He grinned.
“You need to know I’m completely immune to it,” she said primly.
Yeah right. “What, are you a lesbian?”
“Jesus, Hamilton,” Harvey groaned. “Nice way to get a lawsuit smacked on you.”
“Please.” Aubrey waved a hand. “He’s a football player.”
She said it like he had some sort of serious disease. As if being a football player dismissed his behavior.
Shrugging, feeling a little irritated—again—he looked to Harvey. “What? She seemed perfectly responsive to my so-called lethal charm a few minutes ago. Now she’s denying it? And considering she implied I’m lethal to women, I can only assume she must play for the other team.” Nick shrugged.
“Excuse him, please. He says these sorts of things to shock you,” Harvey murmured to Aubrey, leaning in close to her.
“Hey, I can hear you,” he called, shaking his head.
“Your lethal charm combined with your newfound irritation is not quite the image we want for you, Nick,” Harvey said, his voice smooth as silk as he settled back in his chair. He was good at his job and could spin a positive story out of something most would consider beyond repair so well, every single one of the Hawks players came out smelling like a rose, despite their original actions being far from rose-like. Nick could certainly appreciate Harvey’s talents.
But he always found Harvey a bit sleazy. So if he could have a new, cute publicist instead of the slick talking Price, he’d take her over him any day.
“Do I need an image redo?” Nick gripped the arms of the chair, mentally preparing for what they might say. Damn it, one game where he played fantastically but had a shitty mood throughout and they were ready to give him a makeover.
“Not necessarily. Though Walsh is worried if you continue along this vein, you might need a stern talking-to.” Harvey grinned. “But I’ll hand that duty over to Aubrey here.”
Nick could only imagine the sweet-looking Aubrey giving him a “stern talking-to.” As in, he couldn’t see her doing it whatsoever. “I’ll remember that.”
“I’m sure you will. Don’t give her a bunch of grief. You and Flynn Foley are her main clients right now. I want her to be able to focus on you both without any distractions.” In other words, he needed to keep his so-called attitude in check.
Nick withheld the groan that wanted to escape. Great, so she was handling Foley too? Not like Nick was a total bad boy, but that goody-two-shoes would make him look like a complete ass no matter what. Foley could do no wrong. Amongst the fans, amongst the media, hell amongst the entire team, everyone loved Flynn Foley, the backup quarterback for Jared Quinn.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll both keep me on my toes.” She smiled at him reassuringly.
“So what’s going on with you, Nick? Why were you so cranky the last few days?” Harvey asked, his voice full of overly warm concern.
Like he’d tell Harvey anything about his personal life. “Nothing major. Just having an off week, you know?”
“Well, if you need to talk to anyone, know I’m always here for you,” Harvey continued. “Perhaps playoff pressure is getting to you a little bit? Is that the problem?”
That hadn’t fazed him in the least. He lived for that sort of pressure on the field. Truly believed it made him a better player. “I’m fine, Harv,” Nick said through gritted teeth.
“If you say so.” Harvey sent Aubrey a look. One that said he didn’t believe Nick. She sent him the same look back.
Damn. Felt like everyone was conspiring against him.
“Listen, I gotta go.” He stood and turned to the door. “Gotta head back to Monterey for the night. Have a few things I need to take care of.”
“You’ll be here for practice tomorrow, right?” Aubrey called after him.
He turned to find her standing in front of him. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Of course I will.”
She beamed. “Fantastic. There are a few things I wanted to discuss with you. Planning, strategy-type things. Hopefully I can steal a few minutes of your time?”
“Sure,” he said warily. Seemed she wanted a piece of him, too. Everyone did lately.
And he was fast running out of pieces to give.
…
The text had come approximately thirty minutes ago, short and curt and to the point.
Better be ready. I’ll be at your house in an hour.
Those ten words had irritated the crap out of her. They also secretly aroused her. God, she was hopeless, acting like a needy girlfriend, sending Nick texts asking him if they were on or not for tonight. He’d brushed her off with a quick reply, hadn’t sent her any other sort of response until a few hours later.
It was late, past eight o’clock, and she still supposedly had a half hour until he showed up. She’d been tempted to tell him not to bother. Since he’d so effortlessly come back into her life, he’d chased her. Flirted with her, drove her crazy with it, really. She’d secretly craved it and not so secretly distrusted his behavior. Because it always came back to one question:
What did he want from her?
Now he acted as if he snapped his fingers, she’d come running. She wasn’t some sort of dog who followed his every command. Damn it, she was an independent woman with a mind of her own.
A knock sounded, interrupting her thoughts. Her knees wobbly, she stood and rushed toward the front door, then looked through the peephole. There stood Nick on her doorstep, glaring at the peephole as if he knew she was spying on him.
She undid the lock and threw open the door, breathless at the sight of him. His hair was in complete disarray, as if he’d run his fingers through it time and again. He wore a faded Hawks T-shirt and worn jeans, and a glower on his face that said don’t fuck with me.
God, she really, really wanted to fuck with him. Well, more like fuck him.
Her cheeks hot, she glared. “I thought you had at least thirty minutes left before you’d finally show up.”
“Surprise, I’m your early present.” He nodded toward the door. “Gonna let me in?”
She gripped the door handle tight. “I shouldn’t, what with your shitty attitude.”
“Don’t give me any grief, woman. I’m not in the mood. We having this date tonight or what?”
“You tell me. Do you have plans to take me somewhere?” Heat zinged through her body. They needed to get out of her house. Before something dangerous happened.
Like the two of them falling into bed together. She’d changed clothes earlier, giving up on him even showing, but here he was, and here she stood. Wearing yoga pants and ready for bed.
Bed. Gulp.
He contemplated her, his jaw hard, his mouth grim. “If I told you where I wanted to take you tonight, I’m afraid you might slap my face.”
She went damp at his dark tone, his even darker stare. “Maybe I want you to take me there,” she whispered.
Oh crap. After worrying about something dangerous happening, she went and said that. What the hell was wrong with her?
Both brows went up as if he were surprised. Silly man. Didn’t he know how much she wanted him? Though honestly, even she wasn’t sure how much she wanted him. Her feelings for Nick confused the hell out of her. “Maybe you should hear where I’m talking about first before you jump to that conclusion.”
“Go ahead then. Say it.” She practically dared him to.
“All righty then. I want to take you inside your house, into your bedroom.” He took a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving her face. “Then I’m going to take off all your clothes until that pretty little body of yours is naked. Just for me.”
She swallowed hard, her mouth dry. Sounded good so far.
He advanced another step. “Then I’m going to strip off my clothes, because it’s not fair, spending quality time together with only one of us being naked and all.” Another step, until he was so close, his feet brushed against hers. “So once we’re both naked, I’m going to take you to your bed. Where I will ke
ep on taking. And taking. And taking.”
Willow gave a little nod when he paused. Wanting him to continue. Desperate for him to continue. “And then?” she croaked.
He smiled—the first one she’d seen from him in a while. Even while watching him on TV playing his game yesterday, he’d been so grim faced and determined through most of it. Enough for the commentators to make constant remarks during the entire game, wondering at his somber, sad attitude. “And then I’m going to give you multiple orgasms. So many you’re probably gonna beg me to stop. Because they’ll end up taking you to another realm.”
She blinked—couldn’t find the strength to say a word, considering her head had just been wiped clean of all brain cells by what he’d just said to her. The heated promise in Nick’s voice, his smoldering gaze as he watched her… His eyes dropped to the door handle she gripped so tightly that surely she was white-knuckling it.
“Shut the door, darlin’.” Without thought she did as he asked, letting out a gasp when he grabbed hold of her hand and tugged, pulling her to him. “Come here.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, causing her to collide into warm, solid man. She pressed her hands against his chest, lifted her lids so she could meet his searing gaze. He stared at her, his eyes dropping to her mouth for a long, lingering moment before he finally met her gaze once more. “So we’re staying in tonight?” she asked weakly.
He grinned, his bright smile making her stomach flutter. “Definitely.”
“But this is only our second date,” she protested with a wince. She didn’t mean to complain. Damn it, she shouldn’t complain. This was what she wanted. Forget worrying about looking too easy in his eyes.
Too easy was how comfortable she felt with him. How good he looked, how forceful he was being.
Nick picked her up as if she weighed nothing, and she wrapped her legs around him, feeling the hard ridge of his erection press against her. She circled her arms around his neck, burying her hands in his hair and studying him as a gnawing hunger grew within her.
Just seeing him made her want him. Having him touch her, kiss her, talk to her, she wanted him. Naked and beneath her. Over her. His mouth on hers, his hands everywhere…
“I want you,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t, considering you’re blackmailing me to go on these dates with you, but I do.”
He tipped his head, nuzzled his nose against hers. It was so sweetly unexpected that all the breath left her lungs in one shaky exhalation. “I know I’m not handling this in the most orthodox manner, but fuck it. And your words are music to my ears, Will. You don’t know how good it is to hear that.”
Before she could say anything else, he kissed her. Crushed his mouth to hers, his tongue thrusting deep, his moan ragged as he cupped her head and held her to him. She reveled in his kiss, his tongue tangling with hers, his other hand gripping her butt as he carried her back to her room.
How he knew where her room was, she didn’t know, but she couldn’t question him, didn’t want to as he took her back there and deposited her on the mattress. She landed with a bounce, staring up at him, her breaths coming in rapid pants.
“Get undressed,” he growled, and she did without hesitation. He said he’d be the one who undressed her but forget it. She was too anxious. She shed her hoodie, her yoga pants, peeled off her socks, until she sat on the edge of her bed in just a plain white bra and panties. “Take it all off.”
“Why don’t you take it off for me?” she taunted, lying back on the bed and spreading her legs.
Fire lit his eyes as he bent over her, his big hands settling on her hips as he curled his fingers around the thin fabric of her panties. Without a care, he tore them off her body, the flimsy cotton turned to shreds by his hands, and a fresh surge of moisture flooded her sex.
“Want me to do the same to your bra?” He lifted a brow.
Oh, my God. He was acting like a completely different person. No more easygoing Nick. Now he was growly, animalistic Nick. Tear her panties to bits and look at her like he wanted to eat her alive Nick.
She liked it. Heaven help her, she fucking loved it.
“No,” she whispered as she reached behind her, undoing the clasp and ridding herself of her bra as quickly as she could. She happened to really like that bra and didn’t want to see it destroyed. Even though the way he did that was kinda hot…
“That’s more like it. Lay back down and spread your legs.” When she gaped, he nodded once. “Go on. Show me what you got, Will.”
“You know exactly what I’ve got.” He’d seen it up close and personal long ago. Just thinking of how they used to be together sent a fresh rush of longing through her.
“It’s been a while. Maybe I want to admire it. Like you’re a work of art hanging on a wall in the middle of a museum.” He tilted his head, waved a finger at her. “Go on. Spread those pretty thighs. Let me see.”
Willow leaned back on her elbows and slowly spread her legs, smiling faintly when he tipped his head and blatantly stared at her. Oh God, it was such a turn on, putting herself on such obvious display for him. He liked what he saw, she could see it in his expression, the way he licked his lips, worked his jaw.
“Maybe you should take your clothes off too. You said you would,” she murmured.
“You’re right, I sure did.” He ripped his T-shirt off and let it fall from his fingers. His bare chest gleamed in the dim light the single bedside lamp threw out, highlighting every dip and shadow. Seeing the black tribal tattoo around his upper arm made her want to lick it. She wanted to lick every one of his tattoos. His shoulders and pecs were broad, his stomach flat and rippled with muscle. A narrow trail of dark hair led from his navel beneath his jeans, and she wanted to follow that path, knowing exactly where it led.
To a most impressive package.
“Your jeans next.” She closed her legs, noted how his brows scrunched when she did so. “Come on. I’m not sharing until you share.”
“Driving a hard bargain, are you?” Pleasure laced his deep voice as he kicked off his shoes and then shed his jeans and underwear, leaving him standing at the foot of her bed magnificently naked. Impressively erect.
Her mouth watered as memories flooded her. How good sex had always been between them. He’d figured out rather quickly her every weak spot. How she loved it when he kissed her neck, her belly, the inside of her thighs. He would kiss her for long, blissful hours, leaving her drunk on his taste, her lips sore from his gentle assault. They’d spent almost every single day together that summer—at the very least, the nights. Long, wicked nights naked in each other’s arms, making love until they fell into an exhausted heap, tangled around each other.
She could have that now. Right now.
She wanted it. Was desperate for it, for him. Time supposedly helped moments fade into distant memories. Yet she could recall every moment with Nick.
For once in her life, she wasn’t going to weigh the risk. She was going after what she wanted.
And what she wanted more than anything was Nick. Buried deep inside her, his fingers gripping her hair, moaning her name in her ear as he came.
Oh yeah. She so wanted that.
Chapter Nine
Aw hell, she was gorgeous, her slender legs spread, thighs trembling, pretty pink goodness all on display. He was hard as a rock, ready to jump her like a randy idiot, lacking finesse and whatever else he needed to make her sigh and moan and fall apart beneath him.
No, more like he just wanted to ram inside her. Fuck her until he couldn’t see straight. Until he was coming like a geyser and yelling like a man possessed, driving her into the bed with his every hard, relentless thrust.
His cock twitched in anticipation.
“Come join me,” she whispered in the sultriest voice he’d ever heard. A young and sexy Willow had nothing on a slightly older, even sexier Willow. Back when he’d first met her, she’d been eager and a little shy and so fucking gorgeous it hurt to look at her. Oh, and alw
ays up for anything—and he meant anything—he wanted to try. Experimental and giving and willing…so willing. Responsive.
Fucking so responsive.
“Nick.” That siren’s voice broke through his cloudy thoughts, and he climbed onto the bed, climbed straight over her as she brought her legs together. His knees resting on either side of her hips, he propped himself on his elbows and studied her, his face close to hers.
“You’re so hot.” She arched her back, her full breasts brushing against his chest, and he sucked in a harsh breath.
“You’re the hot one, darlin’. All sexy and naked and practically begging me for it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I haven’t said a thing that could come close to begging.”
“Mmm, you don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. The way you move your body. A wickedly gorgeous body, too, I might add.” He pressed his cheek to hers and breathed deeply her intoxicating scent. Damn, this woman twisted him all up inside. Drove him crazy, made him want her, and made him want to push her away all at once.
A heady combination.
He rubbed his cock against her soft belly, wanting her to feel what she did to him. She sighed, winding her arms around him, drifting her hands down his back, scraping her nails along his skin and making him shiver.
Fuck, this felt so right, being in her arms, skin on skin, legs twined together. She lifted her hips and bent her knees outward, sending him closer, and he closed his eyes tight, trying to keep his shit together.
It would be so much easier, losing all control. But he wanted to make this last. The way the woman’s moods changed on a dime, he wasn’t about to let this opportunity go the way of a quick lay, over in minutes.
He had a sweet body to savor. A delicious mouth to kiss, pert nipples to suck, and soft, fragrant skin to map with his lips and hands. Yeah, he had a lot to do and was more than ready for the task.
“I’d like you inside my body and soon, if you don’t mind,” she murmured, rubbing against him like a cat. He liked how she just asked for it. No pretense, no bullshit. Just…let’s make this happen.
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