It’s Friday afternoon. I’ve been working on my sculpture for weeks now, and it’s coming along even better than I expected. It’s been written up in the newspaper and there’s a buzz about it that has exceeded all my wildest expectations. If things continue to go this well, I might even be able to make my dream of becoming a professional artist a reality.
I miss him. It’s been six hours since I last saw Blake, and my heart hurts with longing. We’ve spent every night together since that very first day. It’s good that I can keep busy. It’s the only way I can bear to be apart from him. I’m so in love with Blake Travis it’s hard to think straight if I don’t immerse myself in work. I’m on a ladder, blowtorch in hand. I’ve got my protective goggles on, cut-off jean shorts and a tank top. I’m soldering another piece of steel onto the sculpture, which, even though I’ve been given three months to complete, is almost finished.
I hear the door of the studio open, and there he is. His face lights up as soon as he sees me. Will I ever get used to how stunning he is? How perfect he is, for me and only me? He’s wearing a nice shirt and a blazer and his aviator sunglasses. His black hair is still wet from a shower. He’s carrying a bag, like a small suitcase. In his other hand is a gift-wrapped box.
I turn off my blowtorch and take off my goggles. Before I can climb down off the ladder he’s put down his bags and is lifting me into his arms. He kisses me and it’s so lusty and full of love I feel dizzy with happiness.
I’m dirty and my hair’s bunched into a messy bun with strands coming loose. “You look so fucking gorgeous I want to eat you alive,” he says. He puts me down so he can hand me the box. He slides his sunglasses up. “I have a present for you.”
“You don’t have to buy me presents, Blake.”
We’ve had this talk before and he cocks his eyebrow. “As I’ve already explained to you, I’ve got more money than I know how to spend. If I want to buy my girl presents, then that’s what I’m going to do.” Blake has not only landed three major endorsements that are worth more money than I can even think about, he’s also had offers from three NFL teams, for after he graduates. He’s still deciding which one to take. He wants me to come with him. So part of his decision depends on me and what I want to do. It’s a little daunting to think about a future with him, but he always makes it sound so easy, and so certain. “Open it.”
I unwrap the present and inside is a cute white baby doll sundress. “Blake. It’s so pretty.”
“Put it on. We have a plane to catch.”
I stare at him. “What? What plane?”
“Coach has given us the next two days off. We’ve had back-to-back games and practices for weeks and we’re undefeated so he wants us to rest for the weekend. I’m taking you to New York.”
“What? Blake. I can’t go to New York. I have to work.”
“Skye, you’ve been working non-stop for a month. Your scholarship has already been granted, you’ve got commissions for two more major sculptures and you’re almost done with this one two months ahead of schedule. You need a break. I’m not taking no for an answer, sweetheart.” He takes my blowtorch and my goggles and sets them aside.
“But … I’ve never even been out of Texas.”
“I know. It’s time you started seeing the world, baby. With me. We’re staying in a five-star hotel, we’re going to a couple of art exhibitions, fancy restaurants, a Giants game and I’m taking you shopping.”
I just stand there, staring at him. Luckily no one’s around because he starts peeling off my clothes so he can help me into my new dress.
And before I can protest further, he’s carrying me to his car.
We catch our flight to New York and I’m nervous. But Blake holds my hand the entire way. From the first class cabin, we gaze out at the city skyline as our plane descends into New York City at sunset. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
We check in to our hotel room which happens to be a penthouse with views out over Manhattan. Blake has been a little bit quiet ever since we arrived and I go to him. I touch his hair and kiss his lips. “Everything okay?”
“I have another gift for you,” he says, his blue eyes sparkling with love and something else. Almost like he’s nervous. He takes a little box out of his pocket and he gets down on one knee. “Skye. I know it’s only been a month. And I know we’re still young. But I’ve never been more sure about anything. You’re mine and I’m yours and that’s never going to change for me. I love you.” He opens the box and inside is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. It’s two tiny gold bands held together by a row of delicate, glinting diamonds. “I want to marry you. It doesn’t have to be now. You can wear the ring on a different finger or save it until you’re ready. I’m ready. Whenever you want me, I’m ready. Will you marry me, Skye?”
Even though Blake and I have been practically inseparable from the second our eyes met in that stadium, and even though he makes sweet, scorching-hot love to me every chance we get, I still haven’t told him I love him. I’ve been scared. Of losing him. I’ve been scared that he’ll leave me. It’s that lingering fear which is so much a part of me. It’s hard to say the words, only because I’ve never said them. Maybe a long time ago, when I was too young to remember.
Blake tells me he loves me about a hundred times a day.
But now, with his eyes glimmering and the world at our feet, I don’t feel scared anymore. For the first time in my life, I only feel strong. And so full of love for him I just can’t hold it in anymore. I let him take my hand and I help him slide the ring onto my left ring finger, where it belongs. “I think we should go to Dallas after you graduate. Since the Cowboys’ offer is the best one and since it’s the team you’ve been dying to play for your whole life. I can keep studying and we’ll be together. I’ll marry you as soon as you want, Blake Travis. I’m yours and you’re mine. I love you.”
“You do?” he says quietly.
“Of course I do.” I lean in to touch my lips against his. It feels so good to finally say it. He starts peeling my dress off and he carries me to the bed. Blake lays me down and takes off my panties. His mouth is on my breasts as he sheds his own clothes. God, I love you too much, baby, he murmurs against my skin. You break my heart, I love you so much. Blake’s mouth is voracious. He suckles on my nipples until I’m wet and squirming with need. Then he kisses a line down my stomach and pushes my thighs open. Mine, he growls. He feasts on me with his greedy mouth and pushes his tongue into me, teasing my clit until I come in a warm rush of pleasure. Then he climbs onto me and gives me another gift. The best one I know. He pushes my knees up and he slides his huge, hot, silky-wet cock into my tight, slippery pussy, rooting out pleasure with each driving thrust. I wrap my legs around him to try to take him deeper, until his thick length fills me inexorably. Our hands link and he thrusts deeper, possessively, gliding in and out of me with languid skill. His rock-hard cock is relentless, until I’m gasping his name, my hands gripping him with the intensity of my ecstasy. You’re so beautiful, Skye, so perfect to me. I’ll never have enough of you. Never. I’ll never stop loving you.
I come hard, my body clenching in juicy bursts, tugging at his thick cock until he spills his hot seed deep inside me. He growls my name against my sweat-misted neck. The ripples continue for a long time and Blake keeps thrusting in a lazy rhythm as he kisses me and murmurs his sweet words, prolonging the bliss, until we come again. And again.
We don’t end up exploring much of the city’s sights. We’re too insatiable, too in love to disengage. We order room service and feast on each other the entire weekend. We finally make it to the top of the Empire State Building just a couple of hours before our plane is due to depart. We make plans to return to New York on our very next free weekend.
When we get back to Austin, I decide to invite Piper over to dinner. I haven’t spent much time – any, in fact – at the dorm and I miss her. The only time we get to spend together is watching the football games.
She arrives and gives me a huge hug. “I can’t believe you only spent one night in our dorm room before moving in with the star quarterback,” she laughs. “Good thing I haven’t had a chance to get lonely since I’ve been so busy studying.”
She takes one look at my finger and squeals, grabbing my hand.
“You’re engaged?”
I smile. “We haven’t set a date. We’re going to wait a while and just take our time.”
She hugs me again, then Blake. She’s giddy with excitement.
Blake’s cooking dinner for us. He likes to cook and is good at it. “You girls should go sit in the hot tub if you want. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”
We do, and she fills me in on all the dorm and football groupie gossip.
After a while, we step out of the hot tub and walk over to where the towels are stacked in a covered rack. Blake is walking out of the house. He’s not alone.
“Guess who’s home,” Blake says, ecstatic. “My brother Ethan. He just got back.”
Ethan looks a lot like Blake but he’s an inch or so taller. He’s just as muscular, but lean. Hard-looking. His dark hair is cut short, military-style. He’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt but his silver dog tags are still hanging around his neck. His skin is deeply tanned and he has a lot of ink. Like his brother, he’s outrageously handsome, but his gray eyes are spooked and haunted-looking. I guess it’s not hard to figure out why. From what Blake described, he’s seen more combat than anyone should.
“Ethan, this is Skye. And her friend Piper.”
Ethan’s eyes lock on Piper and she blushes. The pink of her cheeks somehow enhances the bright golden-copper color of her long, thick hair. Her bikini, it has to be said, is on the skimpy side. Ethan seems lost for words. Blake slings his arm around Ethan’s shoulders, breaking Ethan’s trance. “We’ll let you girls get dressed and meet you inside. Dinner’s ready.”
That was the night everything changed for Piper.
It turns out that Blake isn’t the only Travis brother with a rule.
But that’s a story for Piper to tell you herself …