Play Me, page 12
part #3 of Take a Chance Series
“I can’t love you someday.”
Her jaw dropped. “Oh. Well, Okay.” She started backing away from him toward the door, her face looking a little bit green and her eyes filling up. “I’ll just…”
He grabbed her shoulders, not letting her retreat. “I can’t love you someday because I already love you.”
She stilled. “You do?”
“I do.”
“Oh, thank God.” She threw herself at him, holding onto him so tightly he could barely breathe. Her next words came out in a rush of babbling. “I love you. Thank God. I love you.”
He scooped her up in his arms, grinning broadly. “I love you, too. And I promise I will never give up on you.”
He kissed her, holding her close as he strode up the stairs and to her bedroom. She clung to him the whole way there. He couldn’t believe that after all this time, she finally said those three little words to him.
She loved him.
Laying her down on the mattress, he stood beside it and stared down at her. She was perfect and gorgeous, and his. All his. She licked her lips and leaned up on her elbows, her eyes smoky and hungry. The way she laid on the bed, with her legs slightly parted and her eyes devouring him, made him ache with the need to bury himself inside of her.
But not yet. Not tonight.
He tugged his basketball shorts and boxers down, and she nibbled on her lower lip. Crawling onto the bed, he lowered his body over hers, pressing every inch of her against him. She looked up at him with need burning in her gaze, and he cradled her face in his hands.
Softly, tenderly, he pressed his lips to hers. Her hands gripped his shoulders, tugging him closer, but he resisted her urging. Tonight would be all about going slow and making sweet love to her. Slipping his tongue between her lips, he kissed her until she quivered in his arms.
As he seduced her, his fingers roamed freely over her body, stroking everywhere he could reach. He forced himself to pull his lips off hers and kissed the side of her neck, nipping lightly. Moaning, she arched her back and wriggled beneath him.
“Please, Garrett,” she breathed, tugging on his shoulders. “Now.”
He shook his head and kissed her jaw before giving equal attention to the other side of her neck. Whimpering, she turned her head to allow him better access. His cock throbbed in demand, but he refused to lose himself in the lure of her luscious body.
He tugged her sweater lower so he could kiss the swell of her breasts, which had become even more abundant since the other night. When he gently cupped them in his palms, she groaned. He immediately stopped moving. The book had said she would be sore. “Did that hurt?”
“For the love of God, no. Stop asking if you’re hurting me.” Sitting up, she yanked her sweater over her head before he could stop her. “And kiss me.”
His gut clenched at the sight of her lacy red bra, which barely hid her delights from him, and he captured her hand before she could remove that as well. “No. I’ll do it.”
He trailed his fingers over the curve of her breasts, lightly teasing her nipple with his thumb. She moaned and arched her back, giving herself over to him. Groaning, he sucked on her nipple through the sheer fabric, unable to resist the lure of her beauty. She cried out and grabbed hold of his head, yanking on his hair in her frenzy to pull him closer. His other hand massaged her breast, and he once again marveled at how perfectly she fit into his hand—like she had been made just for him.
He dragged his mouth from her nipple to lick the other as he unlatched her bra. He loved the ones that closed in the front like she wore, because he didn’t have to stop loving her to strip her. He released her nipple long enough to slide the fabric out of the way and then latched back on, ravenous for something only she could give him.
Her whimpers sounded more like breathy moans by this point, and every tiny sound that came out of her urged him on—made him need her more. He pressed his cock into the mattress, trying to ease some of the pressure. It didn’t work. Sitting on his haunches, he peeled his clothes off. He kissed his way up one leg and down the other, making sure not to touch her where she needed him most. Her nails scored his back, digging in.
Nibbling at her inner thigh, he lifted his head to look at her—and came undone. Her face was captured in a state of bliss, and he never loved her more than he did in this moment. Her eyelids drifted open when he lowered his face between her legs, his breath fanning out over her core. She bit her lip and returned his stare, her hips shifting restlessly in his palms.
“I love you,” he said.
Her eyes widened and filled with tears but he didn’t wait to see if she would return his sentiment. He already knew she did. Instead, he lowered his mouth. He rolled his tongue around her clit in slow circles, his finger teasing her slit. She whimpered and rocked her hips against him. He thrust his fingers inside of her, moaning when she clenched down on them.
“Garrett,” she cried.
Within moments, she found her release and collapsed to the bed.
He lifted her hips and rubbed his cock against her swollen clit. She screamed and bowed her back, coming again from the slight pressure. He plunged inside her before she had finished convulsing, driving home deeply. Her muscles clamped down on his cock. Damn, he was going to come already. That’s how amazing she felt.
She cried out and clung to him, meeting him thrust for thrust. When she tightened around him and found her pleasure once more, he let himself lose control, speeding up his rhythm until he, too, collapsed to the mattress in completion. All he could see, hear, taste, and feel was Kiersten.
And he liked it that way.
He rolled over and cradled her in his arms, more at peace with the world than ever before. Everything was as it should be. He had the love of his life at his side—and she’d agreed to be his. He couldn’t stop the words from flowing from him. “I love you so damned much.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered in his ear.
Leaning closer, she kissed his jaw and then settled into his arms with a contented sigh. He looked down at her and caught his breath at the warmth in her eyes, and the way she looked at him. This is where she belonged—in his arms.
Forever.
…
The next morning, Kiersten woke up with a smile still on her face. It had been an amazing night spent in Garrett’s arms, making love and whispering plans for the future to each other. They had started out with saying he would move into her room and she could get her office back. The baby would sleep in his old room, and Chris would keep his room.
It all felt so blessedly…normal.
She stretched and reached out for Garrett, but he was gone. She rolled over and ran her hand over his pillow. It was cold to the touch. She sat up, holding the sheet up to her chest. Where had he gone?
She hurriedly dressed, and then practically ran down the stairs. She came down to the sight of Chris and Garrett playing PlayStation, laughing and talking quietly. She froze in the living room walkway, her heart warm and filled with love. This was her life now, and she’d never been happier.
Garrett looked up and saw here standing there. He paused the game and rose. “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey, you.” He held his arms open and she crossed the room and slid inside the warmth of his embrace. She looked at Chris as she hugged Garrett. “When did you get home?”
“An hour ago.” Chris watched them with narrow eyes. “Garrett picked me up when I called. So…you two are together now?”
Kiersten grinned. “We are. Very happily so.” She paused. “Is that cool with you?”
Chris’s eyes brightened. He liked that she asked. She could see it. He shrugged and played it cool, though. “It is. It’s better than that freaky arrangement you two had going on before.”
“I agree,” Garrett said, dropping a kiss on her head.
“Me too.” Kiersten looked up at him and smiled. “Thanks for letting me sleep in.”
“You needed it.” He looked down at her with heat in his eyes, despite the innocent- sounding words. “And you better get used to it. I plan on taking the Saturday morning shift around here.”
She curled her hands into his shirt, pulling him closer. No more pushing him away. Those days were over. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll have to make an honest man out of you.”
His eyes widened. “Keep talking like that, and you’ll be darned right.”
“Hm.” He’d even watched his mouth in front of Chris. Could he be any more perfect? “Is that a threat?”
“No,” he said, lowering his mouth until it almost brushed hers. “It’s a promise.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He closed his mouth around hers, keeping the kiss gentle and PG-13. They had an audience, after all. When he pulled back, he grinned down at her. His eyes were sparkling with life and laughter.
Chris cleared his throat. “Is the lovey-dovey crap over yet? We have a game to finish over here.”
Kiersten laughed, and Garrett’s baritone chuckle blended with hers. She stepped out of his arms and bowed to Chris. “Yes, master. You may have your stepfather back.”
Chris smiled. A real, genuine smile. “Thanks.”
“I’m going to go make some coffee. You want some?”
“It’s already made. All you need is a mug.” Garrett sank down on the couch next to Chris. “And yeah, I’d love some. Thanks.”
Chris hit start. “Can I have a hot chocolate?”
“Sure, bud,” Kiersten said, her heart swelling at the sight of her men playing together. Such a normal thing, and yet so big. “I’ll be right back, guys.”
He shot her a grin. “Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
She went into the kitchen, the sound of their laughter drifting out behind her. Yep, this was her life now. And it was damned perfect.
Thank God.
Epilogue
Seven months later
Garrett paced up and down the sidelines. Chris dribbled down the court, his eyes darting around, watching everyone who stood in his way. This time, Chris didn’t freeze up or panic. He dribbled through the players without even hesitating, squared off, and scored a three pointer. The crowd went wild, mostly with cheers since it was a home game, and Garrett smiled.
All that practice with Chris was paying off.
Sometimes Chris even came with him and the adults to scrimmage. The kid could hold his own against a bunch of grown-ups.
Kiersten cheered from behind Garrett, whooping so loudly she woke up the baby cradled in her arms. Amy let out a loud wail, letting her displeasure be known. Garrett spun around and gave Kiersten a pointed look. The whole way to the game, she had worried that the loud noise might be too much for the little one, but she’d come to watch Chris anyway. How ironic was it that she was the one who upset the little angel?
She rolled her eyes at him and rocked Amy in her arms.
Garrett forced himself to look away from his girls for the next four minutes. Tonight was a big night. He reached in his pocket and fingered the solitaire diamond he’d stashed there. His sweaty palm slid across the smooth metal and he extracted his hand without dropping the ring onto the floor.
The buzzer sounded and the crowd cheered. Another victory. Another undefeated season well under way, too. Kiersten came down the bleachers and stood next to him. “Good job, Coach.”
He grinned and kissed her. “Thanks, babe.”
“What about me?” Mike asked, holding his hands out. “Don’t I get a pretty word out of you?”
“Of course. Great job to you, too.” She extracted herself from Garrett’s arms and hugged Mike with her free arm. Mike snatched up little Amy, and all the women sighed collectively. Ah, the sight of a single man holding a baby. “There’s my pretty little sweetheart,” he cooed, for once oblivious to the females drooling over him, focused solely on the one drooling on him.
The moms all surrounded him and Mike, as usual. Mike was the target for their affections, now, though. Everyone knew Garrett was happily spoken for. “All right. Practice is at five tomorrow. I’ll see you all then. Great game!”
The crowd dispersed, leaving Garrett, Mike, Kiersten, Chris, and Amy. It reminded Garrett of that day a little under a year ago…the day that changed his life for the better. The day Kiersten decided she wanted to use him to get back at Pete. What had once stung now all weaved together in the bigger picture of his life.
The life he shared with Kiersten.
Now, they could take the next step. Marriage. He only hoped she’d decided marriage wasn’t such a bad thing after all. They’d been living together for seven months. Loving each other.
This was the next logical step. And he wanted to make her his in every way.
“She’s so cute,” Mike said, holding the baby’s little hand. He nudged Garrett in the ribs. “How did you make something so damn cute with that face?”
“She takes after her mother.” Garrett crossed his arms and grinned. “Hey. When are you going to settle down and have a few babies of your own?”
Mike shot him a horrified look. “Hold your tongue. That’ll never happen.”
“Why not?” Kiersten asked, her eyes on Garrett.
Garrett held his breath. “Yeah. Why not?”
“Love is a disease I’ve tried very hard to avoid catching.” Mike shuddered, but then ruined the effect by looking down at Amy and glowing with the love he obviously felt for the child. “I’ll continue to do so. The only women I need in my life are here. Well, plus Brianna and Katelyn.”
Kiersten wrapped her arm around Garrett’s waist. “I don’t see why you should avoid it. It’s not that bad, once you accept it for what it is—a crazy ride.”
Garrett’s eyes widened and he held a hand to his heart. “Why, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Don’t let it get to your head.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Or I’ll have to slap you around a little bit more.”
“Promise?” Garrett asked, his tone deep with need.
Mike flinched. “Stop that train of thought before I hurl on your baby.”
Garrett looked at Chris, who finally joined them. Chris nodded and Garrett stepped out of Kiersten’s hold, stumbled, and fell at her feet. Kiersten shrieked, Chris grinned, and Mike looked down at him with wide eyes.
“What the heck, man?” Mike exclaimed. “Did you forget how to walk or something?”
“Sorry.” Garrett reached into his pocket as he “struggled” to get up. “I guess so.”
Kiersten dropped to her knees and grabbed his arm, trying to help him up. “Are you okay?”
He pulled the ring out of his pocket, closed tight in his fist, and rose to one knee. “I’ve never been better, because I have you.”
Relief flooded through her eyes. She laughed lightly and stumbled to her feet. “Well, maybe if you remember how to walk, you’ll feel a little bit better.”
“I don’t need to know how to walk. All I need is for you to say yes.”
Mike groaned. “Oh God. Why in front of me?”
“Because you’re family,” Garrett said without looking back. “Besides, you’re holding my baby, and you haven’t left yet.”
“Shh,” Chris said, kicking Mike in the shin. “You’re ruining it.”
Mike glared at his nephew but kept his trap shut.
Kiersten watched with a wrinkled brow, then looked down at Garrett. He knew the moment she realized why he was still on the ground. Knew it because her eyes glazed over with tears. She covered her mouth with a trembling hand. “Garrett?”
“Let’s go.” Mike grabbed Chris by the arm and hauled him out of the gym, giving them privacy. Kiersten watched them leave, then turned back to Garrett.
Garrett took a steadying breath and swiped his free hand down his pants. “I’ve loved you for longer than I can remember. I’ll always love you. I know you’ve had a hard time accepting love and believing in love, but I hope you’ve grown past that. I hope you know you can trust me.”
“Of course,” she whispered.
“And I chose to do this here for one reason. I watched you across the gym every single game and tried to remind myself you would never want me. I watched you, and wanted you so badly every single time. But that night you invited me over and opened your arms to me was the night my life finally began. It was the night you made me complete.” He shoved his hair off his forehead and smiled up at her. “I remember watching you that night. Mike was mocking me for holding on to a childhood crush and I said I’d gotten over you. It was the biggest lie I ever told. I’ve never gotten over you—and I never want to.
“I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile. Making you happy.” He held the ring up between his thumb and index finger and she gasped. “I want to spend the rest of my life as your husband. Kiersten, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
And he waited. Waited to see if she’d grown past not wanting to ever be married. Waited to see if she’d make him her husband, her partner, her love.
“Oh my God.” Tears streamed down her face and she let out a strangled sob. “Yes! I love you, too. And yes!”
She sank to her knees and threw herself at him, kissing him passionately. He hauled her close, never wanting to let her go. And now…he wouldn’t have to. Except for one more time…
He broke the kiss and grabbed her hand. Sliding the ring on her finger, he grinned at her. “There. Now it’s official. You’re mine.”
“Sweetie.” She wriggled her hand, watching the diamond. “It was already official.”
He stood up and swung her over his shoulder. He gave a gentle slap on her ass, then headed for the door. “Let’s go tell everyone you said yes.”
He kicked through the double doors and almost knocked Mike over. Chris sat on the lobby bench outside the gym door, holding Amy, and Mike had apparently had his ear to the door.
“Since she’s over your shoulder,” Mike said, smoothing his hair as if he hadn’t been caught eavesdropping, “I assume she said no and you’re kidnapping her to haul her off to a chapel to force her hand?”
“And if I was?”
