Double Coverage (5 page)

“What?”

For a moment, she looked at him as if he’d just said something ridiculous. “Oh, no, it’s nothing like that. There’s a position open in the archaeology department at the university over in Mobile, and I went in to interview for it. I’m thinking about leaving New Jersey. Like your friend Bullet, I want to come home.”

“But—I hear a ‘but’ in there. You’re not sure, are you?” There was sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there the night before. The rumors of her divorce were sordid, but until that moment, he’d paid very little attention to them, because they were just that, rumors.

“No, I’m not sure. I’m taking the summer and next semester off—to find myself, I guess you can say.” She laughed a bitter laugh. “I’m thirty-three years old, and I have no idea who I am anymore.”

“Because of your ex-husband?”

“That’s part of it, yes.” She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “Scandal is a major motivator, don’t you think? My divorce was front-page news. Oh God, Trig, it was bad. You can’t even imagine the things he did, and I was blind. So goddamned blind. I didn’t see the signs, or I ignored them—I’ve never been quite certain which.”

“He cheated?” He didn’t want to believe the rumors.

“Did he cheat? That’s an understatement. The man had a damned harem in his office, one for every day of the week, and the secretarial staff for the weekend. If that wasn’t enough, he was fucking his patients, too. Money started going missing from our accounts. I didn’t notice. I was busy trotting to dig sites all around the world on weekends and breaks. Then money started going missing from his practice. I found out because of a freaking IRS audit. And as they say, after that the shit hit the fan. He lost his license and is facing jail time on extortion and embezzling charges. He’s in debt to the government for a couple million dollars. They tried to take my house, but since it’s in my name, and we file separately, they couldn’t. My department head tried to have me fired because of the bad press, but I’m tenured so that didn’t happen. Damn, Trig, it’s a mess. I was married to that prick for eleven years, and I didn’t even know him.”

“So what’s wrong with the local university? Why not come home?”—or to New Orleans, he wanted to say.

“It’s a significant pay cut, but that doesn’t bother me as much as losing tenure in this economy, and with my ex’s debts hanging around my neck like a noose, I don’t know if I want to risk starting over.”

“But you’re looking?”

“It doesn’t hurt to know what’s out there, you know, and who knows? I might find something that grabs me by the throat, something that is worth leaving my little bit of security behind for.”

“Come to New Orleans.” Well, that resolve lasted a long time. “Tulane, UNO—I’m sure there are about ten other small colleges that would love to have you. New Orleans is only an hour by plane from here, five by car. You can live with me until you get on your feet.” Or forever if you’d like.

She groaned and buried her face in his neck. Not a good sign. “Don’t tempt me, Trig. Last night was great. Right now is fabulous. But I’m not ready for a relationship. I was too young when I married Charlie, and until last night, he was all I knew—and look how that turned out.”

“Okay, so we have the weekend. I can live with that.” A hookup was the last thing on his mind, but he would take what he could get. Maybe one day in the future she would reconsider and come to New Orleans. Until then…

“How cavalier of you, Trig Morgan.” There was a second of something in her eyes—almost regret—before she sighed and touched her lips to his. “Maybe I can spend some time in New Orleans this summer. I’ve always wanted to see Bourbon Street.”

“I could show you around, maybe, if my schedule permits.”

“Wow, for a guy wanting to get inside my panties, you sure do play hard to get.”

“You’re not wearing panties right now, Kailey.” He went rigid at the thought of what she was wearing, and what that little strip of material was covering and just how close he was to that particular part of her anatomy. “We’re alone. It wouldn’t take too much for me to be inside you.”

“Promises, promises,” she said against his neck, gasping when he lifted her higher and pressed his cock against her clit. “Oh don’t do that. That feels too damned good.”

“There’s no one here but us, Kailey. No one to see if I did this.” He reached between them, tugged the crotch of her suit to the side, and inserted one finger inside her. She hissed between her teeth, her eyes wild as she looked around.

“That is wicked, Trigger. Mmm. Someone could come in any minute, and oh God, I think I might—” Her eyes fluttered closed, her mouth went slack as he stroked her, going deep inside her. Her nipples were hard as diamonds pressed against his chest, her gaspy little breaths inflaming him. “—come, oh God, Trigger.”

Her vaginal muscles contracted around his finger. His cock throbbed from wanting her, and she came just like that. She was incredible, biting her bottom lip to keep from crying out, and then she couldn’t help it—her voice echoed in the empty room.

He pushed her against the side of the pool closest to the entrance so he could watch for unwelcome visitors. “I’m sorry, Kailey, I can’t help myself.” He pulled his trunks down just far enough to free his erection, and with very little effort, he was inside her, sinking deeper into temptation, her vagina still pulsing with orgasm. And he was lost.

* * * *

He followed them, watching Trigger stroke the woman’s arm, his eyes needy, his moves amateurish. What the hell! This was Trigger here, not some damned virgin trying to score with the prom queen. He’d seen Trigger smooth-talk his way into some bimbo’s pants in half the time.

She was fabulous, the damned valedictorian—hell yeah, he remembered Miss Braces and Glasses from way back then, and that chick sure as hell did not have tits like that. He would have noticed, braces or not. Little Kailey Whitmore had had a growth spurt after high school, because those puppies were real. And that ass, God help him—she stripped out of her sarong quick enough, watching his buddy Trigger with those eyes … oh hell yeah, she wanted him. She wanted to strip for him right there in public. Hot little professor of archaeology, and Trig was hard as hell lusting over her.

Trigger had always lusted over Kailey Whitmore. He knew Trigger well enough even before the wild days to see that he wanted her, glasses, braces, straight As, and all. She had never even looked at him, and that was how it should have been then … but now? Damn he was hard just looking at her himself.

She dove into the pool. Oh God, didn’t she know that suit was transparent, the deep pink of her nipples clearly visible when she surfaced.
Damn, Trigger, get out of the way.
He heard a laugh and stepped back when a couple walked past him only to disappear down the hall to the workout room. He returned to the cozy little spot just out of their line of vision in time to see her wrap around his friend. Sweet little kisses in the pool.
Aw, come on, Trigger, you can do better than that.
Fucking small talk? What the hell?

She was looking at taking a teaching job in the city, which was interesting. Another lost child looking to come home. Her ex-husband really screwed her up. Shit, no wonder Trig was moving slowly. She was hurt, and he wanted something long term. Oh, good boy, bring her to New Orleans. Damn, was it hot in here? Him and Trig and the sexy professor in The Big Easy. God, now that would be fun.

She looked around the room, listening while Trig kissed her, teasing her. She was all but orgasmic just from small talk, goddamn. She didn’t see him standing just over to the side. Oh, but he could see her, her face flushed, her eyes fluttering, her mouth gone slack. Christ, she was in the throes of orgasm, crying out Trigger’s name, the small sound echoing around the room.

Jesus Christ, Trig pushed her against the side of the pool. He was looking right at him but he was blind to everything except the sweet piece of ass he pushed inside of, his face going blank as he concentrated. He’d seen that face before; Trig was about to come—he was fighting it. Sliding into her, completely unaware he was being watched. Her little cries of pleasure were so sweet he wanted to join them in the pool and make her scream. He wanted Trigger to know he approved.

Trig looked up, startled, when he stepped into the doorway. His eyes went hard, then just as quickly glazed over as he came, his face growing taut, his mouth forming an
O
, but he didn’t cry out. When he finished, he leaned his forehead against the side of the pool waiting for her. Trigger’s eyes, when they met his again, were cold—dismissive.

Aroused and seriously confused, Bullet left just as quietly as he’d come.

Chapter Five

“Where is the sexy professor?” Bullet waited for him outside his room. He was dressed in expensive clothes, black silk shirt, slacks that looked tailor-made just for him, and shiny black shoes. He also wore a diamond in his ear. That was new, as was the jealousy radiating off him.

“What the hell do you care, and why were you watching us?” Trig grabbed Bullet’s wrist when he raised it to check the time. “We’re not kids anymore, Bullet. I don’t want to play those games.”

“You looked so hot, Trig, fucking her in the pool. It made me horny just watching you … I want her, Trig, just once, you and me and the professor. For old times’ sake.” Bullet whipped around. Catching Trig off guard, he grabbed him by his hair, dragging his face close to his. “You’re slow, man. What happened to you?”

“I grew up, Bobby. I had to get a real job. I stopped pretending I’m super human about ten years ago. And I am not interested in sharing, not this time.” He could smell Bullet’s aftershave; his face was smooth, and his eyes were cold, nearly silver. God, he hated Bullet’s eyes, they changed color depending on his mood, from silver to blue black and every shade in between. He hated the things Bullet did to him even more. “Not this time, Bullet. She’s mine.”

“What if she wants me? She’s rebounding, pretty boy, and that shy act you’ve got going on with her isn’t going to keep her. She’s just looking for a rebound sex, then she’ll run back to the security of that college she works at, and you’ll be a distant memory.”

Bullet was so beautiful, Trig forgot how dirty he could play. Trig breathed hard, but old habits were hard to break, and Bullet knew his weakness. Bullet
was
his weakness. The light sparkling in Bullet’s eyes told him the very second when Bullet knew he’d caved.

Damn, Bullet. Why couldn’t you stay safely far, far away?

“But it’s her choice. You can’t force it, Bobby. She’s fragile, and you have a tendency to break fragile things.”

“I’m insulted, Trigger. I’ve learned a few things since we’ve been apart.” Bullet smiled, his lips stretched wide on his angelic face. He pulled Trig closer, pressing him against his chest, his breath on his face, his cheek grazing his as he whispered, “Trigger and Bullet together again, just like old times. I’m hard just thinking about it.”

“Get off me, you son of a bitch.” Trig squeezed the wrist he still held, forcing Bullet’s hand back until the man’s face went white. “I can end your career right here, Bullet. Let me go.”

*

“Since when are you so defensive, Trigger? I’m just having a little fun, the kind of fun you used to like.” Bullet’s nostrils flared. He could smell adrenaline pumping through Trig’s body. And anger? What the hell? Trig knew he was harmless—he’d never hurt anyone off the football field. He’d never hurt any of the girls they’d shared either. So why the sudden aversion to a little fun for old times’ sake? More importantly, why the aversion to his touch? They’d always been Trigger and Bullet, the most powerful weapon on the team. They worked well together, always had—but they played so much better together, and he wanted more playtime. Was that so wrong?

“Like I said, Bobby, I grew up. Now let me go, or I’ll break your hand.” The hard look in his eye said it all. Bullet had no doubt that Trig would do exactly as he threatened. He let go of Trig’s hair, letting his eyes linger over Trig’s half-dressed body just to freak him out.

“That thing you think happened between us, Trig, didn’t. How many times do I have to tell you that,” he said when Trig continued to hold his wrist captive. “We were drunk and nothing happened. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Because I know you, Bobby. I know there’s no stopping you when you’re drunk, and I don’t remember anything from that night.” Trig let him go finally, his eyes going dark; he looked everywhere but at Bullet. “I went home, back to school. I grew up. Why can’t you?”

“Because I’m having too damn much fun, Trig, something you should reconsider abandoning.” Bullet turned to leave, his heart heavy. Leave it to Trig to suck the fun out of everything. “See you downstairs, Trigger.”

He held up his right hand, pointer and middle finger extended, and pumped his thumb imitating a gunshot, Trig’s signature gunslinger move from back in the day. Trigger just stood there looking at him as he walked away.

* * * *

Bullet sat alone in the ballroom downstairs, drinking sparkling water while old memories drifted in.

Trig Morgan had been his first friend when he moved to Alabama from Florida; they were paired up on their youth league football team before school had even started that year. The coach was Trig’s dad. His own dad had died the year before, and he had no one like Trig’s dad in his life. Trig’s dad hadn’t minded Bobby tagging along. In fact, Trig’s dad was the first to notice his speed and how he always beat everyone else downfield.

“Trig, toss the ball to Bobby. Bobby, run, go long.” Bobby ran, and he’d never stopped running. Trig’s dad had first called his son “Trigger” their first season in middle school, an accidental slip of the tongue when Trig out-threw even the varsity coach one afternoon spent goofing off. “That’s my boy. Trigger, fire that ball”.

Trigger had turned to him and said, “If I’m the trigger, then you’re the bullet. Go deep, Bullet.”

That’s where it all began. Through high school they were Trigger and Bullet; they were a team. They always got the job done. Same thing at LSU. They’d been a team, right up until that night when one of those damn Ole Miss sons of bitches had ripped Trigger’s knee apart. They’d lost—first time ever that Trigger and Bullet had failed their team—Trigger because he was taken out by ambulance, Bullet because he went after the son of a bitch that cost his friend his career. He’d been ejected for unsportsmanlike behavior and never regretted it for a second.