Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel (26 page)

Ty was so relieved that he almost laughed, but the seriousness in her tone gave him pause. “That’s your concern—your body?”

She nodded slowly. “The women I saw you with . . .”

“Have got nothing on you,” he said firmly. “Jessica, I’ve
seen your body from head to toe. You’re physically beautiful.”

She snorted. “For my age?”

“For any age,” he said with conviction. “But even better yet, you are gorgeous from the inside out.” He brushed her hair to the side and kissed her bare shoulder.

“You make me feel beautiful,” she said with a breathy sigh, and tilted her head to the side.

“Because you are.” Ty kissed the tender inside of her exposed neck and then pulled back and said, “You know the night of your birthday, when Logan was all over you? Well, I was having those same insecure feelings.”

“What? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Come on, he’s a young stud. I have gray in my hair and crow’s-feet around my eyes.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Ah, so I’m still ruggedly handsome?” he asked low in her ear, but he was making a point.

“Of course . . .” she sputtered, and then shook her head. “You have to know that you are incredibly handsome.”

“I’m past my prime, and for an athlete, it’s hard to take. Seeing these young kids working out every day only reinforces that fact.” He shrugged. “Oh, but, Jessica, you have no worries there. You have a natural sensuality about you that just blows me away. Why would you even begin to think otherwise?”

She toyed with the edge of the sheet. “I guess I started feeling self-conscious about my body when I was sixteen and pregnant. It seemed like everybody was staring at my growing belly. And then my young body changed in ways that I never expected.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m ruining the moment.”

Ty shook his head. “No. I want to know everything about you, Jessica. I’m glad that you’re opening up and telling me things that bother you.” He trailed a fingertip over her shoulder. “I want to be your shoulder to lean on. Your soft
place to land at the end of a tough day. To wrap you in my arms and make all of your troubles disappear.”

Her shoulders rose and a sigh escaped her. “I’ve never had that in my life,” she admitted.

“Me neither. And I want that.” When he wrapped his arms around her from behind, she leaned back into his embrace. Hot emotion welled up in his throat and he had to pause before he could continue. “Jessica, I want to always be your friend first and then your lover.” He tightened his arms around her. “Hey, I know you’re still a flight risk, and that puts my own heart on the line. But I am willing to take that chance,” he said and then felt her shoulders tense up. “You’ve thought of that, haven’t you?”

She nodded.

“I understand. Jessica, I never wanted a lasting relationship for those very reasons. I never, ever wanted to hurt someone. I have seen firsthand the destruction it can cause. . . .”

“But?”

Ty put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. He knew what he was about to confirm would be a risk, but he decided to go for broke. “But I fell in love with you.” There . . . he’d said it, and now he held his breath waiting for her response. “Now that I know what it feels like, I can’t live happily without you by my side.” When she remained silent, he added, “Again, no pressure or anything. Just, you know, my happiness is on the line,” he added, trying for humor. But instead of laughter, her shoulders started to shake.

Oh, dear God, is she crying?
“Oh, Jessica. Damn, I was joking! Well, not really joking, because I really am good for nothing without ya. . . . Well, damn I’m blowing this all to hell.” When her shoulders shook harder and he saw her swipe at her eyes, it tore him up. “Aw, Jessica, stop. Baby, look at me. Please! I didn’t mean to upset you! I never meant to make you cry. I take it back.”

“That you love me?”

“No, not that . . . Hell, I don’t know. Just stop crying!”

J
essica never understood what
tears of joy
meant until now. She attempted but could not contain her emotion. “I’m . . . okay,” she tried to assure him with a sniff, but then her shoulders shook with laughter and she had to swipe at the tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes.

“You’re not okay,” Ty insisted, and tried to turn her around so that he could see her face. “Jessica, what did I say to make you cry?”

“Oh, Ty . . .” She turned and put her hands on his cheeks. “You were just so cute, the way you declared your feelings, and it hit me straight in my heart. But then when you started bumbling around with your speech, it struck me as sweet and endearingly funny, and I just started laughing and crying at the same time.” She smiled and had to blink back more moisture. “These are happy tears. I just can’t contain myself. I don’t want to contain myself, and it feels amazing!”

“Thank God,” he said with such conviction that she giggled again.

“I’m sorry. You are just so cute!” she said.

“Damn, I’m supposed to be a tough-as-nails coach. Don’t let anyone know my cute, cuddly side. Okay?”

Jessica grinned.

“This is where you’re supposed to say that my secret is safe with you.”

“I promise not to tell anyone that Mr. Triple Threat is really just a softy,” she assured him, and then laughed again.

Ty leaned in and kissed her tenderly. “I’m a super softy where you’re concerned. Damn, girl, when I thought I’d made you cry, it tore me up. Seeing you cry brings me to my knees.” He kissed her again and then said, “I really do love you, Jessica. I know this sounds trite, but life feels empty without you in it.”

“Oh, Ty.” Her laughter died in her throat, and she searched his face for any sign of insincerity but saw only honesty in the depths of his eyes. Tears welled up once again.

“Please tell me those are still happy tears.”

Her laughter gurgled in her throat. “Yes. Oh yes!” Jessica’s heart pounded and she closed her eyes for a long moment. Finally, she inhaled a deep breath and said, “Ty, I love you too. I’ve known it for a long time now, but this little break we took solidified it. I am miserable without you.” She leaned forward and kissed him softly, soundly, but then a hot, sultry feeling of desire started at her mouth and slowly sank south. When Ty groaned, Jessica smiled against his lips and then boldly caressed between his legs. He was hard and ready. “Oh, and that part about you being a softy . . . mmm, not true. At least not here.”

He chuckled but jerked when she wrapped her hand around his erection. “Never for long when you’re around,” he readily admitted, but then pulled back and looked at her. “But you do have me wrapped around your finger. There’s no sense in denying it. I haven’t felt this good in days, Jessica, and it’s all because of being with you.”

Jessica gave him a slow smile. “And you’re about to feel even better.”

“God . . .” Ty breathed when she leaned back against the
pillows. She allowed him to look his fill. While her breasts weren’t as firm as they once were and she had stretch marks here and there, Jessica had never felt sexier. The heat of his gaze melted away every last inhibition, and when he cupped her breast in his big, warm hand, Jessica arched up into his palm. He caressed her flesh, and when he rubbed his thumb over her sensitive nipple, she didn’t even try to hold back the moan of pure desire. “Oh, God!” she breathed when he leaned over and sucked her nipple into the silky, wet heat of his mouth. When he licked her in small circles, Jessica threaded her fingers through his hair and urged him on. He sucked and nipped lightly, sending sharp needles of longing shooting through her body.

A moment later, he shucked his sweatpants and they were skin to skin.

Jessica moved against him and was unable to get close enough. She loved this man. Absolutely loved him. “I’ve waited so long for this,” she said as she slid her hands down his back to his very nice ass.

“Almost two weeks,” Ty said.

“No,” she said with a catch in her voice, and he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

“All our lives,” he finished with the uncanny understanding that was beginning to come naturally to them.

“Yes.”

“Ah . . . Jessica,” Ty said, and wrapped his strong arms around her. “This is how much space you get from now on,” he told her, and gave her a hard squeeze. “So you had better get used to it.”

Jessica laughed and hugged him back. “I’ll get used to it, but I’ll never take you for granted.”

“I love your sweet honesty,” he said, and then kissed her hotly, deeply, before leaning to the side on his elbow. “I know. Believe me, I really know. I’ve seen too much deception and heartache not to appreciate what we have. It’s a gift, and I will treasure it always.”

Jessica started to blink back tears, but then gave in to her emotion and let the hot moisture leak from the corners of her eyes. “Me too.”

“Ah . . . damn, sweetheart.” When he kissed the wetness away from her cheeks, something beautiful broke open inside her. “I do love you.” He kissed her again, and she could taste the salt of her tears on his tongue. It blew her away that this big, strong, tough athlete could be so gentle and so very tender. In turn, she wanted to ease any pain, any ache that he would ever have. And when she kissed him back, it wasn’t just with her heart, but with her soul.

“And I love you.” After waiting so long to say those words to him, Jessica found that she couldn’t say them enough. She moved against him, loving the way their bodies fit. Smooth, warm skin slid deliciously, sensuously back and forth. Her nipples grazed his chest, sending hot tingles through her body until her toes curled. She wanted him like she had never wanted anyone else. Ever.

“I want you,” Ty whispered in her ear, echoing her thoughts once more. He rolled away briefly to slide on protection and then was back in her arms. He kissed her with wild abandon and caressed her everywhere. Jessica matched his passion kiss for kiss and moved her hands over his back, into his thick hair. When he entered her with one deep stroke, she welcomed him with a deep sigh and wrapped her legs around his waist. She wanted him closer, deeper. . . . And when tenderness turned to pure heat, Jessica let herself go. . . .

More than an hour later, they had used every inch of the king-sized bed. Pillows had been tossed to the floor, and the comforter was a heap at one corner of the mattress. Chocolate and caramel sauce had become finger paint, and Jessica would never again look at a strawberry the same way. “Oh, dear God.”

Ty chuckled. “Worn-out?”

“Mmm, yes,” she admitted, and then rested her head on
his chest. “I need a shower,” she said in a weary voice, but couldn’t resist kissing his warm skin.

“Me too,” Ty agreed in the same tired tone.

“But I would have to move.”

“I know. It won’t be easy. Baby, that was some workout.”

Jessica’s low giggle seemed to give him energy. And when he rolled over and licked her caramel-flavored breast, she felt another long pull of desire. “We couldn’t possibly . . .” she protested, but when his hand moved between her thighs and he caressed her mound, a sweet ache rolled over her. She was bone-tired and tender and yet she couldn’t begin to tell him to stop. He nuzzled her neck and slid his finger over her in leisurely circles until her breath started to come in short gasps. “I can’t believe you can make me feel this way . . . again.”

“Believe it.”

“God . . . Ty!” Jessica didn’t think he could make her come yet again, but she felt the tight curl of desire start to unravel. She arched her back. . . . It was almost too much and yet achingly sweet, falling just short of pain. When he dipped his finger into her tender, wet heat, she moaned and jerked with the shock of sharp pleasure that she didn’t think she had left in her. His low rumble of laughter felt like silk sliding over her skin, and when he touched her swollen bud once more, Jessica climaxed as if in slow motion. The deep, exquisite pleasure tore a moan from her throat.

“Oh . . .” Jessica gripped Ty’s shoulder. When she whimpered, he chuckled again. “Dear God!” She felt as if she were made of warm honey, slowly melting into the mattress.

“Ready for that hot shower now?”

“Oh, right. Like I could stand. My body has gone from solid to liquid.”

Ty laughed. “How about if I fill up that big garden bath with some steaming-hot water? I’ll even carry you into the bathroom.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“It’s big enough for two,” he said suggestively.

“Even better.”

Her eyes were closed, but she managed a smile.

“Ah, baby, don’t ever stop doing that.”

“Stop what?” She tried to raise her eyebrows in question, but even they were weary.

“Smiling.” He traced the outline of her mouth with his fingertip.

“Well, you put it there.”

Ty groaned. “Now the pressure is on
me
.”

Jessica’s smile widened. “Can you handle it?”

“Absolutely. I perform well under pressure,” he said in a teasing tone, but then fell silent.

Jessica opened her eyes and looked at Ty. All traces of humor were gone.

“Hey.” He grasped her chin gently. “I want to make you happy, Jessica.”

“You already have made me happy,” she said, and it was true. She needed this big, strong, sexy man like a thirsty plant needed water. The intensity of her feelings made her hands tremble and her throat constrict. But Jessica suddenly felt exposed, shaken, and she would have looked away if Ty hadn’t had a firm grip on her chin . . . and a vise grip on her heart.

“I’m going to chase that haunting doubt right out of those amazing eyes of yours.” He sighed and dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. I am trying really hard to go slow with you, Jessica, but I just can’t stop myself. The last thing I want to do is screw this up. But I can tell you one thing for sure. You can put your faith and trust in me, and I won’t ever let you down.”

“I believe you.”

“Good. Never stop,” he said, and then scooted off the bed and scooped her up in his arms.

Jessica laughed as she looped her arms around his neck. “Where in the world are you getting your energy?”

“I’m getting my second wind. I guess after all of the moping around I did, I’m just ready to go. Think you can hang with me, girlie?”