A week in Arizona with Rielle had been one of the best times of Gavin's life, ranking next to the Disney World trip he'd taken with Sierra the year she'd turned nine.

He gave Rielle props for embracing the vacation mindset. She let him choose their daily activities-where they went, what they did, where they ate. But she couldn't stop working completely. She cleaned the pool every morning before swimming laps.

After a few hours at the office had become more than half the d.a.m.n day, he'd been a little tense walking in the door. Rielle noticed immediately, fixed him a drink and suggested he change into swimming trunks and come out to the pool.

He'd expected a fun, s.e.xy swim. He hadn't convinced her to have s.e.x outside on the deck or in the pool since the first night. But she'd spread out a puffy blanket poolside and offered him a ma.s.sage.

The warmth of the day, the strong drink and the sensation of Rielle's oil-slicked hands on his arms, shoulders and back should've relaxed him. But his d.i.c.k got so hard it dug into the concrete decking.

Then she turned him over and started on his front. Ma.s.saging every inch of his upper torso with coconut-scented oil. His jaw, his neck, his chest, his hands. Even his earlobes. When she'd told him to ditch the trunks, he'd happily obliged. She used that slick hand to jack his c.o.c.k as she rubbed her mouth, teeth and her t.i.ts all over his chest. She sucked his nipples, bit his neck and stroked him until he squirted all over her hand and his belly.

When he'd found his mind, he'd opened his eyes to see her licking his come off her fingers. And then his stomach.

That was almost enough to make him hard again. She dove into the pool; he chased her. After hot and s.e.xy water games, he'd carried her to the blanket, positioned her on hands and knees and f.u.c.ked her from behind until she'd screamed.

Twice.

The next day Gavin drove her by the house he'd grown up in and the condo he'd lived in after the divorce. Then he'd shown her the schools he attended, the golf club where he and his dad played.

Rielle seemed melancholy after his trip down memory lane. He told her to dress up and he made reservations at the see-and-be-seen restaurant in Phoenix. They ran into a few of his colleagues, who invited them for a drink in the bar. Rielle attempted to retreat into her wallflower persona, but Gavin wouldn't allow it. She was beautiful, smart, funny and an interesting woman. She made him happy and he wanted her-and everyone else-to see it. And for her-and everyone else-to understand she was his.

He didn't take her on a tour of his office building until after his employees were gone for the day. Partially because he didn't relish getting stopped a million times about business issues. But he also wanted her to see the city lights from his office window. Wanted her to know how many nights he'd spent up here alone. Working. Wondering if he'd ever have a life beyond the walls of this room.

Gavin had an almost desperate need for her-needing to meld his past and his future. He'd taken her against the gla.s.s window, looking down on the urban sprawl, her feet straddling the floor air conditioner vent. Cool air blew over the hot tissues as his c.o.c.k slowly tunneled in and out of her wet p.u.s.s.y. Rielle was always ready for him, always eager. She had no idea what a turn-on that was, so he told her. Showed her. Shared his life and thoughts with her in ways he hadn't known he was capable of.

She requested they stay in their last night, cooking together and dining outside. He'd scrounged up candles, placing them everywhere in the backyard, including floating some in the pool.

They hadn't made love, but it was still the most romantic night he could remember.

Early January...

"Gavin."

Come on, come on. "Dammit. It's not working. Try a different play. G.o.d. I cannot believe they called that one twice in a row."

"Gavin."

"Hang on. This is third down." The quarterback faked a handoff and then pa.s.sed for six yards for first down. "Yes! That's what I'm talking about." He tossed a handful of popcorn in his mouth, eyes on the game. "What the f.u.c.k? Why are you putting him in? He can't block for s.h.i.t."

"Gavin. Sierra's not here."

"I know. She comes home tomorrow." He watched the handoff and the running back bobbled the ball. It bounced downfield until someone took his head out of his a.s.s and covered it. "Lucky save."

"Gavin."

"Yeah, honey, just a sec." It's a wonder they won any any games with the lousy plays they'd been calling this season. They didn't have a running game, so it made zero sense why they'd tried that one- games with the lousy plays they'd been calling this season. They didn't have a running game, so it made zero sense why they'd tried that one- "Gavin, I'm naked."

Okay. That got his attention. He turned around.

A naked Rielle leaned against the door to his bedroom.

Man, he loved her body. Small and compact, with sculpted arms and shoulders. Her muscular torso flowed into flared hips and strong thighs. And those t.i.ts. He couldn't get enough of those.

A whistle blew on the screen and he turned around to see what'd happened. The camera zoomed in on the ref. "Intentional grounding. Five yard penalty."

The calls in this game had been lousy.

The quarterback threw a long pa.s.s only to get picked off at the twenty-yard line. "f.u.c.k." He took a long pull of his beer.

Rielle sauntered in front of the TV. Naked. "So. You wanna score with me?"

He glanced at the clock. Three minutes remained in the third quarter. If he could hold her off that long, then he could give her the kind of hard, fast f.u.c.k she liked. Tons of commercials and sportscaster bulls.h.i.t played between quarters anyway so he wouldn't miss much of the fourth quarter.

"I saw that! For just a split second you were torn between staying on the couch and watching football or taking me to bed."

"Hey, I always want to take you to bed. Always. But Ree. Honey. It's the last game before playoffs."

"And your team is winning?"

"Ah, no. But there's a chance they can come back..." He angled his head, trying to see around her. What the h.e.l.l was that penalty flag about? Jesus. Was it on the d.a.m.n defense? Were they seeing the signals at all?

Rielle walked off. The door to his bedroom slammed.

No misinterpreting that signal.

Why the h.e.l.l did she have to pick right now now for a tumble? Couldn't she wait another seventeen minutes and twelve seconds until the game ended? for a tumble? Couldn't she wait another seventeen minutes and twelve seconds until the game ended?

Really? A stupid football game is more important than hot and dirty s.e.x with the woman you love? You're an a.s.shole.

f.u.c.k.

Gavin scrambled off the couch and paused in front of his bedroom door, opening it cautiously in case Rielle decided to throw some s.h.i.t at him-which he deserved. But the bedroom was dark and quiet and he didn't see her. "Rielle?"

"Go away," came from beneath the covers.

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the blanket-covered lump, but he jerked his hand back at the last minute when he heard a m.u.f.fled sound. He heard it again. Sounded like a...sob.

s.h.i.t. Was she crying?

Gavin pulled the covers back and she curled into a little ball, further away from him.

You're an a.s.shole.

"Ree. I'm sorry."

"Go away."

"I'm here now." He put his hand on her b.u.t.t and rubbed. "We could-"

"No! I will not be a quick f.u.c.k during a break in your stupid football game."

Tell her it's not the end of the quarter yet.

He should've earned some points for walking away from a game in progress, right?

You're an a.s.shole.

"Please talk to me."

Rielle pushed up and glared at him. "I don't do this seduction stuff. And whenever I try, I feel like a total idiot because it doesn't have any effect on you and I'm never doing it again. So go away."

His gaze dipped to her chest. d.a.m.n. She'd already put on her nightgown.

"You've got to be kidding me. Now Now you're staring at my t.i.ts when they're covered up, but you couldn't be bothered when they were bouncing right in front of your face? Get. Out." you're staring at my t.i.ts when they're covered up, but you couldn't be bothered when they were bouncing right in front of your face? Get. Out."

Man. He'd f.u.c.ked this up. "Look. I'm sorry. I've spent a lot of years by myself, watching football games uninterrupted. And I didn't handle...you wanting my attention, in the best way."

"Ya think?"

Anything he said would likely p.i.s.s her off, so he kept his stupid mouth shut.

"Do you know why I'm upset?"

Do not say because I didn't drop everything and f.u.c.k you.

Luckily, she jumped right in and answered. "You are so smooth. Seducing me with words. You've got all the hot s.e.x moves and you know a hundred ways to turn me inside out. You intimidate me sometimes, Gavin."

That brought him up short. "I intimidate you...s.e.xually?"

Rielle blushed but she didn't look away. "Yes. You know I don't have-didn't have-much experience before we got together."

"Why would you think I did?"

"Because you're amazing in bed!"

Gavin felt c.o.c.ky even when he wanted to laugh. Time to come clean. From the bottom drawer of his armoire he took out the four books he'd hidden. "You have no idea how happy it makes me that you think I'm amazing in bed. Despite what you think, that's not because I have some type of...McKay s.e.xual history."

"You don't?"

"No. I knew from the first time I kissed you we'd end up in bed. And I wanted to make it good for you, Ree. I wanted you to think I was amazing in bed and I might be the same kind of s.e.x stud my brothers and cousins are rumored to be." Gavin tossed the four how-to s.e.x books on the bed. "So I bought these. I read them cover to cover and hoped like h.e.l.l I could remember anything when I finally got you naked with me."

Rielle stared at the books, frowned and looked at him. "I don't understand."

Gavin blushed. "I had to read up on how to be a good lover. Because before you? I didn't have a clue."

"Did these books help?"

"Some. But being with you...my instincts took over. Your body, your eyes, every s.e.xy little moan you made taught me what I needed to do to be the lover you want. The lover you deserve. The lover I've always wanted to be, but I've only ever been with you."

Silence.

Way to throw it all out there, loser.

"Oh my G.o.d, Gavin Daniels, I love you."

He froze. "For real?"

She nodded.

"Because I wasn't some macho stud in bed before I met you?"

She nodded again.

That made no sense...and yet perfect sense because this was Rielle. "You are one weird-a.s.s woman, but I'll take it." Grinning, he said, "So...you love me, huh?"

"Yes. Even though you are a pain in the a.s.s sports fanatic. Who ignores a naked woman for football."

"I'm here now, aren't I?" He kissed her. "And just so we're clear. I'm in love with you too."

He stripped, ripped away the covers completely and crawled on top of her.

"Gavin. Don't you want to-"

"Nope." He smoothed his hands up the insides of her bare thighs. "G.o.dd.a.m.n. I'm already hard. You-" his mouth meandered down her throat, "-have cast a spell on me."

"Same." She groaned. "Yes, put your mouth right there."

"You do like that," he murmured, teasing the spot with his teeth and tongue.

"I love that." Rielle moaned again. "It's another one of those hot spots I wasn't even aware I had."

Gavin mouthed the tip of her breast through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

Rielle hissed and arched back, thrusting more of her breast into his hot mouth.

He sucked her nipple through the sheer fabric. Then switched sides, lost in the way she clung to him and how much he loved having her nails digging into his back.

But he wanted her naked.

"Lift up so I can take this off."

She kissed him with sweet fire. Then she pushed him away with a smirk.

"What?"