Hungry Cowboy Page 26

  “I had some fun when I started playing, but I’m thirty now…more selective,” Keith told me and kissed down my stomach. “I’d like to see you again after tonight, Jen.”

  His words left my head instantly. He lowered my panties and started kissing up my inner thighs. I was lost in his hot breath when he parted my folds and I begged him to lick me. Keith buried his face between my legs and started licking and sucking in perfect intervals. I rocked against him to find my release. I came with a loud cry and dragged my hands through his hair as he grunted and sucked on my swollen clit. “Baby, you feel so good when you come.” He pulled away and moved up to kiss me. I ate my taste off of his lips and his hard cock teased my entrance.

  “Condom,” I murmured and he moved to find his wallet in his jeans on the floor. He ripped something open, and I spread my legs for him to move between them and slide into me with a slow thrust. “Oh, God.”

  “Tight…so good,” he said, moving back and inside again. We were slapping together in a rough rhythm until I was coming again and he followed with a long cry of my name.

  We collapsed together on the bed and I sucked in deep breaths. Keith rolled onto his side and slid his arm over my stomach. I made a mental notch on my head for my first experience with casual sex. I knew that this could go wherever I wanted it to, and I opened my eyes to turn my head and look at Keith in the dim light from the hallway. He was looking back at me, and I smiled as he kissed me softly.

  “Stay with me? Do you have to work early?” He asked and I shook my head and smiled. “Good. I’ll make you breakfast tomorrow.”

  He got our water bottles before shutting off the lights and pulling me against him. I felt weird sleeping here with him, but I closed my eyes and gave into the exhaustion that was overtaking me. I thought about Justin before I slipped into unconsciousness and hoped that I was going to be able to work with him and not feel the attraction anymore.

  Chapter Six

  I woke up and looked around, the alarm blaring through my bedroom. I got to sleep in today, but I wasn’t feeling the day. I rolled over and hit snooze on the device beside me. The beers weren’t affecting me since I’d only had a few but I still felt off. Fuck it. I got up and took a shower before I mixed up a protein shake and went to the gym. There was always some loud music playing there and a few guys to chat with. Just what I needed.

  A couple of the guys from the bar yesterday were there too. I nodded at them and placed my bag against the wall. “What’s up?” I asked and took a long sip of the vanilla drink from my cup.

  They were laughing, and I glanced at them with a curious gaze. “Jennifer was at the bar last night. Did you see her?” one of them asked.

  “I think when I was headed out,” I replied in a casual voice, wondering what they were getting at.

  “She left with Keith Adams from the Wings. I thought she seemed a little on the innocent side, but it didn’t take her long,” David told me. I felt rage flood my veins. “How was your girl?”

  “Good. It was a package deal that came with a roommate,” I tried to sound pleased but I was too mad and jealous to feel that way.

  “Nice. Are you going to see them again?” Brent asked me, and I shrugged. “That’s right up your alley.”

  “I went home after we were done.” I wrapped a towel around my neck and looked around the room to see what I wanted to do. I decided to do a hard run. One of the guys turned on Alice in Chains. After the hard run, I worked on weights, and I was glad that my shoulder was hurting after the exercise. It was like I was hurting Jennifer directly somehow and it felt good in some twisted way.

  I didn’t stop at practice, and I pushed myself as Coach urged me on. I didn’t look over too much on purpose, but when I finally did, I saw Jennifer sitting beside him looking pale and tired. She was sipping her coffee and her hair was twisted into a loose bun. She nodded at something Coach had said before she met my gaze. Her eyes narrowed and she frowned, forcing her eyes away from mine to look at the other players. What the hell was her problem? She went home with a fucking hockey player last night! “McLeod. Pay attention!” Coach yelled as I struggled to focus on the drill that we were working on. He pushed us hard, and we practiced some plays over and over for the upcoming game late this afternoon.

  My shoulder was throbbing as we finished and I stomped to the locker room. “Do you need to see Jennifer?” Coach called out. I looked up and met his eyes.

  “I'm all right, Coach.” I kept going and took a hot shower, not caring that I took longer than usual. I needed the heat, and I wasn’t about to go and see her for help. I grabbed some lunch with the guys before the game, and we headed back to change into our uniforms to do a quick practice on the field.

  I glanced over to the sidelines to see the coaches and Jennifer standing there. They were talking and taking furtive glances at all of us. Chase ran towards them as Coach waved him over and Jennifer asked him something. She smiled lightly and nodded before she looked over at Coach with dread in her eyes. Chase left, and Coach searched our group for me. “McLeod!!” He waved me over and I strode to the group with a scowl on my face.

  “What’s up?” I asked, looking into his face.

  “How’s the shoulder?” she asked. She looked so concerned as I glanced at her and her eyes clouded over. “Are you okay to play?”

  “I told him I was all right,” I snapped as everyone gave me a weird look. I went back out, and we prepared to start the game. I watched Jennifer sit down and stare at me. All of my lies came to the surface when I struggled with every play. At halftime, Coach yelled at me to get to the sidelines.

  “What the fuck is your problem today?” he demanded as I rolled my shoulder and winced. “You said you were fine.”

  “I was,” I replied as he ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Jennifer.

  “Take a look at this idiot.” He left no question in his voice, and she and I headed to her room with a heavy silence between us.

  “What happened? Nothing looked too bad out there,” she murmured. I sat down in the usual spot and let out a sigh.

  “It’s been hurting all day,” I admitted. She frowned at me. “I didn’t want to see you.”

  “Why?” Her face twisted in confusion and I glared at her.

  “Keith Adams? Didn’t take you long,” I snapped as her mouth dropped open. I wanted to kiss her so badly. Her eyes flashed at me.

  “He’s separate from this, and besides, you left with the damn blonde. Who are you to judge me for anything?” Her voice was rising, and she pressed her hands on her curvy hips.

  “I wanted to leave with you, Jennifer. Damn you and your rules.” I stepped forward and kissed her out of anger and frustration. She gasped against my lips. She tasted so good, and she melted against me as I tugged her closer with my hands around her back.

  “We can’t do this,” she struggled against me as I pulled her closer. “Justin, stop.”

  “I can’t,” I whispered and slipped a hand into her hair.

  “Not here,” she pleaded and I pulled away. “Let me see how you are. The team needs you.”

  I pulled away and let her feel my injury as I took several deep breaths. She asked me to take my shirt off, and I complied as she looked me over hungrily. It seemed that Keith didn’t scratch all of her itches. Jennifer worked quietly and added some heat for a few minutes as I stared forward and tried to control my need for her. Once she pulled it off, she requested that I move my arm around and see how it felt.

  “I can play, but I might need you after,” I said as I looked at her. Her lips were swollen, and I longed to kiss her again.

  “I’ll be here,” she promised as I stood and dressed again. We both walked out after she fixed her hair and checked her face. I checked in with Coach, and he sent me back out after conferring with her. The concern on her face was overwhelming. I kept looking at her since nobody had ever looked at me that way. I wasn’t close to my family and I’d never been serious about a woman before.


  I finished the game, but we lost by a touchdown. Everyone left the field dejected. The lecture from the coach was brief and very blunt. I changed into some street clothes before I went back to see Jennifer.

  She rubbed me down, and I leaned against her as disappointment flooded me. “I fucked up by playing with that injury.”

  “The team lost, not just you. I would prefer you to be careful next time, though. I don’t want your injury to get worse.” Her voice was soft as she massaged me and I nodded.

  I asked her to have a drink with me when she finished, and I heard her take a deep breath.

  “I shouldn’t,” she told me, and I nodded.

  “I know.” I was done trying to pretend that I didn’t want her, and we both sighed. “Come to my place. It’ll be private.”

  She agreed reluctantly, and I gave her my address before I left first. I was happy that she was coming over. Not normally a jealous man, I couldn’t get the image of her with another man out of my head. I didn’t know what to do about that but to replace him and fuck her senseless. I drove home and cleaned up a bit while waiting for her.

  Finally, there was a knock at the door, and I rushed over to get it. Opening it, I saw Jennifer standing there with a nervous expression on her face. “You’re here.”

  “I considered going home,” she admitted as I pulled her inside and closed the door. “I just can’t get you out of my mind.”

  I pressed her against the wall and kissed her hard as she moaned. “I can’t get you out of my mind. I just want to feel you tight around me.” I kissed her again, and she parted her lips as our teeth crashed together. “Fuck, you taste good.”

  I lifted her and carried her down the hall to my bedroom. She kissed me with rough presses of her lips. I could feel how much she wanted me as she wrapped her arms around me. It filled me with hope and feelings that I was uncertain of. I dropped her onto the mattress and covered her body with mine.

  We stripped our clothes off in between long kisses and I looked over her naked body. Lust surged through me. I kissed down her neck, and she moaned. I sucked her skin between my teeth before I moved down to her breasts. She moaned in reaction to everything that I did to her. When I found her large pink nipples with my mouth, she whimpered and she sounded like she was going to cry. “I wish it had been you,” she said, her voice soft. I wondered what she meant as she wrapped her legs around me.

  Chapter Seven

  I cried out as Justin moved down my stomach as if he knew just what I wanted. He parted my legs and stroked my pussy with his fingers before he leaned in to suck on my clit. He slipped his fingers inside of me. I rocked against him and my body tightened around him. “Justin, oh God.” I closed my eyes and felt him scrape against me. Warmth flooded me. It felt almost unbearably right, and I moaned. “What are you doing to me?”

  “I want to make you come and drink it up,” he said, and I dropped my head back. “I want to make you come over and over, Jennifer.”

  “Yes,” I groaned as I felt the pressure starting to build. Justin dragged his finger across me one more time, firm and slow, and I screamed his name as I came harder than I ever had before. He pressed his mouth against me and sucked my hot juices into his mouth. I gripped his hair. It was similar to last night, but Justin didn’t go gently with me. He took what he wanted and seemed to know that I would give him anything. “Fuck me, Justin. I need you.”

  He pulled back and looked me over before he stood and dropped his boxers to the ground. He was hard and thick. I stared at him with heavy lidded eyes and he moved between my legs. Justin grunted as he slid inside of me and filled me with one deep thrust. He started to go faster and harder, and I gripped him, remembering the scratches that were fading on his back. I dragged my nails over his skin, and he cried out as he fucked me harder.

  We both rocked together, and I screamed as my body began to release again. Justin kept thrusting until I came and then turned me onto my stomach before he took me from behind. He pushed hard and grunted until I felt his heat filling me.

  We collapsed on the bed, exhausted but satisfied. Suddenly, my eyes widened. “We forgot a condom.”

  “Fuck, you’re right. I always use one,” he said. “I’m so sorry, Jennifer. Are you on the pill or anything?” His voice was apologetic as he rested against my back and stayed inside of me.

  “I am. Hard periods,” I replied as he sighed with relief.

  “I’m clean. I know the reputation that I have, but I swear to you I am clean.”

  “Okay,” I said as he rolled off me.

  “I don’t have a close family,” Justin started to speak. “They were busy with their lives, and I was pretty lost until I found football in high school. Those guys became my family and the game became my life.” I could hear the pain in his voice, and I remained still as I listened to him talk. “The women were just part of the lifestyle. I never cared for any of them but when I met you…something changed. I felt out of sorts, and I knew that I wanted you.” His hand slid up my stomach to cup my breast, and I shivered as my nipple perked up. “I didn’t think I could have you and certainly not this fast.”

  “It was too fast,” I murmured as he froze. Reality hit me as I realized what I’d done. I slept with a client and part of my staff, which was frowned upon. I slept with one of the biggest players in sports. Coach would be so disappointed in me. I let him down.

  “What do you mean?” His voice went cold, and I heard the despair in his tone. “Jennifer, what are you talking about?”

  “I work for you, with you. I shouldn’t be here.” I panicked as he tried to pull me closer. “This is wrong.”

  He tried to hold onto me as I slipped off the bed and looked for my clothes. “Jen, stop. Don’t do this.”

  “I can’t lose my job. Coach is depending on me…he gave me this job. I can’t betray him this way.” I was babbling but I didn’t care as I pulled on my clothes and felt something break inside of me.

  “I want to see you. I don’t want this to stop.” His voice was shaking as I stared back at him. I didn’t want it to stop either but I imagined the media getting a hold of this and how far it could go from there.

  “Justin, this was never a relationship. It wasn’t ever going to be,” I tried to convince myself as I thought back to the feelings that I’d started developing since I met Justin. “It was just something we had to get out of our systems. That’s all.”

  “Fuck, Jen. You’re wrong. I know that you felt something for me.” He was sitting up and moving towards me as I stepped away and out of the room to get my purse. He came out to get me, still naked, and I ran to the front door and stepped out. I hurried around the building before running to my car to drive home. I cried as I drove home. Justin had made me feel things that nobody ever had before. I tossed and turned in bed as I wondered what he was doing right now. He didn’t even have my number. But he’d had my body and my heart, though I’d never admit that.

  I’d messed up and nearly fucked up everything that I’d worked so hard for.

  I vowed never to let anybody find out as I tried to put the pieces back together and hold down my job.

  Chapter Eight

  I dragged myself into practice after a sleepless night alone in a bed that smelled like Jennifer. I couldn’t get the vanilla scent mixed with honey out of my nose, and I felt miserable, worse than if I’d never had her at all. The coach took one look at me and ordered everyone else out onto the field as he pulled me aside. “What the hell is wrong with you, McLeod? Is your shoulder still bothering you?”

  “No, that’s not it. I didn’t feel well last night.” I wasn’t going to throw Jennifer under the bus since she seemed so terrified of anybody finding out.

  “Can you play today?” he asked, and I nodded stoically. I was always up for football since it was the only constant in my life. I practiced and held it together even as she watched from a seat in the first row. I went to see her after I finished and she went about her business methodically and without an
y small talk, but the circles under her eyes were prominent.

  “Why?” I asked her as she pressed heat to my skin.

  “It’s for the best.” That’s all she said, and I barely got her to say goodbye when I was leaving. It hurt deep inside, and I knew that I was given hope when she came to me and let me make love to her. I’d never made love before, and I thought back to coming inside of her as my throat closed.

  I walked to the gym and worked out quietly before heading home to relax before the game. I could feel the looks that the guys were giving me all day, though nobody asked anything. They would never guess that I was this caught up with a woman. Hell, even I couldn’t believe that I was.

  The game went on, and she treated my injury with the utmost professionalism. She was friendlier with the other guys, laughing and chatting while with me she just said what she needed to.

  Eventually, word got around that she was seeing the hockey player regularly. They showed up around town and had pictures taken and I felt like shit every time that I saw one. A month passed before I wanted to have sex again and I threw myself right back into my old lifestyle, only I was colder this time. It was just a fuck and I was gone, with any woman that would have me. They never got inside of my heart or even my mind.

  I knew that I was falling for her when the pain never seemed to go away.

  I learned to fake it every day for games and practice. I acted like I was happy to be living my life again. That’s what the guys wanted from me as well as the media. I started playing well again once I decided to focus only on football and we climbed to the lead.

  My shoulder stayed about the same even when I’d see her. I could see the concern in her eyes when she could tell that I was hurting. But I lied and left to go drink with the guys until I was tired enough to sleep. I wasn’t stupid and I never let it ruin the game for me, but I knew that I was letting myself go to some degree. I just had to keep it in check and make everyone believe otherwise.