"Wy-Wyatt, what are you doing here?"
He walked to her slowly. She could tell he was nervous. It was subtle, something only she could see. His eyes darted around the room, landing on a box of tissues on her desk. He handed it to her and she couldn't help but notice how large his tall, muscular frame looked in the small space.
"I've been working with your dad. I can't do too much since the surgery, but my rehab is coming along well and he's coaching me…"
"What did you say?"
"Um, which part?"
"Let's start with you being here. I can't believe Dad didn't tell me."
He cleared his throat and stepped closer to her. His scent was overpowering all her senses. It was as though every cell in her body had become a full cheering squad, shaking their pom-poms at the discovery he was close to her again.
"I drove down here after the press conference to have the surgery at Emory, so I could be near your dad. We didn't tell you because I needed to prove to him, and to myself, that I could somehow be deserving of you. Your dad has been coaching me and showing me how to have passion for the game."
He paused to let her respond, but Jenna could only stare at him. Wyatt swallowed and continued speaking.
"I am really enjoying the game now. It's amazing. We're also working on an after-school program with tutoring, co-ed teams, and medical help for underprivileged kids. We want to have it in Pittsburgh first, so your dad can transfer up there to be near you and keep working with me."
The shock of this statement helped Jenna find her voice again.
"Wyatt…setting up something like that has been one of my dreams for so long. How…"
"Your dad told me," Wyatt looked around nervously, pacing slightly in front of her. When Jenna couldn't find any words to say, he became even more uncomfortable. "Um, and I needed to make it up to my own family. They were really upset by what I did. I thought I was helping them, but all I did was hurt everyone."
Jenna swallowed hard, trying to make sense of all his rambling statements. She managed to formulate another question through her fog.
"How did I not hear about you doing all this, or anything else about you for months?"
"We all worked hard to keep it out of the press. Trey helped me keep it off the Internet, like he did with your pictures and articles."
"You guys did that? I thought you hated Trey."
"I'm still not a fan and I'll never believe he wasn't trying to take you from me, but I did enough on my own to lose you." Wyatt kneeled in front of her, bringing him to her eye level. He moved a hand toward her knee, but quickly snatched it away before touching her. Jenna's heart squeezed at the lost chance to feel him. "I decided to suck it up and do whatever I could to make it better. Did it? Make it better…at all?" he asked, searching her face with his desperate gaze.
"It did. I hated seeing those pictures. I mean, I hated being so exposed, but then I liked seeing you hold me. And it hurt all over again to think about what you hid from me. It was all such a fucking mess."
"I couldn't handle anyone seeing those pictures, Jenna. Those were our private moments. I messed up so bad. I know that. The fact I used anyone like that, especially you, is terrible…" Wyatt took a deep stabilizing breath before continuing, "You wanted me to say I regret what I did."
"Do you?"
"At first it was hard for me to regret it, because my actions were part of what brought us together. I will always be grateful for that. But what I did was wrong. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't. Even if it meant I couldn't have you, I'd accept that if it spared you all this pain." Wyatt sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously before continuing. "I never want you to be hurt, Jenna. And I did that to you. I should have told you when I had the chance. You opened up to me, but I was scared about you being sick. I went kind of nuts. And then I lost the right to support you when you needed me the most. I know I broke your heart. I hate so much that I did. If it helps, I've been really miserable."
"Yeah, it helps some," Jenna replied, with the slightest smile. "Wyatt, I've been miserable, too."
His face was full of worry and anguish. "Jenna, I’m so sorry. I've been trying to fill every moment of every day with anything I can do to fix what I did…fix myself. If I had a free second my mind would just go back to remembering your smile, your eyes, the way you make me believe I can take on the whole world and win. And then I think about how I lost you."
He looked down for a moment. When his eyes met hers again, they were red and slightly lost looking.
"I wish I'd paid better attention in school, because I don't know enough words to tell you how much I’ve missed you. And I've missed you so much. You were the best thing that ever happened to me and I totally fucked it up. I want to be a better man for you, belleza. Will you please let me try?"
Jenna paused before answering. Wyatt looked frantic and began to open his mouth again to speak. She pressed two fingers against his lips, silencing him.
"I have to let you try. I've given life without you a shot and I can't do it. I'm terrible at it. I need you, Wyatt."
He grabbed her hand from his mouth, holding it in his before stammering out, "So you can forgive me?"
"You're the good thing that life is willing to give me, Wyatt. The least I can do is take a crack at forgiving you."
Wyatt kissed the palm of her hand, and she moved her fingers to cradle his cheek. The feel of his rough stubble against her palm was simultaneously thrilling and calming in varying degrees. She needed him closer, though.
"Come here," she whispered. He responded with a huge smile before sitting next to her on the bed. Jenna held his left hand in hers and looked up at his face. His smile faded, his face clouding again.
"What's wrong? Are you worried about committing to Pittsburgh like that… What if you don't get re-signed?"
"Well, Coach McGill really respects your dad, and he's liked what I've done to address the team's concerns. We'll figure it out. I'm not losing you again."
"Then why do you still look scared, Wyatt?"
"Because I hope you'll let me kiss you."
"Oh. Well, I'd like that," she whispered, and watched as he slowly leaned toward her. He stopped so close to her lips she could feel his hot breath against her eager skin.
His eyes locked with hers, as he said, "I love you, Jenna." Then he closed that final distance between them, pressing his lips on hers and sending a rush of pleasure through her body. All those painful months, weeks, days, and seconds apart disappeared, as Wyatt moved his hand to the back of her head, winding his fingers through her hair.
Jenna moved her hands to his face, desperate to feel more of him and convince herself he was really there with her again. Their kiss was tentative at first, until she couldn't resist the urge to press her mouth more passionately on his. Wyatt groaned in response and nibbled at her lips, and then slid his tongue between them. Laying back on her childhood bed, she pulled him down on top of her, only to stop quickly when she felt him wince against her mouth.
"Oh no, your shoulder! Are you okay?"
Wyatt chuckled and rolled onto his back. "I'm with you again, Doc. Everything is perfect. You can tap dance on my chest, if it makes you happy."
Warmth filled Jenna's whole body and a huge smile broke across her face. "I don't need to do that, but I would like to free you up a bit."
She gingerly removed his sling, before stretching her body along his and kissing him again. Sliding one leg between his, desire began to build inside of her at the pressure of his muscular thigh against her warm center. Jenna rubbed against him harder, as though she were a teenager again, complete with the accompanying creaking of her childhood bed.
Wyatt leaned away from her kiss. He stroked her hair from her face with his hand, taking the moment to stare at her silently. She saw desire in his eyes, but also deep concern.
"Wyatt, what's wrong? Why did you stop? Is it because of my surgery?"
"Are you okay? I mean, is it safe? I can't tell y
ou how scared I've been while you went through all that. Your dad kept me updated, but not being able to be there for you…it killed me. I don't want to cause you any pain."
"I'm not made of glass. It's still me. Please, I need you to touch me." The agony of so much time apart weighed heavily inside of her. His warm caress was the only thing that seemed to provide her any relief.
She pulled off her shirt, and slid down her pants. Wyatt's warm gaze moved over her body slowly, fanning the heat inside of her until it was a full blaze. Jenna carefully removed his shirt, dragging her mouth across the hot, smooth skin of his chiseled chest. When she heard him pop the button of his jeans and slide the zipper down, her heart filled with happiness.
Wyatt's hand undid the back of her bra and gently caressed her newly freed breasts. He eased back and stared at her again, seemingly transfixed by the sight of his own hands on her body. A tickle of fear invaded Jenna's throat. She tried to swallow around it.
"I know I look a little different. Do my scars bother you?" she asked in a shaky voice.
His eyes turned upward to hers quickly and he whispered, "God no. You're more perfect than ever to me — because now you're safe. I love you, Jenna. It's just…I dreamed so much of being with you again…"
"I dreamed about you, too. This is real."
He smiled at her, as his hands moved to her panties and pushed them down her legs. She eagerly shoved down his jeans and boxer briefs, so their bodies and emotions were completely bared to the other.
"I can't wait anymore, Doc," he grunted, his left hand gripping at her bottom and squeezing it hard.
"Then don't."
Wyatt sat up and buried his face into her neck and growled at the invitation. Leaning back to smile devilishly at her, he moved her leg so she was straddling him. She curled her legs around him, squeezing him tightly to her with her thighs. Kissing across the edge of her neck and jaw, he found her mouth with his, just as he pressed hard at her entrance.
Jenna opened herself to him, sighing heavily as he entered her steadily. His right hand moved up her back. He moved his left hand to the bed for support, his legs becoming powerful pistons, driving his length into her body over and over again. She leaned her head back, letting him lick across her throat.
With her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, she could feel his soft hair tickling her chin. It was a gentle contrast to the potent and welcome sensations occurring below. Wyatt had taken complete control of her body, and Jenna was so grateful.
She needed him in every way, and no amount of his body so close to hers seemed to be enough. His touch was finally erasing the memory of so much loss and time apart. She couldn't wait to let him keep trying to make it all better.
Jenna's body exploded with convulsing spasms of bliss. She screamed his name, as he whispered, "oh, belleza," hotly against her neck.
He growled against her skin, thrusting into her one more time, before resting inside of her. She relaxed her legs around his waist, but he kept holding her.
Jenna leaned away so she could see his face. Brushing the damp hair off his forehead, she whispered, "Thank you for fighting for us, Wyatt."
He kissed her forehead, and answered, "I'd go to the ends of the earth for you."
"Lucky for you, you just had to head down to Georgia."
EPILOGUE
Approximately Three Months Later
"Mr. McCoy, I must say, I am very impressed with your progress. This type of surgery usually takes six to eight months for recovery. It's July and you're looking stronger than ever. Let me just make a note in your file," Jenna said, her glasses perched on the end of her nose.
"That's great to hear, Doc. I've been working hard."
"I can tell. I think your performance on, and off, the field, is phenomenal. I was particularly impressed with your stamina just now. I can tell you've been taking your training and rehab very seriously."
She strutted away from him in red stiletto heels, avoiding a box labeled Doc's Tee Shirts (Box 1 of 3), so she could bend over her old dressing table that they'd decided to put in Wyatt's bedroom. Wiggling her hips, she made sure her lab coat crept up, revealing her bare bottom, with its tan lines from their recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She'd added a red garter belt and thigh-high stockings to the look this time.
They'd already played a round of Wyatt's favorite game, Dirty Doctor Sutherland, but it was still fun for her to prance around for him as his own personal sex kitten. His answering groan gave her all the confirmation she needed, to know he enjoyed it, too.
Jenna pretended to write a note on the pad of paper, when she felt Wyatt's hands slide around her waist and he pressed himself against the crease of her ass, his cock hardening beneath the cotton of his boxer briefs.
"Again, already? I really am impressed, Mr. McCoy."
"It's your fault. You know that lab coat makes me crazy."
She turned around and perched on the dressing table, crossing her legs slowly. Wyatt licked his lips and started stroking her knees.
"Down, boy," Jenna commanded, swatting at his hands. "We have less than an hour before everyone gets here."
"Make them wait."
"I'd rather not risk my dad and Aunt Cheryl seeing us going at it. We may be moving in together, but still... Plus, even though Claudia couldn't get away from FBI training to be here, your mama told me she wrapped up her photo shoot for More magazine, so she'll be coming with your abuela. You know they won't be happy if they show up to our housewarming party to find the two of us naked."
"Everyone's going to have to learn boundaries. Now that we finally got my Roughnecks’ contract sorted out, I'll be in Latrobe for training camp soon. That means my time with you is going to get very limited. I need to make the most of every minute."
"Oh, stop that. You'll see me when I come to assist the trainers with orthopedic consults."
Although Richard had passed her over for the fellowship this time around, he was emphatic she'd get it next time. He'd been thrilled with her new open-minded and empathetic approach to her patients, after the ordeals of her illness and the public reveal of her relationship with Wyatt. Richard was also thrilled she was the medical head of the after-school program portion of Wyatt's new foundation.
Wyatt had done so much to help her, too, despite her insistence he focus on his career as much as possible. His marketing campaign for the UPMC sports medicine department went a long way to healing the group's concerns about her and Wyatt's behavior. And she suspected Wyatt had been encouraging both the team, and its players, to give her a shot whenever they could. It felt like she was finally getting the opportunities and recognition she'd craved for so long.
"Just seeing you isn't enough for me, Doc, you know that."
His hands pulled her legs apart and slowly crept up her thighs. Jenna moaned in response. As his rough fingers stroked at her clitoris, still engorged from their recent lovemaking, she gripped at his muscular biceps hard.
Wyatt grunted, but this time in pain. Jenna released him, full of fear that she'd hurt him in some way.
"What is it? Are you okay?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise, but I guess we have no secrets... I've been thinking that my woman can't have more tattoos than me."
"But you don't have any tattoos, Wyatt."
"I do now."
"What?"
Wyatt yanked off the tee shirt he'd managed to keep on during their little game to reveal a tattoo of a brown bird, similar to the one signifying her in the tattoo she, Aubrey, and Tea shared. Situated within the design were the words "Mi Belleza."
"I had them put it near my right shoulder, because jacking up this part of my body is the best thing that ever happened to me. This injury brought us together."
"Oh. I love it! Does that mean I'm your little brown bird?" Jenna said and kissed the area next to the tattoo softly.
"You are, but I'm never letting you fly away. I love you, belleza. Now you're always with me. And, so that I'll always be with you…"
Wyatt walked around the dressing table and opened the drawer. He searched around inside, then removed his hand — the delicate chain of her locket hanging from it.
"What are you up to, Wyatt?"
"I wanted to put something in your locket."
He walked in front of her again and held up the necklace to her. He let the pendant rest in his palm so she could open it softly. When she registered the picture inside, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"That's the picture Olivia took of us kissing in your driveway. After you ran after me because I was so upset."
"It is. I love that memory. That was a beautiful moment for me — for us. It was when I first realized I needed to have you in my life. I'd been in love with you for a while already, even if I was too dumb to understand it. But that was when the reality of it all hit me. I suddenly got it — I had to make you mine."
"Wyatt's, that's so beautiful, but that article — Olivia…"
"She's gotten what she deserved. Even though I hate what she did, I love that we have this moment captured. Life gave us that gift, and I want to have you wear it next to your heart…and in between your perfect breasts…every day."
"Wow, so poetic."
"It's a gift." Wyatt secured the necklace around her neck and gazed at her happily. Jenna smiled back at him.
"I love that picture in there. You're right. It has to be this picture. You are so precious to me. I love you, Wyatt."
"I love you, too. I'm glad you waited to put something in it. That you waited for us."
Jenna hugged his bare waist and kissed him. Her romantic feelings quickly blazed into something much hotter.
"Um, Wyatt?" she mumbled against his chest.
"Yes, belleza?"
"On second thought, I'd really like to have my way with you again before everyone gets here. Do you think we have time?"
"Oh, yes, we definitely do. We have our very own forever ahead of us."
"And I can't wait to make the most of it," Jenna said, lifting her face to kiss him.
THE END
City of Champions Page 33
