by T. S. Ryder
“Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?” Sloan asked.
She swallowed. “Water, please.” When Sloan disappeared, Rachel assessed the living room, taking in the expensive furniture.
“Here you are.” She turned to Sloan, who handed her a glass.
“Thank you.” Rachel drank deeply, letting the cool liquid moisten her too-dry throat.
Sloan watched her with interest. He wondered why he felt such a deep attraction to Rachel. Sure, he was involved with many beautiful women, but there was something about the one sitting in his living room that made his heart flutter. Maybe it was because he hadn’t taken her to bed yet.
Rachel shifted uneasily in her seat. She could feel Sloan’s eyes on her. Giving him a fleeting glance, she asked, “So, Sloan. How is it playing for the Broncos?”
He shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“Just okay? I get the impression you don’t enjoy your career.”
“I got into it because of Michael.” When she gave him a questioning look, he added, “He and I go way back. We do just about everything together.”
Rachel nodded. Why did his last statement sound so suggestive? “I see.” She glanced at her watch. “I suppose I can meet up with Michael tomorrow. I don’t want to take up your time, Sloan.”
“I don’t mind your company.” His eyes were smoldering as he stared at her.
Rachel put her glass down on the center table and stood up. She had to get away from him before she combusted under his heated gaze. Before she realized that he had even moved, he was on his feet in front of her. Such proximity to him was disconcerting. “Um, it’s fine. I have no problem waiting another day.”
Sloan’s gray eyes seem to penetrate her. “I don’t want you to leave just yet,” he murmured. His gaze dropped to her lips. Such lovely lips. She must taste like heaven, he thought. His head lowered and inched close to her.
Rachel watched him wide-eyed. Should she let him kiss her? He seemed like a playboy. But his allure was so powerful.I’ll let him kiss me, just for a few seconds. She was curious to know what he tasted like. His lips touched hers and she instantly melted. His mouth on hers felt natural. Sloan stepped closer, wrapping his hands around her waist. Rachel moaned as her body was pressed against his and she felt his hardening erection pressing into her stomach.
Her hands were splayed against his broad chest. She couldn’t help running her palms over his hard muscles. He feels so good. Rachel parted her lips, giving him permission to deepen their kiss. His tongue swept inside her mouth to explore.
Sloan could feel himself losing control. If he didn’t stop their kiss, he would take her right there in the living room. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop. Backing towards the couch, he took Rachel with him. Sitting down, he pulled her on top so that she straddled him. Her dress rode up, revealing smooth thighs.
He slipped his hands under her dress to cup her ass and pull her closer. Rachel shifted against his cock, causing him to let out a groan. His fingers slid into her panty to trail against her mound before slipping into her softness. The contact pulled Rachel from her sexual haze. Gasping, she tore her mouth from his and jumped to her feet, stumbling on her high heels. She stared down at him, eyes wide with horror. Panting and still heated from their passionate kiss, she said, “Oh my God. What am I doing? I don’t even know you.”
Sloan stood up slowly, disappointment mixed with confusion swirling in his mind. He would have loved to claim the lovely Rachel, who he knew absolutely nothing about. That had never stopped him before. What he couldn’t put his finger on was why his need to touch her, to be inside of her, was so strong. “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”
Rachel reached for her handbag, which had dropped to the floor. She straightened her dress. “I-I’m going to leave. I’ll come back tomorrow. No, I’ll see Mr. Pryce at the stadium.”
Sloan watched her back toward the door. He didn’t bother to stop her because he would probably jump her again if she stayed. The door closed and he still stood rooted to the spot. What in the world had just happened? Plopping down on the plush couch, he was lost in wonder and didn’t hear the door open.
Michael stepped through the door. “It was as we suspected. Ronan is in town.”
Sloan looked up, his brows furrowed. “Hmmm?”
Michael’s brows shot up. He closed the door behind him and studied his friend with concern. “Are you alright? You look a little lost.”
Sloan scratched his head. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”
Michael froze. “She was here.” He could smell Rachel’s scent permeating the air. He had ingrained her scent in his nostrils when he had first met her. As he got closer to Sloan, his scowl deepened. “Her scent is all over you,” he bit out.
Sloan arched a brow. “A woman’s scent is always all over me.”
“This one, the reporter, she’s mine.”
Sloan jumped up. “You’ve never had a problem sharing before.”
Michael took several breaths in an attempt to dampen the rage mounting in him. “There’s something about Rachel. I’m not entirely sure what, but there is this magnetism between us. But you wouldn’t have known that. I’m sorry.”
Sloan’s eyes widened and he sucked in a breath. Maybe his feelings about Rachel weren’t real. Perhaps he had tapped into Michael’s emotions. Their kind could pick up on each other’s feelings and they had been together for so long, their bond was strong even though they didn’t share the same blood line.
Michael’s jaw clenched. “You didn’t-”
“No. We kissed and that was all. She practically ran through the door,” Sloan murmured.
Michael stared at him for a long while, an emotion that Sloan couldn’t identify flickering in his eyes. Then he abruptly wheeled around and headed back through the door, leaving Sloan feeling more perplexed than before.
Chapter Four
Rachel lounged on the sofa, flipping mindlessly through the channels. Her mind was still stuck on Sloan Ryder and the way he tasted. Like whiskey and sex. And then there was Michael, another disturbingly sexy athlete. She let out an aggravated sound. Get it together, Rachel. She had been fantasizing about the two men since she got home. She thought a cold shower would help to turn down her arousal, but here she was after a long cold shower, still thinking about sex with men she didn’t know.
“I should take Oliver up on his offer,” she grumbled. Her friend was always inviting her out. It was his mission to find her a man so she could get laid and loosen up a bit. Those were his words. She let out a sigh and continued to channel surf.
A loud knock on her door made her jump. Who could that be? She wasn’t expecting anyone. She got up, and wrapped her robe more tightly around her waist before walking to the door. “Who is it?”
“Michael Pryce.” His smooth baritone carried through the wooden door.
Rachel froze. What the hell was he doing at her apartment? It was nearly 10:00pm. She opened the door slightly to peer around it. “Hi. Um, what are you doing here?”
His smoldering green eyes seemed to bore into her. “I came to see you.
She let out a small laugh. “You’re kidding, right? Do you know what time it is?”
“I do. I feel bad for not calling. I wasn’t expecting business to take so long.”
“Mhmm. I see. Well, we can do the interview tomorrow.” She tried not to let her eyes roam over his body. Goodness, he looked amazing. His brows were creased, and he looked stressed. Rachel sighed and opened the door wider. “Is everything alright?”
He stepped inside. “Of course. Like I said, I felt bad for not calling to let you know I wouldn’t make it home in time for our meeting.”
“There is a nifty little invention called the phone.”
Michael smiled. “I really wanted to see you.” His voice had dropped an octave.
Rachel gaped at him. Oh, boy. His smile was way too charming, making her heart melt. Her cheeks flamed and she looked down at the floor like a timid child.
“Oh,” was all she could manage to squeak. She was suddenly all too aware that she was only wearing a thin robe that stopped mid-thigh, and nothing else. Of course, she wasn’t expecting visitors, especially not a big, muscular man who seemed to take up all the space in her small living room. “Have a seat. I’ll grab my notepad.” She might as well get the interview over and done with since Michael was there, all six feet three inches of him.
“I didn’t come here to answer your interview questions, Rachel.” He took a step toward her. He could still faintly smell Sloan’s scent on her, mixed with some flowery body wash. He struggled not to snarl his anger. “What happened between you and Sloan tonight?”
Rachel gasped. So Sloan is the kiss and tell type, is he? Embarrassment flooded her, followed by anger. “Nothing happened.” Nothing much. “And even if it did, how does it concern you?”
“I saw you first,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“Excuse me? Are you two having some sort of contest?” Hands on hips and eyes flashing anger, Rachel continued, “I’m not a play thing, Mr. Pryce. You should leave.”
Michael didn’t move. He continued to stare down at her with a hint of amusement and lust. Her growing anger only aroused him.
Rachel took a step back. Michael had the same lascivious look in his eyes as Sloan had earlier, not that she wouldn’t love to have a roll in the sack with Michael. She wouldn’t mind discovering what he tasted like either. Her curiosity was about to be satisfied, because he pulled her to him and captured her mouth. His lips moved gently over hers, teasing them open. She couldn’t help but notice the difference between his and Sloan’s kiss. Realization hit. What am I doing with Michael when I almost had sex with his friend? Rachel pushed against his chest.
Michael reluctantly lifted his head. “What’s wrong?”
“I made out with your housemate earlier.” She nibbled her lower lip. “There’s no way I’m getting involved with the both of you.”
Michael’s eyes darkened. “What if we don’t mind sharing?”
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Was he implying that the three of them…? No, he couldn’t be. But, the thought made her stomach flutter with excitement. She had never done anything so risqué. Could she be with two men at once? Michael grinned, as if he could read her thoughts. Rachel averted her gaze.
He grasped her chin. “There’s nothing for you to feel embarrassed about, Rachel. Sloan and I would both revel in giving you pleasure that would blow your mind.” A tinge of jealousy presented itself when he mentioned Sloan. That had never happened before. His jealousy was, however, quickly replaced by anticipation. He always enjoyed sharing with Sloan.
Rachel gawked at him. “Oh, I-I’ve never-”
“You can start with just me,” he whispered, running his thumbs across her lower lip. His green eyes dropped from her face to the tie of her robe. Rachel watched, unable to breathe as he reached down to loosen the robe. She didn’t stop him because she wanted him with a fierce need that she couldn’t quite comprehend. The garment fell open, revealing her naked body. Michael pushed the robe from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
Self-conscious, Rachel’s hands involuntarily flew up to cover her nakedness. She had been over indulging in cheesecake lately and knew that it showed. Michael grasped her wrists and brought them down to her sides. “I want to look at you. You are like a goddess.” His eyes roamed over every dip and curve. “Perfect,” he whispered.
Rachel could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her sexual desire flaring out control. As if sensing her urgent need, Michael spun her around to drop feather light kisses along the column of her neck while his hands groped and teased her breasts and then slipped down further to brush over her mound. He dipped a finger inside, testing her readiness. Rachel moaned and ground her hips against his hand, begging for more.
“You are more than ready,” he whispered in her ear, making her shiver. Michael released her to remove his shirt and pants. Rachel turned around to take her fill of his perfection. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched at the sight of his jutting erection. Talk about well endowed, she mused. He grasped her hips, pulling her toward him for a hard searing kiss before lowering her to the couch. His hardened length hovered above her entrance and she stared into his green eyes, clouded with passion.
Rachel lifted her hips in silent invitation. She could no longer wait to feel him inside of her. Satisfying her urge, Michael breached her entrance, pushing into her with agonizing slowness. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh when he was buried deep inside of her, stretching her beyond her limit.
“Michael,” she moaned his name, her fingernails digging into his muscular arms. He began to move slowly, allowing her to adjust to his invasion, and then his tempo increased. A guttural sound rumbled in Michael’s chest as Rachel’s muscles gripped him like a tight fitting glove. Her warmth engulfed him, giving him the feeling of being home. He pulled out of her, and she moaned her protest.
“Relax, gorgeous. I’m not going anywhere,” he said. He sat up and pulled her onto him. With both of her legs thrown on either side of his thighs, she was able to take him deeper.
“Oh, Michael,” she breathed. “You feel amazing.”
“You feel like heaven,” he rasped in response. Rachel threw her head back, pleasure overwhelming her as she neared her peak. Michael increased the pace, flexing his hips upward. His jaw clenched as he tried to hold on to his control but Rachel’s soft moans and the way her tight sheath gripped him were sending him over the edge. He closed his eyes tightly so she wouldn’t see them transform to a darker green. She let out a cry and shattered in his arms. Michael followed close behind, groaning as he shuddered, spilling himself into her.
Rachel sagged against him, her heart racing and shards of pleasure still shooting through her core. As she returned from the stratosphere of bliss and was able to form a straight thought, she stiffened. She lifted her head off his shoulder to stare at him in horror. “We didn’t use any protection.”
Instead of the panic she expected to see in his eyes, she saw a trace of satisfaction. “I was too caught up in my desire for you. The thought didn’t cross my mind.” When she frowned, he added, “I’m sorry.”
She lifted herself off of him and did a quick calculation while reaching for her robe. She wrapped it around herself, suddenly overly conscious of her nakedness. “I suppose it should be fine.” She paused. “I have to say that was incredible. It’s been way too long for me.” She was sure he couldn’t say the same. He must have women falling at his feet and begging to go to bed with him.
Michael studied her carefully. “Either you don’t go out, or the men in Denver are blind.”
She averted her gaze, his compliment warming her. Plus, she was having a hard time focusing with him naked on her couch. He seemed at ease in his undressed state. Of course, with a body like his, why wouldn’t he be? “I don’t. Go out, that is.” She ran her fingers through her hair and let out a breath. “That shouldn’t have happened. We should have kept things between us professional.”
“But we didn’t, and I certainly don’t mind.”
Rachel cleared her throat lightly. “I don’t make a habit of sleeping with strangers.”
Michael reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m no longer a stranger. Your hair is curlier than when I first saw you. I like it.”
She bit her lower lip. “I, um, flat ironed it.” Okay, I’m making small talk with a naked sex god who is sitting on my couch. The entire evening, starting with Sloan and up to now, was just too surreal. “You should go.”
Michael winced. “Ouch. I’ve never been kicked out of a woman’s house before.”
“I bet,” she murmured.
He stood up and quickly dressed. “Not a problem, gorgeous. We’ll be doing this again very soon. Next time, it will be double your pleasure.”
Rachel’s heart stilled. He was talking about having sex with him and Sloan bot
h. Her mouth opened and closed several times without any words emerging. He grinned and bent down to plant a kiss on her mouth. “Lock the door behind me.”
Rachel watched him walk toward the door, paralyzed. Holy cow. I’m in so much trouble. But, for some reason, she felt a sliver of anticipation at the thought of Michael’s promise.
Chapter Five
Rachel looked over the article she had written with satisfaction. For someone who knew very little about the National Football League, she had done a great job. Sure, the interview with Michael at the stadium had been one of the most awkward times of her life, but she had gotten through it. She could still remember the way his piercing eyes had undressed her as he answered her questions. With each heated look he delivered, she remembered the night they had shared. To make matters worse, she had glimpsed Sloan on his way to the locker room. His gaze on her had been just as scorching as Michael’s.
Now all she could think about was her in bed being pleasured by both men. She slapped her palm against her forehead. “Focus,” she hissed. It was just her luck to be attracted to two men, and her body couldn’t decide which she wanted the most. Neither could her brain, for that matter. Perhaps she wanted both of them.
“There she is, my little sports journalist.” Oliver stuck his head around the door. “How’s it going, honey?”
“Okay, I guess.”
He stepped inside the office, hands on hips and gave her a look of disbelief. “Just okay? You’ve had the opportunity to watch hunky men in tights wrestle one another to the ground, and you’re just okay. I would say you are one lucky bitch.”
Rachel giggled. “Yeah, I guess I am pretty lucky in the woman department, but not in the professional. I hope I don’t get saddled with the sports articles from now on. It’s not what I want to do.”
Oliver shrugged. “At least it’s better than the advice column, which you abhor. Anyway, it’s Friday, and I’m hitting the town. Are you coming with?”
