Wanted Distraction (8 page)

He pulled away from me and scooped me up, despite my protest.

“Damn it,” I said, “stop pushing it with the shoulder.”

He set me on the bed, quickly whisking off my shirt and jeans.

“After winning the game and seeing you in the stands,” he told me, “I feel like Hercules. So let me get my shining moments in while I can.”

I stroked a hand through his hair. “You’re always going to be my hero.”

His gaze snapped up from my feet. He’d been removing my shoes when I spoke.

“Cherish,” he said, his warm brown eyes glowing in the moonlight that filtered in through the shutters again this evening. “I swear to God, that’s all I ever wanted to be.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t give into them. I sniffled and pushed them back, blinking hard because I knew Carter didn’t like to make me cry—even if they were tears of joy.

“You’re always rescuing me,” I said. “Even tonight. You rescued my heart.” My fingers trailed over his cheek and down to his lips. “I could never love anyone but you. I’ve known that most of my life.”

His hunky body hovered over me as he propped himself up with a forearm. His free hand moved over my body, touching me with care, but also with that innate intimacy that made my stomach quiver and my breathing escalate.

Staring deep into my eyes, he said, “I’m so glad you wanted to see me when I came back to town.”

I grinned. “Maybe someday I’ll get around to interviewing you.”

“How about tomorrow morning? Over breakfast on the patio?”

“Deal.”

His head dipped and he kissed me. I’d get the story and the Hometown Hero. What more could I ask for?

Well, there was one thing…

I dragged my mouth from his and said, “Make me come.”

His fingers curled around the thin strands of my thong and he quickly removed the panties. My bra immediately followed. He divested himself of the rest of his clothes and slid under the covers with me. I ran my hands over his shoulders and down his arms.

He kissed me again, inciting all kinds of crazy sensations within me. I was giddy from the way things had turned out, but also highly aroused. He palmed my breasts and kneaded them gently, then toyed with the nipples until I was squirming beneath him. One of his hands slid down to my stomach, and then farther south. When the pads of his fingers grazed my slick lips, rubbing over them, I had to break our kiss and come up for air.

His mouth trailed over my neck, his tongue teasing, his lips nipping. I wove my fingers through his soft hair and let all the pains of the past slip away. Easy to do with Carter.

He stroked my labia and then massaged my clit with his determined touch. My hips rose in silent demand for more, and he pushed a finger deep into my pussy.

A throaty moan fell from my lips. He took that as encouragement, slipping a second finger into my wet cunt and pumping them furiously until my body bowed off the bed and my breasts pressed to his chest. His thumb caressed the knot of nerves between my legs and his skilled ministrations were enough to quickly push me to the edge. Everything he did to me made it impossible to hold back the flood of sensations.

When his tongue flicked my earlobe and then his lips pressed to the skin just below it—an erogenous zone I’d never known existed—I instantly came.

“Carter!” I cried out, my body shaking, my pussy throbbing. I moaned again, the release vibrating throughout me.

Against the side of my neck, he said, “I need you.”

“
Yes
.”

I wanted him inside me.

He didn’t rush, though. His fingers still stroked my inner walls, arousing me even as my orgasm ebbed. Eventually, he withdrew and reached for the condom. Once sheathed, he loomed over me again, so strong and magnificent, I thought I had to be the luckiest woman in the world.
Knew
it when he sank into my body and let out a sigh of contentment.

“Nothing has ever felt so right,” he whispered.

One arm wrapped around my back. His other hand lifted my thigh and draped my leg over his hips. We moved together, slowly at first. He palmed my breast and brushed his thumb over my nipple as he thrust into me. His mouth remained on my throat, leaving featherlike kisses that drove me wild.

The soft, sweeping sounds of the blades from the ceiling fan mingled with our breathless pants. I loved how quiet it was. How secluded our lives seemed to be at that moment. As though nothing else matter, no one else existed. I knew I’d have to share Carter with the masses when we were in public, but when we were alone… He seemed to give no thought to anything but us. I felt the same.

As our easy, sensual rhythm picked up heat and intensity, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close to me.

His cock filled me and hit all the right spots. More than that, though, was the connection between us that came so naturally. I knew how strongly he felt about me. I knew how much he wanted me. And that made my own desires and needs soar.

When he thrust a little harder and a little faster, I moaned.

“Come with me,” I insisted.

My pussy clutched his thick shaft, milking it as our pace became more erratic, more frenzied.

“Cherish,” he murmured in my ear, turning me on even more. “God, you feel so incredible.”

And then I squeezed him tight and he let out a low groan. His cock throbbed inside me as he came, sparking my own orgasm.

“Yes!” I said as the fiery sensations roared through my body.

We remained entangled, neither one moving. Our breathing echoed in the quiet room. My pulse raged in my ears. My heart thundered. Although my thoughts were hazy, one notion flitted through my mind.

This was only the beginning…

When he got his breath back, Carter said, “I’ll always love you.”

I smiled. “And I am eternally in love with you.”

Epilogue

A few months later

Our high school reunion came around that summer. Carter was still going strong with the Rattlers, and there was little doubt the team would make it to the national championship game. He remained a sports hero, not just mine. Though he claimed the latter was all that really mattered, and I allowed myself to believe that, particularly because he was already planning for our future together.

Pulling into the parking garage of the downtown Hyatt the night of our reunion, he said, “I talked to ESPN today. They’re interested in me doing some commentary work during the off-season, with the intent of moving me into a formal position when my contract’s up.”

“That’s wonderful!” I beamed. “You’ll look damn good on TV.”

He laughed. “I don’t know about that, especially with my arm in a sling, but it’d keep me involved in sports, which is what I want.”

“I’m happy for you. I know you’ve struggled lately, and this is a good sign it’ll all work out.”

He was quiet for a moment, sliding his gaze to me. Gently clasping my hand and bringing it to his lips, he said, “Being with you means it all did work out. Everything else is just an added bonus, sweetheart.”

My eyes misted. I couldn’t help it. He never failed to tug on my heartstrings. “Don’t make me cry before our reunion. It’ll ruin my makeup.”

With a chuckle he said, “You’d still be the most beautiful woman in the room.”

“You say that now. I heard Stephanie Morris is a lingerie model for Frederick’s of Hollywood. Kathy Jenna is the spokesperson for a local electronics company. And Cindy Allison is doing some off-Broadway work.”

“You’ll still blew ’em all away.”

I knew that wasn’t true, but hearing Carter Davis say it… Well, that just made my night.

Or so I thought…

Taking the elevator to the rotating Compass Room Restaurant, my old insecurities set in. Standing next to Carter, despite my super-tall heels, I knew the one word that would spring to everyone’s mind when they saw me. Anxiety gripped me, and Carter must’ve noticed. He took my hand in his again and held it firmly.

He winked at me, and all I could think was that I must have done something really special in my lifetime without even knowing it to deserve the good karma that had come my way. Maybe it was helping Carter through his difficult patch when he’d first joined the newspaper. I didn’t know. I didn’t overanalyze. I enjoyed the moment with him, as I’d been doing since the night I’d read his letter and he’d told me he loved me.

We walked into the restaurant with the spectacular three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panoramic view of the Valley and, of course, the jocks instantly took notice of him—he was impossible to miss, after all—and collectively called out his name.

I would have been fine with him releasing my hand and joining his former football clan. He didn’t let me go, though. He led me over to the group and performed manly handshakes while our fingers were still entwined. I noticed the curious—and even gawking—stares I received, but not a hint of recognition flickered in anyone’s eyes.

Until the main coordinator of the reunion, Cindy Allison herself, swooped in with name badges for us.

“Carter and Cherish!” she gushed. “You make a fantastic couple.”

I think that was just an excuse for her to lean in and give my boyfriend a kiss on the cheek, but whatever. I’d have likely done the same, if I’d been in her shoes.

“Oh my God,” Wyatt Anderson said as he took me in from head to toe. “Cherish Westerly? Are you kidding me?
Tinkerbell
?”

He said the nickname so loudly I winced. And others drew closer. I’d purposely not been photographed much with Carter since we’d hooked up, and the few times I’d been in a shot, I hadn’t been identified. That had been fine with me. But now I realized not many people from our past knew we were an item, with the exception of Cindy, whom I’d contacted when I’d signed us both up for the reunion.

So the news obviously came as a shock to our classmates.

Extreme embarrassment set in. I’d really had high hopes for the evening, being on Carter’s arm. As though that’d keep anyone from invoking the dreaded nickname.
Nope.

As I shuddered, dozens of people gathered about. Not just to see the famous Carter Davis, but because he was with Tink.

I could have died. But as though Carter knew how awful this suddenly was for me, he raised his hand in the air to silence everyone.

He said, “It’s great to see everyone.” He gave them a brilliant smile, then added, “I know you all remember Cherish. We all adored her in high school. I never stopped.”

The women in the crowd nearly swooned over such a sweet sentiment. Who could blame them?

Carter continued. “I was going to wait to do this when we got back to our condo, but what the hell. We’re amongst friends.”

He knelt down on one knee and the swooning women gasped. I stared wide-eyed at him.

“What are you doing?” I demanded in a low tone.

With his very sexy grin, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and extracted a small, black velvet box. He flipped the lid to reveal a stunning diamond ring and asked, “Cherish Westerly, I only got once dance with you at prom. Now I want to spend the rest of my life with you. What do you say, sweetheart?”

Ha!
Maybe I really was a fairy! Not a bad thing, after all, because this tale had a
very
happy ending.

I said yes, of course!

About Ava McKnight

Multi-published and award-winning author Ava McKnight’s love of romantic fiction began as a teenager. She holds degrees in General Studies and Communications and has worked on newspapers as an editor and reporter. Most recently, she worked in PR, writing speeches and Congressional testimonies.

Ava is a member of Romance Writers of America and one of its Phoenix chapters, Desert Rose. She has served as a Board member, Newsletter Director, National Contest Chairperson and Arbitration Co-Chair. She is also published in romantic fiction as Calista Fox.

Ava welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her
author bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.

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