Stadium of Lights: A Second Chance Sports Romance (7 page)

O
h
. Oh my God. What was happening?

The entire world shifted on its axis. The rest of my life would be PK—post-kiss. He was just as good of a kisser as I’d always fantasized he’d be but better.

“Oh,” I whispered. It was all I could think to say. So that was why he’d pulled me away from the restaurant. He wanted me to himself. Was it possible?

Was it only because he wanted what everybody else wanted? Maybe he didn’t want them playing with his toy? My eyes narrowed a little, and I pushed him away.

“About time, idiot,” I muttered.

“What?”

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to kiss me? And you do it now, now that you know the rest of the guys on your team think I’m hot. Because they clued in before you did. And I’m yours. Isn’t that right? I wasn’t good enough before, but now I am.”

He didn’t say anything. He only turned back to the windshield, put his belt back on and pulled onto the road. A twinge of utter panic gripped my heart. I’d ruined it. Damned wine, talking for me. I needed to learn when to shut up and enjoy a good thing.

“Isn’t that true?” I asked, unable to stop talking. I’d opened Pandora’s box, after all. I needed to know if it was worthwhile. I could always blame the wine later.

“Isn’t what true? That I was late in cluing in? Yeah, that’s true. But not because of the other guys. I saw you tonight, and it was as if I saw you for the first time. Okay? Happy?”

“No, I’m not happy. What about the cheerleader?”

“What about her? For God’s sake, she’s nobody. She’s fucking insane.”

“How many times have I heard you say that about a girl?”

“I mean it. She’s nobody.” I looked at him as he drove, wondering if I could believe him. I wanted to so badly. I wanted that kiss to mean something, but I refused to be played like a fool.

“And what about what you said on the field, to the reporter? A good luck charm?”

He sighed, running a hand through his gelled back hair. “You’re gonna twist my balls until they pop,” he muttered.

“Well? That’s not an answer.”

“It was you, okay? I wanted to tell you that you were my good luck charm out there today. I heard you talking to Coach, I heard what you tried to do. I told him my shoulder was tight, so he started running different plays. If it wasn’t for you …”

He looked at me for a second before turning his attention to the road again. Drunk or not, I knew what he looked and sounded like when he was sincere. I had enough experience with him to tell the difference. And he meant what he said. He felt I was responsible for him winning the game. My heart soared.

What was happening? Were my dreams seriously coming true? Would I wake up and realize it was still Sunday morning, and none of this had happened—the game, the dinner, feeling beautiful and desirable, the kiss? The best kiss of my life?

I looked around then, realizing I had no idea where I was. “Where are you taking me?”

“My house.” That was all he needed to tell me. Did I want to go? Hell, yes. I wanted to. And I wasn’t about to let my pride get in the way.

It was only another few minutes before we go to Max’s house. Mansion, really. It sat just off the beach, with huge windows and a semi-circular driveway that had a fountain in the center. As soon as we approached it, lights turned on, and water began shooting up out of it. I laughed in complete awe.

“A mansion. Seriously?”

“What?” He chuckled.

“Nothing. Your house looks so beautiful and—big,” I said, marveling at how far he’d come. He parked, then helped me out of the car. I stood there, slack-jawed, staring at the three-story cream-colored house. It was massive. I could hear the waves hitting the sand just beyond it.

I took off at a run, giving in to an impulse for the first time in as long as I could remember. I heard Max laughing behind me, then the sound of his feet hitting the pavement before the sand muffled both our footsteps. I reached the edge of the water, the light of the moon showing me the way, before taking off my belt and shoes.

“Whoa! What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” I pulled my dress over my head, throwing it onto the sand. I had a brief flash of guilt when I thought about what it had cost, but decided it was better than getting it wet. I ran into the water in my panties and bra, laughing all the while.

“Wait for me, at least!” I turned to watch him strip down to his boxers before running in after me. I splashed him, pushing him away. He grabbed me by the waist and dragged me underwater. We both came up sputtering and laughing.

He pushed the hair back from my face, still laughing a little. I turned my face toward him, the full moon just behind him. He gasped softly.

“You’re so beautiful.” It was all I needed to hear—the wonder in his voice, the awe. It wasn’t just a line. He was finally seeing
me
.

When he kissed me, lifting me in the water until we were roughly the same height, it was enough to curl my toes. He held back just enough to keep me from coming right then and there, but I was close. I wrapped my legs around his hips, rejoicing in what was finally about to happen. The hardness against my mound set me on fire. He wanted me, too.

I took pleasure in just touching him, feeling the way the muscles in his shoulders and back moved whenever he did. He had the most breathtaking body, like he’d been sculpted out of marble but much, much warmer. I dug my fingers in, relishing his firmness and strength.

His hands stroked my back as we kissed, running a trail of flames up and down my wet skin. I could almost hear it sizzle. He paused at one point, on reaching the hooks on my bra, and undid them with one deft movement. I snorted with laughter though we were still kissing, but my laughter died when his hand slid around to the front, cupping my breast.

“Oh, God!” I gasped, throwing my head back. It was all too much—the pressure between my thighs, his hand fondling my sensitive flesh, his mouth traveling up and down my neck with long, wet kisses. I felt his teeth nip my skin, and my eyes flew open in surprise as an orgasm bore down on me.

“Max …!” I gripped him with my fingertips, my legs, holding on tight as I was rocked to my core. Everything exploded, all the years of wishing and wanting. I was holding him, finally, and he was holding me and wanting me and I was coming, and it was so beautiful and right …

When I regained my senses, he was still kissing me all over—shoulders, chest, arms, breasts. Sensation swam through me, all around me. I could hardly breathe or think. I couldn’t do anything but feel.

He carried me out of the water, moonlight glistening on his wet body. My mouth found him and licked the salt water away, and he groaned. He only made me want him more and more, and I gave into everything I’d wanted to do for so long.

He laid me down on my dress, using it as a blanket. His body lowered over mine, the glorious weight of him pushing me into the sand. I held him in my arms, my legs, unable to believe it was actually happening. Him, me, right there. Our mouths met, and I sighed from deep inside myself. I held his head close, running my hands through his hair while my legs ran up and down his. I needed to touch every bit of him.

He drove his thick, heavy cock against me again and again. I arched my back, pressing my breasts into his chest, and he met them with his mouth. I cried out, eyes closing as the sweet, blissful sensation ran from his tongue through my body. There was a satisfaction sweeter than any orgasm, than anything I could imagine, just knowing that he wanted me. He finally wanted me. I gasped as he sucked my nipple, then bit down ever so slightly. So he liked it a little rough. I raked my nails across his shoulders from one side to the other, loving the way he gasped and groaned. I did that to him. I made him do that. A shiver ran through me at the thought.

I pulled him back up to face me, then kissed him again. I just wanted that connection, his lips on mine. I wanted to open my eyes and see his face before me. His hands still worked their magic, running over my skin, making me tingle and burn. He stroked my thighs, then dipped lower to fondle my behind. I whimpered, wrapping my leg around his waist to give him better access. He took my cue, grabbing harder, squeezing. I groaned with satisfaction.

When his fingers dipped inside my underwear, my entire body nearly left the sand. I thought I might die if I didn’t come, he might kill me. No way I could take that much sensation. It was too much, his fingers slid over my clit as I drove my hips upward to meet his skillful touch. He flicked his tongue over my mouth, into it, touching mine. I shrieked, pleasure overtaking me again, my core quivering and pulsing in delicious rhythm as his fingers slowed.

He left me for a moment, but I was too far gone to know what was happening. Everything swam in my head, thoughts bouncing off one another. It was happening. I never thought it would happen. Would it happen again? We hadn’t even finished yet. He was so good. Because he’d been with so many women. It didn’t matter—as long as he was good for me, as long as he wanted me. And he did.

He came back, and when I saw the foil packet through my half-closed eyes, I understood. I slid my panties off, feeling vulnerable and breathless and daring. There was no going back.

His eyes traveled the length of me, settling on my face. The way he smiled told me more than words possibly could, and when he came to me again, I held my arms out to him. I felt the pressure from the head of his long, thick cock against my pussy, and I moaned softly.

“Yes?” he whispered. My heart opened as fully as it could at that moment.

“Yes.” Then he thrusted forward, pushing all thought out of my mind as he filled me. I cried out in complete pleasure and surprise as he entered, a feeling unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I wasn’t the type to sleep around, but I’d had my share of partners. He was the biggest, by far, and enough to take me close to the peak for a third time with just one thrust.

“More …” I begged. I heard the whimper in my voice, the way he’d reduced me to a gasping, whimpering thing, and I didn’t care. I needed him, all of him. I needed him to take me.

And he did, pulling back only to lunge harder. I cried out with each forward motion, every time he touched me deep inside. Our eyes met, and I almost couldn’t stand the intensity as he worked himself in and out. I had to close my eyes. It was too much. He pressed his face against my throat, kissing as his hips moved up and down.

“Max … yes …” I groped him, touching everywhere I could, wanting to take all of him into me. Something fierce and primal took over, something that made me cry out like an animal as the pleasure built and built with every strong, sure thrust. He rocketed me to the top again, and I wasn’t sure I could take it. There had to be a limit, right? Could my body stand it again?

I didn’t have a choice, as the pleasure peaked and exploded like a firework inside me. It rippled out from my core, all through my body, and I clamped down around him. Like I was trying to draw him in as my body shuddered. He grunted, panting for air, still thrusting into my trembling pussy. I could tell he was close, and in the grips of bliss, I whispered to him. “Yes. Come for me. I want you to come, baby.” I couldn’t believe my own mouth, but it felt right. What’s more, he seemed to love it.

He propelled once, twice more, hard thrusts that made me gasp from their force, before coming with a long, loud groan. I held him, watched as he tilted his head back, pleasure washing over him. It was such a satisfying feeling. I made him do that. He’s doing that because of me. Then he left me, and a fleeting sense of loss touched my heart before he collapsed on top of me, breathing heavily.

I held him fast, stroking his broad back, feeling the way his heart pounded against mine. My mouth skimmed his shoulders, his neck.

Perfect. It had all been so perfect. Everything I’d ever dreamed and more. Just the feeling of him on top of me, panting against my neck, rendered nearly helpless with pleasure. Pleasure I had given him. I closed my eyes with a heavy, satisfied sigh.

“Are you all right?” He straightened up enough to look down at me. I nodded, taking his face in my hands. His dear, sweet face that I’d loved so much for so long. The face of the man I’d just had sex with.

“I’m just fine,” I whispered, kissing him once more.

T
here was
something about her kiss that scared me half to death.

Everything that had happened scared me, and I wasn’t sure why. I usually felt relaxed after sex. Hell, I usually felt bored and annoyed and wanted to get the lucky girl outta there and away from me.

I couldn’t tell Abby to go away. I couldn’t give her the brush-off like I usually did.

It was a mistake to screw her. I shouldn’t have done it. Why did I let it go that far?

I rolled away from her, onto the cool sand. Great. I would have sand all over me.

“You okay?” she whispered, looking over at me. I could see her out of the corner of my eye, stretched out on the sand next to me. I didn’t want to look at her—not because my feelings had changed, but because I knew what her face would look like. The way it had looked before she kissed me. Like what we did meant something.

I’d wanted her, and that was it. But I knew the second I saw the look on her face that she didn’t understand. She thought it meant something more. I should have known. She wasn’t just any other woman. She was Abby, and I shouldn’t have gone as far as I had.

She heard my sigh and rolled toward me, on her side. One of her legs snaked over mine, and her hand found my chest. I wanted to tell her to go away, to get away from me. I didn’t want her to be sweet and tender. I didn’t want anything that would make her think we were something special.

“Are you all right? Really?” She wouldn’t leave it alone. I had to find a way to explain things to her.

“I’m fine. Weren’t you here just now?” I grinned, glancing at her. Trying to deflect.

“Yeah, and now you’re acting like I just asked you for a vital organ—besides the one you already gave me.” She sat up, facing the water and wrapping her arms around her knees. I thought I saw her shiver a little.

“Don’t be like that,” I muttered.

“Me? I’m the one who’s acting weird?” She turned back with a smirk on her face.

I should have left it there. I told myself to. Let her get pissy and go home. Maybe we could pretend nothing ever happened. If she never talked to me again except for work stuff, it wouldn’t be a huge loss. I hadn’t seen or heard from her in ten years, and I had been okay.

So why did I reach out and touch her? Because she wasn’t Layla or any of the other cheerleaders, or some random chick from the bar. “I just don’t want things to be different now,” I murmured.

She was quiet for a long time, then turned her head until I saw her profile against the light of the moon. Her hair glowed like fire. I wanted to bury my hands in it, then reminded myself not to let my dick get in the way again.

“Different how?” she asked. “You mean you don’t want me to think this meant anything, right?”

Careful. Don’t say the wrong thing
. “Well … I mean, sort of. Yeah. I didn’t want either of us to have the wrong idea.”

“And what would the wrong idea be, then? Please, have the balls to say what’s on your mind,” she said. There was no gentleness in her voice. She was hurt and trying to cover it up.

I sat up. We were side by side, naked as the day we were born. I felt the sand creeping into places sand should never go, but it was too important to make sure she understood.

“Okay. I didn’t want what just happened to make things weird when we’re working. I was hoping the rest of the team didn’t have to know about it since they’ll never let me hear the end of it. I don’t want them talking about you that way.” That wasn’t a lie. It was one thing to compare notes on the cheerleaders we’d all banged. However, I wouldn’t let them talk about Abby like she was just some piece of ass.

She nodded thoughtfully. “So thoughtful of you,” she murmured. I heard a little bit of sarcasm.

“Do you wanna be locker room gossip? Shit, fine by me.”

“A woman will always be locker room gossip. I’ve been locker room gossip before.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking her up and down. “Really?”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised.”

“I’m just saying when was this? And who?”

“You’re not the only man who ever wanted me, you know. I got into a thing with one of the rugby players, but it only lasted for a few months. Then one of the footballers, and that lasted throughout a season.”

“No shit.”

“Yeah, no shit.” She rolled her eyes. “Men think women don’t know how they talk about us. PS, we talk about you, too.”

“Fine. The locker room thing doesn’t bother you. What about professionalism?”

She smirked. “I’ve always been professional. What, are you afraid I’ll follow you everywhere and ask for kisses and bake you cookies?”

I rolled my eyes. “Cookies would be good.”

“I’m grown, Max. I think I can handle being around you even after you gave
that
to me.” She glanced down at my sandy dick, then back up at me.

“Fine. If you can handle it, I can handle it.” She was kidding herself, but I didn’t want to piss her off. Not when I couldn’t take my eyes off her legs … leading up, up …

“What are you looking at?” she teased.

“I was just thinking about taking a shower, getting this sand off me. Did you know I have an outdoor shower, just behind the house?”

“No, I didn’t.” She bit her lip, knowing what I meant. As long as we were together, and naked, and alone, we might as well take advantage of the situation. It didn’t have to mean anything. We were just having fun.

I stood, brushing the excess sand from my skin before helping her up. We got our things together—she laughed a little as she shook the sand from her dress. I watched her, smiling. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Like a goddess come to life, all glowing and happy in the light of the full moon. Happy because she’s with you. I didn’t want to listen to the voice in my head, telling me what I was doing was wrong. I couldn’t pretend nothing was happening between us. It wouldn’t be fair.

But that didn’t stop me from leading her to the shower outside my house. It was a genius bit of design, and I showed off the heated tile floor, the bamboo walls, the small closet where towels and robes hung. “And it’s just like this, waiting for you all the time?” she asked, marveling.

“Yeah. Whenever I want to use it.” It was gratifying, seeing how she appreciated it. It reminded me of being a kid, how we would show off our new toys after Christmas. Like the Power Rangers, she had remembered when we first saw each other.

I turned on the water, letting it run warm before stepping underneath the spray. My body relaxed instantly, and I pulled her to me so we could both rinse off. That only took a minute, maybe less. We were in a hurry to get what we needed to do out of the way, of course. There was a reason why I’d taken another condom out of my wallet before putting my pants aside.

I turned her around, rubbing my hard cock against her firm, perfectly round ass. My hands were all over the front of her body, rinsing off the sand. Gliding over her wet, slick skin. Just as slick as that magic spot between her legs, so warm and wet and welcoming. It called to me again, every time my hands wandered that low. She gasped when I drove myself against her, begging for more. All it did was get me harder, making me want to fuck her even more.

She turned in my arms, sliding her body against mine. My skin was on fire, it seemed, even though the water hit the two of us and ran in tiny rivers down our skin. She pulled my head closer to hers, her tongue darting over my lips. I groaned, crushing my lips against her as I crushed her body to mine. She unlocked something deep inside me, something primal and basic and animal. It wasn’t just physical need. It was something a lot deeper than that, something I couldn’t control once she had set it loose in me. My fingers hooked into claws, running over her body. Possessing her. She shivered in spite of the warm water.

One of her hands found me as I strained and twitched, eager to make contact with her warm pussy. I pinned her to the wall, thrusting my tongue into her mouth as she stroked my rigid cock. I growled as I thrust into her hand again and again, then as she played with my balls.

“Yes, baby,” I whispered, biting her neck, her mouth, her shoulder. I dug my fingers into her ass, wishing I could bite that, too. If we weren’t standing, I would have. I wanted to get her on the floor, in bed, anywhere I could take control of her entire body. I wanted to mark her, make her mine forever. Even as something in the back of my mind asked what the hell was going on. I pushed those thoughts aside and went back to pleasuring myself and her.

I turned away to dry off on a towel before unrolling the condom. She was ready, leaning back against the wall with her legs slightly spread. Like she knew how I wanted her.

I lifted one of her legs to the side to give me a better grip on her before sliding inside. She cried out, her fingers clawing at me as her leg tightened around my waist. We were face-to-face, breathing heavy, working together. I fucked her until my fingers pruned until the effort was almost too much. In and out, on and on, faster and harder. My balls bounced against her with every deep pound, her muscles squeezing me. I would never forget the sounds she made, the way she felt all around me, the way she tried to make me come without trying. Pulsing and massaging, squeezing, trying to milk me. Her body wanted me to come, the way it wanted to come, too. Like some ancient, primal thing. Neither of us was in control of it. We could only give in to it together.

I lost track of how many times she came—all I knew was she tightened around me like a vice and didn’t loosen. She started shaking, still slamming herself onto me, her words and moans incoherent. I let myself go with one more strong, deep thrust before coming. I fell against her, pinning her to the wall with my body. I felt her heart pounding like a drum under me. Our breathing matched—fast, shallow, shaky.

“If this is how you give a tour, I can’t wait to see the rest of the house,” she whispered, then bit down on my earlobe. I had to laugh, and when I pulled back, there was a smile on her face.

“I’m happy to show you around all night long if you want.”

She smiled. “I would love that.”