There is No Try (Needing to Score #2)

6. Bridget

CHAPTER 6

brIDGET

A s predicted, Ronan is less than happy about my engagement. I don’t blame him, he asked his mate to not sleep with his sister. One could argue what Lucas is doing is far worse. While he and I never had sex, marrying me implies we have or will. Since our father wasn’t around, Ronan’s always been a protective sibling. I don’t have as strong of a relationship with our brother, Jeremy, but he’d likely have the same reaction if I told him I was marrying a sexy as sin rugby player so he can continue playing here. It isn’t that anyone dislikes Lucas, it’s alpha-male protective bullshit.

It doesn’t matter if Ronan agrees or disagrees with the engagement, I believe Lucas when he says he loves me. Why else would he remain here for months when he could’ve been living in a posh flat or a beautiful property like Ronan? And now I’m going to be his wife? The thought of being anything other than friends both terrifies and excites me.

While Gavin packs an overnight bag to stay with his friend, Declan, for the night, I can’t take my eyes off the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen. I had a feeling the boys were up to no good this morning, but never in a million years would I have guessed they were picking out an engagement ring. Not only is it unique, it’s absolutely stunning, and I love that Lucas included Gavin in choosing it.

“Almost ready to go?” Lucas’ voice pulls my attention to his bedroom door. He’s wearing an expertly tailored, grey suit, with a crisp navy collared shirt under, looking as if he walked out of a magazine advertisement.

My jaw drops and I can’t help drinking him in. “Where are we going that you need to be dressed like this?” I gesture up and down his body.

“It’s a surprise.” He trimmed his beard, making an adorable dimple on one of his cheeks more prominent.

I glance down at my simple black dress I’ve been wearing all day. It’s pretty, but I’d be severely underdressed for wherever Lucas has planned. “I should change.”

His smile falls as he stalks towards me. “Absolutely not.” When he reaches me, my breath is stolen from me as he snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me to him by the small of my back. “You’re beautiful.”

My cheeks warm at his praise. I’m about to ask again where we’re going when Gavin walks in. Gav drops his bag on the sofa and sits to tie his runners. For a moment, I consider breaking away from Lucas, but we aren’t doing anything inappropriate. I don’t want to hide around my son; it’s important that he sees how women should be properly treated.

Lucas kisses my forehead before releasing me and asks Gavin, “Do you have your backpack for tomorrow?”

“No, one second.” He rushes off the couch and retrieves his bag for school in the morning.

Gavin has spent many nights away from home, but this is the first time butterflies are dancing in my belly in anticipation. If Lucas and I were home alone, a wall separated us. My nervousness takes over when I consider how I could be terrible in bed. Hell, Lucas could be all talk and, fuck , what if he is into things I’m not? I’m supposed to marry this man and know absolutely nothing about his sexual appetite. Talking about it is bloody awkward, but what is my alternative?

Once Gav is ready, we drop him off at his friend’s home and my heart is pounding wildly against my ribcage. Luc slides his palm onto my thigh, making matters worse. I cover his hand with mine, unsure what’s expected now that everything's out in the open. He fills the silence telling me about meeting with his agent this afternoon, and all I can muster is an occasional hum in agreement. I’m only following half of what he’s saying, stuck in my own head. We’ve never had awkward silences, and I’ve never felt nervous around him, but everything has changed in a day. Even if he didn’t need to get married, he admitted he loves me.

He. Loves. Me.

“What do you think?” he asks hopefully.

Fuck! What was he talking about?

I fidget with the hem of my dress and reply, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. I’m a bit distracted.”

Luc squeezes my thigh and laughs. “A bit? You’ve been in your own little world since we dropped Gavin off.”

“I’m sorry,” I sigh and stare out the window.

“Why are you apologising? Talk to me, pup, what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing,” I lie, and he grips my leg tighter. “All right, it’s not nothing. I’m just worried. My last serious relationship was almost thirteen years ago. I was only twenty-one and I’ve hardly dated, except for here and there. And now I’m getting married? Oh, and not to just anyone, to you? What will the media say?”

A growl escapes him and my fun, sweet Lucas is long gone, replaced with an intense energy I’ve never seen from him. “Are you serious? I don’t give a fuck about what anyone might say. If you’re worried about it, Nora is a sports reporter, and a damn good one. She’ll help change the narrative if necessary. Then there’s her friend, Elle. She is a PR manager for an American football team, well versed in media relations. Do you think for one second she wouldn’t step in if someone dared to speak one negative word about you or Gavin?

“You’re entirely too confident about this.”

“Because since the moment I met you, I wanted more. We can keep it quiet, only telling family, the league, and my club. I can understand wanting to protect Gavin, but I won’t hide away like your brother did. If anyone asks, we don’t have to mention marriage and can tell them we’re dating. I may be one of the best on the pitch, but no one is interested in my dating life here.” He parks in front of an upscale smokehouse I haven’t been to in years. While I love my dress, I would’ve chosen something prettier to wear if he had told me where we were going. Shifting in his seat to face me, he continues, “I want to take you out, to openly hold your hand and kiss you. And, fuck , do I want to kiss you again.”

My eyes fall to his lips, debating on making the first move. I don’t have a moment to consider it when he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger and brings my lips to his. A soft whimper escapes me the moment they touch. He licks the seam of my lips, teasing for entry I ardently grant him, and I fucking melt. What starts as sweet and tender quickly leaves me breathless as we explore each other’s mouths. Any concerns I had about Luc or what we’re doing disappear in this single kiss.

When we break apart, I swipe away my lip gloss from his bottom lip. “Sorry.”

Lucas leans in with a beaming smile and kisses me again, muttering against my lips, “Stop apologising.” He pulls back and while they aren’t as shiny as before, more gloss transferred to his lips, I reach to swipe it away but he grips my wrist and presses a soft kiss to my palm. “Leave it. You’ve marked your territory, pup.”

With a wink, he exits the car and opens my door for me. Like last night, he keeps his hand in mine, but this time he doesn’t release it until he pulls out my chair. Even then, my fingers are interlaced with his again as soon as he’s seated. He’s always been affectionate but never like this. My whole body warms at his touch.

A server comes by and takes our drink order. I try a specialty cocktail with gin and Luc requests a whisky neat. For dinner, I’m deciding between spare ribs and a grilled rib eye, and Lucas suggests he’ll order the ribs so I can try both. The sweet gesture makes my heart ache. How did I not see any of this before? It isn’t just friends sharing a meal, he has always made a point to put my wants and needs first.

“There’s an important conversation we need to have when you aren’t distracted.”

I wince. “I’m sorry.”

“Seriously, stop apologising, pup. A lot has happened since yesterday. It’s okay if you’re still working through it. I was talking to Gav at breakfast and he wanted to know if we could move. We can talk more about it later, but I never want you to think I’m keeping anything from you. For what it’s worth, I think it’s a good idea.”

“Oh.” I chew on my bottom lip. “I don’t think I have it in the budget right now.”

Lucas lets out a full laugh. “My contract is for over half a million euros a year, and that’s before endorsements.”

“That’s your money, Luc.” I lower my voice. “Unless I can afford it on my own, I don’t want to move.”

He squeezes my hand tighter and brings my knuckles to his lips. “You’ll be my wife . I’ll sign whatever I need to sign, so if anything happens, you and Gav get the house. I’ll buy it outright, no financing. It’ll be yours.”

“You can’t buy me a house, that’s?—”

“I’m buying us a house. We don’t need anything as extravagant as your brother’s but I would absolutely put in a small practice pitch. This is my last chance at the Olympics; I’ll want to train as much as possible if I want a shot at playing for Ireland. It’ll keep me closer to home, closer to you, if I don’t have to drive twenty minutes each way to practise or get a quick workout in. We’ve made so many big decisions this weekend, we don’t have to move tomorrow, but will you consider it if we find some place to call our own?”

Just like yesterday, he’s nearly convinced me to join in on his madness in mere minutes. “I’m not opposed to any of it—the marriage, being with you, or moving—but everything is happening so fast.”

Our server drops off our drinks. Once he leaves, Lucas taps his glass with mine and takes a sip. “It is, isn’t it?”

“This isn’t us,” I sigh.

“If I wasn’t forced to leave, and I had only confessed how I feel about you, what would your response have been?”

“I would’ve taken you to bed and had my way with you,” I tease, speaking into my glass.

Luc leans in to whisper, “Do you know how many times I’ve had to talk myself out of stroking my cock as I heard your soft moans through my wall? Each and every night I wished it was me making you come, not a fucking toy.”

Goosebumps trickle down my arms as I suck in a breath. “I was single for over a decade before you moved in. I have needs; you can’t fault me for that.”

“You’re no longer single, pup. I’d happily bend you over and feast on your cunt right here on this table.” He pulls back, taking a sip of his whisky. I stifle a whimper, missing him being so close. “But you’re right, things have been moving quickly. The cunt devouring will have to wait.”

I can’t remember the last time I had a man’s face between my legs. Five, maybe seven years? He can’t actually be thinking about it; he’s having a laugh, likely sneaking one of my romance novels for inspiration. Still, I can’t help the undeniable heat pooling in my belly at the thought of him making me come with his tongue.

“I won’t touch you tonight,” he insists, “but I’d be lying to you and myself if I didn’t admit I want to wake up next to you. This morning was bloody torture knowing you were one wall away.”

After considering it for all of four seconds, I ask, “If I stay in your room, or you in mine, are you going to make a habit of us staying the night together?”

Lucas bites his lip to hide his smile. “If I have any say in it, you’ll be begging me to share a bed with you. Every. Single. Night. When we get home, you’re going to take a long, hot shower, vibrator or no vibrator, your choice. Then, you’ll change into comfortable pyjamas. Not the sexy ones you have, I want you to relax, even if it’s in those hideous black and white plaid ones you own.”

“That mouth of yours would make an arse jealous. They aren’t ugly!”

“They absolutely are. We’ll watch a movie, and you’ll fall asleep in my arms. It’ll be the best night of our lives, and you’ll miss resting your head on my chest all day tomorrow. I have my therapy call first thing in the morning, so I’ll try to not wake you, and likely fail. You’ll forgive me, and tomorrow night you’ll ask me to stay with you again.”

“You’re going to ruin me for all other men, aren’t you?”

“That’s the plan, pup. I’m yours now. You’re stuck with me.”