Chapter 28
brEAKING: DENIAL ERA COMES TO A VERY SATISFYING END Mutual feelings confirmed under steamy conditions
Tanner
“I just need to take a shower and then I’ll be ready to go,” I say as I enter my hotel suite with Alaia.
“I’ll watch TV while you get ready. Assuming you don’t need an hour to get showered.”
“I don’t need an hour unless you want to join me.”
I’m joking but her eyes heat as she rakes her gaze over my body. I look like hell. I’m covered in sand and dirt from cleaning the beach all day.
She glances down at her body. “I could use a shower.”
I don’t hesitate. It’s been entirely too long since I explored her curves. Since I sank into her body. My cock twitches at the memories.
I wrap my arms around her and draw her near. “Are you sure?”
“No. Not in the least.”
I drop my arms and step back. I kiss her nose. “I’ll be out in ten minutes.”
“You’re not going to push me?”
He scowls. “Of course not. I don’t push women. No means no.”
She sighs. “Do you have to be this perfect?”
I start to puff out my chest but I stop. This is serious. Our relationship is serious. I need to tell her how I feel. And I will but not this way. She deserves roses and champagne. Silk sheets and my undivided attention.
“I’m not perfect. But I’m trying to be a better man.” For her. Always for her.
Her nose wrinkles. “Right. The scandal. The whole reason we started this charade to begin with.”
“It doesn’t feel like a charade to me anymore.” It hasn’t for a long time.
“Me either.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Alaia doesn’t want a fake relationship? She wants something real? With me?
“What do you mean? What do you want?” I need her to give me the words. I need to hear her say she wants me as much as I want her.
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. You’re still leaving in a few weeks. And I’m still stuck here.”
“You love this island.” She can’t deny it. She spent one of her few off days cleaning a beach. It was obvious how important it is to her. Which is why I stopped laughing and joking. I didn’t want to offend her.
“I do. And Smuggler’s Hideaway will always be home.
But it’s not where I want to live now. I want to get a serious job as a journalist – finally.
I’m tired of fluff pieces.” Her shoulders sag.
“But I’m not good enough. Dad had to get me the job at Smuggler’s Gazette, and the sports magazine didn’t want my article on Coach Knox. ”
I palm her cheeks. “Gorgeous, I’ve told you this before, but I will tell you again and again until I’m blue in the face.
You are good enough. The articles you write for the Smuggler’s Gazette have the highest readership of the newspaper.
Most of my team has subscribed to the newspaper just to read them.
And the sports magazine does want your work.
I bet if you rework the article, they’ll accept it. ”
She frowns. “You don’t know that.”
“And neither do you until you try. Have you been working on the article?”
She glances away. I grasp her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “Gorgeous.”
She huffs out a breath. “I’m stuck.”
“Writer’s block?” She nods. “Okay. How do you usually get unstuck? Go for a bike ride? Have a drink with friends? What do you need? How can I help?”
She studies me for a moment. “Actually, there’s one thing you can do to help.”
“What is it? Whatever you need, I can get for you.”
“I need to stop my brain from thinking for a while. I need to not think about anything.”
“Hmm… I know one way to stop your brain, but I don’t want to push you.”
She chews on her bottom lip as she contemplates me. “Do you agree this fake relationship doesn’t feel fake anymore?”
“I do.” In fact, I love her. But those words are for later.
“Good.”
She steps back and whips off her t-shirt, revealing a hot pink bikini top. Correction – tiny, hot pink bikini top. One tug on the knot around her neck is all it needs to fall down and reveal her gorgeous breasts to me.
I fist my hands at my hips. I won’t touch her until I hear her say she wants me.
“This is me saying yes. A big, bright sign flashing yes.”
I throw her over my shoulder. She giggles. “What are you doing?”
“My dirty girl needs a shower.”
“I do. I do need a shower.” Her voice is all breathy. Probably because I’m massaging her ass.
We reach the bathroom and I set her down on the vanity. I fiddle with the knot holding up her bikini top.
“You are temptation rolled up in a pretty package.”
She opens her arms wide. “You should probably open up the pretty package.”
She doesn’t need to tell me twice. I tug on the knot and her top falls down, revealing her perky breasts. I glide a finger around her nipples and she shivers. I love how sensitive she is. It makes teasing her such fun.
She arches her back. “Touch me.”
“I am touching you.”
“Touch the good parts.”
“Hmm…this silky smooth skin is one of the good parts.”
“You’re mean.”
“Don’t worry, gorgeous. I will get you off. You’ll come multiple times. But I want to play a bit first.”
She sticks out her bottom lip in a pout.
“Do you not enjoy me touching you?”
“I enjoy it more when you touch the good parts.”
I chuckle. “Who’s my impatient girl?”
“I’m a woman, and it’s been weeks since I had a non-self-induced orgasm.”
“Sounds like you have a problem only I can solve.” Because no one else is touching Alaia. No one else gets to experience how it feels when she squeezes me tight. What her little moans and sighs sound like. It’s all for me.
“Yes.” She reaches for my waistband. “You can solve it.”
She snaps open my jeans and draws the zipper down before shoving her hand in my underwear. She squeezes my hard length and I moan. She has a strong grip – the way I prefer it.
“You are a minx.”
“You want me as much as I want you.”
I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of her pumping my cock. I want to show her what she means to me. I want to worship her body. But I’m too excited. I can’t wait.
“Let go and put your hands on the vanity. Lift up your hips.”
As soon as she follows my directions, I rip her shorts and bikini bottoms down her legs. I glide my hands up her legs to reach her core.
“You’re already wet for me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Duh. You whipped off your t-shirt at the beach and walked around with your chest on display most of the day.”
“I was hot.”
“And sweaty. I especially enjoyed the sweaty part.”
“Prepare to get sweaty yourself,” I say as I shove my shorts and underwear down my thighs. My cock juts out, aiming for Alaia, the object of its fascination.
I notch my cock at her entrance. But before I enter her, I meld my lips to hers. I want the taste of her on my tongue while I sink deep into her.
I inch inside. I moan at the feel of her surrounding me. Her walls flutter around me and I fist my hands on the vanity before I pound into her.
“You feel good,” I whisper against her lips. “Better than…Shit.”
Her eyes fly open. “What’s wrong? Are you dizzy? Nauseous?”
“I’m fine, gorgeous. But I forgot a condom.”
She purses her lips. “You’re not feeling sick and not telling me?”
I palm her neck and lay my forehead against hers. “I would never lie to you about being sick.”
Especially not after her reaction on the field the other day. I know she worries. I’ve seen the looks she sends me when she doesn’t think I’m looking.
“Okay.” She motions to where our bodies are still connected. “Proceed. You promised multiple orgasms.”
“I’m bare, gorgeous.”
“And I’m on the pill. We’re good.”
“Are you sure? I’ve never been with a woman without a condom before.”
Her eyes narrow. “Does this mean you’re going to be a one-pump wonder?”
I growl. “I’m not a one-pump wonder.”
“Good. You may proceed.”
“I promise I’m clean. I had a medical at the start of training camp.”
She places a hand on my cheek. “I know and I trust you.”
She trusts me. Those words feel good. Nearly better than her admitting this relationship isn’t a charade. That we’re no longer fake.
I can’t wait to tell her I love her. But not now. I have more important things to do now. I promised to make her forget about her worries and I will. Starting now.
I sink into her until my balls slap her ass. I grit my teeth and count backwards from one-hundred before I explode.
I need to take care of Alaia first. Make sure she comes and experiences the pleasure only I will give her from now on.
Because this relationship is more than ‘not a charade’. It’s everything.