FALSE START (Gods of the Gridiron Book 2)

by Shanna Swenson

  “Mmm, that’s Zeus to you, love.” He winked as he brought his finger to his lips and sucked it into his mouth. He moaned before he taking her lips for another searing kiss that made Madi’s sex drip with desire; she could taste herself on him and the eroticism of all this made her entire body tingle with electricity. “As sweet as a peach.” He licked his lips and arched a brow as he began to lower himself down her body. He kissed the underside of her breast and nuzzled it tenderly. His nose moved over her skin, to her navel, where he licked a trail achingly slowly to the delta of her thighs. She literally quivered in anticipation, loving the feel of his large palms roving her body like he was a sculptor attempting to memorize every inch before replicating it.

  She gasped when his mouth centered over her womanhood. Her head flew back as he connected with her aching flesh. “Ohh,” she cried out in pleasure as he licked her sex like it was an ice cream cone, pushing her into exquisite madness. His thick finger moved to the entrance of her body and slid inside her as he all-out made out with her clit.

  Madi began to rock her hips against his face and thrusting finger, yearning for the searing release burning inside her to be quenched. “Oh, God, oh yes, oh, oh,” she whimpered and begged. And he gave, his tongue beating a frantic rhythm against her throbbing bud as his finger dove faster and harder into her, his other hand moved to her breast and fondled her.

  “Damn, I love hearing how good I make you feel, Madison,” he said, his smooth, deep voice unfurling ribbons of pleasure along with his ministrations. “Are you gonna come for me, baby? Tell Zeus.”

  “Mmm, yes,” she answered. “So close. So good, oh it feels so good.”

  “Then let go, Sunflower. Yield to your king.”

  Something about the way his sexy eyes darkened and the determination in his face drove her over the edge. Her mind split as her body soared across the heavens, to Mt. Olympus where Zeus worshipped her like an empowered goddess, loving her womanhood with all his might. She gasped and moaned and whimpered like some love-drunk banshee before returning to earth to see him straddle her waist. He was pumping his thick cock—damn it was big, bigger than she could’ve ever imagined—with one hand and squeezing her breast with the other. He made sexy moans and growls of his own as his head lolled, and he bit into his bottom lip. Her sex still clenched and oozed desire as his pace quickened and his groans filled the empty air.

  “Oh, Madi, baby, you’re so gorgeous.” He licked his lips as she watched him stroke himself, jerking hard and fast. “Mmm, I’m gonna come.”

  And he did, practically roaring as he spilled himself onto her belly, his seed shooting up her torso and onto her breasts. He grunted as he continued to milk himself, his eyes watching her reaction. She could’ve begged him not to stop, for she was so turned on again it was embarrassing. He finally ceased his tugging and looked at the mess he’d made, grinning in post-coital bliss. “I’m a messy god, it would seem. Let me go grab a towel.” He leaned in for a soft kiss before moving off her.

  He walked to the bathroom, his firm ass more impressive than she’d originally assumed it to be. He retrieved a towel and came back to her side, removing the remnants of his passion from her midriff. She stifled a moan as the towel swept between her legs, and he wiped the dampness there. He threw the towel down and moved atop her, aligning his body to hers.

  “That wasn’t exactly what you had planned, I know, but I don’t want to rush this,” he said, his tone serious. He kissed her again, gently, and Madi swooned even as she felt her wrists being unburdened. She relaxed her arms down, around his neck, pulling herself closer to him as her thighs wrapped around his waist. God he was massive, his frame so big and broad. She was completely turned on by his size and his kiss, the noises he made, everything about this bigger than life god-king. He moaned then chuckled before pulling back. His eyes roved her face and he smiled big, cupping her cheek. “I love you, Madison. I’ve always loved you. You know that, don’t you?”

  When Madi shook her head, he frowned as if confused. “I thought you didn’t want me that night in college…after the party.”

  “Oh, Madi. You know I did. You felt that kiss; it was as powerful then as it is now.” He kissed her again just to prove his point, and she was the one moaning this time. “See, it wasn’t because I didn’t want you. It was because I wasn’t going to take advantage of you. Just like I can’t take advantage of you now. I want nothing more than to bury myself inside you right this minute and never come out, but I can’t. You’re still so vulnerable, love. I have to wait. You aren’t ready.”

  She wanted to argue with him and sass that it wasn’t his place to tell her when she was ready, but she knew he was telling the truth. She only nodded and blushed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  “I was always afraid to.”

  “You weren’t afraid to ten minutes ago,” Madi smirked.

  Brett chuckled heartily. “No, I guess not. Seeing my perfect Hera in all her goddess-like beauty forced all my inhibitions out; there was nothing left to hold back. I’d lost too much time already. It was time to throw the cards on the table and see what happened.”

  “Hera, huh?” Madi smiled big into her Zeus’s handsome face. “I like that.”

  “Well, I mean, if I’m Zeus then that’s who you are, Sunflower.”

  Madi smiled big, loving that he was claiming her—and as the queen of the gods too. Then a thought occurred to her. “Hunter knew, didn’t he?” she asked, guilt hitting her gut at that moment.

  Brett nodded and bowed his head. “I wanted to come to you and beg you not to marry him. Beg you to choose me instead, but I loved you too much to put you in that position. You were in love with Hunter, not me. I couldn’t do that to you, no matter that it meant ripping out my own heart in the process.”

  “Oh, Brett, I’m so sorry. I should’ve—”

  “No, Madi. No more wishing to change the past, no more regrets. We have here and now, and we have each other. Let’s just start from where we left off. That night in college would be a good place, don’t you think?”

  Tears of joy came to Madi’s eyes and she smiled big, loving how at peace she felt in the arms of the man she loved…the man she’d always loved.

  “How do I look, buddy?” Hunter asked Brett, even as Brett scowled, looking at his best friend in the mirror. How could Brett be his best friend when he wanted Hunter’s bride for himself? He was horribly sick to his stomach, wishing that this day had never come. Yet here it was.

  Despite that this was one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen, Ireland, today was the worst day of Brett’s entire existence. All he could think about was how he’d failed, how late he was, how dumb he was. Madison Taylor would no longer be his—not that she’d ever really been in the first place. She would no longer be the love of his life because she would belong to another man. And Brett would have to—finally—let her go.

  How the hell was he going to just be able to stand there and let it happen? How could he possibly hold his tongue when the priest asked if anyone had any reason why the two shouldn’t be joined? Witnessing his sweet Madi promise herself to Hunter Thomas was going to destroy him.

  Brett took another swig of whiskey as he tried to hide his true feelings from Hunter. He nodded and sighed, “You make a fine bridegroom, my friend.” It was an honest statement. Hunter had cleaned up nice compared to their late night in an Irish pub singing with the locals in Irish Gaelic neither of them understood, drunkenly pissing in a giant trough in the bathroom, and reminiscing on the “good ol’ days.”

  Hunter approached him then, looking fairly stricken himself. “Brett, I don’t mean to get all sappy on you right now, but it’s my wedding day and I want you to know that I’m really glad you’re here. I’m glad I met you. I’m glad you were my QB, and I’ve enjoyed knowing you for the last four years. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, I haven’t been the greatest of friends, but you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had. You’ve been there for me thr
ough everything. You mean the world to me and to Madi. I’m not perfect, not by any means, but I’m gonna try my damnest to love her the way a better man would.”

  Brett frowned. Better man, huh? Is he talking about me?

  “What I’m trying to say is: I love you, like a brother, and I’m honored to have you for my best man.”

  How could Brett say anything to discourage that? “You too, man. Glad to be here for you.” You fuckin’ liar!

  “You’re family, man, always.”

  “You too, buddy.”

  Hunter pulled him in for a hug and Brett returned it, patting his back, all the while wishing he could earnestly not hate the man. Hate and love, the space between the two was where Hunter took up residence in Brett’s heart: best friend, favorite teammate, worst enemy all bundled into one.

  “How’s my bride?”

  Brett gave him a little shrug when he pulled back, wanting to be hammered drunk by the time the ceremony was done so he could numb the pain this day promised.

  “Why don’t you go check on her? I know she’ll be sweatin’ bullets, worse than I am, I’m afraid.”

  God, please no? Why would I torture myself even more than I am now?

  But he simply nodded and left the room.

  Brett wasn’t sure how long it took him to get there, or how long he stared at the door to the bridal suite, before he finally got the guts up to knock. He felt his heart bleeding torrents of emotion before the ancient wooden door opened and Brooke smiled at him, a brow going up.

  Brett came in, his heart racing and his breath hitching as his eyes fell on the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Madison Hope Taylor in an elegant, white lace gown. He could have fallen to his knees before the shining angel that stared back at him.

  Tears hit his eyes and he covered a hand over his mouth as he took her in, a vibrant smile across her gorgeous face.

  “Wow, Madi, ho—” He was speechless and had a difficult time swallowing.

  “I’d say I look pretty good by your reaction.”

  He shook his head. “Good? Good doesn’t even cut it. You’re stunning, Madi, absolutely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Hunter’s gonna…” he trailed off.

  This should be my moment, he thought. Not Hunter’s.

  Every cell in Brett’s body, every thought in his mind, urged him to beg her to call this wedding off. To reconsider the match between herself and Hunter, to choose him instead. As broken as his tattered heart was, he couldn’t bring himself to utter the words. Today was Madi’s day. And because he worshipped her, loved every fiber of her being, he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

  Even if that meant hurting himself. Even if it meant never telling her the truth—that his heart was, and always would be, hers.

  She approached him then and took his hands. She kissed his cheek and the warmth of her lips made his suffering all the more poignant.

  “You’re the most beautiful bride ever, Madison Hope.”

  His eyes held hers for the longest time. No amount of wishing or wanting could change the heart that wasn’t his to take. She wasn’t in love with him, and Brett had to accept that.

  “Hunter Thomas is the luckiest man alive, and I pray with everything in me that today he realizes it.”

  Madi beamed up at him, her seafoam green eyes speaking words only his heart could hear. “Tell him I love him, and I’ll meet him at the altar,” she finally said.

  His lips came to her cheek, and he savored the final moments he had with her. The final moments he had to absorb that he’d made the gravest mistake of his life by not coming clean before today.

  He’d live to regret staying quiet, being the perfect gentleman, staying only her friend.

  He planned to get shit-faced drunk by the time the reception started; after that, he would try to move on with his life. Somehow, he would find a way to live a life without his heart.

  But for now, he had a wedding to attend… a wedding that marked the demise of true love for Brett McFadden.

  Brett grinned, hearing the birds wake him before his alarm had a chance. The sun streamed through the plantation shutters and shimmered down on his sleeping queen, lighting up her blonde ringlets. The sunlight that shimmered among the golden curls made her look like she had a halo around her head, but Brett didn’t need a reminder that Madison was an angel; he’d always known. He leaned in, kissed her cheek, and laced his fingers through the hand that laid on his chest, stroking his fingers up her forearm. The sexy little moan that escaped her lips made him rock hard in seconds. He longed to pull her hand to his erection and let her torture him even more than she already had last night.

  Seeing her naked in front of him, exposed to him, as vulnerable as she’d ever been to him, made something inside him finally snap; it had been his resolve. He’d always regretted not talking to her about that night in college, always regretted not coming clean about his feelings before Hunter swooped in like a hawk and carried her away from Brett, always regretted not having another chance. Last night, he’d had that chance and he’d taken it.

  Now, he was so glad he did. Madi knew how he felt, she knew he loved her, and she knew he wanted to make her his. He’d finally been given the opportunity to show that to her, even if he’d not officially made love to her yet. He’d gotten to love the body that had always haunted his dreams, worship her as she always deserved, and made promises he couldn’t wait to fulfill. She’d been completely his to command last night, and he’d eaten up every sexy second of it. He felt alive for the first time in so long, feeling as if he’d truly woken up on Mt. Olympus.

  Madi must have shared his thoughts because she was grinning seductively at him.

  “Good morning, stud,” she cooed and pulled his stroking hand to her lips to kiss and suck his fingers, making him groan in anticipation of her mouth on his stiffening cock.

  “Careful, my goddess, you’ll disturb Zeus’s slumber, and we both know he’s a very dominating god.”

  Madi giggled and peeled down the sheets; Brett swore he’d never wanted anything more in his whole life. “I liked Zeus…a lot.”

  “Hmm, I’ll have to summon him more often then.” Brett moved and pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her and lowering his lips to hers. He kissed her soft at first then aggressively and possessively, thrusting his pelvis into her thigh to show her just how much he wanted her.

  She ate it up, and when he pulled back, she was breathing hard and looking at him like he was a big piece of meat and she the dog salivating for it; it made him feel good, damn good. He stroked her cheek and watched her eyes as they moved over his face. Having her look at him like this was new, and he was going to indulge a bit.

  “That was the first time I’ve ever been tied like that,” Madi confessed, and Brett saw her cheeks pinken.

  “Oh? Did you feel helpless?”

  Madi bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I felt…” she searched for the right word a moment then said, “Empowered. Sexy. Aroused.”

  “Mmm, you’ll be feeling that a lot, I’m afraid. Get used to it, my queen.”

  Madi giggled again and took his lips. She moved her hands down his shoulders to his chest and stroked him as if she were testing his solidity. When her hands began to lower, he growled a warning. “Easy, Sunflower.”

  “I wanna touch you. When do I get to touch you?”

  Brett grinned deviously. “When I can fully have every inch of you. That’s when.” When she huffed, he explained. “Madison, I’ve been a patient man for a very long time, but the minute I feel your hands on me, I’m gonna claim you, and God knows when or if I’ll be able to stop. For now, Zeus is in control and he’ll stay that way.” Brett winked, and Madi pouted. He nibbled that pout away and began to stroke her body, loving the sounds that escaped her as he did. He had her melting like ice cream in his palms before he stopped and shot up off the bed.

  “Brett? Where are you going?”

  He smirked. Having Madison Hope Taylor ach
ing for him might be the hottest fucking thing ever; his dick was swelled to bursting. “I gotta go to practice, baby. Remember, Quil and I are running drills today.”

  Madi sat up, brows drawn, arms crossing beneath her perfect breasts. “You get back here and finish what you started, Zeus, or so help me…”

  “Oh, Hera, you sass the wrong god, my queen. Better not finish that statement.” He shook his finger at her. “Whose bed is that?” Madi simply huffed back, and Brett ate it all up. “That’s right. Zeus will have you when he wants you, and unfortunately, our fun will have to continue later.”

  “Is that so?” Madi’s brow cocked, and it was all he could do not to jump back into bed and beg her to lash him with that delicious tongue of hers. “Well then, Zeus, two can play your little game.”

  With that, she threw the covers off and began gathering her robe.

  Brett chuckled and said, “Hate to see ya go, darlin,’ but love to watch you leave.” It was true since her tight little ass was utterly bitable, and he couldn’t wait to have her apologizing for her behavior later.

  Yes, indeed Brett McFadden was fully awake and fully alive. Now to go continue that streak on the field. He laughed as he moved into the bathroom to shower.

  “Again,” Haskins huffed and growled at Brett.

  Dammit, couldn’t Haskins see this wasn’t working? Why did Brett and his offensive coordinator clash so? If he’d have watched any of Quillan’s game highlights he would have seen that Quil moved best from the left, not the right. This was the fourth time they’d ran the same route, and Quil hadn’t even come close to catching the bullets Brett had thrown him. Quil was off. Or was it Brett?

  He was anxious, highly anxious. He thought he could do this. He thought he could just come onto this field, start running plays, and everything would be back to normal. Well, dammit it wasn’t and Brett wasn’t sure when or if it would be.