Sliding Into Second (12 page)

“I’m very fond of her,” he said. “If not for her, I don’t think I could have made this much progress with you. She’s been a huge asset.”

“You two are as thick as thieves, aren’t you?” Sage rolled her eyes. “I wonder what else she’s done to help you.”

“If we’re being totally honest…”

“I kind of insist on it.”

“I swear I had nothing to do with this, but Rosalie may have cancelled your reservations at the inn yesterday.” He figured it was safer to tell her the truth in a room full of people.

“She did what?” Her eyes widened. “That little...”

“Don’t be mad at her.” He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. “She’s only trying to help.”

“Mad?” She pressed her palm to his cheek, her tone softer. “I’m not mad.”

“You’re not?”

“If she didn’t sabotage our reservations, I couldn’t have had such a spectacular evening at your house last night.”

“It was special.” He grinned when he thought about making love to her by the fire. “I’m hoping tonight is just as wonderful.”

“I have a feeling it will be.” She placed a kiss on his lips, lingering for a second before pulling away. “Let’s get you fed. You’ll need your energy.”

Hot damn!

* * * *

The heat of Sage’s breath traveled down Nic’s neck as she ran her lips along his flesh. The evening seemed to move at the rate of torture. While he had liked spending the night with his teammates, showing off the hot woman who was now reaching for his belt buckle, he’d wanted more than anything to get back home and hit the sheets with her.

“Let’s get this dress off.” He tugged at the zipper, pushing the straps from her shoulders as she stepped back and let him remove it. His gaze perused her scantily clad form. “Fuck, woman.” She wore a black bra that pushed her sinful breasts up, a tiny matching thong, and thigh-high stockings. “So, we’re leaving those on when we do it.”

“I don’t care as long as we hurry up.” She slipped his jacket from his shoulders, running her palms across them and down his biceps. “You’re sexy when you’re dressed up.” She undid the buttons of his black dress shirt before she pulled it from his pants. “I’m not used to seeing you like this.”

“I still don’t like it.” He took her face between his hands, kissing her hard, running his tongue along her parted lips. Their need for one another was greedy and fast. Neither one could wait for the other. As he probed her mouth, she undid his pants and lowered the zipper. “Get on the bed.” He tried to guide her back, but she shook her head and pushed him against the wall.

“I want to get on my knees for you.”

“Hell.” He leaned his head on the wall as she slithered down his body, dropping to her knees, taking his pants and boxers with her. “You look perfect.” He stared down at her. “So beautiful.”

She licked her lips as she took his length into her hand, grasping the base as she swirled her tongue over his tip.

“Sage...” He tangled his fingers in her hair as he shifted his pelvis forward. “I’ve missed your hot, sexy mouth. I’ve dreamed of you sucking my cock.”

“Hmm,” she hummed around him, the vibration shooting straight to his balls. As she took him deeper, she moved her wrist back and forth, thrusting his dick fast and hard.

“You like when I talk dirty?”

She nodded as she continued to suck.

“Use your teeth,” he moaned.

It didn’t take her long to give him what he wanted. She ever so lightly scraped her teeth along his shaft, running her tongue back down as he took him as deep as she could. He shifted his hips forward when she gripped his base. His legs tensed as he tried to stave off the explosion that was eminent.
Not yet...

“Baby.” He pulled her up by her forearms to meet him. “You make me feel like I’m eighteen all over again.”

“You used to like when I did that.” Her mouth curved into a wicked grin. “Liked it a lot, if I remember correctly.”

“I still do.” He kicked off his shoes and slipped off his socks before removing his pants. “But now I know how important it is to please my girl.” He backed her onto the bed, dropping to his knees. “I remember what you like too.” He took her heels off. “I can’t resist tasting you.”

She leaned on her elbows, her long hair flowing over her shoulders. Taking in his every move, her gray eyes studied him, watching as he hooked his thumbs in the sides of her tiny, frilly thong. “This has to go, but I’m leaving the stockings and the bra.”

“Whatever you want.” Her breaths were quick as he lowered his head.

Breathing in her scent, he reveled in how she glistened for him. “I want you.” He trailed his tongue inside her thighs, moving higher, closer to her heat. “I want to lick, suck, and touch every inch of your glorious body.”

She dropped down onto the mattress when he traced the tip of his tongue along her slit.

Spreading her with his fingers, he sought out her clit, taking his time to kiss and lick it. Her slick juices coated his fingers as he moved them in and out of her hot center. The more he licked, the wetter she became for him. He slid his hands under her backside, still working her with his tongue, bringing her closer to his face.

“Nic...” She rocked her pelvis in time with his tongue. As he thrust in, she pushed against his face. “I can’t... Oh... I’m gonna...”

As she came, he lapped up her juices, savoring what she gave him. He moved his hands to her hips, gripping them as he kissed her mound. Her breathing was rapid as she tried to regain her composure, but he wasn’t done with her. Not yet.

She got up on her knees to face him. Leaning forward, she captured his lips, kissing him slowly, tasting where he had just been. She had him rock hard and ready for so much more.

“That was fantastic.” She licked his jaw as she freed him of his shirt, running her hands along his abs and chest. “I need more.” Gripping his cock in her hand, she swiped her thumb over the pre-cum on his tip. “Are you sure I can’t have another go?” She smirked. “I like having you in my mouth.”

“I like being in your mouth, but there is one other place I like being more.” He guided her onto the bed, unclasping the front of her bra, exposing her full, perky breasts. “I hope you have no objections.”

“Not one.” She hitched her legs around his waist as he knelt on the edge of the bed.

“Good.” He thrust his cock inside her wet pussy. “Because I’ve been waiting all night to do this.” He rocked his hips, moving deep into her warm folds. “You’re so tight.”

Looking down at her, he took in her flawless face. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted. She hadn’t changed much over the years, but there wasn’t one part of her he had forgotten. Moving as one, he traced his fingers over her nipples, rubbing the undersides of her breasts. Her soft panting fueled his desire to move faster. He dropped down on top of her, kissing her neck, creating a path up her jaw and to the side of her face.

Her familiar scent drove him wild as he breathed against her hair, kissing just below her ear. When he blew into her ear, she shivered, clenching his cock with her tight muscles. There had always been something missing since they split up. He felt her absence the moment he left her. The years were busy and life moved on, but it wasn’t until they reconnected that he realized just how deep a void he harbored. In the past few weeks, he had fallen hard and he was falling fast. How could he take her with him?

“Nic.” She reached up and touched his face. “I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you so much.”

For the first time since they had gotten back together, he heard the need in her voice. Perhaps she was ready to let her guard down.

“I’ve missed you too, sweetheart.” He placed his hand over hers, indulging in the tender connection as he slowed his rhythm inside her. “But now, when we’re like this, it’s as though not a day has gone by.”

“I feel that way too.”

“I’m not letting you go this time.” He turned his head and kissed her palm. “I promise.”

“Kiss me.”

He brought his lips to hers, brushing them along her mouth, kissing her tenderly, letting all of his feelings go. Trying to show her what she wouldn’t allow him to express out loud.

I love you.

As they kissed, the burn inside his stomach spread lower, settling between his legs. “I’m going to come,” he whispered against her lips. “Now.”

She threaded her fingers in his hair and let go with a low whimper as he released inside her. “So good.”

“Fantastic.” He took her face between his hands. “My goddess.”

Chapter 12

Nic’s
goddess
. That word triggered a powerful memory for Sage. Every time he called her that, she tried to block a particular night in his bedroom from her mind. She had been unsuccessful. Nic kissed her softly as she recalled the night he’d explained the meaning of his nickname for her.

Eleven years earlier...

She lay back on the pillows in Nic’s bed as he climbed in next to her. His parents were out of town and she had to be home by curfew, but they still had a half hour. They had been seeing one another for a few months. She still couldn’t believe the cute senior and all-star baseball player was interested in her.

“I have to get you home, Aphrodite.” He propped himself up on his elbow. “No way am I pissing your old man off again.”

“We still have thirty minutes.” Last week, she was ten minutes late and her father freaked out.

“What should we do with those thirty minutes?” He shot her a wicked grin as he toyed with the buttons on her shirt. “I have a few ideas.”

“I bet you do.” She swatted at his hand. “We just did something.”

They hadn’t had sex yet, but it was getting harder to hold him off. He said he would be patient and wait as long as she needed to. She’d never done it before, but over the past two months, she was doing lots of things she’d never done before. Dating a senior who was two years older than her was different than dating a guy her own age.

“We could do something else.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I’ve got lots to show you.”

“Tell me why you called me Aphrodite.” She pushed at his chest in an attempt to get him to talk. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the constant physical contact when they were alone. She craved it. But she also liked getting to know him. “You’ve been doing it a lot lately.”

“I don’t know? I’m Greek?”

“Seriously?”

“You’re beautiful when you’re being feisty.” He touched her lips with his fingertips. “Hell, you’re beautiful all the time. That’s why I call you that. You’re a goddess. My goddess.”

She liked the idea of being his.

“Sage.” He lowered his gaze to her mouth. “We’ve been spending so much time together. I hope you know how special you are to me.”

“I do.” No one had ever treated her the way he did or paid so much attention to her.

“I’m not just saying this stuff to get in your pants. I told you I would wait and I will.”

“You’re not rushing me. I like when we’re together.”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a few days.” He took her hand. “I want you to be my girl.”

“I am.”

“Like officially.”

“Oh.” Her stomach fluttered. “Are you saying you want...” She didn’t want to sound dorky. “Like you don’t want to hook up with anyone else?”

“There is no one else, goddess.” He kissed her. “Just you.”

“Me too.” She kissed him back, molding against his hard body. “Just you.”

“Good, because I love you.”

“You do?” Her stomach did that flip flop thing again. She had fallen for him weeks ago, but she never expected him to actually say the words. Her friends said guys like him, cool and popular, didn’t have to say the words. They got what they wanted without having to commit.

“Yeah, I do.” He grinned. “A lot.”

“I love you too.”

“Cool.”

“Maybe we could do one of those things now?” She inched closer to him. “We still have twenty-five minutes.”

“I like the way you think, Aphrodite.”

“I was thinking about the night I explained the meaning.” Nic’s voice brought her back to reality.

“Were you?” They were even having the same thoughts.

“Do you remember?” he asked. “We were in my bedroom at my parents’ house.”

“Yeah.” She laughed, trying to play it off. “We were silly then. I was sixteen.”

“I don’t know if telling you I loved you for the first time was silly.” He pulled out of her and rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.

“It was a long time ago.” She took in his perfectly sculpted form. “That’s all I meant.”

“I guess it was, but to me it seems like yesterday.”

His light mood had changed. When he was quiet, he was thinking, and if she allowed him to think for too long, he’d bring up more memories that she didn’t want to deal with. Her plan for them to be nothing more than physical wasn’t working. She wasn’t sure she wanted it to work anymore.

“Why are you being so difficult?” he asked after a few minutes.

“I’m not.”
I’m trying to protect my heart.
“Don’t be mad at me.” She sat up, bringing the comforter with her to cover herself. “What we have is good, right?”

“It’s real good.” He reached for her hand. “But I know it can be more.”

“I’m not ready for more.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m here with you because I want to be. Please let that be enough.”

“It is.” He was lying, but so was she. He guided her down next to him. She cuddled in, resting her head on his chest. “Do you want to take a hot shower?”

“That sounds perfect, but can we stay like this for a bit?” She moved her fingers along his jaw. “It feels nice.”

“You always did like to snuggle.” He wrapped his arms around her. “We can stay like this for as long as you want.”

“I had fun tonight. You have some great guys on the team.”