“Well, I’m apologizing on her behalf. I’m sorry you had a shitty time in high school. But darlin’, we ain’t in high school anymore. We’re about to be snowed-in, in a cabin far from civilization, so in the spirit of forgiveness allow me the honor of apologizing to you in the only way I can. With my rockin’ body.”
Skyla couldn’t help but laugh. God, the man was so unbelievably vain.
“There, finally! Now can we unload this car and get these groceries in?”
She nodded and wiped her tears, following Travis’s lead while he began to grab bags. She moved to unlock the door and let him in first as she attended to the few bags he’d left behind. When she sat the last bag on the table, she turned to close the door and lock it, shivering as the blistering wind whistled in. It had gotten exceptionally cold in a matter of hours.
She turned to the bag only to be stopped by Travis as he gently gripped her shoulders.
She gasped but looked his handsome face over, seeing a softness in his usually overconfident blue eyes she’d not noticed before.
“Hey, you know I can’t undo what she did to you. I can apologize for her, but I can’t take the sting away or change anything from the past, especially when I didn’t know what was happening.”
Sky scowled and nodded. “Travis, it’s ok. I—”
“But what I can do,” he interrupted, “is attempt to make it up to you.”
“It’s not your place to do that.”
“Ok, well.” He gave her a beaming smile, showcasing those dimples she’d always swooned for. “Let’s say, I want to. Allow me the honor of an attempt to make your high school memories better?”
Sky gave him a confused look, unsure what he had up his sleeve.
“You didn’t go to junior or senior prom, right? Your mom was sick that first year, so you missed it.”
Skyla blushed a dozen shades, looking down even as Trav’s finger moved beneath her chin and tilted her face back up. Tears stung her eyes as she stared into orbs as blue as glacier water. “Yes, but she insisted I go. I wasn’t asked by anyone either year…of course. But she begged me to go stag, so that I could experience the spectacle. I knew I would be laughed at, so I declined.”
“Anyone who was stupid enough to laugh at you deserves a punch in the face…that goes for Brittany too.”
“You wouldn’t punch a woman,” Sky contended.
“Ok, no, but I might have encouraged you to punch her,” he joshed. “My point is, I think we need to redo prom. Tonight.”
“What? How?”
“Well, I got a radio and batteries, here. And I’m sure we can find some clothes in the drawers. They may not be fancy, but we can pretend, embellish a little.” He winked.
If she hadn’t been so in love with him already she might have fallen then, for the twinkle in his eyes had never been so brilliant. She smiled big, grateful for his kindness. It touched a place in her heart…and somewhere low in her belly too.
“Would you like that?”
Sky nodded as a tear fell down her cheek. He swiped it away and leaned into kiss the cheek he’d just set on fire with his tender touch. He whispered, “Well, first Ms. Larson, I need to ask you to go with me.”
“O—Okay.”
“So, Skyla, I was wondering… you wanna go to prom with me?” Travis’s smile was mischievous as he pulled back some to look into her face, far more handsome than she ever remembered it being when he was a teenage boy.
She couldn’t fight the tremble that started up her spine and she licked her lips as his eyes fell to her mouth. She couldn’t speak so she nodded again.
“Since this is an impromptu prom, we can dance and cook…and maybe after we’ll let our bodies party too.” He winked again and she shoved at him.
“You need to behave. My father would never approve.”
“Good thing your father is far away; you’re not a teenager anymore, you know? Besides, I can’t let those condoms go to waste.”
“And just like that, you killed the mood…moron.” She rolled her eyes, moving away to unpack the bags and put the groceries away.
“I’ll just reset it. I’m an expert where women are concerned.”
“Yeah, well, not this woman. This woman isn’t like the others. You can’t sweet talk your way into my pants, even if you take me to ‘prom’.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“No?” he asked, taking the meat from her grasp and gripping her wrist. He ran his finger down the inside curve of her arm and up into her sleeve. She stifled the moan at her throat. “You wearing panties made of steel?”
Sky laughed. “No.”
“Then trust me when I tell you, I’ll get in ‘em. If my words don’t melt them right off first.”
“You seriously think you’re God’s gift to women, don’t you, Travis Redmond? Your head is really that big.”
“They both are.” He flashed his pearly whites again and she jerked her arm away, moving to the fridge. “I intend to have you, Skyla. I may even ruin you to other men once you get a taste of what I can do.”
Skyla turned and laughed big in his face, even as he began caging her into the chilly fridge, her back hitting the metal. “What makes you think I even want to sleep with you? How many lovers have you had by now?”
“Less than you’d assume.”
“Double digits, I’m sure.”
“Possibly.” He shrugged, nonchalantly.
“I bet you’ve lost count, haven’t you?”
“No.”
Sky’s eyes narrowed, attempting to read him. “You’d probably just lie to me, wouldn’t you?”
“I’m a lot of things, Fireball. A liar isn’t one of them.”
“I beg to differ, cheater.”
The smile faded from his face and his lips tightened into a line. He pulled his big inked arms from beside her head, and even though she was more comfortable with the distance, she felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold air blowing on her back. She wanted to apologize but held her ground.
“You, of all people, Skyla, know how it feels to be called names. Especially when you aren’t what people assume you to be.”
“Trav—”
“I’m, uh, I’m gonna go shower and change. You got this?” he asked, his face red.
Sky simply nodded. She’d never seen Travis so angry and didn’t know how to respond. He paused and sighed heavily, as if intending to say more but then he shifted, his retreating back all she was left with.
“Great job, Sky,” she said aloud to herself. “The one man who’s been interested in you in a long time, wants to sleep with you, and you push him away. Classic.”
She turned and continued to put the groceries away, suddenly feeling like the biggest bitch who ever lived.
When Travis came back into the kitchen his hair was still damp from his shower. He wore an old flannel button-down and a pair of sweat pants he’d found in one of the drawers. He’d topped it with a leather jacket.
“Well, look at you, you found clothes to fit you.”
“You didn’t mention Terry was such a large man.” Travis pulled the sweat pants out and they fell a little. He rolled them down and pulled them up his hips, tying the drawstring at the elastic waistband taut. “I mean I’m six feet, two twenty. He’s gotta be a good twenty or thirty pounds heavier than I am.”
“Yeah, he’s not small.” Sky turned and looked him over. “But you fill out his clothes nicely.” She grinned as she looked him over, her eyes hovering on his chest and shoulders, which the shirt hugged tightly despite the bagginess in the waist.
“I mean it’s not prom attire but comfy at least. I figured our clothes needed to be washed.”
“Good call. Guess I’m wearing an equally as comfortable flannel and sweats, huh?”
“There were some smaller clothes in there. You might actually have more options.” Travis stepped up behind her and put his arms around her waist, tucking his chin against her shoulder and inhaling her lilac-scented hair. “Mmm
, that smells delicious.”
“I—I, uh, I figured I’d start the sauce while you were showering. It needs to simmer.”
“I was talking about you, Fireball. Not the sauce.”
He noticed Sky still and flicked her ear with the tip of his tongue, feeling her quake in his arms. He knew he was being pushy, but it was difficult to be so close to this woman and not be drawn to her, despite her warring emotions. She was a fierce lioness who stopped at nothing to shelter her heart, but there was also a vulnerable side that called to his masculinity. An overwhelming need within him to protect her, comfort her, and claim her.
“Travis, I should apologize.”
“Water under the bridge.” He interrupted and moved the hair off her neck, letting the waves fall through his fingers as he twisted it in his fist. “I don’t want to talk about the past, only what the future holds. Tonight, I envision wine and candles and the sounds of my name on your lips as I take you again and again and again.” His mouth lingered on her pulse point and he watched her tremble, loving how she responded to his touch. He sighed before gently kissing the peachy flesh there that beckoned to him as he fisted her shirt at her waistline. “I bet you’re gonna feel amazing.”
“Tr—Travis, please. I—”
“You’re right. Music and wine first.”
“I also want to change.”
“Yes, that too.” He released her and turned her slowly in his arms, watching her uncertain eyes look him over. He could see the inner fight within her and wondered if she would give in to his advances. “Make it something less conservative. More skin.” He winked.
Skyla scoffed. “How is it that you’re so confident?”
“Years of training, being the best, and having women throw themselves at me.” He shrugged.
Sky looked down, almost reproachful, as she disentangled herself from his arms. “Must be nice,” she quipped and began to walk off. “Watch that sauce, don’t let it stick.”
“Oui, madame.” Travis gave the sauce a quick stir with the wooden spoon Sky had been using, letting the aroma of tomatoes, basil, garlic and oregano assault his hungry belly, which growled in response. He set the spoon aside and moved off to look for a skillet to brown the meatballs in, finding a large cast iron one and pulling it to the gas stove. He decided to make himself useful, hoping to impress Skyla. He didn’t understand why but he wanted her to see him as more than a big-headed athlete with an ego as fat as his wallet. He wanted her to look at him in admiration. He wanted to earn her heart, earn her love, earn her loyalty.
When she came back in, he’d turned the radio on, fished out a pan for their garlic bread, a bowl for their salad, had started the meatballs and was washing the produce. She stopped and her brows went up, she was surprised to say the least. He didn’t want to admit his heart was soaring.
“Wow! You’re efficient.”
“Wow, you’re stunning.” He smiled and looked her outfit over. A gray pair of sweatpants that were much smaller than his, presumably a woman’s, a tight white tank top beneath an unbuttoned pink flannel and fuzzy socks with little ducks on them. “Honey, we match. And here I thought I was gonna have a hard time finding a corsage.”
Sky smiled big, her mouth lifting and perfectly straight teeth showing. Travis swooned and grabbed her up as Frank Sinatra belted out to them, a song about not asking him to dance. She giggled sweetly as he pulled her against him and spun her around the kitchen, the smell of Italian food filling his nostrils. His heart swelled as the two of them connected on this cold Colorado night. Travis hummed the song as his feet moved and he twirled his date to the rhythm of the music. He dipped her at the end and pulled her back up, aligning her to his body, noticing she was the perfect height and fit just right, there in his arms.
Her blue eyes held him as another song took them, this one slower and with more sexual promise. Sky swallowed hard as her eyes fell to his lips and his hand moved to her waist, stroking her through her shirt.
“You’re a good dancer, Sky,” he said and gave her a grin.
“I took lessons in college. Ballroom.”
“That’s interesting. Did you learn anything sexy?” he asked and she huffed. She moved off to turn the meatballs and he felt a little dejected, bereft without her there. He sidled up beside her and began drying the lettuce off with paper towels. “I was just kiddin’,” he stated.
“Why are you so confident? Seriously, where does it come from?”
Travis shrugged. “Defense mechanism, right?” he smirked.
“Perhaps, but you make it look and seem so easy.”
“It’s just who I am, Skyla,” he defended.
“I envy you,” she whispered, almost so softly he barely heard it and his eyes snapped over to her. She was looking down though, focused on their food and he frowned. She was being honest. Her self-esteem was in the toilet, and his was soaring high. He’d never had an issue with liking himself and didn’t understand why she did. It was perplexing.
He decided to bring the mood back. “Well, this is gonna be delicious. I’m starved. How about I break out the wine?”
He moved to the cabinet where they’d placed the bottles of red blends, grabbed one, and began to search for a wine opener. He finally found one in the drawer next to Sky, loving having an excuse to touch—and frazzle—her even further. He was breaking her down even more and she would be his little indulgence soon enough. He couldn’t wait to be buried deep inside her, hearing her scream in pleasure as he screwed all that sass right out of her.
When dinner was done, they plated it up, lowered the music and lit candles to place on the table. Trav had to admit, this was pretty romantic for an impromptu dinner in a remote shack in the woods, while they were hiding out. It turned him on and amped him up.
He bit into a juicy meatball first and moaned aloud, his appetite for food almost as strong as his appetite for the spirited little ginger seated next to him. “Alright, is it too soon to propose to my prom date? Fuck, Sky. This is amazing. You’ll have to tell me the secret recipe.”
“Can’t. Thus, the secrecy. I’ll require the blood sacrifice of your first born in exchange.” She winked.
“Well, fuck me sideways. Did you just make a joke? You mean to tell me ADA Skyla Larson has a sense of humor? Damn. Who knew?”
“Funny. I have a great, albeit dry, sense of humor.”
“You don’t say. I hadn’t come to that conclusion at all,” he smarted back.
“Oh, can it, Redmond, and eat your food,” she scolded, playfully.
He did and enjoyed every bite of it, filling his belly as they talked about Skyla’s work, her cat, Khaleesi, Travis’s affection for snowboarding and football, and the dark subject of Geraci.
“Years now, huh?” Travis asked as she told him how long they’d been onto the mobster.
“Yes. We’ve been so close. Yet somehow, he always has one up on us.”
“Yeah well, not this time. You got a man on the inside, right?”
“Yes, and we’ve not been sure how Geraci’s been evading us, but we think we’ve figured it out.”
“Oh? Top secret.”
“No, a dirty cop.”
“Shit! Really?”
Sky nodded and sipped her wine, her words slurring just enough to hint that she was starting to get a buzz on. “Can we change the subject, please?” She shivered as the power flickered and the wind whistled harshly by the door, causing it to quake.
“Sure. Let’s talk about sex instead.”
“Ugh. You’re so hung up on that topic.”
“And you’re not hung up on it enough. You know women are supposed to be in their sexual prime in their thirties? Perhaps you just need the right lover, Sky. A sixty-year-old isn’t gonna do it for you, Fireball.”
“Psst, he’s not sixty. He’s fifty,” she whisper-yelled.
“Whatever. Same difference.”
“And I’m not thirty yet. I got two more years, thanks so much.”
“Close enough
.”
“Obviously he’s doing pretty well.” Sky snorted. When Trav frowned in question, she continued. “He was fuckin’ his secretary, remember? He apparently didn’t have a problem sexually.”
“Yeah, well, he’s dumb.”
“Blondes have more fun,” Skyla stated cynically.
“So they say. I like what they say about redheads myself though,” Travis fished.
“Why do you think he cheated?” Sky skated right over his ploy, staring off and downing her drink before looking back at him. “Can a man really be loyal to one woman? Is that possible? Or are all of you just promiscuous swine who only think about one thing day and night?”
Uh oh! Perhaps the alcohol was a bad idea.
“I believe men can be loyal.” Travis steepled his hands, wary that he needed to proceed with care. “I think once a man finds the right woman, it’s possible.” It wasn’t a lie, after all; despite how his father had treated his mother, Travis believed in true love. He just hadn’t found it yet.
“How many times a day do you think about sex? Is it really thousands like they say?”
“I don’t know who ‘they’ are, but…yeah, it’s a lot,” Travis admitted.
Sky looked off once more then pulled her hands to her face, covering it. When she finally pulled her hands down, she looked miserable. “It’s because I refused to sleep with him.”
“Who? Sam?” Travis asked. Sky just nodded in response. “Why?”
“Dammit, because I wanted to wait until marriage.”
When Travis literally balked, Sky snorted, “No, I’m not a virgin. Duh! I just… I’ve always given myself to men who didn’t deserve me. Each and every one of them was some random quickie, involving far too much alcohol and not enough restraint. And this final time, I wanted it to be special, not just a roll in the hay that meant nothing.” She huffed and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“But he was your fiancé. I’m sure it wouldn’t have meant nothing… well…” Travis faltered. The man had cheated, so perhaps it was a good thing she’d held out on him.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT (Gods of the Gridiron Book 1) Page 9
