On His Turf (11 page)
“Don’t worry about her. You are more beautiful than all three of them combined and those girls over there are about as deep as a puddle,” she says as she follows my gaze. I look at Karen, thinking that I could easily pay her the same compliment. She is slender, and tall with a delicate-looking heart-shaped face. Her blond hair is pulled back in a low ponytail revealing her impressive cheek bones and full red lips. But it’s the sincerity in her wide, gray eyes that has me instantly at ease.
I glance back over to find another one of the fake-plastic girls leaned into Shane’s side. Her breasts as pushed up against his arm and even though it’s irrational I feel the harsh sting of jealousy. I know we just slept together once and I have no right to be jealous but I can’t help the feeling and it frustrates me to no end.
I turn away from the spectacle and find an area where I can get ready for the float. I slip off my cover up and stuff it into my beach bag along with my sunglasses because I don’t want to lose them. I take my hair out of the tie and comb my fingers through it so it’s falling around my shoulders. I’m zipping my bag shut when I feel him come up behind me. That’s the thing about Shane - when he’s near it’s almost like I have an extrasensory awareness of him that spreads fire right through my veins. The first thing I hear is his sharp intake of breath, followed by a low moan.
“What are you wearing, babe?”
I turn to face him. “A bikini?” I say curiously, looking down at my favorite aqua-colored suit. The bottoms are Brazilian cut with three little strings on either side that hold it together. It’s pretty revealing but it’s one of those old-standby suits that always looks good no matter how much I’ve been hitting the gym. He steps closer and loops his arms around my waist.
“Do you have shorts or a tank top you could put on?” he asks and I blink back at him.
“No, it’s like a hundred degrees out so I’m not going to wear a shirt. Why?”
“I’m not usually this guy but you gave me serious wood just looking at you. I don’t know if I want every other guy here thinking the same thing,” he mutters and I grin, feeling the flush of pleasure spread over my body when he confirms that he likes what he sees.
“You have no control over what other people think,” I shrug and try to step around him but he holds me in place.
“Fuck, Carmelina, one little tug on the strings of that top and those luscious breasts would be spilling out into my hands…and your ass…is your suit even covering any of it? I’m about thirty seconds away from carrying you back to the truck so I can sink myself into you.”
At his words I let out an involuntary moan and I can feel the spot between my legs grow damp. As hard as I try to steel myself against the effect he has on me I can’t so I decide it’s probably best to avoid him all together.
I dart around him and start walking toward the launching point but he quickly catches up and throws and arm over my shoulder. Our tubes are all waiting on the bank of the river and they have all been roped together to form one big floating island. I step on to the first rubber tube and almost lose my balance but Marco is quick to grab my hand.
“Carmelina,” he says my name in a seductive voice as his eyes skim down my body. Shane gets on behind me and yanks my hand away before sitting back on one of the tubes and pulling me down so my back is to his firm chest. The rest of the group climbs on one by one. Marco’s eyes are still on me and he’s ignoring the whiny blond in his lap. Shane leans forward to look at Marco and I notice how his jaw tightens. He presses his lips against my ear and speaks.
“If he keeps looking at you like that I’m going to get into a fight. I told you that bikini would be a problem.”
“He’s not looking at me,” I argue even though I’m pretty sure he is adding, “and his girlfriend is sitting right in his lap!”
“That’s not his girlfriend, babe; it’s just some bimbo from the field. And he’s definitely looking. Something I can help you with Hurtado?” he shouts over to his team mate.
“I’m just wondering how you and the lovely Carmelina met?” Marco asks and I feel Shane stiffen behind me so I decide to jump in to diffuse the situation.
“I work for the Austin Observer and I accompanied a colleague to one of your games. She was interviewing Shane so I met him there,” I explain.
“So you didn’t know him before that?” he asks, looking between us and I shake my head. “Strange. I actually think that was supposed to be my interview that day but I had another commitment. It’s a shame though…” he trails off as his eyes trace the length of my legs up to my chest. “Timing is everything.”
I hear Shane emit a low growl from behind me and I want to nip this thing in the bud before it escalates any further but Marco seems to have other ideas. “How long have you been together?” he asks keeping his eyes on me.
“We’re not together,” I clarify at the same time Shane says, “about a week.” I turn my head in surprise and give him a confused look. How can he be telling Marco we’re together when he’s the one who said no girlfriends?
“I see,” Marco smiles.
“You don’t see anything, Hurtado,” Shane snaps back and I shake my head in disbelief. He’s the one who doesn’t do labels so why is he acting all territorial and trying to mark me like I’m some kind of fire hydrant to be pissed on?
I roll my eyes and unfold myself from his arms so I can crawl on to the neighboring tube where Karen is lounging. The two of us quickly fall into a conversation about her job as an ER nurse as I leave the men to their posturing. The party around us on the river could easily rival the best spring break and the drinks are flowing as the sun beats down. I decline a beer and opt for an ice tea in a plastic cup as our island of tubes rounds the first corner. I belatedly realize that I forgot my sunscreen in the car but before I can even ask to borrow some Shane is swinging his leg over my back so he’s straddling me.
“You’re getting a little red,” he murmurs as he squeezes warm lotion on to my back and rubs it in. I shiver all over as he flips me over and uses his hands to massage the lotion into my stomach and on to the front of my thighs.
“The skin around the breasts is often the most sensitive,” he breathes into my ear while using his thumbs to massage cream into the undersides of my breasts. He squeezes a bit more lotion into his hand and spreads it across the tops of my breasts, then slips his fingers just under the edges of my triangle top.
I know that if he keeps this up I’ll be begging him for it before the ride is over so I scramble on to my knees and plunge over the side of the tube into the refreshingly cold water. I come up sputtering and when I look at the tube I don’t see him on it. I’m looking around for him when something tugs at my feet and pulls me under. I open my eyes underwater only to see him smiling back at me as he holds me against his chest. His hands roam all over my body setting every nerve ending on fire and within seconds I need to come back up for air. I’m gasping for breath when I break the surface and I grab on to the side of the tube to hang on. But the relief is short-lived because just as quickly I hear him surface and feel him as he presses his hard body into mine.
“Think you can get away from me that easily?” he chuckles, slipping a hand down the front of my bikini bottoms. My head snaps back and I look around to see if anyone’s watching. Marco is making out with his date and Karen is talking to Dillon while the three young girls take selfies with a waterproof camera.
“Don’t pretend you’re shy, babe. Not when you’re already so slick and ready for me,” he hums in my ear and I squirm around to try and dislodge his hand. His hips press me into the rubber tube, showing me just how ready he is for me.
“I thought today was about hanging out as friends?” I deliberately shove back against him making him groan.
“Oh, babe, we went way past friends when you let me have you in your shower.”
He inserts two fingers into my wetness and I slam my mouth shut to keep from crying out. “All you need to know right now is that this is mine and as long as this thing between us in happening I’m the only one who can have it,” his voice rumbles from deep within his chest as he flicks a finger against my clit. I gasp and he releases me enough that I manage to wriggle free and climb back into the tube. I’m panting as I sit back down and I figure that I must look like a hot mess of sexual frustration with my flushed cheeks and wild eyes. I lie back on my tube and close my eyes. I try to ignore Shane as he hops back in and drips cold water all over my chest.
“You’re blocking my sun,” I tell him and he laughs but gets out of my way. I eventually crack one eye open to see that he’s given up on me as he opens a beer that someone hands him. With everyone occupied I let myself relax and enjoy the warm sun on my face and the distant sound of laughter and music. I must fall asleep because next thing I know we are back at the starting point and Shane is waking me up. I sit up abruptly and the first thing I notice is that one of my flip flops is gone. Shoot. It must have come off when I dived into the water. I hop off the tube and wade in but I stumble as the sharp rocks poke at my bare foot. I’m holding my arms out to balance myself when all of the sudden I’m airborne. Shane has me in his arms and he’s carrying me back to shore.
“I can’t let you hurt your feet,” he says and his friends are hooting and hollering as Marco shouts at his retreating back.
“Aren’t you going to stick around for a beer, man?” Marco asks and Shane’s response is to flip him the bird.
“Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t either,” Marco adds as Shane climbs up the bank to the shore.
When we reach the rental spot he sets me down long enough to grab my purse and his bag then picks me back up in his arms.
“Shane! I have to get dressed!” I shout at him.
“Why? You’re dry,” he responds with his eyes locked on my bikini top. “For now,” he adds.
When we reach his truck he opens the passenger door with one hand and tosses our stuff inside, then places me gently on the seat. He belts me and his hands linger on my waist a few seconds longer than is necessary, then he leans his whole body into the truck and gives me the softest, sweetest kiss I think I’ve ever had. He seems reluctant to pull away but he eventually does and he goes around front of the car to the driver’s side. He climbs in and I’m asking him the question before even starts the engine.
“What’s happening with us? One minute you treat me like it’s all about sex and the next you’re sweeping me off my feet like some big ole’ Southern gentleman. And what was that back there with Marco when you basically told him we were seeing each other? What’s the deal?”
“The deal is that something is happening between us whatever you want to call it, babe.”
“My name is not babe!” I snap and he turns in his seat to face me.
“No, Carmelina Dahl, I know your name. I also know that you are a beautiful and feisty twenty six year old editor’s-assistant-slash-waitress who loves dancing, cooking, white picket fences and beer a whole lot more than you seem to like me. I also know that right now you are being a giant pain in my ass!” he yells and I shut up instantly. He takes a deep breath and runs his hands through his short blond hair before starting up the engine.
“Can’t we just hang out and see where this thing leads?” he asks more gently and I look at him then give him a silent nod.
“Good. Then come and see my practice tomorrow and we will go from there.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you there.”
“Is that the only reason?” I say suspiciously.
“Isn’t that enough of a reason?”
“Fine but if I come tomorrow then you have to promise me you’ll stop sending me gifts and bothering me at work,” I hedge.
“Deal,” he agrees as he reaches across the seat to take my hand in his. “Thanks, babe. You won’t regret this.”
As I survey his near-perfect profile and the confident smile playing on his lips a phrase unwittingly comes to mind. Famous. Last. Words.
It is late afternoon the next day and the sun is beating down so hard that rivulets of sweat are running down my back. I can feel my shoulders start to burn and I wish I had remembered to slather on sunscreen. At least I had the foresight to wear a sundress because there is absolutely no breeze in the stadium today. When Shane cornered me into watching his practice I didn’t know what to expect but so far it’s just been a lot of running interrupted by the occasional whistle.
Leigh is practically salivating beside me at the sight of all of the bare chests and toned calves. I made the mistake of mentioning the practice in the lunch room and she pestered me all day until I agreed to bring her along.
“I am seriously in chiseled-abs-heaven right now,” she sighs while fanning herself with her hand. “Is that Marco guy single?”
I glance over at the striker who’s standing beside the net and bouncing the ball off his knees. Though I have only seen him up close a handful of times there’s no denying that he’s easy on the eyes with his spiky black hair, tanned olive skin and lean muscular frame. In fact, he’s gorgeous and the permanent smirk he wears on his face tells me that knows it.
“Single? I have no idea but I’m certain that you would eat him alive,” I answer and she laughs.
“Absolutely I would, Caramel.”
The whistle blows and Shane jogs back to the net while the rest of the team forms two lines at center. One of the assistant coaches on the field shouts out instructions and the players start running forward two at a time. The striker Marco winds up and shoots. The ball soars high and to the corner of the net but Shane jumps up and catches it in his bare hands. The ball makes a loud crack as he kicks it back up the field past half and he flashes me a smug smile before the next group advances. I can’t take my eyes off his wide chest that’s glistening with sweat as he lunges and dives for the ball. He has his t-shirt stuffed down the back of his shorts and I find myself captivated by the play of muscles that ripple as he moves. He is so much thicker and taller than most of the other players and he commands his net in a way that let’s everyone know that he’s good - better than good. He flexes a powerful thigh as he boots another ball up the field, only breaking to wipe the damp sandy blond hair off of his neck with his t-shirt.