one smooth motion.
“Nixon!” she cried out, then buried her face in my neck to muffle her next groan as I started to fuck her with sure, deep thrusts of my fingers. She shifted, and I had enough room to bring my thumb in on the action, strumming across her clit as I took her mercilessly. I didn’t draw it out, didn’t make her beg.
No, I brought her to orgasm hard and fast, then nearly lost it myself as her fist squeezed my cock. She tensed all around me, moaning into my neck as she came with near-violent rocks of her hips. I stroked her through those aftershocks, then when she was good and hazy-eyed, I kissed her deep, swirling my tongue around hers with decadent licks before pulling back.
If I waited one more second to speak, I was going to be inside her with way more than my fingers, and then there would be no words besides yes, more, and harder.
“So here’s the thing.” My voice dropped as I slipped my fingers from her core. “I can’t live without you. I tried. I can’t. It’s not possible. So, we’re going to need another tent, because I’m not into the mom-can-hear-us kink, and I guess I’m just going to have to get used to checking my shoes for spiders if this is going to be our home.” I grinned.
Her eyes flew impossibly wide.
20
Liberty
“Say that one more time?” I said, my head clearing of the blissful, hungry fog that had filled it. I drew my hands back from his zipper like I’d touched a hot iron.
Nixon shrugged. “I’m telling the Raptors when I get back.”
“Telling them what?”
“That I’m not signing the contract they offered,” he said and reached for my hands. “I’d rather live with your love than the love of a hundred million fans. So I’m done.” He shook his head. “I’d rather be with you and support your dream.”
The wind picked up outside, and my entire body felt the tremor as Nixon’s words sunk in. He kissed me, and in my shock, I let him. I lost myself in that kiss, his warm lips, that tongue that knew all the right places to tease me. Lost myself in the taste of him, the feel of his body against mine.
“No,” I said, carefully climbing off of him and taking a few steps away. My heart was on a roller coaster of pure adrenaline and terrifying drops of fear.
“Lib?” He tilted his head.
“No,” I said. “You can’t do that.”
He sighed. “I have to,” he said. “I can’t lose you.”
“Nixon, you love football. It’s a part of your soul. It’s your personal way of honoring Nick—”
“I love you more,” he cut me off.
A rock lodged itself in my throat, tears coating my eyes. “And you have no idea how much that means to me.” I shook my head. “How much it means to me that you’d even contemplate it, but I love you enough to not let you do it.”
“You don’t get a say in it.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s my future,” he said, and his eyes fell to my swollen tummy. “And all I want is you and that little whoosh. Us. Sure, I love my job. Love the field and the guys and the snap. But it’s nothing compared to family. To my need for you.”
I swallowed hard, raking my fingers through my hair. “Nixon,” I said. “I love what I’m doing here. But I love you too much to let you give up your career.”
“And I can’t ask you to give up yours. I’ve seen it first-hand now, the good you’re doing here. The real impact on the world you’re having.” He sighed. “So we’re right back to where we started. See?” he asked, stepping closer to cup my cheek. “This is the only answer. Me leaving the NFL.”
“Nixon, that’s not a solution. It’s killing off your dream—”
“So yours can thrive,” he cut me off, grazing his thumb over my lip. “And if that is what it takes then it’s worth it. You’re worth it.” He smoothed his other hand over my belly. “We’re worth it, don’t you think?”
“I want to be with you,” I said, my head spinning. “Nixon, God, I love you. I’m just torn. There has to be a better way—”
“Mr. Noble?” a man called from just outside.
“What?” Nixon snapped.
“This storm is shifting,” the man said. Nixon’s helicopter pilot. “We have to leave now if we’re going to get ahead of it. Otherwise you’ll be grounded here for the next