by Liz Matis
Hayden swiveled on her heel, turning to face him in time to see him yank out of his tie and shirt. “So are your abs,” she said. The skin stretched across the planes of his stomach so tightly she bet she could bounce a penny off of it. As he cupped her breasts, she reached for the button of his waistband.
She unzipped his pants and pulled him free. “Now this is built for pleasure.” She moved her hand along the length of his cock. “My pleasure.” She reveled in the weight of him. She could feel the raw power of him pulse in her hand.
“On the bed, Hayden,” he said, his voice tight and his jaw clenched.
Excited to see if he’d lose the control he was so obviously trying to maintain, she crawled up the bed toward the pillows so he could enjoy the view of her ass. She glanced over her shoulder, frozen a moment by his heated gaze, and then she rolled to her back, eager to feel him inside her. She rested her head against the pile of pillows, crooked her finger, and spread her legs in invitation.
“I think I’ve just seen paradise,” he said, kicking off his pants and briefs, his gaze never leaving her.
He made her feel beautiful. Wanted. Desired. Her core ached for him.
He knelt between her open thighs. “You’re mine, Hayden.” Before she could respond he kissed her fully. His tongue swirled with hers, reminding her of how expertly he’d tongued other parts of her. She squirmed beneath him, urgent for more than kisses.
She loved how his hands handled her body. Masterful. Possessive.
She loved the feel of his hard, muscular body against her soft curves.
She loved the way he worshipped her breasts with his mouth.
She loved. Him.
“Look at me, Hayden.”
He held her gaze hostage as he pushed inside her, his size stretching and filling her. Her eyes widened as he hit the spot that only her vibrator seemed to find. “Oh!”
“You feel so good, Hayden.” Liam smiled down at her. “This was worth two years of celibacy.”
His words struck her deep in her heart while his passionate thrusts drove her wild. He did all the work, yet she was the one breathless. Liam was so hard, so big, she felt him throb inside her or maybe it was she who throbbed. Fused together as one, the lines blurred of where he ended and she began.
She needed air, but she needed him more. Needed the release more than life. Then the first ripple hit her. She tightened around him and she shook with uncontrollable tremors of pleasure. More and then more. He drove in harder, riding out her release with his own. Her screams probably set a new decibel level. Thank goodness for his soundproof apartment.
He rolled over, taking her with him. Both hands lovingly explored her ass checks. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the frantic beat of his heart that was identical to hers. Did the feelings within him match as well?
Or was it just sex for him? Or worse, payment for services rendered for being her get-out-of-jail-free card? It didn’t feel that way. She felt loved as his one hand followed the curve of her back and the other played with her long hair.
She lifted her head to explore his chest with her lips. “Do you need a time out?”
“Heck, no. I’ve just gotten back in the game.”
She offered a wicked smile. “Then let’s play.” Hayden couldn’t wait to go on offense.
Chapter 13
What a woman.
What a mouth.
Hayden threatened to send him to an early grave. Her lips moved over him in slow, torturous strokes. Maybe, this was his hell. Then she sucked all of him in to the deep recess of her warm, wet mouth. No, this was his heaven.
Her throaty moans fueled the blood rushing to his groin. The cold air hit his cock when her mouth retreated. He fisted his hands so he wouldn’t grab her hair like a caveman and push her head back down to finish him off.
She looked up at him, her eyes as luminous as blue flames. “Your cock is so hard. So big.”
There it was. The words every man loved to hear. He felt rewarded for not giving into his primal needs. “You made me this hard. This big.” He needed relief. He needed to be buried deep inside Hayden again.
The soft flesh of her breasts, the hard peak of her nipples grazed his cock, then his abs, and his chest. Her sleek body rubbed against his like a cat intent on getting attention. He was one touch away from throwing her onto her back and sinking himself into her slick heat.
She purred as she slid her pussy down onto his cock. “I’m glad it was you at Martini Madness, Liam.”
But her words were lost to him when she gyrated her womanly hips, slow and sensual. Hell and heaven all at the same time.
“I’m about to make you very glad too.”
Liam hadn’t viewed twerking as particularly sexy, but done on top of his shaft? Oh, Holy heaven. A rush of sensation shot through his body. Hayden knew how to rock a cock. And his world.
Knowing he wouldn’t last another minute, he placed his thumb on her clit as she continued to ride him hard. “Liam!” Her nails dug into biceps and she fought to stay upright.
Fighting a losing battle with his control, he felt his balls tighten, ready to come. Mesmerized by the sight of her head thrown back in ecstasy, he didn’t. He wanted to watch her fall apart as she used his cock for her pleasure. Her shouts of release sounded like the sweetest music to his ears.
Her movements slowed. Her hands now braced against chest. She came again as he continued to swipe his thumb on her clit. Her exotic scent surrounded him like cloak of desire. The aroma of sex, spice, and a hint of vanilla intoxicated him like an ancient love potion. Liam breathed her in. He wanted to live in that scent. Get lost in it.
He fanned her long hair to rest above each nipple. The word sexy didn’t cut it. More like an erotic dream. “Watching you come is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen,” he admitted.
Hayden smiled. “Now, its my turn to watch you.”
At least sex wasn’t going to be a problem in their marriage. It was a better foundation than the contract her father would have between them. And love could be born out of lust. That’s what Liam was counting on.
They made love long into the night until Hayden curled up next to him, repeating the words she said earlier, but this time in a whisper. “I’m glad it was you.”
So was he.
Chapter 14
There shouldn’t be the awkward morning-after when you’re married. Yet that’s exactly how Hayden was feeling. Awkward. Unsure. Vulnerable. Should she sneak out of bed and out the door to avoid Liam? Tonight she could return, pretending as if he hadn’t tilted her world on its axis.
That would be the coward’s way out, and she was not a coward. Besides, she’d be thinking about the awkwardness all day, which would defeat the purpose of escaping. Better to get it over with it. Since she’d marry him all over again, she shouldn’t be having regrets.
Hayden poked the body sprawled out next to her.
“What?” Liam grunted.
Yeah, what Hayden? “Um, don’t you have to be at practice?”
“Coach said, take the morning off. A wedding present.”
“Hmph, what did I get?”
“You got five orgasms.”
And didn’t he sound so smug about that. And sexy too.
His shot eyes opened. “Want another?” he asked.
“Another five?” Hayden challenged, her pulse already speeding up at the idea.
“Greedy, minx.” His eyes closed. “Now you get none.”
Ha! Two could play this game. Hayden smacked his cute ass but resisted the urge to explore the muscular contours. She imagined them together at her apartment instead. His bedroom may be soundproof, but hers had a mirrored ceiling. Her blood heated at the thought of watching that butt in motion as it pumped in and out of her.
“Was that a fly?” he asked.
“A fly?” This time she smacked him with all her might.
“Ow!” He reached out for her, but she scooted off the bed, scooped up last-night’s d
ress, and dashed into the bathroom.
After a leisurely shower, she strolled into the walk-in closet attached to the bathroom and helped herself to a plain black dress shirt. With the sleeves rolled-up and knotted at the waist, Liam’s shirt transformed her white satin dress into daytime wear.
In the bedroom he was wide-awake with his head propped up on the pillows. She stopped. God, he look so sexy, laid out and naked, morning erection ready for her to jump onto for a ride.
“What, no breakfast in bed?” he asked.
“Remember, I don’t cook.” Hayden put her hands on her hips. “But maybe, if I had that orgasm this morning, you would have rated coffee.”
“You’re the one who jumped out of bed.”
“You’re the one who didn’t follow me into the shower.”
“That smack was an invitation?”
Hayden nodded.
“Wow, I’m rusty.” Liam scratched the scruff on his chin.
Far from it, Hayden thought.
“You look nice. What are your plans today?”
Nice? She grabbed her earrings and slid them in. “Shenanigans. Mayhem. Hijinks. The usual.”
“Hayden.”
She stuck out her tongue at his disapproving look. “Oh relax. I do have an actual business to run. Oh, by the way, I’m traveling to Japan next week for the worldwide release of my perfume, Sinfully Mine.”
“Yes, you are. All mine. Do you have security detail going with you?”
“A bodyguard. Big and cute.”
“Is he neutered?”
A secret part of her relished his jealous tone. “That would be unfair to womankind,” she teased.
He shot out of bed. Pulling her into his arms, he said. “It’s not a joke.” His lips crushed her mouth in a bruising kiss.
There was nothing seductive or sensual, only pure possession. Her traitorous body responded by melting into him.
“Your mine now, Mrs. Hayden McQueen.”
Her first reflex was to rebel, but he kissed her again and oh how his kisses turned her insides out and her outside in. ‘Hyphenated,” she conceded when he finaly let her breathe.
“No.” He reached up her skirt fingering her to draw out her liquid heat.
“Liam,” she gasped.
His two fingers pumped in while his thumb rubbed her clit. “This belongs to me, Hayden.”
My heart does too, she wanted to cry out. Instead she shattered into a million pieces. Safe in Liam’s grip, the pieces of her floated back like a giant shifting jigsaw puzzle, creating something new within her. No, it was more than the sex or even the strength of her orgasm—it was as if the missing parts of her had found their way home.
The morning-after turned out not to be awkward at all. It was way worse. She’d prefer awkward to this scary need for Liam’s touch. His kiss. His love. Hayden should have escaped when she had the chance.
“Now, go make me coffee, wife.” Liam spanked her bottom then headed for the bathroom, leaving her to admire his bare ass.
Either the orgasm had addled her brain or she was in love for real because damn if she didn’t make him coffee, smiling like an idiot the whole time.
Chapter 15
After a short day of practice, Liam stood in the middle of his living room in disbelief. Clothes, purses and enough shoes to outfit a small nation lay strewn about his apartment. Their apartment, he amended. He snagged a lacey teddy with two fingers to examine it. How, with all the ribbons and ties, did the contraption go on? It didn’t matter since there was only one way it was going to come off. Torn to shreds with his bare hands. He hated to think how much money she’d wasted on it.
“You’re not thinking of trying that on?”
He looked up to see an amused Hayden dressed in tight black leggings and one of his shirts. Even with all her things here, she still chose to wear something of his. Interesting. “I’m thinking you need more lingerie and less shoes.”
She folded her arms. “Spoken like a true man.”
“I am what I am.”
They stared at each other for a moment, neither knowing what came next. They had an amazing connection in the bedroom, but Liam was determined to capture that magic and inject it into non-bedroom activities.
“How was practice?”
“Brutal.” Liam followed Hayden’s lead, though he wasn’t one for small talk. “How was your day?”
“I got some strange looks for wearing what turned out to be my wedding dress to an advertising meeting, but I’m used to strange looks.” Hayden picked up a few articles of clothing. “What about you? Did your teammates ride your ass about ending your celibacy?”
“Some,” he said vaguely. She didn’t need to know the full extent of the ribbing.
“Did you tell them I was the best you ever had?”
“I told them to shut the fuck up.”
Hayden looked shocked and then laughed uneasily. “I’m sure it wasn’t the first time there was a crude remark about me in that locker room.”
Liam winced, remembering the coarse jokes thrown around at Hayden’s expense in the past. More than once, he’d fought the instinct to punch a teammate. Today he had put an end to the jokes.
“That was before the wedding,” he said, seizing the opportunity to show a benefit to their marriage beyond sex.
Hayden clutched her chest. “My hero.” She walked over to him and gently took the teddy away. “Though I do have a complaint.”
“Let me guess.” Liam looked around the room. “I don’t have enough closet space?”
“That goes without saying. I’m talking about the fact that you haven’t kissed me hello yet.”
Her sulky pout begged to be nipped at. Heck, her whole body begged for his mouth. But his cock urged him to skip the foreplay and start the action mid-game.
“Let me remedy that.” Instead of kissing her, he picked her up and made his way to the bedroom. Laughing at her squeals of delight, he tossed Hayden onto the pile of clothes on his bed. Their bed, he amended.
“Liam, everything will wrinkle.”
“Do you want sex, woman, or to hang up clothes?”
The feline grin of hers made him want to pounce.
“Sex.”
“Correct answer.” Liam stripped off her clothes and added them to the mess, then quickly added his.
By the time they came up for air, half the clothes were on the floor and the other half surrounded them like a cocoon. What emerged was something beautiful yet still so fragile.
Hayden stretched her sleek body against his, sighing her contentment. He felt confident the last thing she was thinking about was his lack of closet space.
Chapter 16
After the epic clothing sex romp, they lounged on his comfy couch, wearing robes and ate Chinese food right out of the cartons, sometimes feeding each other their favorite dish like a doting couple. Could something based on a lie and lust morph into true love?
Hayden had always scoffed at the idea of falling in love. The most anyone could hope for was great sex and great company. Love belonged to the poets and to the fools of this world. Her belief wavered when she remembered her grandparent’s great love for one another.
She placed an empty carton of moo shu pork on the Craftsman coffee table. She smiled, thinking the table was so Liam. Natural, sturdy and made to last.
Stalling, she reached for the fried rice. Liam seemed to love her curves, so she took a couple of more bites. She had yet to bring up the business deal proposed to her earlier today. He wouldn’t like it, and she was reluctant to ruin the moment. She tugged at her bottom lip in indecision.
“I know I’m going to regret this, but what’s up?” he asked.
How did he know she’d been working up enough nerve to ask him a question?
“Well.” She paused, bracing herself for the upcoming fight. “I got a call today from the producer of Hayden’s Place. They want us to revive the show.”
“Us?”
She nodded.
“Count me out. The team is depending on me to get them back to the Championship. I can’t afford another distraction.” His chiseled jaw set in stony determination.
Hayden wouldn’t give up that easily. “So I’m a distraction? An inconvenience?”
“Nice try, but I’m not your father. Don’t put words in my mouth.” He put down the remains of the quart of boneless spare ribs. “Why would you want to do it in the first place?”
“It’s good for business. Sales skyrocket. I make millions. We make millions.”
He sat back and looked up to the ceiling as if searching for answers, or maybe he was saying a silent prayer. Hayden couldn’t be sure.
“Did you see the front cover of People today? Squeaky Clean McQueen Marries Troubled Heiress. Apparently, our nuptials are one of the signs of the coming Apocalypse.”
His voice remained calm and cool, irritating Hayden.
“So what? I thought you didn’t want to change me. You said I could be myself around you. Be real.” She threw his words back at him, hurt that the press thought she wasn’t good enough for him. Even though their marriage was a fraud.
He turned his head and looked her in the eye. “How is playing up to a camera real? It’s all phony. Done on purpose to make you look bad.”
She had no good answer to this. Half of the things she did for the show were set up and scripted. “That’s why people watch. Ratings are the name of the game.”
“There’s something more to this. What is driving you? It’s not just the money.”
“I happen to like money.”
“You sound like your father.” Liam paused. “Do you think the size or your bank account will win his approval?”
“I do not have daddy issues.”
“Or do you want to do it to piss him off. Like ripping up the pre-nup.”
“Whatever.” Let Liam think the worse. If he wanted to throw her goodwill gesture back in her face, then fine.
“Hayden, you do know that your father loves you.”
She was so not going there. “You’re telling me I can’t do the show?”