Playing for Keeps (16 page)

“What are you doing?” Olivia clung to his shoulders and laughed with pure delight.

“I don’t know. I felt the need to have you in my arms right away.” When she fumbled with the doorknob, Noah said, “It’s not locked?”

“This is like Mayberry, Noah. I never bother to lock my doors.”

Noah shook his head. “I know, but all the same, promise me you’ll keep your doors locked from now on, okay?” The thought of anything happening to her clenched his gut, and he hugged her closer.

“I promise,” she replied in that husky voice edged with Southern comfort. “And thank you.”

“For what?”

“For caring, Noah.”

“This whole town cares about you, Livie.”

“Yes, but in an abstract way. Your concern for my safety means a lot to me. And I care about you too. This isn’t about who you are—you know that, right?”

“Yes, I do know that.” But she had no idea what that statement meant to him. As a baseball player Noah had been taught to keep his game face on. So when emotion suddenly clogged his throat, he was taken aback, but then he gave her a slow smile. “You know, it was always my dream to make it to the majors, and don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed everything about it, including the female attention.” He cleared his throat and continued. “But, Livie, what you just told me is the sexiest thing a woman has ever said to me.”

She looked at him and nodded. “I get it.”

Noah looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. “You know everyone in this town makes it clear that they are proud of me. But at the same time Mabel rides my ass when I go to the bakery. Madison keeps me in line and, well, Myra gives it to me real. Even Jason treats me like a friend and not a celebrity. It’s pretty cool to feel needed, wanted, and liked as a person instead of a franchise that’s losing value.”

“Losing value?” Olivia put a hand on his cheek. “You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit.”

He sat down on the sofa with her on his lap. “Ahhh, Livie, thank you for making me feel good about myself again.” He chuckled. “Even as a kid I felt worthless when I wasn’t hitting.”

“And yet you love the game.”

“Absolutely. I miss playing, but I didn’t know how much I missed the game until I started spending so much time with the high school team. Being behind the scenes has been great—I didn’t know I’d still be able to enjoy baseball from a coaching angle.

“You know, I was lucky I got noticed when I was playing here. Small-town teams like Cricket Creek don’t get scouted as much as the big schools.”

Olivia shrugged. “Maybe you can find a way to change that. Even small-town kids need a chance.”

Noah smiled at her and then tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Or even a second chance.” He met her gaze and then dipped his head and captured her mouth with his. The kiss began tenderly, but the moment his tongue tangled with hers Noah was lost in sensation that went beyond just physical. He didn’t simply want Olivia—he needed her . . .

And yet he hesitated.

Olivia reached up and cupped his cheeks between her palms. “I want this, Noah. Let’s go to my bedroom.”

“So do I.” With her still in his arms Noah stood up. “Down the hallway?”

“Yes, the room on the left,” she answered in a voice full of heat. “And hurry!”

“Not a problem,” he said and laughed as he picked up the pace.

They entered the bedroom and he eased her to her feet and kissed her hotly before pulling back to begin unbuttoning her blouse.

“Your fingers are trembling,” Olivia said with a sense of wonder.

“Kinda ruins my player reputation,” he said with a slight grin.

“No, it’s incredibly, adorably sexy.”

“Just like you,” he said as he continued to undress her. “I’ve fantasized about your underwear from the moment I saw you in Grammar’s Bakery.”

Her eyes widened. “Truly?”

He nodded. “You were so prim and proper but with a mouth made for kissing. I imagined silk and lace.”

“You would have been oh, so wrong.”

After pushing the soft cotton blouse down over her shoulders, he sucked in a breath. “But I’m not.”

She pressed her lips together and looked down at the floor. “I went shopping.”

Noah felt his chest tighten. “For me?”

She nodded slowly and then raised her gaze in a question. “How did I do?”

Noah cupped his hands around pale blue satin edged with just a hint of white lace. The tiny white bow that peeked between her breasts was demure and yet enticingly sexy. With an intake of breath, he rubbed his thumbs over the creamy skin spilling out over the top of the bra and said, “Perfect.”

“The bra?”

“No . . . you. The lingerie is just an added treat.” He brushed her hair to the side and kissed her neck. “Do the panties match?”

“Why don’t you find out?” Her voice was soft, breathless. And when he sucked her earlobe into his mouth, she moaned and held on to his shoulders for support.

“You don’t have to ask twice.” While nuzzling her neck he unbuttoned and then unzipped her pants. He slowly slid them over her hips and down her thighs. “Ah . . . satin,” he said, cupping her ass in his palms. He tucked a finger under the elastic and sighed. “And lace. Bikini.” While toying with the panties, he ran his tongue over her bottom lip, teasing, tasting until he felt the moist heat of her desire beneath his hand. When she sucked in a breath, he said, “Olivia, lie down on the bed so I can see you.”

O
livia eased down onto the bed and gazed up at Noah. It had been a long time since she had been with a man, and she should have felt shy, unsure . . . but the passion smoldering in Noah’s eyes made her feel bold and confident. The bra and panties had been an impulse buy and had looked so enticing in her drawer next to her Hanes Her Way that she had slipped them on this morning. Just wearing the slinky underwear had given her an attitude, and she thought with a smile that she was going to fill her dresser drawers with silk, satin, and lace.

“You can’t smile like that without telling me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking that you are overdressed for the occasion.”

“I like how you think, Livie Lawson.”

She eased up to her elbows.

“And I love how you look,” he added and then tugged his shirt over his head. A moment later he was gloriously naked. She gazed up at wide shoulders, a sculpted chest, and muscled thighs. A thatch of dark hair covered his chest and tapered to an enticing line pointing to an impressive package.

Oh, my . . .

“You’re gorgeous, Noah . . .” she said but then hesitated.

Noah sat down on the bed and tilted her chin up to look at him. “I hear a
but
in there somewhere.” He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip and waited for her to elaborate.

“This sounds corny, but I find you sexy from the inside out.”

She leaned in and kissed his chest, loving the feel of his warm skin beneath her lips. Her tongue darted out and licked his nipple, swirling and teasing. His spicy, masculine scent filled her head and curled her toes. She loved touching him, tasting him. When her hand brushed against his penis, he inhaled sharply and threaded his fingers through her hair.

“Livie . . . damn, girl.”

She looked up with a smile and asked, “So do you find me sexy from the inside out too?”

“Inside? Outside?” Noah pushed her into the pillows and began a trail of kisses starting at her neck and heading south to the soft swell of skin above her bra. “I just find you flat-out sexy.”

“Good answer.” Olivia sat up and stroked his cheeks. His dark stubble felt soft yet abrasive as she rubbed it back and forth.

His gaze met hers and locked. “It’s not just an answer. It’s true.”

“Oh, Noah . . .” She threaded her fingers through his thick hair but then fell back against the mound of pillows when his hand slid up her thigh and caressed her intimately. And then he kissed her.

Her heart pounded, her pulse throbbed, and she kissed him back with more passion than she’d known she possessed. But then again, no man had ever made her feel this way. She arched her back in an effort to get closer, to slide her skin next to his. Her hands found his back and savored the ripple of muscle when he moved. With a moan she slid her hands over his butt and squeezed, bringing a deep, sexy chuckle from his throat. “I don’t know where I found this inner sexpot.” She lightly nipped his shoulder. “But it sure is fun.”

“I’d like to think I brought it out in you.”

She laughed. “I think you did.”

“I just knew there was a sultry side beneath that prim and proper exterior. And damn if that isn’t so much sexier than low-cut and in-your-face.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. Ah, you feel so good. I’ve wanted you in my arms like this for so long,” he whispered in her ear and then rolled to the side. He caressed her lightly and said, “Take your bra and panties off for me, Livie. I want to see you, touch you . . . taste you.”

“Okay . . .” With her heart pounding, Olivia reached around and unhooked her bra. When her breasts tumbled free, Noah swallowed hard and gently cupped them in his big hands. “There’s not a lot of me.”

“Ah, Livie,” he said and circled her nipples with his thumbs, causing heat to uncurl and sink downward. “You’re sweet perfection.” When he leaned in and took one nipple in his mouth, Olivia arched her back and fisted her hands in his hair. He licked and sucked until she thought she would go crazy with wanting him. And when he slipped one finger beneath her panties and found her slick heat, she gasped.

“Noah . . .” Her voice was husky, needy. “Dear God . . .” She tugged her panties down her thighs and tossed them up in the air in pure abandonment. “Oh, no!” she cried and clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Baby, what is it?” Noah looked at her with concern.

“So much for being cool.” Olivia pointed to the ceiling, where her pale blue panties hung from the blade of the ceiling fan. “My inner sexpot is a dork like me,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “At least I’m consistent.”

Noah leaned back against the pillows and laughed.

“Um, should you be laughing right now? Hello, I’m trying to be sexy. Work with me.”

“Ah, Livie, laughter is incredibly sexy.” He ran a fingertip down her cheek. “You make me feel so good.”

“I know a way to make you feel even better,” she offered with the arch of one eyebrow.

“Wow, I’m thinking that your dorky inner sexpot kinda rocks.” Noah captured her mouth, playfully at first, but Olivia wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss. With a moan Noah lifted her up to straddle him.

“Noah, do you have protection?” she asked softly.

His eyes widened slightly as if surprised at himself. “Yes, let me get it,” he replied and then shook his head. “I was so caught up in the moment that it didn’t occur to me. You do that to me.” He gently eased her to the side, and a moment later he was sheathed and boldly ready.

Noah joined her on the bed but took his sweet time, loving her with a slow, gentle hand. He caressed her, kissed her, and explored every inch of her body until she was mindless with wanting him. She savored the taste of his skin, the moist heat of his mouth, and when he entered her she wrapped her legs around him and matched him stroke for exquisite stroke. Warm, delicious pleasure washed over her in waves . . . building, climbing, until she let go . . .

 

“Ah . . . Livie!” He entwined his fingers with hers and made love to her with achingly sweet intensity, holding her close until she cried out his name. And still she clung to him, skin to skin, heart to pounding heart. He kissed her hotly, deeply, over and over, as if he never wanted the moment to end.

Finally he rested his forehead against her and sighed. “Am I crushing you?” His eyes remained closed.

“Never. I’m a strong, sturdy small-town girl, remember?”

“Strong, sturdy,
sexy
small-town girl.” He chuckled weakly. “And you plumb wore me out.”

“Wimp,” she teased even though her chest was rising and falling just like his. “But I like it that you’re starting to sound like you came from here.”

Noah chuckled. “I never did give up my cowboy boots and I still eat grits.”

“Mmmm . . . cowboy up?”

“Give me a minute. ‘I ain’t as good as I once was . . .’” He sang the first line of the chorus of the Toby Keith song.

Olivia giggled. “Okay.” She relented but then moved suggestively against him.

“Or two,” he pleaded. He rolled to his back and then laughed at the blue panties twirling around on the paddle fan. He pointed at them and said, “You should leave them up there.”

“I think I will.”

“Seriously?”

“No.”

“I think you should.”

“Might be hard to explain.”

“True.” Noah shook his head. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I won’t,” she answered with a slow grin and then watched his cute butt cross the bedroom and disappear into the bathroom. She pulled back the comforter and scooted beneath the covers, hoping that he was going to spend the night that she didn’t want to end. She put her head on the feather pillow and sighed while thinking she had never felt so relaxed and so content. “Ahhh . . .” A girl could get used to this . . .