The Final Score by Jaci Burton
"It tickles."
He rolled his fingertip back and forth over the bud until it stood hard and upright. The sensation shot straight to her sex.
"That?"
"Mmm, good."
Then he put his mouth on her, sucking her nipple. He sucked gently at first, then harder, making her squirm, all the while holding her wrists over her head and pinning her lower body with his legs so she couldn't move. He attended to both of her nipples by touching and sucking them repeatedly until waves of torturous need washed through her.
"Nathan."
He lifted his head. "Yeah."
"I need more."
He smoothed his palm along her rib cage and over her lower belly. "More down here?"
She swallowed. "Yes."
When he cupped her sex, he gave her that lopsided grin that never failed to make her heart kick up a fast beat. "You're wet and ready for me, Mia. Want me to fuck you?"
"Yes."
Instead, he teased her with his fingers and his hand until she lifted her hips to meet him. And when he slid a finger inside of her, she gasped.
"I love watching you move," he said. "I love hearing you breathe. Now I want to watch you come. Let me hear you, Mia."
He teased her clit with expertly smooth movements of his hand while dipping his finger in and out of her until she was mindless, seeking only the rush of orgasm. And oh, she was so close. So. Close.
"That's it," he murmured. "You're right there, Mia. Let go." He alternately sweet-talked her with his smooth, sexy voice, then licked her nipples and used his amazing fingers to pleasure her relentlessly until she shuddered and moaned through an amazing orgasm. He stayed right there with her, murmuring his approval as she rocketed through her climax with wave after wave of unbelievable pleasure.
When her hips finally relaxed on the mattress, she expected Nathan to release her arms. He didn't. Instead, he coaxed her right back into another frenzy with his fingers. She was helpless to do anything but ride the wave of his beautiful, relentless torment. This time, she cried out when she came, bucking against his hand with her release.
He let go of her hands and framed her face with his palm. She sifted her fingers through his hair and kissed him, drawing him closer by throwing her leg over his hip. She felt the hard evidence of his erection rub against her as they wound themselves together.
"The condoms are in my bag."
"Yeah, we'll get to that. I need to taste you first."
"That's not necessary."
Again, that half smile that told her he was going to get what he wanted. And what he wanted was her. "You getting off as many times as possible is necessary, Mia."
She shuddered in a breath. "Nathan. The things you make me feel."
"Babe, we haven't even started yet."
He pushed her onto her back, then slid down between her legs and put his mouth on her sex.
She died a little bit again as he expertly slipped his tongue inside of her, then bathed her in the warmth of sensual pleasure with his mouth. She surprised even herself when she came again almost immediately, her whole body trembling with the force of her orgasm.
When Nathan kissed his way up her body, lingering at her hips, her stomach and her breasts, she somehow found her breath again.
He loomed over her and grinned. "Yeah, I'd say you needed those few orgasms."
She reached out to smooth his hair off his forehead. "I guess so."
"Now I'm gonna explode if I don't get inside of you."
She'd wanted that for so long she felt the same way. Her lips curved. "Again, condoms are in my bag. I'll go get them."
"Nah, I'll get mine. You stay right there."
"Great idea, since I'm fairly sure my bones have turned to liquid."
He reached down to their discarded pile of clothes and came up with a condom packet in his fingers. "Let's get this party started."
She was sure the party was already in full swing. But she was more than game to let this particular party go on all night long.
He kneeled above her. She reached out to grasp his cock, closing her hand over the shaft so she could touch him, watching as he closed his eyes.
"That's it. Stroke it."
He was velvety hard in her hands, and as a pearl-sized drop of liquid slid from the tip, she swept it onto her thumb and used it to coat the head, swirling it around with her thumb.
Nathan groaned. "I've thought about you touching me, imagined it when I jerk off."
Hearing him say that made her sex quiver. "Do you think about me?"
"Hell yes. You, naked, spread-eagled on a bed like you are now. Mostly my fantasies revolve around you getting yourself off and me watching you. Or you sucking my cock while you touch yourself and get yourself off."
Her sex thrummed listening to Nathan describe his fantasies in such graphic detail.
"We'll have to make that happen."
He tore the condom open and slid it onto his cock. "Yeah, we will. But now I need to be inside of you."
She needed that, too, nearly quaked with the need for it. "Yes."
He dropped down on top of her, careful to keep his weight off her as he entered her.
It was sweet bliss to feel him ease into her, especially seeing the look on his face, his expression so intense as he seated himself fully inside of her. She could feel her body acclimate and tighten around him.
Other than blissful memories of awesome sex, that one drunken night they'd had together previously was a bit of a blur. She remembered heavy breathing, soft murmurs, some laughing and a lot of orgasms. Now she was fully cognizant of Nathan's crisp, clean scent, the feel of his skin as she smoothed her hand across his shoulder and down his arm, the way it felt to be held against him. Mia thought it would be awkward to be intimate with someone she knew so well as a friend.
It wasn't awkward at all. If anything, she felt as if this was where she was always supposed to be.
"Damn, you feel good," he whispered, then bent to kiss her, a hot tangle of lips and tongues that made her body light up with hot waves of sensation, as if she'd been hit by a lightning bolt of pleasure through her nerve endings.
And then he began to move, and it got better, if that were even possible. She dug her heels into the mattress and lifted her hips to move with him, meeting him with each thrust, her body and mind melding into the powerful sensual forces that flowed through her.
Yes, it had been a while for her, but this was really good. Maybe it was because of the close connection she already shared with Nathan. This wasn't first-time sex with someone she barely knew, where she was always a little hesitant, always held herself back.
She already had a bond with Nathan. He had no expectations and neither did she. Nathan knew her better than any guy ever had, and for that, she felt freer than ever before to give of herself.
What she received in return was way more than she had ever anticipated. So when she felt the tremors of orgasm approaching once more, she let go, knowing she was safe, that he'd take her there with no hesitations.
He cupped her butt and raised her pelvis, then ground against her until she flew. She gripped his arms and wound her legs around his hips.
"Oh, fuck yeah," he said, shuddering as he came with her. She held on to him, feeling every inch of him as he let go.
It was a wild, uncontrollable and very long, satisfying finish. And the best sex she'd had in a long time.
Nathan licked her neck and breathed heavily against her throat. Mia wasn't certain she was even breathing. All she knew was that had been so, so amazing. Even her fingers tingled. That had to be a sign of great sex, right?
Nathan moved to the side of her, then off the bed to disappear into her bathroom for a few seconds. When he came out, he leaned against the doorway.
"I don't know about you, but I'm thirsty as hell."
She rolled over to face him. "I could drink about a gallon of water. There's some in the mini fridge."
He went to the fridge and pulled out two of
Nathan put his down on the other nightstand, then crawled into bed and pulled Mia down next to him.
"That was pretty good for round one."
She laughed. "Round one, huh? It's a good thing I have that box of condoms."
He arched a brow. "Oh, you brought a whole box, huh? Planning an orgy?"
Her lips curved. "Not an orgy, but it's been a dry spell for me."
He cupped her sex and began to rub her with gentle strokes. "Dry spell's over, babe. And I've got lots of stamina."
Despite having had multiple orgasms, her body awakened with renewed desire again. There was something about Nathan touching her that made her hot and feverish with just a touch. And since she figured this was just tonight and then they'd go back to being friends, she intended to use him and use him well.
She gave him a wicked grin. "Good. Because you're going to need stamina tonight."
THIRTEEN
IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL DAYS SINCE HIS WEEKEND WITH Mia at Napa. They'd both been busier than hell and they hadn't seen each other. Mia had told him she'd be swamped with meetings, and Nathan's mind-set was all about training camp coming up. He wanted as much time at the gym with his trainer as he could get so he'd be in top shape.
When he'd dropped Mia off after the weekend, he'd expected awkwardness between them. He should have known better. Mia hugged him and told him she'd had a great time, then smiled and said she'd talk to him sometime next week. Then she'd said good-bye, just as if nothing had happened. As if the sex hadn't happened.
Which was fine with him. Mostly. Except he knew at some point they'd have to talk about where they'd left things and about the status of their relationship.
But for now, he had to get his head wrapped around football.
He already knew he was in prime physical condition. He went to the gym every day. His trainer was working him hard, and the results were showing. He felt good. He watched what he ate. He was ready for this.
What he wasn't ready for was a visit from his mom and dad. He knew his dad was concerned about him. After Mick had retired, he'd told Nathan he felt like he was dumping him and leaving him to fend for himself. Nathan had assured him he could manage the team just fine, that the year he'd spent learning from his dad and the other backup QB had taught him everything he needed to know. It was important that his dad not feel responsible for him.
If Nathan had been drafted by any team other than the Sabers, and he'd been called up to be a starter, there'd be no one there--including his dad--to rely on. The fact he was taking over as starting quarterback for his own father shouldn't make a difference at all. Not to Nathan and not to his dad.
But this wasn't just a run-of-the-mill kind of thing. It was a huge deal for Nathan. It was a big deal to the team. And to the sports correspondents, too, because it was all they'd talked about the entire off-season, which had dumped an enormous amount of pressure on top of an already pressure-filled situation.
Dad had told him the most important thing he could do was to ignore the media. Nathan knew his father was right, but that was easier said than done, especially with training camp and the preseason right around the corner. All that hype about whether young quarterback Nathan Riley was going to perform even half as well as Mick Riley was going to amp up in a major way.
Nathan shrugged his shoulders, trying to ease the tension that constantly seemed to be there lately. He pulled into the driveway of his parents' house and got out of his SUV.
Despite his anxiety, he was happy his parents were in town. He went to the door and rang the bell.
His mom answered, his little brother, Sam, whipping around her.
"Nathan!" Sammy barreled into him, throwing his arms around Nathan.
"Sammy!" Nathan was always happy to see his brother. And at the age of six, Sam was like the Tasmanian devil, filled with energy. He picked him up and tossed him around by his arms. Sam laughed uncontrollably.
Then he put Sam down and hugged his mom. "Hey, Mom. How was the flight in?"
"Good," his mom said. "We got in late last night. We would have called but, honestly, we were all tired."
"Not a problem."
"Come on inside. Your dad is in his office on the phone. He'll be out in a few minutes."
Sam grabbed his hand. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"I got new Legos. Wanna play with me?"
"I will in a little bit. What kind of Legos?"
"Some Star Wars ones. They're cool."
"Those are my favorites, you know. Can I take them home with me?"
Sam cocked his head to the side. "Nooo. They're mine, Nathan. But I'll share with you."
Nathan's lips curved. "Okay. We'll hang out and play together. But first I have to talk to Dad, okay?"
"Okay." Sam lifted his head to look at their mother. "Mommy, can I go play out in the backyard?"
Tara nodded. "Yes."
Sam ran off and Nathan followed his mom into the kitchen. He took a seat at the island.
"Iced tea or a beer?" she asked.
"Iced tea sounds great."
She poured two glasses, then sat down across from him at the island. It hadn't always been so informal and easy between them when he'd lived at home. He'd been a little more difficult as a young teen. Attitude and all. He'd given his mom a rough time.
And then Mick had come into their lives and everything had changed. Nathan's whole attitude had shifted and he'd developed a renewed sense of purpose. His mom was happy and in love, and it changed Nathan's perspective on life. After that, he'd been driven to succeed, to be as good as the man who'd adopted him and had never made him feel less than his actual son.
"How's the business?" he asked his mom.
She smiled. "It's good. I'll meet with Maggie and the rest of the team while I'm here. We're looking at expanding the shop."
That was news. "Space-wise or personnel-wise?"
"Both, actually. We've added more people to the business, and we have everyone squeezed into the small space we started with all those years ago. Now we need to add at least two more event planners, and there's no place to put them. So Maggie and I are going to interview event planners, then shop new space."
He loved hearing the excitement in his mother's voice. "I know how much you like to shop. And office space? You'll be in heaven."
She grinned. "I know. We have a real estate agent lined up to spend two days with us showing spaces to lease. We're going to have so much fun."
Nathan laughed. "Are you sure Dad's going to be able to get you on a plane back home?"
"Ha. Maybe not."
"Who's going to watch Sam while you're off having these adventures?"
"Your father, of course. Now that he's retired, he gets to spend more time with Sam. Which they're both enjoying very much."
Nathan was glad that at least one amazing thing was happening because of his dad's retirement.
"Thought I heard you come in."
Nathan slid off the bar stool and hugged his dad, who still looked as young and robust as he had when Nathan was a gawky fifteen-year-old. Nathan couldn't even spot a limp, though his dad had had that knee surgery right after the end of last season.
"How's it going, Dad?"
"Great."
"How's the knee?"
His father looked down at his knee, then back up at Nathan. "Great. Physical therapy is a pain in my--knee actually--but the rehab is going well."
"Don't let him fool you," Mom said. "He complains about it all the time."
Dad lifted his chin. "I never complain."
Mom laughed. "I don't know who's the bigger whiner in the house now, you or Sam."
"I've watched some of the guys on the team go through rehab," Nathan said. "It's tough."
"Yeah. But it'll be fine. I have to be fine. I have to chase after your brother, and you know what a hellion he is."
"He'll love having you around all the time, Dad. Especially now that Mom is going mogul on us."
His dad put his arm around Mom. "She is. This is her turn to shine now that she's supported my career all these years."
Mom nudged Dad in the ribs. "You make it sound like I've done nothing but sit in the stands and act like a cheerleader during your games. You've supported my career plenty. I'll just have a little more time to concentrate on the business now that you're free."
"Yeah," Dad said. "I'm pretty happy about that."
They all sat down in the living room.
"Any thoughts about what your next steps will be?" Nathan asked his dad.
"What next steps?"
"A lot of former players move into broadcasting or coaching."
"Oh." His dad shrugged. "Not right now. I want some time off to finish rehab, play a little golf and play a lot with Sam. He's really looking forward to having me take him to school and pick him up. Being a stay-at-home dad for a while suits me just fine."
"I give it a year or two at most before he's itching to get back into football in some capacity," Mom said.
Dad looked at her. "And you'd be okay with that."
"We've already discussed this and you know I would. You love football. Just because you're not playing anymore doesn't mean you can't be involved in it. And no one knows more about the sport than you. You either need to be coaching or analyzing the games in some way." She grabbed his chin. "Plus, look how pretty you are. I can see you as a sportscaster."
His dad laughed. "Maybe. We'll see."
Nathan felt a little better listening to the two of them talk about the future. His dad didn't seem to be bothered about not playing anymore. At least on the surface. Nathan had worked so hard to get where he was. He couldn't imagine not playing anymore. But he was just at the beginning of his career. He was itching to be at the helm of the Sabers offense, to feel the ball in his hands and know that he was in control.
"Ready for training camp to start, Nathan?" his dad asked.
"Like you wouldn't believe. It's all I've thought about for weeks."
His dad nodded. "The offense will look to you for leadership, that you're ready to grab the reins and run with them. You watched me run that offense all last year. You can handle this team."
He couldn't explain how much his father's confidence in him meant. His dad had always been honest with him, sometimes brutally. If he wasn't ready to take the team, his dad would have told him, even if it hurt.