“I already asked her. She said yes.” His green eyes twinkled with mischief. “And I have one more present for you. But I’ll give it to you later.” Seth kissed her hard.
“OK.” Morgan shook her head, wondering what outrageous thing he’d done now.
* * *
Morgan was in the process of giving Jake his fiftieth kiss goodbye when Sydney kicked them out of the house and told them to have a good time. Clubs in hand, Morgan and Seth got on the elevator and headed for the lobby. Morgan didn’t think anything of it when Seth declined the doorman’s offer to bring his car to the front of the Ashcroft. He smiled and said they’d be going to the garage to get it. Morgan followed him through the parking deck, stopping dead in her tracks when she spotted a new Firenze red Range Rover with a big red bow on it in the parking spot next to his.
Seth spoke first. “Before you say anything about it being too extravagant, I want to remind you that it’s my anniversary too, and I get to do what I want for my wife.”
“What kind of logic is that?” Morgan glared at him.
“It’s not logic. It’s heartfelt emotion.” Seth took a deep breath. “It’s fully loaded. I took your brothers to the dealership with me, just in case I missed anything you would want.”
Morgan laughed. “You don’t take kids to a candy store. Those idiots like tricked out cars almost as much as they like football.”
She opened the car door and flipped through the manual on the seat. The SUV looked just like Seth’s with a few modifications. She inspected the vehicle, impressed with the shadow walnut console and the supple ivory leather. The new car smell was intoxicating.
“We did have a good time. My salesman Peter ordered lunch for us. We watched a hockey game.”
Morgan put a hand on her hip. “Was that the day you told me you had to go to the stadium?”
“Yes, I wanted it to be a surprise. I just want you and Jake to be safe.”
Morgan closed the door and walked to the front of the car. The license plate caught her eye. It read M BLAKE. “Very subtle with the vanity plates.”
Seth looked at the plates and grinned.
“Thank you. I love it.” She hugged him.
Morgan fielded happy anniversary calls via her blue tooth in her new SUV as Seth directed her out of the city to the driving range. She had to admit her new car was a smooth, elegant ride. It had plenty of room for Jake’s things and all of her work stuff. She was going to miss her old car; it was only a few years old. She pondered if she could talk her brother Robert into letting her give it to Avery when she started driving in a couple of years.
The golf lesson began with a detailed explanation of the game. Morgan loved how intense Seth got when he talked about sports. She slipped on her new gloves and grabbed a club. He helped with her stance, explained to her the difference in the clubs, and told her to try them out until one felt right in her hands. Hitting those balls was more therapeutic than she’d imagined. Seth, impressed with her swing, let her be and started hitting a few balls of his own.
“Hey, you want to have a wedding?” Seth said.
Morgan kept her eye on the ball. “I love the thought of the sublime redundancy of it all, but I thought we had one already.”
“Did you want a formal wedding?”
Morgan glanced up at him and then back. “Uh oh, what brought this on? Have you been watching those reality wedding shows in the middle of the night again?” She laughed.
Seth sighed. “OK, I will admit that I watched a few of those shows and the women seemed super excited about getting married. A big, splashy wedding in front of family and friends. Hell, even in front of a few enemies. I don’t want you to feel cheated years from now when you look back on how our married life began.”
Morgan broke her putting stance and looked him in the eye. “OK, let’s do it. We’ll go back to the island and find Alvin. He can perform the ceremony again. I’ll go dig out my wedding attire. I believe it was a pair of carpenter shorts and a T-shirt with blue flowers on it. Jake can be the best man. Maybe Reed’s Fire can be my maid of honor.”
Seth raised an eyebrow. “That sounds more like a circus. And your wedding T-shirt had pink flowers on it.”
“You remembered.” Morgan kissed him.
“It sounds very animated, but—”
“Did you enjoy our first fake wedding?”
When it looked like he was contemplating it, she hit him in the stomach.
“Ouch.” He clinched his abs. “Yes.”
“The only thing that was missing was family, friends, and much fancier clothes. Those carpenter pants cost me fifteen dollars. A nice wedding dress would have cost at least ten thousand dollars.”
“Ten thousand? Wow, I have no concept of what things cost.” He smirked.
“True. But remember, I’m friends with Nina, who is my part time fashion consultant. Nina would make sure I find the most exquisite and expensive gown your money could buy.”
“A small price to pay to give you the wedding you wanted.”
“And the wedding cake. Five obnoxious tiers of bland cake covered in Teflon icing with a little bride and groom on top. I think the elaborate show is for the guests. I don’t feel cheated in any way. I got the best part of the deal.”
“OK, if you’re sure about this.” Seth pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Morgan and Seth hit a couple dozen more balls before they decided to grab lunch at his favorite restaurant. Morgan liked the cozy, intimate environment of Rockford’s steak house. They were always seated in a booth that had maximum privacy and the wait staff treated Seth like a regular customer. No one ever asked for his autograph or interrupted their meal to chat him up.
“Did you like your presents?” Morgan smiled at him.
Seth put down his menu. “I loved each and every one of them. I didn’t know you’d gone shopping.”
“Ha! I went shopping when you had lunch with Luke. Sydney was kind enough to babysit.”
“I think it’s nice how the two of you have grown closer. It’s about time.” Seth looked at her.
“I wouldn’t say we got closer. My hormones had me on emotional overload. I told my brothers I loved them all the time. One day I drove to Bryn Mawr after work just to give my father a hug. I’m sure I won’t live that sentimental crap down.” She threw her napkin on the table.
“Well, I think it’s nice that you did it.” He caressed her hand.
“You think it’s nice I ravaged you every night in bed.” She smirked.
Seth put his hand to his chest. “Well, I did whatever I could to keep my pregnant wife happy.”
“You were a good sport about letting me make a human sundae out of you. Where is that ice cream scoop by the way?” She tapped her lips with her finger.
“In the nightstand. I had Kara replace the other one. You should have seen your face at the baby shower when I scooped that ice cream to go with the cake.” Seth burst out laughing.
Morgan shuddered. “I will admit I said a silent prayer over that ice cream.”
She glanced at her phone for the twentieth time. Sydney hadn’t called. She put it back in her purse when she caught Seth looking at her.
“I’m glad you liked your golf clubs,” she said.
“I can’t wait to show my dad and J.J. when we go to Arizona.”
Morgan laughed. “You’re talking about your monogrammed bag, aren’t you?”
“Yep. I’m a Sr. now.”
Morgan couldn’t resist pulling out her phone again. “Sydney hasn’t called.”
“Which means everything is OK.” Seth took it away from her and slid it into his shirt pocket.
“Since you got to use a get out of anniversary jail free card with the SUV, I get to use one. But you have to tell me the truth.”
Seth smiled. “OK.”
“Do you want to go to the Tomcats?” Morgan searched his eyes.
“Morgan,” he sighed.
“Don’t ‘Morgan’ me. Answer t
he question. Honestly. It’s important.”
Time stood still for Morgan as she waited.
“Yes. I would consider it,” Seth said.
“Was that so hard?”
Seth stared down at the table. “The simplest things are often the most difficult.”
“Not today. It’s our anniversary.” Morgan leaned over and kissed his cheek.
He took out his wallet to pay the bill. “So what do you want to do now?”
Morgan shrugged. “Want to go the movies and make out?”
“Yes,” Seth fired off.
“What do you want to see?”
Seth grabbed her hand and headed for the door. “I don’t care. I have no intention of watching the movie.”
* * *
Seth and Morgan returned home from their date to find Sydney reading a book to Jake in the library.
“He was such a good boy. No fussing.” She smiled fondly down at him.
“That’s because he loves his grandma,” Seth said as he picked up Jake.
Morgan shot Seth a dirty look. Luckily she was standing behind her stepmother. Sydney, on the other hand, beamed and practically floated out of the door.
Seth glanced at Morgan once Sydney had left, and she shook her head.
“I don’t want to talk it about.”
Before he could say a word, Morgan was off putting away their golf clubs. When she came into the baby’s room, he suggested she take a relaxing shower and he’d put Jake to bed.
An hour passed. He knew Morgan liked to take her time in the bathroom, but it had been a while since he’d kicked her out of the nursery. Confident that Jake was sleeping soundly this time around after a few false starts, Seth adjusted the volume on the baby monitor and went in search of his wife.
He made his way through the steam-filled bathroom and reached the stall door. He opened it and found Morgan leaning against the wall.
“Baby, are you OK?” Seth decreased the water pressure.
“I’m just tired. All the activity of the day is finally catching up with me.” She tried to give him a smile.
“Let’s get you out of there.” Seth reached for her.
“No, I need to shave my legs. They feel prickly,” she mumbled.
“No, they don’t.”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “You’re sweet but a bad liar.”
Seth held up his hands. “Honest.”
“Just give me a minute. Or ten. I’ll shave my legs then I promise I’ll get out.” She closed her eyes again.
The hot water felt good against Morgan’s skin. A sleepy feeling had come over her when she’d first stepped into the shower. Now moving wasn’t an option. It felt so good to stand there, letting the steam cleanse away the exhaustion that had crept up on her. The opening of the shower door again brought her back to reality. She opened her eyes to see Seth standing there in all his delicious nakedness.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He was holding a can of shaving cream and one of his razors in his hands. Seth got down on his knees, the water cascading down and plastering his short hair to his head. Those sexy green eyes of his peeked up at her through wet lashes. Morgan’s eyes widened as his huge hand engulfed her ankle, not sure what he was doing or if she’d be able to participate. He placed her foot on the center of his chest then reached for the shaving cream. Starting at the top of her leg, he released a jet stream of the pink gel from the top of her hip to her ankle. He made sensual circles on her legs until the lather became foamy and white. With each touch, it sent a deep, pulsing sensation to her clit. She was exhausted, but she wasn’t dead.
“You have such pretty toes,” he said.
She laughed and wiggled them in response. He’d used that chocolate sauce he kept in the nightstand one night, pouring it on top of her foot and ascending her body until he reached the center of her breasts, spending hours licking her clean.
Seth reached up on the shelf in the stall and retrieved his razor. The first stroke on her flesh felt like heaven. How a man so powerful and athletic could deliver such a light, tender, and loving a touch was beyond her. And the most endearing thing of all was that he was using one of his razors. Even her fanciest disposable paled in comparison to the smooth precision of the ones he used. Seth continued his downward strokes, careful to follow the ridges and curves of her legs with one hand while his other remained around her ankle.
When he finished both legs, he kissed her on each thigh, gathered the shower water with both hands, and rinsed her off. He stood and pressed her against the wall with a searing kiss. An eternity seemed to pass, wedged between that wall and his hard body, as he delivered the most sensuous and heart-pounding kiss he’d ever given her. When they finally broke apart, Seth’s penis was at attention between them. They both knew it was too early to be intimate, but she appreciated the closeness without needing a release. He turned to cut off the shower, but she stopped him. Morgan came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. One hand encircled the base of his penis while she moved the other one slowly up his shaft. They hadn’t made love in a while, the daily exhaustion of being new parents left little time for intimacy, and she needed to let her body heal. She shuddered at the feel of him, thick and hard in her hands, wishing he was inside her now. Seth’s head fell back when she gently skimmed her finger over his tip.
“Morgan,” Seth groaned.
She applied a little more pressure, pretending she was playing a flute, his groans like a melodic overture to her ears. She could tell by the tightening of his shoulders that he wasn’t ready to give in to the building climax so quickly. She often marveled at his stamina in bed, and he had a level of self-control she could only attribute to being a professional athlete. She could feel the tension rising in his back; he was trying to hold off the inevitable. She moved the hand that was on the base of his shaft and slid down to massage his balls. She then slid one fingertip down and between his perfect ass. He jerked at the unexpected touch, releasing his pent up passion in her hand.
Seth turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and began to rub her dry. He looked at her for a long time with a goofy grin on his face. “I think you may need to carry me to the bed.”
“Two more weeks.” She ran her tongue over his nipples.
“Two more weeks.” Seth kissed her. “Happy anniversary.”
Morgan laughed as he scooped her up instead and carried her into the bedroom.
Chapter Two
“The soon-to-be free agency status of Philadelphia Titans quarterback Seth Blake is the hot topic today. Blake’s contract will expire with the Titans next year, and the rumors are rampant. It is speculated that an opportunity has arisen for him to play for the Texas Tomcats, the team Blake has mentioned in past interviews as his fantasy team. From what I understand, this has been a long-time dream of his, but his recent four-year relationship with the Titans has flourished into something remarkable. It’s hard to believe he would leave the team and the city that loves him, but we know in the world of professional sports that sometimes platitudes and assumed loyalty is not a motivating factor to remain with a team. I’d like to place bets on the estimated new salary for the quarterback when the bidding war for his talents begins…”
Seth turned off the television and willed himself to get back to work. He wouldn’t have known about the broadcast had Patton not sent him a text and told him to turn on the Sports Network. Now was the time for quiet reflection about his future, not listening to hypotheses by sports analysts. It was the off-season, for heaven’s sake, and he should get a lengthy reprieve before shifting back into strategy mode.
The plans for the new golf course and spa were draped over his desk, waiting for his final approval. His dad, never insistent about too many things, had asked that he review them and give him a call. When he’d unrolled the design sketch, he knew why his father wanted him to examine every detail. Leave it to John Jacob Blake to show you something when a simple statement could have sufficed. Seth smiled and di
aled his dad.
“John Jacob Blake speaking. You’ve got ten seconds to speak fast or not at all,” his father said into the phone.
Seth laughed. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Hi, son. You looked over those blue prints I sent you?”
“Yes, sir. Everything looks great.”
“Are you OK with the final decision?”
“As—as long as it’s OK with J.J.,” Seth said, taken aback that his father asked for his approval.
“Then it’s agreed. Where’s my boy?”
“Morgan is feeding him.”
“Is she still planning to go back to work?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose you didn’t bother to tell her that she didn’t have to go back to work.” John Jacob laughed.
“That’s like telling Momma to do something.” He sighed.
His father chuckled. “When you coming down here?”
“Next month.”
“I’ll see you then. Love you, son. Give Morgan and Jake my love. Your mother is going to be so excited to see them.” With that his father ended the call.
Seth rolled up the blueprints, blown away by his dad’s decision. He’d always viewed him as a strong, silent type. He wanted to tell Morgan what a generous, heartfelt thing his dad was doing with the land development project, but he’d save it as a surprise.
Seth’s cell phone rang. He was surprised by the name on the caller ID display. “McKinney, how the hell are you?”
Ross McKinney was an old college friend and a running back for the Texas Tomcats.
“I’m good, man. Congrats again, on the win. Listen, I’m in town for a few days. You want to go out for a beer?”
“Out for a beer? Are you kidding me? Dinner here, I insist. You can meet my wife and son.” Seth beamed.
* * *
Ross arrived at six o’clock with a baby gift. It had been ages since Seth had seen his old college buddy. He was a native Texan as well and had boyhood dreams, just like Seth, of being part of the Tomcats football dynasty. Fate had led Ross to the Tomcats during the draft, and he’d been playing for them ever since. Seth had played against friends on other teams before, but each time he played Ross and the Tomcats, he felt like he was doing something sacrilegious.
The Blake Legacy (The Blake Boys) Page 3