The rap was short, firm, and decisive. Violet’s heart started pounding. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but she was certain it had to be Gaige.
“Violet? Are you in there?”
“Just a second.”
Violet took a deep breath. Then another. She had a choice. Go to the door dressed in nothing but a towel, or grab the robe that was draped over the chair. With a shrug, she headed toward the door without glancing at her robe.
“Hi.” It wasn’t the most brilliant greeting, but it would have to do. Not waiting for an answer, Violet moved aside, silently inviting him to enter.
Gaige walked in. The room seemed smaller with him in it. He filled the generous space with his size and presence. His blond hair looked darker, a fine coat of Seattle mist covering his head and jacket. He smelled like rain and… Gaige. There was no other way to describe the heady fragrance. Violet closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
“Do you always open the door dressed like that?”
Her eyes popped open, meeting his. Green. They were so green. Tonight they were a bright emerald. Intense and sparkling hot. Violet licked her lips, drawing his gaze. It had been intentional, but she liked his reaction, so she did it again.
“I knew it was you,” she shrugged, loosening the towel. Gaige’s eyes dropped to the swell of her breasts. “Do you want to talk?”
“Yes.” He removed his jacket. “Later.”
Going for broke, Violet let the towel drop to the floor. She was rewarded when she heard him catch his breath.
“I’ve dreamed of this a thousand times,” he said. His eyes remained fixed on her naked body while he started to unbutton his shirt.
Violet could tell that Gaige liked what he saw. Her breasts were firm, her waist slender. She worked out and watched what she ate. She didn’t obsess over her looks, but for the first time in a long time, she cared what someone else thought. She wanted Gaige to find her desirable.
“So I live up to your dreams?”
“Fuck dreams.” He stripped off his shirt, baring a chiseled torso that made Violet’s eyes grow wide. “Reality is so much better.”
“I agree.”
“Shit.”
“No.” Violet could see the hesitation in his expression. “You can’t stop now. This is going to happen, mister.”
Gaige grinned. “Damn straight, it is.”
“Okay.” Violet closed the distance between them. “I’m naked, and you are wearing way too many clothes. Let me help you fix that.”
Gaige took her hands, stopping her before she could unfasten his jeans.
“We’ll get there.” He placed her hands on his bare chest.
“That is…”
Violet didn’t have the words. The feel of his warm skin, smooth and muscled, made her knees weak. She leaned closer, taking a deep breath. Her lips brushed across his chest, then lingered, her tongue taking a taste.
Gaige threaded his fingers through her hair, tilting her head until her eyes were on his.
“We haven’t kissed.”
“I know.”
“I can’t take you to bed. I can’t touch your body or explore every inch of you the way I plan to unless I kiss you first.”
“Is that a rule?” Violet didn’t care. All of it sounded good to her—no matter the order.
“There are no rules,” his fingers gently massaged her scalp, making Violet sigh with pleasure. “Not for us. I simply want to find out if you taste as sweet as I’ve imagined.”
The kiss wasn’t rushed. Gaige began by placing his lips over hers and gently moving from side to side. His breath, warm and smelling faintly of mint, touched her cheek, before he kissed it, then moved to the other, repeating the process. Her jaw, her neck, then her chin.
When he found a spot, just below her ear, that made Violet shudder, he lingered, using his tongue to increase her pleasure. The bite of his teeth made her knees quiver, but Gaige held her steady, wrapping one arm around her waist.
“I found a sweet spot,” he whispered. “I won’t forget.”
“You feel so good,” Violet rubbed her breasts against him.
“Violet?”
“Hmm?”
“Open your eyes.” Slowly, she did what he asked. “God, I love looking into those beautiful baby blues.” He laid a quick kiss on the end of her nose. “One thing. You and me? I’m in. All in.”
Violet’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could respond, Gaige kissed her. No more teasing or gentle brushes. He took her mouth—long and hot. His tongue glided across her lips, demanding entrance. He didn’t have to ask twice. Violet didn’t want to play the role of passive participant. Gaige could lead, but she was with him all the way.
Dropping her hands to his hips, she pulled him close until nothing except the denim of his jeans separated their bodies.
“Why aren’t you naked?” she asked between kisses.
“Damned if I know.”
The bed was three steps away, but when Gaige lifted her into his arms, Violet was happy to let him carry her. He didn’t dump her onto the mattress, he set her down with great care. She settled against the pillows and waited. This was a long time coming, and she didn’t want to miss a single second.
Gaige didn’t seem to mind. His smile widened, and he waggled his light eyebrows at her.
“Where’s my stripper music?”
“What’s your pleasure?” Happy to oblige, Violet picked up her phone. “Hot and raunchy? Slow and sensual? Or do you want to go traditional?” Her fingers flew. When The Stripper began to play, Gaige laughed, shaking his head.
“Anything but that.”
Feeling mischievous, Violet played one of her all-time favorites. Lou Rawls singing At Last.
Gaige nodded slowly, then winked. “That I can work with.”
Violet had expected something quick. Maybe a little teasing when he lowered his zipper. What she got, was the hottest thing she had ever seen. If Gaige ever needed some cash on the side, he could make big bucks on stage. Magic Mike had nothing on him.
“You’ve done this before.”
“Nope.” He somehow managed to take off his boots and socks without missing a beat. “I was born with perfect timing. And loose hips.”
Licking her lips, Violet clutched her phone in one hand and the sheet in the other. Unconsciously, she ran her foot along her calf. She didn’t know it, but she was putting on as much of a show as Gaige was.
“Down to my skivvies.” He snapped the elastic on his boxer briefs. Another surprise. They were fire engine red.
Violet scooted to the side of the bed. “May I do the honors?”
“If you promise not to touch.” Gaige guided her hand to his hips.
“Party pooper.”
“I’m a little on edge. This party will be over—prematurely—if you aren’t careful.”
“I won’t mind. Think of the fun I’ll have when I get you ready to party again.” Violet smacked her lip.
“You are wicked, Dr. Reed.” Gaige smoothed back her hair, his eyes dancing. “Do the people you work with know about your wild side?”
“How could they when I didn’t know about it myself?” Slowly, she began to lower the briefs. She kissed the spot just below his belly button. “You’ve had an interesting effect on me, Mr. Benson. And I like it. A lot.”
Tipping his head back, Gaige groaned. “Me too.”
“My effect on you is obvious.” Violet pulled the material over his hips and down his long legs. “One kiss?”
“Make it fast.”
Gaige’s erection was wonderfully hard and mouthwateringly thick. Violet surveyed him from several angles. If she only got one, she wanted to make it count.
“This isn’t a one-time deal, Violet. We’ll be here again. And again.”
Again and again. She liked the sound of that. She used her finger to draw a pattern, then sealed it with a kiss.
“What was that?”
“I branded you.”
Gaige crawled
onto the bed, his body covering her. Nuzzling her neck, he whispered, “What with?”
“A sideways eight and a kiss. It might be invisible to the naked eye, but it’s there. Permanent. Indelible.”
“A sideways eight?” Against her skin, she felt his lips curve into a smile. “Infinity. Sounds about right.”
“I like what you’re doing,” Violet said, stretching her neck to the side to give him better access.
“But…?”
“I’m healthy.”
“Me too.”
Violet loved that Gaige’s thoughts were in sync with hers. “I’m on the pill.” Before he could ask, she clarified, “I started taking them after I found your letter.”
“You’ve been planning on having sex with me since then?”
“I’ve been planning on having sex with you since I was nineteen.” She blushed—actually blushed—when Gaige met her gaze. “Call the people at Guinness. This was the longest foreplay in history.”
“I’m free until Monday. I know three days won’t make up for sixteen missed years.”
“No.” Violet wound her legs around his, pulling his hips flush with hers. “But it’s a start.”
Gaige didn’t wait. She was ready—so was he. Bracing his forearms next to her head, he entered her. It was a slow glide. Not agonizingly so, but he gave them the chance to savor this moment. They weren’t kids untried and unsure—fumbling their way along. Yet, it was their first time, and they wanted it to be special.
Violet cupped the back of Gaige’s head. His hair was short but soft and silky. She gave a tug, pulling him down, kissing him, her tongue running along his. Sex, when it was good, was a heady experience. She knew how that felt. Fun, healthy sex between consenting adults. She thought it was as good as it got. She was wrong.
This was something else. Something more. It wasn’t about reaching the end or finding fulfillment. She could do that by herself. Violet felt a connection to Gaige that couldn’t be put into words because it wasn’t necessary. She knew in her heart that there was no going back.
“Are you with me?” His face was tense, but his emerald eyes sparkled with a gentleness that shot straight to her heart.
“All the way,” Violet sighed.
Gaige kissed her again, harder, his teeth biting her lower lip. His hips moved with an increasingly intense rhythm—one that Violet matched thrust for thrust. She wrapped her legs around his hips. The pleasure built. Higher. Faster. Until it burst through her body, shooting from her center down to her toes.
“Violet,” Gaige called out.
The sound of her name carried Violet over another crest. This one she rode with Gaige until they collapsed in each other’s arms.
“Are you good?” Gaige breathed, his lips brushing against her forehead.
“I’m great.”
He chuckled, pulling her close. “You certainly are.”
Violet rested her head on Gaige’s chest. She could hear the beat of his heart, wonderfully strong and steady. As she drifted off, she knew in her heart that this was where she was meant to be.
LAUGHING, VIOLET PUSHED at Gaige’s head. Considering his position, it wasn’t easy, but she gave it her best shot.
“I thought you said you were hungry.”
“I am.” Lowering his head, he took another taste. “Mmm. The breakfast of champions.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“And you’re delicious.”
Gaige loved the sound of her laughter. It filled the room like the most beautiful music ever composed. He knew if he had a thousand years, he would never grow tired hearing it. It was the best kind of addiction. That, and making love to her.
At the moment, his mouth was occupied between her legs. When he disappeared beneath the covers, Violet had protested. Not because she was shy or reticent. Overnight he had found that she was wonderfully open to all his suggestions. And had a few of her own. No, her problem wasn’t what he was doing, it was his timing.
“I need food.” Violet tried to close her legs, but he was in the way.
“Let me finish my meal, then I promise to take you out for breakfast.”
“You said that an hour ago.”
Gaige lifted the sheet to peer at her. She looked gorgeous with her hair spread out over the pillow. Her blue eyes were half-closed and lips parted. “During which you’ve had an orgasm and are on your way to another.”
“I recall you sharing one of those with an orgasm of your own.”
True. After a night of loving Violet, he felt loose, his body forgetting that it had played a game of professional football less than twenty-four hours earlier. Even on a good day, he woke up sore, his muscles protesting. At thirty-eight, he didn’t recover as quickly as he used to. But this morning he felt twenty-five again. He rolled his shoulder, trying to ease the stiffness. Make that thirty.
“I’ll stop if you want.” Gaige kissed the inside of her thigh. “Just say the word.”
“Fine,” Violet huffed. She threw her arms up in mock exasperation. “If it means that much to you, I suppose I can take one more orgasm.”
“Such a martyr,” he grinned. “I’ll try and make it fast.”
“Take your time,” she sighed when his mouth touched her. “After all, if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right.”
Gaige licked his lips. “I couldn’t agree more.”
CHAPTER TEN
LIKE MOST FOOTBALL players, Gaige hated Thursday games.
Three days wasn’t long enough to recover from the previous Sunday. He rushed through tape of the other team trying to prepare for a defense he most likely hadn’t seen before. It didn’t matter that the other team was in the same boat. Win or lose, playing on Thursday was just wrong.
However, the Knights had won. And there was one benefit. They had a few extra days off until Monday meetings and a light workout with the team. Normally, Gaige hated time off. He would go in on his own and study game strategies, use the weight room, and end up in the therapy pool, letting the whirling jets ease his muscles.
But this was blissfully different. Gaige decided he was in love with playing on Thursdays. If requested, he would write a glowing letter to the league, endorsing the mid-week games as the best idea since helmets. He would subject himself to it anytime if it meant he could spend those free days with Violet.
They finally made it to breakfast. Though it turned out to be lunch. Once Gaige happily provided Violet with another orgasm—she made the prettiest sounds when she came—she insisted on returning the favor. A gentleman would have declined, insisting that giving her pleasure was all the reward he needed. But Gaige was no gentleman. Not when it meant turning down the chance to have Violet’s mouth on his dick. Name a breathing heterosexual man who would turn that down, and he would say that man was kidding himself about his sexual orientation.
An hour later, they took a shower. Which led to more fooling around. By the time they finished—dried off and dressed—food wasn’t an option. It was a dire necessity.
“I want a hamburger with a ton of fries. And a chocolate milkshake.”
Gaige parked across from his favorite diner. The décor was retro, the food plentiful and delicious. He liked his Seattle neighborhood. The residents were used to seeing him at the grocery store or out for dinner. They waved when he jogged by, letting him run his miles without interruption. It was home, and he wanted to share it with Violet.
“Don’t move.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to help you from the car, and it will be awkward if you’re already halfway out when I get there.”
“Don’t move,” Violet put a hand on his arm.
“Why?”
She leaned over and kissed him, her lips warm and sweet.
“That’s why,” Violet smiled. “And because you want to help me from the car. Who does that anymore?”
“Me. For you.” Gaige kissed the end of her nose.
Checking the street for traffic, Gaige exited the
car, jogging around to the passenger side.
“Hi, Gaige,” a woman called out. Wheeling a stroller along the sidewalk, she waved and smiled without breaking stride. He waved back before opening Violet’s door.
“Is she a friend of yours?” Violet asked as she took his hand.
“No.”
“A fan?”
“Maybe.” Gaige laced his fingers with Violet’s. There weren’t any cars coming so they crossed the street where they were, hand in hand. “People know I live in this neighborhood. They greet me, and I greet them back.”
“That’s nice. I’m on friendly terms with the woman across the hall, but my hours can be crazy. I don’t think I could pick any of my other neighbors out in a police lineup.”
“I don’t know them; they know me.” He held open the diner door. “That sounded really arrogant, didn’t it?”
“It’s honest. They see you all over town.” Violet picked up the free magazine by the door. His face was on the cover. The Weekly Sound, covered the Seattle metro area. Sports, restaurant reviews, real estate trends. The lead story was about the Knights. “They feel like they know you.”
The waitress greeted Gaige with a friendly hello. She led them to a corner booth—his favorite table. There were a few more shout-outs, which he acknowledged with an easy wave.
“Coffee, Gaige?”
“That would be great, Kimber. Violet?”
“No, thank you. Just water.”
Kimber returned with his coffee, a huge mug reminiscent of the ones they used on Friends. “Do you need a minute to decide?” she asked as she set down Violet’s drink.
“I’m ready,” Violet said. “Bacon cheeseburger. Onion rings, extra crispy. A large caramel shake, and I’m putting in dibs on a piece of the homemade cherry pie. Just in case you sell out.”
“Good call, the cherry is going fast. Do want your usual, Gaige?”
“Add another order of onion rings, I don’t think the lady is in the mood to share.”
“Too right,” Violet declared. When Kimber was out of earshot, Violet leaned closer. “You helped me work up an appetite. Plus, my stomach was in such a knot last night, I didn’t eat anything after that game.”
It was the first time either of them had mentioned her letter. Gaige could tell by her eyes that it hadn’t been deliberate. He had planned on waiting until later when they were alone, but it felt like the right time.
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