The Quarterback Sneak (9 page)

The two women were of similar height, but
his mother had the same reddish-gold curls as her son. Hayden’s
silky cinnamon-brown mane reminded him of his childhood horse and
her blue eyes matched a robin’s egg. He wondered what their
children might look like. Did she want children?

As Liam watched them, Middleton interrupted
the conversation and stole Hayden away. Liam’s gut reaction was to
follow and protect her. Her father may have signed him when no one
else would, but he was a bully with his own daughter, which
infuriated Liam. Before he could move, his mother joined him.

“Liam, she may not be the woman I would have
pictured you with, but I can tell she loves you.”

Hayden deserved an acting award for
convincing his mother. But could he live with the lie? “Mom—”

“I like her spunk and honesty.”

“What exactly did she tell you?”

“She told me you came to her rescue that
night at the bar. And what a gentleman you were afterward. And that
how even after you were engaged you wouldn’t have sex with her.
Hence, tonight’s surprise wedding.”

If Liam had been drinking, he’d spit out the
contents. His Hayden did have spunk and knew exactly what to say to
his mother to make her believe.

“Your father would be so proud of you.”

Tears welled in his eyes. His father
wouldn’t be proud.

“Oh, Liam. Don’t be upset. He’s right here
with you.”

He choked on his emotions but managed to
wrangle the words of apology out. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Stop that right now, Liam James.” She
wrapped him up in a hug.

How could such a small woman pack such might
into a hug? For a moment he wallowed in the comfort like a
five-year-old boy.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” She let
go and patted his shoulder before fixing his tie. “This is a happy
day.”

The urge for a drink slipped away with his
mother’s words. He smiled so she wouldn’t worry any further.

The party was in full swing when Hayden
returned with her father. Middleton took the microphone from the
band and called Liam up to join them.

Silence filled the room, and Middleton made
the surprise announcement. “This isn’t a engagement party. It’s a
wedding.”

At first the silence continued as Liam
registered the shock on the guests’ faces. Did they realize Hayden
had no choice? Or did they suspect that the rushed wedding had to
do with a surprise pregnancy?

Then Hondo raised up his glass up. “Hey,
everyone, Liam’s getting laid tonight!”

His teammates joined in with hoots and
catcalls. Liam expected Hayden to be mad, but she elbowed him in
the ribs and looked up at him with a big smile on her face.

“Okay, let’s get started,” Judge Mayer said.
“I chose these vows with both of Hayden and Liam’s pasts in
mind.”

“Wait!” Hannah grabbed a centerpiece of
flowers, shoving them into Hayden’s hands.

As they stood in front of Judge Mayer, Liam
felt his father’s presence. And his acceptance. A feeling of peace
settled into his heart as he repeated the words spoken by the
judge.

“I, Liam James McQueen, take you to be my
lawfully wedded wife. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and
care for you as long as we both shall live.”

As the words flowed, he realized he meant
every single word. Somewhere along the way he’d fallen in love with
Hayden.

“I take you, with all your faults and
strengths.” Liam paused to gather himself before he choked on the
next part. No wonder the judge chose this specific set of vows.
Both Liam and Hayden had broken pieces and past sins. So wrong for
anyone else, perhaps they were perfect for other.

“As I offer myself to you with all my faults
and strengths,” he continued without a hitch. Could he hide his
faults from Hayden? “I will help you when you need help and turn to
you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will
spend my life.”

Somehow he’d make this marriage work.
Someday Hayden would mean the words she spoke back to him now. One
day she would say, “I love you” for real, he vowed. Then they would
repeat the Christian vows of marriage in front of God.

Hayden smiled, her eyes filling with tears.
He hoped to God they were tears of joy and not some act she was
putting on or, worse, tears of sadness.

“I pronounce you husband and wife. You may
kiss the bride.”

Every cell of Liam’s body urged him to pull
Hayden into a bruising kiss. To mark her as his, knowing the vows
weren’t enough. Instead he took a small step closer and ran his
thumb along her chin before tilting it up. Her eyes fluttered
closed, and her mouth parted slightly in an almost Scarlett O’Hara
fashion. He kissed her tenderly, the way a bride should be
kissed.

But tonight he wouldn’t hold back. He’d
unleash his desire for his bride. She was no virgin and he no
saint.

And oddly, the thought brought another sense
of peace. Was this God’s twisted way of answering his prayer for a
partner in life, a wife to share his life with, to grow old with?
And, okay, honestly to make love to.

God created Eve for Adam.

And I get Hayden.

He grinned.

The rest of the party passed in a blur as
teammates ribbed him about ‘tapping that ass’ and asked him if he
needed any pointers.

He looked at his watch for the hundredth
time.
Ten o’clock
. Hoping the hour would be acceptable, he
asked, “Want to make our grand exit?”

“Sure,” Hayden said, “but there’s something
important I have to take care of first. Wait here.”

While he waited, he said goodbye to his
mother. She reassured him that she was being well taken care of by
Mr. Middleton. Liam watched with curiosity as Hayden headed to the
band with a sheaf of papers.

The music ended mid-beat as she tapped the
microphone. “Thank you all for coming to the surprise wedding of
the year. I have one thing to do before we head out to consummate
this marriage.”

Laughter filled the room. His teammates
hooted. If his mother’s smile was any indication, she was amused by
Hayden’s antics.

“This is the pre-nup Liam signed.” She waved
the contract in the air. “And well—”

Hayden couldn’t have shocked him more as she
tore the papers into small pieces. Liam turned to see her father’s
reaction. He’d never seen his boss so angry, even after last years
Championship loss.

“It must be love,” declared a drunken
Charlize. The guests followed the mother-of-the-bride’s lead and
cheered.

Turning back to see Hayden’s smile full of
triumph, Liam wondered if her stunt was a really a present for him
or a power play against her father. She ran off the stage as people
clapped. Throwing the pieces of the contract into the air over them
like the traditional rice over a newly married couple, she said to
him, “Let’s go.” She grabbed his hand. “Time to make good on those
claims you made about your future bride.” She gave him that
come-hither smile. “Because for better or for worse, I’m her.”

A
s they drove away from the
marina, Hayden examined the wedding band resting on top of her
grand-mère’s
engagement ring. How had she let it get this
far?

Because I wanted it to.

She glanced at Liam’s hand gripping the
steering wheel. She noted how the matching band that belonged to
her grandfather fit perfectly on her new husband’s finger.
Husband? Holy shit!

“That took balls,” Liam said.

“The pre-nup?” When he nodded, she added, “I
can assure you I don’t have any.”

“That’s a relief.” Liam chuckled.

What had possessed her to tear the pre-nup
into confetti? Was it about standing up to her father? If so, was
pissing him off worth the money Liam could sue for if they
divorced? In her heart she knew Liam’s pride would never let him
take one dime. Unless her heart was wrong about him, and then she
was screwed.

But who turns down five million dollars? She
couldn’t tell him in words how much his actions meant to her. Liam
may not love her, but he stood by her when he could have
walked.

Either way, it had felt right in the moment.
No, it felt more than right. It felt glorious. She’d live the fairy
tale until reality caught up with her.

Wrapped up in her thoughts, she hadn’t
registered the route Liam was taking.

“Where are we going?”

“My place.”

“You think I’m going to live in Tribeca?”
Feeling more like herself, she continued, “My place has a view of
the park and has actual closets.”

“A musician used to own my apartment.” He
glanced at her. “It’s soundproof.”

“What difference does that make?”

“I’m going to make you scream, Hayden. Loud.
Over and over again.”

She involuntarily squirmed, her body
throbbing with anticipation. “Then why aren’t you driving
faster?”

Liam laughed and pressed his foot on the
gas.

Reaching the apartment, he fumbled with the
keys while Hayden secretly smiled, relieved he was as nervous as
she was. She cocked an eyebrow when he waited for her to walk in
before him.

“Oh, right.” He tossed her over his
shoulder.

“That’s not the way a groom is supposed to
carry his bride over the threshold.” She knew it wasn’t a real
marriage. That this was only for fun, but she still ached for
something more.

“No, but it’s our way.”

“Put me down!”

He did as she requested, but backed her up
against the entryway wall as he kicked the door closed. “I can’t
wait to taste you. Really taste you.” His lips descended on hers
with a hunger so unlike the chaste kiss he delivered in front of
the guests. And so much better.

“I’m going to make you come, Hayden. Right
here. Right now.”

Catching her breath, she barely registered
his words as he dropped to his knees. He tugged off his suit jacket
and threw it aside.

“Every time you walk through my door you’re
going to see this wall and get wet remembering how I made you
come.” He pushed her dress all the way to her hips. “It turns me on
knowing you don’t wear panties. I love knowing I’ll have easy
access to your pussy whenever I want.”

“Liam,” she panted. It was all she was
capable of. Anticipating the warmth of his breath, her pussy
slicked with wet heat

His hands drew around to the back of her
legs to cup the place where her thighs meant her ass. He inhaled
her and then blew a warm breath over her sensitive skin. Tingles
lit up every nerve ending, and he hadn’t even touched her there
yet. Sliding his tongue between her inner lips, he hit the nub,
retreating, then back and again in a rocking motion that at any
moment would split her insides in half from the intense pleasure of
it.

He nudged her thighs wider so he could lap
her with his tongue, curling it at just the right moment. His
fingers massaged the back of her legs, intensifying the pleasure.
He knew exactly how to bring a woman to the brink of madness.

Heat pooled between her thighs, her sex
swollen with desire. He increased the pressure of his tongue until
she jerked back and her head smacked against the wall. She couldn’t
come like this. Then she did. She clutched at the wall for support,
but there was nothing to hold onto. Her hands landed in his hair.
Grabbing a fistful of strands, she tugged him closer. He moaned his
approval. The vibration of his mouth sent her into another realm.
She let go. Utterly. Completely. Wave upon wave of pleasure pounded
through her until she sobbed in relief as the storm ebbed.

He was right. Every time she walked through
that door, the memory of this moment would make her body react. And
he’d better be ready to do something about it.

Liam licked his lips. “You are
delicious.”

Hayden gripped his shoulders as he tried to
stand. Her thighs trembled from the release. Hell, her whole body
felt electrified. “I can’t stand on my own.”

“No worries.” Instead of tossing her over
his shoulder, he scooped her up, cradling her in his arms.

“You’re going to throw your back out.”

Liam smirked. “I could bench press you all
day and not break a sweat.”

“Oh yeah, well how are you at push-ups?’
Hayden wiggled her eyebrows.

“You’ll see soon enough.”

Liam put her down at the foot of his bed and
turned her so her back faced him. He unzipped her dress and kissed
the base of her neck. As his mouth glided over her skin, she bit
her lip, trying not to moan. He unhooked her bra, one hook at a
time, slowly, like he was savoring the moment. She felt his rough
fingertips trace a line down her spine as he tugged the long zipper
lower, toward her ass and beyond. The dress, which fit perfectly,
clung to every curve. She did a little shimmy to free herself of
her bra and the clinging fabric.