Dare to Desire (16 page)

He’d always believed she wasn’t a bad person. That anger was about his bruised ego more than anything else, and he’d only let it fester and grow over time, infecting how he’d treated women and his ideas about relationships.

“I needed to hear that,” she said. “And I actually think you mean it.”

“I never say things I don’t mean.” That much hadn’t changed.

“Okay then. If we’re back on friendly ground—”

“I didn’t say we were friends.”

She smiled anyway. “We’re not adversaries then. That should make my proposal easier for you to hear. Without that anger between us.”

He ran a hand over his face. “Let’s hear it. I have a meeting in twenty minutes.”

She smiled. “Like I said, I’m a partner at an entertainment company.” She handed him her card. “And we’re working with S&E Network. Sports and Entertainment Network,” she elaborated. “They want to hire you for a sports show with Allison Edwards, the sports commentator. They’d like you to come in and test with her, but from the way they’re talking, if you want the job, it’s yours.”

He blinked. A job offer was the last thing he’d expected from Rachel. Then again, he’d had no idea what she’d wanted.

“It’s a great opportunity,” she said. “For one thing, it’s national. You’d be back in the spotlight, and we both know how much you liked to feed on that adrenaline and energy.”

Even back in college, he’d enjoyed the attention and social perks that came with being a star athlete. He couldn’t accept anything from sponsors back then, but as his professional career had grown, he couldn’t deny he’d lived large and loved every minute.

It helped keep the loneliness away and didn’t give him time to think about the things in life he’d decided he would never have, like a serious woman and a family of his own. He’d been so angry at Rachel he’d turned his back on so much, he realized. Things he now wanted and not with the woman sitting here.

He shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. “Did you run this by my agent?” he asked.

She shook her head and grinned. “He said you were being an ass and I should try to get through to you.”

“He did not.” Although knowing Kevin Falcon and how pissed he was, maybe he had.

“Actually, he said he’d like to mention it to you but not to get my hopes up because you weren’t entertaining offers these days—or returning his calls. After I said you and I went way back and maybe I could pitch it to you myself, then yeah. He did say exactly that.”

Alex shook his head and laughed. “That bastard.”

“Sounds like you’ve been giving him your share of grief.”

He leaned back in his chair and nodded. “Could be.”

“I’m sorry about that last hit. I know how much football means to you.”

Alex stiffened. He didn’t want to get into his feelings with her. “Thank you.”

“So about the offer, I can send something in writing over to your agent if you’re interested.”

And wasn’t that the question. Was he interested?

*     *     *

Madison feigned interest in the interview with the Wall Street financial advisor they were trying to bring on board to meet with the players on a regular basis. Helping the guys with their finances from the beginning of their careers would teach them fiscal responsibility and remind them to think of the future when spending or not spending their often substantial incomes.

She was able to give her speech to the man by rote, then she turned to Alex to bolster things with the personal touch, the story of a man whose career had been cut short and how good financial advice had kept him from being broke now. Because he hadn’t already blown through all the money in his bank account, he’d had time to think about his post-injury options without making decisions while in panic mode. Something they wanted the financial advisor to impress upon the players. Then teach them how to save.

But her mind wasn’t on business. It was on what had gone on between Alex and Rachel at breakfast. Her head pounded, and the small, windowless conference room they’d rented for the interview didn’t help. She felt as if the walls and her life were closing in on her. Although she hadn’t seen any sexual interest in Alex’s eyes when he’d looked at his one-time girlfriend, his remaining anger told her there were still feelings there. The thought hurt, but it was true.

She’d had to give him the freedom to explore those emotions and work through them in whatever way he needed. She hadn’t seen a ring on the other woman’s hand, indicating she was, at the very least, not married. Which left all the other woman’s options open too.

Madison’s temple throbbed, and she was grateful when Bill Akins spoke, ending the meeting. “Well, it was a pleasure meeting you both. I need some time to think about your offer. The travel involved will impact my family, so I have to run this by my wife before making any decisions.”

“We understand,” Madison said, gathering her things and placing them in her larger purse.

“And we look forward to hearing from you,” Alex told him. “Hopefully with a yes, you’d love to come on board.”

The other man walked out and shut the door behind him.

“Well, that went well,” Madison said. “Hopefully he’ll agree.” She hiked her purse over her shoulder. “I think I’m going to go back to the room and lie down. I have a headache.”

“Can I get you something for it?” Alex asked, concern in his voice.

“No, thanks. I’ll just go upstairs and rest.” She started for the door.

“Aren’t you going to ask what happened at breakfast?” His deep voice and that question stopped her.

As much as she wanted to know what had gone on with Rachel, a part of her dreaded the truth, fearing the other woman’s return would have to change things between her and Alex on some level.

She swallowed hard. “Sure, I’ll listen. If you want to tell me.”

“Madison.” Her name sounded on a low rumble.

“What?”

He held her gaze. “I didn’t think we played that way.”

Uncomfortable now, she fiddled with her bag strap and laid the heavy bag on the table. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Games. Distrust. I thought we were open and honest with each other.”

She nodded. But her thoughts were slamming around in her head at a rapid pace. The one that stuck out was her biggest weakness. When she’d rekindled this relationship, the one thing she’d promised herself was that she’d be the one to walk away first. She’d meant it then. Now it would be that much harder, knowing how deeply she was already involved. But if she got even an inkling that Alex was still interested in his old girlfriend, she would gather her pride and walk away, head held high.

She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “Fine. What happened with Rachel? I want to know.”

“Finally something honest.” He strode to the door and turned the lock, taking her by surprise. He then settled into the big conference room chair and pulled her into his lap.

“Alex—” She squirmed in his lap, but he held on tight. His body was warm and hard, his arms around her solid and safe. She wanted everything with him so badly. And she wanted him for a lot longer than a brief sexual affair.

Somehow she’d given him her heart, and she feared he’d break it again. Whether he meant to or not. She swallowed a pain-filled moan.

He eyed her warily, but he kept his hold on her firm. “You were right saying I needed closure. I realized all that anger I held on to was more about my bruised ego than hurt feelings. It embarrassed me to have given everything so freely and have her throw it all back in my face.”

She wasn’t surprised he’d come to a revelation. She’d wanted that for him so he could let go of the past for good.

“And Rachel,” he went on. “It turns out she’s always regretted that she didn’t have the guts when we were together to tell me how she really felt about my career and my future plans.”

Madison managed a laugh. “Yeah, well, you’re a pretty tough guy to go up against when you want to be.”

“I do try.” He grinned, a panty-moistening grin that had her shifting around in his lap. “I didn’t make it easy for her apparently,” he said, sobering. “She’d met my family by then, knew I was serious…” He shrugged it all off. “Anyway, I guess realizing it was more a question of my bruised ego than me nursing a broken heart helped me finally put it behind me.”

Unable not to, she looped her arms around his neck. “I’m glad. Is that what Rachel wanted too? To make peace with the past?”

He drew a deep breath, making all Madison’s nerves go haywire. “No. There’s more,” he said, confirming her fear.

Madison stiffened. “She wants you back?” She blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“No! Not that way!”

She let out a long, relieved breath. Of course, if she didn’t want him back, there was something wrong with the woman, Madison thought, unsure if she should believe Rachel didn’t have a hidden personal agenda.

Reminding herself Rachel had given him up willingly once before, she forced herself to focus. “Then what does she want from you?”

“She works at an entertainment company that is partnering with Sports and Entertainment Network. They want me to test with Allison Edwards for a sports show. National TV,” he said, clearly still surprised by the offer.

But according to the gleam in his eye, he wasn’t adverse to the idea. In fact, Madison guessed there was something inherently appealing about the exposure of a national television show to a competitive, driven man like Alex.

“What did you tell her?”

“She said I should take some time and think about it. I didn’t have to say much of anything.”

“Are you going to consider taking the job?” Madison asked.

The long silence that followed was answer enough.

He tilted her chin up, his gaze soft on hers. The intensity in his dark eyes made it clear he didn’t find this any easier than she did. Which didn’t seem to help her frayed emotions, and brought her close to the edge of tears.

He slid one hand to the back of her head, pulling her in close and kissing her. Not in the command-and-take-charge way that he usually did. He took his time, gliding his lips over hers and tracing them lightly with his tongue, back and forth, teasingly, before sliding inside. Whatever point he’d been trying to make was lost in the emotion of what should have been a simple kiss.

It wasn’t.

The banked fire always present exploded between them, and suddenly his mouth on hers wasn’t enough. With a moan, she shifted in his lap, reveling in the pressure of his swollen cock against her pulsing, needy sex.

“Shit, Angel. You feel so fucking good. So hot,” he said, raising his hips in time to her movements.

The hard bulge of his erection came into direct contact with her clit, and waves of pleasure swept through her body, but more frightening were the feelings of pure need and love that accompanied the physical rush. No, she thought, as if wishing the love away would change the emotion.

“I bet if I slipped my hand into those panties, you’d be wet for me, wouldn’t you?”

She moaned at the image he created. Yes, she’d be wet. She was soaked now.

As if to test his theory, he slid a hand beneath her skirt, his fingers easing beneath her panties and parting her slick folds.

“Yes,” he groaned as her hips arched, pressing her sex into his touch.

The glide and press of his roughened fingertip had her trembling inside and out.

“I need to be inside you.”

“Here?” she squeaked.

“Locked door, no windows. Fuck yes.” He stood, easing her onto her feet. With one hand, he swept her purse and the remaining papers he’d had out onto the floor.

Unwilling to think any further, let alone argue, she rose and unbuttoned her skirt. Let it fall. His gaze darkened at the sight that greeted him, and his hot stare made her even wetter.

“Let me help,” he muttered, fingering the bow at her hips. “This is my favorite pair of yours.” He lifted her onto the table. She raised herself up so he could remove her underwear, and she watched in shock as he stuffed them into his pocket.

He merely grinned and rid himself of his jacket, then dropped his pants, boxer briefs along with them. She stared at his penis, so long, thick, and ready to glide into her, and her sex clenched at the thought.

He stepped between her legs, his large hands holding her thighs apart, and stared down at her. “I love how you look, so wet for me. So ready.” He nudged her opening with the head of his cock.

She moaned out loud.

“That’s it. Let me hear you, baby.”

She bit down on the inside of her cheek. “But someone else might too.”

“Let ’em be jealous then.” A devilish grin lifted his lips.

She rolled her eyes at his arrogance. Then he gripped the flesh on her thighs harder, and her eyes rolled for a different reason as he parted her folds and thrust in deep.

“Alex,” she moaned at the invasion that was hard and thick, pulsing inside her.

He pulled out only to plunge back in, the force of his movement sliding her backwards on the cool polished wood of the table.

“Can’t wait. I’ve got to come.”

His words caused a rippling of desire to shoot from her depths where they joined to other, unrelated parts. Never before had sex encompassed every inch of her body, but it did now.

Every thrust, grind, glide out, and hard push back into her caused sparks of electricity to reach outward, and she felt Alex from the tips of her toes to the lump in her throat and beyond to the stars that burst brightly behind her eyes.

He picked up a steady rhythm, each drive into her accompanied by the arousing roll of his pubic bone against her sex. She glanced at his handsome face, jaw tight, eyes narrowed and focused. On her. Without warning, he slowed down and raised her into a half-sitting position on the table. She rested on her elbows as he rolled his hips, keeping their bodies in direct contact that was so hot and intimate. He deliberately ground directly on her clit, causing those stars behind her eyes to burst as he rocked them both to the most earth-shattering orgasm she’d ever experienced.

Tremors and vibrations shook her long after he’d spent himself inside her. No condom again, and she couldn’t bring herself to care. Everything about this moment was surreal, something more out of a novel than real life, and she knew she’d take this memory out and relive it time and time again.