"I take solace in the fact that I'm saving ten bucks on a box of condoms," she said.

"Where I come from, the gentleman buys." I winked. "I even get them ribbed for her pleasure."

"Oh, remind me to list that act of charity in your next puff piece," Leah said. "Compa.s.sionate Manwh.o.r.e Says You Bring The Wine, I'll Grab The lube."

"Got news for you, Kiss...you didn't need any lube."

She shifted, uncomfortable and unable to deny just how wet and ready I made her. "Well...now that you respect me that much more as your publicist, maybe you'll be more inclined to look favorably on our next organized outing."

"Where?"

"The ballet."

"Absolutely not."

She sighed. "It's a cultural event. A lot of local celebrities are going to the opening."

"Then no one will notice I'm not there."

"It's important."

I grunted. "It's not. This isn't working, Kiss! These dates don't do a d.a.m.n thing."

She didn't like the criticism. That was fine. I didn't like blue b.a.l.l.s.

"We did the baseball game," Leah said. "People liked that. We were on the jumbotron between innings. Everyone saw the local football hero wearing a baseball jersey, supporting the other professional teams in the city while out with his girlfriend. That's a good start. It's building a narrative."

"You didn't even kiss me back when the monitor drew a heart around us."

She shrugged. "I got nervous."

"Bulls.h.i.t, you organized it," I said. "G.o.dd.a.m.n it. I'm so hard up on you I'm trying to score on a f.u.c.king kiss cam."

"It's not a good idea, Jack." She exhaled and avoided my gaze. "Especially now."

I recognized that tone. Learned to hate it. "What happened?"

"There's a story coming out tomorrow about Bryon and his arrest."

It was a sore spot between us. She thought he was bad news. So did I, but he was still my best friend and threw one h.e.l.l of a party.

"They let him go," I said. "No evidence."

"Yeah...but it's a whole article about professional misbehavior and league liability." She frowned. "You're their lead example."

"Mother f.u.c.kers."

"I tried to contact the writer. He won't return my calls. We need to do something about this before you're labeled a s.e.xual predator."

"How do you know I'm not?"

"Maybe you are."

"Then run away little girl. Before I finally catch you."

She didn't want to play. Too bad.

"We've gotta make a plan tonight, Jack. I'll buy us a pizza if I can come over?"

"You sure you wanna risk it? Last time you were there, you ended up naked and coming all over my couch."

Her voice edged, a little kitten striking out with claws. "Yeah, I'll try to contain myself."

"Left a nice little wet spot too."

"Jack."

"You have any idea how s.e.xy you are when you're riding my tongue and getting yourself off?"

"s.e.xier than you can handle."

"Not my first rodeo, Kiss. I've held you. Kissed you. Tasted you. Only one thing left to do now. Take a guess what it is."

She stalked away, and I loved to see her p.i.s.sed off, especially if it was the only pa.s.sion I could get from her. It felt nice to get under her lovely skin again.

"Seven tonight, Kiss," I warned. "Better be prepared."

My pool was a good place to relax after practice. I needed to get more reps in, and the water comforted my bruised body. It took work to get in my shape. I built my pool specifically to help me train once my body gave out after a day of practice and working out. That was when I had to push it the most.

Breathe.

My arms cut through the water.

Stroke.

Not even the chill of the pool could dull the pounding in my c.o.c.k. My body wasn't streamlined at the moment, and nothing I did would rid me of the f.u.c.king hard-on. Seeing Leah, p.i.s.sing her off, inviting her to the couch where I almost f.u.c.ked her into oblivion? It wouldn't calm me down.

I was that close.

Breathe.

What was wrong with me? I needed her. I wanted her.

Stroke.

I had more important worries than when I'd finally have her lips wrapped around my c.o.c.k. The Rivets hadn't called my agent for contract negotiations. I expected an extension before training camp started. A good f.u.c.king contract. Hundred million dollars or more.

Breathe.

They didn't call. No one in the organization had a G.o.dd.a.m.ned thing to say about it.

For the first time since I was drafted, I had the muzzle on and an empty bed. I was a good boy, but the Rivets were still as concerned about my behavior as the f.u.c.king league president. Christ only knew what Frank Bennett told them, and it wasn't good.

Stroke.

If I didn't get signed this year, it wouldn't just be an insult-it'd be the end of my career. Only two years in and I was f.u.c.ked beyond repair.

But If I didn't get laid, none of it would matter. My c.o.c.k would f.u.c.king explode before I could negotiate my signing bonus. Not sure a eunuch could make it in the league.

Breathe.

I hit the end of the pool and surfaced to study a pair of delicate and sleek cocoa legs slipping beneath the ripples. Leah dropped her laptop and purse on a lounge chair, and she wrapped her skirt a little higher on her thighs. She kicked her perfectly painted toes in the water.

"Hey." Her voice was soft. She knew she got caught where she didn't belong. "Hope you don't mind me crashing your pool. It's really hot out here this evening."

And now the water f.u.c.king boiled.

I shook my head, dragging a hand through my wet hair. Leah recognized my smirk.

"Anything for my little woman."

"Jack."

"Mrs. Carson."

Leah exhaled. "I knew this was a bad idea. I should have just called."

"Probably."

"I thought we could be adults."

I glanced at those toned, dark legs. I didn't let her get away. I grabbed her toes under the water and tickled. She cracked a smile before she could scold me.

"Last time I had you here, we did a very adult thing," I said.

Leah cleared her throat. She tried to stand. I didn't let her up. Instead, I spread her legs and moved between them. She squealed, covering the crest between her legs with a frantic hand stuffed in her skirt. Didn't matter to me. I remembered what was there, how it looked, tasted, felt against my lips.

I had to feel it again.

"Jack, what are you doing?" Her breath teased me with the tiniest of gasps. Not fear. Not worry.

l.u.s.t.

"You know d.a.m.n well what I'm doing." I tugged her legs wider apart. "Do you have any f.u.c.king idea what you do to me?"

"Apparently I turn you into a beast. Let me go."

I grinned and pulled her leg up. The water lapped low against my trunks. It covered my c.o.c.k, but not by much. I kissed her toes, her heel, the sensitive arch.

"Jack, let me go."

"Why?"

Her brow furrowed, but her words clipped as I sucked on her toe. "I don't need to give you a reason."

"I want one."

"I said no."

"You're afraid you'll like this."

Leah swallowed. "We can't do this, Jack."

"I'm not doing anything," I said. "Just kissing you a little."

"That's exactly what I mean."

"You don't want to be kissed?" I teased further up her leg. I thanked whatever fertility G.o.d blessed the pool with cold water. It kept me from exploding with those curves so near my fingertips. "You know my reputation better than anyone. Am I known as a generous lover?"

My tongue flicked behind her knee. She shivered.

"I doubt you've ever thought of anyone but yourself," she said.

"Ouch." I nipped her inner-thigh as a punishment. "I'll have you know, I've been thinking only of you these past few days."

"I'm supposed to believe that?" Her words shuddered as I edged closer, resting her other leg on my shoulders. Her skirt b.u.mped high enough for a peek of her panties.

Pink today.

Innocent.

f.u.c.king s.e.xy.

She stared at me, meeting my gaze as I kissed slower, lower, drifting towards a part of her that watered my mouth. I fisted my c.o.c.k twice a day just in memory of her taste. Now there she was. Waiting. Trembling.

Wetter than me, and I was in the pool.

"You've only been thinking of how to get me into bed," she said.

"Not just the bed. The floor. Against the wall. Over the arm of the couch."

"Jack-"

"I want to watch you come."

"W-what?"