by J. Nathan
“So does Avery. Why do you want me?”
He closed his eyes. Was he pondering the question or coming up with a winning response? “You cared about me when no one else did.” When his eyes opened, sincerity not dishonesty shaded them. “You didn’t have to. No one made you. You weren’t getting anything out of it. You just did. And as much as you probably want to deny that, too, you did care, Andi. I could hear it in your voice. See it in your frustration with me. Feel it in your hesitance to keep coming back.”
“Betty showed up,” I reminded him, the recollection still twisting my insides. “She seemed to care.”
“You’re right. She seemed to care. They all seem to care. But none of them do. None of them will be around now that I’m not going pro. None of them are you.”
I shook my head. There had to be more to it. More to his unwavering certainty. “I’m not convinced.”
“God dammit, woman,” he growled in exasperation. “You not being in my life isn’t an option.” He looked me dead in the eyes to be sure I was paying attention. I was paying attention, hanging on every word. “It’s always been you. Since I woke up and saw you sitting there with my hand in yours, I knew it was you.”
“But can’t you see how that doesn’t make sense to me?”
He scoffed. “I guess it wouldn’t. I’m the one who had the dreams.”
My entire face scrunched in confusion. “What dreams?”
“When I was unconscious, I had these dreams. They didn’t feel like dreams. More like memories.”
My skin tightened as my heartbeat sped up. “What kind of memories?”
“Us…on a rooftop…” His squinting eyes and hesitation showed someone searching their subconscious for details that had become hazy. “Eating pizza…” His eyes drifted to the ceiling like he knew none of it made any sense. “Doing shots…”
I could hardly breathe for fear of stopping what was happening.
“You told me you hated me, but I knew you didn’t mean it. Then I was giving you…”
“Giving me what?” I whispered.
I noticed an emotion I rarely saw in his eyes. Embarrassment. “A sponge bath.”
My breath rushed out of me like a gust of wind. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I wasn’t crazy.
I knew I wasn’t crazy.
And while I didn’t understand it—nor did I think I ever would, I knew the universe worked in mysterious ways. Did I really want to risk questioning it when the outcome worked in my favor?
“I know it doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does.” I reached over and cupped his cheeks between my shaking hands. “As crazy as it is, it does. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you wanted nothing to do with me. I made you want nothing to do with me. And while those dreams were what made me feel close to you, it was your stubbornness and determination to break through my walls that made me know you were the one person who would stick around for me. Not because you expected something from me. It’s what made me know giving up on us was never an option. You were special, Andi. You are special.”
A cross between a laugh and a sob escaped me.
“And when I tried to push you away, it was because I was angry. Angry I was the one who hurt you. Angry you were the one who got caught in the middle of my mess. Angry I’d fallen for the one girl I’d never be able to have.”
My hands dropped to his shoulders and I tilted my head, noticing his boyish features for the first time. The features of a son who hadn’t been loved the way a son should’ve been loved. The features of an athlete who had too much pressure placed on him when it was the last thing he wanted. The features of a guy who couldn’t be sure who to trust since everyone in his life wanted something from him. “You do have me, Drew. I’m right here.”
His brows pulled together, his vulnerability almost too much to take. “But I want you for longer than just right now.”
I nodded. “I know.”
He stared at me like I’d lost my flipping mind. “I think you may still be drunk.”
I shook my head. “For the first time in a long time, I think my head’s a little less foggy. And I’m starting to feel more than just pain.”
“You can’t be sure.”
Was he really trying to dissuade me? After everything he’d said to convince me? I nodded. “I am.”
“This won’t be easy. I can be a real asshole.”
“No kidding,” I laughed.
He leveled me with those gorgeous green eyes. “But I want this.”
I dragged my teeth over my bottom lip and nodded. “Me, too.”
His smile spread wide as he moved in slowly—so slowly I thought he’d never make it to me. “I want you,” he assured me, before finally pressing his lips to mine, slow yet forceful. This kiss carried relief. Resolution. Our future.
He pulled back, nuzzling his nose against mine. His fingertips coasted over my healed cheek. His eyes zoned in on the spot, undoubtedly remembering where my scratch sat and how it got there.
“Hey.” I lifted my hands, tunneling my fingers through the hair at his nape. “I’m okay. I’m good. We’re good.”
His eyes moved from my cheek to my eyes, instantly softening. “We are good. And we’re going to be so good together.”
“You think?”
“I know.” The deep rasp in his voice gave me an immediate burst of courage, completely turning me on.
I sat up as he eyed me curiously. “So, does that mean we’ll be getting past first base?” I tugged my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor.
His lips kicked up in the corners as his eyes dropped to my lacy black bra. “Oh, I’d say at least second.”
I reached down and pushed my skirt down my legs, tossing it to the floor. “How about if I’m aiming for third?”
“At this rate, sweetheart, you can have whatever the fuck you want.” Drew shoved down his boxers with a grin.
“So a homerun’s in the cards?” I laughed.
“I think you’re forgetting. I’m a football guy. We speak in terms of tackle.” He lunged playfully forward, forcing me onto my back and following me down. “Offsides.” His big strong hands gripped my sides, his fingers digging in as they slid from my bra all the way down to my hips. “First and ten.” His fingers moved to the elastic on each leg of my underwear, tracing them down slowly. The light touch of his fingers left a glorious path of numbness in their wake. “Maybe a quarterback sneak.” His middle finger slipped underneath my underwear and inside the wet folds he’d created. “Or a safety.” My head pushed back into the pillow as his finger glided slowly back and forth.
The anticipation of what he’d do next added to the hum taking over my body. It took every bit of effort not to groan as his finger slipped back and forth. Without warning he added another finger, creating the same glorious sensations before pushing them inside. As his fingers thrust in and out of me, he used his thumb to circle my throbbing nub.
Good, God.
I lifted my hips, bucking him slightly—unsure if I was trying to ride his hand or get him inside me faster. “I believe they call this an interception.”
His lips turned up, keen to my needs. “Actually, it’s called rushing the passer.”
I laughed. “Well, any chance we’ll be moving toward a touchdown?”
“This isn’t a race.”
“Or a game of football, but I’ve still been playing nice.”
With a smile, his fingers slipped out of me.
Ugh. Maybe I shouldn’t have rushed the passer.
His knee carefully spread my legs further apart. “We’ve got all the time in the world,” he promised, pressing his hard length into my center.
“Oh, you think so, huh?” I grasped his cheeks between my hands and pulled his mouth down to mine, moving my lips urgently as his hips lazily pushed against me. A shiver rolled through me as my hands slipped to the back of his head and tightened in his hair. I urged him closer—deeper, licking away at his mout
h like I planned to devour him whole. “Pull them down,” I said against his lips.
I let my hands fall away as he sat back on his knees, tugging my panties down and tossing them on the floor. He leaned off the bed and grabbed his jeans from the same spot and dug into the pocket. Finding what he needed, he ripped the small packet open with his teeth.
I watched as he rolled on the condom, enjoying the show more than I ever had before. But with Drew’s amazing body, and the way every muscle swelled when he moved, how could I not be enthralled—and horny as hell?
I beckoned him back with my index finger, trying my best to be the seductress I wasn’t even remotely close to being. A devilish glint flashed in his eyes as he crawled back over me, his body covering mine. This time I felt his entire body from head to toe as he buried his face in my neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses along my skin. I felt his hardened length slip between my legs, coasting over the wetness there.
My head fell back on a gasp and my body buzzed with pleasure. I could tell he wanted to prolong it. Wanted to take his time. Wanted me to enjoy the sensation every time he slipped over me without entering. Every time he purposely hit the ball of nerves at the apex of my thighs and my body trembled. Again. And again.
My fingertips dug into the smooth skin on his sides, moving to his hips, trying to hang on and enjoy the pleasure he brought to every part of my body. But soon, his quest to bring me pleasure turned to torture. And every slip, every kiss, every touch of his hands on my skin became too intense. Too mind-numbing. Too much.
I thrust my hips up. “Drewww. I can’t take anymore.”
He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “See, that’s where I think you’re wrong.” He purposely dipped inside my warmth and coasted along, teasing me with the feeling of things to come. “I think you can take a lot more.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath, trying to enjoy his playfulness.
“See,” he said all raspy and sexy. “I knew you could do it.”
“I hate you,” I lied, as my body threatened to self-combust.
“I don’t believe you,” he murmured, his hips continuing their glorious movements.
My eyes popped opened. “Please, Drew.” Yup. That was a whine. “Stop.”
“Stop?” Every part of his body stopped moving. “Is that what you really want?” He rolled off, lying beside me with his head in his palm and his massive bicep flexed and bulging in my face.
Was it weird I wanted to lick it? “I meant stop torturing me,” I panted.
“I didn’t realize I was torturing you.” He said it all innocently, but seriously? After what he’d just been doing, he was anything but innocent.
Bastard.
I rolled to my side and reached around my back, unsnapping the clasp on my bra. Two can play that game. I reached back around and pulled the bra off, tossing it on the floor. I rested my head in my palm and waited him out.
His eyes dropped to my chest. No big surprise there. Then they lifted almost immediately to my eyes. That’s when I saw it. His fierce desire. His want. His need. His realization that I was his for the taking. That’s all it took. He tackled me onto my back, caging me in with his forearms beside my head. “Woman, you’re gonna be the death of me.” His hips pushed once, giving me the much need tremor I yearned for. Then, without any more teasing, he thrust inside, sheathing himself deep to my core.
Groaning, I arched into him, my breasts rubbing against his hard chest. My fingers slid down his back, over his taut muscles, trailing down to the deep curve at the base of his spine that led to his perfect ass. My nails dug into his smooth skin, pulling him closer into me, loving the feel of him pounding away at me. Time after time.
“God,” he rasped into my neck. “What are you doing to me?”
“Letting you slide into home,” I panted.
“You’re forgetting. Quarterbacks score touchdowns.” The growl in his voice and the feel of his body stretching mine wide sent me climbing to the peak. “Fuck the extra point. This right here, this is what we call a two point conversion.” He reached down and flicked his thumb where I ached for it most.
Once. Twice. Three times. And I was careening over the crest. A tremor tore through my body, stealing my breath. Aftershocks zapped at every nerve ending, tingling to the tips of my fingertips and toes. My head fell back as I gasped for air.
Drew continued thrusting until his body stilled and tremors rocked through him. His weight lowered onto me. All his weight. And I loved the feel of every rock hard inch of him as our chests heaved. Our breaths huffed. Our hearts raced. We were one. And for the first time in a long freaking time, I had hope. Hope that I’d found someone who’d deliver on his promises. Hope that I was enough to make him stick around. Hope that this was the last Drew—the only Drew—I’d have to contend with in this lifetime.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I gazed out the passenger window of Drew’s truck feeling completely at ease. More than I’d been in a very long time. After picking me up from physical therapy, I assumed he planned to take me home. But the roads he took brought us closer and closer to the coast.
My head whipped toward him. “Where are we going?”
His eyes jumped from the road to me. He looked nervous. Hesitant. “I’ve got something to show you.”
I twisted my ponytail around my finger. “After last night, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it all.”
He chuckled, but it held nervousness. Trepidation even. He pulled to a stop outside an abandoned storefront on one of the busier beach roads. The windows were blotted with white paint. No sign hung over the glass door, but a For Lease sign hung in its window.
Drew hopped out of his truck and hurried around to open my door. “Now I need you to have an open mind.”
I nodded as he laced his fingers with mine and tugged me toward the door.
His free hand pulled a key from his pocket and jammed it into the lock.
“Why do you have a key?”
He unlocked the door and pushed it open, moving to the side to let me enter first.
I stepped into the center of a large empty room and spun around.
Drew followed me inside, closing the door behind him. “What do you think?”
“Of an empty room?” My voice echoed off the bare concrete walls.
“Of my rehab clinic?”
I stared across the room at him, the idea not processing completely.
“I want you to be my first patient.”
My forehead creased. “You’re opening a business?”
He nodded slowly, closely watching my reaction. “Once I pass my Boards, it’s all mine.”
I glanced around the vacant space. “You’re opening your own business here?”
He nodded, his eyes boring into mine as if trying to read my thoughts.
I swallowed. Hard. “You really weren’t going to leave?”
He shook his head. “When I want something, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my hips. “So you wanted to open your own business?”
“Yes.” His lips quirked up in the corners as he walked toward me, his shoulders back and his arms swinging with purpose. “But I wanted you a hell of a lot more.”
I fought back a smile. “I hate you.”
He backed me into the concrete wall, caging me in with his hands beside my head. “You hate that you like me.” As soon as the words left his lips, his head jolted back.
My eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“I just had déjà vu.”
I smiled. “I know the feeling.”
“Oh, yeah?” His voice took on a suggestive tone.
I nodded, my eyes locked on his.
“Then do you already know what it’s going to feel like when I make you very, very happy?” His face inched closer, prepared to make good on those words.
“Is this while you’re rehabbing me or in bed?”
He cocked his head as his eyes dragged sl
owly down my body. “Both.”
I laughed as he leaned toward my ear and dragged his teeth along my lobe, nibbling all the way around it. I titled my head, giving him better access while I stared out at the empty space behind him. I envisioned the possibilities. Machines on the far side. A mirror along the opposite wall. Treadmills and bikes in the corner. Me on the weight bench with him on top of me. “So where do we start?”
“We?” he hummed against my ear.
“You don’t think I’m gonna let you do this alone, do you?”
He pulled back and gazed down at me in what could only be described as admiration.
“I know,” I said with a facetious smirk. “I’m a total keeper.”
He moved in and kissed the smirk right off my lips. “Why do you think I’ve been trying to hang on to you?”
My eyes flashed away, unsure if I’d ever get used to his sincerity. “Think of all the clients you’re gonna bring in because of your name.”
“And my body.”
I stifled a grin as I looked back at him. “Of course, there’s always that.”
He snickered. “No seriously. I’m banking on you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Think of all the clients I’ll bring in after getting you back on the track. And getting you a medal.”
I slipped my arms around his waist and looked up into his eyes. “You really think I can do it?”
“You made me fall in love with you. So I’d say you’re capable of anything.”
My stomach became a fluttery mess. “So you love me?”
“Sweetheart, I fucking love everything about you, including this sarcastic mouth.” He leaned in and kissed my lips, gently coaxing them apart with the swipe of his tongue, diving in and taking all of me. And of course I let him. Because for the first time, I trusted him. Whole-heartedly. He pulled back and shifted toward my neck, dragging his tongue all the way up to my ear. “And this tasty neck,” he purred into my skin as his hands slipped around and squeezed my rear end. “And this ass,” he growled. “God, I can’t get enough of it.”
“Nice to see someone’s got their shit together,” a deep voice interrupted, alerting us we weren’t alone.