Romance: Seducing The Quarterback (37 page)

“You know.  I’ve been wondering what your lips tasted like
since the first time I saw you at Avalanche.  Looks like I just found out.” 
Rick smiled and gently backed away.  “Let me show you the rest of my place.” 
He took me by the hand and led me through his dining room, then around a corner
and into a huge bedroom that overlooked Paradise Valley. 

“This is an incredible place.  Your views are amazing.”  I
smiled and he pulled me closer.

“Not as good as the view I have looking at you.”  He ran his
hand over my hair and then drew me into his chest.  I could feel his heat
beating and it filled me with a rush of excitement.  I closed my eyes just as
he leaned in and kissed me.  It was peculiar that I found myself enjoying the
kiss, rather than wishing it away with thoughts of Joe.  I wrapped my hands
around his neck and rocked slowly back and forth.

“Come over here.”  Rick guided us toward his king-sized bed
and then propped himself on the edge.  He pulled my sweater over my head, then
ran his hands over my breasts.  I could smell his clean-soap scent, and it made
me even more attracted to him.  “This is the best afternoon I’ve had in ages.” 
Rick grinned and unzipped his jeans, and I watched with anticipation as he
tossed them to the floor.

The sun had tucked behind the clouds and a few oddly shaped
shadows danced across the floor.  I slid out of my pants and then inched up
onto the bed with a flirtatious smile.  Rick wasted no time following me and
before I knew it we were both lying on our sides, caressing each other and
kissing with reckless abandon. 

“I would have never expected this.”  I laughed as Rick
played with my hair.  “I really did just plan on having breakfast and going
home.”  I leaned my head back on the pillow and Rick ran his tongue down my
neck.  It sent Goosebumps down my spine.  “What a pleasant surprise.”  I
grinned, then curled my toes as he kissed my ears, my face, then my stomach. 

“Let me make love to you, Alyssa.”  Rick backed up and then
looked at me with a serious expression.  I smiled and bit my lip.  Was this the
right thing to do?  We had just met the other day.  I knew that if I allowed
it, my mind would travel with unbridled anxiety into places I’d rather not go. 
I gave myself a break and ignored the chatter, then pulled Rick on top of me,
ready to honor his request.

He wasted no time sliding into me, and I clutched his waist
with my hands.  It had been so long since I’d felt anyone on my body, that it
was almost too much stimulation for me to handle.  I closed my eyes and enjoyed
the sensation that came from his powerful manhood.  He moved with a gentle
force, and I found myself crying out with pleasure as he brought me to the
brink of ecstasy.

My orgasm came too quickly, but his followed only seconds
behind me, and we both lied motionless on the bed with giant smiles on our
faces when it was over.  “I hope you know that there’s more from where that
came from.”  Rick traced my face with his finger, then rolled over and looked
me in the eyes.

I lied there in silence for a few seconds, then sighed and
faced him with a shy smile.  “I really liked that.”  I leaned in and kissed him
on the nose.  Without his glasses he looked even younger, but either way he was
handsome.  I slid off the bed and then reached for my sweater and my pants. 
“And now, I really need to get that housecleaning taken care of.”  I winked and
then got dressed.

Bozeman was hit with another unexpected snowstorm mid-week. 
I was still able to trudge into Avalanche, but we weren’t as busy as usual.  It
was a somewhat welcome change for me, because it meant that I wasn’t as
exhausted by the end of the day.  However, the lack of money in my pocket was
noticeable, and I found myself sitting up at night worried about my future. 

“Hey, Rebecca.  It’s me.  Long time no talk.”  I smiled,
glad to hear a familiar female voice.   “I know.  I have a lot to catch you up
to speed with.”  I chuckled, then proceeded to tell her how work was going, and
how I had become involved with two men since starting the new job.

“I’m in shock, Alyssa.  Do you like either of these guys?” 
I could hear her talking to Cherry in the background and smiled at the thought
of having my own child one day soon. 

“I do like them.  That’s the odd part.  I can’t really
explain it, and I sometimes feel like I’m going behind Joe’s back, but…”  I
paused and then shook my head.  “I think it’s kind of like a welcome
distraction, you know?”  I sighed and then looked out the window.  The
neighbors were shoveling out their trucks, and a few plows were beginning to
make their way down the old gravel road.

“Well, you have to do what makes you happy, and what’s right
for your situation.  Believe me, Alyssa.  Nobody can even begin to imagine the
pain you’re feeling now that Joe is gone.  I’m sure some people will
misinterpret you seeing two guys…”  She chuckled and then cleared her throat. 
“But nobody knows your story, so who cares?”  Rebecca offered her take on the
situation, and I silently nodded my head. 

“I’ve been really lonely, Rebecca.  I’m in this big house by
myself and… I don’t know.  I guess I’m just feeling vulnerable.  However, I
must say.  The one guy, Rick, is really nice.  I can’t tell if he’s really
serious about me, but we spent time together yesterday, and I think there’s
some potential.  The only problem is that Christopher was the first one I
dated, and I have a really strong attraction to him.”  I realized I was
babbling and quieted myself.

“Well, I suppose it’s not such a bad thing to be in the
position to pick and choose.”  Rebecca spoke as I walked into the kitchen. 

“I’ll keep you posted.  Thanks for your advice.  You always
make me feel better.”  I hung up and then got dressed, just in time to receive
a phone call from Christopher.  He wanted me to meet him at the River Bed Café
after my Avalanche shift tomorrow.  I agreed, and then spent the rest of my day
trying to clean the house and fix the corral post that was crumbling in the far
end of the field.

When I got ready for work the next day, I was excited at the
idea of seeing Christopher, but I was also worried that Rick might find out. 
After all of his information-sharing, maybe he’d think I was a fool to still go
out with Christopher.  I realized that so far, there was no commitment
necessary in any of our eyes.  Yet I still didn’t like the idea of making plans
with one man, while another one waited in the wings.  I wasn’t much for playing
games.

“Glad to see you made it, Alyssa.”  Christopher was seated
at the bar when I came in.  He looked handsome as ever, dressed in a black
button down and a pair of jeans.  His green eyes seemed to stand out against
the black shirt, and I imagined him kissing me with passion.  He ordered a Jack
and Coke, which I now assumed was his signature drink.  I opted for a hot tea
this time, and decided that I still didn’t want to tell him that I was
pregnant.

“You know, I still want to extend the offer for you to come
out to Bobcat Ranch.  I’ve got a great pool room, and a bar, and even a little
hot tub.”  He winked and then took a sip of his drink.  I blushed and lifted my
tea to my lips. 

“I’ll think about it.  Maybe one day this week I can make it
out there after my shift.”  I batted my lashes and then decided that maybe Rick
had been wrong.   How could this man with the mysterious green eyes be
violent?  How could I believe that he was once physically aggressive with his
old girlfriend?  I was beginning to wonder if Rick had exaggerated, or even
lied completely, to win my affection.

“Well, I hope you decide to make the trip.”  Christopher took
a sip of his drink, then waved down the waiter for a pen.  “Here’s my address. 
I’ll be home all day Wednesday.”  He raised his brows and then sat back in his
seat.  I could see his thick, rounded chest through his shirt, and a pang of
lustfulness filled my loins.

“Thanks for inviting me.”  I flicked my long hair over my
shoulder and then got more comfortable in my seat.  An image of Rick making
love to me filled my mind, but I wished it away, convinced now that he had just
made up lies about Christopher.  I took another sip of my tea, then nibbled a
few of the pretzels that were in the bar basket.

“Well, I need to go tend to my horses, Alyssa, but it was
nice seeing you again.  I think we need to get some alone time soon.”  He
winked and then laid a ten-dollar bill on the table.  I smiled, then reached
for my coat.  I watched him walk away and then decided that I would go visit
his ranch like he wanted.  In fact, I’d make it a big surprise. 

I got home and took off my clothes, then stood in front of
the mirror.  I only had the slightest bump that indicated I was pregnant.  I
wondered how long before my secret was revealed.  I didn’t really feel like I
was lying right now by keeping it to myself, but it would be nice to share my
truth with the world as soon as the time was right.

I went to sleep with thoughts about how I could surprise
Christopher.  I knew he said that he’d be home on Wednesday, but I was too
excited to wait that long.  I decided that I’d drive out Monday afternoon,
after I had gotten home from Avalanche.  I picked out one of my favorite brown
sweaters with a pair of maroon leggings.  I smiled, already picturing his face
when I showed up at his house by surprise.

Waiting for Monday to arrive was like torture, but I made it
through.  As soon as I got home from Avalanche, I showered and dressed, then
pulled out the paper that he’d scrawled his address on.  I dressed in my outfit
then headed out to the truck.  The entire ride to Bobcat Ranch put my stomach
in knots.  I had never surprised a man with a visit before.  This would be
memorable.

As I pulled up to Bobcat Ranch I noticed his large truck
parked out front.  Then I saw another smaller red truck parked off to the
side.  There were several horses galloping through the snow, and I smiled at the
serenity.  Carefully, I stepped out of the truck and then walked slowly toward
his house.  I reached the front door and rang the bell, but there was no
answer.

“I wonder if he’s out back.”  I wasn’t familiar with the
property, but I could see that there was a patio leading to a back door, so I
stepped around and craned my neck, hoping to find him out back splitting wood
or grooming a horse.  Yet I only found a pile of snow and a couple of wooden
shovels.  I walked now, curiously, to the back window that faced the ranch. 
Then I pressed my face against the glass and peered inside.

“Oh my God.”  I spoke out loud and then froze in my tracks. 
My heart sank and my face turned red.  There was Christopher- on top of a
red-headed woman, making love to her as she clawed his back with her hands.  I
couldn’t believe what I saw.  I wanted to turn around and run away but I
couldn’t tear my eyes off them.  Christopher ran his hands up and down her body
and thrust deeper inside her.  I covered my mouth and then finally turned
away.  I stormed up the driveway, opened up my truck door, climbed in and drove
away.

I went to work the next day with a numb feeling in my
heart.  I couldn’t believe what I’d witnessed yesterday, and it filled me with
a sadness that I hadn’t quite expected.  I waited on my tables and went through
all the motions, but my mind was preoccupied and my feelings were scrambled. 
As if dealing with my raw emotions wasn’t enough, just as I was about to leave
work, Christopher walked into the restaurant.  “Hey, Alyssa.  Hope you’re not
leaving yet.”  He smiled and then headed toward his usual table. 

“Actually, I am leaving, and I hope I never see you again.” 
I grabbed my coat and then, without even buttoning it, stormed out of the
restaurant.  Christopher ran out behind me, calling my name as I threw open the
door to my truck.  I didn’t want to see his face, but there he was, standing in
front of my hood, his arms in the air and a bewildered look on his face.

“What is going on?”  He yelled and I rolled down the
window. 

“Are you serious?  You invited me to your house!”  I was so
upset I didn’t even know how to get my point across. 

“Yes.  I did invite you.  What’s wrong?”  Christopher still
looked confused.

“What’s wrong is that I caught you in bed with another woman
yesterday.  Okay?  How do you feel now?”  I wanted to drive away, but I also
wanted to hear his explanation.

“Listen, Alyssa.  I need to just be up front with you,
oaky?”  Christopher looked at me with a shrug.  “I only dated you because some
of my buddies dared me to.  They wanted to see how quickly I could get you in
bed.”  He shrugged and then turned around to walk away. 

“What?”  I was furious but didn’t know what else to say or
do.

“You heard me.  It was a dare.  And you know what?  I’m
allowed to sleep with whoever I want.  Sorry to burst your bubble.”  He raised
his brows, then turned around and walked away.  I sat behind the wheel in
disbelief.  Then I started the ignition, threw it in reverse and drove away.

When I got home I sat on my bed and cried.  I couldn’t
believe all that had happened.  I walked toward the window and watched Lizzie
as she moped around in the corral, then I got undressed and climbed into bed. 
Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a gently rapping at my door.  Who
could possibly be at my house?  Thinking that one of my neighbors had been
locked out, I got up and jogged down the wooden steps, then threw open the
door.

“Sorry to come by without announcement, but I really wanted
to see you.”  Rick stood in my doorway holding a bouquet of roses.  He handed
them to me and then smiled.  I was too surprised to say much of anything, so I
just backed up and motioned for him to come inside.  I realized that I had two
options at that moment.  I could either tell him all about the ordeal with
Christopher, or simply let it go and pretend like it never happened.

“It’s actually wonderful to see you, Rick.”  I smiled and
then wrapped my arms around his neck.  “I’ve missed you since the last time we
saw each other.”  I was telling him the truth, but it was still confusing for
me because I didn’t know if I was acting, again, out of vulnerability, or out
of vengefulness toward Christopher.  Why did relationships have to be so
complicated?

“Well, the feeling is mutual, and I wanted to make sure that
you understood how I felt about you, Alyssa.”  Rick looked at me thoughtfully
and then swallowed hard.  “You know.  I didn’t mean to paint Christopher out as
the bad guy when I told you everything I knew about him.”  He hung his head and
then shrugged.  “I just didn’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Well, you were right.”  I cocked my head and then laughed. 
“Because I caught him in bed with another woman.”  I looked away, the feelings
of disappointment creeping back up my spine.  Rick looked at me with a strange
expression.

“You went to his house?”  He stood back and folded his arms
across his chest.  I nodded my head and then reached for his hand.

“I did.  Look, let’s just…”  I covered my face with my
hands, wanting all of this confusion to just go away.  Rick stared at me with a
disappointed frown.

“You went to his house?  After we made love?”  I could tell
from his tone of voice that he was disappointed.  I didn’t know what to tell
him, and I really wanted avoid getting into all the details. 

“Listen, Rick.  I just want to enjoy my afternoon, okay.”  I
ran my hands on his arm and then squeezed his hand. 

“Okay, Alyssa.  Whatever you say.”  He sighed and then
followed me into my bedroom. 

“Make love to me like you did the other day.”  I whispered
in his ear and then pulled my sweater over my head.  He stood back and watched
me in admiration.  “I’m in the mood.”  I leaned forward and whispered to him
again, then shook my leggings down to the floor.

“You know, I’m just going to pretend that you didn’t go and
visit Christopher.  I’m just going to put it out of my mind.”  Rick shook his
head and then ran his hands over my body.  “I want you so bad that it doesn’t
even matter.  Even if you did touch that man-whore, I’d still be into you.” 
Rick traced my jaw line with his finger, then unzipped his pants and let them
fall to the floor.

“I’ll tell you more about it later.”  I stood before him and
rocked my hips slowly, from side to side.  The sunlight streamed through the
living room window, and I could tell that the massive sheets of ice from the
previous snows were finally beginning to melt.  “But for now, just take me.”  I
threw back my head and he kissed my neck, then clutched my waist with his hands
and licked my stomach with his warm, determined tongue.

“Get on the bed.”  Rick eased me back and I lied down, my
head propped on a silky pillow.  He ran his hands down my thighs, taking time
to feel the delicate bends of muscle that led down my calves and toward my
feet.  “You’ve got an incredible body.”  He kissed my toes and then backed up
so that he could admire me in all of my naked glory.

I watched as he positioned himself on top of me, then
grabbed his waist and pulled him close.  I liked the way that his shape melded
into mine, and I could tell that we had an unspoken attraction for each other. 
His caress was filled with passion and determination.  I could tell that he was
a man who knew what he wanted and knew how to get it.

I closed my eyes as he gently spread open my legs.  He slid
his fingers inside my wet, warm hole, and then circled them around inside me
until I moaned with pleasure.  I turned my head to the side and relaxed.  It
felt so good to receive his touch, and I longed for him to move his manhood
inside me.  He leaned back and then pressed forward, entering me in one long,
determined movement.  “Yes.”  I cried out and ran my hands up and down his
back. 

“You feel incredible.”  Rick thrust himself inside me as I
lied on my back, anticipating every move that he made.  I delicately arched my
back to meet him each time he drove himself inside me, and he groaned with
satisfaction.  I spread my legs wider, wanting to feel every inch of his body
inside me.  He pressed harder against me and I ran my hands down his back, enveloped
in the steady stream of passion.

“I love how you feel.”  I whispered in Rick’s ear and he
groaned.  I could sense the wave of pleasure building up inside me and I cried
out just as the feeling reached its height.  I clutched Rick with all my might
and then let out one long, extended cry of ecstasy.  He had taken me to the
heights of enjoyment once again, and my body responded with an orgasmic wave of
relief.

The two of us lied motionless for a several minutes.  Then I
reached down for the blankets and pulled them up to our chins.  We smiled in
the afterglow and then rolled onto our sides.  I ran my finger over Rick’s nose
and then kissed him on the cheek.  “That was incredible.”  I smiled and then
looked deep into his eyes.  They were a smoky blue color, and they reminded me
of a cool February day. 

“I hope that we grow closer, Alyssa.”  Rick traced his
fingers around my breasts, then cupped them with his hands.  “You know.  You
can tell me anything.”  He looked at me with concern, and I bit my lower lip. 
Did he really mean that?  Could I really tell him whatever I wanted?

“I’m glad to hear that, Rick.  Because I actually do have
something to tell you.”  I sighed and then propped myself up in the bed.

“And what is that?”  He raised his brows and propped himself
u, as well.

“I’m pregnant.”  I stared straight ahead for a few seconds,
then got out of bed to get a glass of water.