Innocent, my ass. Levi knew her game and he wasn’t happy. His frame of mind changed with the first caress of Piper’s hands.
“Well done,” she cooed, tracing the ridged of his rock-hard abs. “You worked hard today. I was so proud—when my nerves didn’t make me want to throw up.”
“When did you calm down?”
“Um.” Pursing her lips, tilting her head to the side, Piper gave his question a lot of thought before answering. “I’ll let you know.”
“You can’t still be nervous.” Doubtful, Levi shook his head. “Why?”
“Until the last second of the game, even though I knew you’d win, I worried something might happen to you,” Piper explained. “Then, my stomach was in a knot over the text I’d sent.”
“And now?”
“You.” Piper held Levi’s gaze. “You make me nervous. Don’t smile.”
“I’m not,” he said, trying his hardest to keep a straight face.
“Levi,” she admonished.
“Shoot me,” he chuckled. “You’re so damn unflappable most of the time. I like the fact that I can shake up your world—if only for a little while.
“Shaken and stirred.” Piper brought Levi’s hand to her chest—to the spot right above her heart. “Bump, bump, bump. You did that.”
“Same for me,” Levi confessed. “Can’t you tell?”
“I can’t breathe,” she gasped.
“No problem,” he said cupping the back of Piper’s neck. “I’ll breathe for you.”
Levi pulled Piper toward him. He sat up, meeting her halfway. What started as a teasing version of the kiss of life, quickly became a passionate exchange between desperate soon-to-be lovers.
“Sorry,” Levi said, resting his forehead on Piper’s as he tried to regain a semblance of control. “I got carried away.”
“I was right there with you.” Piper closed her eyes. “Should I continue, or not?”
“Keep going,” Levi told her. “I need a moment to put the brakes on my libido before I end up like the jerk you dated in high school.”
“Oh?” Her gaze drifted to the place between his legs and she snorted. “Oh.”
“Women have no idea how temperamental a dick can be.” Levi rolled onto his stomach, turning his face toward the opposite wall. “Let’s give out of sight, out of mind a try.”
“Should I remove your underwear?” Piper asked as she tentatively toyed with the waistband.
“Compression helps,” he said with a shake of his head.
“I want to help.” Piper placed a kiss between Levi’s shoulder blades. Her tongue flicked—just for a second. “Better?”
Levi squirmed and reminded himself he was not a kid. His body was a finely tuned instrument, synchronized with his mind for optimal performance. Elite athletes were always in charge, always in control.
“I don’t need to come,” he muttered under his breath. “I’m good. I’m strong.”
“Oh!” Piper gasped. “Oh, no.”
“What?” Startled, Levi looked around the room. “Did something happen?”
“Your beautiful body is covered in bruises,” she said, practically in tears as she lightly touched one darkening spot after another.
Of course, Piper would cry. Her soft heart couldn’t bear to see anyone in pain. She wore her feelings on her sleeve. When Levi felt the first drop of moisture fall onto his back, he took her hand and raised it to his lips.
“Nothing hurts,” he said. A white lie, but he didn’t feel guilty for the telling. “The bruises you see are normal. I got off easy. You should have seen some of the other players. They were beaten up.”
“Am I supposed to feel better?” Piper asked in a huff. “I know those guys. Some of them are my clients. More important, they’re my friends. If they hurt, so do I.”
“Each one is a grown man who chose to play professional football.” Levi turned on his side, urging Piper to lie next to him. He folded her into his arms. “We know the risks. We accept the inevitable aches and pains because we love the game.”
“The money helps.” Piper sighed.
“Yes.” Levi wouldn’t lie. “Most of them didn’t grow up with a lot. I didn’t. My parents struggled to put food on the table, to pay the rent. Football was my way out. I’m grateful Mom and Dad lived long enough to benefit from my good fortune.”
“I overreacted,” Piper said. “My dad wasn’t rich, but we never had to worry about where our next meal would come from. I’m a turd.”
Of all the things Piper could choose, she picked a turd. Levi laughed, amused, and confused by how her mind sometimes worked.
“Why should you feel guilty?” he wanted to know. “Your mother is enough of a cross to bear.”
“Don’t mention her.” Piper pushed Levi to his back. Leaning over him, she nipped at his chin, soothing the sting with a lingering kiss. “Change the subject. Fast.”
“What?” Levi asked as Piper’s lips moved across his chest and down to his stomach. “Keep kissing me like that and I won’t be able to remember my name let alone what we were talking about five seconds ago.”
Without warning, Piper tugged his underwear down his legs, tossing the boxers over her shoulder. She straddled his hips and slowly unbuttoned her shirt.
“How did you know that white lace is my weakness?” Levi smiled into Piper’s eyes. “Makes your skin look like smooth, silky cream.”
Piper let out a sigh of pleasure as Levi cupped her breasts. Her head angled forward spilling her hair over his hands. Sitting up, he flipped the catch on her bra, and sitting up, took her nipple into his mouth.
“I didn’t finish my inspection,” she said.
“Later,” Levi whispered. “We have all night.”
Piper gripped his head, holding him close as though, despite his words, she feared he might stop. She had nothing to worry about. Levi was exactly where he wanted to be. Nothing but an act from above would move him—surely God wouldn’t be so cruel.
“You smell so good.” Levi breathed deep, inhaling Piper’s scent.
“Not as good as you,” she said, her teeth tugging on his earlobe. “I should bottle the fragrance and call it Levi. I’d make a fortune.”
Levi's hands moved to Piper’s hips, pulling her close, rubbing himself against her
