Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
T essa
He winks and rocks his hips forward, eliciting a moan from deep inside my chest. He looked all too serious there for a minute and, if it had not been for the fact that he was buried deep inside me, I might have wondered if he was regretting this.
However, I know that’s not the case. Not now that he’s moving—pulling out and pushing back in, taking his time teasing me.
“Now’s not the time for games, Barker. Let’s leave that out on the field, ’kay?” I tap my hands against his rock-hard chest, which is vibrating with laughter.
“I never knew sex could be fun.”
“Oh, it’s fun all right. Once we get to the good stuff.” I lift my hips, seeking more of him.
“We have all night.”
I nod. “Okay, and we have an entire box of condoms, so let’s move this along, shall we?”
“I suddenly feel used.” He pulls almost all the way out, and I groan as he pushes back in. There is humor in his voice, so I don’t bother to comment.
“That, more of that,” I urge him instead.
I wasn’t kidding when I said it feels as though we’ve had weeks of foreplay and then last night…
last night was something off the charts.
Sexy and comforting. He kept his word; he never tried to move things past kissing and roaming hands.
Part of me hates to admit it, but I was testing him.
He didn’t seem upset or aggravated; he didn’t even mention sex. He was perfectly content.
He tilts his head and presses his lips to mine.
It’s sloppy and filled with an urgency I’ve never felt before.
His thrusts increase in speed, and all I can do is hang on.
Sliding my hands under his arms, I grip his back.
My nails bite into his skin, but he doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, it seems to spur him on.
My entire body is on fire, and I have electricity coursing through my veins. My release starts to build, the ache growing with each thrust of his hips. “Don’t stop,” I manage to force the words out.
“You wanted fast. That’s what you’re getting. I’m so fucking close. Your pussy is squeezing the fuck out of my cock,” he pants.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to respond, but I can’t because when he swivels his hips and hits that spot—you know the one that makes your legs quiver and has you feeling as though you’re free-falling off a cliff? Yeah, that spot—and all I can do is bite down on my lip and hold on for the fall.
“Fuck, Tess,” he grits out, slamming into me hard, and the fall that was on the horizon is here.
My nails dig deeper, my back arches off the bed, and my legs hold tight as my release washes through me.
On and on, tremors rock my body until there’s nothing left.
I want to fall back into the mattress and revel in it, but he’s not done.
Landon breaks free, pushing my legs backward, holding on to the backs of my calves, and hammers into me.
A few quick thrusts and he’s clenching his jaw, calling out my name as he releases inside me.
When he finally stills and lowers my legs, he bends to kiss my lips.
I feel him start to pull away, so I lock my arms and legs around him, holding him close.
I’m not ready to lose this connection. This feeling of being his.
It’s more than just intimacy, more than just sex.
It’s… everything. He’s everything, and it’s this moment I know I’m in deep.
There is no chance of me keeping my heart out of this.
I’m already too invested. I was only kidding myself thinking that keeping him at arm’s length would prevent a broken heart.
Maybe we’ll live happily ever after?
Not that I believe in fairy tales. I grew up without a father and with a mother who was still in love with a man she had only known for a week.
That’s not very fairy tale-ish. It’s real, and in a way, I’m glad.
I didn’t grow up with some unrealistic expectations of love and relationships.
Life is hard; relationships are just as difficult, and it takes work. I’m willing to put in the work.
“I gotta take care of this.” He drops a kiss to my forehead and slowly disentangles his body from mine.
I immediately miss the connection. Grabbing the blanket, I pull it up over my naked body to ward off the cold. It’s a poor excuse for a replacement, but it will have to do. Closing my eyes, I replay what we just shared, trying to catalog every movement to my memory.
“Hey.” Landon’s soft voice has me opening my eyes. “Let’s shower.” He pulls the covers back, stands, and lifts me into his arms.
“What is it with you carrying me around all the time?”
“I like you in my arms, Freckles.”
When he says it like that, I can’t be annoyed he’s packing me around like a caveman would, and the nickname…
well, that’s growing on me, too. When we enter the bathroom, it’s already steamed up from the hot water.
Landon steps inside, taking full advantage of the open walk-in space with me still in his arms.
“How are you going to shower while holding me?”
He chuckles, a deep sound that vibrates through his chest. “You think I can play football while holding you?” he asks, kissing the tip of my nose.
“Nope. I think the team and your coach might have something to say about that.”
“But everything is better—life is better when you’re in my arms.”
Who needs hot water? I melt from his words. “Sweet talker.” I pinch his side, and he wiggles, finally relenting and setting me on my feet.
“Not fair.” He pouts, and I have to admit, it’s adorable. He reaches for me, but I step back before he can make contact.
“Shower,” I remind him. “We’re never getting out of here if you don’t keep your hands to yourself.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
“Yes.” I laugh, dodging his advances again. “I have to work tomorrow, and you have practice.”
“Let’s call in sick.”
“Are you even allowed to do that?” I ask, reaching for the body wash.
“Sure, it happens, but not very often. Most of us play through it.”
“We’re not calling in sick. We’re going to shower and then go to bed.”
“So bossy,” he taunts. I turn to rinse, and he smacks my ass.
“Hey.” I whip around to stare at him over my shoulder. He doesn’t look the least bit apologetic. “You better watch your back, Barker,” I tease.
“Bring it, baby.” He quirks his brow at me in challenge.
Turning back to face the wall, I finish rinsing off before stepping out of the shower.
I managed not to get my hair wet. Not that it really matters, as it’s still mostly wet from my earlier shower.
After quickly drying off, I make my way back to the bedroom and find his T-shirt on the floor.
Sliding it over my head, I slip under the covers.
It’s hard to believe tonight was our first time together.
He feels so familiar, like we’ve been intimate with one another for years.
“You good?” he asks from the doorway of the bathroom.
“Yes.”
He turns off the lights and, in a few long strides, is standing on what is now his side of the bed.
He reaches for the lamp, clicking the knob and bathing the room in darkness.
The covers rustle, the bed dips, and I’m being pulled into his embrace.
His arms wrap around me, and I let my body relax into his. “Night, baby,” he says softly.
“Night.” As soon as I close my eyes, I feel sleep start to take over. I’ve never felt more content than I do when I’m in his arms.
This week has been magical and exciting and too damn fast. My days have been filled with fielding phone calls, taking care of the animals, and making sure we have everything we need for Saturday’s adoption event.
My nights have been filled with Landon. We’ve stayed at my place twice and at his the rest of the week.
Our lives are so different, yet we’ve still managed to intertwine them.
At least for now. It’s only been a week.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” he asks me.
We’re at his place. I’m perched on the island, watching him put toppings on our homemade pizza he just whipped up. He’s gorgeous, kind, loving, sexy, has a good career, and he cooks. I hit the boyfriend jackpot.
“Yeah, I think so. We’re hoping it’s a huge success.”
“What happens if all the animals are adopted?”
“That gives us room for more. We get calls daily that we have to turn away because we’re out of room.”
“I don’t know why that surprises me. I guess out of sight, out of mind. I never really gave much thought to so many animals needing homes.”
“Few people do. But, Landon, with one simple Tweet, you’ve brought the awareness to an entirely different level. Then Jeremy tweeted and your teammates. I’m a little worried we’re not going to be able to handle the crowds.”
“Nah, it’s going to be great. There’s something I want to talk to you about, though.”
“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good. We’ve barely started this boyfriend-girlfriend thing.”
“No.” He reaches for a dish towel and wipes off his hands, then places them on my thighs.
“It’s nothing like that. You’re stuck with me.
But it does involve us. You see, I’m sure the press is going to be there with all of this publicity.
They’ve been calling the main office, asking for quotes all week.
They’re going to ask me why the sudden interest, and I want to be honest with them. ”
“Okay. That doesn’t seem so bad.”
“They’re going to know who you are, Tess.
You’re no longer going to be the ‘rumored’ new girl seen sliding into my SUV.
They’re going to know where you work, your name, and that you’re my girlfriend.
With that comes the tabloids; some are good, most are not.
They like to start shit and spread rumors, anything to sell a paper. I don’t want to lose you over this.”
“What? That’s crazy. You’re not going to lose me over some stupid tabloid.”