30. Joey
30
Joey
I look up, startled, as Brent follows me into the storage room later that day when I go for supplies. Most of the players have left to get an early start on their time off, and the staff is finishing up before they also leave.
“What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, he locks the door, pushes me against it, and takes my mouth in a hungry kiss. Starving for the taste of him, I respond, not realizing he’s undone my pants until he’s pulling them down with my panties as he drops to his knees. I almost fall over when he lifts one of my bound feet to put on his thigh, and I grab his head for balance.
“Brent! What are you—”
My breath—and any thought of protesting—leave me in a rush at the first touch of his lips. He goes down on me, hard and fast. His agile tongue knows exactly what I like and how I like it. I fist one hand in his hair and the other against my own lips to stop the sounds escaping me when I go flying over the edge a short while later.
My brain starts functioning again when he takes his mouth away after one last lick. I manage to pull my pants up before sliding down the door, completely boneless. Brent swivels and sits against the door, lifting me onto his lap.
“What was that for?” I ask, still breathless. My arms are weightless as I put them around his broad shoulders. I let my head fall against his chest. After my explosive release, I just want to cuddle into his body and take a nap.
“To remind you we’re not done yet.” He lifts my face to press a firm kiss on my mouth. “And that I’m the only snack you’ll need, anytime you’re craving one.”
“Huh. Looks like you’re the one who just snacked.”
“That was more like dessert.” He smiles and licks his lips. “Sweet as honey.”
Despite what he just did to me, I can’t help the blush at his words. He kisses me again.
“But I’m still starving for the full meal. I haven’t had one in what feels like forever.”
“Really?”
“What does that mean?” He frowns at me.
Treading carefully, I say, “I’m not…I guess I thought since we haven’t seen—”
“You thought I’d sleep with someone else because you were too busy to…take care of my needs? You think I’m a sex addict or something?”
His outrage tells me I’ve truly offended him, so I try to lighten the moment. “Well, the last time we were alone, you did take me against a wall at a club. And now, here we are, sitting in a storage closet.”
He stares at me for a moment, eyes narrowed and mouth tight, but when I smile at him, the corner of his mouth lifts in a grudging half smile.
“Okay, you have a point. And ‘take’ you?” He grins when I smack his shoulder at his teasing. “But I haven’t had time either. In case you forgot, I’ve been here almost 24-7 for two weeks. I’ve been taking care of actual business on my time off.”
Against my better judgment, I give in to my insecurities and blurt, “But not the week before that.”
“The week before? I was either on a plane or in meetings—or trying to catch up on sleep.”
“Oh.”
“Oh? What does that mean?”
I hesitate, unsure if I should admit what I’d assumed.
“Josie?”
I face him, nervous about his reaction. “I saw a picture of you with a woman. It wasn’t the first time you’d been photographed with her.”
Storm clouds are gathering in his eyes, pushing out the blue. “And what? You thought I cheated on you?”
“Well, no. It’s not cheating if we…if our…arrangement…is over.” I stumble over my words, sensing him becoming more tense.
“Over? When did we say this was over?” he growls, his arms tightening around me.
I search his face, hope filling me. “We’re not? I assumed when I—”
“You assumed?” His eyes narrow. “Instead of talking to me?”
I cup his face. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s true what they say about assuming. Well, I’ve definitely made an ass of myself. I’m sorry,” I say again, kissing him softly. He returns the kiss, but his lips form a smile against my mouth.
“You said ‘ass.’” He grins.
Biting my lip, I hide my face against his chest. I don’t care if other people say them, but I’ve always felt uncomfortable swearing or using explicit words…not that ass is either. I’m not sure where it came from, but right now I feel like an idiot—and an ass.
“Earlier, when you were treating me, I was thinking about hearing you talk dirty, and it was having an effect on me. And the thought of you massaging me was too much. That’s why I wanted to wait for Mickey.”
He kisses me again, this time in apology. “But I’m definitely giving you a lesson in dirty talk later. And let me know the next time you need another reminder that we are very much not over,” he continues, “like when you feel like cozying up to that asshole at lunch.”
“If you’re talking about Luc, how can he be an asshole if he speaks so highly of you?”
I inwardly do a happy dance at the hint of jealousy when he mentions Luc, someone I’d been intimidated by at first since he was the star of the team and movie-star famous, not to mention almost as gorgeous as Brent. I can’t figure out his ethnicity since I can see hints of different ones. Black, Caucasian, and maybe Latino too? It all blends together into a striking face, enhanced by the most amazing hazel eyes.
Despite his looks, there’s only one man who’s ever done it for me. But Luc puts me at ease with his Southern charm and friendly smile, and, for some reason, often asks me to treat him.
“He’s actually a genuinely nice guy,” I say when Brent just grunts in response because he knows it’s true. “And we’ve gotten to be friends too. We were talking about a personal problem he’s having.”
Brent scoffs. “Friends. Right. And what’s the personal problem? An STD?”
I laugh. “Personal as in private and confidential.”
“So you’re his…what? Psychotherapist now as well as his physical therapist? It’s not enough you put your hands on him all the time while he flirts with you?”
“It’s crazy I’m even saying this about a super star like him, but I’m his friend.” I kiss Brent on the cheek before standing to zip up my khakis.
“What happened to the scarves and cover-ups you used to hide behind?” He lowers his gaze to my breasts.
“Somehow they weren’t in my things when I unpacked.” I narrow my eyes at him, and his grin confirms he put them in storage during the move. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about how much I liked seeing your curves. Stupid me. I forgot that meant everyone else can too,” he grumbles.
I left my hair down at first, but it wasn’t feasible to keep doing that in the heat. Thanks to Brent and his open and wholehearted appreciation of my body, I’ve been able to get past my self-consciousness—mostly. I’m still learning to ignore any lingering looks at my chest, covered only by a loose black and red polo.
I hold out a hand to help him up off the floor. “You’re starting to sound like a cranky little boy who needs a nap.”
“Not a nap. Another snack. Or better yet, a full meal.” He grins and presses a quick kiss to my mouth before he unlocks the door and peeks out to make sure we have the all clear before we exit the room.
“Well, if you feel like giving me a ride home in a little while, I could reward you with one.” I give him a wicked look filled with sensual promise and walk away, sensing his focused attention on my…ass.
After Brent drives me to my apartment later, we spend the night gorging ourselves on each other, making up for lost time. In the morning I’m grateful for a late start to work. I’m still lying in bed on my stomach, not having moved since Brent slid off and collapsed next to me after the last round.
A sound has me blindly feeling around for the cat I thought was purring next to me, but when I hear the growling again, I realize it’s coming from me. I’m starving after the marathon exercise. I turn over onto my back and stretch, arms raised above my head, toes pointed out, body arched.
“Now that is a million dollar view right there,” Brent says from the doorway.
Startled, I gasp and bring my arms down. “You just left me here for dead?”
I’m tempted to drag the sheet over my nude body, but I rise from the bed instead. I grab a pair of loose shorts and a T-shirt, dragging them on with my back to him.
He chuckles. “I did ask you if you wanted breakfast, but you swatted me away and started snoring.”
“I did not!” I exclaim, hands on my hips in indignation.
“Oh, right. That was the cat. What the hell’s his name again?”
“Her. Indy. Short for Indira.”
He follows me out to the living area where the cat is sunning herself on one of the window ledges. When we move on into the kitchen, Indy jumps down and follows us, lifting her tail high in the air.
“Seems like I’m not the only one starving. Okay, Indy. Turkey or tuna?” I look at the cat. She winds herself around my ankles and meows up at me. “I agree. Turkey sounds great this morning.” I open the can and empty the contents into her bowl.
“You speak feline now?” Brent leans against the doorjamb, his arms and feet crossed. I glance at him and can’t look away. I stare at him. Just take him in. Wow, he really does it for me. I’ve been around athletes for years, and among the finest specimens the last couple of weeks, but…something about Brent always makes my heart flutter and my body tingle and my…
Enough of that!
Knowing by his grin that I’ve been gawking for too long, I reply, “Picked it up in the three minutes I spend with her every morning and night. Except the first night of camp when I fell flat on my face on the bed and dropped right into sleep. I forgot she even existed. No turkey for her that day. Just the dry stuff, poor thing,” I say in sympathy as I run my hand along Indy’s back, making her arch in ecstasy.
Yes, I know just how you feel, Indy. I remember arching my spine when Brent did the same to me, stroking along my back. Except he’d been behind me, bringing me to another mind-numbing orgasm. That may have been the time after which I collapsed into the sex-induced coma.
I glance up at Brent, and my eyes widen at the look of desire—and something else—glittering in his eyes.
“You better hurry up if you want to eat. I’m getting hungry again.”
His expression tells me just how he intends to satisfy his hunger. “Are you sure you’re not a sex addict?”
“I may have become one with you. I swear, I wasn’t like this with anyone else.”
My heart expands at his words, even as he turns away, as if realizing how much he’s just admitted.
I release all the doubts and insecurity caused by the photos of the blonde woman. Whatever his reason for being at the events with her, it isn’t because he doesn’t want me. And that’s enough for now.