After The Fire (One Pass Away Book 3) (9 page)

“I knew it was you,” she shrugged, loosening the towel.
Gaige’s eyes dropped to the swell of her breasts. “Do you want to talk?”

“Yes.” He removed his jacket. “Later.”

Going for broke, Violet let the towel drop to the floor. She
was rewarded when she heard him catch his breath.

“I’ve dreamed of this a thousand times,” he said. His eyes
remained fixed on her naked body while he started to unbutton his shirt.

Violet could tell that Gaige liked what he saw. Her breasts
were firm, her waist slender. She worked out and watched what she ate. She didn’t
obsess over her looks, but for the first time in a long time, she cared what
someone else thought. She wanted Gaige to find her desirable.

“So I live up to your dreams?”

“Fuck dreams.” He stripped off his shirt, baring a chiseled
torso that made Violet’s eyes grow wide. “Reality is so much better.”

“I agree.”

“Shit.”

“No.” Violet could see the hesitation in his expression. “You
can’t stop now. This is going to happen, mister.”

Gaige grinned. “Damn straight, it is.”

“Okay.” Violet closed the distance between them. “I’m naked,
and you are wearing way too many clothes. Let me help you fix that.”

Gaige took her hands, stopping her before she could unfasten
his jeans.

“We’ll get there.” He placed her hands on his bare chest.

“That is…”

Violet didn’t have the words. The feel of his warm skin,
smooth and muscled, made her knees weak. She leaned closer, taking a deep
breath. Her lips brushed across his chest, then lingered, her tongue taking a
taste.

Gaige threaded his fingers through her hair, tilting her
head until her eyes were on his.

“We haven’t kissed.”

“I know.”

“I can’t take you to bed. I can’t touch your body or explore
every inch of you the way I plan to unless I kiss you first.”

“Is that a rule?” Violet didn’t care. All of it sounded good
to her—no matter the order.

“There are no rules,” his fingers gently massaged her scalp,
making Violet sigh with pleasure. “Not for us. I simply want to find out if you
taste as sweet as I’ve imagined.”

The kiss wasn’t rushed. Gaige began by placing his lips over
hers and gently moving from side to side. His breath, warm and smelling faintly
of mint, touched her cheek, before he kissed it, then moved to the other,
repeating the process. Her jaw, her neck, then her chin.

When he found a spot, just below her ear, that made Violet
shudder, he lingered, using his tongue to increase her pleasure. The bite of
his teeth made her knees quiver, but Gaige held her steady, wrapping one arm
around her waist.

“I found a sweet spot,” he whispered. “I won’t forget.”

“You feel so good,” Violet rubbed her breasts against him.

“Violet?”

“Hmm?”

“Open your eyes.” Slowly, she did what he asked. “God, I
love looking into those beautiful baby blues.” He laid a quick kiss on the end
of her nose. “One thing. You and me? I’m in. All in.”

Violet’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
Before she could respond, Gaige kissed her. No more teasing or gentle brushes.
He took her mouth—long and hot. His tongue glided across her lips, demanding
entrance. He didn’t have to ask twice. Violet didn’t want to play the role of
passive participant. Gaige could lead, but she was with him all the way.

Dropping her hands to his hips, she pulled him close until
nothing except the denim of his jeans separated their bodies.

“Why aren’t you naked?” she asked between kisses.

“Damned if I know.”

The bed was three steps away, but when Gaige lifted her into
his arms, Violet was happy to let him carry her. He didn’t dump her onto the
mattress, he set her down with great care. She settled against the pillows and
waited. This was a long time coming, and she didn’t want to miss a single
second.

Gaige didn’t seem to mind. His smile widened, and he waggled
his light eyebrows at her.

“Where’s my stripper music?”

“What’s your pleasure?” Happy to oblige, Violet picked up
her phone. “Hot and raunchy? Slow and sensual? Or do you want to go
traditional?” Her fingers flew. When
The Stripper
began to play, Gaige
laughed, shaking his head.

“Anything but that.”

Feeling mischievous, Violet played one of her all-time
favorites. Lou Rawls singing
At Last
.

Gaige nodded slowly, then winked. “
That
I can work
with.”

Violet had expected something quick. Maybe a little teasing
when he lowered his zipper. What she got, was the hottest thing she had ever
seen. If Gaige ever needed some cash on the side, he could make big bucks on
stage.
Magic Mike
had nothing on him.

“You’ve done this before.”

“Nope.” He somehow managed to take off his boots and socks
without missing a beat. “I was born with perfect timing. And loose hips.”

Licking her lips, Violet clutched her phone in one hand and
the sheet in the other. Unconsciously, she ran her foot along her calf. She
didn’t know it, but she was putting on as much of a show as Gaige was.

“Down to my skivvies.” He snapped the elastic on his boxer
briefs. Another surprise. They were fire engine red.

Violet scooted to the side of the bed. “May I do the honors?”

“If you promise not to touch.” Gaige guided her hand to his
hips.

“Party pooper.”

“I’m a little on edge. This party will be over—
prematurely
—if
you aren’t careful.”

“I won’t mind. Think of the fun I’ll have when I get you
ready to party again.” Violet smacked her lip.

“You are wicked, Dr. Reed.” Gaige smoothed back her hair,
his eyes dancing. “Do the people you work with know about your wild side?”

“How could they when I didn’t know about it myself?” Slowly,
she began to lower the briefs. She kissed the spot just below his belly button.
“You’ve had an interesting effect on me, Mr. Benson. And I like it. A lot.”

Tipping his head back, Gaige groaned. “Me too.”

“My effect on you is obvious.” Violet pulled the material
over his hips and down his long legs. “One kiss?”

“Make it fast.”

Gaige’s erection was wonderfully hard and mouthwateringly
thick. Violet surveyed him from several angles. If she only got one, she wanted
to make it count.

“This isn’t a one-time deal, Violet. We’ll be here again.
And again.”

Again and again. She liked the sound of that. She used her
finger to draw a pattern, then sealed it with a kiss.

“What was that?”

“I branded you.”

Gaige crawled onto the bed, his body covering her. Nuzzling
her neck, he whispered, “What with?”

“A sideways eight and a kiss. It might be invisible to the
naked eye, but it’s there. Permanent. Indelible.”

“A sideways eight?” Against her skin, she felt his lips
curve into a smile. “Infinity. Sounds about right.”

“I like what you’re doing,” Violet said, stretching her neck
to the side to give him better access.

“But…?”

“I’m healthy.”

“Me too.”

Violet loved that Gaige’s thoughts were in sync with hers. “I’m
on the pill.” Before he could ask, she clarified, “I started taking them after
I found your letter.”

“You’ve been planning on having sex with me since then?”

“I’ve been planning on having sex with you since I was
nineteen.” She blushed—actually blushed—when Gaige met her gaze. “Call the
people at Guinness. This was the longest foreplay in history.”

“I’m free until Monday. I know three days won’t make up for
sixteen missed years.”

“No.” Violet wound her legs around his, pulling his hips
flush with hers. “But it’s a start.”

Gaige didn’t wait. She was ready—so was he. Bracing his
forearms next to her head, he entered her. It was a slow glide. Not agonizingly
so, but he gave them the chance to savor this moment. They weren’t kids untried
and unsure—fumbling their way along. Yet, it was their first time, and they
wanted it to be special.

Violet cupped the back of Gaige’s head. His hair was short
but soft and silky. She gave a tug, pulling him down, kissing him, her tongue
running along his. Sex, when it was good, was a heady experience. She knew how
that felt. Fun, healthy sex between consenting adults. She thought it was as
good as it got. She was wrong.

This was something else. Something more. It wasn’t about
reaching the end or finding fulfillment. She could do that by herself. Violet
felt a connection to Gaige that couldn’t be put into words because it wasn’t
necessary. She knew in her heart that there was no going back.

“Are you with me?” His face was tense, but his emerald eyes
sparkled with a gentleness that shot straight to her heart.

“All the way,” Violet sighed.

Gaige kissed her again, harder, his teeth biting her lower
lip. His hips moved with an increasingly intense rhythm—one that Violet matched
thrust for thrust. She wrapped her legs around his hips. The pleasure built.
Higher. Faster. Until it burst through her body, shooting from her center down
to her toes.

“Violet,” Gaige called out.

The sound of her name carried Violet over another crest.
This one she rode with Gaige until they collapsed in each other’s arms.

“Are you good?” Gaige breathed, his lips brushing against
her forehead.

“I’m great.”

He chuckled, pulling her close. “You certainly are.”

Violet rested her head on Gaige’s chest. She could hear the
beat of his heart, wonderfully strong and steady. As she drifted off, she knew
in
her
heart that this was where she was meant to be.

LAUGHING, VIOLET PUSHED at Gaige’s head. Considering his
position, it wasn’t easy, but she gave it her best shot.

“I thought you said you were hungry.”

“I am.” Lowering his head, he took another taste. “Mmm. The
breakfast of champions.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“And you’re delicious.”

Gaige loved the sound of her laughter. It filled the room
like the most beautiful music ever composed. He knew if he had a thousand
years, he would never grow tired hearing it. It was the best kind of addiction.
That, and making love to her.

At the moment, his mouth was occupied between her legs. When
he disappeared beneath the covers, Violet had protested. Not because she was
shy or reticent. Overnight he had found that she was wonderfully open to all his
suggestions. And had a few of her own. No, her problem wasn’t what he was
doing, it was his timing.

“I need food.” Violet tried to close her legs, but he was in
the way.

“Let me finish my meal, then I promise to take you out for
breakfast.”

“You said that an hour ago.”

Gaige lifted the sheet to peer at her. She looked gorgeous
with her hair spread out over the pillow. Her blue eyes were half-closed and
lips parted. “During which you’ve had an orgasm and are on your way to another.”

“I recall you sharing one of those with an orgasm of your
own.”

True. After a night of loving Violet, he felt loose, his
body forgetting that it had played a game of professional football less than
twenty-four hours earlier. Even on a good day, he woke up sore, his muscles
protesting. At thirty-eight, he didn’t recover as quickly as he used to. But
this morning he felt twenty-five again. He rolled his shoulder, trying to ease
the stiffness. Make that thirty.

“I’ll stop if you want.” Gaige kissed the inside of her
thigh. “Just say the word.”

“Fine,” Violet huffed. She threw her arms up in mock
exasperation. “If it means that much to you, I suppose I can take one more
orgasm.”

“Such a martyr,” he grinned. “I’ll try and make it fast.”

“Take your time,” she sighed when his mouth touched her. “After
all, if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right.”

Gaige licked his lips. “I couldn’t agree more.”

LIKE MOST FOOTBALL players, Gaige hated Thursday games.

Three days wasn’t long enough to recover from the previous
Sunday. He rushed through tape of the other team trying to prepare for a
defense he most likely hadn’t seen before. It didn’t matter that the other team
was in the same boat. Win or lose, playing on Thursday was just wrong.

However, the Knights had won. And there was one benefit.
They had a few extra days off until Monday meetings and a light workout with
the team. Normally, Gaige hated time off. He would go in on his own and study
game strategies, use the weight room, and end up in the therapy pool, letting
the whirling jets ease his muscles.

But this was blissfully different. Gaige decided he was in
love with playing on Thursdays. If requested, he would write a glowing letter
to the league, endorsing the mid-week games as the best idea since helmets. He would
subject himself to it anytime if it meant he could spend those free days with
Violet.

They finally made it to breakfast. Though it turned out to
be lunch. Once Gaige happily provided Violet with another orgasm—she made the
prettiest sounds when she came—she insisted on returning the favor. A gentleman
would have declined, insisting that giving her pleasure was all the reward he
needed. But Gaige was no gentleman. Not when it meant turning down the chance
to have Violet’s mouth on his dick. Name a breathing heterosexual man who would
turn that down, and he would say that man was kidding himself about his sexual
orientation.

An hour later, they took a shower. Which led to more fooling
around. By the time they finished—dried off and dressed—food wasn’t an option.
It was a dire necessity.

“I want a hamburger with a ton of fries. And a chocolate
milkshake.”

Gaige parked across from his favorite diner. The décor was
retro, the food plentiful and delicious. He liked his Seattle neighborhood. The
residents were used to seeing him at the grocery store or out for dinner. They
waved when he jogged by, letting him run his miles without interruption. It was
home, and he wanted to share it with Violet.

“Don’t move.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to help you from the car, and it will be
awkward if you’re already halfway out when I get there.”

“Don’t move,” Violet put a hand on his arm.

“Why?”

She leaned over and kissed him, her lips warm and sweet.

“That’s why,” Violet smiled. “And because you want to help
me from the car. Who does that anymore?”

“Me. For you.” Gaige kissed the end of her nose.

Checking the street for traffic, Gaige exited the car,
jogging around to the passenger side.

“Hi, Gaige,” a woman called out. Wheeling a stroller along
the sidewalk, she waved and smiled without breaking stride. He waved back
before opening Violet’s door.

“Is she a friend of yours?” Violet asked as she took his
hand.

“No.”

“A fan?”

“Maybe.” Gaige laced his fingers with Violet’s. There weren’t
any cars coming so they crossed the street where they were, hand in hand. “People
know I live in this neighborhood. They greet me, and I greet them back.”

“That’s nice. I’m on friendly terms with the woman across
the hall, but my hours can be crazy. I don’t think I could pick any of my other
neighbors out in a police lineup.”

“I don’t know
them
; they know
me.
” He held
open the diner door. “That sounded really arrogant, didn’t it?”

“It’s honest. They see you all over town.” Violet picked up
the free magazine by the door. His face was on the cover.
The Weekly Sound,
covered the Seattle metro area. Sports, restaurant reviews, real estate trends.
The lead story was about the Knights. “They feel like they know you.”

The waitress greeted Gaige with a friendly hello. She led
them to a corner booth—his favorite table. There were a few more shout-outs,
which he acknowledged with an easy wave.

“Coffee, Gaige?”

“That would be great, Kimber. Violet?”

“No, thank you. Just water.”

Kimber returned with his coffee, a huge mug reminiscent of
the ones they used on
Friends
. “Do you need a minute to decide?” she
asked as she set down Violet’s drink.

“I’m ready,” Violet said. “Bacon cheeseburger. Onion rings,
extra crispy. A large caramel shake, and I’m putting in dibs on a piece of the
homemade cherry pie. Just in case you sell out.”

“Good call, the cherry is going fast. Do want your usual,
Gaige?”

“Add another order of onion rings, I don’t think the lady is
in the mood to share.”

“Too right,” Violet declared. When Kimber was out of
earshot, Violet leaned closer. “You helped me work up an appetite. Plus, my
stomach was in such a knot last night, I didn’t eat anything after that game.”

It was the first time either of them had mentioned her
letter. Gaige could tell by her eyes that it hadn’t been deliberate. He had
planned on waiting until later when they were alone, but it felt like the right
time.

“I’m sorry about your mother.”

For a second, Violet looked as though she might cry. But she
took a deep breath and took his hand from across the table, squeezing lightly.

“It was a shock. On every level. Her diagnosis. How quickly
her cancer progressed. Up to the last, I kept expecting a miracle. My education
and experience didn’t matter. As a doctor, I knew she had no chance, but as a
daughter, I refused to give up.”

“Watching someone you love die… I can’t imagine what that’s
like. How is your father holding up?”

“He’s doing better.”

“Is that a but I hear?”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s difficult for
him. I don’t think he’s ever lived alone, and now he has to come home every
night to an empty house filled with memories. I would suggest he sell and find
a smaller place, but it’s too soon. When, or if, he decides to make a change,
he’ll know when the time is right.”

Gaige took a deep breath. “About the letter.”

“Which one?”

“Let’s take it chronologically.” This was harder than he
thought it would be. “I was in love with you.”

When Violet gasped, Gaige wanted to kick himself in the ass.
There were a dozen ways he could have started, but instead of easing in, he had
to throw out the L word.

“Thank you!” Violet laughed. She brought his hand to her
lips, kissing the palm. “I wanted to say that. I almost wrote it in my letter,
but I chickened out. I was in love with you, Gaige. My mother dismissed my
feelings as the equivalent of Florence Nightingale Syndrome. You were kind to
me at a particularly vulnerable time in my life. In her mind, it wasn’t love.”

“It was.”

“Yes.” Nodding, she met his gaze. “It might be again. That’s
what I meant when I said I was all in. I like you. Sexually, we’re compatible.”

“To put it mildly.”

“It’s an important element. I found that out after I made
the mistake of marrying a man I hadn’t slept with.”

“Wait,” Gage held up a hand. “Take a step back. No
premarital sex?”

“None.”

“Was he gay?”

“Probably not. Monty remarried a week after our divorce was
final. He and his new wife sent me a baby announcement nine months later.”

“What an asshole.” Violet didn’t seem upset, but he wanted
to punch the guy in the face.

“I don’t know if it was a passive/aggressive fuck you, or it
could be his new bride is a clueless twit. I didn’t care enough to find out. He
got what he wanted—a stay-at-home wife and a baby. I got what I wanted—no more
Monty.”

When she put it like that, it didn’t sound as bad. Besides,
Violet was a free woman. That’s all that mattered to Gaige.

“We’ve gotten off the subject,” she said. “We used to do
that a lot.”

“Like good jazz, we riffed off each other. Our conversations
never stayed on one subject for long. I couldn’t wait to find out where it would
go. Talking to you was an adventure. It was the thing I missed most.” His eyes
moved to her mouth. “Besides your smile.”

“I missed it, too.”

“Here we go.” Kimber arrived with their food. Violet laughed
as the waitress put plate after plate on the table.

“I might have gotten carried away. That hamburger is large
enough to feed three people.”

“I have a few friends who would consider that an appetizer.”

“Who?” Violet picked up the burger, examining it from
several angles before taking a bite.”

“Every linebacker I’ve ever met. Specifically, Sol Fellows.
He can put away five or six of those without blinking an eye.”

“You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?”

“Kimber?” Gaige asked when the waitress came back to refill
his coffee. “What did Sol order the last time he was here?”

“To start? The stuffed zucchini blossoms and fried
mushrooms. That was the day the cook had gumbo as a special. Sol loves gumbo.
After that, he went with the club sandwich, fries, and a coke. Then—”

“Okay.” Violet laughed, holding up her hands in defeat. “I
believe you. You have an impressive memory, Kimber.”

“Sol is a memorable guy.”

“Ketchup?”

“Thanks.” Violet squirted some onto her French fries. “I don’t
expect you to marry me.”

“Is marriage out of the question?”

The question seemed to surprise her. “I’m not opposed to it.”

“Good. Neither am I.”

“Gaige,” Violet sighed.

“Violet.” He stopped her before she could continue. “I
understand what you mean. You didn’t fly across the country with wedding bells
on the brain.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you were a little leery. Women must
throw themselves at you all the time. Some of them looking to snare a rich and
famous husband.”

“Don’t forget good looking.”

“I never forget that.” Violet pushed a French fry around her
plate. “According to Dad, Mom was worried about your fame. She said you were
too rich and too handsome. You wouldn’t remain faithful because of the many
temptations.”

“Temptation isn’t why a man cheats,” he informed her.

“No?”

“A man cheats because he wants to, Violet. It doesn’t matter
how many women are available. One or one million. If he wants to say no, he
will. If he doesn’t, he won’t.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

But Gaige knew there was more to it.

“The problem wasn’t my potential infidelity, Violet. It was
my father.”

Suddenly, the elephant in the room didn’t lurk in the
corner. Gaige had thrown it down on the table, bringing the conversation to a
crashing halt. It wasn’t an easy subject for him to address, but he had to know
Violet’s feelings. In her letter, she said his father didn’t matter. Would that
be true the next time the bastard reared his ugly head? Gaige had distanced
himself from his past as thoroughly as possible.

Sixteen years ago Gaige, with the help of his agent, had
been able to keep Violet’s name out of the press. It was different now. In this
world of search engines and nosey bloggers who refused to let anything stay
buried, now that he and Violet had reconnected, it was inevitable that their
history would come out. She needed to be prepared.

“Why is this an issue?” she demanded. “You weren’t driving
the car, Gaige. You didn’t shield your father or make excuses for him.”

“He’s part of me, Violet.” Gaige struggled to find the best
way to explain. “It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes I feel something dark
closing in on me.”

“If you make a
Star Wars
reference, I swear I’ll
throw my milkshake in your face.”

In spite of himself, Gaige smiled. “I wish this
was
a
movie, but it isn’t. Your mother believed that blood will tell. Maybe she was
right.”

“Fuck that. Yes, I said fuck,” she nodded when Gaige raised
his eyebrows. “It isn’t a word I use often, but when it fits, I don’t shy away.
Why do you want to embrace any part of your father?”

“I don’t
want
to.” Didn’t she get it? He couldn’t
change his DNA. “Embrace is the wrong word. I don’t want it; it just is.”

“You know what? I’ve lost my appetite. Pay the check.”
Violet grabbed her purse and jacket. “I’ll meet you outside.”

Gaige didn’t try to stop her. He signaled Kimber.

“Where’d your friend go?” The waitress shook her head when she
saw all the uneaten food.

“She wasn’t feeling well.” It was going around. Gaige felt a
little sick to his stomach himself. “Can you bring me the bill? And, Kimber,
box up the pie.”

VIOLET PACED THE sidewalk. She didn’t have a volatile
personality. She was slow to anger and quick to forget. However, when she was
pushed hard enough, she could go off with the best of them.

Listening to Gaige had set her blood boiling. He was nothing
like his father. She knew it for a fact. Her research of Gaige’s life hadn’t
been all pretty pictures of him in his uniform and the women he dated. There
had been plenty of ugly, too.

Don Benson was a serial abuser. It didn’t take a psych
degree to figure it out. The blurbs were few and far between, but they added up
to a story of a man who beat his wife. He was never arrested because she
refused to press charges. But the police were called to the Benson home at
least five times in one year alone.

Gaige’s father hit his wife on a regular basis. No one could
dispute that fact. And from everything Violet could tell, he never felt an
ounce of remorse. Not about his wife or the accident that changed her life.

She had found four articles. They were similar to the ones
her father had shown her a few months after her accident. She had wanted the
details even though her mother insisted she should let it go. But her father
understood. He knew that she would look it up on her own. He sat with her while
she read what happened.

Neither Violet nor Gaige was mentioned by name. At the time,
she was grateful to be left out of the mess. Would it have made a difference if
she had known who he was? She still would have believed that he took back the
letter and wanted nothing to do with her. The fact that he was famous might
have explained his reasons, but it wouldn’t have changed what her mother led
her to believe were the facts.