by Cathryn Fox
His fingers tightened on hers. “Yeah. He’s a good guy, and he’ll take care of you.”
She took another big drink of wine, not knowing what to say.
“After you meet him, you can decide if it’s something you want to do.”
“Is it something you want to do?” she asked, her stomach a little queasy at the thought. “You seem troubled by the idea.”
He ran one hand through his hair and pushed back in his chair. “This week is about you.”
“But I don’t want you to do—”
“It’s whatever you want, Danielle.”
She leaned forward. “You’re so sweet, Jack.” How the women in his world couldn’t see that was beyond her. Then again, none of them deserved him if they couldn’t look beyond his money and fame.
He cleared his throat. “Sweet? I don’t know. I’ve been called a lot of things, but sweet was never one of them.”
“Well, you are.” He reached for his wine, and she decided to shift topics. “After you left the field today, Liam told me the guys had a lot of fun.”
“I really enjoyed it. Liam mentioned that he was looking for an assistant in the fall, too. For the regular college football season.” He looked into his wineglass, his brow furrowed, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face. “I still can’t believe you set that up.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I’m just not used to things like that, you know?”
“I know,” she said, and she did. Jack was a giver, and he was accustomed to people wanting things from him, not giving back. But she cared about him and wanted to do something that would put the light back in his eyes. Yes, his knee injury was serious, and it could even end his career. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t continue to play football.
Their meals came, and they talked quietly about nothing and everything as they ate, anticipation building inside her as the minutes ticked by. Soon, they’d be in her bed, and she could hardly wait to take the next step with Jack.
They were so lost in each other, they didn’t even see his best friend approach. “Jack,” Jamie said, placing his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “How was dinner?” he asked, turning his focus to Danielle.
“Amazing,” she said, her glance moving over him. He was tall like Jack, and while he was well-built, he lacked the definition in his muscles. He was handsome, though, with dark hair and eyes.
“Jamie, this is Danielle.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said as she slid her hand into his. His warm palm wrapped around her hand and squeezed.
“Really? Jack’s been a little more secretive about you. He hasn’t even brought you around the house yet.” His smile was full of warmth and appreciation as he gazed at her, his friendliness instantly putting her at ease. “I can see why, though. I wouldn’t want to share you with anyone, either.”
At the mention of sharing, she and Jack exchanged a look, then she quickly pulled herself together. “Thank you,” she said. “And I believe I’ll be going to dinner this Sunday. Will you be there?”
“I will be now.”
“Like he would have missed Mom’s pot roast,” Jack said, laughing.
Jamie grinned and patted Jack on the shoulder. “That’s true. I’m part of the family—especially on pot roast night.” He flashed another smile at Danielle. “I’ll leave you two to finish, and I’ll see you Sunday.”
He walked away, and she glanced at the tattoos crawling up his neck and disappearing into his hairline. “He seems nice.”
“Nice enough,” Jack grumbled.
“You two are really close.” Jack nodded and looked at his wineglass. “What?” she asked.
His eyes fixed on her. “He struggled a lot through life. His mom had problems with alcohol, drugs, and men. You name it. He slept at the house a lot, and we bunked in the same room and grew pretty tight over the years. It’s good to see him doing well. I miss him a lot when I’m away.”
Her heart twisted at the pain etched on his face, and she closed her hand over his, everything inside her reaching out to him, wanting to take him in her arms and lose herself in him for the rest of the night. But just at that moment, the waiter came to clear their plates and dropped off dessert menus. She left hers on the table.
Jack looked over the offerings and arched a brow. “Dessert?”
She wet her bottom lip, never having felt so close to anyone in her entire life. “Yes, and I already know what I’m having.”
He angled his head and eyed her. “Don’t you want to see the menu first?”
“I don’t need to. I’m looking at what I want.”
The muscles in his jaw clenched, and he shifted in discomfort. “Ah, remember those dress pants, Danielle,” he warned playfully, and fixed her with a look that said she was going to pay, big-time.
She couldn’t wait.
A surge of pleasure shot through her, and she grinned at his reaction, loving that she could rattle the big bad football player who was so tough on the outside, yet so sweet and caring on the inside. He tossed a load of bills onto the table and jumped from his chair, nearly sending it backward.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice rougher than it had been moments ago. He splayed his fingers over the small of her back and led her to the car. During the drive home he kept casting glances her way, and it occurred to her that he was lacking his usual calm steadiness. He was a pro when it came to sex. His reputation preceded him. Why, then, was he so rattled?
Chapter Two
Twenty minutes later, Jack parked his vehicle and circled in front of it to meet her at her door. Neither spoke, both obviously lost in their own thoughts as they made their way to her apartment. The click of the lock as Jack closed the door behind them sent shivers skittering down her spine, and she turned to face him. Her voice caught in her throat as she looked at him, never having seen him so on edge, so intense before.
“This is happening, Danielle. I told you when this started, I was damn well going to see it through to the end. You want this,” he said, his tone letting her know it wasn’t a question.
She’d never been more certain of anything. “Yes,” she answered soberly. “I want this.”
“Then come here.” He crooked his finger, and she stepped into him, ready to put herself in his capable hands. He ran his fingers along the back of her neck as his mouth found hers. “You’re ready for me, Danielle.” Again not a question. Tonight he was taking, not asking, and it thrilled her to no end.
Her heart raced like she’d just had a triple espresso. “Yes,” she murmured, answering anyway as she relaxed into his touch. Heat burned between them, firing her body until every nerve ending sizzled.
“I’m going to go slow the first time to make this as comfortable as I can for you, but then I plan to fuck every inch of you.” His fingers trailed down her back, stroking over the swell of her ass.
“Jack,” she said, heat bursting inside her. Her sex grew wet, need swamping her. He scooped her up and carried her to her room. Once inside, he set her down on the bed and stepped back.
His eyes never left hers as he shrugged out of his jacket and tugged his tie, every movement so sexy and purposeful, it was all she could do to fill her lungs. Big fingers went to the buttons on his shirt, but she stood and put her hand on his chest to stop him.
“Let me.”
His throat made a sound as he swallowed, and she slowly worked the buttons, inching his shirt open to expose his hard body. She’d never tire of looking at him, never wanted to look at another man after him, and that frightened her a little. Okay, a lot. She pushed the shirt from his shoulders and pressed her lips to his skin, breathing him in. Her lips moved to his neck, his face, and then to his mouth.
He growled and deepened the kiss, sending shivers of warm need through her. She touched his face, her fingers sizzling as they shaped the outline of his jaw. Her pebbled nipples poked through her lacy bra and brushed against his bare chest. She swayed into him, stimulating them ev
en more.
“Jack,” she murmured. “I want you to take care of your knee tonight. Don’t do anything that will hurt it.”
“I’m fine,” he whispered back.
She dropped to her knees and unhooked his belt, then dragged his pants to his ankles. She leaned in and pressed her mouth to his boxers, kissing the hard ridges the material did little to hide.
“I need you naked,” he said, the calmness in his voice belying the turbulence backlighting his eyes as he pulled her to her feet. “I need to see every inch of your body.”
He stepped from his pants and grabbed a fistful of condoms from the front pocket. They landed on the nightstand as he flung his pants away. Eyes back on her, his hands went to the hem of her dress. The rough pads of his fingers played between her legs for a moment, softly, slowly brushing the sensitive skin on her inner thighs with his thumb. Her knees nearly gave out.
He gathered the material in his hand, and she reached around to pull down her zipper. The way she was offering herself seemed to do something to him. He exhaled a slow breath, and with shaky fingers, he touched her shoulders, kissing her neck as the dress fell down her body in a whispery whoosh. It pooled at her feet, and she stepped from it. He inched back, the heat in his eyes stroking her from the inside out, and it was all she could do to breathe.
“If I didn’t have so many other things I wanted to do to you, I would spend the whole night just looking at you.”
God, how could she ever be expected to keep some measure of emotional distance when he said things like that? Her heart racing and blood boiling, so desperate for him to touch her, she reached behind her back and released her bra. Then, moving down to her panties, she bent forward, catching sight of his steel erection as she removed the slip of silk.
He touched her breastbone and slowly dragged his hand down. “Look at you,” he murmured, his fingers sliding to the juncture between her legs. “So beautiful and so ready for me.” He placed his hands on the swell of her hips and sank to one knee in front of her, burying his face in her stomach. A surge of need welled up inside her at the soft sweep of his tongue over her skin. His hands slid up her body, shaping her curves before closing over her small breasts. She arched into him, her body burning everywhere he touched.
He gave a nudge and she sank onto the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. His tongue slid over his bottom lip as he focused on her curls. “Open for me.”
She widened her legs and slid her hand down her body to pull her damp lips open, completely exposing herself to him and offering up every inch of her body.
“Fuck,” he murmured, and still on one knee, he shimmied closer. He stroked her sex, lightly running his finger over her clit, then pressing inside. Heat ambushed her and she moaned.
“Tell me what you want,” he said. “Tell me where you want my mouth and what you want me to do with my tongue.”
“I want your mouth on me. I want you to lick me.”
His grin was slow, full of promise. “Is your sweet little pussy hurting for it? Hurting for me?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. Need running through her, she reached down and rubbed herself. In a touch that was commanding yet soft, he closed his hand over hers and pressed it into the bed.
“Don’t,” he instructed in a low, unsteady voice. “Your orgasms are mine. Tonight I own every fucking inch of you, understand?”
Her entire body shook in anticipation, his words making her a little hotter and a whole lot wetter.
“Please, Jack,” she cried out. He unleashed a need in her that had never existed before tonight, before him.
“Say it,” he demanded, his eyes on hers, his muscles tense, the message clear in his gaze—tonight she was his, to do with as he pleased. There was no mistake about it.
“I’m yours. You own me tonight.” She widened her legs even more to prove it. As she offered herself up to him, his nostrils flared.
His fingers bit into her flesh as he dipped his head between her thighs and made a slow pass with his tongue. Her hips came off the bed, a quiver traveling from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
“Yes,” she cried, and reached down to touch him. She ran her fingers through his hair, holding his mouth to her sex like some shameless woman. But she didn’t feel embarrassed by her needs. Jack made her feel comfortable with herself and her sexuality.
“Stop moving,” he growled. “Or I’m going to lose it.”
Following his command, she gripped the sheet, curling her fingers in them to keep still as she fought for some semblance of composure. God, she’d waited so long for this…for him.
He crawled up her and pressed his nose to her stomach. He breathed in her scent, then slid higher. He flicked his tongue out, laving her hard nipples, drawing one in and lapping leisurely. This slow seduction was killing her.
“Jack,” she said, her voice a strained whisper as impatience thrummed through her. She needed more, ached for it, and she knew he did, too.
He lifted his head, his eyes fixed on her mouth. “Yeah.”
“I need you,” she whimpered, begging for more.
“Tell me what you need.”
“I need you inside me.”
He found her mouth and kissed her. His tongue slipped inside as he tasted deeply. Before long, they were both left shaken, breathless, desperate for more. Her hands raced over his body, touching everywhere, yet she felt unable to get him close enough.
He abandoned her mouth and pressed scorching lips to her neck. Good Lord, his mouth felt like fire on her skin. He lingered for a moment, like he was savoring the taste of her, then kissed a path down her body. Slipping a hand between her legs, he touched her sex. She moved against him, a soft noise catching in her throat, telling him without words what she wanted.
Her breath came quicker, and he gripped her knees to ease them open. Pleasure raced through her as he dropped back down onto the floor in front of her. He widened her legs even more and leaned forward. His tongue teased her lips open, and pleasure forked through her when he licked her sensitive cleft. Her fingers dug into the mattress, and she lifted her hips, pressing against him, her body seeking more. A whimper escaped her throat when his mouth sank into her warm, wet heat, his tongue pressing hungrily at her core.
“Yes,” she cried out. “Just like that. Don’t stop.”
He feasted on her, kissing her with urgency, and her body trembled, needing so much more. Unable to help herself, she moved against his face as he slipped a finger inside. Her walls closed around him, gripping hard. The air grew heavier, more suffocating, making it hard to breathe. She took deep, serrated breaths, yet couldn’t fill her lungs.
She rode his thick finger, growing slicker with each stroke. Her body shook, and from the moans reverberating around her, she guessed his control was waning, too.
He increased the pressure on her clit and circled the hot bundle of nerves inside her. The dual pleasure was almost more than she could take. Good Lord, he was so good at this, knew exactly how to touch her and take her to the precipice in record time. She bucked against him, and reality slipped away as erotic sensations took over. He stroked deep and ran his tongue over her clit, small sensuous circles that turned her into a crazed, wanton woman. She panted, her skin growing tight beneath his ministrations as she gave herself over to the sensual things he was doing to her. Desire twisted inside her and a moment later, the rolling waves of an orgasm took hold, pushing her over the edge and sending her free falling into bliss.
“Jack,” she cried out, her hips coming off the bed as her muscles clenched around his finger. “I’m…oh that feels so good.”
“That’s it,” he said, staying between her legs, licking and stroking as she rode out the hard pulses. On her last clench, he petted her lightly, her sex so wet and slick from her cream, his finger easily glided over her.
From between her legs, he lifted his head, and his gaze locked on hers. “I’m going to fuck you now. I’m going to put my cock so deep inside you, Danielle
, you’ll never walk out of here the same.”
His warm breath fanned out over her stomach, flooding her with lust. “Yes,” she panted. “I want that.”
He slid back over her body, a new desperation about him. Gathering her up, he repositioned her until she was centered in the bed, then he stood and removed his boxers to free his beautiful, hard cock. Her fingers tingled, dying to touch his hardness, feel the weight of him in her hands, as he climbed between her thighs. He gripped her knees and bent them, pushing upward until her thighs were pressed against her stomach and she was wide open for him. He grabbed his erection at the base and started pumping, and she nearly orgasmed a second time. She wet her lips, wanting to taste him again.
“How badly do you need me?”
“Jack, please,” she pleaded, writhing on the bed, desperate to be taken after waiting so long. “I’m hurting for you.”
He let go of her legs. “Take my cock into your mouth and show me how much you want it. Show me how much you deserve to have my dick inside you.”
She sat up, and her mouth went to his cock, her tongue racing over him with aroused eagerness. She licked and stroked, determined to make him as crazed as she was.
“Holy fuck,” he growled as she sucked him in. He jerked forward and thrust into her mouth. She glanced up to see the ecstasy flitting across his face and felt the desperate need to please him. “That’s good. So fucking good.” He gripped her hair and pushed it aside so he could watch her. Her eyes swept over his face, taking in the hungry way he was looking at her. His cock throbbed in her mouth, and she greedily licked the pre-come on his crown. She cupped his balls, giving them a soft massage, and when she felt them draw up into his body, she worked her mouth harder, licking from top to bottom and making him stiffer than she’d ever felt before. She took him to the back of her throat, and the groan rumbling through the room warned that he was reaching his breaking point.
He gave a quick tug of her hair to pull her off. The fire in his eyes seared her, filling her with an intoxicating mix of heat and desire that rattled her to her very core.
“You want it that bad, huh?” he asked, his shaky voice sounding as if he was calling on every ounce of restraint inside him. Going slow was killing him, and it touched her deeply that he wanted to make this first time good for her.