by Devney Perry
He was wearing jeans and a navy sweater, an outfit so simple and boring it accentuated his sex appeal rather than detracting from it. He’d pushed up the sleeves of his sweater, revealing his tan and muscled forearms. His jeans were faded at the legs, and with every step up the stands, his thick thighs pulled at the denim, molding around his powerful quads. The three women climbing the stairs behind Hunter had their eyes firmly fixed on his gorgeous ass.
Get your own, ladies, that one is mine. Well, maybe.
Not that I could blame those women for feasting on his sexy body. I was feasting too. Something Hunter knew when my eyes traveled up his flat stomach to his smirking face. Busted. With a wink, he grinned wider.
Dropping my eyes to the purse at my feet, I pretended to reach for something until the temperature of my face went back to normal. How was it that I’d gone years without sex, never once missing it, and only a month without Hunter and I was as horny as a teenaged boy who’d just discovered Playboy? I crossed my legs, shifted a little, but the ache in my core was still there.
“Stupid hormones,” I muttered to my purse.
“What was that?”
My head whipped up. Hunter had already reached my side. He must have skipped a couple of steps with those long legs.
“Nothing.” I smiled and scooted down a foot to make room.
“Coby!” Hunter caught Coby as he went flying past my legs. In one swift motion, Hunter hoisted my son onto a hip.
“Hunter! Look at my new shirt.” Coby leaned back and stretched out his new shirt.
“That’s awesome. Did you just get it?”
Coby nodded. “Mommy bought it for me.”
When we’d arrived at the stadium, the high-school cheerleaders had been selling T-shirts. There had been one kids’ shirt in neon green with Prescott Mustangs written on the front and I hadn’t been able to resist. Coby had whipped off the shirt on his back faster than I could get out my credit card to pay for the new one.
“I was thinking about getting some Mustangs gear myself. Do you want to go down later and help me buy a hat?” Hunter asked Coby.
“Yeah! Can I have a hat too?”
“Coby,” I chided. “You shouldn’t ask for presents, buddy.”
“Your mom is right,” Hunter agreed, “but we’ll still get you a hat.”
He set Coby down and sank to the bench, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “Hi. You look beautiful.”
I was just wearing a dark green Mustangs zip-up and jeans, but I had taken the time to do my makeup and hair. “Thanks.”
There were eyes on me from all directions, but I turned to the football field and ignored them. Everyone had showed tonight for the religion that was Prescott High football. The guys were complete team fanatics. The girls tolerated the game because we all loved to socialize and gossip.
The fact that I’d brought Hunter into this mix was more telling than he probably knew. I was letting him back into the fold and this game was a way to give my friends and family permission to let go of his mistakes.
“Hunter,” Dad said, turning around and holding out a hand. “Good to see you.”
Hunter took Dad’s hand. “Thanks, Brock. Glad to be here.”
“Hunter, did you play any football?” Beau asked as they shook hands.
“I played quarterback in high school.”
“No shit?” Jess asked from behind us. “Were you any good?”
“I held my own. I had a couple offers from some smaller division-one schools but I didn’t want to play college ball.”
Silas nodded to Jess. “Good timing.”
All of the guys traded a look before Beau spoke for the group. “We’ve been looking for a QB for our league team. There are only three teams total so it’s not a long season or anything, mostly just throwing the ball around on the weekends before it snows. Are you interested?”
“I’m in.” Hunter nodded before getting mobbed with backslaps and more handshakes, welcoming him to the team.
The loneliness I’d heard in Hunter’s voice earlier was gone. Inviting him had been the right call. And the nerves I’d felt about him joining us tonight had vanished the moment he’d taken his seat next to mine.
“I’m hungry.” Coby squirmed as he sat on Hunter’s knee.
“What do you want?” Hunter asked.
“Can I have a hot dog?”
“Sure, buddy. What do you want?” he asked me.
“I’ll have a hot dog too.”
“Okay. Be right back.”
“Can I come?” Coby asked.
Hunter answered by holding out his hand as he stood, then together, they walked down the stairs. All around me, the chatter resumed. The guys started talking football. Mom was talking to Sabrina about her pregnancy. Dad was talking to Alana about the vet clinic.
And I sat quietly, enjoying the view of Hunter and my son holding hands.
“There’s something truly magical about a man falling in love with your child, isn’t there?” Gigi whispered in my ear.
“Totally.” It made staying away from Hunter nearly impossible when he looked at Coby the way my dad looked at me.
Soon they disappeared from sight, returning ten minutes later overloaded with junk food from the concession stand. The view of the pair coming back up the stairs was just as nice as the view going down had been. Coby’s smile was as wide as it had been all week and the love he had for Hunter was written all over his little face.
Guilt clawed at my insides. I couldn’t let Coby suffer through this limbo any longer. I needed to make a decision. Hunter was either in our lives or out.
When he reached our row, Coby handed me my hot dog. “Here you go, Mommy.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“We got candy too,” he announced.
Hunter dropped a bag of Skittles in my hand along with a Snickers bar. My two favorites. Considering I’d never told him what my favorite candy was, I was impressed.
“How’d I do?” he asked.
“Good.” Really good.
Hunter settled into his seat and we all started eating as the teams took the field to warm up before kickoff.
“Do you want something to drink?” Hunter asked. “I forgot to get a water.”
I nodded and swallowed my last bite of Snickers. “Dr. Pepper.”
“Okay. Be right back.”
He stood and jogged down the steps. My eyes instantly locked on his butt. The way his ass looked in those jeans should be photographed daily. So firm. So damn firm. It looked more like chiseled stone than rounded muscle. Marveling at how well the pockets of his jeans framed his luscious ass, I jerked in surprise when a hand appeared in my line of sight.
There was a hand on Hunter’s ass. A hand that definitely wasn’t mine.
“What the eff?” Gigi asked.
“Coby, stay here.” I was out of my seat and down the stairs before anyone could stop me, moving straight toward Hunter, who stood by the railing trying to inch away from the woman who had just groped him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the woman said, smiling and laughing like the fool she was. “I just tripped.” She held out a hand. “I’m Renee. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
I slid right into Hunter’s side, knocking her hand away with my elbow. Then I held mine out in return. “Hi. I’m Maisy. Renee, was it?”
Her smile drooped as she faltered, but she recovered. “Yes. Renee. Nice to meet you.”
She took my hand and I squeezed hers just a bit too hard. “Are you new in town?”
“I, uh, just moved here last month,” she stammered, trying to get out of my vise grip.
“Welcome to Prescott,” I said with false cheer. “These football games are a great way to meet people.” I looked to Hunter and slid my hand in the back pocket of his jeans. “We’d better get going if we’re going to get our drinks before the game.”
“Sure, baby.” Hunter’s chest started shaking with silent laughter as he nodded good-bye to Renee. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, um, you too.” With beet-red cheeks, she disappeared back to her seat.
“Let’s go.” I marched toward the exit.
Hunter’s arm came around my shoulders and he led me down the stairs and toward the concession stand. “Jealous much, Blondie?”
A flare of annoyance streaked through my body. Of course I’d been jealous. What did he expect? Why wasn’t he more annoyed at that lady’s behavior?
“She was rude and practically mauling you,” I snapped and stepped away from his side. “But if that doesn’t bother you, then fine. Maybe women throwing themselves at you isn’t a big deal. I mean, you’re single or whatever, so I guess you can do whoever—”
“What was that?” His hand grabbed my elbow and spun me in front of him, stopping my rambling rant. “Say that again. Single? You think I’m single?”
I shrugged. “I guess.”
His jaw set in an angry lock. “Do you think you’re single?”
“I, um . . . no.”
“Then why and the fuck would you think I’m single?”
I threw my hand toward the stands. “You didn’t get too mad about Renee’s hand on your ass and we’re not together—”
“Stop talking. Right now.” He grasped my hand to drag me behind him as he turned in the other direction and stormed away from the concessions.
My legs couldn’t keep up with his long strides so I had to jog to keep up. “Hunter—”
“Stop talking, Maisy.”
I shut up for a second, but as he got closer to the stands and the exit gate, I couldn’t stay quiet. “Where are we going? We can’t leave. What about Coby?”
He didn’t answer. He just kept pulling me along until we reached the gate, but instead of going through and out to the gravel parking lot, he followed the small section of chain-link fence toward the dark area underneath the stands. I thought he would stop there, in the shadow of the tall bleachers, but he kept going, stepping over a metal bar and walking underneath the towering metal seats.
“Hunter,” I hissed and held myself back. “We can’t be under here.”
He just tugged my hand harder so I’d follow.
Above us, people were laughing and talking. A couple of spilled drink cups littered the ground. The benches above squeaked as people shifted to stand for the national anthem.
“Hunter, I think—”
He shushed me and kept pulling, all the way to the far back corner, which was nearly pitch black. On this side, the stands were held up by a cinder-block wall, not the open metal posts like where we had entered. When we reached the cement, Hunter pulled me in front of him, positioning my back against the cold blocks.
I opened my mouth but he spoke first.
“You are not single. Neither am I.” Then his mouth slammed down on mine, ending any chance of a discussion.
While the speakers blared and the stadium above us filled with The Star-Spangled Banner, Hunter filled my mouth. He slanted his head and his tongue dove in deep, exploring with hunger. Exploring like it had been years, not just a month since his lips had been on mine.
I stood stunned for a second, not having expected a kiss, but the shock didn’t last long. My desire for Hunter’s mouth burned it away.
My hands ran up his hard chest and up his neck, pulling him closer and deeper. He bent so I could get my arms wrapped around the back of his shoulders and my chest pressed flush to his.
I’d missed kissing this man. His taste. His smell. The way he’d groan into my mouth. I’d missed it all.
As our tongues twisted and dueled, his hands wrapped around my waist, sliding down to my ass to squeeze hard through my jeans. I moaned into his mouth, wanting more as he pulled me into his erection.
I slanted my head, wanting a new angle to suck on his bottom lip, but he broke away, leaving me panting as I wiped my lips dry.
“Turn around,” he ordered.
I immediately obeyed, bracing my hands on the cold cement at my face.
Hunter’s hands came to my jeans and popped the top button, then hastily unzipped the seam. With one jerk, he yanked down my pants and panties, letting the cool air bite into my bare skin.
His warm breath tickled my earlobe when he bent down to whisper, “I’m going to fuck you right here so that you remember that neither of us is single. Got it?”
My pussy clenched. God, I missed his dirty words too.
“Got it?” he repeated, his hoarse voice vibrating against my neck.
I was so turned on, all I could do was nod.
It was noisy above us but I could still hear the sound of him unzipping his fly. His hands came to my hips, tipping them up so he could position that thick cock right at my entrance before he thrust inside on one hard stroke.
A loud moan escaped my lips as he filled me completely.
His arms left my hips to band around my chest. “Fuck, Maisy. You feel so good.”
I arched higher.
“Harder,” I pleaded. He was holding back, not giving me everything, and I wanted it all. I wanted him to come undone when I did and lose himself in my body.
“I’m not going to last long, baby.”
I shook my head. “Me neither.” Just the fact that Hunter was fucking me while hundreds of people were sitting above us had me trembling already. As soon as he unleashed, I’d go right over the edge.
He kissed my neck gently and stood back. His big hands came back to my hips and hoisted me up so my toes were barely skimming the ground as he hammered me in long, hard jolts. Perfect fucking.
The angle was so right, my head fell forward. “Oh, fuck,” I breathed.
“You are all mine.” Hunter’s voice echoed off the cement wall at my face. “Got it?”
I nodded and turned my head so I could moan into my arm.
“Say it, Maisy.”
“I’m all yours,” I breathed.
“Fuck yes, you are. And who owns this cock?” He rammed it in hard and stayed rooted. “Who?”
I gasped. “I do.”
“That’s right.” He slid back out and started pounding again.
Above us the stands erupted in cheers as the game kicked off. My orgasm hit at that exact moment so I could cry out as I came. Pulse after pulse, my hands fisted on the cement wall, my arms shaking as I exploded long and hard. With my pussy squeezing him tight, Hunter fucked me even harder.
“Maisy,” he groaned as he came, his rough voice sending a tingle down my rubber arms. I sagged into the wall when he collapsed into my back. His arms left my hips and came back to my chest to hold me while we both recovered.
“Oh my god,” I muttered. “I can’t believe we just did that.”
Hunter chuckled as he slid out. “You didn’t like it?”
“You know I liked it.” I straightened, yanking up my panties and jeans while praying that no one was behind us with a video camera. With my clothes back in place, I turned and peered behind Hunter to see we were alone. Phew.
“Come here.” Hunter’s arms wrapped around me and he pulled me into his chest.
I fell into him, still weak from my orgasm and using his strong body to prop me up.
“We need to get back.” I took a long inhale of the cologne on his sweater.
“One more second.”
“What about Coby?” I asked but didn’t make a move to let go.
“He’s fine. There are about twenty people up there watching him.”
“My parents. Oh my god, my parents.” My cheeks flushed with mortification, and this time, I did step back. “They are going to know we just had sex. And my brothers are up there. And all my friends. They’re going to take one look at my face and—”
“Maisy.” Hunter interrupted me and pulled me back into his arms. “Stop talking.”
I huffed out a loud breath and sank into his chest. “I’m still hurt.” He needed to know that, despite the hot football-stadium sex, I was still hesitant to jump right back into an us.
He kissed my hair. “I know.”
“How do we move past it all?”
“One day at a time,” he whispered. “And when you’re ready to start again, I’ll be right here.”
“These are incredible.”
I nodded as I looked over Beau’s shoulder. “They sure are.”
Beau was kneeling on the floor in the motel’s lobby, looking through the canvases that were leaned up against the wall.
Today, all of the photographs that Hunter had taken had arrived, and when the deliveryman had dropped them off, I’d immediately started opening boxes, frantic to see all my photos on an actual canvas.
Craft paper and boxes were strewn all over the floor and the canvases had been stacked against the wall. With every box I’d opened, my smile had grown, until I’d opened the last box and it had disappeared as I’d broken down in tears.
In that last package were my postcards and a display rack for the lobby wall.
We hadn’t talked about my postcards except for the first time, months ago, but Hunter had remembered. He had taken a dream, something I had always wanted but never thought I’d really get, and made it come true.
My postcards and these prints were so beautiful, so special to me, that I had been completely overcome.
Beau had walked into the lobby the moment when I’d been balling my eyes out. When he’d asked me why I was crying, all I’d been able to do was point at the pictures. My brother had pulled me into a hug until I’d finally gotten control. While I’d blown my nose and dried my eyes, he’d started inspecting Hunter’s photographs.
“I love this one.” Beau slid a picture out from the back.
It was a black and white that Hunter had taken of the sign out front. The Bitterroot Inn was front and center on the canvas with my beautiful motel faded to a soft blur in the background.
“You should hang this in here.” Beau nodded toward an empty wall at the back of the lobby.
“Good idea.” I rushed away, straight for my office to get a hammer and some nails.
He laughed. “Not right now.”
“Yes!” I called from the office. “Right now and you’re going to help. This artwork has to go on my walls immediately.”