by Rie Warren
“Yeah, he might be good people after all.”
“Damn good play out there, Young Buck.” Rafe ranged forward. He slapped Buckley on the back. “I’d say I couldn’t have done it better myself, but I probably could’ve.”
“Welcome to the team.” Akoni gave the kid his signature bone-jarring, back-cracking hug while Buckley bleated for oxygen.
When released, he looked a little bit stunned. Could’ve been because Akoni had deprived him of air but, most likely, because he’d finally been fully accepted.
He’d redeemed himself.
“Good to see you landed on your feet at last.” Deacon Cross, the defensive tackle who’d joined Carolina Crush the same time as Buck and me, held out his hand for a shake.
Buckley’s mouth popped open, inevitably to say something.
One of Brooklyn’s eyebrow rose and a wicked grin parted his lips. “Like our man Calder said. Shut up while you’re ahead.”
I laughed with the others until the big bearded Lone Star cowboy pivoted to me. “And you. Put a ring on it already.”
“Ditto. Peyton’s waiting for the one we just won.” Rafe curled his knuckles in anticipation of the Super Bowl ring we’d fought so goddamn hard to make ours.
This would be his second one.
For most of us, it was a first. Not that the impact was any less meaningful.
“Word, Milly and Vanilly.” Marquis tugged the pink shower cap off his dreadlocks. “Charmaine has a glass box picked out already for mine.”
“You mean she’s not auctioning it off on eBay?” Bunyan launched into a new round of jokes.
Most of the hilarity went right over my head, because like they’d said earlier, I was mooning over Reggie.
Coach D banged inside. He’d cleaned up, like the rest of us. Changed out of his soggy wet clothes. No hat or cap on his head this time, just his broad face and cue ball pate. Instead of a head coach, for once he appeared . . . fatherly.
The dudes and I converged around him, a tight circle brought closer by all the hardships during the season, all the happies we’d celebrated, and now a championship trophy.
“Better mark it on your calendars ’cause I don’t have all that much to say tonight. Ain’t gonna bitch you out, that’s for damn sure.” He paused for the stroke of a heartbeat. “We’re not just a team, we’re a”—he stopped, choked up—“we’re a family. And I am so goddamned proud of you men.”
There were foot shuffles and gruff throat clearings and an immense sense of satisfaction we’d done Coach D a solid. Big time. And Akoni probably wasn’t the only one getting his weepies on that time.
Coach’s look ranged around the circle, hitting each and every one of us.
He nodded, smile in place but a shrewd look in his eyes. “Now. Go celebrate. You deserve it. But if you puke on the plane tomorrow you’re cleaning it up, and I’ll take double out of your ass at next practice.”
Bunyan, ever hopeful about meeting his soulmate, asked, “Does that mean fraternization is finally frickin’ allowed?”
“The fuck do I care? Rafe and Brooklyn didn’t listen to the rules on that matter anyway.” Coach D left with a huge grin.
Then Bunyan started doing the . . . was that the Cabbage Patch? Until Marquis knocked him out of the way and got his own groove on.
“And I dub you Manilly 2.0,” Marquis said.
Their dance-off went mostly ignored. Especially when Brooklyn yelled, “Drinks at the hotel bar!”
“Buckley’s paying.”
“Maybe Coach D should pay.”
“I’d like to see the day that happens.”
“What about Rafe and his sugar momma?”
“Phil’s in town. She’s loaded.”
“Yeah, but Dr. Phil is no joke. She’s got the tongue of a viper.”
I knew I wouldn’t be joining them at the bar. I had only one destination.
Reggie.
In my room.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Roomance
Reggie
WHEN PEYTON HAD SAID she’d take care of everything, she hadn’t been kidding. Not just the Sky Box, which had been catered with the best of the best, but also arranging for the hotel staff to know I’d be sharing Calder’s room.
I unpacked a few things, slipped out of my boots, went nosing around his luggage just to touch his clothes again. In the bathroom, I smelled his cologne, dabbed some on my neck.
On impulse, I took off my outfit, and, wearing nothing but a skimpy thong, I pulled one of his long-sleeved shirts over my head. He liked seeing me in his tops almost as much as I liked wearing them.
Anticipation curled my toes, warmed my body, shivered to life inside me. I figured I’d be in for a long wait considering the huge events of the night, but that was fine with me. Just knowing he’d walk through that door, solely intent on me, seared sweet heat along my body.
Later, I heard a tap on the door just before it opened. I rose from the sofa, my heart already fluttering.
Calder entered. He stood there, larger than life. Sexy as hell in the swanky suit and loosened tie. I knew he would’ve drawn his fingers—those long strong fingers—through the knot as soon as he’d stepped into the hotel lobby.
The cut of the suit was perfect, setting off the incredible musculature of his super fit body. The midnight blue enhanced his dark good looks, thick stubble, intense eyes. His delicious kissable lips.
“It’s late. You could’ve gone to sleep.” His gaze swept over me, darkening to a stormy shade when he noted the shirt.
A white thermal that peaked as the tips of my breasts immediately pebbled.
“I didn’t want to go to bed one more night without you.” I sauntered closer.
I watched as sudden heat flared in his mesmerizing eyes. “You shouldn’t say things like that right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because it makes me wanna rip that shirt off and throw you onto the bed immediately.” His voice was a low rasp that sent a ball of pure want to the pit of my belly and lower.
My lips curved into a slow smile. “You can do anything you want to me now.”
He growled then snatched my lips in a body-melting kiss. Furiously aching for him, I struggled with his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders. My fingers dug into his hair, clasping him to me as our tongues lunged and heat spilled.
He broke apart with a groan. He held me away from him, breathing hard.
He swallowed harshly and closed his eyes.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“No.”
“Thirsty?”
“Unh uh.”
“I’m kinda nervous now that you’re here.” Calder turned and sat on the sofa.
“Really?” I straddled his lap, the large rigid bulge in his pants evidence of intense arousal he seemed to be fighting. “I find that hard to believe.”
“’S’true.”
Biting my bottom lip, I slowly released the tie from his neck and sent it drifting to the floor. “Do you want me to dance for you again?”
“Don’t think I could survive that without coming inside my pants this time.” His hips bucked up, his hands gripped my waist.
I gasped, pleasure from his clothed cock hitting me in my center.
“Hmmm. How about you tell me all those dirty things you wanted to write to me about . . . what you were thinking of doing to me?”
“Better idea.” He stood suddenly, me in his arms. “How ’bout I just show you?”
“Yes.” I moaned greedily, going for his shirt.
Skipping the buttons, I ripped it open as he pressed me against the wall beside the bed.
Ohhh. He’s going to fuck me right here.
A hot thrill shot through me, and I caressed every part of his chest, digging into the unyielding flesh.
Our lower bodies grinded as he set my feet on the floor. He grappled with the thermal shirt, pulling it up, tossing it away. Hot lips sought and latched onto one nipple then the other.
&nb
sp; My back arched. My body ached. My thong grew slick.
Calder tongued and teased, twisted and palmed my breasts, lavishing them with arousing attention. His stubble tickled my skin as he slid down to his knees.
Between my legs, he kissed, licked, bit me through the slippery material of my panties. I lowered my head to watch him until my eyelids grew too heavy. Then he hooked the thong down, and my slick wetness covered his face as soon as he spread my thighs wider and pressed his tongue into me.
My feet nearly came off the ground. I clutched onto his shoulders. My belly tightened.
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think.
Soaring pleasure held me captive while Calder thoroughly and hungrily took me with his lips, his tongue, his fingers.
I came with an intensity that rocked me to my soul. He kept at me even after I lost my balance, his strength the only thing holding me up. Another orgasm fanned through me while he fingered me, tongue lightly toying with my clit until a scream exploded from my throat.
When he lifted up, his chest pumping, eyes bright and wild, I dragged his mouth to mine. The sucking, biting kiss built, a new fire igniting. I wanted him inside me so desperately I began whimpering against his lips, tearing at his pants with both hands. Shaky fingers clawing at the material until I finally got the damn things and his tight briefs down far enough.
A relieved moan filtered from my throat when I grasped the hot steely length of him.
Calder released my mouth, eyes glinting as I relearned the thick veiny weight of his cock from root to tip. Lord, he was enormous. Wetness welled on the head. I spread it around with my fingers then cruised down the immense length to his balls.
He tore my hand away, grasped it beside my head as he barged fully up against me. Hard chest. Huge shoulders. Searing heat in his eyes.
His cock between us, but not at the right angle. Somehow, he found a condom, put it on one-handed, holding me in place.
He gripped the base. He bent his knees, and the tip prodded my pussy. Hot sensation rocketed through my body, but he didn’t enter me.
“Please, Calder.”
“I don’t wanna be rough. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
“Fuck me. Fuck me now.”
He slid into me, that thick incredibly hard cock, as he picked me up with easy strength.
“Oh my God!” My legs wrapped around his hips.
He continued to drill into me until he bottomed out, and I was completely impaled on that thick pole.
A couple excruciatingly slow tender thrusts gave way to a barrage as he fucked me full force, right there, against the wall. Thudding thrusts with a hand cradling and squeezing my ass, the other cupping the back of my head as the strength of each lunge increased.
He held me aloft, muscles in his arms bunching, thighs flexing, his rock-hard ass pumping.
Deeply embedded inside me then sliding out only to slam back in again.
He lowered his lips for a breath-stealing kiss, my whimpers and moans swallowed by his shallowly dancing tongue.
“Fuck, Reggie. You’re gonna make me come.”
“God, yes!” I cried out as he changed angles.
His cock dragged against my clit with every long powerful in and out stroke. My wetness building.
The impact strengthened, and I drowned my yells against his flesh, kissing and biting the cords of his neck. An orgasm flew straight through me, and I tightened around him, clutching him inside and out.
The hot spear inside me swelled just before Calder burst. His groan beside my ear the sexiest sound I’d ever heard while he pounded, pounded, pounded me to another body-flaying orgasm.
Heat and fresh sweat swirled between our bodies. His cock continued to piston, slowing, but he never softened. Well-primed muscled flesh rode up against the soft swells of mine. Remaining inside me, he moved a few feet, deposited us on the bed.
He hurriedly removed the rest of his clothes, laughing as he inspected the buttonless shirt. After he pulled out and shed the condom, I curled up against him.
“I hope you have more,” I said in a throaty tone I barely recognized.
“Mmmm. You need a good seeing to, Reggie?”
Giant breaths gusted in and out of his chest, and I laughed shakily.
He rolled us to our sides, managed to wrangle some covers over us, kept me in the big warm male cocoon of his body.
Smoothing the tangled hair from my face, he kissed along my neck, new shivers racing over my skin, and I shuddered in satisfied ecstasy.
Then he propped up on an elbow, peering down at me. “I told you I love you,” he said gently. “Didn’t tell you how much I’m in love with you.”
Tears quickly sprang to my eyes. My heart seized tight before expanding even bigger.
“Those better be happy tears.” He drew them away on his fingertips.
Sniffling, I nodded.
“What about . . .” He hesitated. “Are you in love with me?”
“Oh, Calder.” My hand drifted to his face, caressed his cheek. My fingertips ghosted across his lips. “Because you’ve known I’ve loved you for so long? As a friend?”
“Sort of . . .” he said haltingly.
“Calder Malone, I am so in love with you I can’t even explain how it happened. These past months have been torture without you.” I pressed my lips to his, whispering tightly, “Don’t ever leave me like that again.”
“I won’t.” He wrapped me in his strong arms, rocking us together. “I promise I won’t.”
A long time later, after another bout of fiery lovemaking, he whispered in the dark, reaching out for my hand, “I guess this means I need to tell my folks, huh?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
No Greater Love
Calder
AS SOON AS WE walked into my house, I wanted to ravish Reggie on the spot. She was right, the past months had been torture, but so was the fucking trip back to South Carolina from Colorado. Sitting next to her on the plane, unable to do more than hold her hand, built need to a whole new level.
I wanted to ravish her, but she had other ideas.
I swooped down for a kiss, and she pushed me away with a laugh.
“Not so fast, buster.”
Buster was right, because my cock wanted to bust right through my pants. Another fucking day and another fucking suit per Peyton’s strict travel dress code.
Reggie threw off her jacket while I stalked her through the rooms.
“Something’s different.” She stepped up to the thermostat while I got rid of my suit coat and tie, flinging them wherever they happened to land. “You kept the heat at the temperature I like?”
My arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and my lips landed on the sensitive skin of her neck. “I wanted you to be comfortable.”
“Comfortable or hot?” she asked with a gasp as I nibbled on her earlobe.
“Preferably hot.” I seated my solid dick against her ass, rubbing her through our clothes.
Reggie swung away. “What else did you do?”
I wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed or to strut around like the cock of the walk by all the thought I’d put into her possibly returning to me.
“You really wanna know?”
“Of course.”
I held out my hand, and she clasped it. Pulling her with me, I led her to the workout room.
“Oh, Calder.” Her fingers rose to her lips as she spun in a circle. “For me?”
I’d installed a wall of mirrors, attached a dance barre to it, so she’d have a place to practice.
I still wasn’t thrilled about this idea for her to hook up with two men I’d never laid eyes on, though.
“For you.” I caught her hand, brought her palm to my lips. “I missed you so much, sweetheart.”
She hugged me hard, nearly jumping into my arms. “Thank you.”
“Thank you.” Clearing my throat, I asked, “Does this mean I can take you to bed now?”
“I don’t know what you were waiting
for.”
“Very funny.”
I hustled her upstairs before she could change her mind, carrying our luggage and dumping it just inside the bedroom door.
Again, Reggie noted the changes immediately.
The bedroom was cozier, homier. No longer a shell I simply slept in, but a room I’d thought about spending time in with Reggie.
I’d moved every little item she’d left into the room, arranging the simplest things carefully, like precious items because they’d been all I had of hers.
She stopped in front of the new dresser. Empty except for one item with more meaning than anything I’d ever given before.
I grabbed her wrist before she opened the first drawer. “Wait.”
“Why? This is for my things, right?” She tugged free, caressing the vintage dresser I’d had restored, imagining how much she’d like it.
She’d always had an eye for those things. I hoped she’d fill the whole house with them.
“Because that’s not all, and I’m not sure . . .” I inhaled. Rubbed my chest.
“What. Did you booby trap the drawer or something?” Gold sparkles lit the dark brown of her irises.
“No.”
“You bought me something. What? Naughty lingerie?”
“Trust me, I wouldn’t be stopping you if that was what it was.” I cocked an eyebrow, then nodded my head. “Okay. Just bear in mind I . . . fuck it. Go ahead. Look.”
She pulled the drawer open by the polished brass handle, and her fingers flew to her lips again. Her gaze met mine in the mirror set atop the dresser before flicking back to the little white leather box inside.
A tiny square box. Definitely not the size of the necklace I’d given her at Christmas.
I reached beyond her. Palmed the box. Shut the drawer. Turned her to me.
I tilted her chin beneath my knuckles. Rubbed my thumb across her plush bottom lip. Captured her head in my hand.
My voice raw, my heart knocking again, I remembered what I was supposed to do.
Right there in front of her, not really having planned this at all, I dropped to one knee.
“Oh, Calder.”
“I know it’s a little early, but—”
“Yes!”
