Chapter 8 #2
“We should get some sleep.” She got up and blew out all the candles, made sure the door was locked, and then went into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
On the mirror, someone had drawn a heart with red lipstick.
Inside were what she assumed were the bride and groom’s initials. “They thought of everything.”
“Look at the kiss,” he called.
She checked the room but didn’t see it. “Where?”
“Over the toilet.”
And there it was. A mirror built into the toilet paper caddy. “I might seriously have to honeymoon here.” It was warm in the cabin, so she pulled off her sweatshirt.
“You hunt?” he asked.
“And kill a cute lil animal? Not a chance, buddy. But all these romantic touches…I love it.” Curiosity got the better of her, and she glanced into his open black leather toiletry bag to see a travel-size toothpaste, an electric toothbrush, and a phone charger.
Her breath caught when she saw the condoms. Three of them. The pinch of jealousy shamed her. It wasn’t like she wanted to hook up with him.
But someone would. Maybe a stranger he met at the wedding.
“How long are you in town?” she called.
“I’m on the field Monday, so I’ll leave Sunday night.”
In her skimpy pajamas, she leaned against the doorway and dangled the strip of condoms. “One for each day, huh?”
He stared a little too long. But it wasn’t at the condoms. It was at her chest.
She might be covered, but the clingy silk revealed her every curve. And the tightening of her nipples.
The air felt heavier, charged, and neither one moved nor took a breath. She felt the weight of his gaze like a physical touch.
And out of nowhere, she craved it.
She hadn’t known until right then, but she wanted a man to use her body for his pleasure. She didn’t want gentle, deliberate lovemaking. And if she were very honest with herself, that was what it had been like with her past boyfriends.
They were thoughtful, making sure she came first. Which was nice, but she didn’t want him to step outside of himself to make sure she was good before he took care of himself.
No, she wanted a man so obsessed with her, so lost in touching, kissing, caressing, stroking, that giving her pleasure fueled his own. She wanted them both lost in ecstasy.
And she just knew it would be like that with Decker McKenna.
He might be The Machine on the field, but in bed, he’d be passionate.
And then, he broke the mood. “They’re just there when I travel. I didn’t put them in there for this trip.”
“So, you’re a Boy Scout. Always prepared.”
“Sure.” His gaze took a slow glide from her breasts to her hips to her bare thighs—lingered—and then, his nostrils flared. Color flooded his cheeks.
Huh. Was he attracted to her?
She shouldn’t have done it—she knew that—but she couldn’t help herself. “Like what you see?”
Her comment clearly jarred him because his gaze jerked to her eyes. “Yes.” His tone held no shame or apology. “You’re beautiful.”
She hadn’t expected that, but the rush of pleasure was so intense it nearly took out her knees. She tossed her sweatshirt on top of her suitcase and crawled into bed. Trying to break the awkward moment, she rolled onto her side and fluttered her eyelashes. “You think I’m pretty?”
“No.” His gaze caressed her features so hotly, so intently, goose bumps bloomed across her arms. “A girl is pretty. You’re a woman, and you’re beautiful.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “It’s working. You’re very good at this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never felt an attraction like this before.” His sincerity flicked a switch, and a torrent of desire came flooding through her. “It’s new territory for me.”
“You’ve never wanted a woman so badly you couldn’t keep your hands off her?” She was playing with fire, and she knew it. Pushing him to talk about something two strangers should never talk about. Especially when they were sharing a bed.
He didn’t answer right away. His hands might’ve been resting on the mattress, but her imagination had them wandering all over her body. They were big, strong. A working man’s hands. When she imagined them cupping her breasts, a powerful hunger took hold.
“Not really, no. I’ve never lost my head for a woman.”
“What attracts you?” Neither of them moved, but the bed sure seemed smaller. The heat of his body, the intensity of his gaze crowded her, warmed her. Excited her.
He couldn’t move much, but he managed to angle himself on his side, facing her. “I’m not sure I can answer that.”
“Blonde? Brunette? Red-head? Big boobs, great butt… Come on. You’re drawn to something.”
“Sure. To a sexy mouth.” He ran a thumb across her bottom lip.
Without her consent, her tongue reached out and licked it. At the contact, fire tore across her skin, and she shoved a hand between her legs to keep from touching him.
“Sexy hair.” He ran his fingers through her strands. “That’s silky…” He drew it to his nose. “And smells nice.”
“Are you saying I’m your type?” She tried to play it off like they were just teasing each other, but her voice came out shaky.
“Yes. But I don’t think in terms of body parts and hair color. I’m attracted to a woman’s energy.”
“And you like mine?”
“I like yours very much.”
“Even though I eat Moon Pies and drive too fast and don’t take your crap?”
“Because of all that. You challenge me.” With a gentle hand, he cupped her cheek. “You make me smile.”
“I’m guessing not many people do that.”
“Most people don’t interest me. But you’re funny and fascinating, and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to unbutton a shirt so badly. Can I do just one?”
She nodded, her pulse spiking.
He reached out and undid the top one. His gaze dropped to the hint of cleavage, and his eyes went hot.
“I don’t think I’ve been dating the right men.”
He chuckled. “Probably not.” His fingertips teased her arm, a light caress back and forth that drove her wild.
The pulsing between her legs turned into a throb. She just knew if he followed through on the promise in his eyes and touch, she would lose herself in him.
If she didn’t kiss this man, she knew she’d miss out on the greatest experience of her life.
Finlay’s words drifted into her mind. He’ll charm the pants right off you. Mark my words.
The Machine.
He was built to filter out emotions, focus on the game, his goals. He’d trained himself to compartmentalize. So, he’d have sex—let himself go—but then snap back into quarterback mode the moment he was done.
He’d start snoring, and she’d be wide awake, hating herself.
“We should go to sleep.” She rolled onto her back to turn off the lamp on her nightstand. Darkness descended on the tiny cabin.
Rain drummed on the roof, the scent of rose and warm candle wax lingered in the air, and her heart thundered.
His body heat rolled over her, and his scent…
an expensive soap, something cool and faintly sharp.
But underneath it, he smelled like the mountains had seeped into his skin—sun-warmed grass, a note of pine, and fresh, bracing cool air.
It made her want to press her nose to his chest and breathe him in.
It made her blood go hot.
Intermittent streaks of lightning threw shadows on the ceiling, but all she could see was the way he’d looked at her. It was more than Hey, we’re sharing a bed. Want to fool around?
It was desire. Hunger.
But also, it was a little bit of awe.
And that just sent her over the edge.
She needed to know. “In the store, you wouldn’t give me a hug. And then just now, when I made the joke about wedding night lingerie, you walked away like you had zero interest in me. Now, you’re saying I’m your type. I guess I’m confused.”
“I’m sorry.” His voice sounded strained. “I didn’t realize…I’m just trying to stay focused.” He reached for her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.
And it was such a sweet gesture. So…respectful.
She was drowning in need and want and pure affection for this man. She rolled onto her side. “Do you want to kiss me?”
“More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.” He lunged for her, that big hand cupping her cheek. Lightning flashed, revealing his half-lidded eyes, as he fit his mouth over hers.
It was explosive and hot, and she grabbed his wrist, pulling him toward her. His tongue swept into her mouth, hot and insistent.
He claimed her.
Possessed her.
The kiss was brutal—like his personality—yet his mouth was impossibly warm, soft, and so, so tender.
The whimper that came out of her throat might’ve been enough to pull her out of his spell, but his hand moved to the back of her neck and drew her closer.
He kissed like the world was on fire, and the flames had reached their cabin door.
She loved the feel of his rough-tipped fingers and the strength of his grip. And when he tipped her onto her back, when that warm, solid chest pressed against hers, she was gone. She let herself be swept away into everything Decker McKenna.
She wanted to strip off his clothes and run her hands all over that muscular body. She wanted her hand around his hot, hard cock.
As sensation tore through her, alarms clanged throughout her body.
His cock?
Who even are you? She’d never been so raunchy, so brazen.
No.
Jerking her head back, she pressed a hand to his chest. “We have to stop.”
Willa couldn’t see him clearly in the dark, but she sensed his confusion, the tension in his body. He pulled his hand from under her neck and fell onto his back.
They lay side by side, their breathing labored, heavy. He reached for her hand, and the firm clasp undid her. The kindness, the connection… Her body desperately needed to go back to the kiss. It would be so easy to straddle him, get the closeness, the friction her body craved.
But it had been a horrible day. The betrayal of her mom, her sister… the absolute indifference of the man she’d considered marrying.
And let’s not forget, Decker’s brother is marrying my best friend. She’d see him for the next fifty years. She couldn’t let it be awkward. It couldn’t be weird.
Against her body’s wishes, she had to steer them back to friendship.
So, she didn’t know why the next words out of her mouth were, “That was the hottest kiss of my life.”
He released her hand.
The simple gesture nicked her heart. Worse, it reminded her of who he was. A man who’d never done anything more than hook up. A man who carried an NDA on his phone.
Where she’d been lost in desire, where she’d found herself truly opening up, he’d been down to fuck. The string of condoms dropped into her mind. Right. He was locked into football, and there was no part of him that wanted to connect with anyone.
So, yeah, it hurt. But it didn’t change anything. She still had to keep her dignity and make sure the relationship was cordial, easy.
“You know NDAs are supposed to be signed before the deed, right?” she teased.
“It was just a kiss.” His tone was as cold as when she’d first met him.
Like hell she’d bookend her day with indifferent men. She’d pull herself together and not let him sabotage her emotions. “Right. So that little whimper you made, that was your ankle, right?”
He didn’t laugh. He didn’t relax. His silence reminded her who he was and that no one had the ability to change someone.
Whatever, she was done. She knew who he was, and she wasn’t going to become Aurora, desperate to get something from him that he wasn’t capable of giving.
“Go to sleep, Willa.”
Which only made it worse because it felt like he could hear her private thoughts. Boy, did she wish his deep, sexy, growly voice didn’t sink so deeply into her. She wished that kiss hadn’t rocked her world so completely.
But it had.
Because she’d never felt that way before, and she didn’t think she could ever again accept the kind of attraction she’d once settled for.
Not after that kiss.
Just go to sleep. It’ll be all right.
In the absolute stillness, she heard a clink.
And then, a moment later, the bed started shaking violently.
She burst out laughing.
See? It’ll be all right.
We can still be pals.