Chapter 12

The ring of his phone woke him and he grabbed it and hit Answer automatically.

“Tom?”

“Yeah?” he said, clearing his throat. He rolled over and checked the clock. Seven a.m. Who was calling him this early? He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked down at the screen. Carmina. That woke him up. “Is something wrong?” When he’d left her at her place with her groceries last night, she’d been fine. He’d been the one with a case of blue balls and severe depression when she didn’t ask him to stay. He still wasn’t sure what had gone wrong last night.

“No, nothing wrong,” she said. “I’m sorry. My hot water won’t work. I called. But they can’t fix it until later. I have an appointment. Sam isn’t home. No one is.” She sounded a little panicked. Her sentences were kind of choppy.

“You want me to call a plumber?” he asked, not sure what she wanted him to do. “I can’t fix that.”

“No. I need a shower.”

“Oh, shit. Okay. Yeah, you can use mine. Come on over.”

“Thanks,” she said, relief in her voice. “Five minutes.” She hung up without saying goodbye. She hadn’t said hello either. Talking to her on the phone was like talking to his dad.

Tom climbed out of bed and pulled on some shorts. When he went out in the hallway he noticed Danny’s door was still closed. They’d been up late playing videogames and watching game film from last week. They didn’t need to be at the arena until ten for conditioning, and then they were going to run some new plays. He got a glass of water and was heading toward the door when he heard a light knock. He pulled it open to see Carmina standing there with a full tote bag, wearing sweats and a T-shirt with some Nike slides. She looked like she just got out of bed, too. But her morning look was sexy. His morning look was more like a train wreck.

“I woke you,” she said, frowning as she stepped inside. “Sorry.”

“No, that’s okay,” he told her. “But I am going to catch another couple hours of sleep. You can use my bathroom. It won’t keep me awake.”

“No,” she protested. “I can just go take a cold shower.” She turned back to the door. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Stop,” he said, grabbing her arm. “It’s fine. Seriously.” He tugged her down the hallway. “I’m a good sleeper. A sound sleeper. Sorry, I’m not a morning person. You must be, because it’s early. Anyway, I’ll sleep.” They were passing the hall bathroom and she stopped, jerking him to a stop as well. She pointed to the bathroom.

“I can use this one?” she asked. “Okay?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said with a laugh. “I forgot. Two bathrooms. Yeah. Danny uses that one but he’s still asleep. I know he won’t mind.” He leaned past her and turned on the light. “He’s got towels in the closet over there.”

She stepped in and looked around nervously.

“Really, he won’t mind.” Tom reached down and took her hand and she gave him her attention. “Hey, are you sure you’re all right? I mean, after last night?” She nodded.

“I’m good,” she said. “Maybe no more public sex.” She wrinkled her nose. “Didn’t work.”

“Got it,” Tom said. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll think of something else. As soon as I wake up.” He turned and headed back to his bedroom. “See you, sexy Carmina.” Her laughter followed him into bed and he went back to sleep with a smile.

Danny heard hushed voices in the hallway as he lay there, half-asleep and half-awake. Tom must have had a booty call after they went to bed last night. He smiled, his eyes still closed. That guy had more stamina than anyone he knew. He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. Another day, another opportunity to play football. Some feel-good doctor-guru one of his former teams had hired to help him with his anger issues had taught him that daily affirmation. Said it would help him start the day on a positive note. Danny would never admit it, but the guy had been right. Football was everything to him. He’d sacrificed just about everything to play, and he didn’t take it for granted.

He climbed out of bed and did a full-body stretch. The snap, crackle, pop told the story of how long he’d been playing football. Since he was a little kid, that’s how long. He remembered his dad taking him over to the Y and signing him up for Pop Warner ball. He must have been seven or eight. His dad never lived to see Danny play pro ball. Those last few years of his dad’s life, Danny had been so angry, and they’d barely spoken. His dad had told him to do what his coach wanted him to do—keep quiet about Marian so he could play ball—and so Danny had blamed him, too, lumped him in with the bad guys. Now he regretted those lost years. Yet another thing he could blame on Darren Peltz.

Danny shook off the negative thoughts. He was trying to be more positive, right? He stepped out into the hall and headed for the bathroom. Since he’d moved in after Tom, he’d been stuck with the hall bath. As soon as the lease was up, they were getting a place with two master baths. He started to turn into his bathroom and stopped just before he slammed his nose into the closed door. What the hell? Why was Tom using his bathroom? He heard a noise and turned to Tom’s bedroom door. He snuck over and peeked in, only to see Tom snoring softly. Oh, hell no. Some stranger was not washing their spunk off in Danny’s shower. No way, no how. He marched back to the bathroom door, trying to keep his shit together, and opened the door without knocking.

He was about to start yelling when he noticed the stranger in his shower wasn’t a guy. It was a woman. A woman with an absolutely amazing body. Holy shit. The only light on in the bathroom was a small spot over the shower, and it highlighted her body perfectly. She had a big, firm ass that curved into deep dimples. Her back looked sleek and strong as she raised her arms and ran her hands through her dark, wet hair, rinsing the shampoo out of it. She slowly turned under the shower spray, her head still tipped back as water ran over her face and down her body. Her breasts were perfect, the kind that were heavier on the bottom. He liked that. They were topped with large, dark areolas and nipples, and he wanted to rip open the shower door and suck one into his mouth, just drink that water right off her. Damn. He hadn’t been this instantly attracted to a woman in forever. Course, he didn’t usually see them naked right off, either.

He was about to leave when he realized there was something about her that seemed familiar. As he stood there, his hand on the door, staring at her through the glass, her eyes popped open and with startling suddenness, they were staring at each other. Her eyes were an unusual gold color. He knew those eyes. She blinked at him, stunned confusion on her face for a moment. Then her cheeks turned red with embarrassment and she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Danny,” she said. It only took him a second to place that hesitant, sweet voice with the sexy accent.

“Carmina?” he asked, completely shocked that she was the woman in his shower.

Tom must have brought her home. She was the late-night hookup. Tom never got emotionally involved with his hookups. Danny had asked why once, and Tom had just shrugged and said when it was right, he’d know it. Until then he wouldn’t waste his time pretending. Sometimes the kid really nailed the big picture. But maybe Carmina was more than just a hookup. After all, this wasn’t the first time she and Tom had been together, and Tom had told Danny he wanted more from her.

Danny’s confused thoughts swirled through his head as he stood there, just staring at her like a moron. Wanting her. He’d had dreams like this. About her. The reality was far better. As he watched, she lost her blush and her eyes darted down. She was checking him out. Shit. That tension that had always been between them was now thick in the air. He only had his boxer briefs on and it would be so easy to slide those down and off. They weren’t doing much to hide how turned-on he was. He reached for the shower door, but hesitated at the last second. Carmina wasn’t running away or screaming, but that didn’t mean she wanted him the same way he wanted her. She was just standing there staring at him, her gaze hot and intense. Then she dropped her arms. Before he realized what he was doing Danny pulled open the door.

Danny’s feet had a mind of their own as they carried him into the shower. The warm spray of the water hit his skin and the humid heat of the tiled enclosure wrapped around him, pulling him in further, until he stood in front of her, so close that a deep breath would have brought them together.

“If you’re going to run, little girl, you better do it now,” he said in a low voice. She shook her head.

“Not running,” she said in that slow, sexy way she had of talking.

When he reached around her and pulled her against him, it was almost in slow motion. He still wasn’t sure he wasn’t dreaming. How had he gotten here, naked in a shower with Carmina de la Cruz? She was looking up at him, those crazy eyes of hers asking questions he didn’t know the answers to. “This has bad idea written all over it,” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss her.

“Mmm-hmm,” she said, standing on her toes to meet him halfway. Her hands came up to rest on his chest and Danny had never wanted anyone so much in his life. As his lips met hers, he cupped one of those sweet butt cheeks and they both moaned. She slid her hands up around his neck and her embrace pulled him further into the water. The taste of her, the feel of her soft skin, the hot water beating against him—it overwhelmed his senses and his head began to spin. He reached out and pressed his palm to the tile wall to steady himself as he pulled her hips closer to his. The slick feel of her wet skin sent a shiver up his back.

He had to have her sooner, not later. There wasn’t going to be much foreplay. His cock already ached to be inside her. He plunged his tongue into her mouth the way he wanted to fuck into her, hard and fast, filling her. She moaned into his mouth, her fingers digging into his back. She was as into it as he was.

“Got to have you, baby,” he whispered. “You good? Do I need a condom?”

“No, I…yes,” she said. She sounded breathless, confused. Danny pulled back so he could see her face better. She looked as dazed as he felt. He pushed his hand between her legs and she widened her stance as her eyes fluttered shut. He encountered hot, slick pussy and he pressed his finger inside. She gave a stuttering little cry, sexy as hell, and buried her face in his shoulder.

“Shit,” he whispered. “This would feel so good wrapped around my dick. Hold that thought.” He reached out of the shower and grabbed a condom from the drawer. He flicked it in front of her. “I’ve got protection. We better not fuck without it.” He tore open the wrapper and pulled the condom out.

“Fuck?” she asked. Her eyes were blinking rapidly and he could tell she was losing that dazed look. “You want to fuck me?”

“Hell yes,” he told her, pushing his briefs down so he could roll the condom on, wishing she’d give him permission to take her. He kissed her again, wanting to bring her back to the place they’d been before. She kissed him back, surprising him with the force of her response. She bit his lip and sucked on it before she pulled away.

“Fuck me,” she demanded. She tried to wrap one leg around his waist, but he was too tall, so he hoisted her up with his hand on her ass and pressed her against the tile.

“You got it, baby,” he said. “Put my dick in you.” She didn’t respond right away. “Reach down and show me the way,” he said again. “My hands are a little busy.” He had one on the wall to support them and held her up with the other under her ass. She took his dick in her hand and raised herself up so she could notch him in her pussy. Danny hissed at how hot and soft she was. He pressed his hips forward just as she slid down, sheathing his dick in her tight cunt. “Damn, girl,” he said breathlessly. “Just damn.”

“Yes,” she said, her voice unsteady. “Fuck me. Now.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice.” He began to pound into her, instinct taking over. He wondered briefly if he was being too rough, but she moaned and clutched his shoulders and rode him, meeting him thrust for thrust, and he stopped worrying. He’d been attracted to her, it was true, but he’d never imagined she would be like this. So tight and hot, and so fucking into it. The water pounded on his back and slid down his ass into his crack and across his nuts and it was making him crazy. It was so fucking good.

She whimpered and bit his shoulder and he could feel her coming on his dick. Danny didn’t even try to hold back. He felt his orgasm coming and rode the wave of it, grunting and shivering as he came inside the sweetest pussy he’d ever fucked.