by Megan Ryder
“But that’s not your goal, is it? You want another contract, somewhere, after this. You and I both know that unless you show something remarkable on the field, no one will take you no matter how squeaky clean you are off the field.”
He ran his fingers through his chocolate brown hair and glared impotently at her.
“You know I’m right.”
“Damn it. I’m taking a shower.” He stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
“Think about it,” she called through the door.
Damn. She usually handled sensitive discussions with more finesse, but she botched this one. How could she read slimy politicians so easily and have this man be a complete mystery to her? Was it the sex? She had slept with men before and had never had any of them be such a puzzle. Nor had she ever cared about a client and his future. He was right—his future was not her concern. She was hired to get him through this season, not a contract for next season.
Maybe she should remember her goal because if she screwed this up, she would lose all chance of a serious job after this. She and Jason were in exactly the same boat. They both needed this job to work to get back on top, back in the game. It bothered her that she needed to rely on someone else for her success. That had not worked out so well for her with the senate race and Representative Glazier. And now she had to trust Jason, that he would keep his end of the bargain.
Hopefully, she could trust him. Her future was in his hands. And that scared the crap out of her.
Chapter Ten
Jason closed the condo door and flicked the hall light switch on to avoid tripping over boxes still piled from his moving day over a week ago. He dumped his suitcase in the hall, at the base of the stairs then stumbled into the living room and onto the soft easy chair in the corner. Thank God it was a semi-furnished condo. He had left his furniture in storage in New Jersey.
He’d forgotten how long and difficult road trips were. Getting in at three in the morning. Trying to catch a few hours’ sleep before heading back to the stadium for the game. Struggling to adjust to time zone changes. Trying to forget the fiasco that was his first road trip in a year. And it was only a six-game stint for him.
He let his head fall back against the cushion of the chair, absently rubbing his aching shoulder and groaned. Was he fooling himself? Would his shoulder ever let him play again? Would the fans ever stop booing? Would his teammates ever accept him? Icing after every game was a panacea at best, not a long-term solution. And he wasn’t hitting, thanks to the old injury.
The questions swirled in his head, chasing elusive sleep farther and farther away. Exhaustion settled in his muscles and bones, sinking his body into the chair until he almost became a part of the furniture. It molded to his body, enveloping him in a welcoming warmth.
At least one thing didn’t hate him.
A knock at his door startled him out of the fog of sleep. What the hell? It was three in the morning. Who would be on his doorstep? As soon as the question entered his mind, the answer also presented itself.
He flung open the door to see Stacia on the stoop, her suitcase in hand. She swept into the foyer, dragging her designer bag behind her. She glanced around the dimly lit room at the boxes stacked haphazardly around. She turned and arched an eyebrow.
“I see you’ve settled in nicely.”
“I’ve been busy.” He brushed past her, ignoring the tightening in his lower belly, the rising arousal that was harder to resist in the middle of the night when she stood there looking tousled and sleepy after their flight home with the team. Or after a night of satisfying sex. He shoved that thought from his brain and willed his body to obey for once. “What do you want, Stacia? Checking up on me? It’s not like I had time to pick up a hooker or anything between the stadium and here.”
She followed him into the kitchen, the scent of her perfume teasing his senses, taunting his body with memories.
He opened the fridge and grabbed a water from the shelf, stalling for time. “There’s no one here. Feel free to check around.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You were barely ten minutes ahead of me. Of course no one is here.” She perched on a barstool. “That’s not why I’m here. I’m supposed to be stuck to you like glue, don’t you remember?”
Irritation skated along his raw nerve endings. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“It appears that you do. Did you think this was just for the road?”
He stalked to the sink, and stared out the small window. She stroked her hand on his back between his shoulder blades, stroking downward gently, almost imperceptibly. He shuddered, fighting the urge to press her against the wall, kiss her breath away and slam into her, bringing them both to a screaming completion. She curved her hand around his shoulder and tugged him gently.
“Ignoring me won’t make me go away. I’m here for the long haul.”
He whirled around. “I’ve heard those words before. You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe them.” He pushed past her again, struggling for control. “It’s not wise to be here tonight, Stacia. Not tonight. Go home. We’ll deal with this in the light of day.”
She stepped closer, head tilted up to gaze into his eyes. Again, she brushed his arm and he flinched. She frowned at his reaction, confusion in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
The tension snapped and he grabbed her, a hand curving down her spine to her backside to press her fully against him, his other hand tangling in her hair to tilt her head back for his bruising kiss. He shifted her more comfortably against his hardening cock and his lips gentled on hers, teasing, coaxing her response. His tongue stroked her lips, dipping inside for a fleeting touch then back out. She struggled to pull her arms free, but he trapped them with his and held her in place, helpless against his sensual assault.
She moaned into his mouth, and softened against him. He released her, steadying her before stepping away. She looked up at him dazed and aroused. Before she could come to her sense, he guided her down the hall to the front door. The cool night air caressed his heated skin.
“Go home, Stacia.” He closed the door firmly, only to meet the resistance of her foot.
“I don’t think so.”
*
Decisions made at three in the morning rarely stood up to the cold harsh light of day, yet here she was standing outside Jason’s door, pushing her way into his condo, his life, his bed. Pushing against a man who professed to not want her but kissed her like he was a dying man and she was the key to life. It was intoxicating and sucked her in against her will, but she was powerless to resist. She was drawn to him but she couldn’t understand what he had that ensnared her so thoroughly, getting her to change her business policies, and get more involved than ever before.
Stacia quivered in the cool early morning chill, sizzling hot from the inside with sexual heat and anger. How dare he close the door in her face? She had barely wedged her foot in the door, almost destroying her nine hundred dollar shoes in the process, another bill she’d lay at Jason Friar’s door when this was over. She wedged her shoulders through the opening and forced her way into the small foyer of the condominium. Scowling, Jason closed the door behind her and leaned against it, arms crossed.
“I don’t have time for this, Stacia. I have to be at the stadium early in the afternoon and I barely got any sleep the last few nights.”
“I didn’t hear any complaining.” She swept into the living room and tossed her bag on the couch. “I’ll sleep here since I doubt your spare room has any sheets.”
“I have a spare room?” He glanced up the stairs.
She sighed. “You really need to be more observant. If I run out to the car for my bag, will you lock the door behind me?”
He snagged her keys from her hand and stalked out the door. She slowly sank onto the couch, surprised her knees had held her that long. She had not expected such resistance from Jason, thinking their time in Kansas City had forged a truce between them. Apparently, she had a lot to learn about him. And he would fi
nd her not so easy-going and susceptible to his charm as he thought.
He slammed the door and rolled her suitcase to the living room. “Night.”
“Wait.”
His shoulders slumped and he turned around, strain evident on his face. “What?”
She stood, then closed the short distance between them. She placed a hand on his forearm. His muscles flinched and tensed under the small caress. “Thank you.”
“Shit.” He grabbed her arms and hauled her close, his lips swooping down and crushing hers in a punishing kiss.
She curved her hands around his back, tracing his muscles, and clutching him closer, clinging to him for support and to stay upright. Sexual heat flared anew, driving all rational thought from her brain, leaving her awash in sensations buffeting her from all sides. He slipped his tongue past her lips, a driving force igniting her senses, and her knees sagged. He cupped her bottom, pulling her closer where she had no doubt of his intentions. His brain may have been saying no, but his body ruled now and it was screaming yes. He pushed her against the wall and speared his hands into her hair, tilting her head for a deeper kiss. He stroked down her body and tugged her blouse out of her skirt. Within moments, her skirt fell to the floor. Cool air caressed her legs. She shivered slightly, clad only in thigh high garters, lace panties, her blouse and heels. He leaned back and his hot gaze traveled down her.
“Like the view?” She forced the words out of her tight throat, licking her dry lips, trying to regain control of the situation.
He laughed and bent down for another kiss. Stacia tugged his shirt out of his jeans and stroked the hot skin, tracing the taut muscles of his torso. She slid her hands under the waistband and paused, breaking the kiss to stare up into his whiskey-colored eyes.
“Forget something?”
His mouth quirked in a crooked smile. “Nope. Find something you like?”
“Oh yeah. Off.”
He glanced around the room and jerked his head toward the big picture window in the living room, the curtains wide open for anyone to see in. “Not here.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her upstairs.
So much for sleeping on the couch. Her back would be grateful tomorrow, as would the rest of her, if the past few nights were any indication. They stumbled up the stairs in silence, the sexual tension thick in the air, anticipation singing in her veins. The only light in the darkness came from the room to the immediate left of the stairs. The moon shone through a skylight directly onto the bed, lending a mystical and ethereal quality to the room. She paused in the doorway, mouth open. He stopped and looked back.
“That’s gorgeous!”
“Yes.” His gaze was only on her. “C’mere.” She started to kick the shoes off, but he stopped her. “Leave them.”
He fell on the bed and tugged her so she fell on top of him, her legs straddling his hips, his length riding high and hard between them. She settled against his knees and unbuttoned her blouse, one small button at a time, her gaze intent on him. His eyes darkened and he reached for her. She shifted out of reach and pulled her blouse together.
“No, my turn.” She had to do this, had to regain some control before she lost herself in him again. Besides, he had his turn. She wanted to play now.
He frowned but settled his hands back on the bed.
“On second thought.” She leaned forward, the edges of her blouse teasing his chest and face. She grasped his hands and tugged them up to the headboard. “Your turn to stay still.”
He glowered at her but gripped the headboard railing as directed. She slid down slowly trailing the shirt and fingertips down his chest until she was sitting back against his knees. “Where to begin?”
“You’re enjoying this too much.” His voice was hoarse and deep, showing her how she had affected him.
She laughed, a low throaty sound that thrilled her. Finally, she sounded like a sex siren. The power was intoxicating, having a virile, sexy man in her thrall. “I haven’t even begun to enjoy this yet. Hang on, Friar. It’s going to be a long night.” She quickly unbuttoned the rest of her blouse and tossed it out of the way, revealing a white lace bra. “Now you.”
She ran her hands from the waistband of the jeans up his shirt, then she started unbuttoning, caressing each bit of skin and pressing hot kisses to every exposed piece of flesh as she uncovered it, adding the occasional swirl of tongue to taste the hint of man beneath. She brushed the fabric to the side, stroking his nipples as she did so. He jumped. She lifted her hands immediately and cocked her head. He shuddered but settled.
“Very good,” she purred. “You deserve a reward.” She leaned forward and sucked hard on his nipple, then nipped and licked it. Jason’s back bowed and he thrashed his head, but his hands never left the headboard. “For all your little games, Jason, I think you like someone else in control.”
Drugged with power, she kept him pinned, and lashed his nipple again, alternating nips with soothing lashes. Her limbs were heavy and her core throbbed with arousal at every groan he made. She clenched her legs, rubbing against his thigh, moaning at the spike of electricity.
Without opening his eyes, and through gritted teeth, he growled, “Get on with it or I’ll show you control.”
She laughed then resumed tonguing and licking his taut nipple, alternating licks and little nips back and forth. With every touch he trembled beneath her but valiantly tried to remain still. His skin burned, fire melting beneath her fingers as she trailed them down his six-pack stomach to the waistband of his jeans.
His legs fell back on the bed and she slid down, her legs trapping his in place, her lips trailing the same path her fingers had just taken. Her fingers trembled and she fumbled with the button of his jeans, brushing his cock ever so slightly, making him jump and growl at every swipe. Finally, she undid the button and fly and tugged the jeans over his slim hips, freeing his hard length. She slipped off the bed to move the jeans out of the way, and paused to admire the long lean legs shaped by years of baseball and fitness routines. She soaked in the sight of him, wondering how the hell she had gotten so lucky to snag him in her bed.
He groaned and glared at her.
“You have something to say?”
“Condoms. Drawer. Now.” He growled, words bitten out from clenched jaws.
She opened the bedside table drawer and pulled out a full box of condoms, and noted the plastic still surrounding the package. She glanced over at him, forced to reconsider her initial thoughts that he had expected sex. “I guess you were telling the truth, that you haven’t had any company here.”
“I haven’t been here much.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered to the old Jason Friar.” Could it be? Was he turning over a new leaf? What did it mean for them?
“Do you believe everything you hear?”
She glanced at his hard length surging up toward his abdomen. “Now that you mention it…” She ripped the plastic and tossed it on the floor. She grabbed a foil packet and placed it on the table. “Not yet. I have more playing to do.”
He groaned and closed his eyes while throwing his head against the pillow. Smothering a grin, Stacia climbed back on the bed, trapping his legs between hers. She trailed her fingers up his erection, then wrapped them around his length. She hadn’t had much opportunity to play in bed, and explore Jason as she would like. His erection was silky and smooth, the plum shaped head dark and pulsing. With her thumb, she swirled the drop of pre-cum around the tip. Her sex clenched, begging to be filled but she resisted. Just one taste. One lick. Licking her lips, she bent down for a taste and lashed the tip with her tongue, the salty taste a surprise to her. He jerked beneath her, and burrowed his hands into her hair to hold her in place. The scent of musk and Jason surrounded her and she took him fully in her mouth, as deep as she could and swirled her tongue around as she went up his shaft. He shouted and his hips bucked, almost dislodging her. She gripped his thighs and sucked him deep and moved slowly up and down, her tongue trailing up the underside, tickling a spot t
hat made him jump. Withdrawing almost completely out, she nibbled and licked the head like an ice cream cone.
Every time he jumped, or moved or groaned, she felt a throb deep between her legs, her panties soaked through. A sense of power and excitement coursed through her, thrilled at her ability to excite this man so fully, to provoke him to wordless arousal. She bore down on his leg to relieve the ache, rubbing her sex against his knee, trying to hit the sweet spot. He obliged by lifting his limb slightly, pushing hers apart even more. She moaned, needing to be filled but not wanting to end her exploration. She slipped her fingers into her panties to relieve the ache, but then his hands were there and the lingerie gave way with a rip.
“You’re hell on panties, you know?”
“I’ll buy you more.” He shifted positions so fast and sheathed himself in the condom before she could react.
She yelped at the sudden change in position, disappointment at the end to her play. “I never said you could move.”
His hand tunneled into her slick folds, his fingers spearing her pussy, spreading the wetness up to her clit. He rubbed circles around the small button and she writhed under him, words and thoughts forgotten in the moment. Moments later, his fingers were replaced by his hard shaft. He surged inside in one smooth motion. She let out a low scream as she was filled completely, her back bowing. Relief was short-lived and he began to move slowly at first, then faster, his body covering hers, hips pistoning, long and hard, then shallow and quick. She wrapped her legs around his hips, heels digging into his buttocks, and she pulled him closer, the orgasm teased out of reach. He slid one hand between them and pinched her clit. She came in a long scream, her back arching, almost throwing him.
He grabbed her waist and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He guided her hips on him and she caught his rhythm, moving up and down, while he lunged up for her. His thumbs trailed between them, where his cock entered her, tracing the connection, then up through her labia to her clit, tweaking it quickly then moving away. The sensation was almost too much to take and she jerked, feeling on the edge of ecstasy, channel clenching around him every time he moved.