Playing For Keeps (9 page)

His heated gaze met hers.

Samantha missed a step. Her feet stuttered on the belt. She grabbed onto the sidebars, but couldn’t stop herself from fal ing. Before she could get up, Ryan was at her side helping her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she croaked. A disclaimer should be posted in the gym. Not responsible for accidents caused by ogling hot men.

He kept his hands on her waist. “Are you sure? Because I trained as doctor between the ages of four and five.”

Picturing Ryan playing with a toy stethoscope, she laughed. “What’s the cure for a bruised ego?”

“This.” He leaned his head down and brushed her lips with his in a gentle caress. “Feel better?”

If the chil s of anticipation racing through her meant that, then yes, or maybe she was coming down with bird flu. Her hands glided up his naked chest. “A little. Perhaps I need something more potent?”

A flash of desire lit his eyes and his hands tightened around her waist. “Baby, you’re going to be the healthiest woman on the planet after I get done.”

His mouth came down on hers, hard and demanding. A shot of pleasure raced through her blood, making her tingle from head to toe. His kiss was better than any drug and just as addicting.

Ryan’s hand slid up from her waist and cradled her breast before his thumb grazed her nipple. Her body became pliant under his touch and she sighed into his mouth. This seemed to be al the clearance he needed because his other hand drifted up to lift off her bra.

The cool air of the gym skimmed over her heated skin, but Ryan quickly covered one breast with his mouth while he continued to caress the other with his hand. Somewhere in the back of her brain she registered the consequences of what they are doing. “What if someone comes in?”

He licked each nipple before staring at her breasts in awe. “I’l kil them,” he said, his voice husky with need.

Samantha laughed. “Good plan, no witnesses.”

Ryan was about to say something, but she took his head and hand guided it back to her breasts. He greedily sucked and her breath hitched.

“Now the other one.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He worked his magic and her nipple puckered. Job done, his lips trailed back up to her mouth. Ryan’s fingers kneaded her butt before his right hand reached around and into her shorts. Already slick, he played with the folds of her sex, rubbing the nub with his thumb. He kissed her deeply, using his tongue in the same rhythm as his fingers.

His hands were magnificent, made for caressing and cradling. Hands worth five mil ion a year on the footbal field felt priceless on her fevered body.

His fingers slowed and Samantha whimpered in protest. His hands grabbed her butt again, lifting her off the floor, pressing her into his erection.

He carried her over to the inner thigh machine then gently put her down. He knelt before her and roughly pul ed down her shorts and she eagerly stepped out. “Sit,” he commanded her.

He put each leg in its place, leaving her ful y exposed to his gaze. A wicked smile formed on his face and the gleam in his eyes made her core pulse with excitement.

She squirmed as he took in her face, neck, shoulders, lingering on her breasts before traveling to her flat abdomen, then to the apex of her thighs.

His gaze so intent that she could read his mind, knowing exactly what he planned to do to her. “Please,” she half begged, her body throbbing for his touch.

He looked into her eyes. “Please? I’ve waited ten years for this.”

Samantha didn’t know what to make of that. She real y didn’t care at the moment. Al she wanted, al she could think of, was his tongue doing al the magical things his gaze promised. “Then what are you waiting for?”

“I want it to last.”

“Terrel , you talk too much.”

“I’m going to-”

“Just do it.”

Ryan laughed. “This isn’t a sneaker ad.” He slipped a finger into her, then another, stil using his thumb to caress her. He leaned in to lick her nipple, then sucked on it while he stroked her with his fingers.

Samantha felt good and frustrated al at the same time. With her legs restrained she couldn’t move the way she wanted, the way she needed to.

“When you come, wil you cal my name?”

Samantha barely registered his ragged words as Ryan began to switch kisses with licks, alternating slowly down her quivering body. Then he latched his mouth around her whole clitoral area, sucking her between his teeth and she lifted off the seat. She nearly came as he continued to suck while flicking his tongue. The warmth and wetness of his mouth made her hotter and wetter. His fingers stroked in and out.. She arched her back in an attempt to harden the pressure even more. When that didn’t work she put her hand on the back of his head and pushed his face closer. He moaned hungrily and increased the pace of his tongue. Samantha exploded as shockwaves radiated through her. The name Ryan ripped through her mind and out her mouth.

“Damn it.”

That was so not the reaction she was hoping for. With her eyes stil closed she asked, “What?”

“No condom.”

“My bag.” As he dashed to the treadmil , she careful y extricated herself from the equipment and stood on wobbly legs. “In the side pocket.”

He pul ed out the strip of condoms.

For some reason she didn’t want him to think she carried a midnight birth control arsenal with her. “Complements of Hannah. She thinks I need to get laid.”

“I think so too, but only by me.”

His erection strained against the fabric of his shorts. She nearly panted as he pul ed them off. Standing before her, she heated al over again. His cock was as magnificent as the rest of him. Big and hard. She caressed it. “Now, there’s something you don’t see in the locker room.”

His hand came up to rest on her shoulder while the other took the foil packet, bringing it to his mouth to rip open.

She pushed lightly on his chest. “Now, sit,” she commanded. Ryan took her place on the seat of the inner thigh machine, but left his legs unrestrained. He put the condom on slowly, making a great show of how tightly it fit.

“Impressive.” Samantha’s observation earned her a big smile. He wouldn’t be smiling for long. She planned to ride him hard – ride him until she forgot if only for a few moments.

With Ryan sitting like a king on a throne, she straddled his lap, anchoring her ankles around the bar behind his feet, giving her the leverage she needed. Once secured in place she lifted up her hips. He began to enter her slowly, but Samantha was wet, hot, and having none of that. She quickly slid down his shaft. Her muscles pulsated around him.

“Samantha,” he moaned.

She moved seductively, gyrating her hips against him, her breasts skimming his mouth.

“Samantha,” he pleaded.

“Yes?” Her hair flipped forward as she reached for the backrest of the chair giving her even better leverage. Pul ing up, her breasts were now ful y in his face, and her opening hovered at the tip of his penis.

He nuzzled her breasts, licking the val ey in between. “Damn it, woman, you’re driving me crazy.”

She repeated the movement one more time before lifting up her hips and then pushing down in one fel swoop. He growled and for a split second Samantha though he’d morphed into a wild beast.

She quickened and intensified the pace as she raced to what had eluded her al her life. Completion. When she thought it would stil escape her, Ryan grabbed her hips and began to thrust while pushing her down harder, faster onto him. She gripped his shoulders, digging her nails into his sculptured flesh as her release pulsated through her. Her cries of pleasure mingled with the moans of his climax.

Samantha’s body melted with warmth as he stroked her back and held her close. His head rested on her breasts, his uneven breath skimming her nipple. Her fingers drifted across his cheek, then his brow. Holding back a sigh of contentment, she realized this was far too cozy. She tried to get up, but he held on.

“No, not yet.”

She complied with his request, letting him catch his breath. And because it felt so damn good. A few minutes passed, or it might have been a few moments when he lifted his head off her breasts.

“I hope you feel better because I feel like I played a season’s worth of games in ten minutes.”

“Better than a shot of morphine. Those hands of yours should be bronzed. They’re amazing.”

“Just my hands?” Stil hard Ryan pul ed her closer.

Samantha’s body trembled, her muscles contracting around him. “
That
should be used as a mold for a vibrator.”

“I like that idea.”

“I thought you would.”

“Wel , there’s no replicating you. Only the real thing wil do.”

Her heart foolishly swel ed at the compliment. She unwrapped herself from the machine and from him. Her ankles hurt and she was sure bruises would appear by morning. Those marks would heal, but would the sudden ache in heart ease?

Ryan picked up his shorts and said, “I’l be right back.” He left for the bathroom.

Samantha picked up her clothes and quickly got dressed, but not quick enough because Ryan was back before she could leave. “I’l see you tomorrow.”

Ryan grabbed her, foiling her escape. She didn’t want to talk about what just transpired. Most guys would be glad about that. But not Ryan, he loved to talk.

“Just so you know, I make house cal s.”

Samantha bit back the smile threatening to appear on her face. “I believe I’m cured.”

“Of the bruised ego or me?” His fingers grazed the curve of her hip.

“Both.” But the sudden shiver running through her was not from the air conditioning.

“Liar. What do you say to a twice a day procedure?”

This time a wide smile lit her face. “Twice, uh?”

“You bet.”

Samantha wanted to take that bet and then gladly lose it, but one dose would have to be enough to last her. “Ryan, we can’t.”

“But we just did.”

She laughed. “Yeah, we sure did, but it doesn’t change anything.” Her smiled faded and she looked away. She didn’t want him to see the lie in her eyes because everything had changed, except for one thing. “You stil play for the team I cover.”

“You’re in denial if you think this won’t happen again.” He gently took her arm, drawing her gaze back to his.

“I don’t know, that seems to be what I’m best at.” She tried to look away again, but his hand slid up her arm in a caress to her chin, keeping her gaze on his. Yup, she was real y good at denial. An expert.

“Why couldn’t you stay asleep, Samantha?”

He watched her closely like he was trying to read her mind. If only he would let her look away, she could lie her way out of this. Annoyance gripped her and her eyes narrowed. “It certainly wasn’t because of you.”

“I’m aware of that.”

Oh God, he can read my mind.

Samantha needed to make a quick escape before she spil ed out the truth. What was it about this man that made her feel safe; that made her want to risk it al ? Kissing him in an elevator, having sex in a hotel fitness center - what the hel was she thinking? She stepped away. Samantha didn’t think he would tel , but she had to ask to be sure, to remind him of the stakes. “You won’t tel anyone?”

“Don’t worry Samantha, your secret is safe with me.” His reached out; his thumb lightly caressed her cheek. “Al of them.”

Ryan could only watch as she hurried out of the room. He stood a moment before remembering gym etiquette and took a towel to wipe off the equipment. Sitting down on the bench press, he tried to gather his thoughts as an infomercial played in the background. He pressed the off button on the remote. The silence did nothing to quiet his mind.

A gym wasn’t the first place he pictured making love to Samantha. Not that the sex wasn’t smoking hot. But he would’ve preferred a bed. He’d been tempted to suggest her room, but the ride up would’ve given her time to change her mind. And after waiting ten years to have her, he wasn’t about to wait ten more seconds.

His knees had protested in pain when he knelt in front of her, but the rest of his body reveled in her open trust of him. Between the taste of her and of victory, he never savored anything so sweet. Her moans and whimpers of pleasure ended any doubt on whether he was doing the right thing. She wanted him. Bad.

The way she ordered him to sit and the way she used his body for her pleasure turned him on so much he nearly lost his famous control. Never in a mil ion years, never mind ten, would he have imagined Samantha as having a bit of dominatrix in her. Who would’ve guessed the innocent col ege girl he remembered had learned a few plays of her own. He conjured up a fantasy of her in a leather corset, panties, garter belt, stockings, and high heels. No whips though, he real y wasn’t into that. He let the vision play out in his head. Yeah, she was in denial. They would be together again within the week.

Next time it would be on his king-sized bed where he would make love to her properly. Stretching out her luscious body to kiss it al over, before taking her and pushing her down into the softness of the mattress while he drowned in hers. Then, and only then, could she have her way with him.

An urge to fol ow Samantha up to her hotel room ate at his self-control. The exact same self control that kept him celibate for six months, which in retrospect, after making love with Samantha, seemed like six years. At the end of last season he swore to lay off the women and focus solely on footbal . He stunk up the field last year and let his teammates, and himself down.

He hoped he didn’t jinx himself by breaking the vow.
That’s not the only promise you’ve broken. Is it?

Samantha could think he’s doing her a favor by keeping her secret-- their secret. If her family found out he’d taken her like some cheap groupie, he’d need his whole offensive line to shield him from their wrath. But he knew something they didn’t. Samantha needed him. She’d been to hel and she brought it back with her. That’s why she couldn’t sleep.

He would rescue her from that hel by taking her to heaven in his arms.

Ryan would make them al see. Especial y Samantha.

A wave of exhaustion hit him hard and al he could think about was sleep. Ryan glanced up looking for a clock and instead noticed a strategical y placed camera staring at him. “Oh, crap.” A trip to security would keep him from his bed.