Page 60 of Red Zone Realizations
“I can say wholeheartedly that, right now, I am open to not having kids. I understand that as time moves on I might change my mind because I haven’t thought about this as much as you have, but I’m willing to ride this wave with you now. I promise that if anything changes there will be an open and honest line of communication about it.” I lean into his words that are breaking my heart free of its chains.
I put my hand in his upturned one. “I would never want you to be unhappy. Even if that means being with someone else.”
“The book I read said we should pick a later date and revisit this then, but…” He squeezes my hand and continues. “We have a lot of missed time to make up for—and I want to start making up for all the hours I couldn’t touch you over the last two weeks…starting right now.”
In a blink, Noah’s pupils blow wide with attraction. I move my hand to his thigh and let it rest. I tighten my fingers a little on either side to feel the strength hidden there under his dress slacks. Noah makes a strangled noise. “If you keep touching me like that, we aren’t going to make it inside before I see if you are wearing that lingerie I sent over, babe.”
Chapter Thirty
NOAH
Today has been a day about taking chances. Another injury right after coming back from last year’s broken ankle rattled me. Every day we walk a precarious line between being okay and not. Today was another reminder of just how thin that line is.
The cliff you stand on playing professional football is steep and unforgiving. I know this is what I chose for myself, but the reminder hits hard anyway. There’s more destruction at the bottom of that fall than most careers. It’s high risk, high reward. That’s what I was thinking about when Audrey burst into the room and back into my life. I was peering over the cliff waiting to see if I was going to fall when she appeared, filling all my senses with her clean scent. I knew I would regret not reaching for what I want. And right now, in this moment, her hand in mine, as I lead her up the stairs, I’m immensely glad that I did.
I shut the door behind us and push her up against it. I see the excitement and anticipation flash in her eyes as her back hits the wood. If it’s a little rougher than I intend; she doesn’tseem to mind. She seems eager. I put my hands on either side of her head and push my knee between her thighs. I can feel the heat radiating from her through the fabric of my slacks. It doesn’t escape me that I’m fully dressed in my game-day suit and tie. I think it’s working to my benefit right now—at least based on her reaction.
I put my mouth on hers, gently searching. Asking permission for more. She knows and nods just slightly. I slide my hands up under the jersey that has touched my own skin and has my last name on it. “You’re driving me fucking wild with my name across your back. You know that?”
She reached down for the hem of the oversized jersey, practically swallowing her frame. I put a hand out to stop her. “No. It stays on.”
I move my hands down to the buttons on her jeans. I pause and look at her. Her pupils are wide with want, and I’m sure mine echo the same. “Is this what you want?” She nods. I shake my head. “I need your words, baby.” She tilts her head back to the door behind her.
“Take them off. I want everything. With you.” She looks down at me as I get on my knees and slide the denim down her hips, her thighs, lower as I watch, taking in every inch of pale skin and black lace. She uses my shoulders for balance as she picks up one foot and then the other to let me slide them off.
Holy—fuck me. Her wearing the black lacy thing I sent her and the reality of it is one-hundred-thousand times better than what I imagined it would look like when I picked it out. The thin strip of dark lace against her creamy skin has my dick aching.
“I’ve been waiting a millennium for this. I’ve been dreaming about this pussy, wishing for it, and I’m not going towaste another second.” I pull the thong to the side, raise her leg over my shoulder, and put my tongue on her center. No teasing, just tasting. She tastes like heaven, and I eat while she tries to squirm under me. I pin her hips down with a forearm so I can better devour her.
I’d rebreak my ankle a million times over if it that means I’d be right here, right fucking now, hearing her moan and calling my name.
Chapter Thirty-One
AUDREY
With Noah’s mouth on me, I’m about to float right off the floor. It’s levitation-level good. But I know that tonight I need everything. I told him so, but he seems A-OK with taking his sweet time. Meanwhile, I’m dying. If I don’t get what I need from this man, I’m going to scream. And what I need is him inside of me.
“More. All of you,” I whimper. He looks up at me, mouth still covering me fully. Our eyes meet over the swell of my breasts, and I can’t believe this is real. He pushes me closer to the edge as I grip his hair and then stops.
I squeak when he wraps his arms around my hips and lifts me from the ground. I fold over his shoulder like a sexy sack of potatoes—if potatoes wore decadent black lace—and he carries me toward the bed. Noah sets me down so gently, like I’m the most precious, delicate thing. My heart is soaring from finally getting this intimacy with him. He pushes the jersey up and up until my breasts are exposed. My nipples pebble beneath the thin lace in response, or maybe in anticipation of his mouth. He settles his long body next to me, his arm stretched out overmy belly. He kisses my mouth and nips at my bottom lip before kissing a trail down my neck to my chest. He kisses me once in the middle of my breast bone, and then gently takes one nipple into his mouth. His tongue is teasing but his mouth is warm. My back arches off the bed, encouraging him to continue. His hair is so soft when I thread my fingers through it again.
I reach my hand down between us on the bed and start pulling at his belt with one hand. My core is pulsing. I can feel the heat pooling low in me, the lust making my mind fuzzy. I’m so lost in my haze of desire that I can’t get his belt undone.
I put my hand to his chest and push. “Roll over.”
He lets me push him over even though he could easily withstand my meager strength. “I want you naked.”Who is saying those words? Me?
I start at the buttons on his nice shirt. The color flatters his eyes. Makes the depth of themeven greater. I don’t care, though. It’s got to come off.
Once I reach the final button, I slide my hands back up his stomach and push the shirt off his shoulders. He sits up and shrugs it off. He reaches down and pulls his undershirt over his head. I inhale. “Oh my God.”
The toned skin is covered in purple and green bruising. It’s concentrated on the right side, but snakes across his chest and around toward his back. I feel the tears well in my eyes before I can stop them.
Immediately, Noah notices. “Hey, hey. What’s wrong?” He wipes at my tears as they fall.
I touch my fingertips to the bruise. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m going to be okay. It’s just a bruise.”
