7 Degrees of Alpha (a collection of seven new BWWM, Alpha Male Romances) (55 page)

I giggle like a schoolgirl. “I’m only laughing because I know you’re joking.”

He pulls back and looks down at me. “Don’t be so sure, baby. To keep you, I would do some very unscrupulous things.” He presses a kiss to my lips at the same time he knees my legs apart. Slowly, he slides into me. My wetness granting him easy access.

“If and when I do move in, I have one condition,” I say, panting as he begins thrusting into me. He lifts my hips, canting them so he can penetrate me deeper. I moan loudly.

“What’s that?” he asks, lowering his head to nip my neck.

“I w-want…..to wake u-up…” I groan as his cock makes contact with my g-spot, “to this….every morning,” I finish breathless.

Landon kisses my lips. “I think that can be arranged.”

Seven Months Later

Landon

“Landon! Landon Over here!” I look toward the balding reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Tough break about today’s loss. Can you tell us what went wrong?” he asks.

I hate these damn press conferences. I hate them the most when we lose. They’ve all been watching the game. They know what went wrong. Heck, they probably have a better analysis of it than I do. I’m a quarterback, not the entire team. I can’t accurately say why our kicker’s game was off today and he missed not one but two important field goals. Nor can I say why the hell our defense fell apart in the last quarter, giving up two damn touchdowns. I could blame the rain, but that’s bullshit. We’ve all been playing in rain since the pee-wee leagues. We train for the rain. We just didn’t have it today. But that’s not what this guy wants to hear. None, of the other fifty or so reporters with cameras and tape recorders wanted to hear excuses either

“Well,” I say, shrugging “You know, unfortunately, there were some missed opportunities for us to score points, and our opponent’s offense made some really good plays. Both teams played hard. Good football was played today, but only one team could win. Unfortunately for us, we were on the losing end today.” I chose to give a diplomatic response.

“Landon! Landon! Over here!” Another reporter calls and on and on goes the drudgery of the press conference. My only solace during these inane questions is looking over to my left and seeing my woman smiling.

She’s dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans that fit those curves I love like a damn glove. To top off her sexy appearance, she’s rocking my number three jersey. I smile thinking my name is written all over that in more ways than one. She even has a cute #3 painted on her cheek in our team’s signature colors of blue and white. Besides the color red, my team colors on her are my third favorite way to see her.
Naked
is number one of course. 

I finally got her to move in with me a month after the gala. We’ve been together ever since, and though we’ve been tested in a few ways, every day it gets better and better. I’ll never admit this out loud to anyone but her, but I’m actually a little glad my season is over just so I can spend more time with her. I’ve already cut down on the number of promotional events I participate in during the off season to be home more. I’ll be damned if the thought of spending time at home actually has me grinning. Sometimes I marvel at how this woman has changed my entire perspective.

So fucking cute,
I think when she gives me a little wave.

Although she’s smiling I see the worried look in her eyes. She knows how badly I wanted to win this game. This win would have sent us to the Super Bowl for a third consecutive season, and I’d had every intention of winning it all, but that’s not how things worked out. Taking another glance at her, the weight on my chest lightens.
Losing isn’t so bad if I still get to go home to her.

I smile over at her, silently conveying that I’m okay.

I check my watch to see how long I’ve been answering questions.
Ten more minutes.
The special surprise in my pocket is burning a damn hole in it.

“Landon, is there anything else you care to announce?” A reporter from the back asks. That’s the question I’ve been waiting fo
r.
I ha
d
aske
d
Walter to arrange an exclusive with a reporter from a local newspaper. All he had to do was agree to ask me that particular question, and he had delivered. I’m appreciative that he helped me create this moment. I reach my left hand into the pocket of my jeans.

“Well, there is one more thing,” I say looking around the room, until my eyes come to rest on my woman’s confused brown eyes. “I’m definitely pretty bummed that our season is over. It’s been a pretty great season for me, passing for more yardage than my previous two seasons combined. And I only threw two interceptions the entire season. Some have been asking what happened that elevated my game. And that answer is simple.” I pause looking over at Melody. “I’m in love,” I state. I hear gasps from the crowd of reporters, many of whom have followed my gaze over to where Melody is standing, stunned.

I stand and walk toward her. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, as she tracks my movements. I come to stand directly in front of her. The flashing lights of the cameras now surrounding us fall to the background, at the same time I fall to my knee.

“I’m in love with an amazing woman who puts up with me and makes me want more than just to win another Super Bowl.” I’m staring into her watery eyes. I take her left hand in my right one, and finally pull my left hand from my pocket holding a Tiffany & Company ring box. I flip the box open to expose the three carat ruby, flanked by one carat round diamonds on each side, and set in a rose gold band. I wanted the engagement ring to reflect the color I love so much on her, and my favorite pet name for her. 

“And my hope is that this amazing woman will agree to spend the rest of her life with me.” I pause, letting go of Melody’s hand to pull the ring from the box. “Melody Thomas, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” I ask while simultaneously slipping the ring on her finger.

“Landon,” she whispers my name through her tears.

“Say, yes.”

“Yes! Yes, I will marry you,” she nods vigorously, and pulls me up to her by the hand.

I grasp her at the hips and pull her in so close not even air can get between us. I cover her mouth with mine the way I’ve done so many times over the last few months. And just like every other time, her body melts into mine. This time the intensity of our kiss is increased because she has just committed to becoming my life partner. When I finally pull back, I wipe the streaming tears from her cheeks. The #3 that was prominent on her cheek is completely smeared, but she has never looked more beautiful to me.

“Congratulations! Melody, would you like to make a statement?” Reporters from every angle now yell and clamor for our attention, especially hers.

Walter is by our side, responding to a few of the reporters close to us. Michael has already drafted a statement that will be released to the public. I’m just interested in getting the hell out of here so I can go home to celebrate with my future wife. 

“They’ll be no comment, right now. Thank you, guys,” I say, pulling Melody to my side and pushing past a few insistent reporters. I swear if one of them so much as lays a finger on my woman, I will shove a microphone up their ass. Luckily, they get the hint and back off as we’re escorted by security out the back of the stadium and into a waiting car.

“You’re stuck with me now,” I say, pulling her onto my lap.

She laughs and holds up her hand with the ring on it, admiring it with dreamy eyes. “You did good.”

“You think so?” I press a kiss to her neck and jaw line with each word.

“Hmmm…” she half answers and half moans. “I love you.”

Just like the first time she told me, those three words ignite something deep within me.

“I was thinking of a July wedding,” I tell her at the same time my hand reaches underneath her jersey to graze her taught nipples.

“In Puerto Rico,” we say at the same time.

I capture her lips in a passionate kiss that holds promises of forever. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives together. I could care less about having just lost a football game. I just won the most important prize ever: this woman’s heart.

I went away on vacation and found the love of my life, and was lucky enough that she decided to love me back. If that’s not winning, I don’t know what the hell is.

The End

Mariah Violet

Feeling completely wiped out by too many long days and not enough rest, Serenity decided to steal some time for herself. A long weekend on a quiet lake was just what she needed. Her body needed more than a little rest though, and Craig, the sexy guy across the lake, might be just what she needed to fully recharge her batteries.

Anthony, Chris, and Melvin were on the run. Their meth house had been busted, comrades were in jail and time was running out for them to decide the next move. A weekend hiding at Anthony’s parents’ lake house seemed like a good idea…. It wasn’t.

*THIS IS A FULL STORY *

Acknowledgements:

Thank you Lord for the gift and thank you for putting me in position to use it. Grow it Lord, make it great.

Thank you beta readers, Andreka L. and Sheron W. I appreciate your input.

M.A.C. My muse. A gift from the Universe.

Reader boos, I love hearing from you! Please join me on Facebook or Twitter so we can get to know each other better!
www.facebook.com/WordsmithMariahViolet
or Mariah Violet on Twitter.

As always, thank you to my family, nobody loves me better than you! One time for the Sargent, Kise, Okoloise, Timmons and Johnson families. You are my life’s treasure.

Chapter One

Wednesday

Serenity took a deep breath as she put the car in park. It had been a long drive from the city, and she was tired. She had worked three fourteen-hour days in a row to prepare for this long holiday. All of her pending jobs had been filled with qualified applicants, and her manager would divvy up any new positions to the other members of her team at Start Smart Marketing. She loved her job. Helping people find work made her feel as if she was contributing to the universe. Still, she was exhausted and looked forward to her extra-long weekend.

Stepping out of her vehicle, she did a couple of deep stretches, touching her toes and performing a reverse swan to ease the kinks out of her body. She grabbed her rolling bag, slung her purse over the handle, and headed for the front door of the lakefront cabin. Pausing, she turned a complete circle, taking in the beauty of her surroundings. The lake, its surface smooth and dark, lay rippling beneath the autumn sky. Trees towered over all the cabins as if the woods behind them was stalking its way back to the lake’s edge.  The cabin had a bay window, fieldstone façade, and a short pier, which was a brief walk from the porch. She planned to enjoy her coffee there the next morning.

Entering the cabin, the cozy interior charmed her. A small fireplace dominated the main room of the lower level. A low counter with stools separated the kitchen area. A gas range made cooking possible, and there was a microwave for convenience.  A butcher block with knives stood at the ready, and the most charming touch of all was the temperature-controlled wine storage unit on the counter.

Rolling through to the bedroom, Serenity parked her hand luggage and returned to her vehicle. Moments later, she re-entered with two reusable grocery bags.  One was filled with fresh vegetables, pasta, almond milk, tea, popcorn as well as items necessary for breakfast. The other one contained a box set of wine bottles, two red and two white. There was also a split of champagne in the event she felt the need to host a brunch for one. It was a late vacation, and she intended to start drinking at precisely noon each day.

Quickly, Serenity dialed her sister’s number. “Hey, big sis.”

“Hey there, little sister. I take it you’ve made it to your little getaway,” Brandi said.

“Yes, I’m here.  It’s adorable and very quiet,” she said.

“How quiet?”

“Well, I didn’t see a single other car after I turned off the main road.  I can see a light in the cabin across the lake, though.”

“Good, that gives me some reassurance. We live in perilous times.  Do you have your mace?”

“Good grief, Bran!”

“Well, do you?”

“Yes, I do.  I also have my mini taser,” she reassured her big sister who always imagined the worst case scenario.

“Okay, I know you want to leave your phone off, but I’m going to request you at least keep it charged, just in case you need it.”

“Fine. I’m signing off now.  Phone will be off, but charged.  I will be doing very little besides reading, fishing, napping and inhaling the solitude.  I need a recharge.”

“I understand.  No problem.  I expect to hear from you by noon on Friday and again Sunday morning when you head back.  Enjoy your quiet.”

“I will. Love you.”

“I love you too.  Peace.”

“Peace,” was her reply as they disconnected the call.

Having done her duty and checked in, Serenity plugged in her phone and powered it off.  For the next hour, she cleaned and chopped vegetables.  She marinated the shrimp.  White wines were stored, champagne refrigerated, and a light dinner prepped and slid into the oven.

Feeling accomplished, Serenity set up her iPad mini and filled the small cabin with the sounds of the old R&B duo, Christión.  Smiling, she uncorked a bottle of red wine so it could breathe and then headed to wash off the week of work and sensation of travel in the modernized bath.

Serenity stood under the spray of the shower and allowed the pulsing water to beat on her shoulders, neck, and back.  The steam filled the room, and she took deep breaths, glad she had brought her eucalyptus bath gel. Her naturally curly hair drew up into spirals.  She lathered her body with soap.  When she rubbed her generous breasts, the dark chocolate nipples pebbled, reminding her it had been a while since she’d had a
tune up
. She’d gotten waxed before this trip because there was a hot tub behind the cabin and she intended to get in it. The likelihood she would have a few opportunities for self-gratification was high. She had been single for a while, and feeling her soft skin under her fingertips reminded her that she needed to get out more. She could take the edge off with toys, but there really was no substitute for good old fashioned
dick
. The notion of being outside in the hot tub, breasts bared to the night sky with no one around to watch her being nasty gave her a little bit of a thrill. She wasn’t one for risky behavior, but what the hell? She was on vacation.

Having finished her steam shower, she massaged aloe vera and lemon infused avocado oil into her skin. She followed up with argan oil for her hair, which she quickly flat twisted and wrapped in a red satin scarf. The stove light provided enough illumination for her to pour her first glass of wine.  Her garlic shrimp pasta casserole in tomato sauce was ready, so she made herself a plate and ate. Then she clicked on the lamp and settled herself on the sofa and started her first book of the weekend.  It was good and nasty, just what she was in the mood for.

Three hours and two glasses of wine later, she sealed the bottle and put her book in the read pile.  She had several in her suitcase and more in the car.  She planned to chill so hard this weekend that icicles would form on her ears.  It had been ages since she had been able to spend days lost in stories.  It was how she recharged.

Leaving the stove light on, she headed to the bedroom and slid under the sheets.  Pleasantly mellowed from the wine and sleepy, she curled up and drifted off.  It was midnight.