Love of the Game - The Complete Collection (Box Set)

by Shayne McClendon

  He stared at her with his big brown eyes for a long time, not moving or speaking. She smiled and moved to sit beside him but his hands went to her waist and kept her where she was. “I would never hurt you, Josie. Not for any reason.”

  “I know, Max.”

  “I’ve wanted you so badly. You are the only woman I think about, Josie. I don’t want to lose you as my friend. I can’t lose you as my friend, no matter what. I don’t want you to hate me. Promise you won’t hate me, Josie.”

  She put her palm on his cheek and he closed his eyes, leaning into her hand. “I could never hate you, Max.” She smiled. “Why won’t you tell me what Max is short for?”

  He chuckled and opened his eyes. “I have no idea what my mother was thinking when she named us.” There was a long sigh. “It’s short for Maximus. Scott is short for Winscott.”

  Her eyes went wide and she smiled. “Powerful names.”

  Josie leaned in and kissed him again. She felt his hands tighten on her hips. When her fingers slid up his neck and into his hair, he sighed against her mouth. She took the opportunity to lick between his lips. When his tongue touched hers for the first time, she moaned.

  Max moved his hands to her back and pulled her body to his. She tilted her head back to look at him when the kiss made her breathless. He stroked his fingers over her head, cupping her skull gently.

  “I need to tell you something, Max. I’m less breakable, less fragile than I ever used to be. You aren’t going to hurt me, you aren’t going to scare me. Okay?” He laid his forehead against her chest. “Max, I trust you. Completely.” Josie ran her fingers through his hair, lost for a moment in how soft it was. “Hey…” He raised his face to look at her. “Be yourself. I’m fine.”

  Max hugged her hard. “Josie.” He closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch. She could see how much he craved it. When he opened them, he said softly, “Every single time you’ve touched me in the last three months, I’ve wanted to kiss you, to hold you. This doesn’t seem real.”

  Josie lowered her mouth to his and he put his hand in her hair, massaging the back of her head. “You’re so soft, so petite. I feel huge and clumsy around you.”

  It made her laugh. “You are, without a doubt, the most graceful man I’ve ever seen. That catch in the end zone against the Raiders was so beautiful I replayed it about ten times.”

  “You record my games?”

  “Of course I do. I love to watch you. I’ve never seen such a big man move so fast, cut around the opposition like you do. I’m very proud of you on the field because of the man you are off the field. I hate seeing you bruised and hurt. How’s your back?” Josie moved her hands over his neck and shoulders, kneading the muscles.

  “It’s good, Josie.” Max cupped her face in his hands. “Walk with me for a little. Let me wrap my mind around the fact that I can touch you.”

  Nodding, she stood up and he followed. He settled his palms on her shoulders. Josie was a foot shorter and she knew Max could bench press more than she weighed. Concern for her was written on his face so she hugged him.

  “I’ve wanted this so much that it doesn’t feel real.”

  “It is.”

  They stepped into their boots and tugged their heavy jackets on. They stayed on the road. It was fully dark but the light of the full moon was sufficient. At one of the switchbacks, there was a place to sit and stare up at the stars. She’d used it many times. They headed there and Max took her hand.

  Silence was never awkward between them. Finally, Max asked, “Josie, why didn’t you ever tell me about the calls and your apartment being trashed?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. I knew you’d feel obligated to fix it and protect me. I don’t want to be your obligation, Max. I don’t want to be the woman you’re with because you feel responsible for me.”

  He pulled her to a stop and put his hand in her hair, gripping the back of her skull and kissing her aggressively, the heat of it sending signals she hadn’t felt in years, maybe ever, straight to her womb. When he broke the kiss, his eyes were hungry and bright, even in the pale light of the moon.

  “It is in my nature to protect the people I care about. It doesn’t make you an obligation. I feel responsible for you because I want you; I don’t want you because I feel responsible for you. There is a huge difference, Josie…an important one for you to understand. You are one of three people I feel that way about.”

  He kissed her hard again then nudged her back into their walk. She was dizzy from the sensations racing through her. When they approached the grouping of flat rocks, Max lifted her to sit in front of him.

  “You are a very good kisser, Max.”

  “Thank you. Before you run any little quips by me about practice making perfect, let me assure you I rarely kissed the groupies who chased me. Kissing is intimate, personal. The kisses I did share were shallow, superficial. You get the alpha male this woman is mine kiss because it represents how I feel about you, how I’ve felt about you for a long time, and I’ve never felt it for anyone else.”

  He was watching her carefully. Josie reached out to cup his face and bring him close. “Good, because I could easily become addicted to it. I already need a fix.”

  Max’s arms circled her body and held her tight as he ravished her mouth with his lips and teeth. His tongue dueled sensually with hers until she couldn’t think straight.

  She wanted to be closer and was wearing way too many layers of clothes. Her fingers fisted in his hair and pulled it gently as she held him to her. Using her legs, she pulled herself to the edge of the rock and wrapped them around his waist.

  Every part of her wanted to touch him, climb inside him, and become part of him. There was no way to stop her agonized whimper of need.

  Cool air coasted over the skin of her back as his palms moved inside her jacket, under her shirts, and up to her shoulder blades to press her body closer. His head came up and his hunger for her was clear. He whispered roughly, “Josie, you’re not wearing a bra.”

  “Max, you’ve seen my chest, does it really matter?”

  “Yeah, baby, it matters.”

  One hand stayed flat on her back, the other slid forward over her ribcage and up to cup her breast. Her legs tightened around his waist and he paused to position her pelvis for his hips. It was the first time she was feeling Max’s cock against her body and she sucked air sharply between her teeth as he rocked against her.

  “Max…”

  Returning to her breast, his thumb smoothed over one taut nipple and her head fell back on her shoulders. “No matter a woman’s breast size, Josie, it’s the nipples.” He gave hers a slight pinch before moving to the other breast and repeating the movement.

  Every part of her was tuned to him. “Last summer, you were doing that big reorganization of your shop. I brought you lunch, remember?” She nodded because she was incapable of words.

  “You were wearing a white tank top and shorts, little flip-flops on your feet. When you stood in the sun, I could just make out the darker skin tone of your nipples. Look at me, Josie.” She opened her eyes and he added, “I jerked off to that image for weeks.” Josie moaned.

  He circled his hips between her legs and she arched toward him when his cock grazed her clit through her clothes. “Max, I want you so bad.”

  “If it wasn’t so cold, I’d bare you right here from the waist up and suck your nipples until you came.” He set up a steady rhythm, rubbing his length back and forth over the most sensitive part of her body. “It would make me really happy if you came right now, Josie.”

  He tweaked her nipple and bent to nibble the other through her shirt, pressing his dick more firmly into her denim-covered mound. “Come for me, Josie.”

  “Max…yes…” She arched against him and the climax took her in a gentle wave. He held her and continued to rock against her. With her hand on his chest, she felt the pounding of his heart. “I want to touch you, I want to feel you.”

  “I’ve never been so hard in
my life, Josie. I think I can feel every tooth of my zipper on my cock.”

  Her hands moved to the waist of his jeans and he stopped her. “We have to go back, Josie. If you touch me, I’m going to take you right here and it’s too cold.”

  With a bit of struggle, she focused on his face. “Max?”

  “Yes, Josie?”

  “I want more. I need you inside me.” The kiss he gave her in answer was almost animalistic as he gripped her hard and devoured every inch of her exposed skin.

  “Not here, Josie…god you smell good.” Another quick kiss then Max straightened her clothes, lifted her off the rock, and half-carried her back to the cabin.

  Chapter Ten

  They made it back to the cabin in much less time because Max chewed up the ground they’d walked leisurely before. He physically lifted her up the steps and through the door as she laughed.

  The first bedroom was Josie’s and he was grateful it was so close. He yanked off his jacket, let it drop to the floor, and went to his knees to remove her boots and socks. When he stood up, he went after her clothes like a man possessed, pulling her first shirt off then the micro-thin tank top underneath.

  Josie’s breasts were small but beautifully shaped and perky with pearl pink nipples. He cupped his hands over them with a sigh that made her smile. His thumbs smoothed over the sensitive tips until they pebbled firmly. “I could spend hours enjoying these, Josie.”

  “Not right now you aren’t.” He grinned.

  She tugged at his t-shirt and he helped her get it over his head. Her hands smoothed down his chest and over his stomach. There was no denying that he was in fantastic shape. His living depended on it. Her fingers went to the buckle of his belt and he stilled her hands.

  “Let me get some control back. I’m shot right now.”

  Max slid to the floor and kissed her little tummy, his hands at the waist of her jeans. He took his time undoing them, separating the denim that gave him a glimpse of pink lace panties. He was smiling as he lowered the jeans and she stepped from them.

  “I love that you love pink, Josie.” He traced the lines of the delicate panties, feeling her hands settle on his head and her fingers tighten in his hair. With his thumbs in the band, he pulled them down and sucked air between his teeth when he saw she was smooth and bare.

  “Josie…that is so pretty.”

  “It didn’t match what I dye my hair to and freaks me out.”

  “Your hair used to be red,” he said quietly.

  She smiled and smoothed the soft strands she’d wanted to touch forever. “It was a little too conspicuous at the time. I…stood out. I made some extreme changes to blend in.”

  He laid his cheek on her stomach. “I don’t want you to have to hide, Josie. I want you to be able to be yourself…to know you’re safe.”

  “Max?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m safe right now and I really want you to take the rest of your clothes off.”

  He lifted his head and smiled at her from below. Reaching down, he unlaced his hiking boots and slipped them off, then his socks. He stood and unfastened his jeans.

  As he pushed them down and kicked them away, he never took his eyes off hers. Josie glanced down, her eyes widened at the length and width of his cock, and returned to his face.

  “You’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, Max.” She reached out and circled him as far as she could with her hand, taking him by surprise.

  “No, Josie.” He held her hand still. “I will never last, I’ll never make it if you touch me.” She smiled sweetly, sank to her knees, and took him in her mouth. “Josie…oh sweet lord…”

  She sucked him hard while her hands explored the base and his balls. The coarser light brown hair around his cock was neatly trimmed. The skin of his cock was like silk over steel and she stroked the length she wasn’t able to take in her fist.

  For a long time she soaked up the delirious sounds of pleasure he didn’t even attempt to hide from her. The taste of his pre-come exploded on her taste buds. He was smooth and clean, a blend of salt and musk she didn’t think she’d ever tire of. Her entire body seemed to exhale in relief.

  I’m finally touching him.

  His fingers worked through her hair but he didn’t try to control her. His hips rocked against her lips so gently she didn’t think he realized he was doing it.

  “Josie, your mouth is killing me. I wanted to…to focus on you. I didn’t expect…damn that feels so good.” She moaned around him and he watched her. She lifted her eyes and stared into his, sucking him as deep as she could. The expression on his face told her exactly what effect she was having. The skin around his eyes and mouth was tight.

  “Your mouth looks so amazing wrapped around me, Josie. I need to pull back, I can’t hold on much longer.” She sucked him harder and used one hand to stop him from pulling back. “Oh fuck, I’m coming. Josie, don’t…god…yes, oh yes…”

  His head dropped back on his shoulders with a primal roar as the first jet of semen left the head of his cock. She swallowed with every spurt and milked him with the back of her throat. His hips jerked and every muscle in his upper body stood out.

  She couldn’t have looked away. She had to watch every moment of his orgasm. Max was gasping for breath and his fists were tight in her hair as the orgasm began to fade. He stared down at her, watching as she made sure she didn’t miss a single drop before she pulled back and kissed the head.

  I want more.

  Max pulled her to her feet and Josie jumped into his arms. He caught her because that was why he existed, to be the man she needed. Her arms and legs wrapped around him and the feel of their bodies skin-to-skin at last was perfection.

  Better than I ever dreamed.

  Her nipples were hard against his chest. Every inch of her was like satin. Then Josie kissed him and imprinted on him in a way he knew he would never recover from. He didn’t want to recover. He wanted to drown in her.

  He walked to the bed. For the first time in months, he was not in physical agony being close to her. His cock was still hard but the painful edge was gone. All he wanted was to explore every inch of her skin.

  Josie had other ideas. Before he could lower her, she said firmly, “I need you right now, Max. My entire body aches for you. No more foreplay.”

  “Josie…you aren’t ready.”

  “After the orgasm you gave me on our walk? After the way my body responded while I sucked you? I’m ready…” She smiled and rocked her pelvis against him. She was slick and hot.

  His head dropped back on his shoulders and he tried to control the impulse to drive deep and fuck them both into screaming ecstasy. She scraped her nails over his nipple and he shuddered.

  “Max. Right now. Fuck me just the way you imagined it…the way I imagined it.”

  With a growl, he lowered her to the bed and set his cock at the entrance of her pussy. His feet were still on the floor and he was desperate to pound hard and fast into her, to mark her, to feel her come around him, and hear her scream his name.

  Then his eyes tracked over her body and he was reminded about how big he was compared to her lean frame. He’d never been with a woman as small as Josie.

  She had a rational fear of big men. If he hurt her, it would ruin everything. As he began to push inside her, for the first time in his life, he was unsure. “Fuck, Josie, you’re so tight. I should have waited. I’m going to hurt you. You’re going to hate me. Things will never be the same.”

  The images of her, battered and unconscious, being loaded into the ambulance, flashed through his mind, and he started to pull back.

  Her legs tightened around him and she whispered, “Max…Max, you’re not going to hurt me.” She lifted her body to get closer to him. She kissed his lips and smoothed his hair. “I promise you are not going to hurt me. Everything about you feels good, Max.”

  Max pulled her in to hug her tight to his body, his arms fully circling her body with room to spare. He moved them up o
n the bed and lowered a portion of his weight carefully between her legs.

  She traced her lips over his neck and along his jaw. Her kiss was meant to reassure him, but every horrible thing she’d gone through was firmly implanted in his mind. He had no intention of adding to her memories of pain.

  “I’m afraid, Josie. I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

  “Max, roll us over baby.” He lifted his head to look at her and swallowed hard. “Roll us over, Max.” He held her tight and rolled to his back. Josie sat up and used his chest for support. “Look at me. Watch my face, Max.” He stared into her violet eyes and saw how much she wanted him.

  Almost as much as he wanted her.

  She placed the head of his cock at the hot entrance of her pussy and began to work her body down his length. She kept getting distracted and it made him smile.

  “You have a fourteen-pack or something. I didn’t even know that was possible, Max. Your shoulders are so broad and defined. You’re gorgeous.”

  A few seconds later, she placed his palms over her breasts and he squeezed them in response. “You have beautiful hands, Max…long and strong, so warm. So capable.”

  She glanced down at his hands and watched his thumbs stroke over the tight tips. His mouth watered with the need to suck them. “Please…” she whispered. Lifting at the waist, he took her nipple between his lips and knew he would never tire of this. “Max, harder. That feels amazing.”

  He sucked her more firmly, worrying the little pink bud with his teeth until she was holding him to her with both hands. The neglected nipple was just as sweet and she moaned above him.

  After a minute or two, she pulled his head back and looked deeply into his eyes. Her palm laid along his cheek as she said, “I like your eyes most of all, Max. You have the prettiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. When you look at me, I feel like you can see me, like you can see who I am and who I can be. Like you can read everything I’m thinking.”