Hail Mary (The Mavericks Series)

by Julianna Marley

  Good enough for him. Although, he didn’t know how he was going to get out of this fashion circus so quickly. Myles had him on lockdown making him do the whole song and dance to support Charlotte. And he wanted to. She was super talented and tonight seemed to be a hit and he was happy for her. For them. But he couldn’t wander around all night watching Whitney walk around half-dressed with Kendrick’s name on her.

  Christ. Why does it matter?

  Downing his second whiskey, he placed it on the glossy, black bar. It didn’t matter. She was just a girl; although nothing about Whitney screamed girl. She was a woman. One whom had absolutely no idea what she was doing to him just by sitting behind a table talking to guests.

  “2482,” Shay muttered, peeling his eyes off Whitney. ”That’s the security code. Garage is open.”

  Myles’s heavy hand smacked him on the back, grinning like a damn fool. “Let’s go, Nova. I have some people I want to introduce you to.”

  Yeah, he definitely didn’t have a shot in hell of getting out of here anytime soon. Agreeing, he exchanged a look with Liam, a sly smile crossing the man’s face.

  Nearly two hours later Shay shook hands with Ross before saying goodbye to Jax and Liv as the valet rolled around with his car. Slipping the guy a twenty, he slid inside the Mercedes, the car he reserved for going out on the town and for dates. The one he had taken Whitney to the hospital in. She had avoided him like he was an infectious disease all evening running around taking care of the party and the guests. He couldn’t blame her though. Checking his phone, he opened a text message from Walsh saying that they were inside his house and already in the pool. Clicking on a message from Cian underneath, he pushed the play button watching a video of Nicky going for a ball and catching it against his chest, both arms perfectly placed like he had taught him. And the end zone dance of him sweeping the ground before dusting off his shoulder, yeah, he had taught him that one too. Laughing, he shook his head. That kid was awesome and he texted his brother back that he wanted more videos of this action. Rolling down the narrow road, he eased out onto the street, light rain tapping the windshield. He missed his family already. Before he left he had insisted on flying back for his pop’s back surgery, but even that felt too long. He had an intense line up starting this weekend and thankfully the Mavericks were home for this week’s game, but after that they had to immediately jump into strategies for Atlanta. Their rivals.

  Easing onto the expressway, he fidgeted tightening his grip on the wheel. He was restless and he felt like an asshole. It wasn’t fair what he had done to Whitney. Taking his frustration out on her like that. Pushing down on the gas pedal he couldn’t get that doe-eyed look on her face out of his head as the streetlights slashed into the car, the rain picking up. She had been through enough and she hadn’t deserved that. Changing lanes he eased off the ramp, the one that was two exits before the one he needed to get home, the wipers wiping back and forth furiously. But first, he owed her an apology. She was a friend, yes, maybe even more special to him than that, but for some reason, he didn’t want to live up to the image she had of him being a womanizer. Doing whatever he wanted with women. Things like pulling them behind a curtain before pushing them away just as quickly.

  Peeling off the ridiculous black stickers from underneath her eyes, Whitney smirked. Had she really just done that? Good Lord her mama would have been horrified. But for as embarrassed as she was, the permanent smile on Charlotte’s face and the glow she had worn all night long while talking to people about her designs had been totally worth it. She had taken so many orders for clothing pieces that she feared she wouldn’t see her cousin until springtime.

  And Shay.

  That kiss still had her hands shaking as she threw the strips in the trashcan, running the washcloth under the warm water. She could still taste him on her mouth and she licked her lips again. Removing some makeup from her cheek, her chest grew heavy. It had been a long time since she had kissed a man. A real man. One who kissed with strength and purpose. Nothing like the mandatory quick pecks she had received from Adam over the course of their relationship. But nobody had ever felt like Shay had. She almost married a man whose kisses didn’t pack a punch with them the way Shay’s had, her stomach twisting at the thought. Dabbing off the heavy eyeliner she cleared her throat. The look on his face when he realized what they were doing could only be described as painful. As if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life. Men like Shay Cunningham didn’t come after women like her. It was just a fact. Which was fine, more than fine, actually, as it was better this way. She didn’t know the first thing about a professional athlete’s life and she should have stopped him the moment he grabbed her, but he had taken her by surprise. And he felt good. So good. Scrubbing the bright red lipstick from her mouth, shimmer smearing across her face, she heard loud pounding at the door. Dropping the washcloth into the sink she darted towards the front door. Magda had mentioned that Quinn had finally fallen asleep just a little before she arrived home. Swinging the door open quickly to end the banging, she saw Shay on her doormat, his hair damp looking like he just stepped out of an editorial magazine. Swiping his hand across his mouth slowly, she knew he was anxious. And Shay being anxious made her nervous. He was the most assertive, self-assured man she had ever met and he just stood there watching her, forcing the air to turn thick.

  “Hi,” she breathed.

  “Hi.”

  “Are you alright?” she asked swallowing against her dry throat.

  Nodding, he moved through the door slowly, stopping as his forehead met hers. Closing her eyes, her heart rammed against her chest so hard she was almost afraid that he could hear it. “Is Quinn awake?”

  “No,” she whispered, shaking her head as he walked her backwards, feeling his hands finding their way to her hips.

  “Is Charlotte home?”

  “No.” She closed her eyes again and he continued pushing her further inside the house. Curling her lips under, she peeked up at him. His face unmoving, his eyes searched hers and it felt like he was fighting a war. One that his life depended upon. “Why are you here, Shay?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Feeling his hands move to her bottom, he picked her up effortlessly in one movement and she wrapped her arms around his rough neck and her legs around his waist. Their noses touching, he walked them slowly through the apartment, his eyes never leaving hers. He wasn’t saying a word, neither was she, but it felt like every word she had ever spoken was running between them. Entering her bedroom, he eased her down on her bed and she watched him slowly remove his suit jacket. It felt as if his blue eyes were tearing right through her as they ran across her entire body. Suddenly she felt more self-conscious than she had even up on stage. Taking a shaky hand she covered her belly, still feeling exposed in the ridiculous outfit she had been forced to wear all evening. Leaning over her, the bed dipped as he rubbed his thumb across her lip. His hands were trembling a bit, something she had never seen from him before.

  “Shay, I don’t know if this is a good idea,” she whispered looking away, the feel of his fingers still burning her lip. Gosh, she wanted it to be different. But her life was a mess. She was a mess. Getting involved with another man was the last thing she needed and her resolution to break her impulsive behavior needed to jump in.

  Now.

  Feeling his eyes burn through her, she peeked up at him again, the intensity on his face surprising her. “I want you,” he said barely moving his mouth. “And you want me.”

  Looking away again, she swallowed hard. He was right. She did. So gosh darn bad. She had seen another side of Shay while going home with him. A complex side. A man she enjoyed. A man she admired. And one she couldn’t shake.

  “Look at me right now and tell me that you don’t feel it,” he ordered balling up the sheets on either side of her head. “Tell me you can kick this thing between us and I’ll leave right now.”

  “No!” she protested, a small smirk pulling at the corners of h
is mouth. “Shay,” she sighed. “I’m a new mom with a crazy, time consuming career whose fiancé just left her.” The reality of the words setting in, she wasn’t in any condition to get involved with anyone, let alone someone as intricate as Shay. Someone so perfectly imperfect. “My life is a mess right now,” she searched his face, waiting for him to retract, but he wasn’t. “I’m a mess right now.”

  Lazily running his thumb over her lips again, he studied her. “I love that you’re a mom. It may be the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.” Moving his palm across her cheek, he gripped the side of her face, running his strong fingers through the tips of her hair. “You’re amazing at what you do, and it really turns me the fuck on.”

  “Language.”

  His mouth curving, he touched her forehead with his and she closed her eyes. His breath was warm as he whispered inches above her lips. “And I’m glad that bastard left so that I can do what I’m about to do.”

  Covering his lips over Whitney’s, Shay could feel her heart slamming against her chest. Slipping her arms around his neck, he felt her relax against the blankets, welcoming his weight and he squeezed his hand over the glorious curve of her hips. Moving his mouth furiously, she cupped his face, slowing him down, reminding him just how gentle and delicate she was. Sliding his palm up the small shorts that had him groaning all night long, he tugged at the tight shorts. Sweet God almighty why had he waited so damn long to touch her. To feel her. Soft, beveled curves that had him gripping her now. Biting her lip, he skimmed down her neck resting against its sweetness.

  Fuck.

  A man could get lost in here. So warm and intoxicating like the woman herself. Gliding his tongue against the smoothness he couldn’t control his hands from resting on her chest, a small whimper escaping her lips and he smiled against her neck. She was right. This probably wasn’t the best idea, but going home without seeing her again, hadn’t been an option. Although his options where she was concerned had seemed to be dwindling lately. He was taking this to a new level for both of them. A level he wasn’t completely sure of. Forcing the incredibly tight shirt off of her with that asshole Kendrick’s name on it, the most natural, beautiful breasts he had ever seen, and he had seen a lot, released as if they had been held captive all night. Stopping her arms before she covered herself again, he pinned her small wrists on either side of her face, giving himself permission to her bare body. Kissing down her chest, he felt her squirm beneath him. Taking one heavy breast in his hand, he traced the smallest, most dainty nipple he had ever felt with his tongue, her small sighs only encouraging him. Sitting back, he trailed his finger down her stomach watching her eyes flutter open hitting him in the gut and the groin simultaneously. Her mouth swollen, larger than usual she looked like every man’s dream. Hooking a finger inside the damn shorts, he kept his eyes focused on her. She looked shocked, but ready. “When was the last time you came, Sunshine?”

  “I,” she breathed quietly, licking her lips, “I can’t remember.”

  How had this woman gone so long without a man banging down her door to experience this? To experience her? “Well, that’s a problem.”

  Curling his fingers into the waistband of the shorts, he slid them slowly over her hips and carefully down her smooth legs before tossing them across the room. Placing his hands beneath her kneecaps, he pulled her down to the foot of the bed towards him, before swinging her small legs over his shoulders, resting between them. He shouldn’t have been surprised that she was warm and sweet as she arched back allowing him to take what he wanted. And in this moment, all he wanted, was her. Wanted her to trust him and to lose herself. He was good like that. He had a gift. One he had shared with many women, but as she moaned resting her small hand on his head, threading his hair, he knew they had only been practice. Whitney felt unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Using his professionally trained self-control as her heels dug into his back, her shocked gasps filled the room. Giving her a moment to catch her breath, he watched her body tremble. Taking her hand, he pulled her to a seated position claiming her mouth again. Gripping the sides of his face, she danced with his intensity. Small cries escaping her throat nearly sending him over the edge, visions of the same sinful mouth he was enjoying on him had him groaning. Undoing his belt, her hands pulled at the leather before unbuttoning his pants. Pulling her lips from his, she placed small kisses on his stomach and he could barely stand it. She was both feminine and carnal. Gentle and intoxicating. Reaching at the edge of his underwear her small fingers curled as his head fell back.

  Yes.

  He could feel her hands shaking and he looked down lifting her chin. He didn’t want her to be nervous. Even though he was in way over his head here, he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. He wanted the opposite. He wanted to give her absolute pleasure. The kind she deserved. But maybe a little bit more than that, he just wanted to be close to her. To feel her. “If you’re not comfortab-”

  “-I am,” she interjected, searching his eyes and he had a sudden sense of protection over this woman. She was ripping him apart from the inside out and had been doing so for a real long time now. And yet, he knew that she had no idea. “It’s just been awhile.”

  His pants dropping to the floor, he didn’t have a chance to take another breath before her mouth covered him. Both soft and full and better than he had imagined. He knew the moment he had seen her that this mouth would be lethal. And it was. Oh, how it was. Taking her time, he tangled his hands inside her hair and just like everything else on her it was delicate and felt like home. She put care and thought into everything she did and her mouth was no exception. His blood pumping faster through his veins, she ran her fingers up the back of his legs and he was done. Leaning back, he released it all and she took him like a champ.

  Where had this woman been his whole life?

  Fighting for her own breath she looked up at him and his heart shot up into his throat. Taking her face inside his hands, he smiled before he dipped inside her neck running lazy kisses against her hot skin. She seemed to like that a lot. Easing her onto her back he ran his mouth down her breasts loving the way she squirmed beneath him. And he wasn’t so sure that anything would ever bring him more joy again than knowing that he was getting to her the way she had been getting to him all night. All month. Grabbing his pants, he took out a foil, ripping it with his teeth before sliding it on himself. Looking vulnerable as ever, he kissed her lips before running his mouth against her ear, promising to take care of her. Easing inside of her, she hissed against him and he moved slowly until her body finally relaxed. Thrusting as the weight of them became rhythmic against the bed, her moans grew passing through her lips as he picked up his pace, thoroughly enjoying the look of radiant ecstasy spreading across her face. Plunging faster, he wrapped his arm around her waist controlling the speed. High-pitched moans shot through the room competing against the small fan blowing on them. Her fingers digging into his arms, he cursed out again as Whitney screamed. “Shay!”

  Giving her the last of him, he collapsed on top of her finding solace inside her neck once again as her arm collapsed across his back. Wild, shiny hair surrounding his face, he took another minute, enjoying her smooth fingertips running against his skin. The room was quiet and he felt her swallow hard. Grinning, he lifted his head, falling into those caramel eyes, now drowsy. Resting his forehead against hers, he was thoroughly pleased. Who would of thought that little Miss Fancy Pants was such a screamer.

  Sliding her leg gently in-between Shay’s, Whitney laid quietly into his side, feeling his breath finally settle. He was strong and comfortable and the feel of his arms around her felt nice. Better than nice actually, they felt incredible. Chewing on the inside of her lip she wasn’t sure what to do next. Too shy to look up at him, she stayed painfully still. What he had done and how he had felt was something she had never expected. It had been so long since she felt that good, but if she were being honest, she had never experienced anything like that before. Feeling his long
fingers run lazy circles around her shoulder, she couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed. She didn’t have casual sex. She knew it worked for most people and she never judged anyone for that, but it wasn’t her. Shay showing up and the look of determination and maybe a bit of desperation on his face, she had wanted nothing more than to give him what he wanted. And for him to give her what she wanted too. Gosh, she never did this before. This awkward after sex conversation and the nerves settled inside her stomach.

  “I can actually feel you thinking,” Shay chuckled quietly, the solid muscles from his chest and the smoothness of his skin moving against her face.

  Working her lip harder, she closed her eyes. Yes, she didn’t know what people talked about after spontaneous sex, yet somehow what they had just done hadn’t felt an ounce of anything casual. “I’m not thinking about anything,” she lied, her accent spiking and she cringed.

  “Mmhmm.”

  Opening her eyes, she admired the green and black script marked over the muscles on his chest. Studying the four leaf design, it looked as if it was two dimensional and she couldn’t decipher the words, but it was magnificent. Running her fingers across the imbedded ink over his fair skin she looked up at him, his blue eyes easy. “What does this say?” she asked, looking back down at the writing inside the clover.

  “It’s an Irish proverb,” he said roughly, pushing a piece of hair out of her face, before lightly pinching her cheek. So delicate and soft in comparison to the man himself. “It says, your feet will bring you where your heart is.”

  Smiling softly, she rested the side of her mouth against his skin.

  She loved that.

  “And what about the one on your back?” she asked. “That’s the trinity sign, right?”

  “It is,” he grinned. “It reads nothing without effort.”

  “And what about this one?” she asked tracing her index finger against the script, Veni, Vidi, Vici running up the inside of his large forearm from wrist to elbow, ignoring how tough and resilient it felt beneath her fingers.