FieldofPlay

by Frances Stockton

  “There is that,” he said. “When I checked the weather, the radar showed the storm was heading up to New England, could be a Nor’easter by the time it reaches Massachusetts.”

  He didn’t mind having Phalen’s help with his case, but Dallas had to admit it was a relief to know that he had Grace to himself until he went to Las Vegas on Wednesday. At least he’d be back home by Sunday and the Griffins’ next game would be at Griffins Nest Stadium the following Friday.

  “Hey, given the weather and that I’ll be traveling Wednesday, why don’t you stay with me for a few days longer?” he suggested.

  Grace set down her fork again. She’d eaten about a quarter of her lasagna so far.

  “Seriously?” she asked. “I don’t want to wear out my welcome too fast.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” he said. “Think about it, okay? If the weather clears some tomorrow and there’s a Griffins’ team gathering, I’ll drive you over to your apartment and you can grab whatever you need for a few days.”

  “I’ll need my car to get to work Monday and Tuesday,” she replied, digging into her dish again.

  “Does that mean yes, you’ll stay?”

  “That means I’ll think about it,” she answered, grinning shyly. “And I’ll let you know when I decide.”

  “You gonna leave me hanging that long, baby?”

  “Ha, as if I could,” she said. “More than likely, you’ll know by bedtime. Speaking of which, what are we going to do after dinner?”

  “We could watch a movie, play some pool or arcade games or poker,” he replied.

  “Dallas McKay, are you suggesting strip poker or strip pool?” she demanded, arching her brow dramatically and looking so mighty cute doing it he went hard.

  Fuck, he had it bad if he could get an erection from a raised eyebrow. It wasn’t like he was a teenager that could get hard just thinking about a woman anymore. But damn it, Grace was playing vixen again. Thinking about ways of taming that rebellious streak turned him on like crazy.

  “We’re not wearing much. We could save time and play buck naked.”

  Grace shook her head. “Oh no, no, seeing you naked for any length of time will get me in trouble. I wouldn’t be able to resist, uh, playing with more than a pool cue.”

  “Naughty girl,” he rebuked, clicking his tongue. “Careful with that, baby. I might decide to strip you down after all.”

  “I think you like when I misbehave,” she challenged.

  “You can misbehave with me,” he said. “But your rebellion will be answered for when I decide it’s time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “Time to fuck,” he stated.

  “What happens if I decide not to tonight?”

  “I’d try to convince you otherwise,” he said. “But, as always, if you call a halt to whatever I’m doing to you, then we stop.”

  “But it wouldn’t be another game changer?”

  “No way, baby. I’m in this with you for the long haul.” He said it with such conviction he must have scored a point. Grace looked at him like he’d become her favorite meal.

  “Well, then let’s finish our dinner so we can play,” she said, smiling as she forked up another bite of lasagna. The pasta disappeared into her mouth and Dallas had to adjust his cock.

  After that, they talked about the summer camps he sponsored for at-risk teens who couldn’t normally afford expensive training. He remembered how scared he was when he first ran away and was fortunate to end up in Quinn McKay’s horse trailer. If he hadn’t overheard a bunch of Texan ranch hands talking about taking the appaloosas to Houston, he might never have gotten away. His anger could have turned from causing spontaneous fist fights to something deadlier. He was lucky. He wanted to make sure he could help teenagers the way his dad had helped him.

  When they were finished, they cleared away the dishes and stacked them in the dishwasher. Grace stowed the remaining half of the lasagna in the fridge. Dallas refilled their glasses with sweet iced tea and invited her to follow him into the great room. He was more interested in relaxing with his girl than playing any games.

  “How about a movie instead of a game of pool, baby?” he suggested after filling Max’s food dish and giving him fresh water.

  “That sounds nice,” she said. “I’m in the mood for a shoot-‘em-up Western.”

  “I can definitely hook you up with a Western. My collection is quite extensive,” he answered, placing the glasses of tea on two coasters sitting on the coffee table.

  “Okay, that’s scary,” she stated, staring at him.

  “What is?”

  “That we have the same taste in cars and movies,” she said.

  “Don’t worry, baby, I’m sure there’s plenty of things we won’t agree on.”

  “Sure, like leaving the toilet seat up.”

  “I’m well trained. I put it down by habit. I grew up with two sisters and a mom who insisted that a man had to know two things to keep his woman happy, seat down and how to grill steak.”

  “Uh-huh, I’m sure she wanted you to do more than that.”

  “Of course she did,” he agreed. “Just don’t tell Mom, otherwise, she’ll pinch my cheek or something.”

  “She does not do that,” Grace denied, shaking her head.

  “Nah, she doesn’t. My grandma, that’s a whole other story. That woman pinches all of our cheeks, and still wipes our faces with a napkin she’s either spit on or dipped in ice water.”

  “Maybe so, McKay,” Grace said. “But you’re not fooling me. You love your grandma as much as you love your mom and dad.”

  “She knows it too,” he stated. “Grandma Rawlins, on my mom’s side, she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s eight-five years old, lives at a fantastic retirement village and still plays golf.”

  “Cool, do you play golf?”

  “Not really,” he said. “Never really got the knack for it, but Kyran likes to play in the off-season. Ditto for Ricky Weathers, maybe it’s a quarterback thing.”

  “They’re both amazing guys. I didn’t know Kyran when he was a player. Based on what I’ve seen, I think he’s well on his way to becoming the Offensive Coordinator someday.”

  “That’s in the works. The current Offensive Coordinator has two more years on his contract and wants to become a network commentator. It’s possible that Kyran will slowly move up the ranks to take over. He’s well qualified.”

  Dallas went over to his entertainment center and opened a cabinet filled with DVDs. “So what’ll it be, ma’am?”

  “I trust your judgment.”

  He selected the movie from the shelf and put it into the DVD player. With a few flicks of a remote, he turned on the surround-sound speakers, the giant flat screen and hit play. He moved back to Grace, joining her on the sofa.

  Max came into the room and sat down on the rug between the sofa and the coffee table. Grace didn’t say a word when she had to raise her feet to give the Great Dane room to stretch out on the floor. She eased back, set her feet on the coffee table and relaxed.

  “You really don’t mind when my dog gets in the way,” he said.

  “I love Max,” Grace stated. “He’s an awesome dog and as handsome as his owner.”

  Dallas wasn’t sure it was good to be compared to his dog, but he wasn’t going to complain. Grace meant it as a compliment. “I think it’s safe to say he likes you too. He doesn’t usually take to strangers right away. He liked you from the start.”

  “Aw, I can understand why he’d distrust strangers,” Grace said. “I tell you, McKay, if I’d known who had hurt him, I’d have kicked their butts.”

  “Me too, baby, me too,” he stated, still angry that anyone could knowingly hurt Max.

  He punched another button on the lighting remote, making the table lamps go off. There were small recessed lights way up along the dropped pine beams, but he made sure they faded way low. The movie started and they settled in, with Grace cozying up against his side, her head on his
shoulder.

  Wrapping his right arm around her, he held on tight. His cock lengthened, but he ignored it. He wanted to enjoy the movie with Grace and anticipate what he wanted to do later. An idea had formed when he’d worked on Veronica, one that would hopefully end with his woman bound to his bed.

  Chapter Ten

  While they watched the movie, Dallas kept Grace tucked against him. This is what he’d been waiting to find with a woman, what he’d run from until he met her. Hot passion and a bond that went beyond fucking into something significant, it was commitment.

  They didn’t really talk or move much other than drinking iced tea. Regardless, his cock remained semi-hard, waiting for his chance to be buried inside Grace soon.

  Clicking off the TV, he stood, offering his hand. “Let’s go upstairs, baby.”

  “Should we let Max out first?”

  “Yeah, we better. We won’t be coming down for awhile.”

  Grace put her hand in his, walking with him to the sliding door.

  “Come on, boy,” he called to Max.

  His dog tried to ignore him. Dallas tapped his thigh. Max stood reluctantly, taking his time to stretch. Pulling on his boots, Dallas waited by the door. The big dog finally decided to join him outside. The snow and sleet had stopped, but the ground was crunchy and sparkling white.

  Dallas ignored the frozen temp and led Max down to the ice-crusted yard. He let go of the dog’s collar and stomped a path that would be easier for Max to walk. He could feel Grace watching them from the house. She really cared about his dog, which meant a hell of a lot to him.

  Max finished his business and slowly came back. Dallas led his dog back inside. Again, Grace met them at the door. Her eyes were filled with compassion as he toed off his boots.

  “Why do you have to be so damn nice?” she demanded. “If you were just a big jock, I could handle this better.”

  “You’re handling things fine, Gracie,” he said, tilting her chin up with his index finger. He shifted his thumb to smooth it along her jaw. Her expression softened as he stroked. “Do you want me to be mean?”

  “No, of course not,” she answered, lifting her gaze. “But whether you act big and bad or sweet and sincere, I can’t help but want you.”

  “I am big and bad.” Her gaze darted away, only to come back when he tightened his thumb and index finger. “Grace, does submitting to me in bed scare you?”

  She shook her head. “With you, I like not having to think about anything but pleasure.”

  “Are you willing to join me upstairs and let me do whatever I want to you?” Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. He wasn’t sure if she knew that submitting would empower her. She’d understand the power she’d hold over him by the time the night was done.

  “Isn’t that what I’ve been doing?”

  “You’ve started. Giving someone else control can be scary. Let me show you that neither of us has to be afraid.”

  He caressed her jaw and chin, making no other moves. “Don’t make me fall in love with you,” she whispered.

  “It’s a little too late for that.” He knew he’d fallen fast and hard. There was no going back. “For both of us.”

  “You too?” she asked, looking like she needed to hear him say it.

  “Yeah, me too.” Running his hand through her honey blonde curls, he grasped a handful, tugging enough to bring her closer. “Now, unless you want to hear exactly what I’m going to do to you tonight, it’s time to head up to the bedroom.”

  “No pain,” she said.

  He reassured her with a kiss meant to be gentle. The moment their mouths touched, he knew the wait between dinner and a long movie had paid off. Grace went all soft and sweet on him, her mouth tasted like heaven. Her curves felt amazing pressed close to his body. She turned him on like no one else.

  Dallas nipped her lower lip when she tried to push her tongue into his mouth without an invite. He quickly soothed the spot with a swift lick before pushing his tongue deep into her mouth.

  When he was ready, he withdrew. “Upstairs, Gracie,” he ordered, stepping back. She started to go around him, deliberately provoking him by sliding her hand over his heavy cock as she went.

  Landing a swat on her ass, he made her jump. “I’ve not given permission to switch roles, Grace. Keep that up and you’ll be over my knee.” Watching her blush at getting the spanking no man had likely dared to give her before, he squeezed her ass cheek.

  “I’m going. Is this where I start calling you Sir or Master?”

  “We’re not playing that way, Grace, ever. You always call me Dallas.” He wasn’t a Master and she wasn’t a slave. He simply wanted to show her that surrendering to him in bed would bring her incredible pleasure.

  Tapping her ass one more time, he deliberately ran his fingers between her twin cheeks. The boxers were a barrier, but she gasped anyway. “Soon, I’m going to fuck this sweet ass of yours.”

  “If you do, no one else will,” she said, glancing back at him.

  “That’s a damn good thing, baby. I plan to be the only one,” he told her, putting his arm around her waist to lead her upstairs.

  The motion lights would go out a few minutes after they left, giving Max enough time to follow them without reactivating the sensor. At the top of the stairs, he stopped her. Puzzled, she waited.

  “Trust me,” he said, running his hand down her thigh to the backs of her knees. Scooping her up, he started toward their bedroom. Shit, their bedroom? Yeah, he liked that thought.

  “Dallas, you don’t have to carry me. I know I’m heavy.”

  Grace wasn’t light. Damn it all, she was six three. He didn’t expect or want her to be thin as a fucking rail. He was Dallas McKay and he was strong enough to carry her wherever and whenever he wanted.

  “Gracie?”

  “Dallas?”

  “If you say anything like that again, I’m going to fuck you in front of a mirror for as long as it takes to make you believe in yourself.” He wanted to do that sometime. She was tempting him to make her watch everything he planned to do to her tonight. But he wanted her to feel beautiful, not just see it.

  “When I’m with you, I do believe that,” she said, relaxing in his arms.

  “I’m glad,” he replied, kissing the top of her head.

  Continuing to the bedroom, he carried her through the doorway and to the bathroom. There, he carefully let her down. Taking control, he picked up her toothbrush, applied some paste and handed her the brush. He quickly squeezed out some toothpaste on his brush. They brushed their teeth at the same time. Handing her a paper cup with mouthwash to rinse her mouth, he poured his own. It may have seemed trivial. By letting him take care of her from the start, she told him she wouldn’t balk at the next step.

  Dallas got a clean washcloth from the closet and soaked it with warm water from the faucet. A small bar of glycerin soap his sister had made was beside the sink. He swiped the cloth over the bar and moved behind Grace.

  “Keep your hands down,” he said when she reached for the cloth. “Look in the mirror, Gracie. See how beautiful you are.”

  She stared at herself in the mirror and he brought the cloth to her face. Her skin was soft, pretty. Her sexy mouth was fuller and swollen from so many kisses and the blowjob she’d given him earlier. Her eyes were sparkling like sapphires. He told her he found her lovely with each stroke and sweep of the cloth, willing her to believe it in every pore. After he rinsed the soap off her face, he grabbed a dry face towel and dried her skin.

  “You didn’t have to do all that,” she murmured.

  “I want to take care of you, baby.” He finished drying her face and turned her around to look at him directly. “Hello, beautiful.”

  Bending a little, he kissed her. In a heartbeat, she sidled up real close and parted her lips for his tongue. Wanting to fuck her mouth again, he used his tongue to mimic the thrust of his cock. She hummed as she did when she sucked him dry. The vibrations made his tongue tingle. He debated ha
ving her go to her knees. The tingle of mouthwash would feel fantastic. But this wasn’t about what he wanted. It was about exploring Grace’s innate sensuality and needs.

  Releasing her, he stepped back, dropping his hand to hers. “Come on.” He led her to the room. Max was on his dog bed, eyeing them and his chances of getting on the king-sized bed.

  “Not tonight, sorry, boy,” he apologized.

  “He’s going to end up in bed with us by morning,” she said.

  “Probably. By that time, we’ll be too tired to mind.”

  “Dallas?”

  “Gracie?”

  “Thank you for taking care of me,” she said, tilting her head at the bathroom.

  Dallas let go of her hand. “You’re welcome. There’s more, baby.” Cupping her face in his palms, he kissed her softly. Drawing back, he asked, “You scared?”

  She shook her head. “I’m a little nervous. Not scared.”

  He smiled, kissing her again because he needed to feel her lips on his. Mentally thanking his brother for the lighting design in his home, he kept kissing Grace, loving to watch her with his eyes open. Her lids were shut, but he could see them flutter.

  Waiting until her breath came out fast and her heart slammed madly against his chest, he edged backward. Dallas smoothed his fingers from her face to her jaw. Grace lifted her chin, offering her throat. He leaned in, kissing her nose, lips, cheeks and onward to her left earlobe. There, he nibbled and sucked, licking the tender spot that made Grace gasp and wrap her arms around him.

  He didn’t relent. He nipped down to the mark he’d put on her neck. “Mine,” he stated, tracing it with his tongue before sucking her skin. She tasted good, like Grace with a hint of salt. He’d get his sister to make soap scented with honeysuckle for Grace. Right now, she smelled like sandalwood and a hint of cloves. Stepping back, he looked down at her. Her eyes were big and soft, desire sparkling like blue diamonds.