Dare To Love Series: A Kissing Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

Her face deepened to a red hue. She lifted her drink and took a second sip, a little healthier than the first then returned it to the table. “Neither do I,” she confessed. “However, we probably should keep things more professional now.”

Hell, no.
“Of course.” His body was not in agreement with his mouth at all. “Before we draw the line in the sand I want to tell you how amazing you look. But, you were just as beautiful before.”

She placed a hand on her chest. “Tha-ank you.”

It was confusing to him why she always seemed unnerved by compliments. She was a good looking woman, men had to approach her often. That thought set his teeth on edge and made his gut tighten with jealousy.

“Since we’re here. Tell me about your part of this program.”

Over the next hour and half over their dinner, he listened to Jo’el talk about reasons he should invest and various money management techniques she could administer if he allowed her to be his financial handler. She talked about his retirement and how she could work with his agent in negotiating it, as well as estate management for after he passed.

“You’re not trying to kill me off are you?” He asked around a bite of steak.

“No.” She laughed, a throaty resonance.

His gut clenched at the sound. He realized that up until that moment he’d never heard her laugh before. Sigh in ecstasy, scream out in pleasure and even moan in satisfaction, but never laugh. He could live on that tone for ever. He shoved his mind away from the everlasting style thoughts. Too much end of life kind of talk.

“What about short change bonds? I hear a lot of my fellow teammate saying they invested there or someone did it for them and those yielded returns.”

She lifted her napkin from her lap and wiped the corners of her mouth as she finished chewing her sautéed bok choy. “Those are short sighted returns. Managers who are not worth their salt to clients play small ball for the quick bang. It pays out better for the manager’s percentage than it ever will for the clients in the long run.”

He was impressed at her level of expertise. It wasn’t the fact that she was smart, he’d seen that the other day, but she was savvy.  “I’ll have to give the guys your card.”

“Well, thank you. I’ll speak to any of them strictly in an advisory capacity for now. If I get the position then I can offer them something more involved and hands on.”

He reached for the scotch then took another sip. “You’ll get it.”

“I’m not too sure. There’s this tough client I have to deal with.” Her head was tilted as she met his gaze.

“I doubt if I’ll be your hold up. Alex and Madison are too smart not to pull you aboard, regardless.”

“Let’s hope.” She set her napkin on the side of her plate, indication she was finished eating.

He didn’t want the night to end, but he followed her actions then stood. Moving around the table, he assisted her with her seat, pulling it out while she stood.

They walked out, thanking their waiter when they passed him at another table.

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Thank you.”

Taking in several breathes of the balmy night air, he tried to keep his thoughts on the topic they’d discussed instead of the cherry almond sweetness of the woman beside him. The humidity was not making it any easier, her scent was saturated in the air around him.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about.” He began when they arrived at her car in the restaurant parking. “I can’t make any promises. I’ve been handling my own finances since the beginning and it has worked for me. I don’t trust easily. Especially financially. If someone loses it all on bad investments it could destroy what is important to me.”

“I understand. Financial trust is a lot to place in a strangers hands.”

Unable to stop himself he cupped her cheek, his thumb stroked along downy, soft skin. “Not strangers. We know each other well.”

She angled her head into his hand, her lids drifting lower, almost closed. “Donovan…we shouldn’t.”

“I know.” He stepped closer to her, barricading her against her car. His thumb moved over her lips. “We shouldn’t touch. We shouldn’t kiss. We shouldn’t do any of the things my body is aching to do, to repeat. Keep it professional is what we should do.”

“Yesss.” Her words came out sounding more like a whimper.

The erotic timbre almost brought him to his knees. His mind replayed every sound she made when he was balls deep inside of her. He groaned and stepped closer. Now there was barely space between them. When they breathed their bodies brushed against each other. He was hard as a brick and ready to be laid.

“Tell me something, beautiful. Why is it that every time I think I’ve vanquished you out of my system you show back up again?”

She shook her head as she took hold of his hand and brought it down to her side. “I don’t know. But, we have to stop rushing into blind lust.”

“Who says?” He squeezed her hand, as she still hadn’t released his.

Her lips lifted in a sexy smile. “Be serious. What do you want from
this
?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” He tugged her closer and held her body against his so she could feel the evidence of his arousal. “I know I don’t want it to end, not right now. I want to get to know all about Jo’el Gifford.”

Brown eyes searched gray ones for a long moment as they stood there. People came in and out of the restaurant, but none of the movement around the couple intruded on the bond between them.

“Okay.” She laced her fingers through his as she offered a simple response. “But, this…” She tapped his chest then her own with her free hand. “Is not because I want you to sign an authorization form.”

“I didn’t think it was.” He wrapped his arms around Jo’el and kissed her.

The kiss went on for long moments and there were more than a few wolf calls that pierced the air. By the time he and Jo’el parted they were both panting.

“Your place or mine,” she taunted.

He smiled remembering when he asked her the same question days ago. “Yours. I’ll follow. I have camp tomorrow and will need my vehicle.”

“Then I’ll wait for you at the exit. Flash your lights once you’re behind me.”

He agreed then gave her a firm peck before he strolled away.

Once at his truck, he got in quickly then drove around the parking lot until he was behind her. He signaled to her as she had requested and they were off.

Unlike the last time they were together he analyzed what was happening between them. This woman meant something to him and he wanted to see it through on a different level than last time. Nothing had changed in his life since the last time, he was still fighting for his position. On the field he made money, not on the sidelines. However, he no longer thought of Jo’el as a distraction to his life but a welcome reprieve.

Jo’el didn’t even recall the drive home. She spent most of her time either staring into her review mirror, the road or thinking about the sexy beast of a man. At her rented house, that seemed old and drab compared to Donovan’s condo, she pulled into the driveway. She pressed the device on her visor that activated the garage door. Inside, she shut off her engine and waited for him to park his car behind her. The garage could only fit one vehicle.

Getting out, she watched him walk up the drive to her. The man was imposing and he took her breath away. Now that she knew who and what he was, she was amazed that she took him for anything else but a football player. The man had a confident swagger that kept cream in her panties.

“Second thoughts?” He asked, once he stood before her.

“No. Just think about all the things I want to do to you when I have you inside.” Stretching up on her toes, she kissed him softly then stepped away and took his hand in hers.

“What are these things?” His warm, strong hand wrapped around hers.

“Oh, it will be so much better if I show you,” she teased, thrilled to see how dark his gray eyes became as they clouded with passion. She led him through the door and they were in her laundry room. “Allow me to take the lead this time?”

“You will not hear a single complaint from me.” He turned her in his arms and she landed against his chest. Soon his hands slipped around her waist to cup and caress her ass.

“Um, I believe what your doing is the opposite of me being in control.” She laughed. Following suit, she encircled his trim waist and palmed his tight-end. The man was just as firm there as he was over the rest of his body.

“Ah. Maybe you’re right. I just can’t keep my hands off you, beautiful.” After giving her backside a squeeze he released her, holding his hands out to his side. “I’m all yours.”

“I like that.” Moving her hands up his body until she was stroking the nape of his neck, she leaned in and kissed him deeply. Showing him she was a woman not afraid of passion. When she’d been caught in the work closet, she’d been seeking this from her co-worker, an all-consuming desire. It hadn’t been there. She was of the mindset to believe what she had with Donovan could not be found anywhere else.

His tongue swept along her mouth, taking command of her through the kiss. She groaned and finished if off with a sigh as she pulled away. This man just could not help his dominance. But, it would be fun to try and tame him tonight.

“Come with me.”

He commented on the warmth of her house as they moved through it to the bedroom. In her bedroom she helped him out of his clothes.

“What about you? You still have entirely too many clothes on.” He flicked a button on her dress.

It was another outfit from her upgraded wardrobe.

“If I get undressed I’m not sure I can trust you to let me keep the lead.” Flirting with him, she trailed a finger from her top button to the one at her sex.

“Damn sweetheart, I
need
to see some of you,” he growled.

“Fine. You at least took off your shirt for me last time.” She leaned in and placed her lips against his ear. In a husky whisper, she said, “Take off my dress, Donovan.”

“Shit. You’re begging for trouble.” He attacked her buttons but was careful not to rip them off. Done, he dragged it off her then tossed it to the bench at the end of her bed. “Ah, you make it hard for a man to behave in that sheer white panty and bra set.”

She cupped his cock. “I never asked you to.” She smiled when he thrust in her hand. Marcy, Avery and Ella had not just picked out her out garments but made the lingerie store a stop as well.

“I’m glad you like it.” Placing her other hand on his chest she walked him backwards. When his back was against a bare wall in her room, she said, “You’re going to need to brace yourself.”

That was all the warning she gave him before she flattened her palms on his chest then slid them down his sculpted body as she lowered herself to her knees. His gloriously thick dick was before her eyes and she devoured the sight of him. She’d spent every day and night since she’d left his condo dreaming about it, desiring it and wishing she just had one more time with him. Now, she did, without a time limit, at least in the foreseeable future.

She noted that he’d placed his hands on the wall beside his hips and stepped his feet out shoulder width apart.

“You have me at your command.”

It was just where she wanted him for now. She took him in both her hands and began working up and down along his shaft, squeezing and stroking. Tilting her head, she encircled the crown with her lips. She licked and sucked just the tip and her hand continued a steady pace.

Above her, Donovan was groaning and muttering, going from naughty encouraging words to pleas for her to cease and let him fuck her.

Not paying any heed to what he was saying, even though her panties were drenched, her sex was throbbing and her nipples were taut. However, she wanted this time to play with him and feel all his strength quivering in her hands and mouth.

Moving one hand to his hip, she took him further into her mouth. She kept going until he’d slid along her tongue to the back of her throat. Still there was more than a fist full remaining in her hand.

“Shit! Shit!! Ah, damn beautiful.” His blunt nails scratched along her wall.

Pulling her head back she did it again. Breathing through her nose, she relaxed her throat and took him further still. She’d practice this technique with her dildo. Making plans to satisfy her man when she got one. This moment had been two years in the making.

She increased both the speed of her hand and her mouth.

“Grr…I need to fuck you now,” he barked. “I’m not going to last.”

Those magical words had been the ones she’d waited to hear. She stayed the course and applied more pressure and moaned to add vibrations to the sensations he was feeling.

Like the strike of lightening, he moved quick and buried his hands in her hair. His grip was unforgiving as he fisted her strands and held her in place.

Her mouth was soon filled with his release as he roared his pleasure.

She consumed as much of his hot stream as she could swallow. When his body calmed some, she continued sucking and stroking him to keep him hard.

He gripped her arms and hauled her away from him. Once she was standing before him swiping a hand across her mouth, she saw the raging passion that filled his face.

“I will buy you a new set.” He reached out and the fragile material of her panty and bra set never held up under hands.

Giggling in shock and delight, she watched the scraps drift to the floor.

When he had her nude before him, he picked her up then pivoted so she was now against the wall. “You’re going to want to brace yourself.” He tossed her words back at her.

Wrapping her legs around his waist then her arms around his shoulders, she taunted him, “Show me what you got, big man.”

Her cry filled the house as he entered her pussy in one precise thrust that drove him all the way in proving to her that he’d contained his beast just for her. Now he’d released his passion and he offered no yield.

Over and over again, he pounded into her. In minutes, his hard rhythm had her coming around him calling out his name. It wasn’t until her second orgasm when he finally moved them to the bed and slowed his tempo and gentled his strokes. They kissed, loved and held each other. Her third climax brought his completion, his essence filling her.

As the madness of ecstasy ebbed away they both became aware they’d forgotten to use a condom.

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” His sigh was heavy as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Damn, I meant to get some on the way.”

She was more than a little worried, but she caressed his squared jaw and felt his shadow of a beard prickly against her palm. She’d always wanted kids, but not now. Not when her relationship with Donovan was so new. “It’s my fault. I actually have a three pack under my sink, somewhere.”

“Good. I was afraid I’d have to go to the rhythm method.” Leaning away he stared down with her. “You know if anything comes of this—”

Placing her fingers on his lips, she shushed him. “How about a shower then some conversation about childhood antics over a bowl of ice cream.”

“Sounds great.” He captured her lips briefly then rolled away from her.

Getting up from the bed, she padded to the bathroom, comfortable in her nakedness. Once there, she turned went under the sink and removed the box and tossed them back at the man following her.

He wiped at his brow as if he’d been sweating. Pausing he removed one then chucked the remainder and the box over his shoulder in the vicinity of the bed.

“What do you have planned for that lonely condom?” She reached into the shower and turned on it on.

“Oh, beautiful you will soon find out.”

Ten minutes later after Donovan had washed her thoroughly, he had her hands pressed along the back of the shower wall and he made good use of the condom as he thrust into her.

~YH~

“Ah, there’s the beautiful face I needed to see.”

“Rough day?” Jo’el smiled at him, looking like more than a treat as she sat on her bed in a Thunders long pajama shirt with his number and name on it.

“Grueling.” Training camp had been a mother fucker. Not because of the drills and games, but because every day he had a shadow beside him reminding him that his position was up for the taking. It had been a stellar day for the rookie. “I played like shit.”

“Oh, baby. I’m sorry. Tomorrow you’ll be better.” Her Skyped face showed the sincerity of her words.

Over the weeks of training camp, Jo’el had been more than a bright spot at the end of his day. She’d been his solace. It seemed to him that they had grown closer during the weeks of separation where all they had were text, phone calls and late night video chats. They got to know everything about each other, how they grew up, what was important to each of them.

She had become a permanent fixture in his day and life. Two weeks after their no condom slip, she’d let him know that they were in the clear and she wasn’t pregnant. He should have been relieved he told himself repeatedly. However, there was an ache in his chest at times as if something was missing in his life. Like now when he got to see her in the nightshirt and snuggled up in bed, he thought about how she’d look with the shirt stretched in the front and carrying his baby.

All he could do was push the thought away.

At least, once a week he allowed her to talk to him about his finances. He’d asked her to wait until after pre-season to make a final decision. Without pressuring him she’d agreed. He wasn’t as resistant as he’d been originally. Hell he had learned he could trust Jo’el on numerous occasions. He just wanted to know where the last two years of his career were headed.

“How’s the program coming along?”

“Great. I’m loving it a lot more than I ever thought I would.” Jo’el’s brown eyes were bright through his tablet screen, showing how much the new position meant to her. “I can’t wait until the intern starts so I won’t be dividing my time so much between the corporate and the Post-Football Program.”

“I hear you. Mr. Stosch still not letting you train someone in house?”

“Nope. I had a meeting with him today about it too. Especially with Kalvin Hanes.” She’d finally gotten what she called her marquee client in their first round draft pick safety. Alex had put her in touch with the kid’s agent. The agent had allowed Jo’el to speak with him after the draft and all three of them started working with him from the beginning. Donovan was glad Alex and Madison didn’t make her wait on him before she was officially hired.

Now as a soon to be partner at the firm and head of the new sports division, things were looking up for Jo’el, and she deserved every bit of it.

“Well, beautiful, it’s lights out in a few minutes.” He yawned. The extra weights and time with the trainer he did sapped him of his energy by ten.

“For me too.”

“You still coming to the first preseason game.”

“You know I wouldn’t miss it.” A smile stretched those thick succulent lips of hers. “It’s my first game, I’m so excited.”

He shook his head and chuckled at her joy. “Take care, beautiful. Sweet dreams.”

She blew him a kiss. “You too.”

Turning off his tablet, he crashed back on the hotel bed and thought about how drab and routine his life had been before Jo’el came into his life with a kiss on a dare. Drifting off to sleep, he couldn’t help but smile.