Protecting His Assets

by Cari Quinn

  “You should hear yours.” Waggling his eyebrows, he stretched his leg over the side of the mattress, ostensibly to kick his cell under the bed. Where it continued to ring ominously while Summer laughed and he ranged his long, sexy body over hers. “Now where were we? Oh yes, my attributes. You didn’t mention my remarkable penis.”

  “It goes without saying.”

  “It does. And it’s about to go right now.”

  As he slid inside her, she gazed up into his eyes. There, she saw everything she’d ever needed. “Now my dream’s really come true.”

  Epilogue

  Summer bounced on her seat and tried to tamp down on her excitement as she finished lining her eyes. Charcoal streaks wouldn’t improve her look. Now if she could only keep still.

  She’d come full circle back to The Platinum Club. The place that had started it all.

  On stage, her band tuned up. Hers. She had an actual band. A small one, granted, but still hers. Sunny Z and the Renegades—they’d come with their own name and she hadn’t had the heart to suggest they change it—had been on their coffeehouse and pub tour for nearly six months now. They weren’t exactly household names yet, but they were on their way.

  She’d gotten to see so much of the east coast and Frank had mentioned her branching out to the Midwest before they’d gotten some record company interest. The next thing she knew she had a brand new manager to go with her booking agent and she’d begun talks to make an EP of four or five songs.

  Including her wildly popular cover of “I Love Rock and Roll”.

  She set down her eyeliner and smiled at her reflection. She’d piled her dark hair on top of her head and it fountained down around her subtly pink cheeks and not subtly red lips. Gray and smoky purple shadowed her eyelids, a nice contrast to her apple green, shockingly short dress. It would be super easy to move around in on stage, which helped make up for the thigh high boots she still had to slip on. She wiggled her bare toes and relished her last few moments of freedom from leather purgatory. Ah well, at least they’d look hot.

  Speaking of hot, her temperature vaulted about ten degrees as the door creaked open. A familiar blond head poked inside. “You decent?”

  “And if I’m not?”

  Chase strode inside and shut the door. “Then I’m a happy man.” He grinned and slapped a butterscotch candy—his usual pre-show offering—on the dressing table, making her grin in return before he picked her right up from her seat. “Happier,” he amended, pressing his mouth to hers. No hesitation.

  He didn’t hesitate about anything anymore. Not about the rehabilitation he’d needed after his surgery, not about making a real go of his bodyguard business, and definitely not about them. It hadn’t been easy figuring out a new relationship in the midst of her tour and Chase’s frequent return trips to New York for his rehab sessions, but they’d managed. They’d come so far in such a short amount of time that Cass had started clucking about wedding plans. They weren’t quite ready for that, but the possibilities were endless.

  He’d come through surgery like a pro and his rehabilitation continued to progress right on schedule. He’d been talking to the Daggers manager again, and she hoped he might find his way back on a roster next year. If he wanted to. Even with all his forward momentum, he talked more about Deuces Wild than he did baseball.

  While he’d been on tour with her, Jax had handled the business. They had a couple of clients now, enough that they’d added a third member to the team, someone Chase only called Vance. Next week Jax and Vance were coming to the dinner Cass had planned to welcome her and Chase home.

  For a little while at least, until they figured out where the road would take them next. They were a team now.

  “Wherever you went just now, I want to come,” Chase murmured against her mouth, bringing her out of her reverie.

  “You always want to come.”

  “Mmm-hmm. No arguments there. You looking so damn fine doesn’t help on that score, by the way.” He grinned and grabbed the very same chair he’d propped under the doorknob the first time they’d had sex there. Also the only time, though judging from the heated gleam in his eyes, he was looking to change that.

  “I only have a few minutes,” she warned as he flipped the lock and pushed the chair into position under the knob.

  “Good thing I’ve never needed much time to warm up.” He seized her around the waist and lifted her on the dressing table, making her frown.

  As well as he’d been doing rehab-wise, she didn’t want him to have a setback by throwing her around as if she weighed nothing. His effortless strength turned her on like crazy and she loved how he made her feel so tiny—though she definitely wasn’t—but his health came first.

  Luckily his current preoccupation with the cleavage revealed by her low-cut dress prevented him from noticing her worry. He ran his nose over her collarbone, eliciting a shiver. “You still wearing my panties?”

  That particular phrasing made her giggle. “Find out and see.”

  Rather than obliging her, he rubbed his thumb over the waistband through her dress. She’d probably do better panty line-wise to go without underwear, but she couldn’t go that far. That wasn’t her. She could handle the sexy makeup and the skimpy outfits and the flirtation with her fans. But she wouldn’t turn into someone she wasn’t for any price. She didn’t need acceptance that much anymore.

  She’d begun to find her own self-acceptance deep inside herself. And she had Chase to back her up, always.

  He tweaked her nipple between two fingers and earned her breathless moan. “Since I seem to be having trouble holding your attention tonight, I think we’ll have to try out that brand spanking new couch in the corner.”

  “Loveseat,” she corrected automatically, smiling at his narrow-eyed look. “Sorry, I’m too excited. Pre-show jitters.” She reached for his belt and kissed his sulky mouth. “Settle me down, Dixon. Tame your woman.”

  His derisive snort made her laugh again. But she fell silent as he took over for her with his belt, jeans and boxers. Watching him disrobe always turned her crank. The instant he’d freed himself, he wrapped her fingers around his thick, hard length and led her into a quick rhythm. Then he fisted his other hand in her hair and dragged her mouth to his, showing her without words that maybe she’d underestimated his ability to do as she’d asked.

  He understood what she needed. Each time. Every time.

  Leaving her to work his cock without his assistance, he flipped up her skirt and delved between her thighs. The soaked blue cotton between her legs made his eyes fire. That or the punishing grip she had on his erection. She understood what he needed too.

  “You want me inside you?” He yanked off her panties, the ones that claimed her ass as his. That morning, right after she’d put them on, he’d run his tongue over those panties, tracing his name on her cheeks. Slipping that wicked tongue between them after he’d peeled the cotton away.

  “You know it.” Already shivering, she rubbed her cheek against the slight stubble on his jaw, craving the brand of his flesh on hers even though others would see her reddened skin. She wanted his smell and textures all over her when she walked on stage. “Take me hard.” Her gaze flickered to his and lingered. The pulse of heat between them snapped like a tangible thing. “Own me.”

  Moving forward, he wedged his hips between her legs. She shut her eyes and gripped the edge of the table, waiting for him to plunge. To forge that undeniable link between them.

  Instead he lifted her knees, spreading her wide open and bathing her in the warm stream of his breath. The first wet swipe over her quivering center had her lurching forward to bury her fingers in his long, silky hair even as disappointment and concern crashed through her like a tidal wave.

  He sucked on her clit and used his thumb to circle her entrance, darting in and out until her rampant arousal audibly slickened each entry. Those wet sounds made her writhe almost as much as the pressure of his lips and tongue. They also embarrassed her, becaus
e how could she be so close to orgasm when he might be in pain? If he’d had a tough day at rehab he would often bend to her and satisfy her that way, so that she couldn’t tell if he merely wanted to go down on her or if he hurt. She hated even mentioning what she suspected he still saw as a vulnerability. He wasn’t weak—

  “Chase.” She gasped at the surge of his thumb. Even that part of him felt bigger than average. Telling him she was going to come seemed like overkill. He could hear, smell and see the evidence with every frantic buck of her hips. Her orgasm shimmered so close she could practically French kiss it. “God, Chase.”

  Consumed, lost, she almost didn’t realize he’d lifted her again. Her eyes flew open right before he hauled her toward his shoulder—his shoulder?—but even the visual didn’t help her process what he’d done. He’d dragged her up and somehow flipped her over until she hung upside down.

  Upside fucking down.

  “Chase,” she screeched without tempering her voice. She wouldn’t care about the humiliation of being caught if he cracked her skull open.

  He resumed his task between her thighs. Noisily.

  Her accompanying head rush and the extreme gravity pull didn’t stop her from trying to work her way down his body to the safety of the floor. Preferably minus certain brain damage. He only clamped his massive hands around her hips and held her still. “I’ve got you. Stop.” His tongue added the exclamation point to his declaration with a flutter and curve that made her cry out.

  She’d been so close before that she couldn’t stop the influx of pleasure that rolled through her system. Heat suffused her and magnified the rush of blood to her head until she knew she twitched like an electrical shock victim. Too much. Too freaking much. She kept coming with every press of his tongue, every rumble he made against her drenched flesh. And there were a lot of those.

  Somehow she had a wild dog between her legs and he didn’t even care about his bone.

  “Down, baby.” He released her carefully and she slid down the long length of his body to slump on the floor. It didn’t hurt. Did numerous climaxes kill the pain reflex? Maybe she’d cracked her skull open after all and this was heaven.

  Chuckling, he scooped her up and carried her somewhere else. She didn’t know where. Someday she’d open her eyes again to check. In the meantime, she’d just splay over his lap and rest while he nudged her wide open with his massive cock.

  One flex and he’d buried himself deep. That woke her out of her stupor. She braced her hands on his shoulders and cocked open an eye, matching his grin. “There you are.” His breathless voice jumped with each plunge and retreat. “Okay?”

  She didn’t speak. What was she supposed to say? While standing, he’d turned her upside down to give her oral sex. Amazing oral sex. Who had that kind of strength? Especially someone who’d recently had serious elbow surgery—

  She squealed and jumped so hard that she dislodged him from her body. He let out an aggravated groan. “I thought I’d settled you enough,” he muttered. “Damn show nerves.”

  “Your elbow. Oh my God.” She grabbed his left arm and caressed the joint in question, running her fingers over the scar while her gaze searched his. “I thought you must be in pain since you didn’t, you know, steal for home right away.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Steal? By now I have a damn bronzed key to this sweet pussy of yours, baby.” He rubbed his palm over her mound and she bit her lip to keep from moaning. “You’re the one who thinks I only eat you when my elbow’s acting up. Shows what you know. I’d happily eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” He gave her a smug smile. “Now I can.”

  Her core clenched from the promise inherent in his eyes. In his voice. Focus. “You had an appointment with Dr. Jensen today. How did it go?”

  Chase glanced down between them at his neglected cock. That it bobbed against his six-pack—somehow she’d even missed when he’d removed his shirt—and glistened with her juice didn’t help with her powers of concentration. “Umm, I’m busy right now. Can we chat later?”

  “No. What did the doctor say?”

  Chase’s easy smile answered her question. “I’m good. If everything keeps going this way, I’ll be cleared to return to ball ahead of schedule.” He rotated his elbow and demonstrated his full range of motion. “I’m also cleared to flip my tiny, hot as hell girlfriend upside down and make her scream if I want to.” He rubbed his thumb over her mouth. “I love hearing you scream my name.”

  She couldn’t stop her mile-wide grin. “Are you serious?”

  “About hearing you scream? Absolutely.”

  “Chase Matthew Dixon.”

  “Ooh, the full name.” He laid a hand over his heart. “Deadly.”

  “So you’re going back to ball?”

  Shifting, he hissed out a breath at the drag of her flesh over his balls. “My dick is not going to forgive me for this conversation, you know.”

  “I’ll send him flowers.” She pushed at his shoulder. “Tell me.”

  “No.” He met her gaze head-on. “I’m not. It’s not my dream anymore. I lived that one already. I have a new one now.”

  Her heart turned over in her chest and she couldn’t stop her shaky exhale. “Which is?”

  He cupped her cheek. “Don’t you know?” When she didn’t respond, he murmured, “It’s you. Being with you, making sure you’re safe, watching you soar. And, you know, keeping those clowns that I work with in line at the agency.” He shrugged. “They need me.”

  “Yes. They do.” So do I. But she didn’t say that part. She just nodded and tried to tamp down on her enthusiasm. As much as she’d worried what would happen when he went back to baseball, she’d been prepared to support him no matter what, as he’d done for her. Now he’d be by her side all the way. If this was real. “Are you sure? I’d be okay with Jax or Vance if you—”

  “You trying to get rid of me?”

  The ridiculousness of the question made her frown. “No. Of course not. I need to make sure you’re doing this for the right reasons.”

  “Which are? Cock’s still not happy, by the way.” He nudged her belly with his displeased appendage. “It may need a big kiss.”

  She ignored his affection-seeking penis. At the moment she had bigger fish to fry. Okay, not bigger. More pressing. “Don’t walk away for me. I’ll be here. Whatever happens, I’ll be with you even if we’re apart. There are months you’re not playing and I have time off and—”

  “You’d never ask me to walk away and that’s part of why I can. You love me with or without baseball.” He averted his gaze. Almost as quickly he returned it to her. “To you, I’m more than that. And you know what? I am to me now too. I’m always going to be a recovering alcoholic, but I am recovering. I go to meetings. I’m figuring out how to run a business that has nothing to do with the game. Hell, Jax even signed me up for some frigging martial arts classes after the tour. We’re doing good work and we’ll do better.”

  “Yes, you are. Very good. And Jax seems to be enjoying himself. He’s a natural at the whole security thing. Even Cass said she thought so and she won’t compliment Jax about anything.” Summer pursed her lips. “You think there’s something there? With Jax and Cass? Every time I see them they act more uncomfortable around each other.”

  “I’m uncomfortable right now. Hello?” When she only giggled, he drew her closer and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I wasn’t finished.”

  “Sorry. Go ahead.”

  “I have you. I don’t need anything else. In fact, I’d dare say I’ve hit the lotto on all fronts. So don’t ask me if I’m sure. I’m so sure I didn’t even have to think twice when my manager called. I told him I wasn’t interested any longer.” He grinned. “That felt fucking awesome.”

  Since that was the most he’d said since—well, ever, she swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

  “Besides, I’m in love with an almost-famous singer. I’m content to be her boy toy.” With a smile, he b
ucked his pelvis in obvious insistence. “Now that that’s out of the way…”

  “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, throwing her arms around him and rocking up and down until he groaned. “I love you so much.”

  “Summer, baby. Duly noted and appreciated, but for God’s sake, please.”

  She laughed and eased back. Only one more question loomed in her mind. “You did not ask your doctor if you could give me oral upside down.” When he only arched a brow, she added, “Did you?”

  He flipped her onto her back on the loveseat and parted her slick thighs. Maybe his doctor hadn’t given his approval, but her body sure had. He flashed her that utterly wicked bad boy grin she adored most. “What do you think?”

  “I think I won’t ever question if you decide to go down on me that way again. Or is that going up?” He tickled her side and she twisted away, laughing. “Now about that whole ‘owning me’ thing…”

  “On it.” He thrust deep and caught her moan with his mouth. Instead of immediately launching into a brutal pace, he swiveled his hips and sent her a lazy smile. “But this is just an appetizer before your show. Afterward, I’m going to spend my night loving you nice and slow.”

  “As long as I’m not late for church tomorrow,” she gasped with the last bit of sanity she had left.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He nuzzled her collarbone, tilting his head to show her he’d caught her gold cross necklace between his sinful lips. “Especially since I intend to give you plenty to confess.”

  About the Author

  USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously. Cari loves hearing from readers. Please visit her at www.cariquinn.com and sign up for her brand new newsletter!