Текст книги "The Heat of the Moment"
Автор книги: Katie Rose
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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 15 страниц)
Chapter 28
Never had he felt so frustrated. Gavin slammed the car door, but he couldn’t help the disappointment that raged within him. It was worse than Murphy’s Law; things he couldn’t even conceive of had gone wrong. But as he pulled away from the restaurant, he swallowed his embarrassment and spoke.
“Jess, about tonight…”
He heard a choking noise, and he turned to his date, aware that she was probably really pissed. Kristin would have been fuming. Jessica was shaking, her hand over her mouth as if she was trying desperately to hold back, and he understood a second later it was not anger.
She was laughing.
“Oh my God,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes as she convulsed in a fresh wave of merriment, and then let it go, guffawing out loud and hugging her belly. “I’m sorry. I know you feel bad, and I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help it. It is so damned funny!”
He saw the humor a moment later, and joined her. Together, the two of them rolled with mirth as the rain pounded on the roof of the Jeep.
When he could finally speak, Gavin turned to her, his eyes warm with gratitude. “Let’s go to my place. It’s close. I am pretty good at ordering takeout.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Jessica said between chuckles.
–
He lived just around the corner. When they approached his development, Jessica let out a wolf whistle when she saw the elegant townhouse where he lived.
“Nice,” she remarked as he came out around to her side of the car. Sharing the working fragment of the umbrella, they raced into Gavin’s townhouse as soon as he unlocked the door.
Once inside, they both continued to chuckle at the evening’s misfortunes as they shed wet shoes and coats.
“Wait here,” Gavin said, going to his room and returning a moment later with a terry-cloth bathrobe. “All yours. I can toss your clothes in the dryer, and order a pizza if that’s okay.”
“Sounds fantastic,” she said, making her way to the bathroom. As she closed the door behind her, Jessica realized she was no longer jittery. The shared laughter between them was better than wine for calming her frazzled nerves, and the earlier tension was gone. As she slipped into his robe, she thought of how nice Gavin could be sometimes. He’d obviously gone to a lot of thought and effort for this date, and now that she was calmer, she could truly appreciate it.
And as she felt the terry cloth against her damp skin, the scent of his cologne still clinging to the soft threads, a wave of emotion swept over her. She was crazy about this man.
He had a glass of wine waiting for her as she entered the living room and she took a sip, aware that he had changed into a tee shirt and jeans. Glancing around at the subtle gray walls, elegant furnishings, and hardwood floors, she saw that his house looked like a showcase.
“This is a lovely home,” she said, taking a seat on the chocolate-brown sofa.
“Yeah, it’s nice. They had a designer come in and choose everything, the furniture and the drapes. It’s okay for right now, but eventually I’d like to get a place near the shore. Like a little house or a bungalow.”
She gaped at him, surprised that he had the same vision that she did. She had always dreamed about exactly that: a little cedar-shake cottage that was more comfortable than elegant, where you could open the windows and listen to the ocean at night. But before she could share her thoughts, there was a knock at the door and the delivery boy appeared with a white box in his hand.
Gavin brought the pizza into the living room, placing it on the coffee table. “I’ll grab a few plates and some napkins.”
When he came back from the kitchen, he put the items on the table along with a couple of glasses of water and silverware. Jessica popped open the lid of the box and sighed in pure bliss.
“Sausage and pepperoni. My fave. And I am starving!”
“Me too.” Gavin handed her a plate, and just as she helped herself to a big slice, the lights flickered. A moment later, the power went off.
She burst into laughter again as Gavin grinned in resignation. “Unbelievable. Can anything else go wrong?”
“Don’t say that,” Jessica teased. “It’s not just us. It looks like the whole complex is dark.”
He retreated to the kitchen once more, returning with a flashlight and a candle.
“Yeah, maybe an accident. Probably took out a generator. Not too far-fetched in this weather.”
But he smiled with her as he lit the candle, and took a long swig of his beer. “Let’s eat.”
They dove into the food, and Jessica thoroughly enjoyed the pizza, the sound of the wind, and the company. They talked as easily as they did on their morning walks, sharing their personal thoughts, goals, and dreams. She told him that someday she’d like to work with children like Joaquin as well as professional athletes, knowing how scared they could get when injured. Gavin spoke about his eagerness to play once again, to contribute to a team that he now considered friends, and help them to achieve a World Series win.
“I’m stuffed,” Jessica admitted after devouring two of the gigantic slices. Leaning back against the sofa, she sipped her wine in the flickering candlelight, and her eyes met his.
“I have to tell you something,” she said, feeling the Cabernet warm her body. She was very aware that she was practically naked beneath the robe, and now as she was no longer ravenous, she began to feel sleepy, comfortable, and…aroused.
“What’s that?” He refilled his glass and sat next to her, taking her hand in his own.
“I think this is the best first date I’ve ever had.”
When his eyes met hers, she found it hard to breathe. There was pleasure there, but something else, something much more intense. When he took her into his arms, she was more than ready for his kiss.
It was achingly sweet, as well as thoroughly arousing. His mouth took hers and at the simple contact, the kiss that started as tender quickly turned to demanding hunger. After suppressing their desire for weeks, neither of them could wait for the formalities. He lifted her into his lap as she struggled to get out of the robe, but she only succeeded in becoming more tangled. Her blood pounded through her body, her skin seemed ultrasensitive as it rasped against the soft cotton material, and she was very aware of her nearly naked bottom against his jeans.
She groaned out loud in frustration as his lips traced fire down her throat. “Gavin…”
“I know,” he responded, his voice thick and coarse. His hands thrust impatiently into the opening of the white terry cloth at her words, lifting her breasts out of her ivory satin bra, his fingers circling her erect nipples. “I want this to be good for you, especially after the first time.”
“It is. Just like this,” she breathed, wanting more than anything for him to be inside her, where she was wet, and hot, and throbbing. She reached for him, and then cupped him.
That did it. From somewhere far away she heard him growl, then his fingers were in the collar of his robe, yanking it impatiently down past her shoulders. He unhooked her bra, and she was naked from the waist up, and then his hands were on her breasts, stroking, teasing, working her until the tension became unbearable.
“Gavin…” Jessica pleaded through gritted teeth, her body begging for fulfillment.
“Damn,” he murmured, giving in and slipping his fingers between her legs. He caressed the small wet strip of satin that separated them, and then yanked it aside, his finger plunging inside her.
Her body responded immediately, convulsing as she threw her head back and called his name again. When she came to her senses and saw his expression, she realized the effort his control had cost him. Pausing only for a moment to put on a condom, he pulled off her thong impatiently.
“I had wanted this to be soft and romantic, but I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you…”
He entered her roughly, a harsh thrust that made her arch. She had pushed him over the edge and she gloried in it. Gone was the patient, gentle man she had known; his iron control had vanished and she gasped, feeling the rock-hard pressure as her slick wetness encased him.
The sensation was so intense, so pleasurable, that she rode him desperately until he grabbed her hips and drove deep into her, thrusting from beneath. Clinging to him, the blood pooled in her belly as the tension built once more, and her body began to stiffen in delicious anticipation. Everything else vanished except for what was happening to her body.
“Ahhh!” Spasming helplessly, she clung to him, dimly aware that he drove deep within her as he found his own release.
Somehow they made it to the floor. It seemed they lay together a long time, but in actuality it was only minutes. Reality returned as the lights came back on, and when Jessica opened her eyes, she saw that she was sprawled on top of Gavin, still tangled in her robe, limbs, and hair. His arm tightened possessively around her waist, pulling her even closer as if he didn’t want the moment to end.
So she settled, just enjoying the solid feel of him beneath her, his warmth, and the delicious male scent of him. She wasn’t a cuddler; normally she fell right to sleep after sex, or just got on with her day. But this, she had to admit, was nice. A few minutes later, he surprised her again by sitting up, sweeping her into his arms as he rose.
“You shouldn’t do that!” she squeaked, even as he kissed her forehead. “You could hurt yourself!”
“The day I can’t pick you up is the day I’d better be in a body brace,” he said with a grin.
Carrying her to the bedroom, he kicked open the door and lowered her to the sheets. “Stay the night.”
“I can’t. Work tomorrow.”
“Stay,” he said, his voice commanding. “I waited so long for this, for you. I want to hold you all night, and wake beside you in the morning. Stay.”
She nestled into a pillow. She was staying.
Chapter 29
He left her for a few minutes, and she thought she heard the water running. When he returned, he had a fresh glass of wine, and the robe.
“I thought you might like a bath,” he said, holding out the garment as she rose and shrugged into it. His dark eyes sparkled knowingly. “I was a little rough on you.”
She was surprised at this, a man being so thoughtful. Or anyone looking after her needs. She was the strong one who took care of everyone else. It felt strange yet overwhelmingly pleasant to have this gorgeous man thinking of her comfort.
“That sounds great,” she admitted, wrapping the robe around her.
He led her to the white marble bathroom, and her heart lurched as she saw the candle burning, and the soaking tub filled with bubbles.
“Since we are still getting used to each other, I’ll leave you to it. But in the future,” his eyes darkened with a seductive promise, “I have lots of plans around this activity.”
She shivered at his words and the image they created. Gavin had an erotic side to him that was extremely compelling. She hung up the robe on the door and sunk to her neck in the tub.
It was exactly what she wanted: warm, soothing, and relaxing. After the red-hot sex she’d just experienced, she needed a few minutes alone, and the bubble bath was perfect. Glancing at the flickering candle, her heart gave that little twinge again. She felt…cherished, a notion that was utterly foreign to her.
When her fingers began to wrinkle, she reluctantly climbed out of the water, wrapping herself in a thick white towel. She could get used to this, she decided, Gavin taking care of her. When she reentered the bedroom, she felt incredible. Between the sex, the dinner, the bath, and the wine, she was completely relaxed. There was a tee shirt lying on top of the bed, and she substituted that for the robe and then slipped beneath the soft linen sheets.
He had given her a gift by providing her with something to wear and a few moments of privacy. How did he know so much about women? She cringed as she thought of Kristin and firmly pushed her from her mind. When he returned a few minutes later, he brought her glass along with his own and joined her under the covers.
“Need anything else?”
She shook her head. “You thought of everything,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “Thank you for a great evening.” She put her hand on his naked chest and kissed him.
She wouldn’t have been female if she wasn’t pleased when she saw his eyes darken immediately. “Don’t,” he said, grabbing her wrist. “Unless you are ready for round two? With the way I want you, I guarantee you’ll be hurting tomorrow.”
Her mouth fell open. The mischievous part of her wanted to dare him; the wiser woman counseled otherwise.
There was always the morning.
–
Jessica arrived at work a little late.
She’d woken first and found his en suite, grateful to see a washcloth and an extra toothbrush. Crawling back to bed, she figured to catch a few more minutes of sleep before starting her day, unaware he was awake.
Gavin had other ideas.
This time, he was determined to make it up to her for his haste the night before and took things agonizingly slowly. As she lay in that peaceful gray world between night and dawn with her eyes closed, his touch was tingly and arousing.
There was nothing for her to do but enjoy. When she tried to reach for him, he refused to let her, but instead he lifted up the tee shirt she’d slept in and nudged apart her thighs, inching his way down.
Had she known what he had planned, she would have stopped him in embarrassment, for what happened next nearly brought her off the mattress. Leisurely, he stroked her, his warm fingers exploring the silk of her thighs, the softness of the hair between her legs. She squirmed a little, but he held her thighs firmly apart, and then his lips replaced his hands.
Sensation jolted through her, luscious and hot.
It was unlike anything she had ever experienced: warm, wet, sweet. Helplessly, she twisted, digging her heels into the sheets as his scorching tongue circled her clitoris, making her arch shamelessly for more. Her body demanded release, yet the sensation was so exquisite she didn’t want it to end.
It didn’t. When she came too close to the edge, he pulled back, turning his attention to her legs, calves, even to the arch of her foot. When her breathing calmed, he began pressing torturous kisses along her inner thigh until she whimpered, silently begging for that intimate kiss once more.
And he gave it to her. This time she moaned out loud, totally giving in to the moment as his tongue stroked her once more. As she cried out in ecstasy, he slipped on a condom and then filled her, thrusting deep inside her, bringing her once more to a place that shattered them both.
She was dizzy by the time he got done with her, and sore in all the right places. Her body felt delicious, achy, and thoroughly loved.
Phil didn’t seem concerned with her arrival time, other than to indicate he was dying for her coffee, and she obliged, making a fresh pot and personally bringing him a mug.
“You seem to be in a good mood today,” he remarked.
“I am.”
She was glad to discover she didn’t feel self-conscious. She had known Phil long enough that she wouldn’t have been surprised if he had figured out that she and Gavin had finally gotten together. But if he had, he didn’t let on. It was business as usual, to her relief.
And even Gavin took that part seriously. He arrived shortly after her, and other than a few warm and knowing glances, he acted exactly the same, focused on his recovery and his work. There was nothing about his manner to suggest that he thought of Jessica in anything but the most professional way.
So it wasn’t until later that day that the first little inkling of trouble appeared. Jessica had decided to join the Sonics at a local taproom in order to update Pete on Gavin’s progress. Unfortunately as soon as she entered the bar, she overheard Roger griping to his teammates.
“So when is our local hero going to start contributing, paying attention to something other than his dick? I’m tired of carrying his load. We can use some hitting. Why are we paying him? Gavin has been here for what, two months, doing nothing but warming up the bench? And Jessica Hart, from what I saw.”
Freezing upon hearing her name, she couldn’t make out the response, but Roger happily continued.
“Hell yes, he’s banging her. Slipping her the hot beef injection, California style. Apparently, that’s when she goes for…”
“Roger, shut the fuck up.”
She recognized Chase’s voice, and he sounded pissed, and ready for a fight as he continued in the same angry tone.
“Everybody knows you tried to get with her, and couldn’t. Get over it.”
“Want to do something about it, Hollywood?” Roger sneered. “Don’t think so since you are getting married. I’m sure you don’t want that pretty face messed up for the pictures…”
This time it was Jake. “He might be getting married, but I’m not. And if you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll shut it for you.”
An altercation was in the making, and Jessica jumped into the fray. “Cut it out! Who cares what he thinks?” She glared at Jake. “I don’t. And while I appreciate you all having my back, what he says only matters if we let it.
“You,” she continued, turning to Chase, “can’t afford to injure your arm. We all can’t afford it. And you,” she said to Jake, “can’t get hurt either. Both of you are critical to the game. As a physical therapist, I know firsthand it is so not worth it to jeopardize your career just because of one loudmouth.”
Jake stepped back, though his eyes still glared at Roger, and Chase clenched and unclenched his fist. But Jessica wasn’t done. She turned to Roger and faced him directly.
“And I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ve had it. All I tried to do was help you when you were hurt, and this is the thanks I get? I know it may come as a shock to you, but not every woman wants to sleep with you. If your ego can’t handle that, that’s your problem. But I’m tired of you making it mine.”
Fortunately at that moment Pete sauntered into the bar, oblivious as he ordered up another pitcher of beer. “I hear some good things about our boy,” he said to Jessica as he took a seat beside Chase.
“That’s right,” she said, forcing her voice to remain calm even as Roger glared at her from over his beer. “He is progressing much more quickly than we anticipated.”
“That’s great news!” Pete said, pouring out a mug of the craft beer, and then handing the pitcher to Chase. “Ain’t it, boys? I’m sure we’re all waiting for the day when Gavin’s name is on the roster. Right, Roger?”
It stunned Jessica that the team manager always seemed to know what was going on, even when he wasn’t there. Furious, Roger stalked out of the bar without looking back, while Jake chuckled out loud.
“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass,” he said, lifting his beer to Chase and Jessica. “To Gavin’s recovery. And to seeing the back of a major league douchebag.”
Everyone raised a glass.
–
When Gavin got home, he got his mail and threw it on the table, and then headed for the shower. Flexing his leg, he discovered that his knee was no longer stiff, but beginning to feel a lot like it did before he got hurt.
He was excited about that, as well as his success with the bat. Jake thought it was time to let Pete in on the secret, and he was on board. He couldn’t wait to begin contributing to the Sonics’ success, and he had every confidence now that that would happen.
And he had a date with Jessica on Sunday. They had been together almost every night, whether to grab a couple of beers after the game, have dinner at her place, or just curl up on the couch to watch TV. He couldn’t see enough of her, couldn’t get enough of her. It astonished him how quickly and easily she fit into his life, and how much she enhanced it.
It had taken her a while to get used to the romance, but he held firm and insisted on flowers, holding the door for her, and giving her sincere compliments. At first she balked and declared she was perfectly capable of doing these things for herself, but he could tell by the softening of her ways that he was getting somewhere. And when he gave her a black-and-white stray kitten he’d found at the park, she was undone.
And then there was the sex.
It was, if possible, even more pleasurable. In the beginning the fire between them was so hot, so bright, that it was explosive. But now he wanted to focus on her, learn how to drive her crazy, to discover what she enjoyed in bed. And just figuring that out was proving exquisite.
Yet he wanted more now than just that amazing body and her company. He wanted her heart. He wanted her to trust him completely, to really know there was no other woman in the world for him. He wanted to wake beside her every day and fall asleep with her in his arms at night. And he wouldn’t be content until he had succeeded.
When he came out of the shower, he ventured to the fridge and helped himself to a beer as he sorted the mail. The bills he put in one pile, the advertisements in the trash. And then he got to a white linen envelope.
He thought it was the invite to Chase’s wedding, but when he opened it, there was a “Thinking of You” Hallmark card inside. Opening it, he saw the saccharine message inscribed, and underneath it was signed simply “Kris.”
He crumbled the card in his fist and tossed it into the trash. Idly he wondered if her new boyfriend wasn’t working out, but he didn’t really care. It was ironic: she had dumped him at the worst possible time in his life, but what he had now with Jessica was so much better, it was well worth the pain. So he decided to ignore her card, and with his silence send her a clear communication that he wanted nothing to do with her. And if she wanted to continue to play this game, she’d play it alone.
But when the phone rang and he saw the California area code, his stomach knotted until he recognized his father’s cell. “Hey, Dad.” He took a swig of the beer.
“How are you doing?”
He knew what the question meant. Not the caring concern of a normal parent, but are you back in the game?
For once, he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he didn’t react with irritation. “Pretty good. I’ve been practicing my hitting while doing rehab. We’re talking to the coach next week about me playing, maybe as a pinch hitter.”
“That’s great news!” Gavin could almost hear his father’s sigh of relief. “You get back to where you were before, and in no time at all, all of the first-rate teams will want you. A lot of trades take place over the All-Star break. Could happen as soon as that.”
“At this point I have no desire to go anywhere else,” Gavin said firmly. “I like this team, and think that I can really help them go all the way…”
“That strategy makes sense,” his father said. “After all, if you make your name in the post-season, so much the better. The offers will be even bigger.” Before he could respond, his father continued. “How is Kristin?”
“We broke up,” Gavin said without hesitation. “The long-distance thing just wasn’t working out.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” his father responded. “A swimsuit model is the kind of woman all of the major leaguers have on their arm. It will be expected when you get to New York…”
“Dad, I’ve got to go. Good talking to you.”
He got off the phone, more irritated than ever. Kristin and his father both used the same tactics; if they acted as if, it was. But for the first time in his life, he wasn’t buying into it. He was making his own decisions, and it was amazing how good that felt.
He decided it was a habit he would keep for a lifetime.
