City of Champions

by Barlow, Chloe T.

  Wyatt stroked her hair and looked over her head, swallowing hard.

  "You can't think like that. Your father loves you."

  "I know, but nothing about that day was fair. We let the moments get away from us. I won't let these moments get away from you and me, Wyatt. I refuse to."

  She shivered against him and he reluctantly pulled away from her, taking her inside. They tossed the blankets and their coats on the floor. Wyatt undressed her carefully and let her undress him, before they climbed into bed.

  He lay alongside her beautiful body and stroked the full length of her curves. She was naked and bare before him, wearing nothing but her mother's locket and the matching earrings he'd given her. Wyatt swore she'd never looked prettier.

  After a silent moment, Wyatt felt the need to share more with her. "No one knows the life I’ve really lived, except my family…and you. They all thought I was a spoiled, entitled jerk with this famous dad. I let them believe it. But sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I were just me. Not Wyatt McCoy — son of the greatest quarterback ever, always living under a microscope. But just me. Just Wyatt.”

  "But you're just Wyatt with me, isn't that something?"

  "Fuck, Jenna. That's everything," he answered. Wyatt rolled on top of her so that he could kiss her cheeks and eyelids. "I like who I am with you, belleza. The influence you have on me."

  "Oh yeah. I like a lot about you, too, Wyatt. I like when you sing to me. In Spanish or in Gaelic."

  "Half-Mexican and half-Irish makes for a lot of singing…and a foul temper," he said, between nibbles at her neck.

  "I'm okay with that. I also like this little scar on your chin," she said, touching the remnants of a long-since healed gash lightly.

  "I got it during a backyard football game when I was thirteen."

  "I think it's sexy," she said huskily, before licking the raised flesh. Wyatt felt like he was turning inside out and groaned a little. "You like that?" she asked against his cheek.

  "You know I do. I like pretty much everything about you. You get that, right, Doc?"

  "I think so."

  He leaned down against her body more heavily and kissed her lips.

  "Don't you mean that you know so?"

  "Yes, I'm pretty sure that I do know so. I like the hell out of you. I don't know how to deal with that, but…"

  "I think I more than like you, Doc."

  Jenna swallowed hard beneath him, running a silky hand across his face.

  "I think I more than like you, too, Wyatt."

  "Is it okay if I think I love you?"

  "Yes, it's okay. Because I think I love you, too."

  If life really were so unfair as to take her from him, then he would relish every little moment of good it was willing to give them together.

  He finally accepted that even if it meant being on the practice squad in Pittsburgh until he was forty years old, he'd do it to be near her. She needed him, and he would do whatever it took to be there for her. Wyatt ran his face across the warm skin of her chest before kissing every inch of her breasts and throat. He let happiness wash over him — losing himself in it, worshipping it.

  "Wyatt…"

  He looked up to her face. Her voice was so tentative he could barely recognize it.

  "Yes, belleza?"

  "I have a confession to make."

  "Yes?"

  "I-I'm kind of scared."

  "Of course you are. I'm pretty scared, too."

  "Wyatt, please know…I also wish life were fair. I don't want to leave you." A sob broke from her chest, the sound was like shattering glass, and he lifted up quickly, rolling on his side to bring her into his arms and held her close. He stroked her hair too hard, as he felt the emotions tearing him apart.

  With a rough motion, he squeezed his arms even more tightly around her, trying to use all his strength to keep her safe.

  "I know, Jenna. I know. I wish you'd told me sooner, but I'm glad you finally did," he whispered, kissing her hair, her cheeks, eyelids, and every inch of her tear-streaked face.

  She leaned back from him, wiping her face and forcing a chuckle.

  "Wow, I'm a real mood killer. How about a more fun confession? I wanted to say yes to you from the first day I met you."

  "I knew it," he whispered, kissing her cheek with grinning lips.

  "Down, boy. That kiss by the car probably confirmed that to you," she said, with a soft laugh. "I was nervous, though — about what it would look like from the outside, since I'd consulted on your shoulder. I also worried you were like another athlete I've known — selfish, dishonest."

  "Oh," he muttered out roughly. Wyatt's heart seized with pain at the reminder of those gruesome characters that haunted them. They were trying to take center stage in their lives again and he hated it. The mere thought of Chase Matthews anywhere near her unleashed a whole new slew of protective fury in him.

  "But now I see you aren't like that," she said reassuringly, turning her body to face him. She kissed him repeatedly until his body started to relax. "I think I got reminded life is shorter than we realize. I knew that, but I guess I let myself forget for a moment. Maybe these tumors were a blessing? Forcing me to take a risk with you." She paused, before asking, "So, why did you agree to this time together, Wyatt? I mean, I know I wasn't exactly sweet as pie to you," she teased, hugging him more closely to her.

  "You may have been trying like hell to be a tough cookie on the outside, but I had a feeling I could be your big glass of milk — soften you up."

  She groaned at his lame joke, but the sound turned to a moan as he stretched over her body and slipped his legs between hers.

  "I think we're a good match, Jenna."

  "You do?"

  "Yeah. You're aggressive and want to be in control…"

  "Hey, that makes me sound…"

  He pressed into her harder, his stiffening penis nestling between her folds and rubbing against her most sensitive parts.

  "Shh, I like you being strong. But I need to be in control sometimes, too. That's why I'll let you have enough rope to make you happy, but then I'll turn around and tie you up with it."

  "Ooh, now that sounds promising," she giggled, then added, "I'm glad I told you about the surgery, and what's coming next. That way we don't have any more secrets."

  Wyatt opened and closed his mouth like a dying fish, gasping for air. He wanted so much to tell her the truth, to explain why he was so desperate to make her change her opinion on his shoulder. That even though his motives for spending time with her hadn't been pure at the beginning, his feelings now were. Yet, no words came.

  "Wyatt, are you okay? Is something wrong?"

  "No. I'm just really glad you told me, too. No secrets."

  The shame in his gut ate at him, but it was too important he be there for her. Their feelings were a tender new plant that could grow into a strong tree someday. He simply needed to protect it from harm — even if one of those threats was of his own making.

  "That's great. You know, they say what you do at midnight is what you'll do all year," she said, with a mischievous smile.

  "Is that right?"

  "Yep. So, I was thinking… What I'd like to do this midnight is you."

  "That sounds like one hell of a year, Doc," he replied, with a deep laugh.

  "Now get those lips of yours over here, Mr. McCoy, and make my New Year’s wish come true."

  "I told you…to call me, Wyatt," he teased, before closing his lips over hers. He relaxed his body against hers, reveling in the way she fit perfectly against him. As he slipped inside of her, he let all his fears disappear.

  She was falling for him, too.

  Everything was going to be okay.

  A slight tickle at the skin of her cheek interrupted Jenna's slumber. She rolled over and a whiff of coffee pleasantly wafted into her nose. As her eyes fluttered open, she smiled at the sight of Wyatt seated next to her on the edge of the bed. He was stroking her face lightly with his left hand and
wearing nothing but light cotton pajama bottoms. Two coffee mugs steamed next to him on the bedside table.

  After the intensity of the night before, Jenna was filled with joy at their easy domesticity. Maybe they were just playing house, for now, but she felt confident she didn't want this wonderful game ever to end. She clumsily reached up a hand to stroke at the smooth muscles of his chest, letting her fingers slide down the rippling edges of his stomach.

  "Morning, Doc. Are you having fun pawing at me?"

  "Yes. I can't help it. I think I may be obsessed with your body," she mumbled, still groggy.

  "That works, since I know I'm obsessed with yours. Though, it really interferes with finding the motivation to leave this bed."

  With a sigh, she reluctantly stopped groping him and sat up.

  "Oh, that reminds me. I need to get my butt in gear. I have to be at Tea's house in a couple hours."

  "Is everything okay?" he asked, and the wrinkles in his brow looked so cute, that Jenna had to nuzzle his neck for a moment.

  "It's all good, I promise. Every year we make a traditional Southern New Year’s dinner. Well, she cooks. I mostly try to keep her from dropping things while I watch the Rose Bowl. I'd probably poison everyone if I tried making actual food."

  Wyatt moved so he was sitting next to her and gently stroked the part of her leg that had escaped from under the sheet.

  "You know, Doc, after you help me do my shoulder rehab exercises, I don't have any other plans today. One of the few benefits of not making it to the play-offs is getting some more free time. How about I come with you today? You can finally tell your friends about us."

  Jenna's heart squeezed at his question. The idea of opening their relationship to the world was thrilling, but also terrifying. His eyes hardened with her hesitance and she could tell he felt hurt. The realization made her feel terrible.

  "I'm your dirty little secret. I get it."

  Jenna wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him quickly.

  "It's not like that at all, Wyatt. I promise."

  "They're important to you…part of your family. You met my family. They know we're together."

  "And I love that they know about us. I can't wait to tell my friends about us, I swear. I just want to handle it perfectly. Tea has a lot going on right now. Plus, she's got a full house for the holidays, so it's extra crazy over there. I also feel bad now that I didn't say anything about us sooner. That means I have to handle the news carefully."

  "Why do these sound a lot like excuses, Doc?"

  "They aren't! I mean it. I'm going to tell them today. I have a whole plan I've been working on. I was thinking I could call you after I tell her and you can come over then?"

  "Yeah?"

  She nodded and he kissed her. "That's a promise and I’m going to hold you to it, Doc," he murmured against her lips. Wyatt's strong hands snaked around her bare waist and she immediately considered canceling every appointment she ever had for the rest of her life. Wyatt broke the kiss and she leaned against his chest in comfortable silence. His voice finally broke through the calm.

  "Are you going to tell them about your…you know…"

  "My lumpectomy? Maybe. And you know you're allowed to say the word." He hugged her so forcefully to him she was worried he'd crack a rib. "Wyatt, you're gonna squeeze the stuffing out of me."

  "Jenna, it’s okay to be emotional. You didn't tell anyone because you know it's a big deal. Let me worry about you. I'm good at worrying. Just ask Claudia. She'll tell you it's kind of my thing."

  Jenna reached her arms around his waist and kissed his neck.

  "Fine. I'll let you worry about me. I’ll warn you, though, I might get used to it."

  "Good. That's my intention, Doc," he answered, with a kiss to the top of her head that made her sigh with contentment.

  Wyatt was dressed and trying to distract himself as he waited for Jenna to call him. His phone rang and he jumped for it. A stab of disappointment shot through him when he saw it was his agent. He'd just have to wait a little longer before Jenna was ready for him.

  "Hey Gabe. Happy New Year."

  "Cut the bullshit, Wyatt."

  "What bullshit?" Gabe was clearly furious about something, but Wyatt didn’t have a clue as to what could have him so riled.

  "I've put up with a lot of shit from you over the years, but this is beyond fucked up. I should fire you as a client right now."

  "Christ, Gabe, calm down. What the hell are you talking about?"

  "It's my fault for not having the balls to nix your stupid Dr. Sutherland scheme in the first place."

  "Wait, what about Jenna…I mean Dr. Sutherland?"

  "I know you're driven, but I never thought you'd pull something like this. This is so fucking low."

  Wyatt suddenly felt cold fear oozing down his spine. He fought to breathe and bit out as many words as he could through the invisible fist squeezing at his throat.

  "Dammit, Gabe! I need you to tell me what happened. Right now!"

  "Let ESPN do it. Or Fox Sports, or any goddamn sports news channel you can find."

  "What do you mean?" Wyatt asked, but he was already pulling up Fox Sports on his laptop. And immediately wished he hadn't.

  The title of Fox Sports’ latest exposé was: Gunslinger McCoy Romances His Own Doctor in Desperate Ploy to Stay on Team.

  There he and Jenna were — every aspect and stage of their relationship seemed to be plastered all over the Internet. There were pictures of them at the ice-skating rink, afterward in the parking garage, and of him walking into Carol’s restaurant. There were even images of him waiting for her in her parking lot after he returned from the Oakland game, and was so furious at the sight of her with Trey.

  No matter what page he went to, there they were. The main focus was the salacious story about his illicit affair with the voluptuous blonde surgeon that consulted on his shoulder. The worst part though, was how the story asserted he was only involved with Jenna so he could use her position to save his career.

  "Gabe, what the hell is this? Where the fuck did this article come from? I didn’t want this to happen."

  "Then how did Olivia get all this?"

  "Olivia?"

  "Yeah, it's her story. Her pictures. She quotes you as saying: Dr. Sutherland was going to see things your way one way or another. Did she make that up? If she did, we can sue her."

  "She didn't make it up," he whispered. "I said it after the New Orleans game. I was all amped up and trying to get her to back off."

  "That explains when the pictures started. The first ones came within days of that game."

  "Fuck, Gabe, you're right. She must’ve been following me, stalking the two of us. She’s here in Pittsburgh all the time." Wyatt scanned through one shot after another of him pursuing Jenna all the way through to them on his veranda the night before. The image looked like it was taken with a night vision camera. "Me at yoga with her…meeting her for ice-skating. Christ, even us kissing for the first time. It makes it look like we were together while she was still consulting on me."

  "At least her opinion on your shoulder was unfavorable. That may help her, ethically speaking."

  "Christ. You're right. This could ruin her career. We have to fix this."

  "Why do you want to fix it? And you better be honest with me, Wy."

  Wyatt sank heavily in the chair in front of his laptop, his eyes fixated on a picture taken in his driveway. He was holding Jenna in his arms after she'd been so upset that she ran from his family. They were kissing and the intimacy of the moment was almost too perfect. Olivia violated that beautiful experience, and now Jenna was bound to hate him. After everything she'd been through with Chase, she would think the absolute worst of him.

  And why wouldn’t she? He was the worst. His own words made him look like a brutal manipulator. She'd probably hate him, and he might actually deserve it.

  "Are you still there?" Gabe asked with a frustrated tone.

  Wyatt cleared his t
hroat hard and answered, "I'm here, Gabe. We have to fix this…because I love her."

  That answer seemed to appease Gabe, because he sighed and said gently, "Good, but you've really fucked up big time, Wyatt. I'm sorry to say that this may not be fixable."

  "I know, man. I know."

  Jenna opened the door to Tea's house. She was a little early, but she knew Tea wouldn't mind. It made it that much sooner that Jenna could tell them about Wyatt and get him over there. Then she could stop feeling like a fool for missing him already.

  The kitchen was empty, but she heard the soft hint of voices from down the hall and followed them. The door to the small back room Tea had turned into Griffen's writing area was slightly ajar. She almost walked in, but quickly realized this was no conversation to interrupt.

  Tea was seated on Griffen's lap in a cute little two-piece shorty pajama set. Griffen's left hand was resting on her leg, while his other hand was holding her chin firmly in his grip. Jenna felt horrible for eavesdropping, but she could tell they were just talking and she was too curious to know what was going on with these two.

  "Why didn't you tell me how you were feeling, Althea?"

  "I did tell you. This morning."

  "But you should've told me sooner. You have to talk to me, gorgeous. I want to fast-forward through all this preliminary stuff and go straight to our life together. Our family. You need to be ready to put on the brakes if I go too far or too fast. I need you to tell me if it's too much. If you don't like something I'm doing…"

  "That's the thing, I love everything you're doing. Our life together — you, me, and Johnny — us as a family…it means the world to me. I don't want to do anything to risk harming it. I don't want to mess this up. I want us to be forever. I don't want to hurt you, or risk you leaving us, just because I feel overwhelmed."

  "You could never do anything to make me leave," he whispered, moving his hand to hold her jaw, kissing her deeply. When he pulled away, Tea's eyes were heavy and almost drugged-looking. "I know I've been pushing, but that's because I want us to have everything this life together entails, right now. If you aren't honest with me about how you feel, then I'll just unknowingly push more."