Ferrinâs fingers felt against the side of his face. How the way she kept running her fingertip over his light beard sent tingles down his neck and chest and straight to his groin.
How she softened against him and let him take all of her weight as the kiss deepened. He pulled his head back and looked down at her. Her lips were parted, her eyes half-closed, and there was a slight flush on her creamy skin.
He could push a little more right now. It wouldnât take much for either of them to fall into bed together, but he wanted more than one night. He knew games were won by plays and downs. Ten yards at a time.
Sometimes faking out the other team was the way to gain more yards.
He set her on her feet. Tangled his hands in that thick gorgeous hair of hers and kissed her again even though he had decided not to. But really, what man could resist her, with her swollen lips and her sweet face looking up at him as if she wanted...well, what he wanted.
Damn.
Things just got complicated.
He couldnât control himself around her.
When the hell had that happened? Heâd always been a man of control. But with Ferrin...
He stepped away from her, turned his back to her and stared out at the sea with his hands on his hips. It had been a long six months since heâd had a lover...maybe that was it.
Please let that be it. The reason why he was having a hard time resisting her. A hard time not going back to her and scooping her up in his arms, carrying her someplace semiprivate and making damned sure that she didnât lose that look in her eyes.
But he couldnât.
Ten yards at a time.
Damn.
These ten yards hurt.
âHunter?â
âI just donât want to be that guy.â
âWhat guy?â she asked, walking over to him.
He noticed the strand of her hair that brushed over her swollen lips and wanted to touch it. Maybe wrap it around his fingers. But he knew if he touched her again he wouldnât stop.
âThe one you think I am,â he said. âThe bad boy NFL player who has a different woman every week. I want to be more.â
âWell, that guy, the player, probably wouldnât be here with me. Already things are different,â she said. âIt must be hard for you to let your guard down.â
âIt is. And I want something from you, Ferrin. Despite the money and the silver spoon upbringing, Iâm the kind of person who isnât above using whatever means I have to get what I want. I want to be better than that with you. But Iâm not sure that I can resist the temptation of you.â
âIâm a temptation?â
âDammit, woman.â
âSorry, Iâm not going to apologize for that. Iâve never been the type of woman to tempt a man or to make him want to be better.â
âI find that hard to believe,â he said.
âIâm invisible, Hunter.â
Never.
Three
I n the clear light of day, waking up alone in his bed, Hunter wished heâd just brought Ferrin home with him last night. He rolled over, punching the pillow next to him, and then forced himself up and out of bed.
He was working a plan. He dropped to the floor and did fifty push-ups. His dad had said that staying focused was the only way to move past the tragedy. Thatâs what his family referred to Staciaâs death as. He knew they meant well.
They thought he and King should leave the matter in the past, but both of them knew they couldnât. He finished his push-ups, got dressed for running and dialed Kingâs number as he went down the stairs.
âDude, itâs early.â
âBut I know Conner had you up early.â Kingsleyâs son was two so he didnât sleep late. There had even been times when Hunter had been woken by the kid, who also happened to be his godson. They were close and since Kingsley traveled so much, Conner had learned to use his iPad to FaceTime Hunter. Conner felt he could call at all hours to tell Hunter