Delay of Game (The Baltimore Banners Book 6)

by Lisa B. Kamps

  And he hadn’t been able to do a damn thing except lie there next to her—and try to sleep. And not move. Christ, he wanted to do so much more. His damn dick needed to do so much more. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take before he just freaking exploded. Boom. No more Justin.

  Yeah, that would be one way to take care of the frustration.

  It was his arm that was broke, not his dick. The first shouldn’t have anything to do with the second. Except trying to take care of the second caused so much pain to the first that taking care of the second became a non-issue.

  He should know. He had tried already.

  So yeah, he didn’t need Val coming in here to help him. If she did, he really might die.

  “Justin? Did you need any help?”

  “No, I’m good. I got it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.” He stared down at the torn plastic in his hand and sighed. “Um, could you get me another bag? This one ripped.”

  Was she laughing? He couldn’t be sure, not with the closed door between them. He leaned forward, straining his ears, but she was already gone. No doubt going to the kitchen to get another bag.

  Because he was fucking helpless.

  A few minutes went by before she knocked again. Justin stood, planning on just cracking the door open and grabbing the bag from her. He jarred his arm and winced, then jumped in surprise when the door opened. He grabbed his left arm, cussing under his breath and trying to turn around when Val walked in.

  And yes, she was laughing, the sound soft and musical. He closed his eyes as heat rushed to his face, then reached behind him with his good hand, wiggling his fingers and hoping she’d just hand him the bag and leave.

  No such luck. Val moved next to him, gently lifting his arm and sliding the bag over it. Less than a minute later, she had tape around it, sealing the top, creating a waterproof sleeve with ease.

  Justin didn’t move. All he could do was stand there, his head tilted back and his jaw clenched. Hoping she wouldn’t notice his hard-on. Yeah, like that would happen. He was standing at attention, hard and rigid, ready to go.

  Because his damn dick had a mind of its own.

  Val stepped around him and he opened his eyes, just in time to see her leaning over the tub to turn on the water. His gaze went straight to her ass, nice and firm, perfectly outlined in the stretch material of her black yoga pants.

  He groaned and looked away, but not before Val glanced over her shoulder at him. And shit, the way she was still bent over like that, her head was right there. Like, right there. There was no way in hell she could miss his cock standing at attention like a good soldier ready for action.

  But she didn’t say anything. He didn’t even know if she looked, although part of him tried not to be insulted by her lack of comment. He wasn’t exactly cocky—and Christ, did he really have to use that particular word?—but he liked to think that what he had was noticeable. More than noticeable. But no, Val didn’t say a word.

  He heard her moving, knew she was rolling the bathmat into the tub. The sound of the water changed, coming out of the showerhead now instead of the faucet.

  “All set.” He felt her hand on his good arm, finally opened his eyes so he could step into the shower. He caught her gaze just before she pulled the shower curtain closed, saw the small smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes.

  Justin ducked his head under the water, mumbling under his breath. “This isn’t funny.”

  “What was that?”

  “Uh, nothing.” He shook the water out of his face and reached for the shower gel, squeezing some out onto the poofy ball sitting on the shelf of the shower organizer. Christ, let the guys find out he was using something poofy to shower with and he’d never hear the end of it.

  Yeah, not much chance of that happening. The team was in New York already, getting ready for the first game of round three. And fuck, why did he have to think of that, just now? He thought he’d been doing a good job of not thinking about it, of putting it out of his mind.

  Yeah. The same way he was doing such a good job of not thinking about sex with Val.

  Maybe he should just turn the water to full blast ice. Hell, he should just take care of business himself. It sure as hell wouldn’t take him long. And he would, if he didn’t think he’d jar his arm and make it worse.

  What the hell. It couldn’t hurt, right? If it got to be too bad, he’d just stop. He reached down and wrapped his hand around his cock just as the shower curtain opened again. He jumped, suddenly as guilty as a teenager caught in the act, his breathing coming out in a loud hiss when he knocked his arm against the wall.

  Then he couldn’t breathe at all, couldn’t even think of the pain because suddenly Val was there next to him, water pouring over her naked body.

  Her sweet, delicious, luscious naked body.

  “Val—”

  “Shh.” She stepped closer, the fullness of her firm breasts brushing against his chest as she ran her hand between them. Her hand closed over his, over his cock, guiding it in a long slow stroke.

  Justin’s head fell back as he groaned, all pain in his arm forgotten. There was just this, the exquisite feel of Val’s hand over his, guiding him. Each stroke slow, so fucking slow.

  “Better?” The sound of her throaty voice shot through him, filling him with need, with desire.

  “Val—”

  “Shh.” Then her lips pressed against his. Not a full kiss, just enough to tease. She nipped at his lower lip, then ran her mouth along his bearded jaw, down his neck to his collarbone. She used her mouth to kiss, her tongue and teeth to nip and tease. Down to his chest, to each flat nipple, lower. Down across his stomach, down.

  Then she was kneeling in front of him, easing his own hand away, taking over with her own. He looked down at her, felt something slam into his chest when he met her gaze. The spray of water fell over her, slicking her hair, the long strands falling over her shoulders and clinging to her breasts.

  “Hold on.”

  “Val—”

  “Just hold on to the shower rod. Don’t move. I don’t want you to hurt your arm.”

  Christ, did she really think he cared about his fucking arm right now? She was kneeling in front of him, her hand stroking his cock, her lips slightly parted as she stared up at him. “Hold on to the shower rod or I’ll stop.”

  Justin reached out with arm, his hand wrapping around the rod without thought. And then his mind completely blanked because Val’s mouth was on him, licking, sucking. Warm, wet. Hot. Magical.

  Christ, he was going to die. Pleasure, sharp, almost painful. No, never painful. He clenched his jaw, closed his eyes and tilted his head back as need curled in the pit of his stomach. Razor sharp, intense. Nothing existed except the feel of Val’s mouth on his cock.

  Justin gulped for air, opened his eyes and looked down. Val looked up at him, her dark eyes wide in her face, her gaze burning him from the inside out. God, she was beautiful. So beautiful. What the hell did he do to deserve her? To have this enchantress on her knees in front of him, pleasuring him?

  He wanted to touch her. No, needed to touch her. He loosened his grip around the shower rod, lowered his hand, wanting to wrap his fingers in the wet strands of her glorious hair—

  She moved away, removing her mouth, a wicked grin on her face. “No moving.”

  Justin gripped the shower rod again, a groan tearing through his chest. Christ, didn’t she know how much he needed to touch her? “Val.”

  “No moving.” Her smile widened. Dammit, she did know. Her mouth closed over him again and he groaned, watching as she sucked. Her arm wrapped around his hips, holding him still, as her other hand cupped his balls. Squeezing, teasing.

  Fuck. It was too much. He couldn’t—his head fell back, his jaw clenched as sensation and need tore through him. He tightened his grip around the shower rod, the porcelain tile of the shower cool against his back. God, it was too much. Too much, he couldn’t—

 
His climax ripped from him, tearing through him with a force so strong he almost fell. Would have fallen, if not for his grip around the shower rod and Val’s arm wrapped around his hips. He groaned, the sound long and low, desperate, as stars exploded behind his lids and heat seared his veins. His chest hurt, each harsh breath a struggle. For one frantic second he thought he was having a heart attack, his heart was beating too fast, too loud, the sound echoing around him.

  And then Val was standing next to him, her arms wrapped around his waist, her mouth pressing gentle kisses along his collarbone and throat. He let go of the shower rod, his hand cramped from holding it so tightly, and wrapped his good arm around Val.

  “All better?”

  He tried to nod, wasn’t sure if he was successful or not, didn’t care because Val was kissing him, her mouth tender and gentle against his. He tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer, and deepened the kiss. Val sighed, her body molding itself against his. Then she pulled away and smiled at him. Wicked, wanton. Sweet and innocent. And Christ, how could it be all of that, all at the same time?

  He stared down at her, felt something shift and tilt and wondered if he was getting ready to fall. Then it was too late, because he had fallen. It didn’t matter that he was still standing on his own two feet. He had fallen, hard and fast.

  For the woman in his arms, staring up at him, a bewitching smile on her face. Did she know? Could she tell? Something tore through him. Hot and cold. Reassuring and frightening.

  This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not with Val. Not with anyone. Not now, not when his life was so completely fucked up, not when the future was so uncertain. He opened his mouth with no idea of what to say. Whether he should seize the moment or shove it away. But then Val pressed a final kiss against the base of his throat and reached for the stupid poofy thing, dragging it across his chest and down his stomach, around to his back. And shit, she was bathing him. Actually washing him.

  “Val—”

  “Turn around, let me get your back.”

  Justin watched her for a few long seconds then slowly turned around, his mind searching for something to say.

  Something besides those three words that would forever change things.

  “How’s your arm?”

  “What?” He glanced over his shoulder at her, then down at the arm hanging limply by his side. “Uh, good. I think. I don’t really feel anything right now.”

  Her laughter was intoxicating, light and musical, sending shots of warmth shooting across his skin. Or maybe that was the poofy thing as Val dragged it across his back, his ass, down each leg.

  She tugged on his hand, silently demanding he turn. She added more gel to the poof then scrubbed the front of him. “Step back. Rinse off.”

  Justin moved under the spray, his eyes never leaving her as she used the same gel, the same poofy thing to wash herself. Rich lather formed on her pale skin everywhere she touched, from her neck, to her breasts, lower. She smiled then handed him the poof before turning around, pulling her hair out of the way. “My turn.”

  Justin hesitated, almost afraid to touch her. Then he reached out and pressed the poof against her back, gently rubbing it along her skin. “You’re, uh, going to smell like me.”

  She looked over her shoulder, her smile wide. “I know.”

  Possessiveness shot through him. Possessiveness and something else, something even stronger than before. She had said that like it was a good thing, like she wanted to smell like him. Silly. Stupid. He shouldn’t be grinning, shouldn’t be feeling warm inside at her words. But he did, and he was helpless to stop it.

  He didn’t want to stop it.

  Val turned around then slid past him, stepping under the spray of water to rinse off. He couldn’t stop watching her, couldn’t stop grinning, not when she was looking at him like that, a smile on her face.

  “We need to finish up or we’re going to be late.”

  “Hm?” Justin blinked, pulled his gaze away from her breasts, away from the rosy tips of her nipples. Val laughed then reached behind her and shut off the water.

  “Your doctor’s appointment. We’re going to be late.”

  “Oh. Right.” He nodded, trying to act like he hadn’t forgotten. Val laughed again then pulled back the shower curtain, leaning out to grab two towels. She handed him one and used the other to dry herself. Then she stepped out of the shower and bent over, wrapping the towel around her hair before straightening.

  “Did you need help?”

  “Huh? Oh. No, I got it.” Justin yanked his gaze away and rubbed the towel over him, blotting at the drops of water. Val laughed again then took it from him, doing a more thorough job of drying him off.

  And making him wonder if maybe he could get away with rescheduling the appointment and convincing Val he needed another shower.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The phone rang again, the noise too loud in the heavy silence. Too annoying. Too insistent.

  Justin glanced at the screen in case it wasn’t the same number calling then silenced the phone and tossed it on the bed beside him. He closed his eyes and squeezed his left fist, wincing at the pain. Ignoring it. Squeezing again. Once, twice. One more time.

  Just that little bit of movement caused a sheen of sweat to break out on his forehead. He took a deep breath, relaxed his arm, then opened his eyes. The ceiling fan whirred overhead, the blades spinning round and round. Hypnotic. Mesmerizing.

  Or maybe that was just because of the pain medication. He’d taken two pills a little more than an hour ago and was only now beginning to feel the effects. He thought about getting up and walking out to the kitchen to get two more.

  Thought about, but didn’t move.

  It would be too easy, just pop one or two more. Wait for oblivion to crash over him, pull him under. To momentarily erase all the shit coming at him right now.

  The busted arm.

  The long months of rehab ahead of him.

  The Banners’ abysmal losses of the last two games.

  The fact that he might not be back next season, at least not until after it started. Too late. Too damn late.

  And now the phone calls. One after another, at least twice an hour for the past three hours.

  Yeah, it would be so easy to just go pop a few more pills and let it all disappear. At least for a few hours.

  But he didn’t. He wouldn’t, if only for Val. Justin didn’t want her coming home and seeing him completely out of it like some mindless zombie. Didn’t want her worrying more than she already was about leaving him alone.

  Guilt swept over him again, sharp and biting. Val shouldn’t have to be taking care of him, shouldn’t have to be worrying about him. She had enough responsibility, running her own place, spending her time between the restaurant and taking care of him. He knew it was getting to her, wearing her down. He could see it in the smudges under her eyes, in the shadows that crept into her gaze when she didn’t think he was looking.

  No, she didn’t need more of his shit on top of everything else. Though why she was putting up with him, why she cared, he had no idea.

  So yeah, as tempting as it might be to disappear into oblivion for at least a little bit, he wasn’t going to. Val deserved better.

  He thought again about his earlier idea, the one borne from a medicated stupor. The one where he whisked Val away. He’d surprise her, just take her to the airport without telling her where they were going. He wouldn’t even let her pack. Hell, it wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to buy whatever they needed once they got there.

  He closed his eyes and smiled as he pictured it. White sand and crystal blue water. Warm tropical breezes and exotic rum drinks. Val, dressed in a bikini, stretched out under the golden sun as he rubbed sunscreen over her. Her wide hazel eyes looking up at him, her full mouth tilted in a smile as she leaned toward him—

  Justin groaned and shook his head. It was a great fantasy. Too bad it was just that: a fantasy. He didn’t think Val was the kind of person who would
appreciate being whisked away, not when she had so much responsibility. She wasn’t the kind of person who’d be able to just shirk everything for a week. With a little notice, maybe. But spur of the moment? No, he didn’t think she’d appreciate it.

  Not to mention that the idea of lounging on a beach with a cast didn’t hold much appeal for him. Knowing his luck, he’d spend the entire time trying to get sand out of it. Exactly what he didn’t need, not with the tear in his skin from the incisions and from where the bone broke through still healing.

  Justin rolled to his right side, curling his good arm under his head and propping the broken one on two pillows. The throbbing from earlier was nearly gone now, nothing more than a hazy memory. If he was smart, he’d ice it down using the contraption they’d sent him home with. A small cooler was filled with ice and water, which then ran through a hose and connected to a pad that wrapped around his arm. It beat the hell out of old-fashioned ice packs.

  Yeah, he should have thought of that before taking the medicine and lying down, because he didn’t have the energy to move right now. In a little bit, after he took a small nap.

  His eyes drifted shut, calling the grayness to him. Just a little more, a little closer, and he could disappear for just a little while. Go into the grayness where worries and doubt no longer existed.

  Justin felt himself drifting, moving closer and closer to escape, welcoming it. And then his phone rang, the noise a loud screech, startling him, jerking him back from the ledge.

  He groaned and reached for it, stretching with his good arm until his hand closed around it. Justin looked at the screen, anger and apprehension filling him when the familiar number popped up. Again.

  He silenced the ring one more time, his hand tightening around the phone, squeezing. It would be so easy to just throw it. Hurl it across the room or against the floor, anything to break it. But then nobody else would be able to call. More importantly, he’d have no way to call Val. So he just clasped it in his hand, holding it close to his head, and closed his eyes.

  Deep breaths, over and over, calming himself. Reminding himself not to get sucked into the drama. To put it behind him, not give it any power over him.