by Lori Ryan
She stood back, hands on hips, one brow arched high as she stood stark naked, water cascading behind her. She was gorgeous, a wet dream come to life, and she was his for the next twelve hours. He’d be damned if he was going to waste it sitting on a goddamn bench feeling sorry for himself.
He stood and pulled her back to him, groaning at the feel of her slick body against his.
She smirked, her look of concern fading. “I need to clean you now,” she said above the noise of the water.
“I have a better idea,” he said.
Her smirk became a full on grin, a wicked smile he loved. The kind of look that said she knew what he was thinking and was happy to head there with him. She pulled back and stroked him once, twice and Max lost all coherent thought.
“Oh, God,” he groaned, “Devlin, you’re going to end this before it gets good.”
“It’s already good, Max,” she said, sliding down his body.
Her hands caressed his thighs then skimmed around his legs to cup his ass as she knelt before him. She tilted her face and stared up at him, whiskey-colored eyes locked on his.
Hell, he was going to come just from that look.
Devlin’s tongue slid across his flesh. If she wasn’t loving the taste of him, she was damned good at pretending. Her expression said he was now her new favorite dessert.
“Devlin,” he moaned, steadying himself on the wall.
Her hands joined her mouth, sending him to heaven.
Max hissed through clenched teeth. “Devlin.”
Her gaze held his as she took him in as deep as she could.
“Devlin,” he pleaded, blood roaring in his ears, heart pounding like he’d run an eighty-yard pass play for a touchdown. He swore as he tried to step back, but her mouth moved with him. He wanted this to last longer, but if she kept this up, he wouldn’t last thirty seconds.
He grasped her shoulders and yanked her to her feet.
“Max,” she moaned, her eyes half-lidded with desire.
He reached for the condom he’d stuck on the soap dish and donned it before sliding his hands under her thighs and lifting her off her feet.
“Max,” she squeaked again. “Your knee.”
To hell with his knee. Besides, the woman weighed next to nothing. He spread her legs wide and slowly slid her down his length.
He released a low moan in tandem with hers. God, she felt good.
“Max,” she whimpered, her voice raspy with desire. “You can’t hold me, what about your knee, it’s—”
“You’re not that heavy, sweetheart.” Before she could protest further, Max seared his mouth to hers, languidly caressing her tongue.
Her hips rocked to meet his and he pumped harder, moving to press her back to the shower wall for more leverage.
She shrieked, the sound muffled against his mouth.
Shit, had he been too rough? Max broke their kiss and gazed down.
“Cold,” she said. “The wall is cold. But don’t stop.” She clutched him tighter, her legs gripping his waist with surprising strength.
Not one to disappoint, he moved his hips in slow circles, pressing in and pulling out.
“Faster,” she pleaded against his lips.
“Slow,” he said.
“Max,” she growled.
“If I move faster I’m going to come in two seconds.”
“I don’t care, just,” she panted, “move. Faster.”
“Touch yourself. I want you with me.”
She did as he asked and her head fell back against the marbled wall as she called out his name.
He’d heard his name chanted inside stadiums by adoring fans hundreds of times before but the sound of it rolling off Devlin’s lips…God, could there be a sweeter sound? He’d never heard it if there was.
His hips moved faster, sliding in and out with ease, she was so wet. He thought he might pass out, the feeling of her clenching around him sending him closer to release.
“Oh, Max,” she panted as her hand continued to move between them, her other clutching his neck.
“Come on, baby, I’m close.”
“Me, too.”
“Let me have you, Devlin,” he growled, “let me have all of you.”
With one last thrust, Devlin squeezed his length, drawing him in deeper as she cried out his name. There it was, the sound that was even more beautiful than he’d thought possible, his name flying from Devlin’s succulent mouth during the throes of orgasm.
Max tilted her hips to prolong her release as he continued to pump inside her.
She arched her back, clinging to his shoulders. She screamed something incoherent, her cries echoing in the small bathroom. “It’s too much, it’s…I’m coming again…” She clutched his neck, digging her nails into his skin as she pulsed around him.
Jesus Christ, he was about to pass out. Max thrust deep, his blood on fire, heart beating so hard he feared he might collapse.
Devlin released another cry, biting his neck.
Her teeth sent him over the edge. Holding her tight, he exploded deep inside with a guttural moan, his orgasm ripping through him. His vision faded as he lost himself to the sensations. His chest heaved as he drew in a ragged breath, fearing he might fall.
Devlin sagged against him. “Wow,” she breathed, speaking into his chest, her lips teasing his skin.
“Yeah, wow,” he echoed. Max clutched her tight as if she might float away. She might kill him before the night was over.
He was delirious, high from his orgasm, but one thought raced clearly through his mind as the water beat down on them. He never wanted to let Devlin Darby go.
And didn’t that just suck, since she seemed to have one foot out the door at all times with him?
Chapter Seven
The sheets pooled just above Max’s hips and Devlin traced small circles around his belly button, mesmerized by the rippled muscles of his abdomen. “I don’t think I’ve ever really seen an eight-pack before.”
He laughed, causing his stomach to clench underneath her, the muscles flexing even more.
“What?” she asked, turning to look up at him. Max’s dark green eyes held hers. He was spell-binding, and all hers for the next five hours. From his compassionate love-making to his obvious intellect, Max Sumner truly was a mystery to most, but not to her.
“I’ve never had a woman tell me that before.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’ve actually gotten a little flabby since I’m not working out with the team.”
She pushed up onto one elbow and looked at Max. “Are you serious? Flabby?” Her hand pressed hard on his stomach, sliding it up to his chest. “This is flabby to you?”
He placed his hand over hers then used it to tease hers back up and down his skin. “Maybe not flabby, but I’m not as lean as I used to be.”
Devlin shook her head, unable to understand his comment. “Does it bother you?” she asked.
“What?”
She was sure he knew what she meant so she lowered her body, wrapping her arm around him as she rested against his chest. Maybe not staring him in the eyes would help him be honest.
“Football,” she said quietly.
His chest rose with a deep breath that he held for several heartbeats before sighing, his entire body sinking into the mattress with the weight of that breath.
She shouldn’t have pushed him. “You don’t have to answer. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For prying,” she said. “I know we’re trying to keep this light between us.”
Max reached under her chin and raised her head.
He was smiling and parts of her body roared to life despite the two times they’d already made love.
“You can ask me anything, Devlin. I have nothing to hide.”
She nodded once.
“It’s you that seems to hide,” he added, giving her a look.
She shifted so she could see him better. “What does that mean?”
He shook his head. “N
othing, sorry. I know you want this light, right?”
“Don’t you?” she asked, completely perplexed.
“Yes, I miss football,” he said, ignoring her question.
“You loved playing?”
“Yeah.” Max absently twisted a piece of her hair.
“I’m sure it’s hard, walking away from a career you love.”
He looked up at the vaulted ceiling as his hand fell away from her back. “I’m more than football, Devlin. At least, I hope I am.”
“I know, I didn’t mean it like that.”
He glanced down at her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” she smiled, knowing that he could ask, but she wouldn’t necessarily answer.
He lifted a brow in obvious understanding, but apparently chose to ignore the unspoken part of her answer.
His fingertips trailed over her shoulder and down her arm. “What do you think you’d do if you weren’t a photographer?”
Devlin was surprised by his question. She fell back on the bed, as she contemplated the idea. She’d never thought of a world without photography. It was her escape. A way to live vicariously through others. If she were honest, she would admit it served as a barrier between her and her feelings. The camera was a mask she hid behind so she didn’t have to get too close to her subjects.
Devlin closed her eyes and contemplated his question. What other passions did she have? “Can I teach photography?” she asked. “Or is that cheating?”
“You can do whatever you want.”
She opened her eyes and turned to him, suddenly realizing that he was torn because the choice to leave football had not been his own. She couldn’t imagine what that would feel like to have the thing you loved most, the thing you were good at, taken away like that.
“So can you, Max. You can do anything you want.”
Devlin had read a little of Max’s history. He’d blown out his knee two seasons ago. Years before it would have ended his career but thanks to advances in orthopedic medicine and aggressive physical therapy, an athlete was now able to return to the game.
He closed his eyes and drew in another deep breath. “You didn’t answer my question, Devlin.” A small smirk spread across his face.
“Yes I did. I said I’d teach photography.”
His smile deepened, revealing a small dimple in his right cheek. When his eyes met hers they sparkled with mischief. “I’d take your class,” he said. “Could we do nudes?”
She laughed.
“Of the instructor?” He raised a brow.
“No, only nudes of students,” she said, rubbing his chest. “You’d make a nice model.”
He rolled his eyes.
Devlin shifted on top of him. “What? I’ve seen you on the covers of sports magazines. They don’t do you justice.” She nuzzled his neck, spreading kisses up his jaw, stopping just before his lips. “What would you do, Max?” she asked.
“You mean besides bury myself deep inside you every day?”
She shook her head. “You know I’m leaving this afternoon. I won’t be around every day.”
Max rolled her over, spreading her legs with his as he hovered close. “Then we shouldn’t waste our time talking.”
He lowered his head, drawing a nipple into his mouth, sucking and scraping his teeth against the peaked edge.
She twisted underneath him. “Oh, God.” Devlin arched up, pressing her breast further into his mouth. “That feels so good, Max.” She dug her fingers into his soft, thick hair.
After they’d made love in the shower, they’d washed one another again, no inch of skin left untouched. Max had insisted on washing her hair, saying it didn’t smell like her, whatever that meant. She’d forced him to let her wash his as well, having to sit him on the marble bench so she could reach him.
He caught one on her nipples in his mouth, distracting her from her task.
“Do the other one,” she said, nudging his head.
“So bossy,” he murmured against her skin as his lips trailed across her chest to her other nipple, giving it the same attention as he squeezed her breast.
“Ow,” she said, pulling back, surprised at how tender she was.
Max lifted his head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she smiled, “just sensitive, I guess. That mouth of yours.” She shook her head. Every part of her body seemed to respond to him differently. She’d never felt such a strong connection between her breasts and the rest of her body, but just the touch of him there made her whole body catch on fire now.
He chuckled and lowered his head, playing with her breast more gently.
Devlin’s hips bucked as a sharp tingle of pleasure shot from her nipple straight between her legs. “Max,” she moaned, not used to the sensitivity.
His lips left her breast as he raised his head and Devlin felt his loss more deeply than she was comfortable with.
“Your mouth should be illegal.” She laughed.
He grinned, that Max Sumner expression that made her heart flutter. Shit, where had that come from? Devlin was not one of those girls, all poetic and romantic. Nothing on her fluttered, especially not her heart. Well, maybe some things fluttered, between her legs.
“Do you want to break the law, Minx?” he asked.
She watched him, her face most likely revealing how much she wanted him despite her need to remain closed off.
Max pressed a kiss against her chest bone, trailing another one down her abdomen.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered, knowing exactly where he was headed.
His tongue circled her belly button, dipping inside.
She squirmed and giggled.
“Ticklish?” he murmured against her skin.
“You know I am.” And he did. Their last night together, Max’s mouth had touched nearly every inch of her body. Who knew she had so many erogenous zones. She was ready to be worshipped in the way only Max seemed to be able to do.
He trailed lower, his nose nuzzling her skin, pressing soft kisses against her tender flesh.
Devlin’s head arched back as her fingers curled into his hair. Her legs unconsciously fell open.
“Jesus, Devlin, you’re so damned ready for me,” he whispered against her opening.
“It’s you, it’s what you do to me.”
His tongue darted out and stroked her.
“Ahh,” she cried out. “Max,” she moaned, her head twisting side to side.
He whispered against her skin. “I could live here forever, you taste so good.”
“Max…please.” Devlin didn’t recognize her own voice. She’d never been one to beg but Max was driving her insane. “Please,” she implored.
He didn’t disappoint. His hands and mouth continued their magical dance against her skin. Moments later, Devlin came hard, screaming out unintelligible words that rang through the room.
Before she could catch her breath, she heard the rustle of a condom wrapper and then Max grabbed her hips and flipped her over. Devlin landed on her stomach, her hands stretched above her head.
His hands gripped her hips and he yanked them up higher, kicking her legs apart with his knees. The needy urgency to his movements was hot and arousing on its own. Then, with no warning, Max plunged inside her to the hilt.
“Max!” Devlin screamed.
He stopped. “Too much?” he asked, leaning over her.
“No, it’s…God, it’s perfect.” And it was. Max wrapped around her, buried deep inside, losing control…she had never felt anything so incredible. “Don’t stop, Max. Please.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. He pulled back and plunged inside her again, as she pushed back to meet his stroke.
She pressed against the headboard, her hips pushing back against him.
“Shit, Devlin, I’m not gonna last.”
She smiled into the sheet, excited that she could elicit such a physical response from a man who had his kind of reputation. Then she felt her body begin the climb back up to ano
ther orgasm.
“Max, I can’t—”
“You can and you will,” he growled in her ear, licking her lobe.
Oh, holy hell, she felt herself spiraling.
He pounded into her, his hips moving frantically.
He swelled inside her, stretching her to the limit but feeling so incredible she was going mad. “Max I need it faster, please.” God, she was starting to sound like a beggar.
Giving her what she needed, he reached around her, finding her center, his fingers pressing against her in slow caresses so different from the movements of his hips.
She screamed into the bed as her body came apart.
Max’s hand slipped away as he gripped her hips with both hands. His body clutched hers, slamming into her several more times before coming inside her with one final thrust, releasing a low, guttural groan.
She collapsed on the bed, her body spent. She’d heard of mind-blowing sex before but thought it was just an expression. She’d been wrong.
Mind. Blown.
Max fell on top of her, his body blanketing hers. It felt decadent, lying on top of the soft sheets with a huge man draped over her.
He began to move from atop her, pulling out.
“Don’t move,” she said, another pleading tone to her voice. “Not yet.” An inexplicable peace she’d never known existed washed over her. Being cocooned by this man felt like heaven.
He moved only slightly, removing some of his weight but remained on top, pressing feather-light kisses against her neck as he nuzzled her hair. “God, Devlin, I don’t think I’ve ever come that fast in my life. I’m kind of embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. Girls like it when they know they can make a man lose control.”
He remained unusually quiet, his breathing matching hers in rhythm.
“I’ve never had multiple orgasms before,” she said, embarrassed to admit her secrets.
He lifted and pulled out, taking care of the condom, before turning her around on the bed. “Really?” He gazed down at her, and she had the distinct feeling he could see right through her.
She shook her head with an embarrassed smile, reaching out to stroke his cheek. “You’re like a drug, Max Sumner.”
He stiffened.