Chapter Eleven
Harte
We decorated the tree late into the night, in between kisses and telling each other “I love you” too many times to count.
But I didn’t grow tired of it.
After we’d finished and the lights twinkled in the darkened room, Jet laid his head on my shoulder.
“I know you’ve been married, so—”
“Shh.” I laid my fingers on his lips. “It’s never been like this.
Maya and I married young, and we grew apart, wanting different things.
What I have with you is different. It goes bone-deep.
I feel you here.” I took his hand and placed it over my heart.
“And I know if I lost you, I’d lose part of me as well. ”
“That’s beautiful, babe. I feel you there too.” With a smirk, he took my hand and put it on his semi-hard dick. “And here.”
“Pig.” I snorted with laughter, then bent to kiss him. “I’m trying to be all romantic, and you’re all about the D.”
“Mmm. Only your D. It fits perfectly with mine.” He slipped a big arm around my neck and pulled me on top of him.
I loved that we were about the same size and relished it when he tossed me on the bed.
Or in this case, the floor. The fire crackled and hissed, and I narrowed my eyes at the dying flames.
“I need to get more wood from the deck. I’ll be right back.”
I pulled on a pair of socks and my hoodie and traversed the living room, past the kitchen, to open the sliders. I kept a big pile of kindling on the deck and bent to pick up several logs. I heard Jet behind me.
“I had a view of that perfect butt and couldn’t resist.” He cupped me and yanked my sweats past my knees, exposing me to the air.
I’d bought the house and had heaters installed outside so if I wanted to sit and enjoy the yard, I could—even in the cold.
I hadn’t anticipated a lover who’d want to commune with nature, but my rapidly stiffening dick was all for it.
I dropped the wood, spread my legs, and put my hands on the post, offering him my ass.
The head of Jet’s wet and sticky shaft circled my rim. “Gonna rail you against the railing, baby.”
I moaned, wishing Jet was bare inside me so I could feel the creamy slide of him. “Jet,” I panted. “I was wondering…” I hesitated. If I asked him for what I was hoping, would he think I was moving too fast?
“Yeah?” He sounded intent, his fingers playing with me, driving me wild. “Wondering what?”
Nerves jangling, I licked my lips. “Uh, well, my physicals with the team have always been fine. I-I’d really like to go bare with you.” I peered over my shoulder.
Jet’s brows shot up. “Bare? Like no condom?”
I nodded, preparing for him to say no. “If you’re not okay with it, I understand.”
“Baby, I am so ready.” He kissed the dip of my spine and licked along the cleft of my ass. “Thank you for trusting me. I love you so much.”
“I love you. Do it,” I keened, so fucking turned-on, I was swaying and ready to lose it at any moment. My bones were melting as Jet’s lubed fingers played deep within me, and I worked my length until I was crying out in the darkness. “Fucking do it already.”
Jet held my hips and sank his hard, hot cock all the way in me with one thrust.
“Oh fuck, that’s so goddamn good,” he groaned, and he pumped in and out of me as I fisted my aching length. Fascinated, I watched my come splatter on the deck floor while Jet drove into me again and again until he came with a harsh, guttural cry that echoed into the night.
We stood panting and shaking in the aftermath. Jet slipped out of me and I could feel wetness running down my legs, and I trembled. I had part of Jet in me, and nothing had ever been so right.
“You get the wood. I need to clean up.”
“Mmm.” He mapped the globes of my ass with his hands, and I quivered. “Not gonna lie. Seeing you all messy like this is a huge turn-on.”
“Well, cool it for a while, killer,” I joked. “I’m not as young as I used to be—I need time to recover.”
He smirked. “We have all night.”
I pulled up my sweats and patted his face. “We’ve got a lot longer than that.” I kissed him. “Now go make me a fire, country boy.” Laughing, I left him to pick up the logs while I showered and changed.
The morning was perfect. Jet made us breakfast while I checked my to-do list for the day. I loaded the dishwasher while he got his keys, phone, and wallet together.
“I’ll give you a ride to the dealership.”
“Nope. People will wonder why you’re with me so much. Your tour starts when?”
“Twelve to eight this week.”
“I’ve got some calls to make this morning anyway, and then I’ll take a car to the dealership and pick it up.”
“But you’re coming tonight to decorate, right?”
“Yep. I’ll be there at eight thirty?”
He kissed me at the door. “Perfect.”
I watched him drive away and went to make the bed and clean up the leftover decorations from the evening.
We’d done a good job—aside from the sparkling tree, we’d hung several wreaths, set poinsettias around the living room, and draped evergreen with big red velvet bows on the mantel.
I planned to copy Dev and Brody and get stockings for Jet and myself.
I saw by the clock on the stove that it was getting late, and I had things to do.
My heart beat double time, and I was transported to my rookie year when I’d stepped out on the field for my first game.
But now I had the force of Dev and Brody’s friendship behind me, and more importantly, Jet’s love.
If not this, it would be something else.
I picked up my phone and placed a call.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Keller. This is Harte McKinney from the Kings. Remember me?”
He chuckled. “Sure as hell do, especially that touchdown pass you threw that knocked my team out of the playoffs. How’s it going? I heard through the grapevine you were gonna be a scout for the Kings?”
I laughed along with him. “Man, the news travels fast. Yeah, I am, plus I’m living in your neck of the woods.”
“No shit? Where?”
“Appleton Falls. Only about twenty miles away from you.”
“Dude, that’s awesome. We’ll have to get together.”
“I’d love it. Let me tell you why I called.” I laid out what I was planning and waited for his reaction.
“That sounds pretty solid. We’ve got some great players who aren’t going to the big ten teams or the southern powerhouses, but they’re definitely tracking right for the pros if they get into a good college program.
I keep in touch with a lot of my kids even after they leave high school, and there are some top prospects around here. ”
“That’s what I’m looking for. Maybe we can meet when you’re on winter break and discuss.”
“Yeah. My husband, stepson, and I are going away for a week, but I’ll send you the dates I’m free, and we’ll work it out. I’ll invite Elijah Randolph as well. He’s my offensive coach.”
Husband. That had a nice ring to it. I wondered if Jet would ever want to get married. Have kids. A whole new world I’d never imagined was now possible and within reach.
“Sounds like a plan, my man. Looking forward to working with you.”
“Same. I’m glad you called, Harte.”
“Me too. Talk to you soon, and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too.”
I repeated the same conversation throughout the morning with football coaches from the various schools I knew had programs but weren’t often scouted.
I ate a sandwich while going through my lists.
The coaches were thrilled to hear from me and gave me their schedules and players to follow.
I slowly filled up my calendar. The next time I checked my watch, I was shocked to see it was close to five.
I saved all my documents and notes and shut it down for the day. Time to pick up my ride.
I entered the showroom, Pete came running to me, greeting me with the biggest smile. “God, Harte. I can’t thank you enough. I almost didn’t believe it when we received a call this morning from Hearts and Hands that Emily’s treatments will be fully paid for.”
“I’m thrilled. I just spoke to my football buddies, and they worked it out.”
“You have no idea…” He covered his eyes for a moment, then held out his hand. “Thank you. Plus, we heard that an anonymous donor is going to wipe out all our medical bills and take care of them going forward. That’s more than a quarter of a million dollars right now. God bless whomever that was.”
Dev and Brody were their Christmas angels, but I merely nodded and shook his hand. “Whatever you need.”
“This has taken all the worries we had over Emily’s care off our shoulders. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just be there for your little girl, and hopefully she’ll get well.”
Pete kept shaking my hand. “Your car is ready. Just sign the papers, and she’s all yours.” He led me to his office.
With the title and insurance papers tucked into an envelope, I took the keys, and Pete brought me out to the lot, where the silver beauty awaited. “Perfect. Thank you again.”
“You’re the best. Bless you and Merry Christmas.”
I started the engine, and the car purred to life.
I drove it out and took the road home. I did have a bit of a flashback when I passed the spot where I’d crashed, but I ignored the pounding of my heart and made it home without incident.
Jet still had more than two hours left on his tour, but I thought it would be nice to have dinner waiting. I texted him, but it remained unread.
“Guess he’s busy. Well, Italian’s always a good choice.”
I drove to his place, let myself in with the key, and stretched out on the couch. Might as well take a nap while I waited. I closed my eyes.
I had no idea how long I slept, waking up to the sound of a key in the lock. Expecting Jet, I sat up with a smile, ready to greet him.
Instead, Jet’s mother walked in.