Tracy Solheim - Foolish Games

“I almost strangled that reporter today.”

“Almost! And that’s different. The jerk lied and misrepresented himself to get in the house.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “But he does have a point. If you tell your story, people will know you’re innocent. That you didn’t do anything wrong. And then they’ll leave you alone.”

Lightning cracked outside and Will jumped to his feet.

“I can’t, Julianne! Don’t you see? I’m the one who can bring it all down. I’m the missing puzzle piece. The players who willingly took the money aren’t going to talk.”

Julianne stood, too. “But, Will, what they’re doing is wrong. They have to be stopped, and you’re the only one who can stop them.”

“It’s too late. I’ve already condoned the practice with my silence these past eight years. Besides, the man they’re trying to name as the ringleader, Coach Z, is dying. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him. No matter how I feel about his practices, I don’t want his last days to be a witch hunt.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands hanging between his knees. “If they dig deep enough, they’ll probably dredge up something minor that happened while he was coaching at Yale that could inadvertently damage the program. There are a lot of good kids with backgrounds like mine who are getting a shot at a better life through that football program. Whether or not they turn pro, doors will be opened for them. I can’t sabotage that, Julianne, I can’t.”

She sat down beside him on the bed and laid her cheek on his shoulder. The thunder boomed again and he wrapped his arm around her.

“Now do you see why I can’t talk about it?” he whispered.

Julianne nodded. His dilemma was real, but he hadn’t actually done anything wrong. The demons in the scenario were his former coach and the players who took money to injure their opponents. Hopefully, all the talk about a bounty scheme would deter other players from instituting one in their own locker rooms. For now, though, she just wanted to reassure Will.

She reached up a finger to trace his jaw. “Whatever you decide to do, Will, I’ll still love you.”

The words were out there and she couldn’t take them back. Wide-eyed, he answered her by pushing her back on the bed and claiming her mouth in a deep, soulful kiss. She reached under his sweatshirt to touch his warm skin as she wrapped a leg around his hips. Lightning cracked above them and they both jumped. Will listened for a moment to hear if Owen had woken, before pulling her off the bed.

“Come on.” He grabbed the monitor and towed her toward the door.

“Where are we going?” Panic gripped her at the thought of going out in the storm.

“We’re going to exorcise your fear of storms, Princess.”

Her feet were rooted to the floor and she shook her head from side to side. No way was she moving from the safety of this room. And she’d prefer Will stay with her, thank you very much.

He pulled her in closer, leaning his forehead against hers. The heat of his body began to relax her tense limbs.

“I just trusted you with a secret only my agent knows. Trust me on this, will you, Julianne? I promise you’ll enjoy it. Every. Single. Moment,” he breathed.

Like a lamb to slaughter, she followed him out of the relative safety of her bedroom toward the front of the house, where the surf bombarded the coast and the storm waged war over their heads. His bedroom door was ajar and she dragged her feet as the sounds outside became louder.

“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m right here.”

He led her into his bedroom, where the drapes were wide open, revealing the ocean as lightning lit up the night sky. She trembled.

“Shh.” He kissed her temple. “It’s just a storm. You can do this. You’ve done it before. We’ve done it before.”

Stepping back, he peeled the sweatshirt over his head, revealing his bare chest. As always, the sight made her mouth go dry. He lifted her hand and gently placed it over his heart, the pectoral muscle jumping when her fingers made contact. She swayed on her feet and he pulled her in closer.

“That’s right.” He urged her nearer. “Forget the storm and lose yourself in me. Just like that night on Sea Island.”

Her lips found the warm skin of his chest and she dragged her tongue over his flat nipple. He ground his hips into hers as he unzipped her sundress and slid it down to her hips.

“Last time you needed me.” His breath fanned her ear. “Tonight I need you, Princess.” Her knees buckled as he pressed an openmouthed kiss just below her ear.

She let her lips wander lower as her hands found the snap to his shorts. Unzipping them, she pushed his boxers and the shorts down over his hips. Her mouth stopped at his happy trail before her hands followed his shorts to his knees. Wearing only her bra and panties, she sat back on her heels before him as he stepped out of his shorts and underwear. His eyes blazed down at her as she took her time enjoying the view.

Rising to her knees, she trailed her fingers along his hard thighs before taking him in her mouth. With a hiss, he arched his back and fisted his fingers in her hair. Her name fell reverently from his lips as she pleasured him.

Suddenly, she was on her back on the big bed, her legs dangling off the side. Will towered over her, a sheen of perspiration glistening on his chest. Julianne crooked a finger at him, but he shook his head.

“Unh-uh.” He nudged her legs open wider and settled his hips between them before leaning down to capture one of her breasts in his mouth. Her body bucked off the mattress.

“Hold on, Princess.” He moved to the other nipple and she moaned his name. She felt him smile against her skin as he rained kisses down her belly.

Kneeling before her, he hooked her legs over his shoulders and Julianne whimpered. This time he laughed as his tongue trailed along her inner thigh. He blew a breath over her sensitive skin and she squirmed again.

“Stubborn woman, I told you to hold on.” And then his mouth found her sweet spot and Julianne fisted her hands in the sheets to keep from flying off the bed. Will tortured her, bringing her to the edge twice before finally letting her fall free, her climax a blinding display of bright lights. She let out a silent scream before she went limp.

On his feet again, Will rolled her over and pushed her onto her knees. He entered her in one hard thrust, nearly causing her to climax again. Wrapping his arms around her body, he leaned over her, his breath sawing in her ear as he pumped into her.

“The next time you’re in a storm, Princess,” he panted, “think of this. Think of how good this feels. I guarantee you’ll never be frightened again.”

He reached a finger around to play with the sensitive nub, and she squeezed him tighter inside her. She came in a rush. With a harsh cry, Will was right behind her.

They lay on the bed trying to catch their breath for several moments, his body still cocooning hers. The storm outside seemed to have subsided long before the one in the bedroom. A soft rain now fell in the night, nearly muting the sounds of the sea. Will gently slid Julianne beneath the covers before turning out the lights and joining her. She snuggled against his warm body as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Mmm,” was all he said.

She trailed a finger over his shoulder. “As exorcisms go, that one was pretty good. But it may take a couple more attempts to make sure I’m fully recovered.”

Julianne heard the smile in his voice. “You think? Well then, you keep checking the weather forecast because I’m your man.”

She burrowed in closer, satisfied that Will was exactly that.

“You’ve got a little over ninety thousand left after the sale. Nigel and I are good for at least another hundred. That means you need only to raise another sixty or so more to cover the start-up costs. Several of your creditors from JV Designs would be interested, despite the fact you’re going to manufacture over there.”

Julianne chuckled at Sebastian’s words. He was excited about the prospect of helping create a new design company, but the thought of having to relocate to the United States was killing him.

“Suck it up, Sebastian. It’s only temporary. If this takes off, you and Nigel can hop back across the pond and handle the European end of things. But right now, I need to keep things close to home.”

“Home, is it?” Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the phone dripped with sarcasm. “And here I thought Italy was home.”

She peered out the bay window in the kitchen, searching the shoreline for Will. He’d taken Owen out with him on his daily jog along the beach. Despite his attempts to acclimate her to the ocean and exorcise her fears, Julianne still suffered tremors at the thought of them both being swept away. She wouldn’t be able to draw a thing until they got back. So she’d called Sebastian instead to discuss financing her latest venture.

“Home is wherever Owen is.” And Will, she added silently.

He hadn’t told her he loved her, not in words at least. But she felt his constant protectiveness, since the first night they’d met. And his trust. Each day, he was sharing more and more about his past. Whether it was visiting his childhood haunts or taking her to meet Mrs. Elderhaus, his first-grade teacher, this morning, Will was opening up. He didn’t trust many people with his innermost thoughts, but he was sharing them with her. She knew that by letting her in, he was showing her he loved her, even if he couldn’t say it yet.