Quarterback Leap (Taking the Leap Book 10)

by Brynn Paulin

  “You never stop,” I laughed.

  “I’ve been trained to go full tilt into the fray. No fear. I’ve learned to assert my dominance, on and off the field. I’m not going to stand beneath your balcony and call for you. I’m going to climb up to the damn thing and come get you. And once I’m there, I’m not leaving. And you won’t want me to because you’ll be mine in every way.”

  He’d been right. I hadn’t wanted him to leave to go to his game. And I didn’t want to be away from him now.

  After lugging my suitcase up to my room, I locked the door and fell backward onto the bed. I stared at the white ceiling, and thought of my weekend. I’d grade papers and take long soaks and veg in between. I wondered if other teachers regretted their occupation when faced with grading sixty, four-page minimum papers, written by a bunch of students who had no interest in the assignment. I couldn’t be the only one.

  Pulling my phone from the pocket of the jeans I’d put on after Kyler had left, I looked at the time. Eight-thirty. He was probably deep into his game.

  The notification for the text he’d sent me earlier was still on the screen.

  Shaking my head, I opened it.

  Secret Boyfriend: That asshole can try all he wants, but you’re mine. I’m not giving up.

  I sighed, the butterflies in my belly fluttering.

  Opening messenger, I pulled up the conversation and typed out a note.

  Whitney: Thinking of you during the game. Be safe. I hope it’s great.

  He wouldn’t get it until after the game, but it was okay. He’d get the sentiment.

  Sighing, I scooted up the bed and grabbed my briefcase. Papers tonight; fun tomorrow. I laid out the stack of essays, grabbed a pen then carried it all to the small table in the corner. After ordering room service, I settled in for some stimulating reading. To my surprise, they weren’t too bad. I was so engrossed that my phone going off startled me. I realized I’d been grading for a couple hours.

  Secret Boyfriend: Thanks! We won. Wish you were here to celebrate. Have fun with your friends.

  Whitney: I’m not actually with friends. It’s just a weekend away.

  Secret Boyfriend: Away doing what? Are you with someone?

  Whitney: Yes, I was with you today, and now, I’m with someone else because I’m a total slore. (sarcasm, in case you can’t tell)

  Whitney: Grading papers. Relaxing.

  Secret Boyfriend: Where?

  Whitney: What?

  Secret Boyfriend: Where are you?

  Whitney: I told you I’m not with anyone.

  Secret Boyfriend: I get that. But *I* want to be there with you.

  I tapped my fingers, debating. Of course, my downlow was all for it and already getting ready for a sexcapade. My brain wasn’t jumping on the love train.

  Whitney: You can’t just come out here. Your parents will freak. Not to mention how suspicious they’ll be.

  Secret Boyfriend: My parents are on a cruise and won’t be back for another week. Perks of being almost nineteen. They leave me on my own.

  I stared at the screen, seriously tempted.

  Secret Boyfriend: Don’t ignore me.

  Whitney: I’m not ignoring you. I’m thinking. Needy much?

  Secret Boyfriend: I need you. Does that count?

  “Damn it,” I swore. I was going to give in. I just knew it. Before I could stop myself, I was keying in the information. Being overdramatic because I was alone and I could, I threw myself on the bed, facedown, and yelled into the blankets. Weak. I was so weak.

  But being with Kyler, felt so right.

  Chapter Six

  ~ Kyler ~

  Ready for the fight of my life, I hiked my duffel higher on my shoulder and walked through the hotel lobby like I belonged there. I did. My girlfriend had invited me. Sort of. I’d twisted her arm a bit, but the hotel info she’d sent me, along with the room number was an unspoken invitation.

  I smiled as I took the elevator up to the fifth floor. Two nights alone with Whitney. Could I ask for a better opportunity?

  Well, yeah. Forever. Every night with her. But this was as good as I’d get for now.

  “I really do have to work,” she said to me when she opened the door a few minutes later.

  “Um-hmm,” I answered, dropping my bag and wrapping a hand around the back of her head. My mouth covered hers, and I crowded her into the wall beside the door. Whitney moaned, twining her arms around me. Her legs followed the motion when I lifted her. My rock-hard length pressed to her softness.

  “Kyler,” she whispered against my mouth, before I dove in for more of her sweetness.

  “I missed you.”

  “It’s only been a few hours.”

  “A few hours too long. I’m going to fuck you right here. The whole floor will know what you’re doing while you’re riding me and singing my name.”

  She buried her face in my neck. “The things you say.”

  “The truth I tell.” Undeterred, I pushed up her T-shirt. This time, I was exploring all of her, touching all of her. Helping me, she stripped it off. “No bra,” I commented as her bare breasts came into view.

  “The benefit of a small-ish chest,” she muttered.

  “Perfect-ish chest is more like it.” Dropping my head, I sucked one perfect nipple into my mouth. She released a choked cry as I hummed my pleasure. “Strawberries.”

  “It’s a…Oh God, Kyler,” she gasped, her fingers shoved deep in my hair. “Spa room. It’s a spa room. They had stuff.”

  “I like it. Do you taste like strawberries all over?”

  “Maybe, you should check.”

  “Good idea,” I agreed. I set her on her feet and stripped off my clothes. “Jeans off,” I told her while I disrobed. “Panties, too,” I added in case there was a question. Watching her was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I hadn’t been a virgin this afternoon, but I hadn’t been dipping in anything willing either. It had been a couple years. And nothing had ever seemed as natural as it was with Whitney.

  Because she’s your one, dumbass.

  Standing before her, my cock jutting toward her like a beacon, I knew my gut was right. This perfect woman was right, destined for me. As she stepped from the denim she’d shoved to her ankles, I dropped to my knees. Pulling her leg over my shoulder, I buried my face in her sweet smelling folds. Parting her with my hand, I licked a trail from front to back then returned to suck her clit. Over and over, I gathered her creamy nectar on my tongue, worshiping at her altar. My eyes rolled up to watch her, and the vision entranced me. Her head was thrown back, her hands still buried in my hair as she rolled her hips into me.

  “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” I told her. I’d never seen anything as erotic as my woman giving herself to me. My dick throbbed, pre-cum leaking from the tip.

  “Please, Kyler. In me.”

  Two fingers stroked along her slit. “Like this?”

  She growled. “No. You.”

  “This is me,” I teased, pushing the digits deep into her convulsing passage while I took that sensitive bud of nerves between my lips again. Whitney bowed against the wall, coming hard while I finger-fucked her.

  “Jerk,” she accused, when she stopped shaking.

  I stood, lifting her with me. Pressing her to the wall, I drove my dick deep. “You gonna come again on me? Bathe me in all that sweetness?”

  “No,” she pouted, but her arms tightened, and we both knew she would.

  Her legs wrapped around me, holding me to her while I powered in and out, giving her all of me. Her walls clamped down until I could barely move, but the sweet friction was too alluring. I couldn’t stop. I never wanted to stop.

  “Tell me you’re mine,” I demanded.

  “Kyler, yes.”

  “Tell me. Tell me, Whitney.”

  “I’m yours.”

  “Yes, mine.” My fingers dug into her hips as I fucked her hard, our bodies slamming into the wall and our moans echoing around us. Suddenly, she released a long, kee
ning cry. Flutters fisted my cock, growing stronger and stronger until they were a vise that allowed nothing besides coming with her and giving her everything.

  “Whit,” I groaned, emptying into her willing body. I sighed in contentment and dropped my head into her neck. The vision of my seed taking, of her getting round with our child filled my head. I wanted it. I wanted her pregnant with our baby.

  “I think that’s a great start to our weekend,” I murmured. No way was I telling her my thoughts. But this was twice we’d had sex without protection. Maybe, she was on something, but I hoped not.

  She hummed, still sex drugged.

  “Let’s go to bed,” I said. “Rest a minute before we do that again. Because I intend to take you all night.”

  Except, we didn’t rest. The second I had her spread out on the mattress, I was ready again. And Whit was just as willing.

  * * * *

  It was still dark when I woke, but my brain immediately knew whose body was pressed to mine. My arms tightened slightly. I’d never been happier in my life. Finding Whitney was like the answer to prayers I’d never spoken. They’d always been on my heart, though. She was the sweetest gift.

  But I knew she was still reluctant.

  “Everything will be okay,” I whispered. “I’ll always take care of you, always love you.”

  “Love me?” she whispered back.

  “You’re awake.”

  “Just.” She turned in my arms, looking into my eyes, her brow furrowed. “Just in time to hear you say you love me. Was I dreaming?”

  “No. I do love you.”

  “Kyler, I—”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t love me back.”

  “It’s soon.”

  “People fall in love in a moment. One second, they aren’t in love; the next second, they are. I’ve been falling since last spring.”

  Her eyes closed, and she took a deep breath. I’d seen it a few times, I knew she was thinking or coming to terms with the reality.

  “You don’t have to say it back,” I assured her. My hand stroked over her hair. I knew she had feelings for me. If she didn’t, I wouldn’t be in this bed with her.

  She didn’t say anything, falling back to sleep. I pressed my lips to her forehead. Her hands curled into me, clutching my body to her while I drifted to sleep, too. Peace filled me. She might not be able to say it, but I knew it. There was too much brokenness in her past to let her accept the love she felt now. Words were impossible, but our bodies spoke for themselves.

  Chapter Seven

  ~ Whitney ~

  Setting up the projector for the movie I was showing today, I hid a yawn behind my hand. I was exhausted, and at the moment, I kind of hated Kyler. He always seemed full of boundless energy, despite the hours we kept. Meanwhile, I was dragging. It had been almost a month since that weekend away. We were together long hours every night. As far as I could tell, his parents were either absent or gave him carte blanche to do as he pleased. What pleased him was practically living at my house.

  And I didn’t hate him. I loved him, even if I hadn’t said it yet. I needed to man up, so to speak, and take the leap like he had. He’d taken the chance of coming for me even though there were lots—Lots—of cons to us being together. I need to stop being afraid, stop letting my lonely past keep me from opening my heart. Tonight, after his game, I’d do it. I’d leap and tell him how I really felt.

  I yawned again. Hopefully, I wouldn’t fall asleep during this fourth hour showing of McBeth.

  “Hey, there’s coffee in the lounge,” Taylor called from the doorway of the classroom. We both had a break during this lunch session.

  “I’m not sure coffee will help.”

  He came in and leaned on the desk nearest the projector. He was a kind, nice-looking guy, and I wondered why I couldn’t have been attracted to him. A relationship with Taylor would be easy. But he wasn’t close to anything I wanted.

  “Burning the candle at both ends?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Well, maybe, you should spend this weekend in bed,” he chuckled.

  I felt my face flush.

  You have no idea… Truth was, I probably would. Kyler was insatiable. I had no doubt the mattress and I would get quite the workout.

  “Oh,” he hummed in amusement, apparently noting my flustered look. “New boyfriend?”

  “Um…”

  He patted my arm. “I get it. I looked like the walking dead when Perry and I got together. Tell your guy to give you a break. We need you to stay in one piece.”

  “Thanks,” I chuckled.

  “Well, I sure as hell don’t want to get stuck teaching Shakespeare.”

  I couldn’t help it; I cracked up, Taylor laughing with me. When I looked up, Kyler was standing in the doorway, his eyes narrowed. Before I could say a word, or Taylor noticed him, he spun away and disappeared.

  Shit.

  I sighed. I’d have to deal with this today. My possessive man needed to understand that I had colleagues I liked and that I might even have a laugh with them. It didn’t mean we’d be jumping into bed together. No, that was reserved for my inappropriate nights with a student.

  * * * *

  Secret Boyfriend: Meet me in the supply closet.

  I glanced at the door at the back of my classroom. The building was old, and at one time, this part had been an elementary school. What had at one time been a coatroom had been converted into a large closet/office area.

  Hot Teacher: What?

  Oh my God, when had he changed my name on my phone. I hoped it only displayed for me. I’d have a lot of fun—not—explaining that moniker to the principal.

  Secret Boyfriend: Meet me in the supply closet once you get the movie started.

  Sighing, my body gearing up for whatever scandalous thing he had planned, I shoved away my phone as students started entering the room. Smiling, I greeted them each. I couldn’t help how delighted I was at their glee that they’d get to watch a movie today. Sorry kids, it’s from 1971. Truly, I didn’t think they cared. It was a break for all of us.

  My nerves ramped up anxiously, my hands clammy and prickles crawling up my back as the beginning of period bell rang. I wasn’t scared of Kyler. Hardly. If anything, he’d toned down his aggressive behavior lately. The love of a good woman, I liked to joke. That didn’t mean he wasn’t aggressively sexual with me. And whatever he had planned had me on edge.

  “Lola, can you get the lights and close the door?” I asked as I started the movie and turned the volume just a touch too loud. “Okay, everyone, make sure you pay attention. We’ll be discussing the film on Monday.”

  There wasn’t a bunch of dramatic license taken here, but they could be intent for it, anyway. As everyone settled in, I backed toward the rear wall of my classroom. I leaned against the cool cinderblock, arms crossed. About five minutes in, I reached to the side and opened the door. I’d barely slid in when Kyler had me in his arms. I heard the lock click then he pulled me into the space.

  “You’re mine,” he growled quietly into my ear. “And I’m reminding you of that.”

  “Of course. I—”

  His fingers clamped over my mouth as he spun me and bent me over a wide, three-drawer cabinet. I was overheated, and the metal was cool through my blouse. Kyler’s palm never moved as his other hand hiked up my skirt and shoved my panties to my knees then off. His pants were to his thighs, his belt rough against the softer skin of mine.

  I groaned as he thrust into me, his thick length claiming every bit of me. Why would I want anything else? He bent over my back.

  “Not one sound,” he rasped in my ear, his body pressing me in place. His cock pummeled in and out of me. “Can’t have the class hearing you. Can you be quiet?”

  I shook my head frantically. Kyler knew I was loud during sex. He liked that I was a screamer.

  “Guess I’ll need to help you then.” Fabric shoved against my lips then into my mouth. I moaned as I realized it was my
panties. I was in my supply closet of my classroom, with a student, my panties in my mouth and his dick deep inside me. My forehead dropped to the cabinet top while he fucked me, holding my hands together at the small of my back. How had I ended up here? Why did I love it?

  My sex flooded around him. There was no way he didn’t know how turned on I was by how easily he owned me.

  “I’m going to fill you up,” he rasped against my ear. “My cum will be dripping from you, reminding you the rest of the day.”

  I moaned behind my gag that didn’t muffle the sound near as well as it should. Thankfully, I could hear some skirmish happening onscreen in the other room. Then, I was aware of nothing as Kyler fucked me into oblivion, his hand covering my mouth to further hide the sounds coming from me as I came all over him. As he owned me. As he showed me exactly who I loved. This rough possessive man had taken my heart, and I knew I wasn’t getting it back.

  After my climax, I panted against the filing cabinet while Kyler righted my clothes. Pulling me upright, he kissed me tenderly, completely the opposite of the rough marauder who’d just re-staked his claim.

  “I love you. I don’t like seeing you with other men,” he murmured.

  “He doesn’t want me; trust me on that.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “I’m sure. Now, let me go, you big bully. I have to get back to class. I’ll let you know when it’s clear to go. How did you get in here anyway?”

  “Snuck in while you were getting coffee.”

  Nodding, I went to the door then let myself back into the room. I startled, my heart almost flying from my chest when I saw Principal Waters standing a few feet from the door, obviously waiting for me. I had no doubt my shock and possible distress showed on my face before I could school it away. He didn’t seem surprised. I knew why when he handed me my phone. A notification telling me to get moving was on the screen.

  Shit. I’d left it on the stand beside the projector after I’d gone to get the coffee Taylor had suggested.

  “Do I want to know?” he asked dryly.

  I shook my head. “I wasn’t feeling well,” I lied, despite the evidence he’d shown me.