by Dani Jace
He replied to her message. See you at the beach house in a few.
* * * *
Jordan pulled into Heath’s driveway.
The Jeep’s back gate was open. He stepped from beneath the house wearing a Texans t-shirt slit open on the sides to the waist.
As he carried the cooler, muscles flexed along his ribs. Her mouth watered. She met him and gave him a big hug.
He turned the brim of his ball cap around, leaned close and nibbled at her lips. His masculine essence mixed with a minty flavor. A hoarse whisper followed. “Hmm, missed you.”
“Ditto.” His sweet kiss left her lips tingling.
Glad you texted me.” He held her gaze.
“Thought you might want to cool off and relax after such a blistering practice.” And she hoped for some fun time as well.
“Thoughtful too. You’re racking up points.” He loaded her beach bag and chair.
“Which beach?” She hopped onto the passenger’s seat. “You feeling social today?”
“Yeah, I wanna show off my date.” He winked.
After a short drive, they parked and found a spot near the crowded Virginia Beach shore. Flat without dunes or vegetation the commercial beach lacked the laid-back vibe of Sandbridge.
“Did you come here a lot when you were a kid?” Heath set up their chairs.
“Dad usually took us to Sandbridge. Not so many tourists. But I usually come here with GiGi. She likes to hunt. Or did.”
He chuckled. “Has she returned from New York?”
“Texted me last night. Your bro was on his way over.”
“Figured. He left the house smelling like a bottle of cologne.”
She laughed. “Well, do you want to walk the boardwalk a bit?”
“Sure.”
She retied the knot on her tie-dyed beach cover-up.
“You looked fine in just your suit. He winked and took her hand.
He never seemed to be in a hurry. His laid-back nature calmed her without trying. They ambled along the boardwalk. Opening up to him came easy.
“Do you ever visit the Outer Banks?” He slipped his arm around her waist.
She grinned. “It’s my favorite getaway. For a couple of weeks each summer, we used to rent a place. I’d hoped Dad might eventually buy a house there.”
“Your mom doesn’t like it there?” Heath squinted.
“You are intuitive, Mr. Eighty-seven. Not high society enough for her.” She clutched his bicep.
“I’ve never been. Could I persuade you to give me the Jordan Walker tour? Maybe over a weekend? All expenses paid, of course.” A dimpled grin, wooed her.
The man certainly knew how to crack through her defenses. “Absolutely. For now, let me buy my sunbathing buddy lunch. I’m sure you’re starving.”
“Lunch will only stave off my real hunger until we’re alone, darlin’.” He snugged her against his hip.
She bet those baby blues were smoking behind his shades.
The sweet aroma of Italian sausages, onions and peppers led them to the nearby truck vendor.
“Is here okay?” Heath glanced at the short menu. “I haven’t had one of these in forever.”
Jordan giggled. “Fine with me.”
“Which kind do you want?” He got in line.
“My treat, remember?” She stepped ahead of him.
She’d rather have Heath served on a bun instead. Was her lust-crazed demeanor from being pent up too long? Now that her scarlet letter stigma had faded, she needed to explore activities her former lovers had found too adventurous. He was shaping into a perfect playmate to help her shed her inhibitions. “You want a six or twelve inch?”
He laughed. “The bigger the better, baby.”
They lunched on a bench along the boardwalk while people watching. “I’ve never been to a big city like Houston.” She sipped on her lemonade. “Do you like it there?”
He finished the last bite of sausage. “Too much traffic. I grew up in the suburbs near Folly Beach in South Carolina. Houston is too far from the ocean for my tastes. I liked the people though.”
“What do you think of Virginia Beach so far?”
He smiled.
“Be honest.”
“It’s growing on me.” He traced along her cheek.
Back on the beach, she worked sunscreen over the peaks and valleys of his sculpted back, imagining seductive play. “I avoided dating jocks in high school, even though I played a sport. Wanted a different type of guy, I guess.”
Heath glanced back. “An intellectual?”
“Maybe I thought they’d be more faithful than my get-around brothers.”
He turned and took the tube from her palm. “It’s the man, Jordan, not the profession.”
“It was a hard lesson.” And not one she wanted to repeat.
His muscular arm snaked around her and tugged her back against his chest. He caressed the shell of her ear with warm lips. “Baby, I want to help you forget that time in your life. I would never intentionally hurt you.”
His gentle assurance rang true. Another layer in her resistance cracked. Later, as she lay dozing, His hand covered hers protectively. The idea that he might leave after football season didn’t sit well.
Time to speed up their play clock.
Chapter 9
Dusk had descended when they returned to the beach house. Heath held open the door to the outside shower. He lifted his shades. If she invited him to join her, he’d take the offer. “Would you like me to bring you a cocktail?”
“Bring whatever you’d like and we’ll share.” Jordan’s honey-brown eyes turned soft and inviting.
“Are you trying to seduce me?” He gave her a heated stare.
“Hoping you’ll wash my back.” She ran a finger down the center of his chest.
“I do all types of detailing, darlin’.” He smiled.
Heading upstairs, he counted each step, attempting to cool his libido. Inside, the air conditioning wicked perspiration from his heated skin continuing the process. He poured tequila, triple sec and lime juice into the blender then grabbed some ice from the freezer.
Would she spend the night if they made it to the bedroom? There’d be hell to pay at tomorrow’s practice. He needed to stay focused to remain on the team. Plus, if he got bounced from the Tritons, she might end their game. He returned with the drink and handed it to her.
Jordan sipped. “Yum. Margarita.”
Moving behind her, he directed the warm water over them and licked the back of her neck. “A little salt for the rim. Ahh” He took a sip. “Glad you didn’t start without me.”
He unhooked her suit top and tossed it on the shower seat. Molding his body to hers, he reveled as her head lolled back on his shoulder. A sign of trust. He soaped her breasts in leisurely circles while her firm peaks begged for attention.
“Mmm.” She reached back and ran her hand along the back of his neck.
Heath teased the tight buds between the tips of his fingers wondering how far she wanted to take this.
Then she hooked her fingers at the sides of her bathing suit and wiggled out of her bikini bottom.
Vixen. “Ahh, what you do to me.”
“What do I do to you? Make it hard for you to concentrate?” She rubbed her butt against his straining shaft.
She had no idea. “You make it hard for me in a lot of ways. I woke up this way in the middle of the night after dreaming about you. This afternoon, when I was doing my best to memorize the new plays, all I could envision was sex-play with you, baby.”
He slid a hand around her hip and between her thighs. He was dying to hear her scream his name.
She moaned and faced him. “So what’s next in your playbook, number eighty-seven?”
With a mischievous smile, he answered, “Be a starting tight end.”
“You certainly are in my opinion. Care to give that tight end a workout?” She traced around his wais
t and gave him a playful smack on his ass.
Playing dirty amped his desire. “If we do this now, then the game is up. What then?” He frowned.
Smiling, she reached for his trunks and ripped open the Velcro fly.
His cock greeted her impatiently as warm water sluiced down his belly and snaked around his balls. She stroked his length then backed those sweet cheeks against him. “There’s more than the traditional sex.”
The move lit him to a fury. Holy shit! The teacher had no idea how naughty he was willing to play. “You can’t be serious.”
“Or is that piece of anatomy not in your playbook?”
He wanted every part of her in his playbook. “Baby, we can put it into play, if you’re so inclined.” He growled and slipped his cock between her wet thighs. Sleek and soft. He pumped a couple of times.
Jordan seized and gave a worried frown over her shoulder. Had she considered that she’d pushed him too far?
He laughed, palmed her belly and drew her back to his chest. “Careful of your play calls, darlin’. I don’t want to be thrown out for a penalty.”
She snagged a condom she must have hidden on the soap shelf and ripped open the package.
Close to eruption and barely able to think, he scolded her. “Jordan.” She couldn’t be considering back door.
She turned in his arms and gave him a sultry look. “Just letting you know there’s still a sneak play left after the standard run up the middle.”
“Jesus woman.” He already ached from stroking between her cheeks.
She giggled and closed her fingers around him. With her other hand, she capped his tip and slowly unfurled the condom over his length.
Heath clasped the back of her head, found her lips and savored her like melting chocolate. How simple it would be to press her against the shower wall, raise her legs and plow his raging heat into her weeping pussy. The urge nearly overpowered him. Instead, he sat on the shower seat and drew her onto his lap.
With her thighs straddling his, she rubbed her clit against length, grazing her nipples against his chest. “So hard. Damn.”
And ready to launch. “So wet.”
He wanted inside of her more than he wanted to breathe.
* * * *
Warm watered rained over them as Jordan leaned forward.
Heath’s plump head nestled in her slick folds. His eyes blazed, meeting her stare.
Never before had she seen such desire in a man’s eyes. Apprehension faded under his blue gaze. With a flex of her knees, she sank onto him, devouring his thickness inch by inch until he filled her emptiness. She surrendered to him.
“Christ.” He hissed and cupped her ass.
She grasped his broad shoulders and pumped with her legs. Brought his tip to her entrance then dropped back down for a slow ride. The spray of warm water slickened their skin, adding to the erotic sensation.
His breath hitched as he rocked his hips, meeting her thrusts.
Pleasure painted vivid colors on the inside of her eyelids. His warmth seared nerve endings while he stretched and filled her in long delicious glides. She wanted to make this hedonistic Eden last. Maybe she could persuade her newfound stallion to stay on after summer.
Heath swept strong hands under her knees then stood. “Ready?”
Hell yes! She nodded.
He pressed her against the shower wall, drew one of her legs under the crook of his arm and slammed deep.
“Yes!”
In a slow, deliberate grind, he fucked her.
Desperate for more, she arched against him and clung to his shoulders.
He rimmed her ear with his tongue before trailing down her neck, nipping along the way. Every bite heightened her arousal.
His chest and stomach muscles flexed. An untiring sex god.
No other lover had ever fucked her against a wall. Heath’s measured stokes had her fighting for breath as she climbed to euphoria without the aid of her fingers. It would be a first. In fear of losing the type of orgasm she’d only imagined, she urged him faster. “Don’t stop.”
“Easy, baby,” he murmured. “I’ll get you there.” Increasing tempo, he drove his steely length deeper.
At the precipice, Jordan latched an arm around his neck. Her core clenched. The deep ache fulfilled, she spiraled. Crying out, she dug her nails into his shoulders.
Heath sank deep one last time and roared, his shaft twitching.
She wished he were bare so she could feel his warm release.
His breathing slowed before he slipped from her body and let her down, still holding her by the waist. “Darlin’, that was amazing.”
The glorious throbbing between her legs had her wanting more already. “Wow, so that’s what a good fuck feels like.”
* * * *
Struck by her admission, Heath contemplated the right words, not wanting to sound crass. “You’ve never come with a lover?”
“Not without helping myself along.” She blushed as she shut off the water and grabbed a towel.
He tightened his hold and lowered his mouth to hers. Cradling her head, he devoured her mouth like a man starved. Then he planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. “We need to move upstairs and get dressed unless you brought another condom.”
Smiling, Jordan cupped his sac. “I’m not complaining.”
Heath swore under his breath. He could go another round. All night in fact. He cinched his towel around his waist.
Upstairs, she dressed in his room while he leaned against the bar and downed a shot of tequila. He didn’t trust himself or his cock. As soon as she’d sunk onto his shaft, he’d imagined every way he’d love to take her. Against the wall was the most convenient at the time. Jesus, he could still feel her tight pussy throbbing around him. Right now he could hold the towel up with his hopeful hard-on.
Wearing a smile, Jordan rounded into the living room. Her shorts and tank top did nothing to deflate his desire.
What to say to her now?
“You okay?” She stroked his arm.
“Perfect.” His heart rate spiked.
“Got any whiskey?”
“Jack”
“Is there any other?”
“Ice?” He snagged a glass from the shelf below.
“Please.”
Her kiss-swollen lips made him hungry for more. He free-poured the liquor. “Mixer?”
“Just rocks.”
Shit. Her tough girl attitude pitched to his heart. He needed to put some clothes on before he dragged her into his bedroom and stripped her naked. “Enjoy, I’ll be right back.”
She latched onto the towel at his waist.
Heath stopped.
“Then we’ll talk.” She arched tawny brows.
Her quick advance of their game had him somewhat addled. “Let me put on some shorts.”
She skimmed her hand up his belly, making his skin tingle.
Once in the bedroom, his mind spun. Their shower sex had totally blown him away. He didn’t want to come across as a sex-driven maniac, but he wanted her again. All night and the next morning to fix her breakfast.
What did she want to talk about anyway? Would she call things off now?
They’d both agreed to no strings. However, the sexy teacher who played balls tough made him want more. Whenever that steely veneer cracked, revealing her vulnerability, and her beautiful brown eyes appeared lost, he became the gallant knight wanting to protect and defend. Similar thinking had gotten him in trouble with the wrong kind of women before. He loved the game with Jordan, but his heart suddenly wanted to play and he wasn’t on board with that yet. He tugged on a pair of athletic shorts.
“Dugan’s calling your cell,” Jordan alerted him from the living room.
“Be right there.” He stalked into the room and grabbed his phone from the bar.
Dugan slurred through the line. “Bro, could I get a ride? I’m down at the strip and I’ve had quite a few.”
>
At least he wasn’t taking a chance on driving, plus he’d driven his pick-up and not the Harley. Dugan already had points on his license and Heath didn’t want to get stuck driving him around for the rest of their time here.
On the flip side, picking up Dugan gave him a good excuse to avoid the conversation with Jordan and figure out why he avoided their talk. “Have another round. I’ll be there in a few.”
“What’s wrong?” Jordan touched his shoulder.
“Dugan. He’s trashed and needs a ride home.” Nothing new for him.
She smiled, set down her unfinished drink, and stood. “Thankfully, he called. I’ll get out of your hair so you can go get him.”
Heath cupped her elbow. “He can wait a bit. You wanted to talk.” Might as well get it over. Damn, he sounded like an asshole. Like the guy who had sex then moved on. It wasn’t that at all.
“It’s nothing.” She took his hand reassuringly. “Where is he? I can drive you there if you want.”
By then the shot of tequila he’d had would have worn off. It made sense. “You don’t mind?”
She drew her keys from her purse. “Come on.”
He’d been in this situation before, and his date was always pissed, but not Jordan. “Thanks for understanding.”
* * * *
Heath’s mixed signals baffled Jordan. He’d clearly enjoyed their shower shenanigans and was still aroused when she’d caught him by the towel. Then he’d turned serious.
She started the car. “Did Dugan say where he was?”
Heath folded into the passenger seat of her compact.
Reaching between his legs, she levered the seat back.
Relief softened the lines in his face. “Somewhere along the strip at the oceanfront. I’ll call him back.”
While she drove, he called Dugan.
Halfway there, Jordan’s instincts got the best of her. Yes, they were playing a game. Yes, she’d gotten more than she bargained for, but she’d been through the gates of hell for a lesser man. A lying man. This one seemed different, but could his past be creeping in on him as well?
“The Green Dolphin on Atlantic.” He shifted in his seat and pocketed his phone.
“Sorry, big guy, it doesn’t go back any farther.”
A dimple formed on his scruffy cheek.