by Amelia James
Austin gave him the finger.
"Next, enjoy it. This doesn't happen to you every day."
"Yeah, you got that right. This doesn't happen to me... anymore."
Jack laughed.
"Seriously, what do I do?" Austin stood up and ran his hands through his hair. "It's fun now, but I don't wanna end up hurting her like my dad did to my mom. Or like Nat hurt—"
"It doesn't have to be like that."
"That's what Janie says. I want to believe her, but I just can't."
"I think you should."
He shook his head. "I grew up watching my father hurt women he claimed to love. I don't have any other example."
"I've had some good relationships. I managed not to hurt anyone... permanently. Use me as an example."
"Oh yeah—you—the guy who was up all night because he had too much coffee."
"Hey, I was with a woman last night."
"The waitress doesn't count."
"Not her."
"Who?"
Jack shook his head. "So tell me about your night."
"I brought her here and she asked for a tour." They'd never made it to the desk. Next time. "I took her to my bedroom...."
"And?"
"And I took her home an hour ago."
"Aw, man, you left out the good stuff."
"I don't want to do that to Janie." He felt the urge to protect her, and didn't want to share her, or what they had together, with anyone else. "That's just rude, man."
Still, he had to share the pure joy in his heart. Joy in my heart? "I thought that after I slept with her, I'd get bored and want someone new, but I didn't. I don't. I just want Janie. I didn't want to take her home this morning, but I promised her I would. I don't ever want to break a promise I make her."
"You spent the night with her?"
"Yeah. That was so awesome, holding her all night. It felt like she belonged there."
"You are in so much trouble."
"I know."
"I'm happy for you."
"So am I."
"Hopeless."
Jack darted out of the room before Austin could find something to throw at him.
Damn it. Is Janie changing my mind? Can I change?
For only the second time in his life, the idea of falling in love almost appealed to Austin. "Not hopeless." He poured a bowl of cereal. "Hopeful."
Chapter 13
Austin couldn't wait until after practice to see Janie, so he began searching the basement of the library. When he didn't find her, he scoured each floor and finally found her in the loft, hidden away in one of the many desk-cube clusters, her nose buried in a book. He sat down at the desk next to her.
She wore a blue sweater with a short skirt. Her boots showed a little bit of leg, but left the rest to his imagination—which went wild. She'd pulled her hair back in a sleek ponytail. Her glasses lay on the desktop, and she rubbed the bridge of her nose as though it hurt. Either she didn't like what she was reading, or something else was bothering her.
"I hear an orgasm—or six—is a great way to cure a headache."
Jane nearly jumped out of her seat. "Austin!"
"And I just happen to be the guy who can help you with that."
"Shhhh...." A couple students looked in their direction.
"Sorry." He lowered his voice.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you. You're not an easy woman to find."
"Why?"
"You're never where I think you're gonna be. I swear the library keeps getting bigger. Did you know it has a loft?"
"Why are you looking for me?"
"Why not?" He leaned close and touched his lips to her ear. "I missed you."
Confusion crossed her eyes. "I missed you too."
"I knew I'd see you after practice, but I didn't want to wait that long. You're gonna have to draw me a map of this place because, damn, I'm lost."
"But I thought...." She rubbed her head again. "This morning you said...."
"Damn it, Janie, if you don't stop biting your lip, I'm gonna bite it for you." Not a bad idea, but first he had to find out what hurt her. "What did I say?"
"You called me sweetheart."
Oops. "I'm sorry. I forgot you don't like that."
"And you said goodbye."
"Yes, I said goodbye because I was going back home."
She blinked at him. "You didn't mean it?"
Is this a trick question? "Mean it how?"
"Goodbye, sweetheart, it was fun, but I forgot your name already. Next!" She blurted it all out, barely blinking back tears.
He flinched. "I did not say that."
"That's what I heard."
For once, he had no smart-assed reply. "Is that what people think of me?"
She nodded.
He didn't care what other people thought. "Is that what you think of me?" He used to be proud of his bad boy reputation, but seeing Janie's eyes like that was killing him.
"I didn't want to. I was hoping I'd be the exception. Wow, was that ever stupid. You said you'd never commit to one girl. I didn't want to believe you, but now I don't have a choice. You warned me, but I didn't listen."
When he didn't reply, she closed her book. "It's okay. We had fun. That's all you ever promised me." She stood up and started packing her bag.
He couldn't move. His heart pounded in an odd way, and the room felt cramped and hot. "No. It's not okay. Janie, I promised you I wouldn't disappoint you, and obviously I have."
"You didn't disappoint me, Austin. This is exactly what I expected from you."
No. I will not hurt my Janie. He stood up and put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. She wouldn't look at him, so he lifted her chin and looked into her shiny, beautiful green eyes. "You are the exception."
She blinked, her lashes wet and spiky.
"I am such an idiot." He ran his hand over his face into his hair, yanking it by the roots. "I'm so sorry I didn't say the right things this morning. When I took you home, I...." Didn't want to let you go... ever. Why can't I just say that? "It was seven a.m. and my brain wasn't exactly working right."
A hint of a smile curved her lips. "It was six."
"See? You can't expect me to make sense that early in the morning." When she smiled again, he pulled her closer and lowered his voice. "Especially after what you did to me last night." He ran his hands down her back, sneaking them under her skirt.
"Stop!" She gasped, but put her arms around him and held him closer.
"Do you really want me to?" He lifted her onto the desk, pushing her skirt up past her knees.
She looked around at the vacated desks. "Don't ever stop."
"I promise." He kissed her and bent her back. His body told her what his lips couldn't. He would figure out a way to say it eventually, but he could take his time, now that she knew he only wanted her. "You do know that, don't you?"
"Know what?"
I have to say this at least. He stepped back and took her hands. "You're the only girl I want to go out with, for now." Close but not quite. "Right now, for as long as this lasts." Damn it, Austin, get it right. "Right now I don't want to be with anyone else but you." Ever. "Does that make sense?"
Something else nagged him, something he couldn't express, but his jumbled words would have to do for now.
Jane searched his eyes. "Just you and me, for as long as we can."
Yes. Exactly. He pulled her into his arms. It felt so good holding her. How could she think he didn't want her anymore? He'd wanted her from the moment he'd first seen her in the locker room, giving him that disapproving look that made him forget every other girl.
"My Janie." He kissed her and slipped his hands under her skirt again, caressing her soft skin. "Let's go someplace where I can pull that skirt up, pull those panties down, and make you come so hard...."
She moaned. "I can't. I have class in ten minutes." Her hands found their way under his shirt.
"Skip it." He kissed her
neck, nipping at her skin.
"I wish I could, but I have to turn in my paper."
"After class."
"I have practice." She melted in his arms. "So do you."
"Damn it! Okay, let me walk you to class." He picked up her backpack.
"Such a gentleman."
"Ha. I'm no gentleman. I need a guide to get me out of this damn library."
She laughed and took the hand he offered.
"And I gotta get us out of here before I do something to you that'll get us kicked out of school."
"That sounds like fun."
"Janie, you have no idea...." But he did—lots of them.
"Show me."
"Tease! You already told me we don't have time."
"Oh yeah. Sorry."
"Unless you want a quickie." He dropped her bag and bent her back over the desk.
She giggled and moaned as he kissed her neck. He pushed her skirt up, nearly showing off her lacey panties right there in the library loft. Her body went stiff—like his cock.
"Actually, that's a bad idea." He pulled her up and adjusted her skirt, making her presentable. "I'd much rather take my time with you."
She sighed. "You sure know how to make a girl weak in the knees."
He picked up her bag and followed her out of the library. "You're lucky you can walk after what I did to you last night."
"No, you are."
He laughed. "Got that right."
"I'm surprised I made it through the day. I didn't get any sleep last night."
"Really? I slept great." Cuddled up next to her naked body, breathing her scent, her warmth warming him, he'd slept as if he were in heaven. He wished he could sleep with her every night.
"Your wandering hands kept me awake."
"I didn't hear any complaints."
"And you never will." She shoved him into a dark hallway. "I can't seem to keep my hands off you."
"Is there some reason why you should?" He let her hands explore his body.
"None that I can think of." She kept touching him, teasing him—sliding her fingers down his chest, tugging at the buttons on his shirt, pulling at his belt buckle.
If she kept that up, Austin would pin her to the wall with her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Are you sure you have to go to class? Just imagine... you and me up against the wall, my pants around my knees, your skirt shoved up to your ears."
"Mmm... maybe I could skip it today." She kissed him.
"But that only gives us an hour." Austin probed her mouth with his tongue, wishing he could do more. "That's not enough time."
"An hour isn't enough?"
"All of last night wasn't enough."
"At least you're not bored with me yet."
"How could I get bored with you?" He snatched her hand away from his zipper while chasing the other one away from his belt buckle again. "I can barely keep up with you."
When she started unbuttoning his shirt, he grabbed her wandering hands and held them still. "Come on. You need to get to class. Save that sexy pout for later." He kissed her, gently biting her lower lip. "After practice, you're all mine."
"I can't wait."
He slid his hand under her skirt one more time. "How's your headache now?"
"Mmm... I feel so much better." She leaned closer and brushed her lips against his ear, "In so many ways."
As she ran off to class, her skirt swaying behind her, Jack's warning echoed in Austin's head. He was in serious trouble. He could handle that, but he'd never experienced trouble like Jane Elliot.
***
"Austin!"
A deep, rich voice bellowed across the football field. Both Austin and Jack turned toward the bleachers and waved.
"Holy hell," Austin swore under his breath.
"I win." Jack grinned.
"Not yet you haven't. The game isn't until Saturday. He'll find some excuse to leave."
They walked over to the bleachers where Charles Sinclair Jr. waited. "Your arm looks good, Son, but if your pass protection doesn't hold up, you need to get out of the pocket quick. You never could run to your right very well."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Good to see you again, Jack." Charles shook his hand. "It's a good thing Austin has you to carry the offense."
It took a lot to piss Jack off, but Austin's father had a gift for it. "Austin is a great quarterback without me. You'd know that if you were here more often."
"Why are you here now, Dad? The game isn't till Saturday."
Charles ignored Jack. "I have some business in town tomorrow so I thought I'd drive up early, catch some of your practice, and stick around for the game."
"Great," Austin groaned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jack mouthing the words 'I win.'
"Go take a shower and we'll go out for dinner. Would you like to come along, Jack?"
"No, thank you. I have a paper to write."
Austin knew that was a lie, but he didn't blame Jack for bailing out. Austin would too if he had a chance. He looked over toward the soccer field and saw an angel coming to his rescue. "I have plans tonight, Dad."
"Cancel them."
***
Even from a distance, Jane could guess whom Austin was talking to. He had the same build, the same confident stance, the same wild hair, and the same expressive eyes. But the older man didn't smile, and his eyes didn't play like Austin's did.
"Janie," Austin called her over. "I want you to meet my father, Charles Sinclair Jr. Dad, this is my girlfriend, Jane Elliot."
His girlfriend? Jane gave his father a strong, confident handshake, ignoring the 'girlfriend' part for now. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
She took Austin's hand and laced her fingers with his, standing beside him straight and proud. His father could try to intimidate her, but he wouldn't succeed. She gave Charles her sweetest smile—maybe a little too sweet.
"Girlfriend...." Charles smiled politely, and raised an eyebrow at Austin.
"That's right." Austin squeezed Janie's hand.
"Interesting."
When his harsh eyes swept over her, Jane shuddered, knowing how she must look—sweaty, dirty, legs bruised and battered, hair in wild knots. She thought about apologizing for her appearance, but something told her not to.
"I planned to take my son out for dinner tonight." Charles made no effort to include her. "I'm sure you understand."
Jane knew disapproval when she saw it. She kept that sweet smile pasted to her lips. "Of course, you need to spend some time with your son." She didn't mean to say it so pointedly, but maybe he got the message.
"If you'll excuse me." Charles dismissed her with a nod and turned his back. "Austin."
"Be right there." Austin watched his father walk away, then turned and pulled her close. "You look beautiful."
He was trying to soften his father's harsh assessment, and she loved him for it. "Sweet talker."
"I'm so sorry about this. I had no idea he was gonna show up tonight."
"It's okay. You need to spend some time with him."
"If you say so," he grumbled. "Thank you for understanding."
She kissed him. "I expect you to make this up to me."
His blue eyes promised all sorts of naughty compensation. "Count on it."
"Come to my game tomorrow afternoon and afterward we'll do something fun."
"I'll be there."
"Austin!" His father bellowed from across the field.
"Gotta go." He kissed her and took off after his father.
Jack stepped up and put his hand on her rigid shoulder. "Better relax, girl, or you're gonna blow a gasket."
Jane slowly let out her breath, watching Austin's father lecture him. "Wow. I didn't know Austin could be so... obedient."
"Yeah, his dad has that effect on people."
"Are you afraid of him, too?"
"No, I am not." Jack's jaw clenched. "That guy pisses me off to no end."
His cheek twitched and she caught a glimpse of
a darker Jack she hadn't known existed. She wondered if he was afraid of anyone. "You didn't get invited to dinner?"
"Oh, I was invited, if you want to call it that, but I made up an excuse."
"You made up an excuse? The nicest guy on the planet... lied?" Maybe he wasn't as harmless as he looked.
"Shh... our little secret." The mild-mannered Jack winked at her, all signs of that buried anger gone.
She laughed. "Why didn't you go along and help Austin out?"
"I tried that once. It was not pretty. After that, Austin told me it was okay if I suddenly had something else to do."
"Lucky you." She packed up her duffle bag and headed toward the gym.
Jack fell in step beside her. "You got that right."
"How long have you and Austin known each other?"
"Forever. Since grade school."
"Has his father always been...?"
"An asshole? Oh yeah."
"And has Austin always followed his father's orders?"
"Pretty much. For years, I've been telling him he needs to stand up to his father, but he won't listen to me. Maybe he needs to hear it from someone else."
"Maybe."
"I don't have any plans for the evening, and I'm not in the mood to study. Wanna go to McGinley's and get something to eat? I'd like to get to know you better."
Jane giggled.
"That sounded like a come-on, didn't it?"
"No, you sounded completely sincere, but if Austin said it...."
He laughed. "Yeah, Austin has a way with words."
"Among other things." A tiny smile touched her lips and her cheeks turned hot. "Let me get changed, and I'll meet you back here." She trotted off to the locker room.
Jack nodded. "Sounds good."
When they were both showered and dressed, Jack drove them over to the bar. The bouncy waitress smiled when she saw Jack. "Hey, sweetie. Where's Austin?"
"He had other plans."
"Too bad," she pouted, and took their order. "Tell him I said hi."
"Sure thing, sweetheart," Jack's gaze wandered over her figure.
Jane shook her head. Austin and Jack must have been separated at birth.
They talked about the game until the waitress served their food. "So tell me...." Jane rearranged her burger, removing the onion and inspecting the tomato before taking a bite. "Why do women find Austin so appealing?"