Buddy Carruthers, Wide Receiver Page 21

  “Can you eat with me in our suite?”

  “Suite? I’m cutting back. Sharing a room with Paula.”

  “Not when I’m here.”

  She chuckled. “Right. You’re here. Of course I’m staying with you.”

  “Good. Then hurry home. Your man awaits.” He laughed.

  “Thanks for coming.”

  “My pleasure, honey.”

  When he closed his cell, Buddy picked up the room service menu. He dialed on the phone by the window. “I want to order dinner for tonight. Yes. The filet mignon for two. Asparagus and Lyonnaise potatoes. Right. Champagne. That sounds good, yes. And candles. And chocolate mousse for dessert. Yes. Carruthers in the Mason Suite. Seven o’clock. Perfect.”

  Buddy took a shower and slipped on the thick, white, terry robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door. He inserted one of Emmy’s CD’s into his laptop and hit “play.” Standing by the window, he watched the lights of Atlanta come up as twilight painted the sky dark turquoise.

  Scheduled to return to Connecticut in three days to begin practice for the Super Bowl, Buddy would savor his last nights with her before the big game. He padded over to the dresser and checked on a few things before he got dressed. One glance at his watch told him it was time to get ready.

  At seven o’clock, there was a knock at the same time as his phone rang. He opened his cell on the way to the door. “Hold a sec, Emmy. Dinner’s here.”

  “Just wanted to say I’ll be up in five minutes.” She ended the conversation.

  Buddy let the bellman in. He wheeled a small, round table with a pink cloth and candles. Buddy directed him toward the picture window. Everything was laid out perfectly. The wide receiver slipped a twenty to the man, who thanked him and left.

  The footballer barely had time to slap on a little extra aftershave before Emmy was knocking. He answered, took her suitcase, and folded her in his embrace, shutting the door with his foot. Their kiss was long and slow.

  “Oh, baby, you taste good.”

  “So do you. Beautiful suite.”

  “Nothing but the best for you.”

  She raised her hand. “Not anymore. I’m going economy these days. Your mom showed me how much money we’d wasted.”

  “She’s good at that. Still, while we only have a few days, the best.”

  She smiled as he pulled out a chair for her. Emmy wore a simple, denim dress that zipped up the front and had short sleeves. Her hair was damp, he guessed from a recent shower. He leaned over and took a breath. She was wearing his favorite lilac scent.

  “I’m starved. What did you order?” she asked, lifting the cover on her dish.

  “All your favorites.”

  As they ate, Emmy filled him in on the work she had been doing. “Stash did a lot more than I gave him credit for.”

  “Including ruining you.” He sliced off a piece of steak.

  “Yeah, that too. I haven’t forgotten. But, well, never mind.” She waved her hand before filling her fork with the last of her deliciously cheesy potatoes.

  After they finished dessert, Buddy took her hand. “Let’s just talk about us.”

  “Good idea.”

  “You have beautiful hands. But there’s one problem.” His thumb caressed the delicate, soft skin.

  “What?” She slipped her small hand from his grasp and studied it.

  Buddy’s breath caught in his chest. His heart rate doubled, and his palms became sweaty. Man up! “It’s kinda bare.” He could hear his pulse beating in his ear.

  She cocked her head slightly to look at him.

  Buddy drew a box from his pocket and slipped down on one knee. He opened it and a ten-carat diamond ring dazzled. “Will you marry me, Emmy?”

  She gasped, stared at the ring, then at Buddy, and then at the ring again. The silence stretched forever, in his estimation.

  “I’m growin’ old down here, sweetheart.”

  “Yes! Oh, God, yes, Buddy. Yes, I will. Just not now.”

  He rose to his feet and slipped the ring on her finger. “What do you mean, just not now?”

  She tugged on his sleeve until he sat down, and then she put her hands on his cheeks. “I love you, Buddy. You’re the one. But I have some things to do before I settle down with you.”

  His brow wrinkled. “What things? Not sleeping with other men?”

  She laughed. “No, babe. I don’t want to sleep with other men. But I do want to complete this tour then add a few more stops.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “I don’t know. We have the rest of our lives, but I only have this time to shine.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I want to come to you ready to be your wife, have kids, not still wanting to be on stage.”

  “Will that ever happen? You’re meant for the stage.”

  “I looked at my notebook yesterday, and there are a ton of songs I started but didn’t finish.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I was on the road all the time. I’m tired of it. I want to live with you and write my songs. Maybe perform once a year?”

  “A dream come true for me.” He grinned. “You’ll wear the ring, though, right?”

  “This gorgeous thing? I’ll never take it off.” She gazed at her hand before she leaned over and kissed him.

  “I’m the luckiest man in the world. I love you, Emmy Meacham. I can’t wait until you’re my wife.”

  “I can’t believe all these years later, we’re actually engaged.” She shook her head.

  He threw a worried glance her way. “I sure hope I don’t have to wait as long for the wedding.”

  Emmy laughed. “I don’t think you will.” She stood up. “Why don’t we practice for the wedding night?” Her eyes sparkled with lust.

  Buddy was on his feet in a fraction of a second. “Great idea!” He scooped her up in his arms.

  “Buddy!”

  “Practicing carrying you over the threshold too.”

  She laughed as he swept her into the bedroom and kicked the door shut.

  * * * *

  Emmy bounced on the bed. Buddy stood above her, looking her over and practically licking his chops. Why do I feel like Little Red Riding Hood and he’s the wolf? She chuckled to herself.

  He joined her. “Never seen a dress with a zipper down the front before. Thanks for makin’ it easy for me.” He leaned over and inched it down, stopping to kiss every bit of skin he exposed. “No bra?” His eyebrows shot up. “Damn. That’s makin’ it way too easy.” He reached in to cup her breast. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as his lips closed over her peak. His other hand kept opening the dress.

  Emmy stroked him, combing her fingers through his hair. The sensation of his large, rough hand sliding down her belly made her wet.

  “Damn! Commando? No panties?” He raised his head, and his gaze made contact with hers.

  “Why waste time?” She grinned at him.

  “Woman, you belong with me!” Buddy slipped the garment off her shoulders and whipped it out from under her in seconds.

  She lay naked before him. The heat of his stare made her squirm. “No fair. You’re dressed.” She tugged up his T-shirt and ran her hands over his chest. God, he feels good. This part of his anatomy was one of her favorites. Her fingers pressed in lightly, feeling the hardness of his muscles. It turned her on.

  Buddy ripped his shirt the rest of the way off and tossed it on a chair. Emmy was already working the button on his jeans. She unzipped his pants, and he shed them and his boxers at the same time. She ran her gaze down his body, stopping at his shaft. She smiled to see he was ready to go.

  “Yeah. Doesn’t take much from you to get me to the starting line, baby.” He crouched on the bed, pushing her knees apart. He smoothed his hands up and down her thighs and belly, ignoring her center.

  “Buddy, you’re torturing me.” She lifted her hips a bit, trying to egg him on.

  “We’ve got all night. What’s your h
urry?” He dipped his head. When his tongue touched her flesh, she cried out.

  She shut her eyes and raised her body to meet him. Desire flew through her like a runaway fire. It was always like that with Buddy. The minute he touched her, she was panting and ready to rock. “Stop, or I’m going to come.”

  “Do it,” he snickered, continuing his sexy assault.

  Holding back wasn’t working. Tension grew like the tightening of a screw, until it exploded inside her body. Muscles clenched, and she saw stars. Her hips bucked. Buddy shoved two fingers into her and pumped, prolonging her orgasm. She cried out, called his name, and then collapsed.

  “Good one?”

  “Oh my God! Like an Earthquake and a tornado, rolled into one.”

  He laughed. “My turn.”

  Buddy moved over her, bracing his weight with his arms. His mouth sought hers in a tender kiss that grew demanding in seconds. Emmy stretched out beneath him and raised her legs. One thrust, and he was inside her.

  “It’s so good,” she muttered.

  He grunted in response, his lips moving to her neck. He struck a sultry rhythm, rekindling a blaze inside her. She moved her hips faster, but Buddy refused to comply.

  “Not hurrying. You can do anything you want, but I’m takin’ my time.”

  She looked at his handsome face poised above hers and laughed. “Always were stubborn.”

  “Get used to it.”

  As quickly as he was inside her, he pulled out again and reached up to the nightstand. “Oops,” he said, covering himself.

  Her eyes widened. “Close call!”

  “Don’t worry. We’re safe.” Suddenly, he pushed up and eased off, swinging his legs to the floor.

  “Where you going?”

  He raised his hand as his gaze perused the bed. A wide grin spread across his face. He looked up at her. “It’s perfect.”

  Emmy stared at him and shrugged her shoulders. “What?”

  He stood at the side, grabbed her hips, wrapping his long fingers around her, and slid her across the mattress until her legs were hanging off.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Trust me.” He opened her thighs and stood between them then raised her up until she was at just the right height. One jerk of his hips, and he was inside her again. He held her up off the sheet, while he pumped in and out.

  “Oh my God,” she exclaimed, shutting her eyes.

  Buddy took over, moving at his own speed. Emmy peeked at him, seeing sweat break out on his sexy chest and forehead. His eyelids fell closed. She watched him hit his stride, his head leaning back a little as he mumbled her name.

  The rhythm of his movements got her started again. She lost concentration as her body took over her mind. He increased the motion, slamming into her harder and harder as his grip tightened on her flesh.

  She pushed her head back into the mattress as her mouth fell open. Lust flowed through her as he took his pleasure. Another release hit her right before he came. Every inch of her body tightened before bliss flowed out to each finger and toe.

  She heard his familiar grunt then groan as he pushed in hard and stopped. Sweat dripped from his chest to her belly and from his forehead to the bed as he leaned over.

  “That was amazing. I’ve never done that before,” she said.

  “Picked up a few tricks since we were together. And this bed is just the right height.”

  Maybe his man-whoring days weren’t such a bad thing. She smiled to herself.

  “What’s funny?” He gazed at her.

  “I guess womanizing taught you something.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet,” he snickered, joining her on the bed.

  “Gives me another reason to look forward to the wedding night,” she said, snuggling into his shoulder, resting her palm on his damp chest.

  “Or we could start tonight.”

  * * * *

  After three nights of almost nonstop sex, Buddy was finally tired out. He didn’t know how long it was going to have to last him, so he didn’t want to stop. He slept on the plane back to New York and in the limo to his house.

  He went to Griff and Lauren’s place for dinner that night and to pick up his pug, Blitz. The pooch had been staying with the quarterback and his wife while Buddy was away. Griff let him hold little Hank while Lauren fixed a salad. The baby smiled at Buddy and shrieked with laughter when the wide receiver nuzzled the little belly.

  “He’s a good-lookin’ kid,” Buddy said.

  “Looks like Lauren.”

  “She’s beautiful, but this kid looks like you.”

  “Look at his hands. Doc said he’s got big hands for his age. He’s gonna be a quarterback. I can just feel it.”

  “You two.” Lauren rested her hands on her hips. “Football twenty-four seven. Come on, dinner’s ready.”

  Blitz jumped up on Buddy’s leg when he stood to walk to the dining room. The man crouched down to rub the pug’s ears and allow the pooch to lick his cheek.

  “Spike’s a great dog, but face licking?” Griff grimaced.

  “Don’t be such a prude,” Buddy said, allowing his dog one final kiss.

  They sat down at the table, and Lauren ladled out chili while Griff passed around salad and home-made cornbread. Hank sat in his high chair. Lauren scattered a few bits of cornbread and some Cheerios on the baby’s tray as a snack, since he had already eaten dinner.

  “So, Buddy, how was Atlanta? Any news?” She smiled.

  “Might say that.”

  “Yeah? What?” Griff looked at him while he sucked down a forkful of food.

  “Just that I’m engaged.” Buddy tried, unsuccessfully, to keep a grin from his lips.

  Griff spit out the spicy concoction into his bowl. “Fucking A, son-of-a-bitch! You’re engaged?”

  “Griff, watch your mouth. You don’t want Hank’s first word to be the f-word, do you?” Lauren said with a chuckle.

  “Oh, God. Sorry. Close your ears, Hank. Engaged? Really?”

  “A man doesn’t joke about that.” Buddy shoveled in some chili.

  “Damn right. Can’t believe you finally took the plunge.”

  “Emmy?” Lauren wondered, just before taking a bite of cornbread.

  “Who else? She’s finally going to be mine.”

  “When?” Griff’s wife asked.

  “I don’t know. We can’t set the date until she’s finished touring. And she doesn’t know when that’ll be. But as soon as she’s done—bam! Right to the minister.”

  “I can’t believe the biggest ‘player’ on the Kings is getting married.” Griff shook his head.

  Buddy raised his palm. “Shh. Don’t talk about that, okay?”

  His friend laughed. “The guys are gonna love this.”

  The next two weeks were spent working out, practicing, eating a special, high-protein diet, and getting a ton of sleep. The Kings were in training for their Super Bowl rematch with the St. Louis Sidewinders.

  After the first week, the team flew to Phoenix, where the game was to take place. All joking stopped as the men got serious, running plays and plotting new ones. After last year’s defeat, Buddy hungered for . He needed to win this year. He’d let nothing stand in his way.

  Finally, the big day came. Running extra miles the day before had tired him out enough to sleep well. A long conversation with Emmy had soothed him too. The bus ride to the stadium was quiet as the men contemplated the challenge awaiting them. They arrived early and worked out, stretching and limbering up muscles in the training room.

  Trunk Mahoney tapped Buddy on the shoulder. “Hey, shrimp, someone to see ya.”

  Buddy toweled off his face, resting the cloth over his shoulders as he padded out to the front of the stadium.

  There stood Emmy, in jeans and a tight T-shirt. She shifted her weight to one foot and pushed out her hip.

  “Baby! You came!”

  “You didn’t really think I’d miss my fiancé playing in the Super Bowl, did you?”

/>   “When I sent you the ticket, you told me you had a concert.”

  “I lied. Wanted to surprise you.”

  Buddy took her in his arms and twirled her around. “You did, honey. You did. Wish you’d been here last night.”

  “The concert was last night. Sorry, babe.”

  “How long can you stay?”

  “Tonight and tomorrow.”

  “Oh, man! Victory and you. Geez. There’s another reason to win.”

  “Buddy!” The voice of Coach Bass broke through Buddy’s haze. He lifted Emmy’s hand to his lips, noticed the ring glowing as bright as ever, kissed her, and then ran to join his teammates.

  “Good luck!” she called after him as she waved.

  Buddy suited up. The Coach paced in the locker room, giving bits of last minute advice and encouragement to his team. As they were ready to take the field, they all put their hands in a circle. The Coach said a quick prayer. Then stopped.

  “I know you can do this. Our team is better than the Sidewinders. I know they have a couple of big guys, like Norville Lucas and Bear Trent. But we’ve got Bull and Trunk. You’ve got better skills and more heart. Get out there and give it everything you’ve got.”

  The men pulled their hands up out of the circle and gave a shout. The Kings ran out on the field. The Sidewinders had a top quarterback and a couple of big defensemen, though none as big as Horse Jackson. Buddy spied Emmy in the stands during the National Anthem. He sang from the heart. The weather was clear, sunny, and dry, a perfect afternoon in Phoenix.

  Griff joined Anderson Boyer, quarterback for the Sidewinders, for the toss. The Kings won and elected to kick off. Griff joined Buddy on the bench.

  “That’s a good sign. You winning the toss,” Buddy said to his friend.

  “Did you see those guys? We’ll need more than good signs to win this game.”

  Buddy gulped and took a breath as he stared at the huge men on the Sidewinders’ bench. The whistle blew, and Gus Tremont kicked off for the Kings. Coach Bass pulled out all the stops, saving Robbie Anthony for punting duty only. Buddy said a prayer and crossed his fingers. He watched Emmy stand until the ball was caught. If they could only win this game, he could have it all, all his dreams.