Since starting the child-care co-op, I felt we were part of a community. I liked that Calder had friends and a pool and safe playground. I liked the location. I'd be content living there.
Thanks to Jensen, we now knew everyone in the complex and there was a certain bond among athletes and former athletes in Snow Village. The turnover among renters was very low; the list to get vetted for consideration to rent a place there was years long, according to everyone I'd talked to. So the open apartments on the first floor bugged me.
Needing a break from the never-ending paperwork as a new semester loomed, I'd ducked out of my office to grab a soda for my caffeine fix. In the vending area I showed immense willpower by not adding a package of M&Ms and calling it lunch. Carrying my Diet Mountain Dew across the mats, I stopped when I saw Bree talking with a big guy in a ball cap-a very familiar big guy.
What was Jensen doing here?
I started toward them.
Immediately Jensen homed in on me and his lips kicked into a half smile that meant he was thinking dirty thoughts.
He didn't wait for me to come to him; he half jogged toward me.
Bree yelled, "Wait. You can't just-"
"It's all right. I was expecting him. We'll be in my office." I motioned with my head for him to follow me down the short hallway.
My office was on the small side, but I loved the coziness of it. And it seemed particularly cozy with a six-foot-five, two-hundred-fifty-pound football player crowding me against the door the instant we were alone.
Jensen was all over me. Wrapping his hands around my face and kissing me with a hunger that stole my breath.
He didn't stop kissing me until he was damn good and ready. By that time, my thoughts were fuzzy, my skin sizzled and my body had gone wet and achy with need.
Jensen buried his face in my neck and muttered "Fuck" on a soft sigh.
I slipped my hands under his shirt because I could. It still made me giddy that I had unfettered access to this amazing body, belonging to this amazing man.
He shuddered as I touched him. My fingertips tracing the grooves of his rock hard abdomen. My palms following the sides of his torso up and over his rib cage to the thick slabs of muscle that defined his chest. I swept my thumbs over his nipples and nudged his face with my shoulder so I could kiss the underside of his jaw.
"God. I needed this."
"What?"
"You." He groaned and pressed into me with more intent. "Is this a sturdy door?"
I tweaked his nipple before pushing on his chest. "It'll rattle like a freight train with as hard as you thrust. I don't need my students standing outside the door wondering what the hell is going on in here."
Jensen blew a raspberry against my throat and I squealed. "Dream killer." He stepped back. "No problem. I can adapt. I'll just bend you over the desk."
Framing his gorgeous face in my hands, I hated seeing the dark circles of worry and exhaustion beneath his usual sparkling eyes. "You okay? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but it's rare that you just drop by."
"I miss you." He closed his eyes. "That sounds stupid because I see you every day. But it's been hit-and-miss the past few days-"
"And you really want to hit this"-I thrust my pelvis into his-"doncha, big guy?"
"Am I that transparent?" He laughed softly. "But yeah. I want to lose myself in you for a little while, Ro." He rested his forehead to mine. "Can you play hooky for a couple of hours?"
"Aren't you supposed to be at practice?"
"I'm playing hooky too."
If Jensen had blown off practice to spend time with me, then there was more going on than him missing me. Calder wouldn't be done with camp for three hours, so we could have uninterrupted time alone. "Your place or mine?"
"Mine."
"I'll meet you there in fifteen."
After another toe-curling kiss, Jensen picked up his hat and took off.
Technically I could come and go as I pleased, especially this time of year when there were minimal students in the training center. So I changed the hands on the clock on my door, indicating I'd be back after three.
• • •
We didn't make it into his bedroom for the first round.
I suspected Jensen had been pacing in his apartment while he waited for me. The instant I opened the door, he was on me. Kissing me as he stripped me. Impatiently tearing off his clothes when he'd gotten me naked. Dropping to his knees and using his mouth and his hands to send me soaring. Then bending me over the back of his couch and giving in to his need to take me hard and fast with a passion that rocked me to the core.