Between Hearts: A Romance Anthology

by Alexander, Erica

  Either way, I ended up in his bed that night. And many others. Somehow, the guy who didn’t return my phone calls half the time when we worked together had no issue calling and texting me whenever he wanted to Netflix and chill.

  The season ended and Gavin went home, and there went my source of breathtaking orgasms. Now I have to binge watch all my shows alone. He tried to get in touch when he came back to town for training camp at the end of July, but I blew him off. I didn’t like how he ignored me all off-season, so I wasn’t ready to sleep with him just because he decided our relationship was convenient for him again.

  We ran into each other at a club a month ago in September. I was foolish enough to let him go down on me in the backseat of his car, but I sure as hell didn’t reciprocate before I got out of there. He flirted with me and aroused me and got me off that night, but he didn’t offer one word of apology or explanation or even understand why I was upset. He hasn’t contacted me since.

  I debate calling Gavin as I step out of the elevator. He lives in an upscale downtown high-rise condo not far from here. I’ve made that walk to his place several times from work, although not since last season.

  I could use a distraction. Hot, angry, impersonal sex could work for me tonight—possibly even better than drinking. I won’t be hungover tomorrow after a night spent in his bed. Also, there’s no ignoring how good a Gavin-induced orgasm makes me feel. Restarting our sexual relationship on my terms could work. I’ve had some time to cool off since I last saw him.

  Stopping in the lobby, I commit myself by pushing the button to call him. I shift my weight from one heel to the other as I wait for him to pick up.

  After what feels like an eternity, Gavin answers. “I’m not taking my clothes off for you again. Not if you’re paying. I don’t care how desperate you are.”

  At first, I think he’s turning me down before I even get the chance to ask, but then I process the “not if you’re paying” part. My shoulders lower as I relax and stop fidgeting. He isn’t rejecting me. “Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Hell yes, it was. Every week this season, those damn ads are taped all over my locker.”

  “I thought you looked good.” I managed to sweet talk him into doing an underwear ad at the end of last season. The popular men’s clothing company, Kevin Jack, wanted a younger athlete in their underwear ads to replace an older athlete who retired. A blowjob might have had something to do with Gavin agreeing to do it.

  “Do you know how many creepy stalkers I gained over the summer? It’s fucking scary,” Gavin grumbles. “My agent has to burn half the fan mail he gets for me. The team even had to hire another admin to process the mail. Did you know all threats have to go to the team’s security director? I have to meet with him once a month and hear a tally of how many rape threats I get.”

  “Sorry.”

  “So whatever your boss wants, tell him no. I’m done doing ads, unless I’m fully clothed and it’s something classy, like watches or sports cars.”

  “I’m not calling for my boss.”

  “Oh, I figured you’re still at work, and you haven’t called me in months, so—”

  “No, I just left work.”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you home this weekend?” I should have checked the team’s schedule before I called.

  “We have a bye week, but I stayed in town. I’m at home now.”

  I work up my courage to hit on him. Last season, this wouldn’t be awkward, but things are different now. “So how about taking your clothes off for me if I’m not paying?”

  Gripping the phone tight, I wait for him to respond. He might not want to see me after the way I rejected him the last time we saw each other, but I miss him and how we were together.

  When Gavin speaks, his voice is all hot, smooth sex. “Well, that’s different. We could probably work something out.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  “How about I come over right now?”

  “Sure. But you know you owe me.”

  “I know.”

  “You’d better be ready to pay up on your knees the minute you walk in the door, or I’m sending you home. Unsatisfied.”

  His proposition for me to give him head on command should piss me off, but it doesn’t. He’s right. I do owe him after what I did to him at the club. Smiling, I imagine his thick, erect cock. I haven’t seen it since January, and I really, really miss it. I’m on board with licking it hello and apologizing for leaving it wanting a month ago.

  I swallow so my voice isn’t so throaty with lust. “Okay.”

  “You’re still on the list, so you can just come on up.”

  “All right, I’ll be there in ten.”

  Chapter Two

  The concierge at the front desk buzzes me into Gavin’s building. For once, I’m not impressed by the lavish decorations of the lobby, because my mind is on a different kind of beauty waiting upstairs.

  “Welcome back, Miss Thomas,” the concierge says.

  He remembers me even though I haven’t been here in nine months, and he waves me toward the elevators. He doesn’t act surprised to see me, so Gavin might have called down to inform him of my visit. Or he’s used to an endless stream of women visiting the high-profile residents of the building—Gavin included.

  The elevator trip passes by in a flash. I don't have enough time to mentally prepare myself to see him again. Before I know it, I'm at Gavin's door and he's letting me in.

  He wears a t-shirt and sweats, and he looks good enough to jump. His light brown hair is shorter than it was the last time I saw him. The perfect amount of stubble covers his jaw. He’s as sexy as I remembered. Maybe even sexier.

  “Hi,” I mumble and step inside.

  I wanted him tonight and I agreed to go down on him, but now that I’m here, I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready to be with Gavin. He’s so confident and masculine and funny when he’s not being a shit, not to mention, he’s an incredible lover. He’s the total package, even if he has enough ego for three men. That’s why I’ve avoided him since he returned this season. He’s too easy to fall for, and he dented my heart when he left and never got in touch over the off-season.

  Gavin steps closer to take my jacket. His masculine heat and smell invade my senses as his body seems to take up all the available space in the entryway. I forgot just how big he is. At 6’2” and 205, he has nine inches and eighty pounds on me, and even in my three-inch heels, I feel small next to him.

  After hanging my jacket in the coat closet, he takes his time checking me out. His gaze travels down my body and back up to my face. “You look nice.” He nods at my sheath dress and heels.

  I’ve forgotten how I’m dressed. This morning, I’d been hopeful and excited when I picked this outfit. I wanted to wear one of my favorite dresses to look good if I were promoted. “Thanks.”

  “You want something to drink?” He turns to walk into the kitchen.

  So we’re still being civilized. “Sure,” I say as I follow him.

  When is he going to get naked and shove my head into his crotch? I guess he didn’t want it in the entryway. Will he want it in the kitchen? We’ve done it there before. In fact, we’ve had sex in every room in his condo. Nervous anticipation fills me as I wait for him to initiate my getting him off for the first time since January.

  “A beer okay? Or do you want some wine?” he asks.

  “Are you having water?”

  “Yes.”

  Gavin rarely drinks during the season, trying to avoid anything that would hurt his performance on the field. I wasn’t kidding about him being obsessed with football. I could never give up drinking for half a year, but his self-control is beyond anything I know.

  “I’ll have water, too.” Alcohol would loosen me up, but I need my wits more. Things aren’t going like I expected. He’s not mad at me, and he’s not trying for any sexual payback yet, despite his earlier words. What does he want from me?

  We take
our glasses of filtered water into the living room and sit on the couch. Gavin moves his arm to take a drink, and his sleeve shifts. My eyes widen. Is that a tattoo peeking out?

  “I thought you were anti-tattoo. Keeping the temple sacred and all?” I ask.

  Gavin smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement as I quote him. “Too much vodka and being away with the guys in Hawaii is a bad mix.”

  “You got that at the Pro Bowl?”

  “Yes.”

  I don’t say anything else, because at one time, I’d been foolish enough to hope he would invite me to the Pro Bowl. At this point, I should know better. Being with him means settling for sex and casual hangouts. At least I don’t have to also lower my expectations in bed with him. It’s only outside the bedroom that there’s a problem.

  I slide my hand under his shirt sleeve, pushing it up to reveal his entire tattoo. His skin is warm. The addictive electricity we’ve always had dances between us as I touch him.

  I let my fingers trace the tribal design adorning his firm bicep. He watches as I touch it. When we were together last month, the only undressing we did involved him lifting my skirt and pulling down my panties, so I didn’t notice the tattoo.

  “Not that unique, but it’s well done.” I drop his sleeve and shift back.

  Gavin reaches out and runs his fingers through my hair. “Your hair’s a lot longer. I didn’t notice at the club because you had it up.”

  He’s smiling as he touches my dark brown hair. He’s always liked my hair.

  “Well, you haven’t really spent much time with me since January. That’s a long time.” I can’t hide the bitterness from my voice.

  He stiffens and drops his hand. “I didn’t come back here in the spring like I thought I would. I didn’t return until minicamp in June.”

  Gavin pauses and rubs the back of his neck. “I thought about calling you then, but it was only a few days, and I was busy, so I figured it would be best to wait to call you until I came back for good in July.”

  I shrug. He could have at least put some effort into keeping in touch during the off-season, even if we didn’t see each other because he wasn’t in Philly. I texted him a few times after he left but gave up when he never responded.

  “I usually work out here for most of the summer, but this year, we got a new quarterback. He invited all the receivers out to California, so I went there instead.”

  “I heard about that from Seth. He went out there to interview you guys.”

  “Seth? Who’s that?” he asks.

  “Seth Andrews. He’s a reporter. He’s dating my friend, Heather, from work.”

  “That’s right, the guy from The Post. He seems okay—for a reporter, anyway.”

  “Yeah, he’s all right.”

  Gavin is quiet, his attention shifting back to the TV show he’d muted when I arrived. I’m not sure what’s going on between us. It almost seemed like he kind of apologized or at least explained himself for the off-season. Now, we’re hanging out like we used to, only this time, we’re pretending like we’re friends. I’d enjoy sitting and watching TV with him if we didn’t have so much unresolved between us.

  The show ends and Gavin turns off the TV. “What do you want to do now? I can order dinner if you want.”

  “Okay,” I agree. Where are the sexy times I’ve expected from the moment I walked in the door? I really do not get this man.

  “What do you want to eat?”

  I think about it for a few moments. “Thai food.”

  Gavin frowns. “You know I can’t eat that. How about steak or chicken or salmon from the restaurant next door?”

  I scowl. “I’ve had a crappy day, so I might cut a bitch if I don’t get Chicken Pad Thai for dinner.” I’m not in the mood for compromise tonight. Gavin’s going to have to deal with me wanting to eat unhealthy.

  “We can order separately. Just chill, Jana.” He reaches out and runs his fingers over my arm.

  Warmth follows his soothing touch on my bare skin. I let the softness spread over me. “I’ll chill if you feed me Chicken Pad Thai and get me some wine.” Maybe I could use some alcohol after all.

  Gavin jumps up from the couch and comes back a minute later with a glass of wine. He sits next to me again. Sipping it, I watch as he searches on his phone for the number of the Thai restaurant I like. He places the order and calls his usual place for his own healthy, boring dinner.

  “We’ve got half an hour. Think you can handle that?”

  I smile at him. “That should be enough time.”

  “Enough time for . . .” He trails off as my hand on his crotch makes clear what I mean.

  Turning to face him, I rub him through his sweats. His cock responds, quick and eager to greet me. He relaxes back into the couch and closes his eyes. I slip my hand under his t-shirt, exploring his defined abs. He tenses under my hand, and I love the power I have when he reacts to me. Letting my fingers wander down his happy trail, I slide my hand inside his boxer briefs. My hand closes around his length, and he grunts.

  I stroke him from root to tip, enjoying the hot, silky skin under my hand and the round shape of his head that fits perfectly in my palm. It’ll feel good in my mouth, all smooth and hard and so responsive to me.

  Gavin has been nice to me so far. It’s time to get on with the sex I wanted when I called him. I know where I stand with him sexually, so I’m more comfortable interacting on that level.

  “Can I ask you something?” His voice is husky with arousal.

  “Sure.” I’m feeling generous at the moment because I’ve got a crazy hot guy under my control. I pull him free of his sweats so I can see what I’ve been touching.

  “You weren’t calling my dick a bitch, were you, when you threatened to cut one?”

  I laugh. I like that he’s relaxed enough with me to be funny. “No. You know I like your cock.” I shift my hand lower to cup it around each of his balls in turn while I squeeze his cock in my other hand. “I’d never hurt your package,” I whisper in a sexy voice that I know turns him on.

  Gavin opens his eyes to look at me. His pupils are dilated with desire, and his warm gaze almost burns me. “Good, because you had me worried for a bit there.”

  “Is that why you didn’t make me suck you off the minute I walked in?”

  “You looked kind of pissed. I’m not dumb enough to push you for sex then. I’d like to keep my dick intact.” He watches my hand move over his length for a moment. “Plus, I don’t know . . . we haven’t really seen each other for a while. Seemed like we should talk first before I shove my dick in your face. We always talked before when we hung out.”

  When I came here, I thought I wanted angry, rough, detached sex. But I like whatever he’s doing now better, so I was wrong. I appreciate the humor and intimacy he offers. He seems fine slipping back into acting the way we did together last season.

  Dropping my gaze back to his lap, I rub my finger over the head of his cock. Gavin makes a sound of approval as I play with the bead of pre-cum my touch has caused.

  “I had to make sure I tamed you before I did this,” he says.

  He reaches up and pushes me down with a hand on the back of my head until I’m leaning over his lap with a large erection in my face. Exactly what I’m hungry for. I open my mouth and suck at him, rolling my tongue over his tip. I’ve missed this big dick.

  “Oh, fuck, Jana. That feels so good.” He groans.

  Gavin’s hands are in my hair, urging me to take more of his length. I do, and I’m rewarded with another groan.

  I suck and lick him as I squeeze the base of his cock with my hand. I’ve given him enough blowjobs that I know what he likes. I do it all, because I want to impress him. I want him to remember me. I want him to feel something for me like I do for him. Maybe I can drag it out of him through sex. I don’t worry how it’s stupid and dumb to think sex means anything to a professional athlete who can get it from anyone—and he probably does, for all I know. I concentrate on how h
e reacts to my mouth on him.

  Gavin holds my head as I move my mouth on him, but his grip is gentle. He knows I don’t like it when a guy tries to control me too roughly. I suck him and lick him and suck him some more until he grunts and tugs my head off him, pushing me back so I’m sitting next to him. He grabs some tissues from the box on the coffee table and comes in them, swearing as he does.

  “Fuuu-uck!” He drags the word out to last two syllables.

  Smiling, I appreciate him letting his satisfaction show. I didn’t expect Gavin to pull me off him before he came. Usually, he likes to finish in my mouth. It’s not my favorite thing, but I figure it’s only fair because he goes down on me.

  “Didn’t want to ruin how your dinner’s gonna taste,” he says as he tosses the tissues on the floor and tucks his cock back into his sweats. “Besides, we haven’t kissed yet.”

  I don’t get a chance to say anything before Gavin’s tugging me onto his lap. He leans forward and kisses me. His mouth is all over mine, his tongue stroking me. The same rush of heat and arousal I always feel in response to him spreads over me.

  Pushing up my dress, he shifts me to straddle him. We kiss repeatedly, his lips pressing expertly against mine, his hands cupping my face. His stubble catches on my skin, but he’s gentle after he feels me wince.

  “Sorry. I didn’t know you were coming over,” Gavin apologizes between kisses.

  I’d forgotten how he’d shave for me before. His skin is soft on mine after he shaves. He loves how I’ll let him rub his face anywhere on my body, especially in my cleavage. He’d probably be trying to do that if the neck of my dress wasn’t high cut.

  His hands drift down my body as we kiss. He clasps my waist and moves to cup my butt. Is he getting hard again? It might be too soon for him, but he’s really into making out. We haven’t had sex in so long, and I miss having him inside me, filling me completely. He moves his hand to my crotch and rubs me through my damp panties.