Shakedown (Gridiron Book 1), page 5
“I can’t really argue with anything you’ve said, though I want to,” Ana said. “I think all of those same things about Jack, and yet I can’t make myself stop walking into the fire.”
Ronnie made another batch of martinis, handed them out, and then took a seat. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, considering what happened between Brian and me, but I would be remiss if I didn’t.”
“What is it?” Ella asked as she leaned forward.
“There are two men who are very interested in pursuing relationships, and I think you both need to get out of your own way and go for it.” Holding up her hand, she gave both a hard stare. “Don’t play the odds and hope for a love story for the ages. Go for it with everything you have and see what happens.”
“But…” Ana said.
“No!” Ronnie replied. “I went all in with Brian, and I don’t regret it for a minute, even if I did end up with shattered hopes and dreams. At least I know there was nothing else I could’ve done to make it work.”
“He was a lying scum-sucking son of a bitch who cheated on you and deserves to have his penis cut off,” Ella said firmly. “I hope he marinates in his stupidity for a long time to come and regrets his choices every day for the rest of his life.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Ronnie responded. “But another way might be to thank God and whoever else is in charge from saving me from a near disaster.”
“That’s very healthy,” Ana responded. “And if you have one more martini, then I bet you’ll really start to believe what you’re saying.”
“Fake it till you make it,” Ronnie responded as she stood. “I’m going to check in with Gerald and make sure everything is set for the party. This house is about to be filled with two hundred of Florida’s athletic superstars.”
Ana kissed Ronnie’s cheek and then let Ella do the same. “Go get ‘em, girl.”
“I always do,” Ronnie responded before walking into the kitchen.
Turning to Ella, she tipped her head. “So, what are you going to do about Clark?”
“I have no idea. I guess my answer will come when we finally lay eyes on each other. What are you going to do about Jack?”
“Lock him in a room and have my way with him until we're both sweaty and satisfied.”
Letting out a loud laugh, Ella nodded. “As long as you have a plan.”
Taking Ella’s hand, she pulled her toward the patio. “God willing, he’ll go along with it.”
***
Jack walked into Ronnie’s house with Clark at his side and looked around. The place was packed with the cream of professional sports in Florida, and he knew most of them were Ronnie’s clients. And the ones who weren’t soon would be. “Let’s find the girls.”
“I don’t know if Ella wants me to find her,” Clark said quietly. “We had a little disagreement before I left and haven’t spoken since Friday.” Running his hand over his costume, he let out a long breath. “I decided to go ahead and match her costume in case she decides to give us a chance.”
“What was the disagreement over?”
“She just wants to have at me with no relationship, and I said no. Which resulted in her talking my ear off and giving me lots of examples of why it wouldn’t work.” Moving his long hair over his shoulder, he sighed. “I have to tell you, dating a genius is not for the faint of heart. Truth be told, I didn’t understand half the things she was saying, but held onto my argument in spite of it.”
“Why do you want a relationship so badly if she’s not interested?”
“Because if I don’t start now, then when? She’s the first woman who isn’t impressed with my accomplishments on the field or my bank account, and if someone like her is interested in someone like me, then shortchanging it with a fling would be stupid.” Crossing his arms, he looked out at the crowd. “I just have to stay strong and not give in to her demands. And before you say it, I know I’m the woman in this relationship.”
“As long as you know what you want, then I say go for it. You’re one of the meanest sons of bitches in the NFL, and you can act however you want.”
Clark clapped him on the back. “Thanks, man. Let’s find the ladies and see if they like our costumes. By the way, how did you convince Ana to wear your jersey to the party?”
“It wasn’t hard. She doesn’t like to dress up, and comfort is her first consideration for clothes. When I told her she could wear leggings and my jersey and a hat, she was all in. I even got her a pair of the new shoes that I helped design.” Throwing his friend a shit-eating grin, he rocked back on his heels. “Luckily, she never clued in to the fact that wearing my jersey told everyone she was off the market.”
“Yeah, and that big possessive arm you like to drape around her shoulders probably doesn’t hurt either.”
Jack gazed around the room again and then at his friend. “I like this woman, and plan on having my hands on her as much as she’ll let me.”
“Said the caveman to his friend,” Clark replied. “What the fuck?” he mumbled.
“Where?”
“My woman is wearing a damn costume that is leaving very little to the imagination. And an offensive tackle from Jacksonville is enjoying the view.”
“Is she supposed to be Medusa before the curse?”
“Close your damn eyes and don’t look at her,” Clark called over his shoulder as he stalked away, then said, “Those fuckers are soon going to learn what Poseidon is capable of.”
Shaking his head, he hoped that whatever Clark was about to do wasn’t going to require a call to 911. He walked into the backyard in search of his other half and spotted her in a group of people across the lawn and cursed quietly to himself.
His jersey strategy wasn’t working out very well because a pro-golfer was handing her a drink with a smile that spelled trouble. Which absolutely wasn’t going to happen since he was going to crush the guy’s hopes with his huge fist if he didn’t get his hands off her by the time he made it across the lawn.
“Ana!” Turning, she caught sight of him and gave him a smile that lit up her face. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he mumbled as he cut across the crowd and then swept her into his arms. “Missed you, honey.”
“I missed you too,” she said with her mouth against his neck.
Relief and anticipation whipped through him as he held her tightly against his frame. Five days apart was too fucking long. Moving his hand under her jersey, he felt her shiver against his touch. “So many things I want to do to you.”
Wiggling out of his hold, she slithered down his body and looked up. “To me or with me?”
“Both,” he replied as threaded his fingers through her silky hair. Pulling it, he tilted her head back and sucked in the lush fullness of her bottom lip, lightly raking his teeth across her tender flesh.
“Get a room,” someone called out.
Releasing her mouth slowly, he glanced around and couldn’t determine who said it. “Can’t a man kiss his woman in peace?”
Moving her hair over her shoulder, she let out a laugh. “That was going to be a lot more than a kiss and very inappropriate for the middle of a party.”
Tucking her under his arm, he frowned. “Really?”
“One more minute and I would’ve been ripping off your clothes.”
Grinning, he kissed her head. “I like the sound of that; are you ready to leave?”
She swatted his chest. “No! We’re not running out of here with our hair on fire and advertise to everyone that we lack manners and self-control.”
Dragging his thumb across her bottom lip roughly, he heard her intake of breath and knew she was closer to giving in than her speech suggested. “Another part of me is on fire and would be very happy if we had our reunion in private.”
“Let’s stay for a little while and then we can leave.”
“Really?” he asked as pulled her into his arms.
“Really,” she replied.
He drew in a deep breath, did his best to ignore the heat, tension, and something he couldn’t define string his body tight. “Exactly how long is a little while?”
“Three hours.”
“Make it an hour and a half, and I promise to do my best not to ravage you in front of God and everyone.”
“Deal,” she replied as she slipped her arm around his waist. “I’m going to take you on, by the way.”
Turning her so they were face to face, he ran his hand over her cheek. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
Moving his mouth to her jaw, he traced a path to her neck and tasted sweetness. “I promise that you won’t regret it.”
“I’m going to hold you to it, Jack because you might very well have the power to destroy me if you’re not what I think.”
The entire world shrunk and all he could see and feel was Ana as her small hand rested against his chest. “I plan on being the man of your dreams.”
“Since they all currently involve you, I’d say you have a better than average chance of making that happen.”
Scoffing, he dropped his mouth again and showed her that he’d always be the one, no matter what it took.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Coming together is the beginning.
Staying together is progress
Working together is success.
Jack dragged his mouth away from Ana’s creamy neck and tightened his hold on her hips. “Are you going to let me do what I want?”
“Depends,” she replied slowly as she slid her hand under his shirt, “on what you have in mind.”
Moving his mouth against her skin, he felt her pulse beating madly. “I want you to trust me and let me lead, so I can give you more pleasure than you ever imagined.”
“How are you going to do that?” she asked breathlessly.
“By taking my time,” he replied as he let his finger lift the bottom of her jersey. “I want to draw the moment out until we’re both half crazy, until we think we can’t take it anymore.”
“Is this about the moment of victory?”
“Maybe,” he replied, pushing the shirt away from her skin and pressing his mouth to her stomach.
“And what does something like that look like?” she asked as she ran her fingers through his short hair. “Will I be forced to beg?”
The husky tenor of her voice and breathlessness was as good as a well-placed stroke of her tongue. She was lethal to his self-control and sanity, and all he could do was move closer. “Maybe.”
Her lips turned downward, and she shifted away. “Maybe you’ll be the one to do it first.”
“Honey, I’ve been doing it since the moment I laid eyes on you in San Diego; just because it’s all been done silently doesn’t mean a thing.”
“And what exactly have you been begging for?”
“Your heart always tops the list, but seeing you naked is never far behind.”
Pushing his hands away, she lifted the jersey off and flicked it over her head. “Like this?”
“Yes,” he replied as his mouth went dry and his lungs tried to close. Her sheer nude bra left nothing to the imagination, and he did everything he could not ravage her and throw her down on the bed.
“Breathe, Jack. You can’t pass out before we get started.”
“Take off your leggings,” he gritted out slowly.
“Bossy,” she replied.
“Haven’t even gotten started.”
Not waiting for further instructions, she slid her hands over her hips and peeled off her leggings and kicked them away. Holding up her hands, she smiled. “Is this what you wanted?”
Blood rushed south, leaving him light-headed and entirely at her mercy. Unable to tear his eyes away, he let them skim over her round hips, long legs, and finally down to her toes, which were painted an impossibly bright shade of pink.
His need to consume her, to make her a part of him, roared through his body as each peak and valley called to him.
Done, he was unquestionably one hundred percent done, and if he weren’t one of the most highly trained athletes in all of the NFL, he sure as shit would’ve keeled over.
His brain short-circuited, and he couldn’t manage a syllable, much less a word, as he stared at the goddess before him.
All the things he suspected were only marginally true since the woman within reach was a thousand times better than his dreams ever suggested. “So fucking beautiful,” he said quietly as he traced the line of her panties across her ass. “Tell me you want this half as bad as I do.”
Looking up, she nodded as her pink tongue darted out and traced her bottom lip. “More than words can say.”
Blood pounded in his ears as his painfully hard cock twitched. Praying to keep himself under control, he slipped his finger beneath the edge of her panties and groaned when he felt her slick heat slide against his skin. He withdrew his finger and sucked the moisture from his skin. “Never tasted anything better in my life.”
Moaning, she bit her bottom lip and flicked her fingers through the buttons of his shirt, making them bounce across the floor. “You have way too many clothes on.”
He let his shirt drop to the floor and leaned forward and swiped his tongue over her swollen lips. Feasting on her mouth, he picked her up and settled her gently on the bed. “My turn,” he murmured as he trailed a string of kisses across her skin. Gripping her shaking thighs, he buried his face between her legs and tilted her ass up, so he’d have a better angle.
Licking her folds with the silk between them, he claimed her with his tongue, soaking the slip of material covering her mound. The extra layer added the perfect amount of friction that he hoped would take her higher faster. He wanted her to explode quickly and then bring her down with a blessedly slow burn.
He slipped two fingers under her damp panties and slid them inside her warmth. Stroking her entrance, he plunged inside repeatedly and caressed the spot that made her moan. Sounds of ecstasy were broken by unintelligible words, and it spurred him on until nothing mattered but Ana’s release.
Rocking her hips against his mouth, she came as his name fell from her mouth in prayer, making him feel like the king of the world.
He’d always believed there was nothing better than owning a woman’s pleasure, and with Ana, it was doubly true.
***
Ana leaned up on her elbows and looked down, letting out a small laugh when she saw Jack’s lazy, satisfied grin. “You have made it possible for me to die a happy woman.”
“Honey, we haven’t even gotten started,” he replied in a low voice. “By the time I bury myself inside your body, you’re going to be incapable of speech.”
Taking note of his predatory grin, she watched him crawl up her body and admired the broad plane of muscle that covered his chest. Anticipation strummed through her body until he was close enough to let her hands run over the big bulge in his pants.
Hearing his breath hiss, she took a moment to appreciate he was probably as untethered as she was with what was happening. Heart beating mercilessly, she continued to stroke him slowly as he kept himself absolutely still.
Biting her lip, she decided it was now or never, so she pushed his chest and sat up. “I’m all but naked, and I want you to be as well.”
He gave her a lazy smile and pushed himself up. “Are you giving me an order?”
“Yes, and it’s the first of many.” Snapping her fingers, she winked. “So get to it and don’t make me ask twice.”
He let out a rough chuckle and rid himself of the rest of his clothes and stood up, holding up his arms wide. “Is this what you want?”
Her brain was not only blissfully quiet but also utterly blank as she stared at the Adonis-like man before her. Seeing all of him not only made her mouth water, her mind numb, and her panties soaked, it took her breath away. “Come closer,” she whispered.
He took one small step and tilted his head. “This good?”
“Closer,” she replied as she stared at his magnificent cock pointing straight at her mouth. Licking her lips, she lifted her hands and gripped his hips when he got close enough. “My turn,” she murmured as she wrapped her fingers around the base of his cock. It was iron wrapped in soft silk, and she brought it to her mouth and pressed the tip of her tongue against his head.
The sound of his groan filled the room, and she lapped up the precum that beaded on the tip. His hands went to her head, and she looked up, seeing the need in the tilt of his mouth. Smiling briefly before she licked him from base to tip, she relished his salty flavor before taking him deep into her mouth.
Having a man like Jack under your control was no small thing, and she couldn’t get enough. She took him deep into her mouth, and then released him and started all over again with teasing licks around the head.
“Ana…”
Leaning back, she looked up. “More?”
“No way, I’ll never survive.” Lifting her, he moved her back on the bed and took a nipple into his mouth.
Grazing his teeth across the sensitive bud, he teased and tormented until she thought she was going to lose her mind. “Jack…”
He raised his head and grinned. “Yes, honey?”
“Please!”
Giving her a satisfied grin, he crawled further up her body and kissed her mouth slowly. “More kisses?”
Shifting her hips, so his enormous erection pressed against her stomach, she hit his arm. “Don’t tease.”
“Do you want me to make love to you and rock your world until there is no other name than mine on your lips?”
“Yes, Jack Ellis! Do me and make me yours.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her mouth and then leaned over and grabbed a condom out of the drawer. Leaning up on his knees, he laughed. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“You enjoy yourself now because the tables will soon be turned, and I plan on making you suffer.”
He gave her a careless shrug and stroked himself a couple of times. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
