Sidelined: A Sports Romance (33 page)

She urged her body to follow his commands, to let go of all restraints, to give him everything she had. She matched the wildfire that took over him. She didn’t know her body could do the things he wanted, but it was as if they had become one wave. Together they rolled into the deep ocean taking each other under with every kiss, touch, and thrust.

“Skye,” he called out her name. And that was it, she felt her core tighten once again against him before she shattered in a million pieces in his arms. Her legs throbbed as the sensation seared through her thighs and echoed through her body.

He pushed deeper. “Oh, baby. I—I—” Skye met the unbridled desire in his eyes with a smile. Then his body stiffened before he collapsed in a heap, sinking against her chest.

She hugged him against her, his head resting on her breast. That was the single most amazing experience of her life. Her body was numb, content, bathed in sexual bliss.

Ben rolled on his side, pulling her with him so they were cocooned together.

“I don’t have words.” He kissed her neck.

Skye let the moment consume every part of her. She smiled, loving how it felt with Ben’s chest nuzzled against her back. She finally knew what it meant to fly.

T
he morning sun
filtered through the blinds. Bolt leaned over the balcony. Skye was still sleeping in the room. He didn’t want to disturb her. A seagull perched on a nearby light pole. It was early.

Last night had surprised him. Sex was always good. He loved sex, but he had never had sex like that. The look in her eyes, the way she felt under him, the softness of her skin. He shook his head. She was amazing. It was hard to think about wanting to do anything else but get lost in her. Isn’t that what she begged him to do? God, she was sexy.

He glanced back to the bed, where the sheet covered half her body. No one had taken him like that. He had slept with a hundred women and not a single night had come close to what he experienced with Skye.

He had made a lot of stupid mistakes in his life, taken unnecessary risks, and they were mostly selfish. He always made fun of guys who laid it all on the line for a woman. Now, it seemed to make sense. They all knew something he had never taken the time to see.

The gull flew toward the shore and nibbled on a pile of seaweed that washed up. The beach was quiet. Bolt peeled off his shirt and tip-toed through the room to collect his running shoes. Sunday morning runs were his favorite. He scribbled a note for Skye and closed the door behind him.

* * *

F
orty-five minutes
later Bolt stuck his head in the door. The bed was empty. He strolled in and closed the door. He heard the shower running through the bathroom. He smiled.

“Hey beautiful, you have room for one more?” He dropped his shorts and stepped into the shower before Skye could protest.

“How was your run?” Her arms circled his chest. “You look sweaty and dirty. So dirty.” She shook her head, while biting her bottom lip.

“Great. The beach was empty. I ran to the end of the island and back.” He watched as Skye reached for the body wash and dabbed some into her palm. She began lathering it against his chest. Her hands were smooth along his skin.

“That’s quite a run.” Her hands followed the lines of his chest, pausing every few inches to rub her fingers into his muscles.

He studied the water that trickled between her breasts. She was driving him crazy and she knew it. He reached for the back of her neck and brought his mouth on hers. The taste of her alone brought him to his knees. He was drowning in want and feelings he’d never felt before.

Skye dropped the bottle and it clanged against the bottom of the shower floor.

He felt her press against his body, all her curves, her breasts, the smoothness of her stomach. He’d never wanted anyone so much in his life. He groaned as she snaked a leg around his waist. His tongue trailed the side of her neck, lashing against the stream of water. She ignited something in him he couldn’t explain.

He twirled her to the side, pressing her back against the tile.

She smiled up at him. “Good morning, Ben.”

* * *

“
W
e don’t have
to check out until after breakfast. What are you in the mood for this morning?” Bolt asked.

They had gotten dressed and made a reservation at one of the hotel’s restaurants for breakfast.

Skye shoved her heavy shades on her forehead. “What I want is not on this menu.” She winked.

He laughed. “I think I’m rubbing off on you.”

“Maybe.” She shirked. “Coffee. Lots of coffee and then pancakes.” She folded the menu on the table. “With lots of whipped cream.”

Bolt choked on his water. “You’re killing me. I promise we’ll go back to bed after breakfast, but I have to feed the machine. I can’t exist on sex alone.” He loved the pouty look on her face.

The waiter meandered over to the table and took their pancake and coffee orders before leaving again.

“So, was it worth the thirty-day wait?” Skye teased.

“Who is this girl? You are bold.” He leaned forward so his hand could rest on her thigh. “Yes. It would be worth a year’s wait if it was always like that.” He settled into his seat, wondering if he had unleashed Pandora’s box by sleeping with her. If that was the case, he was glad he had found a way to unlock her inhibitions.

She changed her expression. “Thank you for waiting. I know I didn’t make it easy, but thank you.”

“Baby, I would walk through fire for a night like that with you.” He nodded at the waiter as he placed a pot of coffee on the table.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” He poured a cup for each of them.

“Ben, I was thinking about something.” Skye fidgeted with the sugar spoon.

“What’s that?”

“I know this sounds crazy, but what if we take off this week from work and just go somewhere? Like Catalina or Cabo. I don’t know, you can pick the place.”

Ben closed his eyes.
Fuck.
He had every intention of telling her, but every time he thought about it, something else came up. She could read the look on his face.

“What’s wrong? Did I say too much? Is that moving too fast?”

“No, I would love to take a trip with you.”

She beamed. “It would be amazing. Shower sex every day, guaranteed.”

“The thing is.” He stopped to let the waiter deliver two heaping piles of pancakes complete with berries and whipped cream. He inhaled sharply. This was going to suck. “See, I can’t take any time off work this week. We’re on lock down.”

“Lock down? That sounds serious.” Skye poured syrup on the pancakes before dabbing spoonfuls of whipped cream on top.

“It’s not that kind of serious, but it’s what always happens the week before a deployment.”

“A deployment? Who is leaving?” Skye was focused on breakfast.

“I am.”

She placed her fork on her plate. “What are you talking about? You can’t be leaving in a week.”

“I should have mentioned it. I’m going to Japan next week.” He cringed, knowing the words were damaging all the beautiful moments they had shared together.

“Ok. Is it a quick trip?” She was surprisingly calm.

Bolt shook his head. “No, there’s nothing quick about WESTPAC.” He reached across the table, needing to touch her, needing her to know that they could still be connected. “I’ll be back in six months.”

“Six months?” Skye’s voice carried through the outdoor dining room. “You’re going to leave next week for six months? Is there some kind of national crisis? Please tell me you just found out, and there is something apocalyptic happening in Russia or China.”

God, this was awful. Fucking awful. “It’s a routine deployment. The Rebels go every other year. They call it WESTPAC because it’s basically a trip that covers all of the Western Pacific. Easy acronym to remember.” This probably wasn’t the time to try to toss out a Marine Corps terminology lesson. She usually loved them.

“You’ve known about this?” He wanted her to keep her voice down, but she was upset. He could see the anger rising through her flushed cheeks.

“Skye, I didn’t know that you and I were going to—”

“What? That we were going to sleep together? You knew all along.” She stood from the table, throwing her napkin in the seat.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Please, sit down so we can talk about it. Deployments aren’t that bad.”

“I’m sure they’re not for people who don’t keep them a secret. I’ll be out of the room before you get back.”

Bolt stood to stop here. “No, don’t do that. We can talk.”

“Don’t touch me.” She pushed his hand off her elbow. “And don’t come to the room until I can grab my bag.”

“Skye, wait. I don’t want this to be over.” Bolt didn’t care that half the breakfast patrons had put down their coffee cups to listen to their fight.

Her raven hair flowed as she stormed off the veranda and into the hotel.

He sunk into the seat. He had screwed up the best thing that ever landed in his life.

* * *

“
Y
ou didn’t tell
her about the deployment?” Faith shook her head. “You are a dumbass, Ben.”

He didn’t know where else to go after Skye left the hotel. He wanted to rush straight to her apartment, but he thought he should give her some time to cool off before approaching her again.

“I know. I am beyond stupid. What do I do? How do I fix it?” Faith poured him another cup of coffee.

“It’s not like a broken toilet. You really pissed her off. I would be ready to deck you if you pulled a stunt like that.”

“I didn’t know we were going to get serious. It hit me. I didn’t plan it. You know me, Faith. I don’t get serious with anybody. I wasn’t trying to hurt her. I honestly didn’t think we would be where we are before I left for Japan.”

“So, you thought you could date her for a month, sleep with her, and none of that would matter?” Faith pursed her lips.

“When you say it like that, I sound like a dick. But, I’ve never done the relationship thing. I don’t know how it works. When was I supposed to tell her?” He hoped Faith had all the answers he needed.

“You should have told her in the beginning. Not night one, but sometime that after that, and especially after you got back together. Want another cup?” She had the pot ready to pour.

Bolt shook his head. “No, I’ve had enough coffee. I need a plan.”

“Talk to her. Tell her you were stupid. Beg her to forgive you. Tell her she means more to you than sex and that you have feelings for her.”

“And that will work?”

Faith laughed. “I have no idea, but nothing’s going to work if you don’t start there.”

Bolt stood from the kitchen table. “I better get over there.”

Faith reached on her toes to hug him. “Good luck.”

“Thanks. I think I might need more than that.”

“I’ve never seen you like this. I want to meet this girl one day. That is if you can get her back.”

Bolt smiled. “You mean,
when
I get her back.” He jogged down the front steps and waved as he pulled out of the driveway.