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.