Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
GARRETT
“ F uck going to Disney World. I’d rather stay here.”
I smirked as I waved down the bartender and ordered another round. “ You may love the Vegas nightlife, Harris,” I said as I passed him a glass. My defensive coach was young and cocky but damn good at his job. Hence the whole celebrating winning the Championship and Disney World reference, which Sebastian, the Fury QB, and his bromance fucking tight end, Ty, screamed into the camera as confetti rained down around the stadium when the clock hit zero. “But not everyone wants Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”
Harris raised his glass and shook his head. “Dude, that ride isn’t there anymore. How old are you?”
I stabbed a finger in his face, but he only grinned. “Fuck you.”
“I like you, Coach, but I’m eyeing that girl over there. Maybe I should ask her if she wants to try out Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride?” He pointed with his glass at a group of girls giggling and dancing near the edge of the dance floor. The tall blonde tilted her head as she caught him looking at her and wagged her fingers, then tossed her head back with a laugh. Her dark haired friend rolled her eyes but laughed along, lips curled into a beautiful smile. Sunset eyes caught mine for a split second.
Something about her was familiar, nagged at my brain, but then Harris elbowed me. He downed the rest of the amber liquid, set his glass on the smooth bartop, and patted me on the shoulder. “And that’s my cue. Try and loosen your tie for a bit. You deserve to have a little fun, Garrett.”
I snorted as he walked away, but fuck if I my eyes didn’t lock on the dark haired beauty, dancing and ignoring everyone as Harris neared the gaggle of woman. Girls. Fuck.
The flashing lights reflecting off the shiny material clinging to their bodies, leaving little to the imagination, as they wiggled and moved to the pulsating music in the overstimulating Vegas nightclub. She was gorgeous, the blue of her dress like a damn beacon I couldn't ignore. The innocence in every movement of her body as she closed her eyes and moved shot straight to my dick. It wasn’t a seduction like the girl who wrapped her arms around Harris.
Fuck, maybe I was too old for this shit. Definitely too old to be creeping on a group of young girls with one of my coaches.
A few of my players and Damon Ward, a former Olympic Gold Medalist turned trainer, came up and ordered another round. I let myself loosen up a bit, because these guys worked their asses off and deserved every toast and moment of celebration.
An hour and one more drink later, I waved down the bartender and handed my card to close down my tab. The music thrummed a seductive rhythm and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was thinking about her. Those eyes. The image of her on her knees on front of me, looking up while she-
I shook myself mentally. Fuck, I either needed to get laid, cut myself off, or get the fuck out of here before I did something-
“Excuse me,” a female voice interrupted my thoughts and yep, my dick started to get excited, but when I looked to the left, it was the blonde Harris had deserted me for. I cocked a brow as the bartender came back with my card and a slip for me to sign. She took the hint, but glanced over shoulder at where Harris stood, a smirk on his face, and said, “I think my friend feels like a third wheel, and no pressure, but Harris thought you could maybe-”
“No.”
“But it’s her birthday, and she-”
“Birthday?”
The blonde nodded, and when I dared to look over her shoulder, there she was. The object of every fantasy I’d had running through my mind while the guys went on and on for the last hour.
“Yep. All you have to do is dance with her. Or whatever, but let her ask you to dance, it’s a thing,” her friend cajoled. “She’s-”
“Ok.” I didn’t wait for her response. Grabbing my drink, I made my way through the crowd, bodies writhing and obviously enjoying themselves as they imbibed far more than I had. OR maybe it was her killing the buzz and making the world clear. Beeline to target. If there was one thing I understood, it was how to get in the end zone.
And score.
Her hips swayed, head thrown back. A small smile played on her lips. She barely came up to my shoulder, even with the heels she wore. And trust me I saw them, admired the way they made her legs and ass so fucking gorgeous that I wanted to murder anyone who looked at her. I suppressed the urge to get caveman on a girl I saw for the first time tonight, because hello, creeper mode is not my M.O.
Mouth near her ear, I asked, “If a guy wanted to dance, and nothing more, how would he act so you’d say yes?”
Eyes wide and sparkling either with excitement or the effects of the drink in her hand, she raked her gaze over me so innocently that my dick decided he liked it far too much. When she bit her lip, I suppressed the growl that threatened to crawl out of me like a man claiming his stake on something he didn’t want anyone else to have. Making sure there was ample enough space between us to not scare her off, yet stay close enough that any other douchebag wouldn’t get the wrong idea and try to do something I’d most likely get thrown out for.
“He’d,” she said, her tongue darted out as her lips moved, entrancing me and making me imagine them parting with every gasp, moan, and whimper as I filled her completely and marked her on the inside as mine. Even for one night. She shrugged one shoulder. “Wait for me to decide.”
“Fair enough,” I said, tamping down the desire to ask her, because if this sweet girl wanted to be the one to ask on her fucking birthday, then I’d wait. The music continued its sensual mesmerizing tempo, her body moving to the beat. But I waited.
Her head canted to the side. “Really?”
I nodded, knowing patience was a fucking virtue even if inside, I was like caged animal. That’s the advantage of age, I supposed.
She watched me with curious eyes as I took a drink, then smiled. “You want to just dance with me,” her eyes told me she didn’t quite believe me.
“Ask me to dance,” I demanded gently but with enough command that her pupils dilated as she moved closer to hear my next words, “and I’ll let you know if there’s anything else I’d like to do with you. But, if you want just a dance, then it’s just a dance.”
That was bullshit, because this girl made me want more than just a simple dance.
Patience. Not every punt return ends up in the end zone. It was all about setting up for the next set of plays, if you were smart.
And I was the best.
“Dance with me?” she asked, a shy smile on her lips, her hair swaying as moved and stepped in closer.
I smirked and set my empty glass on the table behind her, catching a whiff of her sweet scent. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Her laughter filled my ears and she moved to the beat, turning and closing her eyes. Our bodies moved in sync, and she fit so fucking well into my arms that I knew I wanted more than just a dance.
I wanted her in my bed.
Time froze and sped up in a simultaneous collision, every second ticking away like a countdown to the end of the night, when she’d slip away from me and I’d never see her again. Never know how she sounded when she came, or how her laughter sounded without the background of the relentless beat of a Vegas nightclub.
Bodies moved in sync, as if we’d already spent hours together. Her petite frame and curves in places that begged to be gripped as her body was worshipped and taken over and over. Fuck, I’d probably come from just staring at her. Song after song, our bodies moved, becoming more and more comfortable as she wrapped her arms around my neck. Her eyes widened when my erection rubbed against her belly, but then she licked her lips. I kept my hands under check, not wanting to be like some fucking teenager or frat boy that couldnt control himself. But she only moved in closer and whispered in my ear, “Can we get a drink?” Her gaze went to the less crowded bar off to the side of the dancefloor, eyes hopeful.
I nodded. “Follow me, sweet girl.” I took her hand in mine, and kept her close behind me as I cleared the way through the crowd until we reached the bar.
“I’ll have what you’re having,..?”
“Garrett,” I supplied as I ordered two waters and two Falling Leaves Bourbons on the rocks.
Her face lit up. “Maren. And it’s my birthday,” she grinned. Adorable and as sexy as fuck.
“It is?” I said, pretending to be surprised. Over her shoulder, I caught a glimpse of her friend and Harris, making out on the dancefloor. The bartender came back with two bottles of water, and the bourbon. I handed her one after twisting off the cap. “Drink.” She took the water, and dutifully took a drink as she watched me. Swallowing and never breaking eye contact. “SO, what do you want for your birthday?”
She put the cap back on the bottle, and then accepted the amber filled glass. “You really want to know?”
“Absofuckingloutely. Gives me a chance to make a birthday wish come true,” I added, glass raised. “And happy birthday, sweet girl.”
She clicked her glass to mine, and took a sip. I watched over the rim as she licked her lips. “Well, I do have a list. Think of it like a game of Truth or Dare.”
“An entire birthday list?”
“Not just for my birthday,” she laughed. “But, you did check off one thing from my list.”
“Let me guess, find a stranger on a dancefloor who will toast your birthday?”
Her smile lit up her face, and lightning shot to my dick. Fuck, much more of this and I’d come in my fucking pants like a teenager. “No, you asked me to dance. That was number five.”
“How many things are on this list?” I asked, genuinely curious.
She took another long drink of the bourbon I ordered for her, and I looked pointedly at the water as I took her glass so she could take another drink. Fuck, she listened far too well for me to maintain my practiced self control. “Ten.”
“And how many of them are you planning on checking off?”
She ticked off her fingers as she counted. “One, two, three. In no particular order.”
“Seven to go?”
“I’m not sure I’ll cross all of them off my list.”
I cocked my head as I drained my glass. She did the same. I waved for another round. “Why not?”
She placed her elbows behind her on the bar as I stepped in front of her. Her breasts pushed forward like a fucking offering and it took everything I had to not cup them and feel the weight of them in my hands. Mark them with my teeth. “A few aren’t…realistic? I made it after a bottle of champagne. Probably not the best decision I’ve ever made, but my friends made fun of the first few.”
“Realistic or not, if you want to do them, you shouldn’t be ashamed of making a list. Even if you don’t cross them off, you shouldn’t be afraid of wanting… things, Maren.” I loved the way her name sounded. Our drinks arrived, and as we toasted, I cajoled, “Tell me a few. Maybe I can help cross off the not-so-realistic ones.”
She worried her lips, then drained the glass. Her eyes widened as she swallowed and held up her hand when I gave her a look of disapproval for downing the whole damn thing. “Liquid courage, right?” After sucking in a breath, she continued. “Tattoo.” She showed me her forearm, where a line of script looked freshly inked on her skin. ‘ Non Ho Rimorsi ’. “Ask a stranger to dance. Stay out all night dancing.”
“Those are the three you’ve checked off, sweet girl. Tell me the other ones.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed again. Eyes wide and darkening with desire. Unconsciously moving in closer as I put my hand on the bar behind her, caging her in on one side. “Have a one night stand and get married in Vegas. Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Candyce, that’s my friend, says you can get married in Vegas without a license and it isn’t legal. See? Not realistic. Because who gets married in Vegas to somebody they just met and then-”
Fuck. Me. “Marry me.”
Lips parted in surprise. “What?”
I smirked, my mouth inches away from hers. “Marry me in Vegas. Then we can see about the other part. Think of it as my dare.”
“Really?” Her breath teased my lips, and I bit back a groan at how sweet and innocent yet sexy she sounded, breathless and needy.
“Fuck yes.”