Griff Montgomery, Quarterback Page 22

  “In the hospital, you said maybe we shouldn’t be. You said you didn’t know what was going to happen. You didn’t know for sure that you’d be coming back. I waited for a long time. Haven’t heard from you. You never even told me you were coming home.” She poked her forefinger into his chest, her eyes blazing.

  “The minute I’m gone, you’re cheating.”

  “Cheating?” Her eyebrows rose. “I haven’t heard from you in weeks! You’ve got some nerve.”

  “Maybe that’s harsh. Still, I haven’t had one, single date. In seven months. A record for me.”

  “Well, whoopee, give the man a trophy. Aren’t you Mr. Perfect?”

  “This better be your first date,” he said, his face clouding over.

  “It is. Not that you have a right to say anything.”

  “I thought we were on the same page. Guess I was wrong.” He released her arm. “You’re free. Go date whoever you want.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Go to Smarty Marty, whatever the hell his name is. With my blessing. I’m done.” He turned his back to her.

  “Wait a minute. Wait!” But he was moving around to the driver’s side of his car and didn’t stop. “Griff! Stop! Don’t go. Can’t we talk about this?”

  He planted his feet and raised his gaze to hers. “What’s to talk about? You prefer to date other men. That’s obvious. I prefer to be with someone who can be faithful. Let’s agree to disagree.”

  “It’s not like that. I don’t even like him.”

  Griff cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t look that way to me.”

  “Well, you’re wrong. I know, no one tells the fantastic star quarterback he’s wrong, but you are.” She plunked her hands on her hips.

  “Then, what were you doing here?” He stood still, jingling his keys.

  “I was lonely. He asked. I figured it wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Are you sleeping with him?”

  “Of course not! This was our first date.”

  “Were you going to?” He shifted his weight and tossed the keys from hand to hand.

  “No way.” Her tone softened.

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want to. You’ve ruined me. Ruined me for anyone else.” Tears welled up in her eyes. She turned her head to the side, but Griff spied one on her cheek.

  “How can I ever trust you?”

  “You were gone for so long, it’s almost like we never happened.” Her voice was so low he could barely hear her.

  “Saying you missed me?”

  She nodded, still not facing him. She swiped her fingers across her face. His heart swelled. “Some days, I was so lonely. And the nights were even harder. Then, I’d hate you for making me love you and leaving. When I started my company, I was grateful to be too busy to think about you. Then, I kinda lost what we had. I couldn’t feel you hugging me anymore.”

  Neither one moved. Emotion choked Griff, keeping his words trapped and his feet frozen.

  “I saw pictures of you with those cheerleaders, and I thought maybe you’d moved on. Maybe I was holding a torch, but the flame was only burning on my side. Not yours. And then, I didn’t know what to think. Why didn’t you call?” She looked up, her tear-stained expression so hurt, so innocent. He could barely keep from folding her in his arms.

  “They didn’t mean anything. Just publicity. I did call you. But it always went to voicemail. And you never called back.”

  “By the time I found your calls, it was too late. You’d have been asleep.”

  “So? Wake me up.” He stepped back toward the sidewalk.

  “And interfere with your training? Hank would have my head.” She smiled briefly.

  People leaving The Savage Beast pushed past Lauren.

  Marty strolled through the doorway. “Can I assume our date is over?” His angry eyes stared at her.

  “Yeah. Sorry, Marty.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You did me a favor. Cheating on this guy while he’s away? I don’t need that in my life. Good riddance.”

  Griff was on the sidewalk in a heartbeat, grabbing Marty’s shirt. “How dare you talk to her like that?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “You don’t know shit. Yet, you judge her?”

  “As I said. It’s the truth. Now, let go.”

  “Apologize.”

  “I’m gonna call the cops,” Marty said.

  Lauren tugged on Griff’s forearm. “I don’t care what he thinks. Let him go.”

  Griff released the other man and stepped back.

  “Some role model. I hope you lose every game this year,” Marty mumbled.

  Griff’s eyes widened. The quarterback took a step toward him and raised a fist. “Someone ought to teach you a lesson.”

  Marty cringed, drawing back in fear.

  “Don’t worry. Not gonna be me. Don’t want to break my hand for a tool like you.”

  “Tool? Is that the best you’ve got?” Emboldened by Griff’s pledge not to hit him, Marty straightened his shoulders and stepped forward.

  “Shut the fuck up and get outta here, before I forget what I said.” He knit his brows and shoved Marty’s shoulder. The smaller man scurried inside quickly. Griff laughed. “Coward.”

  He took Lauren by the elbow. “We can’t talk here. Come to my house.” She moved with him. He opened the car door for her then slid behind the wheel.

  Once inside the foyer, she smiled. “I’ve been in this place so many times. I can’t believe I didn’t know it was yours.”

  “I’d sneak over here sometimes and check it out. I love it. Now the only thing it needs is you.”

  “Me? I thought you couldn’t trust me.”

  “Your explanation makes sense. But it’ll take me a while to get past Marty.”

  “I wasn’t going to sleep with him. Was it so wrong just to want company for dinner?”

  “How about female company?”

  “I did that. For six months.”

  He hung his head. “I don’t know what to think, Lauren. If this asshole Marty was nothing, then where do we go from here?”

  “That’s not my decision alone.” Her gaze traveled down his chest to his hips and back again.

  “You say you don’t want to get married, but you want me to wait for you? What are we waiting for? Are you committed?”

  “I am. Are you?” She shifted her weight and inched closer.

  “Of course.”

  “Then, how about a proper hello first?” Lauren raised her chin. Her green eyes sparkled. He took her in his arms, holding her up against his chest, and then closed his mouth on hers.

  * * * *

  Lauren melted into his embrace. He tasted of minty toothpaste. His aftershave mixed with the essence of Griff acted like an aphrodisiac, raising heat in her veins. His fingers pressed into her back, keeping her flush up against him. She could feel his response growing. The knowledge was heady, sending a zing straight to her center.

  When they broke, she stared into his eyes, black with desire. Happiness welled up inside her. His touch was like a magic wand. It soothed, comforted, and aroused her all at the same time. Yes. This is what I’ve been missing.

  “Better?” he asked, with a slow grin.

  “Oh, God. Much,” she replied, her arms still closed around his neck.

  “I’ve missed this.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Do you still love me, Lauren?” His brow furrowed.

  “Of course.”

  “I’m back into the game.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  He lowered his lips to her neck. He closed his fingers around her breast. The minute they found her peak, she felt him grow harder. Her breathing became ragged, and she ached for him.

  “What are we doing out here? You have a fantastic bed upstairs,” she breathed, barely able to talk.

  He picked her up and took the stairs two at a time. He tossed her onto the mattress. She bounced up, laughing. Then, he was on her, ripping at her
clothes. She yanked her sweater up and off. He unhooked her bra in record time then sat back, gazing at her chest. He lowered his lips to her peak this time, nipping and sucking. His hand squeezed her soft flesh.

  She pulled at his T-shirt. With one hand, he tugged it off and threw it on a chair. Griff slipped his hand under her skirt. She gasped and closed her eyes as his fingers traveled up her inner thigh, slowly, his thumb caressing the soft skin. They dipped under the elastic of her panties, and she moaned.

  She ran her palms up his torso. He groaned. Feeling him sent a tingle down her spine.

  “Touch me. Oh God, touch me, baby.” He closed his eyes as his palm covered her mound.

  Lauren pulled him down on top of her and ran her nails up and down his back, making him shiver. His big hands closed around her hips, pushing up her skirt even more. She reached down and unbuttoned the waist. He unzipped it and slid it off before she could blink. His hands moved up her chest and closed around her flesh, kneading, pinching. Something animal let loose in Lauren. Pent up, frustrated desire burst forth, taking control.

  She unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, pushing them down over his hips. He shimmied out of them then ripped her panties down and off. He shoved his boxers to the floor and stepped out of them. When they were finally naked on the bed, they lay staring, drooling, feasting their eyes on each other.

  Lauren snapped first. She arched up, her mouth searching for his. He came down hard on her, pinning her to the mattress while his lips ravished hers. His knees forced hers open, and he knelt between them. His erection poked her core, seeking entrance. She shifted, and he gave a strong thrust and was inside her immediately. She cried out, throwing her head back, letting go.

  “Did I hurt you?” he whispered.

  “Oh God, no. It’s so good!” she breathed out, gasping for air. Her hips moved then she wrapped her legs around him. Basic urges took over. Lauren’s mind turned off. She was a mass of feelings and sensations, as her hips undulated with his. Grunts slipped from her mouth. The faster he pumped into her, the louder she became. She dug her nails into his back until he groaned. Her teeth closed down on the flesh of his shoulder, her lips sucking on his tender, fragrant skin.

  Sweat dripped off his body. Desire, building up for months, reached a crescendo, spiraling up, twisting inside her, turning until she could stand it no more. With a shout, a huge orgasm washed over her like a tsunami. Every muscle in her body clenched and released. She gripped him, squashing her breasts into him, her mouth open, her eyes closed as pure pleasure poured through her veins.

  Opening her eyes, Lauren spied Griff’s trained on hers. They held hers captive as they grew darker. The dampness between their chests made them slippery. He slid up and down, massaging her flesh in a new and arousing way. She took a breath then kissed him.

  He pulled away, screwing up his eyes, making strange noises as he pumped faster. “God damn. Fuck, baby,” he said, as he stopped for his release.

  He lowered his forehead to her shoulder. Droplets dripped onto the bedspread. Lauren lay, spent, underneath him. Her fingers loosened their grip and caressed him. She leaned up and kissed his neck. His breath on her throat was warm. He nuzzled her, planting small kisses on the sensitive column.

  “Lauren. Oh my God.”

  “Amazing.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling their passion, their loving, and their heat. It was heady. She slid her palm down his back, resting it on his butt.

  “Shit, Lauren. I can’t go this long without you again. I came in about two minutes.”

  “So did I.” She giggled.

  He pushed up and looked at her. “You’re beautiful.” Then, he bent down and kissed her nose.

  She combed her fingers through his hair. “I love you.”

  “Do you?” He rolled off on his side.

  “Can’t you tell?”

  “If I could, would I ask?”

  “I guess not. Yeah. I do. I love you, body and soul.”

  He laced his fingers behind his head. Lauren cuddled up next to him and rested her cheek on his chest.

  “I’m sweaty.”

  “I don’t care.” She smiled, contented to be touching him.

  “I love you, too. I’ve got something for you.” He leaned over and snatched his jeans from the floor. Fishing around in the pocket, he pulled out a tiny envelope. “Here. This was supposed to go with the charm bracelet.”

  She still wore the chain, which had jingled like mad as they had made love. She opened the packet carefully and reached inside. There was a small, gold heart, like the ones with their names, but this one said “forever.”

  “Forever?” Tears clouded her eyes.

  “Don’t get upset. I’m not going to hold you to that. If you don’t want to get married…”

  “Who said I didn’t want to get married?”

  He bolted upright. “What? You’ve always said that.”

  “Maybe I’ve changed my mind.”

  She sat up and opened her mouth to speak further, but Griff held up his hand. “Hear me out first. I figured it this way. If something happened, and we couldn’t have kids, we could adopt. After all, I spent the last ten years raising kids who weren’t mine, biologically. And I loved ’em as if they were. Why not?” When he turned to look at her, tears were cascading down her cheeks. “What? What did I say?”

  “That’s so sweet,” she said between sobs.

  “It’s you, Lauren. You. I want to be with you. Forever. We’ll deal with whatever comes along. Okay? Marry me, honey. Make me happy.”

  “I love you so much, Griff. Yes, I will.”

  He grabbed her, squeezing her tight, a big grin on his face.

  Lauren pushed away to breathe. “Yeah, I know, touchdown,” she joked.

  “Completed pass, first and ten, field goal, touchdown, safety, and extra point all rolled into one, baby.” He kissed her.

  Lauren snaked her arms around his chest and leaned in. She had waited so long for the chance to be close to him, and she wasn’t going to waste another moment.

  Griff pushed to his feet and retrieved a package from the top dresser drawer. “I was hoping for this. Here. This makes it official.” He knelt down and opened the small box. “Will you marry me, Lauren?”

  She gasped when she saw the four-carat, emerald cut, diamond. “Yes. I will,” she repeated.

  He slipped the ring on her finger, and they sealed the deal with a kiss. “No trades now. You’re stuck with me.”

  She grinned.

  “This is the best. I’m going to take back starting QB, and now, I’ve got the girl I want. And a gorgeous house. What more could there be?”

  “Nothing. This is a win-win.” She sighed, resting her palm on his pecs. She combed the fingers of her other hand through his dark chest hair and kissed his skin. Tucking her knees up, she snuggled into his shoulder. “Can we stay like this for a couple hundred years?”

  “Whatever you want, babe. Whatever you want.”

  The extra training Griff had gotten helped him immensely. He was a star during training camp, easily earning back his post as starting quarterback. He and Lauren scheduled their wedding for after the Super Bowl, in case The Kings made it. Lauren was beyond busy planning the event and decorating the houses of Griff’s teammates.

  When he went on the road, Griff hung with the married members who weren’t fooling around. He even managed to keep Trunk Mahoney from cheating. They played cards and watched porn.

  Hank flew out for Thanksgiving. Griff again played a four o’clock game. Don, Connie, and their kids, along with Hank, helped Lauren cook a fantastic meal. Griff rushed through his shower and home to good food, and the people he loved.

  The Kings lost the Super Bowl to the Delaware Demons. Everyone on the team was bummed, but vowed to win next year. Griff and Lauren took a vacation on St. Thomas for a week. Spike bunked in with Buddy. The couple stood on their balcony in the gentle, nighttime breeze. They sipped pina coladas and watched the sun set.
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  Griff inched up behind her, snaking his arm around her middle. He bent his head to kiss under her ear. Lauren shivered.

  She smiled at him. “I’m so happy.”

  “We have it all. Almost all.”

  “Almost?” She cocked her head.

  “When do you want to talk about having a baby?” He continued to brush his lips up and down her neck.

  She frowned. “Do we have to discuss that now?”

  “Don’t get tense. I told you. We’re not gonna stress about it. Let’s just be natural. After we’re married, let’s throw away the birth control pills and see what happens.”

  “Really? That soon?”

  “I’m not getting any younger, honey.”

  “If it’s what you want.”

  “It’s gotta be what you want, too.”

  “It is, but…”

  “Don’t you want to have a baby with me?” He raised his head and caught her gaze.

  “I do. I do, so much. But I’m scared.” She avoided his eyes.

  “Whatever happens, we’ll be together. I’ll never leave you. You’re the best. Best woman in the world.”

  Lauren leaned back against him. Maybe this time, I have the man I’ve always wanted. She took a deep breath and knew, in her heart, that Griff meant every word. His reassurance calmed her.

  “How about a little practice before dinner?”

  “Great idea.” She turned and was in his arms instantly.

  Epilogue

  Griff had been walking on air since Lauren had agreed to marry him. Even picking out flowers and being in on all the details of the wedding didn’t annoy him. He went along with whatever Lauren wanted, grateful to have her become his wife.

  The short honeymoon was just his kind of vacation—sex, meals, and long walks. He returned to Monroe, rested and ready to lead the Kings to victory.

  Their first game was at home against the Montana Rams. Griff met Buddy in the parking lot. They walked to the locker room together.

  “I can’t believe you’re a married man,” Buddy said, shaking his head. “No more tomcatting on the road.”

  “Yep. Best thing ever. You should try it,” Griff replied.