Page 32 of One Bet

She relaxed her muscles, and I stood, shoved my pants away, and pulled the condom from my wallet. As soon as I rolled it on, I covered her body with mine. Desperate. So needy. So ready for her and she was ready for me. Or I thought so. But she closed her eyes and bit her lip.

“You okay?” I prayed she’d say yes. No way did I want to stop now.

She nodded, eyes still shut, fists clenched full of blanket now. “I’m nervous. This is…new to me.”

She’d said she didn’t have as much experience. Not that she didn’t have any. But that would explain why she’d had to use porn for research. She hadn’t been trying to figure out what I might want, but about what any guy would want.

“New like brand new, tags still on? Or new like…got it at a yard sale so new to you but not brand new.” My metaphors made zero sense, but my hard-on was deflating like an untied balloon.

“Well,” she shrugged one naked shoulder, “I’ve dabbled.” She closed her eyes. “You know, like a solo run.”

She sighed and opened her eyes, looking everywhere but at me. “This is stupid. I’m a virgin. I mean, I’ve had orgasms before, not like that one, but you know…I just haven’t wanted to…or been asked to…have sex with anyone.”

Her face darkened, and I leaned down for a kiss because to not kiss her would’ve killed me. But as I moved in, she covered her face with her hands. I pulled one away, then the other. The range of emotions running through me was intense, stark, and raw. I wanted her to know that she wasn’t like every other girl I’d been with, that being with her meant something to me.

“Avery, will you make love with me?” Being with her made me wimpy, but I didn’t mind, not for her.

She nodded and pulled me down for the kiss she’d just denied me. And I knew what heaven was all about when I inched inside of her and she clung to me until the pain subsided and she could enjoy our time together.

It wasn’t a perfect night, but it was perfect for us. And it was the moment I knew I loved Avery Stroh more than anything in the world.

19

Avery

I hadn’t been so happy before in my life. So loved, so deliciously sore. I glanced up at Keaton who was staring at me. “What?”

“I was just thinking I don’t want to get up.”

It was only about five in the morning. “Then don’t.”

I dragged my knuckles down his stomach, and he caught my wrist in his hand before I got near the fun zone. He brought it up and kissed each of my fingertips then smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The little cynic in me started name-calling; heartbreaker, asshat, womanizer. But since we were on the short-term plan, not quite two days left, heartbreaker wasn’t really fair. I hung onto asshat because any guy who walked out after doing what we’d just done was definitely an asshat.

“Okay, if we aren’t going to have sex, do you want some breakfast?”

“I actually have some things to do this morning.”

I faked a pout, but he didn’t budge.

“And we’re out of condoms anyway.”

I grinned because grinning at him was one of the easiest things in the world and because if that was the worst of our problems, I could figure a work-around. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat, you know.”

He held his hand up to mine, sliding his palm back and forth, then lacing our fingers together. “I’ve never really understood that expression. Who the hell wants to skin a cat?”

“I think you’re missing my point.” I rolled closer and threw my leg over his. “My point is there are plenty of very exciting things we can do that don’t require condoms.” I pressed a kiss over his heart, then kissed his nipple with full tongue. “I don’t want to waste the couple of days we have left.”

He cleared his throat and sat up, pushing me aside, gently, but still moving me off him. “Actually, there’s something we should talk about.”

Uh-oh. I didn’t like the sound of that. And the cynic was back to her old tricks….jerk, weasel, shit for brains, although the last one could have fit either of us. “Talk about?”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his hands together then folded them in his lap. “It could be good news. Like for us. As a couple. I think.” A bubble of worry closed around my heart as his brow wrinkled and he looked everywhere but at me. “After my last concussion, I really thought my football career was over, you know? Between the concussions and an almost negative passer rating, the sacks…not much chance I’ll ever suit up for a game again. But…,” he shook his head.

“Keaton. What are you saying?” I needed him to say it soon because my guts were twisting, and my brain was busy conjuring up reasons he was walking out on me early.

“Well, Rollins, the football coach here offered me a job as the QB coach.”

Did that mean…? “Are you staying?”