Author: Jaci Burton

She raised her arms, gasping at the sensation as he washed her breasts. Her nipples, so sensitive to his touch, ached. He grabbed the spray handle and rinsed her, then bent and took one peak in his mouth, sucking hard until she moaned with delight.

Then he took the spray and aimed it between her legs. Her eyes widened and she gasped.

“Do you get yourself off this way? I’ve heard women do.”

She offered a wicked smile. “Of course I do. It’s very handy when I’m in a hurry and need an orgasm.” She took the spray handle and put it back in its cradle. “But why would I want to do that when I have you here to make me come?”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her, his tongue dipping inside to wrap around hers. She could think of nothing but the beat of his heart, the heat of his skin, and the firmness of his body, which always drove her a little bit crazy. She laid her palms on his shoulders and held on while he slid his hand between her legs, teasing her with light strokes that revved up her need to fever pitch.

And when he dropped to his knees and shouldered her legs apart, she leaned against the shower wall and watched. Water sluiced down the front of her and over Cole. He raised his head to give her a devilish smile before putting his mouth on her sex.

Oh, god, yes. This is just what she’d wanted. His tongue lapping at her clit, slick and hot and taking her right to the edge so fast it made her head spin. Steam rose all around them as he slid two fingers inside her and finger fucked her while he sucked her clit.

“Cole. I won’t last long.”

He didn’t answer, just sucked her and continued to fuck her with his fingers, relentless in his pursuit of the orgasm she couldn’t hope to hold back. She arched against him and let go, releasing a hoarse cry as she came. He held her as she rode the waves that went on and on, sending pulses of sweet pleasure throughout her core. When he rose, he kissed her, letting her taste herself on his mouth. She licked his lips and dove in for a deeper kiss, then wrapped her fingers around his rigid shaft, stroking him until he let out a harsh groan.

She loved the sounds he made, loved giving him pleasure as much as she loved receiving it. She squatted down, water raining down over her back as she took his cock in both her hands and wound her fingers around the shaft, then lifted the soft head to her mouth, tilting her head back to look at him.

He was staring down at her, his expression fierce as she put the crest between her lips and closed her mouth over it. She kneeled on the shower floor and pushed forward, taking his cock into her mouth as she did.

“Christ,” he whispered, then laid his hand on the top of her head.

She focused on his cock, flicking her tongue over the different textures as she pulled the shaft deeper into her mouth. Pulses of salty flavor spilled onto her tongue when she withdrew and she lapped them up, teasing the crest by rolling her tongue over it.

“You’re killing me, Peaches,” he said, and she hummed as she took him deep into her mouth again, then reached underneath to cradle his ball sac, giving them a gentle squeeze as she began to move her mouth back and forth over him.

“Yeah, like that,” he said, using his hand to guide her movements. “Suck me harder.”

She loved when his voice got rough, when he gave her those commands that told her what he liked. It made her pussy quiver, her nipples tighten, just as his balls tightened into hard knots in her hand. She squeezed them again, and took his cock deep into the back of her throat, using her other hand to stroke him as she sucked him.

“Oh, fuck, that’s going to make me come. Harder,” he said.

She did, giving him the suction he needed. And when he thrust deep into her mouth and came, she milked him, swallowing his come and holding on to him while he rocked against her lips, shaking with the force of his climax.

He leaned against the wall for support and she licked the last of his come from the tip of his cock, then rose and kissed him as he had kissed her. He pushed her against the wall and devoured her lips, licking at her tongue until her legs were weak and her clit trembled with need.

They both washed, and Cole turned the shower off. They climbed out and towel dried, then Cole took her to bed.

“I hope you’re not too tired, because I’m not finished with you yet.”

She smiled at him and rolled over, spreading her legs. “I’m not too tired.”

“Good. But you’re facing the wrong way.” He threw a pillow in the middle of the bed. “Get on top of that. I want you from behind.”

Swells of desire and anticipation filled her as she positioned herself on her belly on top of the pillow. She heard Cole tear open the condom wrapper, and then he was on top of her, inside her, and she raised up, pushing back against him as her pussy latched on to his cock.

“Fuck. That’s good,” he said, settling on top of her to lick the side of her neck.

He reached underneath her to rub her clit.

“I’m going to make you come again, Peaches. Then I’m going to come inside you. Hard.”

She shivered as he thrust deep, then pulled out only to power inside her again, each time strumming her clit with unbearable sweetness. She was rolling toward another orgasm, he was slamming her deep into the mattress, and she wanted it to last.

“Harder,” she said, pushing his hand away to rub her own clit. “Grab my hips and give it to me harder.”

He pulled her up onto her knees so she’d have better access to make herself come, and so he could hold on to her and push deeper inside her. And when he thrust, she cried out, chills breaking out on her body. This connection between them was intense, nearly unbearable. And when he grabbed her hair and jerked her head back, it only intensified her pleasure.

“You’re mine, Savannah.” He plunged deep.

Oh, God. “Yes.”

“Mine.” Harder this time.

“Yes.”

When she shattered, she screamed. Cole dug his fingers into her hips and buried himself inside her, yelling as he came with a series of quick thrusts.

She collapsed onto the bed and he went with her, falling next to her.

She was certain she couldn’t breathe, at least not for a full minute. When she could, she rolled to her side and swiped her hair away from her face so she could look at Cole.

His eyes were open—or at least partially open.

“I’m convinced you’re trying to kill me.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure who’s trying to kill who.”

He left only long enough to get rid of the condom, then came back, pulled the covers down and pushed the pillows up on the bed, dragging her against his chest.

“You’re like no one I’ve ever known, Peaches.”

She drew circles over his chest. “I suppose that’s a compliment.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “It means you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You’re special to me in ways I can’t explain.”

She shuddered, so pleased by the compliment.

The two of them lay there quietly for a while. She was content to listen to the sound of his heart beating. Just being there with him was enough for her.

“What would you think about the two of us moving in together?”

She shot up in bed. “What?”

His lips lifted. “You heard me.”

“Where did this come from?”

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

She grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“And why have you been thinking about it?”

He shrugged. “We spend a lot of time together. We obviously…like each other a lot. We’re compatible.”

Her stomach fell. No declaration of love. They liked each other. They were compatible. For all he’d just said, he could have been advertising for a roommate. Or a pet. “I see.”

He shifted to face her. “What’s wrong?”

She slid out of bed and grabbed her robe. “Nothing. I’m just tired. And I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow. You should probably go.”

He got out of bed, too, and came over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Peaches.”

She backed away. “Really, Cole. I’m tired and I need to get some sleep.”

“It’s what I said. About us moving in together. You’re freaked out.”

“No. I’m tired. Really, you need to go.”

“I want to stay tonight.”

“No.”

He studied her for a minute, then nodded. “Okay.”

He grabbed his clothes and got dressed. She followed him out to the living room and walked him to the door. He turned to her.

“You want to talk about this? If you don’t like the idea of us moving in together, that’s fine. We can keep things as they were.”

Right. Where they were friends and compatible. She fought back the tears. “I really need to get some sleep.”

“So we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

He leaned in to give her a kiss, and she turned away. His lips brushed her jaw.

She saw the confusion and hurt on his face, but she couldn’t deal with his issues right now. Not when she was minutes away from falling apart.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She nodded and held the door. “Sure. Good night.”

The tears began to spill before she had the door completely shut.

Stupid. She was never girlie, never cried over stuff like this. She’d never cried over a man, because no man had ever meant anything to her.

Until now.

He’d asked her to move in with him. That was a huge step. So he hadn’t gotten all romantic and said he loved her. Big deal.

But it was a big deal.

Maybe to someone else the words didn’t mean anything. But she was in love with him. And if he didn’t feel the same way, there was no point in taking this any further. Otherwise she’d only end up feeling more hurt than she felt right now.

And this hurt a whole hell of a lot.

TWENTY-ONE

SAVANNAH WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED AVOIDANCE. Avoidance of any personal problem was always her best solution.

Unfortunately, she had a meeting with the GM of the Traders that morning, and of course the team had practice.

Which didn’t mean she’d have to run into Cole. In fact, she was adept at not running into people she didn’t want to run into. So after her meeting, she was on her way out and the team was still on the field.

“Hey, girl, what are you doing here?”

Elizabeth. Damn.

She pasted on her brightest smile.

“Hi. I had a meeting with McNee.”

“Oh. Fun for you, I’ll bet.”

“Always. Well, I’ve got to go.”

Liz frowned. “Do you have another meeting?”

“Uh, actually, no I don’t.”

“Great. Let’s go get some coffee. And maybe a muffin or a scone. I’m starving. I had an early meeting this morning and didn’t have a chance to have breakfast.” She linked her arm with Savannah’s and led her down the hall. “Gavin’s in town for a stretch of home games and I traded food for sex. Can you blame me?”

“Not in the least.” Maybe some breakfast and conversation would take her mind off Cole. And at least she could get out of this building and away from him.

They went to a nearby coffeehouse. Savannah ordered a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. Liz decided on a scone.

“I’m sure you’re happy to have Gavin in town,” Savannah said.

Liz popped a piece of scone in her mouth, chewed, moaned, then swallowed. “I’m just glad to have Gavin.” She grinned. “I don’t get him often enough during the season, which, by the way, lasts too damn long. A hundred and sixty-two games? What fucking idiot thought that one up?”

Savannah laughed. “Either someone without a wife or someone with a wife he couldn’t stand.”