to move on from here.
With great reluctance, I pulled away from her and bent. Grabbing her jeans, I steadied her as she stepped into first her panties and then her jeans. Slowly, I pulled her panties up her legs, covering the part of her that I was dying to bury my face in to. Once her jeans were up, I allowed her to take over buttoning them up while I quickly got dressed myself.
With clothing back in place for both of us, I took her hand and led her into the kitchen so I could check on the New England-style chowder I’d prepared for us.
“I hope you like seafood?” Grabbing a large spoon, I gave the chowder a stir.
“Love it,” she confirmed.
“Great. I put together a chowder using my grandmother’s recipe. I’ve been told it’s good.”
She stepped up to the pot and looked in, inhaling deeply and nodding. Smiling, she said, “You’re the great Cole Grant, you could serve people McDonalds burgers and people would say it’s fine dining.”
I knew she was joking, but her comment felt like a slight dig. “I think you may be overstating.”
“Oh.” Her smile faded. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. Shit…” She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “I’m still trying to process the fact that you’re not you.”
“What do you mean?”
Turning to face me she leaned up against the counter. “A week ago you were a math teacher and high school football coach. Now you’re Cole Grant. Football star.”
Laughing, I shook my head. Her comment still stinging—just a little. “I am a math teacher. That’s the person I am now. Who I was doesn’t have an effect on who I am.”
“But it does though.”
“How so?”
“Take the restaurant for instance. We were out having dinner and had to run off out the back door because of fans and paparazzi. It may be a past life for you, but for millions of people it’s still their present reality.”
My brow furrowed as I looked at her. “What are you saying? Is that going to be a problem? The fame will fade.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not a life or world that I’m accustomed to. Never in a million years did I think I’d be in that type of situation. I’d wondered why whenever we were together people would look through me as soon as they saw you. It always seemed strange, but now that I know the truth, it’s all falling into place.”
“It’s not forever. I just stopped playing this past season and we won the Superbowl. I ended my career on a high note. But with this new season, it won’t take long before there’s a new player that’ll make the headlines and I’ll be old news.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised a brow at me. “I’ve Googled you. It’s going to be a long while before fans forget about you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You really Googled me, huh? In-depth search?”
“Yes.” She gave me a curt nod of her head. “Not until after I realized you were something other than the man I thought you were, but I did do the search.”
“Dare I ask what you found?” The question was asked more in jest than anything else. Luckily, my past was relatively clean. I was a player before I met Nadine, but the moment Nadine and I became exclusive I’d become a one-woman man. She could Google me all she wanted and she’d be hard-pressed to find anything to say otherwise, unless it was one of the sleazy tabloids, who posted whatever they wanted and to hell with backing it up with proof.
A flash of guilt crossed her face. “Not a thing. I wished I hadn’t to be honest. I learned things that I should have learned by spending time with you, not from research.”
I didn’t know what to tell her. Nadine loved the limelight and for a time, so did I. I grew out of it, she hadn’t. “Now that you’ve done your research, at least you know I’m a man of my word.” Grasping her upper arms in my hands I gave them a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got four decades of my past to learn about. They only skimmed the surface of who I am, so the question is, are you willing to spend the time learning who I truly am?”
Chapter 17
London
I had a whole speech prepared when I was on my way here. I knew exactly what I wanted and needed from him in order for us to work and now the speech was shot to shit. Not a single line aside from Cole, we need to talk, could I remember. My body was still vibrating from the orgasms I experienced from him and the look on his face as he stared down at me waiting for me to respond was so sincere…
“Cole. Shit.” Placing my hands, palms flat on his thick chest I melted. “I really don’t know what to say.”
“Then say you’ll give it a shot. I have this thing I need to go to this weekend. I was going to go alone, I’ve gone solo for quite some time now, but I want you to go with me.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a charity dinner, for a great cause. And it would be nice to enjoy the evening with you.”
Wow. A charity event with him? “Is it one of those really uppity charity dinners where you wear a tux or is it more laid back?”
“You’d need to wear a cocktail dress and I’d be wearing a tux, yes.”
Fear shot through me. Would I be able to function so seriously out of my comfort zone? “Will there be press?”
“Yes, there will be.”
I didn’t know what to say. On one hand it sounded like a Cinderella-type of event, something I’d seen in movies but never imagined I’d go to. On the other hand, it terrified me. I was a nobody. I was a mid-list self-published author. People were used to seeing him with models and actresses on his arm, not people like me.
“Hey.” He slipped a hand into my hair, to the base of my skull. The feeling was so amazing, like I was being possessed. “What are you thinking?”
I felt silly voicing my concerns, but to hell with it. In the interest of full disclosure, I might as well get it all out in the open. “I’m not sure I’d fit in.”
He looked at me as if I’d just grown horns. “What do you mean?”
God, his hand felt so good against my head. I felt so safe and secure with him. It was a feeling I’d never had the pleasure of feeling before. “I mean, I’m just a plain girl. I don’t know anything about the world you’re living in.”
Laughing, he leaned down and kissed me tender
ly. “And that’s why I’m so infatuated with you. And I’ll be honest, it’s why I was so reluctant to tell you about my past. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to live a normal life and not have my career or who I used to be brought up over and over. You not knowing who I am was refreshing because you wanted to know me for me, not because I used to play professional ball.”
“Do you know how much of an idiot I feel for not knowing? Everyone knew. The Blue Man Group. The people at the restaurants. When we went somewhere and I’d notice people staring and think I was just being crazy…” My frustration and hurt came back to the surface.
“Hey. Don’t.” He pulled me into his arms and I didn’t fight it. It felt to good wrapped up in his strong embrace to try and protest. Besides, what was the point? I was already in over my head with him to fight it. All I could do was push forward and hope the I could live in his world.
He held me until my body relaxed and my frown faded, to be replaced by a soft smile. “When I came here last week I actually thought I had the wrong house at first,” I said pulling away just far enough to look up and into his eyes.
“The house is a little over the top, I know. But it’s paid for.”
Pulling away from him a little further I looked around the kitchen. Really looked. The granite counters, the high-tech appliances… I couldn’t even comprehend the amount of money this house cost and for it to be paid off. Holy shit!
“Hey, listen.” Grasping my shoulders, he looked deep into my eyes. “Don’t be insulted, but do you need a dress for the charity event?”
Chewing at my bottom lip, I shrugged. “Not sure. I have dresses…”
Laughing, he shook his head. “Tomorrow, after we wake up, I’m taking you shopping for a dress.”
“After we wake up?”
“Umm-hmm. I hope you told Justin not to expect you tonight because after supper I’m going to show you the rest of the house and we won’t be leaving the bedroom until morning.”
My entire body tingled at the sexy growl in his voice as he spoke. Running my tongue along my lower lip, I couldn’t help but tease. “Why wait until after supper when we have a perfectly good kitchen counter behind me?”
He growled, low and feral reaching for my hips. “Fair enough.”
~*~ TT ~*~
Cole
“Anything you want.” Reaching the store, I pulled open the door for London and allowed her to enter before me. I didn’t know much about where to buy dresses for an event like the charity one I’d asked her to accompany me to, but this store was one of Nadine’s favorites, so I had to assume it would have what we were looking for.
“This place looks really pricy,” she whispered to me as I entered and stood next to her just in the doorway. A security guard stood nearby and gave us a nod. I could see the recognition in his eyes as he looked at me, but to my relief he didn’t make a scene.
“It doesn’t matter.” Despite my reassurances, she still seemed slightly uneasy. That was okay, she’d grow accustomed. Aside from the house, it’s not like I lived an outlandish lifestyle.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” A tall, blonde, slender saleswoman asked approaching us with a wide smile on red painted lips.
“We’re looking for a dress for a formal charity event. We’re hoping you’ll be able to find us something suitable.”
“Of course.” She looked down at London. “Is there any style or designer in particular you’re looking for?”
London shook her head. “I really don’t know.” Looking up at me, her eyes begged me to step in and help. This was outside of my wheelhouse as well.
“Maybe look for something form-fitting and floor length?” I suggested attempting to help.
The saleswoman took in a deep breath and nodded. “I’m sure we can find you something perfect. Let me grab a few dresses and we’ll start from there.” She gave London a long head-to-toe visual evaluation before spinning on her heel and walking off.
London’s lip curled up just a tad.
“What?”
“I don’t know if form fitting is really the way to go with my body shape.”
Giving her body a thorough examination, I asked, “What’s wrong with your body shape?”
She looked uncomfortable when she replied. “It’s not the body you can just shove into anything.”
Grinning, I stepped up next to her and pulled her into my arms. “Oh but it’s a body I’d like to get into.” Leaning down, I kissed the side of her neck and she moaned softly. My dick had sprung alive at the sound of her moan, leading me to wonder how big their fitting rooms were.
“I’m being serious.” Placing her hands on my chest she gave me a little shove backwards. “I’m not…” She motioned to her body. “Like your ex-wife.”
“Okay, now I’m confused. What does that have anything to do with anything?” Better yet, why was she ruining our shopping trip with talk of Nadine? If anything was an erection killer it was talk of my pompous ex-wife.
“I mean, my body size isn’t aligned with what is require for high-fashion.”
It slowly sank in, what she was talking about and I frowned. “I’m attracted to you because you’ve got curves. If they can’t find something here that fits you perfectly then we will find somewhere else. This is Boston, there’s no shortage of stores, but I think we’ll be fine.”
She still looked doubtful but agreed.
“I’ve found several gowns that I think may work for you hanging up in the dressing room.” The saleswoman motioned for us to follow her.
“See, told you.” Taking her hand, I gave it a gentle squeeze accompanied by a reassuring smile. It was such a shame that the men of her past had beat her down as badly as they had.
“You’re right. I’m just not used to places like this.”
“You deserve the best of everything, London. I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but I’ll tell you as many times as it takes for you to finally believe it.”
The beautiful crimson glow that I loved to see colored her cheeks as she glanced up at me, with gratitude and affection in her eye. Damn, if I could see that look on her face for the rest of my life, I’d be a happy, happy man.
My feet stopped moving for a moment as I shook my head clearing those thoughts. Fuck, I’d just gotten divorced the last thing I needed was to be thinking about putting a ring on someone else’s finger so soon.
“You okay?”
Chuckling, I nodded, regaining my composure. “Yes, of course. Something just sprang to mind. Nothing really.”
I could feel eyes on me and London. It was a couple of saleswomen at the register. A year or two and I’d be a distant memory in people’s minds, at least I hoped. I could tell now that London knew who I had been that she was hypersensitive to the looks and the attention and it made her uncomfortable. Unfortunately, my size didn’t make it easy for me to blend in with the crowd.
“Right in here,” the saleswoman said. “Let me know if you need anything.” As she breezed past us, I caught the name on her nametag which read Chyna.
“I’ll be right here if you need me.” There were four plush armchairs just outside the dressing room doors and I took a seat in one. She smiled, excitement beginning to creep into her expression as she spun and entered the dressing room, closing the dark varnished wooden door behind her.
Chapter 18
London
The dressing room was quite large, easily six by six and at the back hung up were six dresses. All were floor length and were a variety of styles in colors of red, black and charcoal. Going to the first one which was a black sequined dress which met the floor, I held it up to myself and noticed there was slits on both sides which would nearly meet my groin area. One major gust of wind and I’d be in serious trouble.
It wasn’t the style of dress that was the real shocker though, it was the price tag attached to it. Five thousand dollars for one dress! Quickly, I checked all the other price tags and they all ranged from four to six thousa
nd. Insanity.
Did Cole know the prices of the items in the store? Should I bring it up? He was the one who chose the place so he must have been at least somewhat familiar with how much things cost here.
Looking at the gown in hand again, I noticed it was a size 12. It looked pretty small for a 12, but I’d give it a shot. Maybe it was stretchy? Though if it was leggings stretchy then I could say with certainty it wasn’t going to look good on me.
Here goes nothing… Stripping down to my underwear, I unzipped the back of my dress and stepped in to it. Pulling it up, I slipped my arms into the long sleeves and didn’t even have to attempt to zip it up to know this wasn’t a workable situation for me. It accented my curves in all the wrong places, making me look a solid twenty pounds heavier then I really was. From the right angle I could have been mistaken for newly pregnant.
Next.
One down. Five more to go. Dress two through five were all busts as well either not fitting or made for women who had zero body fat.
The final dress was a deep crimson velour, strapless dress what flared out at the bottom. It was also floor length and topped the others coming in a six thousand. It had promise and looked as though it had a little more girth then the others.
Well, here goes nothing…
Pulling this one on was less of a chore, but the zipper was a hassle and I only managed to get it halfway up, no amount of grunting and groaning could make the zipper come up the entire way.
“Are you okay?” Cole called from the other side of the door. “You’ve been a long time and haven’t shown me a single one.”
“We’re not having much luck, Cole.”
“Let me see.” Before I could reply, the door opened and Cole stepped into the dressing room with me.
I looked at him in the mirror as he came to stand behind me. “I can’t get the zipper up, but so far so good. The others would have embarrassed me to show you.”
