Out of Left Field (31 page)

He wasn’t so sure. In about a second and half he might burst into flames. Or lose himself like a horny teenager. Or, even worse, take her so hard and fast neither of them would be able to walk for a week.

She dipped her fingertips into the barely-there lace of her thong and eased it down her hips. Her sweet, tender smile broke his heart. “Don’t you think I’ve waited long enough?”

With every part of him aching, wanting, needing, he lowered himself to her. He kissed her lips, nuzzling his way to her ear. “Put your legs around my waist.”

As she wrapped those long, sexy legs around his hips, he was lost.

He’d never considered going to heaven—or that the place even existed—but as he slid inside the woman he loved more than he ever thought possible, he knew. Not a doubt in his mind. Heaven existed all right, and he held it in his arms.

Her blue eyes glistened and as she blinked, a tear slipped down her cheek. She shook her head, reading his thoughts. “No. I’m fine. Just move.”

And
whatdyaknow?
he followed directions like a champ.

Frankie met each movement, lifting her hips to greet him in a gentle, rocking communion. He’d never done the tender thing, never thought himself capable. And he’d never
made love
. He looked forward to taking her like a sex-craved-lunatic, but slow and gentle had benefits he could get used to.

Her soft moans rocked his world, inching him closer to the edge. His release built, coiling, preparing to shatter him. He breathed deep, sweat beading on his brow. He’d never waited for a woman to finish first, never cared if she finished at all. But once again, he found himself caring more about Frankie than himself.

Her legs tightened on his hips, her heels digging into the back of his thighs. She whispered his name on a low moan, the ‘s’ stretching on forever. Deep inside she gripped him. Hard.

With victory roaring in his gut, he followed her over the cliff, enjoying every second of the free-fall. Never in his life had a woman’s name crossed his lips upon completion. Until now.

Pressing her into the bed, he collapsed. Breath rushed from his lungs in exerted puffs. He ran his nose up her neck and nibbled her ear. She sighed, digging her heels into his backside. He grinned.

His little wife might be inexperienced, but she was a natural. He would enjoy showing her the many ways he could love her. And who knew, maybe she could show him a thing or two, too.

***

Frankie woke up the next morning, feeling an exquisite soreness that made her want to wake up her husband. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been so content, so happy. If this was what it meant to be married, she couldn’t wait to do it the rest of her life. She shifted and stretched.

He kissed her shoulder and eased her against him. “Good morning, Mrs. Xavier.”

She smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Xavier.”

“
You okay?”

“
I’m wonderful.” She felt like a cat seeking a scratch. Her soft backside made contact with his very hard front side and he hissed. “How are you?”

“
Horny.” He ground against her. “Have you ever had sex in the shower?”

Of course she hadn’t. And he knew it. She’d only had sex with him and they hadn’t made it out of the bed. Well, unless you counted the chair or against the wall. She felt herself blush. Okay, so they just hadn’t ventured into the bathroom yet.

He whipped the blankets away and goose bumps blossomed on her skin. She still wore the jersey, although everything else had been stripped away during their activities the night before. He’d said he’d waited a long time to see his jersey on a woman he loved. He scooped her into his arms and headed into the bathroom, kicking the door closed.

It turned out to be lunchtime before they were ready to leave their room. After making love in the shower with her back against the cold tile and again with her butt on the cool bathroom counter, they’d put the bed to good use a few more times.

Man, she’d really been missing out.

In the short time she’d been having sex, she’d learned to love loving her husband. She imagined it wouldn’t be the same with another man, and knew she’d never find out. She sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in a white sundress, slipping her sandals on, the same ones she hadn’t gotten to wear in Boston.

He came out of the bathroom tugging a shirt over his head. His pants were zipped, but not buttoned. Heat blossomed in her every cell. She had intimate knowledge of the line that disappeared beneath the zipper and she couldn’t think of anything better than another journey down his very happy trail.

“
If you don’t stop lookin’ at me like that, we’re never going to get out of this room.”

She blushed and concentrated on the buckle on her shoe. His bare feet came into view. His hands on her elbows encouraged her to stand and when she did, he kissed her. She loved kissing him. His lips were the perfect combination of hard and gentle, sexy and sweet. She’d never get enough of this perfect man, her husband.

“
It wasn’t a reprimand, my love.” He nuzzled his nose against her neck. “Just fact. You make me crazy.”

“
The feeling is mutual.” She clamped her teeth down on the muscle in his neck and he groaned.

“
Seriously, woman, we’ve got things to do today.”

“
I’d prefer you just did me today,” she teased, knowing they needed to track Shayne down.

He slapped her on the butt. “Finish getting that pretty ass of yours dressed.”

She waited until they were headed out the door with everything in hand to inform him, “Oh, and I thought you might wanna know I’m not wearing panties on my pretty ass.”

***

Frankie was going to kill him. No doubt about it, he would keel over any second. How did she expect him to even think about finding his sister when he knew she had nothing on under that sexy little dress?

They walked into the diner and sat down. A woman approached and Xavier knew he’d found her. Her dark auburn hair was the same color he remembered, and when she smiled, her deep brown eyes twinkled, warm and friendly.

“
What can I get for you to drink?”

Xavier couldn’t speak, couldn’t think.

Thankfully, Frankie still held the capacity for both. “Water is fine.”

Actually Xavier needed a shot of something stronger than water. Vodka, tequila, whiskey. Hell, just set him up with an IV.

Shayne smiled and Xavier saw the chubby cheeks and tiny, baby teeth of her youth. He clamped his jaw closed as tears pricked his eyes. He’d never stopped loving the baby sister who’d been ripped out of his life. Her expression tightened and she looked at Frankie, then back at him.

“
Take your time looking at the menus. I’ll be back with your drinks in a second.”

Frankie muttered a thanks, then leaned over the table to whisper, “You’re freakin’ her out. Hell, you’re freakin’
me
out. Be cool.”

He could only watch as his sister went behind the counter and filled up a couple of plastic glasses with ice then added some water. “How did she end up working here?”

“
I don’t know, but if you don’t chill out, you’re never going to get the chance to ask.”

Shayne slid the glasses onto the table. “What can I get for you?”

“
What,” he choked, cleared his throat and tried again, “What do you suggest?”

The wary look in her eyes broke his heart. He didn’t want to freak her out, but couldn’t exactly help it. He’d completely freaked himself out.

“
Our special today is a turkey sandwich with honey mustard. It’s very good.”

“
I’ll take one of those.”

She nodded. “Potato chips or French fries?”

“
Fries.”

She scratched his choice on her pad. “Potato or macaroni salad or coleslaw.”

“
Macaroni salad is fine. Thank you.”

She shifted her stance to face Frankie. “And for you?”

“
I’ll have the same.” Frankie’s sincere smile relaxed him. “Right down to the fries and salad. Thank you. What’s your name?”

“
Oh. I’m Shayne.” Her laugh was simply an older, more mature version of the one Xavier remembered. “I own the place. Where you from?”

“
Vegas.” Frankie reached across the table and took Xavier’s hand. Her touch grounded him, captured the string on his wayward balloon.

Shayne nodded. “What brings you here?”

Frankie laughed. “Actually, we’re on our honeymoon.”

Shayne looked from Frankie to Xavier and back again. “Shut up! You came to Kingman for your honeymoon?” She burst out into laughter and Xavier couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

“
We do have another reason for coming to Kingman on our honeymoon.” Frankie squeezed his hand and he heard the whistle of the bomb dropping. He watched Shayne’s face and waited for the
kaboom!
“We’re looking for someone.”

Shayne’s brows crinkled and her dark eyes narrowed. “Who are you looking for?”

“
You.”

Shayne’s expression went deer-in-the-headlights and only Frankie’s hold on his hand kept him from leaping to his feet. “Wh- what do you want with me?”

Xavier cleared his throat and her panicked eyes roamed over his face, his big body. “My name is Matthias Xavier III.”

Her eyes narrowed even more, becoming only slits. She turned her head a bit, tilted it to the side. He felt like an ant under a microscope with a beam of sunlight aimed directly at him. Any second now he would—

“
Xavier?”

He pursed his lips, sucked in a breath and nodded. “And if I’m not mistaken you’re name is Shayne Xavier. You’re thirty years old. Your birthday is September first.” Another deep breath. “You’re my sister.”

At the declaration, Shayne didn’t say anything. She didn’t react. Hell, she didn’t even move, except to blink. Seconds ticked by.

She blinked again. “What kind of game are you playing?”

He stood and she stepped back like she might be scared of him. He held up his hands. “No game.”

“
Then what are you doing here?” She glanced around at the diner. “I don’t have anything.”

The insinuation stung. “I assure you, I want nothing from you. Financially.”

Her breath hitched. Her eyes narrowed. “Then what exactly do you want?”

He stared at the clean, white floor tiles for a very long time. His eyes stung and he tried to blink the evidence of his feelings away before chancing another look at her again. “The only thing I want from you, Shayne, is a relationship with my sister.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes. Her head tipped from one side to the other. She bit down on her lip and her eyes searched his face. She’d been little, barely four, when she and her mother left.

A sob burst from her chest. The anguish in the sound breaking his heart. So much time had been stolen from them.

“
Matty?”

He nodded.

“
It’s been a long time.”

“
Yes, it has.” He held a hand out to Frankie, helping her slide out of the bench to stand at his side. “This is Frankie.”

Frankie extended her hand and smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Xavier knew how a bug under a microscope felt as Shayne looked from Frankie to him, back and forth, finally letting her gaze settle on him.

“
It’s been twenty-five years. What makes you think I want a relationship with you?”

Frankie stepped in front of him, like she protected him. Xavier didn’t need her to protect him, yet he kind of liked a moment of reprieve.

“
Your father said your mother left, taking you with her. He told Xavier he’d searched and you were nowhere to be found.” Frankie shook her head, her blond curls flirting with her shoulders. “Seems that wasn’t the truth since you’re using your own name and you’re listed in the freakin’ phone book. It took all of a couple of hours for the private investigator we hired to find you.”

Her dark brows dropped low. Obviously she didn’t like the idea of being found.

“
As soon as I knew where you were,” Xavier said, stepping up next to Frankie. “I knew I needed to at least try to find you.”

Frankie reached over and pulled an envelope out of her bag, handing it to his sister. “This is for you and a guest. Please come and be our guests at Saturday’s playoff game. There are hotel accommodations as well as money for gas or a rental car or … call me and I’ll drive over to get you. We’d just really like you to join us.”

Shayne hesitated for a near eternity before taking the stuff. “I’ll think about it. I’m sorry, but that’s the most I can promise.

29

“
You know what that means better than I do.” Coach took his hat off and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “He’s done.”

“
No.” Frankie turned around and put her hands on her hips. “He is not done.”

Coach shrugged. “That’s your heart talking, Doc.”

Using her thumb, she twisted her wedding ring around her finger. “Maybe it is. But come on, if you bench him forever, it’ll break his heart. And mine. All I’m asking is for one game.” She stepped toward Coach and sighed. “I know he’s done. You know he’s done. Hell, even he knows he’s done. Ricky’s fantastic. We all know that, too. But give X one last game. Let him go out a winner.”