After The Fire (One Pass Away Book 3) (12 page)

“What?” Gaige barked. “Why would I do that?”

“That’s how it sounded. I don’t want to say goodbye, Gaige.
I want to say that I’m in awe of you.”

“Violet—”

“If this makes you uncomfortable, that’s tough. You will
listen. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Thank you. A few seconds ago, I wouldn’t
have thought it possible.”

Violet smiled. It hadn’t been her intention, but if it
lightened his burden, she would let him laugh at her all he wanted.

“I’m about to get gooey, so brace yourself.”

“I’m braced.”

“You amaze me, Gaige Benson. You hear all the time about
self-made men. You, my friend, are the walking, breathing, embodiment of it.
You didn’t rise above those monsters. You flourished.”

“I’m not unique, Violet. There are people who survived much
worse.”

Now, Violet really did want to cry. “That may be the saddest
thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I’m one of the lucky ones.”

“Lucky?” Violet let the tears run down her cheeks unchecked.
“That would be me. My luck started the day you walked into my hospital room.”

For a while, she had lost it. But it was back. Bigger and
better than ever.

GAIGE LOOKED AT the scoreboard. Thirty-six to ten. As the
seconds ticked off the clock, it was all he could do not to pump his fist into
the air. Son of a bitch. They were headed to the playoffs as the number one
seed. It meant they didn’t have to play until the second week—and they had home
field advantage. That wasn’t big. It was huge.

The Super Bowl wasn’t a given. But they had put themselves
in the driver’s seat. And the view was pretty damn sweet.

“Crack a smile, old man.” Sean slapped him on the back. “We’ve
jumped the first hurdle. Let yourself enjoy it.”

The gun went off, and somehow the crowd became louder. Gaige
grinned, congratulating his teammates. He scaled back the celebration long enough
to jog across the field, shaking the opposing quarterback’s hand. It was a
tradition that was sometimes hard to swallow. Grace in the face of defeat never
came easily. However, it was part of the game. As was the flip side. He didn’t
rub victory in the other man’s face. A brief shake and a few words were all
that was necessary.

“Good game,” he said to Derrick Long. And he meant it.
Derrick was a good, young QB. Barring injuries, he had a long career ahead of
him.

“You too.”

Long made it look good for the cameras, giving his hand one
short pump, but there wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in his voice. Gaige knew
exactly how the younger man felt. He’d done the obligatory after the game
greeting often enough. It felt like shit.
Good game
actually meant,
fuck
you
.

However, Gaige didn’t spend much time worrying about his
opponent’s feelings. This was football. Somebody had to win. Somebody had to
lose. He grinned. It felt a hell of a lot better to be the victor.

“Playoffs, here we come.” Logan gave Gaige a sweaty hug,
pounding him on the back. “If it weren’t for you, I would be watching this
while serving beers in Oklahoma.”

“If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. I gave you a
boost. You pulled yourself up.”

“Bullshit. It was you. I won’t ever forget that. “ Logan
laughed as an overzealous lineman picked him up and ran through the sea of
bodies. Just before he disappeared from view, he yelled, “It was you.”

“Crazy bastard.” Sean shook his head, slinging an arm over
Gaige’s shoulders. “The press is waiting for your words of wisdom, old man. I
already graced channel four with my handsome mug.”

“You’re a tough act to follow,” Gaige said as they walked to
the sidelines.

“Don’t I know it. Think you can handle the pressure?”

“I’ll try to muddle through.”

“You do that,” Sean grinned. “Beers at
Extra Point
?”

“First round’s on me.”

Gaige was turning to greet the reporter when Sean called
out, “Logan is right. None of us would be here without you.”

Before he could respond, Sean jogged off the field.

“That’s quite a statement. What’s your response, Gaige?”

Gaige realized the camera was rolling. It wasn’t necessary
for him to reach into his repertoire of pat answers—he said what was in his
heart.

“We made it here as a team, Calvin.”

“But you
are
the leader,” the reporter pointed out. “You’ve
been here, through good and bad. Your teammates look up to you. You are the
face of the franchise.”

“I’m proud to wear this uniform.” Gaige looked into the
camera. “What I am is a Seattle Knight.”

“WHAT DO YOU think?” Gaige asked, his lips nuzzling her ear.

Eyes closed, Violet swayed to the music’s rhythm. They weren’t
dancing as much as holding each other while moving side to side. She had flown
in that day just in time for the game, and this was the first time they had the
chance for more than a kiss and a quick hello.

“About? The weather? The economy? The teachers’ salaries.”
She pretended to ponder the subjects. “Wet. Sad. Pathetic.”

“I can’t argue. But I meant, what do think of the bar?”

“Oh.” Violet dragged out the word, as though surprised. She
wasn’t—and he knew it. “The infamous Knights’ hangout? I’d say it lives up to
the hype.”

Violet had to admit, she didn’t frequent many bars. Not
because of any moral objections. She simply didn’t have the time—or a group of
friends like the Seattle Knights. She realized
that
was the difference.
When one was surrounded by a bunch of rowdy football players—and in the arms of
a sexy quarterback—the place didn’t matter. It was all about the company.

“What was the hype?”

“Fun. Camaraderie.”

“Camaraderie? Sweetheart, we’re football players. We don’t
understand anything over two syllables.”

Laughing, Violet playfully dug her finger into Gaige’s side.

“I’ll make sure I dumb it down from now on. Mr. Yale
graduate.”

“Shh,” Gaige looked around in mock horror. “They’ve
forgotten about that.”

“Did I hear somebody say Yale?”

Startled, Violet turned to see Sol Fellows next to them. Her
attention on Gaige, she hadn’t noticed that the linebacker and his wife were on
the dance floor—or within earshot.

“Now you’ve done it,” Gaige warned under his breath.

“Yale sucks,” the big man shouted. Several of the Knights
added their agreement. “Notre Dame all the way.”

“Hell no!”

“Are you crazy?”

Violet couldn’t tell where the men were, but in a flash, sides
were taken, and the verbal war was on. USC. Oregon. Florida State. The alma
maters flew fast and furious.

“Come on.” Gaige took her hand, guiding her through the
rowdy crowd and out the door. “Once that starts, there’s no telling how long it
will last.”

They ran through the light Seattle rain to where Gaige had
parked his car.

“How does it end?”

“Amicably. Someone buys a round of drinks and the troops are
happy.”

“Troops?”

After pounding his chest with his fist, Gaige started the
car.

“We are warriors. Against our opponents, we leave the field
of battle, bruised, battered, and hopefully victorious. Against each other, it’s
a bloodless battle fought with good-natured ribbing and plenty of beer.”

“I like your world.”

“My world isn’t that different from yours.” In the dark car,
his eyes were a deep, emerald green.

“It’s like night and day, Gaige.” The longer she was around
him, the more she realized how true that was.

“Violet—” Gaige started to protest.

“However,” she put her hand over his mouth. “That isn’t a
bad thing. I like your world. I like mine. Who says they aren’t compatible?”

Gaige kissed her palm. Once—then once again.

“I like the way that mind of yours works.” He cupped her
cheek. “Did you miss me?”

Rubbing her face against his hand, Violet smiled. “I missed
touching you. I missed the way it feels when
you
touch
me
.”

The brush of his lips made Violet sigh with pleasure. Gaige
deepened the kiss, pulling her close. His tasted like Corona, lime, and a touch
of peppermint. It was a surprisingly appealing combination.

“Hey,” she protested when he left her wanting more.

“Hold that thought and buckle up.”

The car shot onto the street. Gaige wasn’t reckless on the
drive to his house, but he took a few lights that were just turning red. He
took the entrance to the freeway and cruised at a speed just over the limit.

“What if we get pulled over?” Violet rested her hand on his
thigh, the soft denim of his jeans felt warm against her skin. Gaige’s heat. It
sent a shiver through her.

“They wouldn’t dare,” Gaige growled, but Violet noticed he
eased up on the gas, just a bit.

“My flight was uneventful. Smooth sailing all the way.”

Gaige spared her a sharp look. “Small talk? Really?”

“I thought it might take your mind off more… pressing
matters.” Violet didn’t touch the straining material that encased his erection.
But she let her fingers play nearby. She knew it was wicked, but she couldn’t
resist.

“Fire, sweetheart. You’re playing awfully close to the
flames.”

She leaned as close as her seatbelt would allow and whispered,
“Burn me.”

“Son. Of. A. Bitch.” Gaige ground out each word through
clenched teeth. “I don’t remember this trip ever taking so long.”

It was a heady feeling—knowing someone wanted her so much.
Gaige made her feel like a teenager filled with uncontrolled needs and
impatience. He took her back to a time that, in all honesty, she hadn’t
experienced. Between her studies and the accident, then suffering from a broken
heart, Violet had skipped the wild, crazy hormonal rollercoaster.

She had the occasional boyfriend. But they were more a
convenience than a passion. Her marriage didn’t qualify as more than a
blip—emotions never entering into it.

Suddenly, she knew what it felt like to have a man sneak
into her thoughts at the oddest times. In the shower. At a staff meeting. While
taking out the garbage. Gaige made her want things she hadn’t realized were
possible.

It was unexpected and unnerving. And Violet couldn’t have
been happier.

“Do it again.”

“What?” Violet asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Laugh. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.

Violet laughed. Naturally, not because he asked.

“I feel like a giddy teenager.”

“Me too,” Gaige grinned. “Thank God I have better control.
If I were a teenager feeling this way, I wouldn’t last thirty seconds.”

“How long do
I
get?”

“Five minutes. But that gets you at least one orgasm.”

“Sounds fair.”

“Would you like me to tell you what I have in store for you
the rest of the night?”

“Why don’t you surprise me,” Violet said. They were pulling
into Gaige’s garage. “I have one or two—or three ready for you.”

“Out of the car. Now!”

“Shouldn’t I wait for you to open my door?” She innocently
batted her eyes.

Gaige was already unlocking the door to the house. “If I
have to come to you, you won’t like the consequences.”

“What would you do? Spank me?” Violet chuckled at the
ridiculous idea.

“Maybe.” Gaige took her hand, leading her into the house.
When he glanced at her, his eyes sparkled with humor. Then, when he saw her
face, they widened in surprise. “You like the idea?”

“No. Maybe. No! Definitely, no.” For a woman who prided
herself on an extensive vocabulary, Violet found herself struggling for the
right words. “You turn my brain into mush, Gaige Benson. Everything that comes
out of your mouth sounds like a sexy good time. I hear spank, which under
normal circumstance would have me running for the door, and I think,
okay,
that would be fun
.”

“You do the same thing to me.” Gaige swept her into his
arms. “I wouldn’t spank you unless you asked.”

Liking this mode of transportation, Violet wrapped her arms
around Gaige’s neck. “I wouldn’t ask,” she assured him.

“Thank God. To be honest, the idea freaks me out.”

“Another reason we fit so well.”

Gaige took the stairs two at a time—impressive considering
his added burden. It didn’t take him long to stride down the hall and into his
bedroom. Only enough for Violet to trace his ear with her tongue.

“That may be the best thing ever,” he said.

“Better than this?”

Gaige sucked in his breath. “What the hell was that? And
please do it again.”

Happy to oblige, Violet performed the trick she had read
about but never attempted. It involved her tongue, her teeth, and her index
finger. It was called the Alabama swirl.

“From what I’ve read, it feels even better if I do it on
your dick.” She grinned when she saw the excited anticipation in his eyes.

“Did I say five minutes? You keep that up, I’ll be lucky if
I last half of that.”

Gaige set her on her feet. In the same motion, he removed
her jacket and pulled her shirt over her head.

“I have complete faith in you.” She let him remove the rest
of her clothes, then started on his. “You do the zipper. The material is
stretched so tight, I’m afraid I might damage something important.”

“Be good and get on the bed.”

Gaige divested himself of his jeans. “Oh, my,” Violet sighed.
Naked Gaige was a sight she would never grow tired of. He put Michelangelo’s
David to shame. Of course, Gaige had one
big
advantage.

“You like what you see?”

Violet reached for his erection, but Gaige had the honed
reflexes of a world-class athlete. Before she could blink, he sidestepped her
hand and positioned himself between her spread legs.

“We can play all you want. Later.”

With one fluid thrust, Gaige entered her, and Violet saw
emerald-colored stars. Or were they his eyes? She didn’t know—or care. It felt
so good, she stopped thinking and rode the wave of bright, intense sensations
that only Gaige could give her.

“If you stop squirming, I can make it last longer,” Gaige
told her through gritted teeth.

Understanding, Violet cupped his face with her hands,
looking into his eyes. “We have all night.”
We have forever
, but she
couldn’t bring herself to say it—not yet. “I like it hard and fast. Like you
said, we can play later.”

Gaige’s change of expression took her breath away. His eyes
turned a silvery green, so intense it almost hurt to look at them—but sexy. So
damn sexy.

She loved that he cared about her pleasure. Enough to hold
back his own, even if it caused him pain.

“You want it hard?” Gaige thrust his hips back, then quickly
returned.

“Yes,” Violet gasped, clutching at his back. Her nails dug
into the hard muscles, leaving behind her mark.

“And fast.” Gaige entered her, then retreated, quick
succession.

“Faster,” she urged. “Harder.”

Gaige caught the last word with his mouth, fusing his lips
to hers. His tongue plunged into her mouth, finding hers. Dueling. Retreating.
Chasing. Violet kissed him without thought. She ran on instinct—an instinct
that went back longer than recorded time. Man and woman. The need to mate ran
through their blood. It made the world go around.

With Gaige, she finally understood what it meant to need
someone so much. It was all consuming. Like fire—burning hot and bright. It
wouldn’t consume them or burn them to the ground. It would make them stronger.
Forged in that heat. Unbreakable. Together. Forever.

Violet called out Gaige’s name, the orgasm bursting from her
center and shooting throughout her body. It rolled on and on, cresting again
when she felt him join her. Gaige bit her shoulder, the pain intensifying her
pleasure. His tongue soothed the mark. His mark. Violet knew she would carry it
for several days. A reminder of this night and Gaige’s passion.

“Ten minutes,” he breathed into the side of her neck.

“Hmm?”

Violet didn’t know how Gaige could speak, let alone worry about
the time. All she wanted to do was lie here, his weight pushing her limp body
into the mattress.

“It took ten minutes. Ten minutes and sixteen seconds, to be
exact.”

Violet couldn’t help it—she burst out laughing.

“Men. Is everything a competition?”

“Professional athlete here. My brain is conditioned that
way. And in football, time management is everything.” He kissed the spot that
bore his mark. “Sorry about that.”

Violet turned to look. To her surprise, it hardly showed.

“When I’m back in New York, it will be a reminder of one of
the best orgasms of my life.”

“Not number one?”

“God, you’re even competitive with yourself.” She pushed at
his shoulder, but he didn’t budge. “FYI, you have all the top ten spots.” She
did the math. “Top twenty? Thirty?”

“My ego is sufficiently assuaged.”

“Assuaged? That’s an awfully fancy word for a dumb jock.”

He rolled to the side, taking Violet with him. She liked the
reversal of positions. She settled her body over his, sighing with contentment.

“A fan gave me some word of the day toilet paper.” Gaige
said it with a straight face, but there was a definite twinkle in his eyes. “It’s
been a godsend.”

“The words, or the toilet paper?”

“Both. Triple ply—soft yet durable. And I have something to
read. I’m a simple man, Violet. With simple needs.”

Violet was glad she didn’t have anything in her mouth. If
she had, Gaige’s statement would have sent it spewing all over him. Simple?
Gaige? Who was he trying to kid?

“Do you believe that?” she asked. She couldn’t wait for his
answer.

“Most days.” Absently, he began to rub her back, making
Violet want to purr like a kitten. “My past is complicated—to put it mildly. My
future is unknown. But the here and now? My happiness depends on two things.”

“What would those be?”

“Football.” Gaige tipped her chin until she was looking him
in the eyes. “And you.”

Violet felt her throat tighten. She blinked several times.
The man could go from teasing to heartbreaking in a snap.

“Are you trying to make me cry?”

“No!” Gaige shook his head, a worried look on his face. “Cry?
Really? Please don’t.” Panicked, he looked around. “I don’t have any tissues
nearby. You can use the sheet.”

Gaige’s unexpected reaction took care of Violet’s tears. She
was laughing too hard.