Chapter 17 Lilly
SEVENTEEN
LILLY
The moment he walks inside my apartment, I jump into his arms, pressing my mouth to his soft, full lips. Everything inside me lights up—a firework of sensations erupts, painting my insides in sparkles.
Backing me into the wall by the door, he cups my face, his tongue tracing over my lips. Parting my mouth, he groans low in his throat, our tongues coming together in a dance of passion. I’m dizzy, feverish, high on all the things he elicits in me.
Closing my eyes, I lose myself in the delicious feeling of his mouth devouring mine. Frenzy ensues. All I wish is for the kiss to never end. I’d be willing to spend my life in his arms while his skilled mouth carries me straight to euphoria.
Our moans and heavy breathing are the only sounds breaking the silence, ringing of pure greed. Every nibble and lick intensifies the pleasure unfolding in my stomach that flutters like crazy.
I am forever trapped by this man who appears out of this world beautiful, strong, talented while I’m his willing captive. He kisses me as if he has been starved for me with raw eagerness and undiluted desperation, matching my own.
This madness we’ve tried to keep locked breaks free. It overflows between us in a river of forbidden lust and carnal desire.
When the kiss ends, I am breathless, still clutching his lapels to hold on and not slip into a dreamlike state I’d never resurface from. I open my eyes to find his hooded with desire. I bite my swollen lip. Feeling him hard against me stirs the ache in my core.
Last night was a wild rollercoaster of highs and lows.
I longed to climb down the stairs and run toward him on the field.
Claim him as my man, but I knew I couldn’t.
Sadness pierced my heart as I stared into the distance for long minutes before Kat and Theo dragged me away so we could catch our flight.
When Ian finally called, I was hurt that I couldn’t be there to celebrate in person with him. I acted on pure impulse as soon as I saw him standing in my doorway.
The fog dissipates in the wake of reason, leaving me unnerved. What did I do?
“Lilly—”
“Don’t,” I whisper, embracing myself.
His throat rumbles with a groan. “If you say that was a mistake, I’ll lose my shit.”
My lips draw in a thin line, not knowing how to save the precarious situation.
“So we’re going to ignore this too?” His voice is an angry growl reverberating through my insides.
I look down, incapable of holding his intense gaze. “We were high on your win.”
“Fine,” he says with a bite of frustration.
Why did I have to give in to temptation? I could cost us the easy-going relationship we have. But again, we are a ticking time bomb due to explode. Something tells me another timer has just been activated.
“I’m sorry,” I sigh, my arms falling to my side, limp.
“Don’t be sorry for something you have wanted to do for a while,” he snaps.
I open my mouth when he cuts me off. “And don’t you dare deny it.
I felt it in every lap of your tongue, in every mold of your body against mine.
If it were up to me, I would take you to bed and fuck you all day long until we’d both forget why we can’t be together.
I’ve reached my limit of accepting this bullshit of an excuse, keeping us apart. We’re both grown-ups.”
And we’re supposed to leave for vacation shortly. Maybe I shouldn’t go.
In one swift moment, he grabs my hands and pins them above my head, backing me against the wall.
“I know what you’re thinking, and if you say it, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you through the airport.”
I jerk my chin at him, hot and bothered by his display of possession. “And what would the people say about your caveman attitude? Not to mention the spectacle we’d make.”
His eyes bore into mine. “They would take one look at my face and know exactly why. Because you drive me crazy.”
“What’s gotten into you?” I huff to mask the real issue. That I am just as annoyed with our unfair situation as he is.
He shoves himself of me. “Stop pretending you don’t know. You have gotten inside me, so fucking deep, you lodged yourself into my damn marrow. Maybe I am done keeping everything bottled up.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, swiftly changing the heated topic. “I’m almost done packing.”
He raises a knowing brow. Dipping his face, he stares me down. “Your ass will be on the plane today. I’ll be ready to go in an hour.”
He disappears behind the closed door, leaving me with the ghost of his lips on mine, an achy body, a jumbled mind, and a hungry heart.
I slump against the door, trying to gather myself. Knowing him, if I’m not ready, he’ll just drag me out—more or less willing—it wouldn’t matter.
I call my best friend and the words rush out, “I kissed him.”
“About time. It had to happen. Actually, it was long overdue.”
“You’re not helping, Kat.”
“What about fucking each other out of your system? Ten days, and when you come back, you continue being just friends.”
That’s actually a good idea. Maybe it’s the forbidden aspect.
Fact is, I need him in my life, but this constant sexual pull between us complicates our friendship.
We’re humans, we have needs—some of them animalistic.
Afterward, we can return to a platonic friendship.
Easy. We could date other people. But thinking about him with someone else breaks my heart.
“You’re considering it. Good,” Kat says, dragging me out of my frayed thoughts.
We end the call, and my dad calls next.
“Congratulations, Dad.”
“Thank you, baby girl,” his voice breaks with emotion. “It was close, but I’m glad the guys pulled it off. I had my doubts about Ian, but he eviscerated them. I just came from a meeting with the owner. They’re planning to extend his contract for two more seasons. But the investment is worth it.”
Two more years with Dad as his head coach. I am happy for Ian, dejected for me.
“That’s great,” I say, pushing through the onslaught of emotions. Maybe this is what we need, these ten days and then… My brain flashes Bad Idea in neon colors, while my heart and body stare in rationality’s face, wearing rose-colored glasses, too opaque to see through.
“Enjoy your vacation.”
“I will. Take care of yourself! Bye, Dad.”
I pack the rest of my stuff and drag the luggage out behind me before letting myself into his loft.
He’s on the phone, lips pursed. “Yes, I accept the offer. Draw up the papers already.”
He disconnects the call. Tossing the phone on the counter, he holds his head between his hands.
“Guess what? I just accepted a contract extension. I’ll be the highest paid quarterback in the history of the NFL.”
I shift on my feet, aware of the implications. “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, congratulations. Except it doesn’t give me what I crave most.” His eyes lock on mine and heat stirs in my core at the insinuation.
There’s no point in dwelling on forbidden territory.
“People will see us at the airport.”
Leaning against the counter, he spreads his legs in a manly, sexy pose even though his brows pinch in frustration. “I rented a private jet.”
My eyes widen, a rush of enthusiasm dulling my gloomy mood. “I’ve never been in one.”
He cocks his head, jerking his chin at me. “Only the best for you, flower girl.”
I am fairly certain that he’d gift me the world if he could. He has done more things for me than my two relationships combined, and we’re not even together.
“Thank you,” I say breathlessly.
Straightening up, he asks, “Are you ready to go?”
At my nod, he smiles and grabs his luggage and mine, saying, “Let’s go!”
Trailing out the door behind him, I know I will always associate the Super Bowl with him and our stolen kiss. Proof of our inability to keep our hands off each other.
We hurry downstairs, where a tinted window town car waits for us. VIP service at its finest.
“I could get used to this,” I say playfully.
He cocks his head, giving me the perfect view of his handsome face drawn in a smirk.
“That can be arranged.”
When the driver parks on the tarmac, I see the sleek private jet waiting for us.
Inside, I take everything in with greedy eyes, from the cream leather seats to the wooden design elements.
The comfortable seat swallows me in, and Ian takes the one in front of me, a shiny mahogany table set between us.
We buckle in, and after the safety instructions, the pilot announces we’re ready for take-off.
My belly knots up with nerves, and I grip the armrests to trick my brain into believing nothing bad could happen.
But everything else fades when our eyes lock.
It’s just him and me in our safe bubble, and I relax instantly.
As the jet chases the sky, butterflies do the same in my chest. I gulp, trying to swallow my need for more.
Once we can take our seatbelts off, Ian jerks his chin toward a couch along the side. I unbuckle and follow him, just wanting to be even closer to him.
A big TV screen spreads across from us and as he scrolls through the movie selections, the flight attendant brings us a bag of popcorn. The flight will take hours, so I cuddle myself against his side, watching an animated movie.
At some point, I must have drifted to sleep because when I wake up, my cheek rests against his chest.
His brows knot together, a pensive look stretching his facial muscles taut.
“What is it?”
He opens his mouth, and my breath hitches in expectancy, but the flight attendant interrupts our moment by informing us we must buckle up as we’re about to land.
As soon as we’re off the jet, the landscape takes my breath away. A green paradise everywhere I look. Sweat rolls down my body as I face the hot and humid atmosphere.
Climbing in the topless Jeep, I stare entranced at the scenery passing by. We drive through a thick jungle, and when we reach our hotel, it’s even more beautiful than in the pictures. We’re surrounded by a lush landscape, and various luxury villas are sprinkled around us, each with a pool.