The Sport of Romance: A Multi-Author Box Set

by Cari Quinn

  He opened the door for her and frowned. “You’re a confusing woman, Val.”

  “Darren, there’s nothing confusing about this. You need time. I need space.” She stepped outside the open door. “Thanks for the beer.”

  “Anytime. Thanks for bringing my wallet,” he replied with a tight smile. Something hovered over his mood, darkening it. Probably his ex-wife.

  They stared intently at each other a while, neither really wanting to say goodbye. She was chickening out. She knew that. She had a stupid crush on this man, and she’d come here… It was ridiculous. She had no business considering a night with Darren.

  “Here.” Darren retrieved his wallet and pulled out a ten. She started to refuse, but he pressed it into her hand, the paper crumbling between his fingers and her palm. “I insist. This was way out of the way for you. Gas money.”

  His consideration warmed her insides. Slowly, she pulled her hand back, squeezing the bill in her palm before she slipped it in her pocket. “Thanks.”

  She had lists of dozens of women that had made the mistake she had been about to make; let their bodies instead of their heads talk. And she’d seen what happened when they did. She wasn’t a rich person. She could barely afford herself, let alone the expense of a sexually transmitted disease, or worse, a baby.

  “Valerie?”

  “Hmm?” She blinked and mortification hit her. Had she been staring?

  “I want more than friendship with you,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  “I can’t date you, Darren. You’re too grumpy.” She smiled back, hoping he’d caught her joke. Joking was something she was familiar with. It was something she could hold on to. It was safe.

  “Only because I have to share my favorite waitress with all the other drunks,” he said, his dark eyes intense, twin pools of chocolate heaven concentrated just on her. “I’m not a good sharer. I flunked kindergarten.”

  She laughed but it died quickly in the wake of his focused stare. Wishful thinking, perhaps but in his eyes, she saw desire, plain and simple, a need to devour her. Like she wanted to do to him. But she couldn’t do it. Not without losing her own wits about her. Holding on, keeping the control was important. Necessary.

  But her body warred with her common sense, admonishing her for not jumping his bones right then. Then it moved on its own. She didn’t recognize herself as she stepped into his personal space, feeling short next to his over-six-foot frame. There was a pounding in her ears, matching the fierce thud of her heart.

  Wrapping her fingers around the back of his neck, she brought his head down to hers. His warmth surrounded her, his lips tasting lightly of beer. She sucked in his lower lip, waiting for him to pull away but he didn’t. His arms slid around her waist and pulled her closer to him, but they didn’t remain there. One caressed her hip while the other traveled upward, across her ribs to her side, his fingertips brushing across the thick fabric of her hoodie over her nipple.

  As soon as his hand cupped her breast, she gasped. He took full advantage, sliding his tongue into her mouth when her lips parted. His thumb brushed over her nipple as his other hand slid over her ass and pressed her close to him, grinding her against a growing erection.

  His decadent hands touched her, alternating gentleness and feverous. The cool air hit her skin when he slid both hands under her hoodie and splayed them across her waist. He turned them, gripping the edges of the hoodie, and pulled her close to her as he kissed her. Her own arousal dampened her underwear in response.

  But the wheels in Val’s head wouldn’t stop turning. He wasn’t over his ex, and she knew it. If she kept going, it wouldn’t be right. Six month separation or not, he wasn’t over his now ex-wife.

  Slowly, she pulled back, sure it was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. But to keep going? It would be so irresponsible. of her.

  He was too delectable for words. She’d gotten a taste of him, but that was by far, not enough. But it had to be. Darren let her go, too, though reluctantly.

  She gave him a soft smile, her lips feeling bruised and fevered. “Good night, Darren.”

  “Please stay.” The rumbly tone of his voice vibrated through her body.

  She shook her head. “If I stay, I’m going to twist you into a sexual pretzel.”

  He laughed. “I’m not seeing a problem with this. I’m pretty limber.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t do it. Not like this, Darren. I want more from you than spur of the moment sex.” The aching throb of her pussy didn’t agree at all. It wanted the spur of the moment sex. “So, while physically, this—” She motioned between them “—would be—has been—amazing, I need more than being a rebound girl.”

  He looked confused, but after a moment, he nodded. “Alright. Good night, Valerie.”

  She supposed she should have been happy about that. She’d won. But she didn’t feel like a winner. She was walking away like a coward. But she knew herself. She would end up falling for Darren harder than she already had, and then when he came to his senses, she’d be left with a broken heart. It was already written. All she had to do was play it out.

  With a last look at him, she gave him an apologetic smile. “Thank you.”

  “Will I see you next time I come to the Penalty Box?” His face was hopeful, and filled her with happiness. She’d always enjoyed their time together while she worked. He made a relentless, thankless, exhausting job bearable.

  She nodded. “I’m not going anywhere yet.”

  She escaped down the hall to the elevator and heaved a heavy sigh as the elevator doors shut.

  Stupid. He’d kissed her. She’d kissed him. He’d kissed her back. He’d touched her.

  And it had been hot.

  Blazing, even.

  So why was she walking away from the only man she’d ever kissed that gave her chills and a fever at the same time? If all she could have was sex, wasn’t that enough? Couldn’t that be enough? What in the dating manual said she had to be in a relationship?

  Her brow furrowed. Maybe she just needed to take one night and let things be the way they needed to be. Maybe she needed to put herself out there just a bit more, and stop trying to be so careful. Well, she’d kind of already done that once, hadn’t she? And he hadn’t called her back. But she hadn’t asked him to either.

  “I wouldn’t call me, either,” she growled when the elevator doors opened to the lobby.

  * * *

  Darren’s body ached as Valerie walked away, back toward the elevator. His body called out for her to stay, but he couldn’t force her to want to. He shut the door, mentally berating himself as the elevator dinged. He didn’t love Angela. Not anymore. But he was fairly sure that Val thought he did. Rebound girl? Had he gotten that sullen about Angela? God, he was a dumb shit.

  He leaned his forehead against the closed door. He would have screwed her silly tonight, and not regretted it. But she would have and that in itself was worth holding off. He’d already had a taste of her, and there was no going back for him. He wanted her, but he wanted more than her body, as delicious as it would be.

  His dick throbbed with neglect. Why did he let her leave again? His body remembered her, even when he tried to forget. He slid his hand into his sweatpants, the waistband stretching to accommodate his arm, and grasped his cock, stroking it, smooth and slow, trying to ease his desire for one very sexy waitress.

  Darren closed his eyes, visualizing her naked breasts as she knelt before him. Her lovely mouth would form an “O” as she took him inside her mouth, sucking deliciously. Stroking faster, mimicking the motions with his hand he imagined her mouth doing, his balls tightened, eliciting a groan. He would bend his lovely waitress over his kitchen counter, throw her against the wall and fuck her into oblivion, make her ride him until he lost his mind.

  His cock lengthened even more, stiffening and ready to explode. He stroked faster, keeping an image of Valerie on her knees, taking his dick deep within her mouth, over and over—

  Someone ban
ged on the door he leaned against, the vibration against his forehead startling him backward. He stumbled, swaying as the blood rushed through his body.

  Stunned and still very hard, he stared at the door. It was well after fucking midnight. He shoved his too-hard dick back into his sweatpants and cracked the door.

  Valerie stood on the other side.

  “Hi.” Her voice was a whisper of air, but somehow it echoed in his ears. She met his eyes, a fierceness in them like she was determined to do whatever she’d decided.

  “Darren?”

  He stared some more, stunned into silence. Any moment now, he was going to wake up and she would be gone.

  Was he fucking dreaming?

  She cleared her throat, fiddling with her fingertips, and added. “I want to stay.” A pretty maroon blush colored her cheeks. “I mean, if you still want me to.”

  It didn’t take but a second for it to register before Darren threw open the door the rest of the way and reached for her. She beat him to it, jumping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his torso.

  “Hell, yeah, I do,” he said against her mouth as his hands palmed her ass, supporting her as she grabbed his head and attacked his mouth, his erection cradled between her legs. He wanted to set her down and talk to her, find out why she ran, why she came back, but that wasn’t going to happen. His body wasn’t responding to him anymore, completely attuned to the way Val’s soft curves melded against him. He kicked the door shut behind him and he carried her toward the bedroom. His cock was leading the way now, fevered with the idea that she was his, that she wanted him, that she came back.

  His heart was content that she was there. He’d be able to talk to her later. Now, as he stumbled with her in his arms, he just had to taste her again.

  Darren turned and pressed her against the wall, unable to wait until they reached the bedroom. Her back landed against the wall with a thud, knocking a picture off the wall, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she tangled her fingers in his hair, tightening her hold. He grunted as he ground his pelvis into hers in response.

  “Valerie…” he whispered, trailing little kisses across her jaw and down her neck. She arched and threw her head back, exposing more of her throat to him. Her legs squeezed his waist. She arched her back. The bend in her spine forced her breasts against his chest as her fingers dug into his shoulders.

  “Shh… Let’s go visit that king size, huh?” she whispered, her voice hoarse. God, he wanted her so bad. He didn’t want to stop, but she pressed against his chest, and unhooked her legs from him. He groaned in disappointment as she slid off his body. “Relax, Eager McEagerson. We have plenty of time.” She took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

  “I don’t want to wait,” he said. His voice had a slight whine to it. How very manly of him. “I’ve wanted you for weeks.”

  She stopped as they entered the bedroom and turned a sassy smirk on him. “Is that so? I could tell, by the way you came to see me so much.”

  “I had a road trip,” he countered. “I travel a lot, you know.”

  “We’re not going to talk about this right now,” she said, “because if I start thinking, I’ll stop and I don’t want to stop tonight.”

  “Then by all means, chica,” he spread his arms out as his back faced the mattress, “do your worst.” She pressed her palms to his chest. Smirking, he grabbed her wrists as she pushed and tried to pull away, and took her to the bed with him. She wasn’t getting away that easily.

  * * *

  Valerie’s breath left her as she fell on top of Darren. As she landed, her soft breasts pressed against his hard body in sharp contrast. His erection jerked against her belly. This man pushed every button she had without even trying and he said he’d been waiting weeks for her?

  She’d waited too. While she’d been able to throw herself into work, every time she walked into the Penalty Box she thought of him, wondered what he was doing, where he was. But when he didn’t even try to contact her, she’d felt abandoned.

  Ugh. She was ruining this.

  Too much thought.

  She was determined to shut her mind off for the evening and enjoy herself for once. Her heart thumped against her rib cage. She gazed down at him, their bodies pressed together. He was absolutely the most gorgeous creature she’d ever seen.

  A mischievous grin came over his face. He rolled them so he loomed over her, situated between her legs. His gaze roamed over her body and back to her eyes. “You’re wearing way too many clothes. I need you naked.”

  “Yeah? Well… so are you,” she countered, immediately feeling lame. He was half-naked, wearing only those old sweatpants. She was smothered in clothes that were too tight, too heavy. She ran her fingers through his sprinkling of chest hair with a smile, reuniting touch with memory. His breath caught as her palms brushed over his nipples.

  “You’re killing me.” His jaw was set in grim determination, the veins on his neck strained. She liked him out of control. Just for good measure, she pinched one of his nipples between her index and thumb and twisted.

  He caught her wrist firmly. She shuddered at the determined look in his eyes, alight with desire. All for her. “Too many clothes. You need to catch up.”

  He pulled at the zipper of her hoodie and slipped it off her body, lifting her up to toss it away. Her tank top was next, leaving her in jeans and a blue satin bra. Insecurity flared within her, but Darren showed no signs of slowing down. Determination marked his chiseled expression as he ran his fingers across her bare skin, down her rib cage, to her waist.

  Resoluteness set his jaw as he unbuttoned her jeans and lifted her to pull them over her hips and down her legs. He got awkwardly stuck at her boots, which he had to unlace to get her pants off. She tried to help him, but he pressed her into the mattress and shook his head. “This is my job.”

  Finally, she was left in her underwear, navy blue lace bikini briefs and bra on full display. He smiled as he smoothed his large hands over her calves, to her thighs, over her hips, and up her rib cage to the bottom of her breasts.

  “You match.”

  She chuckled, a blush creeping over her face. “I like it when things match.”

  He nodded. “It’s nice, but we’re not quite where I want you yet.” He positioned her legs so they were on either side of him, opening her to him. Crawling up her body, he kissed her again, his tongue thrusting into her mouth with the promise of more. Even if he hadn’t been kissing her, Valerie would have been speechless.

  This was Darren. He was gorgeous, and he exuded strength and confidence. He knew what he wanted and he went for it. She’d never had a guy pay such attention to her. His erection pressed against his sweats, tucked against the apex of her thighs. She longed to get rid of the rest of their clothes, to feel his skin against hers, to feel him inside her.

  Her bra popped open and Darren swept it away before she offered any resistance, though at this point, she really didn’t want to resist. The cool air made her nipples pucker, sending shivers through her body. He kissed the crook of her neck and went lower until his mouth closed on her nipple, sucking it into his mouth. Electricity shot through her body and her back arched without hesitation.

  She fisted the sheets, tangled her fingers in his curls as she called out his name. He laved over her nipple, flicking it with his tongue while he sucked the tip in his mouth. Heat pooled in her core, liquid fire soaking her underwear. He moved over to the other nipple and did it again, wickedly leaving a trail between her breasts.

  Darren palmed both of her breasts as he kissed along her abdomen, and continued lower, until he reached the apex of her thighs. His hands slid down her body.

  Cool air hit her overheated pussy as he hooked his thumbs in her underwear and slowly slipped them away. The way it peeled from her body made her moan, shivering over the wisp of the fabric against her thighs.

  She glanced down as he ran his hands over her legs toward her hips. Spreading her lower lips open, Darren pressed his index finge
r into her entrance and immediately both of them groaned. He shook his head. “Oh, man, Val. You’re so tight. You’re squeezing my finger, baby.”

  She squirmed, more so when thumb he stroked across her clit. It was a simple brush of his thumb, but she’d been hypersensitive to his touch since he kissed her at the desk.

  “I love the way you look all flushed and hot,” Darren said, his voice adding to her pleasure.

  “Oh, Darren. Please. More.”

  A second finger joined the first. “Like this?”

  “Oh, God, yes,” she cried. He was filling her, his fingers pumping back and forth, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She wanted his cock, buried deep inside her. She wanted to feel the full length of him stroking her insides until she couldn’t think anymore.

  His thumb began to stroke rhythmically over her clit, and then she nearly shot off the bed when his tongue flicked over it. His free hand pressed down on her hips, holding her in place as he took her clit into his mouth and sucked hard. Her whole body began to tense and tingle. He swiped his tongue over her pussy again, until the dam inside broke. She screamed out his name as heat seared her vision white, then blackness threatened to take her. Her fingers clenched on his hair, but she couldn’t help herself. He was relentless, continuing to lick and suck her until she collapsed back on the bed, releasing his hair. He moved off, took his sweatpants off, and came back to her.

  “Fuck, you’re so… wow… when you come.” He kissed her, the taste of her still lingering on his mouth. The tip of his erection nudged at her folds.

  “Oh, man.” She could barely manage to speak. Climaxing that hard was new for her, even better than anything she’d been able to do for herself. There was something to be said for a talented man’s tongue.

  He sucked on her earlobe and his low voice whispered. “I want you even more after watching that.”

  Her heart crashed inside her chest as she reached between them and stroked his cock in slow, methodical strokes. “Tell me you’ve got protection.”

  He groaned, closing his eyes as he began to thrust into her hand. She chuckled. Her desire hadn’t died with the orgasm he’d given her. Quite the opposite. She needed him too. Stroking him, watching his desire for her ratchet up, it made her feel powerful, feminine. In control.