I watch Oakley put her fork down and place a hand over her bare stomach.
I’d convinced her once our breakfast had been delivered to go without the robe.
Grinning, I sip my coffee and take in the woman across from me.
She seems to match me every step of the way. When she’d done her little temptress thing in the bedroom earlier, I’d been helpless to stop myself from taking what she offered.
And I damn well took.
Hard and fast and then again.
How either of us managed twice in thirty minutes after the number of times we’d had sex last night is anyone’s guess.
Not that I’m complaining.
Nope. You won’t hear a word of complaint from these lips.
“Stop staring.”
“No.”
She throws her head back laughing and I grin. I’m not one hundred percent sure but I’d lay money on this being an Oakley not many see.
And I’m not talking about her being naked. Her physical nakedness isn’t what I’m referring to.
Last night, this morning, she’s given me the privilege of seeing her unguarded. Emotionally open in a way I’ve never seen.
I’m honored.
Humbled.
And so damn enamored that I can’t think of anything but her and fucking her again.
Both of which will happen over and over for the rest of my life if I have anything to do with it.
As I said last night, I’ll give up the head coach job if it means keeping her.
“I meant what I said.”
She picks up her coffee and arches an eyebrow at me. “You’ve said so much since we met.”
I have. “I’ll pass on the job if it means I can’t have you.”
“That won’t be a choice you have to make.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to have both, and what I want, I get.”
“So confident.”
“I am. You know that.” She takes a sip then lowers her cup to the table. “What are your plans for today?”
The change of subject doesn’t bother me. I know she thinks the other topic is dealt with, and it is for us; it just remains to be seen how it goes down with the public.
With the league.
Sighing, I lower my mug and lean forward. “I know I can’t say anything about the Rogues yet, so I won’t, but I will be telling my sister and my best friend about my retirement and that I’ll be leaving New York.”
“Gannon Byrd, right?”
“Was that in your PI’s report?”
“Yes. Among other things.”
“Do I want to know the other things?”
She shrugs and rolls her hand to get me to answer her original question. “What else do you need to do?”
“I’ll be attempting to contact Kristina to give her an ultimatum.”
“Fuck off or I’ll ruin you?”
I laugh. “Pretty much.”
“What about the owner of the Knights?”
It’s my turn to shrug. “Don’t know if I’ll do anything about that unless Kristina pushes my hand.”
She nods. “Okay.”
“Do you want to come to my place for dinner?” I don’t know who’s more shocked by the invite, her or me.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.” The more I think about it, the more I want to see her in my space. Not that this suite isn’t great but it’s not personal. There’s nothing of either of us here.
“Sure. What time?”
I can see she’s wary but in what I’m coming to understand is typical Oakley James style, she’s marching toward whatever challenge is tossed in front of her.
“How about I let you know where I am later? I’ve got to head to my agent’s office and probably my lawyer’s at some point too.”
“Do you have a grill?”
“At my place?”
“No, in your pocket.” She rolls her eyes at me with a laugh. “Yes, at your place. I can pick up the makings for a steak dinner if you’ve got somewhere to cook the steak.”
I grin. Having her in my space, doing something so domestic, so couple-y, gives me a burst of joy so consuming I know I must look like an idiot.
“You like the idea of cooking dinner with me?”
“You didn’t say which of us would be cooking and either one or together is perfect. Whatever you want to do.”
“You can cook without assistance?”
“I had to when I moved out of home. If I wanted to maintain my body in peak form, I had to fuel it with the right meals.”
She nods. “Okay, we’ll cook—together—at your place tonight. Text me the address and time later and I’ll pick up what we need on the way.”
“All right, it’s a date.”
“Is that what it is?” she asks with a grin.
“It’s dinner with my woman. Yes, it’s a date.”
“Don’t dates usually require eating out?”
“We could do that but if the press release goes out this afternoon, going out will be a nightmare. Plus, I’m not sure if you want us to be seen together in public yet.”
“Thanks for that consideration. I’ll need to run it by Nat, Blake, and Cami before I can decide the best way to deal with the private part of our relationship. The professional connection definitely can’t be revealed yet.”
“Of course not. You have to announce the franchise first.”
“That’s slated for two weeks from today.”
“Oh. So, the buzz about my retirement should have dulled by then.”
“Maybe.”
I could see her thinking but don’t get to question her because my phone rings for what feels like the hundredth time since we sat down to breakfast.
“You should probably answer that.”
I don’t want to but I know she’s right. Drake has been calling all morning and I didn’t even bother sending him a message to let him know I’d get back to him after I ate.
Pushing back my chair, I head for the ringing device and sure enough, Drake’s name is on the screen.
“Finally,” Drake all but yells in my ear. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Sleeping.” I glance at Oakley, a smile tugging at my mouth. “What’s going on?”
“I got a call from Cantrell a couple hours ago.”
“Okay.”
“He wanted to let me know the team’s lawyers were working on your paperwork, but we didn’t need to wait for it to make your retirement announcement.”
“Okay.”
“Yesterday I was a little taken aback by the fact he didn’t want the Knights organization to be involved in crafting your retirement announcement but I was willing to let him do things the way he saw fit—it’s his team after all. Except…”
“Except what?”
“I had an itch. Today it got worse. You know, the one I get on the back of my neck? The one that’s never steered me wrong.”
“Yeah, I know what you’re talking about.” And I did—years ago, when I’d first been offered a contract, Drake had been there.
Young, and no really big clients to his name, I’d trusted his instincts because we’d been friends from my first day in college. A few years older than me, Drake had been leaning toward representing professional athletes instead of pushing to be one himself. He’d had talent, but in his words, not enough to get far, not as far as he could help someone else get.
“What did you do?” I ask even though I know he’ll tell me anyway.
“I had our lawyers pull your latest contract. Got them to comb over that fucker from first word to last.”
“And?” There is an edge to my voice because I know he’s found something with the number of calls and texts I’ve missed from him this morning.
“And that motherfucker is trying to get you to breach your contract.”
“How?”
“There’s a clause about termination; I won’t bore you with the legalese but basically, you can’t make an announcement of any kind, including the current status of your injury—only the team can. If you do, you’re in breach, and he can sue the ass off you.”
“Isn’t there some sort of clause about me suing the team over my career-ending injury?”
“No. There’s a clause that gives you a mass payout if you’re unable to continue playing due to injury caused while performing your job but that too would be void if we put out a press release about your retirement.”
“So what does this mean?” I hate that Cantrell has us over a barrel.
“Well, until we get the paperwork from the Knights org, our hands are tied, and we have to zip our lips.”
“And how long with that take?” I glance at Oakley again. I want to move forward with the Rogues, but I can’t do that until I end things with the Knights.
Drake sighs. “I’ve got a feeling that fucker is going to drag this out.”
“So what? I’m stuck in limbo, can’t go back, can’t go forward, until he sees fit to pull his head out of his ass?”
“Basically, yeah.”
“Fucker!”
“Hey.” Oakley puts her hand on my arm. “What’s going on?” she whispers.
“Who’s that?” Drake asks.
“Hang on a sec,” I tell him.
I place my hand over the bottom of my phone, bring it down to my chest, and keep my voice low.
“Cantrell is being a dick. I can’t sign anything with you until the announcement goes out and I can’t announce without all the Is dotted and Ts crossed.”
“Use the pictures.”
“Huh?” For a second I have no idea what she’s talking about, and then it hits me.
The pictures of Cantrell and Kristina.
Bringing the phone back to my ear I speak to Drake.
“Get everything you need to terminate my contract with the Knights and the statement about my retirement ready. And find Cantrell. I want to know where he is, who he’s with, within the hour. I’ll get whatever we need from the team by this afternoon.”
“How? You can’t punch him if that’s what you’re planning. Although, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind you doing that, wouldn’t mind slugging the guy myself.”
“I’m not going to hit him.” I scrub a hand down my face. “I’ve got an incentive for him to get things moving and moving fast.”
“What kind of incentive?”
I look at Oakley. The woman has saved me twice in the last twenty-four hours. First with a job offer and now with the solution to this bullshit with Cantrell.
“Just something I know he won’t want anyone else knowing.”
“You’ve got dirt on Cantrell? Jesus fuck, man, what the hell could you have on him? I know he’s a sleaze and all, but I’ve never even heard a rumor about the guy that could be used against him.”
“No rumors and I’m not giving you details. Just get everything ready and find out where the fuck that prick is. I’m catching up with Shelby for lunch and then I’m going after Cantrell.”
I hang up on Drake before he can dig any further. I don’t want him implicated in any way with this.
Same with Oakley.
“Those pictures can’t be linked back to you, can they?”
“No. But even if they can, I’m not worried about it.”
“How can you not be worried?” I grab her shoulders. “This could fuck up the franchise.”
“No. That’s a done deal and the Rogues organization employed the PI to investigate a number of individuals we’re looking at employing. From the Zamboni driver to the window washers, everyone will or has been looked into.”
“Wow. Okay, I see how that could be okay. You were looking at me, and Kristina is linked to—”
“Not anymore.”
“Not for a while but it does seem logical as to how you might have come about having these in your possession.”
“Now they’re in yours and you need to use them to your advantage.”
“First I need to tell Shelby I’m leaving New York.”
“Will that be a problem? I know she recently finished college. Will she come with you?”
I shake my head. “No. She already has a job. Although this move will give me the upper hand in getting her to move into my apartment. Without me living there, she’s more likely to say yes.”
“She’s an independent girl.”
“Yes. Our parents’ deaths have a lot to do with that, I think.”
“I don’t know, I think maybe you’re both cut from the same cloth and go after what you want on your own merit.”
“The fact she won’t use my name to get in the door at the Knights’ head office is in the report?”
I’d tried to convince Shelby to work for the Knights. Mischa had offered when she found out Shel was studying PR, but my sister doesn’t want a job because of who her brother is, she wants one because she’s good.
“No. But from what I’ve read about both of you, and what I’ve learned in the last twenty-four hours about you, makes me believe you would want to help her.”
“I did. Do. Do the Rogues need anyone in the PR department?”
Oakley laughs and I want to kiss the sound from her lips.
So I do.
And as much as I try to keep it tame, the way we combust every time we come together can’t be controlled.
Within seconds I’m taking us both to the floor. We’re already naked and this area of the suite has plush carpet but I roll us so I’m on the bottom.
Against her lips I say, “You’re on top. Do your worst.”
“You mean my best?” She nips my lip. Slides her tongue over the small sting.
“I think we’ve proven the only thing we are together is the best,” I murmur as I trail my mouth along her jawline.
She stops, pulls back, and looks at me. “Together we’re the best.”
I eye her, wondering what it is she’s working on in her head. I don’t have to wait long for her brain to tie all the strings and deliver her conclusion.
“We’re going public.”
“What?” I sit up, Oakley straddling my lap.
“Hear me out. We met at the photo shoot. Yesterday. We got together for dinner last night. Will again tonight.”
“Okay.” I’m not sure where she’s going with this line of thinking, but I give her the chance to sort through it more.
Honestly, I don’t care how this all goes down as long as it’s the least amount of damage to her and the Rogues.
To distract us both, I run my tongue over one peaked nipple. The shiver that shakes her makes me smile and I open my mouth around the taut bud and suck hard.
Her back arches, her flesh pressing deeper into my mouth, and I greedily suck it down.
It takes little effort from either of us for me to get inside her. A little wiggling, a shift up then down and I’m balls deep in snug wet heat.
“Fuck. So tight. So wet,” I growl over her skin as I move to her other breast.
“I’m tight because you’re big.”
I can’t help the laugh that breaks free. “Just what every guy wants to hear.”
“I speak only the truth.”
“Why are you speaking at all, woman? Ride me.” I give her ass a slap and the next thing I know I’m flat on my back, her palms pressing into my chest, and she’s riding me like the prize-winning jockey at the Kentucky Derby.
I fuck up into her as best I can but she’s driving this ride. And what a ride it is.
It has sweat dripping from both of us. And I’m sure my ass is going to have rug burn but I don’t care. I’ll take the pain as a badge of honor that this woman knows she’s safe with me to let herself go.
Safe to take what she wants and needs and—
“Fuck!”
Her pussy locks down on my cock in a painful grip that sucks my orgasm right out of me.
I’m gasping for air, my fingers digging into the flesh of her ass while I hold on. To her. To my sanity.
This woman.
I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’m burning from the inside out and the outside in, and I never want it to stop.