Pleasure Rush Read online

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked him up and down. “Do I have to turn around?” she asked.

  Theo shook his head slowly, his grin broadening. “I have no problem with you seeing me naked.”

  He went for the hem of his shirt and Deirdre’s pulse quickened. She watched with shameless absorption as he stripped out of his clothes, her breath catching in her throat when he hooked his thumbs inside his waistband and pulled both his shorts and boxer briefs down his legs.

  Deirdre could count on one hand the number of naked men she’d seen in the flesh, but she had no doubts Theo was the most gorgeous of any man. Ever.

  “You’re staring pretty hard to say you wouldn’t even let me have a peek, Deirdre.”

  “You said you didn’t mind,” she replied, not even thinking of averting her eyes.

  “That’s right.” He laughed. “Look all you want.” He walked to the rock ledge and slid into the water. Theo threw his head back and groaned. “Oh, man, this water feels good.” He waded over to her, stopping a few yards away. “Is there some invisible barrier I’m not allowed to cross?” he asked.

  As she stared at him across the span of water, studying the way the gentle waves lapped against his hard chest, her first impulse was to demand that he maintain his distance. But as she glanced downward at the incredible body the mostly calm water could not distort, Deirdre realized she didn’t want to take things slowly. Not anymore. She and Theo had wasted enough time.

  “You can come closer,” she finally answered.

  He paused, one eyebrow rising in question. “How close?”

  She swallowed the nervous lump that instantly formed in her throat, and forced herself to say, “All the way.”

  Theo’s eyes narrowed with an intense, heated look. Deirdre backed up against the slick rock wall as Theo swam toward her. He trapped her against the rocks, putting his arms on either side of her head and swooping down for a long, slow kiss.

  Her breasts tingled the minute they brushed against his chest underneath the water. Deirdre closed her eyes, unable to stop the moan that tore past her lips. When she would have sunk right into the water, Theo caught her shoulders and held her in place as his tongue dipped in and out of her mouth.

  His erection brushed against her hip, and all she could think about was how it would feel to have it probing other parts of her body. She’d dreamt of this for so long, and she was so close. It could happen right now, all she had to do was ask.

  When Theo finally relinquished her mouth, Deirdre drew back and looked him in the eyes. “I’m going to ask you something very personal, and you need to be honest with me,” she said.

  “Okay,” he returned, nipping at her shoulder.

  “Have you ever slept with someone without wearing a condom?”

  His entire body jerked in surprise, his forehead creasing with a curious frown. “Once,” he answered hesitantly. “Back in high school. My sister beat the crap out of me when she found out, then went to the drug store and bought me two boxes of condoms, even though she’s gay.”

  Deirdre couldn’t help her grin. “That sounds like your sister,” she said. She bit her bottom lip. “It’s been nearly eighteen years since I had sex without a condom, but I’m willing to do it again, only with you.”

  Theo sucked in a deep breath. His eyes slid shut and he tilted his head back, the muscles in his neck straining against his taut skin.

  “I didn’t mean to—” Deirdre started.

  “Just give me a minute,” he said, cutting her off.

  The fragile shell of self-confidence she’d built around herself suffered a slight crack. “I guess I should have asked if you were willing to have sex without a condom instead of just assuming you would be. I’m still trying to get accustomed to the new Deirdre’s aggressiveness.”

  Theo lowered his head and stared at her as if she’d just escaped a mental hospital. “Do you think I would turn down any kind of sex with you?” He shook his head in disbelief. “God, Deirdre. I go to bed every night fantasizing about you.”

  Theo pinched his eyes closed again before bringing his gaze back to her face. “Is this really going to happen?”

  She nodded. “Right now, if you’re ready.”

  “I’ve been ready for nearly two years,” he said. He planted his lips on hers, his hands swooping down to her butt. Buoyed by the water, Deirdre wrapped her legs around his waist and met his mouth again in an intoxicating kiss.

  Theo emitted a throaty groan as his tongue plunged in and out of her mouth. He hooked his arms under her knees, and with one smooth motion, slid into her.

  A moan tore from her chest as her entire body was consumed with pleasure. Deirdre held on to his shoulders, and let him set the rhythm. With firm, unbelievably powerful strokes, he pushed himself all the way inside, his entire length immersed, then just as slowly, he pulled out. The sensation thrumming through her blood was indescribable as Theo sunk in again, and again, and again.

  She brought her hands around his neck and pulled his mouth more firmly to hers, thrusting her tongue in and licking at the inside of his mouth. The power emanating from him was frightening in its potency. He continued to invade her body with one decadent stroke after another, increasing in speed and depth, until she exploded in a rush of pleasure so mind-bending, Deirdre wasn’t sure if she would ever think straight again.

  He followed her almost instantly, his big body shivering in release as he buried his face against her neck and completed one final, powerful thrust.

  Deirdre’s limbs melted with the satisfaction flowing through her. She lifted her head up and let the sun’s rays warm her face, but even as she basked in the glorious aftermath of making love to Theo, a trace of fear struck a chord in her.

  As Theo stroked his hand through her wet hair and peppered her throat with soft kisses, Deirdre’s pulse raced with the apprehension she’d hoped she could have staved off until she had more time to think this through. But there was no halting the trepidation climbing up her spine.

  She knew that taking this step would catapult her heart to a place she wasn’t sure she wanted to put it—directly into Theo’s hands. With just a few short, insanely pleasurable moments, her life had changed forever. Deirdre could not remember a time she’d ever felt this vulnerable…and afraid.

  It was a risk she had been willing to take; now she just had to make sure she didn’t live to regret it.

  Chapter 9

  “How important is this production meeting?” Deirdre asked as she stood just inside the door of her hotel room.

  “Extremely important.” Theo frowned. “It’s the last one before tomorrow’s Media Day, and I’m already running late.”

  He leaned over and placed a sweet, swift kiss on her lips. He wanted nothing more than to follow her inside and spend the rest of the night making love to her, but he knew it wasn’t possible. Based on the agenda Ambria had emailed, this evening’s production meeting would likely last long into the night.

  As he pulled away, Theo couldn’t help but chuckle at Deirdre’s contented expression.

  “Why are you laughing?” she asked, opening her eyes.

  “You just look so…satisfied.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “I like knowing that I had something to do with that.”

  “Oh, you had a lot to do with that,” she said. She peered up at him. “Thank you for today. It was beyond my wildest dreams.”

  “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it,” he said with another kiss.

  Theo finally tore himself away from her, knowing he had to leave before he said to hell with the meeting and blew it off completely.

  He stood on the other side of the door for a moment, his eyes shut tight. He tried to hold on to every single detail of the past seven hours.
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  Had today really happened? After wanting Deirdre for so long, he was having a hard time believing that he had finally made love to her. It had been hotter, more amazing than he’d ever anticipated and he would have given just about anything to remain hidden in their tropical oasis just a few hours more.

  But as much as his body yearned for Deirdre and the magic they had found in each other’s arms, Theo knew he had something just as important to do. Not nearly as pleasurable, but important all the same.

  When he arrived at the conference room, the entire Sports Talk TV crew was already seated around the table. Sara quickly dispensed plastic-wrapped sandwiches and bags of potato chips. Theo grabbed two bags. Despite finishing off the rest of their lunch while on the helicopter, he was still famished. He and Deirdre had worked up an appetite this afternoon.

  Theo settled back into his chair and bit into a roasted pork sandwich. Unbidden, an image of Deirdre with her head thrown back, her face awash in unrepentant pleasure, took up center stage in his mind. He grinned at the remembered sounds she’d made as he’d taken her from one intoxicating orgasm to another.

  “Are we ready to get started?” Ambria asked.

  Theo straightened and schooled his expression into one of impassive indifference before someone questioned what had him grinning like a fool.

  Ambria shifted the papers in front of her. “Okay,” she said, running a pen down a notepad. “We were originally going to run the piece on the Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker and his recovery from encephalitis, but that story can air during another broadcast. This new development with Cedric Reeves is much more immediate, so we should focus on that during tomorrow’s Media Day.”

  Theo froze, his head whipping toward Ambria. “What new development with Cedric Reeves?”

  “You haven’t heard?” Sara Faulkner asked. “Dane Washington suffered a knee injury in practice this morning and Cedric was named the starting running back. I sent you a text after Coach Foster reported it during this afternoon’s press conference.”

  He hadn’t received any text message because he hadn’t had cell service while tucked away in his and Deirdre’s hidden paradise.

  “I must have missed it,” Theo said, settling back into his chair.

  He tapped his fingers against his lips, contemplating this unexpected change of events. This would be the perfect opportunity to turn things around with Cedric. He may lose some face by recanting his earlier statement, but it wouldn’t be hard to do. A wry smile at the camera, a joke about how hard it is to swallow humble pie, and they could put all this stuff behind them.

  As Ambria guided the team through the production schedule, Theo recalled how stoked he’d been when he was named a Pro Bowl starter for the first time. It had taken him three appearances to earn that distinction, but it had been worth it. A smile climbed across his lips at the memory, and then, just as quickly, it left. The excitement Cedric should be feeling right now had no doubt been dampened by all the hoopla over the “Sacked” segment. A rod of hurt pierced Theo’s chest at the thought of ruining this special time for his friend.

  “I take it everyone is ready for tomorrow,” Ambria stated.

  “I’m ready,” Theo said with resolve. He was going to make this right.

  But the relief he’d expected to feel never materialized. Instead, a knot of unease twisted in the pit of his stomach. How would recanting his statement about Cedric affect his chances at the desk job? Would the network execs see him as being too indecisive? Playing favorites toward his friends?

  Because that’s exactly what this amounted to. Cedric’s promotion to a starting position didn’t change the way Theo felt about his appointment to the Pro Bowl in general. He still felt that other players deserved the spot more than Cedric. Could he stomach being dishonest in front of the camera just to spare his friend more pain?

  A few hours later, Theo found himself standing before the mirror in his hotel room, staring at a person he wasn’t sure he even knew anymore. When had this become his life? How had he come to a place where he was trying to decide between his friendship with Cedric and his career? It was an impossible decision, but one he knew had to be made.

  Maybe he just wasn’t cut out for this television business.

  He was a football player; always had been. He lived by a code that teammates shared. They had each other’s backs. And Theo was starting to feel as if he’d stabbed Cedric squarely in his. Sure, there had been times when a guy’s work had not been up to snuff, and as captain of the Sabers’s defense, Theo had been required to take a few of his fellow teammates to task. But those discussions took place behind closed doors. Teammates didn’t chastise each other in public.

  But he was no longer their teammate.

  Ambria’s words flashed in his head, searing his brain. He was no longer a part of the New York Sabers franchise. His new team was the Sports Talk TV crew. He’d chosen this path. And if he wanted to be the best at it, he would be required to do some things that didn’t always sit right with him.

  Theo rubbed a hand down his face. He didn’t want to think about any of this right now. He needed to clear his head before thoughts of tomorrow’s Media Day drove him crazy.

  He glanced at the time illuminated on his cell phone. It was almost midnight.

  He couldn’t go to her right now. It was way too late.

  Theo unhooked the T-shirt he’d hung on the hook behind the bathroom door and pulled it over his head.

  She was probably sleeping. After the long, gloriously exhausting day they’d had, Deirdre had more than likely gone to her room and fallen asleep minutes after her head touched the pillow.

  He pulled on a pair of sweat pants and slipped into a pair of sturdy flip flops.

  She probably wouldn’t even answer his knock.

  Theo snatched up his room key and cell phone and left the room. He opted for the stairs, taking them two at a time as he climbed from the seventh to the eighth floor. His pulse raced a bit faster with each stair he climbed. By the time he made it to her door, he could hear his heart pounding, and he knew it had nothing to do with physical exertion.

  Theo gave three sharp raps on the door. He heard shuffling, and moments later, the door opened with Deirdre on the other side, looking disheveled and delectable in her satin nightgown.

  “Did I wake you?” he asked, even though he could tell he did.

  “It’s okay,” she said. She motioned for him to come in.

  He crossed the room and sat on one of the wicker chairs next to the glass doors that opened onto the balcony. Deirdre belted her robe and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked downright edible. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Just having a hard time winding down,” he said. “I was hoping I could convince you to join me for a walk on the beach.”

  “Now?”

  “Now is the best time. It’s quiet, the air is cool, and the sky is clear. It’s a great night for stargazing.”

  She tipped her head to the side and grinned at him. “You don’t have to sell me on taking a moonlit walk with you, Theo. At the moment I cannot think of anything I’d rather do more.”

  Ten minutes later, they were walking hand in hand along the beach, like a couple who had been together for years, each carrying their shoes in their other hand.

  “This is gorgeous,” Deirdre sighed, her face pointed skyward. “I’m not sure if the stars are just that bright, or if it’s because the sky is so black. It doesn’t look like this when I’m in New York. I think if you ever do buy that condo here, I may have to visit every now and again. If you’ll have me, that is.”

  “That’s not even a question. Now that I’ve been here with you, I cannot imagine ever enjoying Hawaii again without you.”

  Her blush was even more beautiful under the moon’s soft illuminati
on. Theo took a moment to soak it all in. When he thought back to the last few times he’d run into Deirdre before this trip, he would never have imagined they would be where they are right now. They had barely spoken ten words to each other in the last six months. The familiar ache he’d felt every time she’d avoided him turned into sweet pleasure as he held her palm. They had come such a long way.

  “Now that we’ve gazed at the stars and I’ve gotten this squishy sand between my toes, you want to tell me what this is really all about?” Deirdre asked. “I can tell something is wrong. Does it have to do with Cedric?”

  Not only was she beautiful, she was insightful, too.

  The relaxation this stroll had offered instantly dissipated. His shoulders tensed and a muscle began to twitch in his jaw. “That’s part of it,” Theo said. He sighed as they continued to make their way across the sand.

  “You want to finally tell me just what it is that’s going on between the two of you?” Deirdre asked. “After you both left the restaurant the other night, Torrian explained that you said a couple of other guys should have been selected to the Pro Bowl instead of Cedric. Is that right?”

  “I didn’t specifically say that,” he said. After a pause, he continued. “Well, I guess technically I did. There are only a limited number of slots available for each position. And, yes, if those players who I thought should have been selected had been, Cedric would have been left out.” He stopped walking and turned to her. “Cedric is like a brother to me, and he is one of the best running backs in the league, but I can’t show him preferential treatment just because we’re friends.”

  “Maybe that’s part of the problem,” Deirdre said. “Everyone knows how close you guys are. Maybe you’re being extra hard on Cedric because you don’t want anyone thinking you’re playing favorites.”

  Theo paused for a moment then shook his head. “No. If I thought Cedric should be the one playing in Sunday’s game, I would have said so. I know that Cedric is a great player,” he conceded. “We played on the same team for five years, but Demarco Lewis rushed for over 150 yards in eight straight games this season. He was the deciding factor in half of Cincinnati’s wins. That’s the type of things I take into account when I consider who belongs at the Pro Bowl. It’s those guys’ whose work means the difference between a winning season and a losing one. Cedric sat out three games with a hamstring injury and the Sabers didn’t miss a step.”