Chapter 9

Nine

Maeve

Tanner rubs his stomach and tosses the last bite of his buttery, crusty baguette into his mouth. "That was the best meal I've had in a long time."

My meatballs are good but not that good, but his appreciation fills me with warmth. "What have you been eating? Oh wait, now I remember. Leftover chicken that could possibly kill you."

He stands, takes my empty plate from the table and walks to the sink. My gaze naturally drops to his cute backside. He glances at me over his shoulder and I don't miss the little grin when he catches me looking.

He gestures with a nod to the hallway. "Why don't you go relax? Read a book. Watch a movie. Whatever it is you do to relax. I'll do dishes since you cooked."

"You helped me massage the balls." Dammit, what am I saying? He's not the only one blurting out strange things tonight, and it's clear we're both tongue tied because of the sexual tension taking up space between us. I don't know about him, but it's definitely frying my brain cells. I give a dismissive wave of my hand. "I actually cook to relax. Dishes are a part of that. Just leave them. I can toss them into the dishwasher later."

"Nope. My mom raised me better than that." His phone pings and he ignores it.

Speaking of mothers…

"Are you going to get that?" I ask and glance at his lit phone. Where did I even put mine? I lost track of everything after he showed up at my door and I don't really care. Right now, he's the only one I want to talk to.

"No."

"Maybe it's your family wanting to know who your plus one is for this Christmas Eve wedding?"

He glares at me. "We were having a perfectly good night. Why did you have to ruin it by bringing that up?"

"Aww, I'm sorry," I say and stand to help him load the dishwasher. We reach for the same pot and our hands connect. We both suck in a fast breath and pull back like we'd just touched the hot stove instead of each other.

"Sorry," he replies quickly and then he starts to laugh.

"What's funny?" I ask trying not to sound breathless, and failing miserably.

He bends to put the pot in the tray and I stare at his cute butt. "Being in Canada so long has rubbed off on me."

As soon as those words leave his mouth, my body begins to heat, deep between my legs, because yes, I am thinking about rubbing something off on me, or him. OMG. What is wrong with me? Maybe I should sleep with him. Maybe that will help alleviate this tension between us and get my brain working properly again.

Go for it, Maeve.

No, no, no. I can't do that.

Shut up and do it.

"I should probably go," Tanner says, making the decision for me and I'm grateful for that, I think .

I wipe my hand on the dish towel and hold it out to him. "Again, thanks for coming by. I really appreciate it."

He takes the towel, and I pull back quickly before we touch again. He dries his hands and sets the towel on the counter. He goes very serious when he says, "Anytime. Call me, Maeve. Don't hesitate. I'll come no matter where I am or what I'm doing."

"If you're with another woman?" I half tease. He's been keeping his head down and nose clean, so why am I even asking that? I guess I just want to hear his response.

"I'll still come," he assures me and then frowns. "I'm not sure that came out right."

I process it for a second. "Ohmigod. What is with us tonight?"

"I think you know," he answers and runs his fingers through his hair.

"I'll walk you out."

He nods, and picks up his phone, rolling his eyes as he gives it a glance. "You were right. It was my family, my brother Jensen to be exact, asking who my plus one was. Mom probably put him up to it."

"She's a woman of many means."

He closes his eyes and shakes his head as he looks up at the ceiling. "They're all conspiring against me."

"Oh, wait before you go…" I reach into the freezer and pull out the ice cream I bought. "Dessert. Have some Ben and Jerry's with me."

He rubs his stomach and grumbles. "I don't know, it's not on the diet."

I pull off the lid and set it on the counter. "One spoonful. It's so good you have to taste it." I pull a spoon from the drawer and scoop out a big dollop of banana nut bread ice cream filled with delicious dark chocolate chunks. "I won't tell if you don't."

He examines the big chunk of chocolate with interested eyes. "Mmm, now that's a nice fat snack," he jokes. "Our secret," he confirms, as I slide the spoon into his mouth. He moans as he eats, and the sound takes me back to the night at the hotel, and the long, tasty treat I put in my mouth. "So good," he murmurs.

"Right," I agree, my legs growing weak, and he takes the spoon from me to lick it.

"Can I double dip?"

I lean against the kitchen counter for support. "Sure, it's only going to be the two of us eating it." He dips the spoon in and feeds it to me. "Yum."

"Best fat snack you've ever had?" he asks with a cock of his head, his salted caramel eyes darkening to a deeper brown as things heat up between us despite the cold ice cream.

We both shift at the same time, and I nearly swallow my tongue as our bodies bump, right around the groin region. "Um, no," I admit honestly and the second I do a new kind of heat arcs between us. I move against his body, loving that he's as turned on as I am.

This is a bad idea, Maeve.

He licks the spoon, and sets it on the counter. "I was just wondering something…"

"Yeah?"

"These rules you talked about earlier…" His breathing is deeper as he puts his arm around me and pulls me close. "You know when you lick something…"

My body warms. "I didn't make the rules. I only follow them."

"Is there anything you might want to lick. You know, to lay claim?"

I arch a brow. "Something on your mind, T?" I ask, and shift so I can put my hand between our bodies and cup his thickening cock.

He takes a fast breath. "Possibly."

I grin. "But I didn't think you were a rule follower."

He moans and pushes up against my hand and I run my fingers along the bulge in his pants. "Maybe I want to be tonight."

"Yeah, maybe I want to be too, and yes, there is something I want to lick and claim." Before I even realize what's happening, he lifts me, and I wrap my legs around his waist.

"Bedroom?" he asks as he heads back down the hall to the stairs.

"Yes, bedroom." He hurries up the stairs, and I keep my arms tight around him as I grow damp between my legs. "First door on the left."

He steps into my room, kicks the door shut behind him and turns me until I'm pressed against it. "I am fucking crazy about you, Maeve."

My insides soar, because yeah, I'm pretty crazy about him too. "Show me."

"Jesus," he groans as his hungry lips close over mine. He kisses me hard, his mouth devouring mine with an enthusiasm that tells me that tonight we're going all the way and he's going to rock my world in a way it's never been rocked before.

He breaks the kiss and lightly runs his tongue over my lips. "Mine," he murmurs playfully and I chuckle.

I give a casual shrug, even though nothing about this feels casual. It feels warm and intimate, and so damn right. "I mean, if you licked it." He growls and carries me to the bed. Dropping to his knees as he sits me on the edge and stays between my legs. His eyes hold mine as he grips the hem of my big sweater. I lift my hands over my head to make it easy for him and I love the growl rumbling in his throat.

He peels my sweater off and tosses it away, his big hands going around my back to unhook my lacy bra. "Fuck, Maeve," he murmurs, his eyes full of adoration as he zeroes in on my breasts. He cups me gently, his thumbs brushing my nipples. They swell under his ministrations and I arch into his touch.

"Yours?" I ask, wanting his mouth on me and loving this little game we're playing.

He leans forward and licks both nipples. "Mine," he mumbles as he takes one into his mouth, for a deep thorough suck. I run my hands through his hair as my entire body quakes, wanting more…wanting everything.

He puts his hands on my thighs and inches back. "Maeve, Sweetness. I need to lick you everywhere." I nod and his head drops, his hands moving up my thighs to the band on my yoga pants. I lean back on the bed, bracing myself on my arms as I lift my hips for him. He tugs my pants and panties down, his mouth on my stomach, breathing in my skin as he strips me naked.

My mind shuts down and I'm about to sit back up again until his big mitt presses against my stomach, holding me down and I have to say, while being restrained is a little scary for me after well, you know what, it's not when Tanner does it. In fact, it's kind of arousing.

You trust him, Maeve.

He uses his big shoulders to widen my legs as he repositions between them. "Sweetness," he murmurs, his voice full of wonderment and adoration as he gazes at my sex, which is wide open, on display, his to do with as he pleases. For the first time in a long time, I'm naked, exposed and vulnerable, and I'm not afraid.

"I get to lick here." He shakes his head like he can't believe it, like he never thought he'd have the chance again.

"Yes," is all I can manage to get out as my clit swells, begging for his mouth.

He lightly runs a finger along the length of my slit as he continues to devour me with his eyes, like I'm giving him the best gift he's ever been given. His head lifts and the storm brewing in the depths of his eyes swirls around me, and in that instant, something arcs between us, something warm and intimate, something that might go beyond lust, or even friendship. I can't go there. I know that. But how do I stop myself when this guy is so sweet and gentle and looking at me like I'm everything he's ever wanted?

Take what you need tonight, Maeve. Figure the rest out tomorrow.

"Then it's mine," he states.

"Then it's yours," I agree, and his chest expands as he takes a fast breath, his head dipping. A second later, his tongue is on me and my hips come off the bed as he swirls the soft blade around my aching clit. Heat flashes through me, and I'm flying sky high in seconds.

"Yes, Tanner," I moan and grip his hair tighter. I follow the motion of his head as he pleasures me, and the noises he's making lets me know how much he likes it too.

"All mine," he murmurs from between my legs, as he slips a finger inside me, and he already knows my body so well, he strokes the spot that turns me into a delirious ball of need.

"Oh, God yes," I groan, agreeing with him. Heck, if he's going to do magical things to my body, I'm pretty much going to agree to anything.

He licks my clit, his deft finger stroking steady and deep, and a second later, every muscle in my body tightens as pleasure centers between my legs, followed by an earth-shattering climax, that steals my breath and ability to form words.

"T," I cry out, my body letting go, my juices dripping down his probing finger. He grins up at me, the heat and satisfaction in his eyes flares through my chest, warming me from the inside out.

"I love when you come for me," he says and presses open-mouthed kisses to my nether lips as my body continues to convulse around his finger.

"Looks like our hobbies mesh. You like making me come and I like you making me come."

His chuckle curls around me as he falls over my naked body, and I wrap my legs around his hips. His jeans are rough on my skin and that's when I realize he's completely overdressed.

"Get up," I demand, and his head rears back.

"Sweetness—"

"It's not fair that I'm naked and you're not." I pout like a spoiled child. "There are things I want to see and things I want to do to you."

He grins, jumps up and makes quick work of his pants. "What the lady wants, the lady gets."

"Oh, so this is all about me," I tease.

He shoves his pants and boxers down and kicks them off. "Of course."

I zero in on his very beautiful hard cock as he tears off his shirt. "This hardness," I begin as I examine every throbbing vein begging for my touch. I innocently blink up at him. "This happened because of me."

"Goddamn right it did," he blurts out with a laugh.

I laugh with him, and when I notice he's stopped laughing, I glance up and suck in a breath when I see the wild, hungry, and intense way he's now watching me.

"T," I push out past a dry throat.

His chest rises and falls erratically. "Touch me, Maeve. Please."

"It's all I've been able to think about for the last week," I admit honestly.

I take him into my hands, and the muscles on his stomach ripple. I lean forward and lick his crown. "Mine," I murmur and his cock grows impossibly thicker. I glance up at him and those intense eyes are still locked on me. There's something there, something that tells me he's feeling this connection every bit as much as I am.

I swallow and glance back at his gorgeous cock. I take him into my mouth, and he moves his hips. I drink the pre-cum and moan, loving the taste of him. I cup his balls, and lick some more, but he's quick to stop me.

"Maeve. On the bed, legs spread," he orders in a soft voice. I nod, and shimmy back as he grips his cock and strokes it. He glances around, and I have no idea what he's doing until he finds his pants and pulls out a condom. He frowns as he glances at it.

"T?"

"This thing is old. Been carrying it around a while."

I kind of like that he's not a man-whore like many of the players on the team. Don't get me wrong. They're single and can do what they want. I just like that he doesn't need to have a different woman every weekend. He really seems like a one-woman kind of guy.

Could that one woman be you, Maeve?

Nope, not thinking about that tonight.

"I have condoms," I tell him and frown. "But they're old too."

"What a pair we are."

I shrug. "It's been a while for me too T, but I have an implant." His eyes narrow, as his brow furrows. "It's called Nexplanon." I lift my arm to show him the spot where it was implanted. He stands completely still, and I can almost hear his thoughts racing. "You don't trust it." I make a move to sit up, when a worse thought hits. "You don't trust me?" God, does he think I'm one of those puck bunnies who want to get pregnant to score herself a player?

He puts his hand on my stomach again to stop me. "No, Maeve. That's not it at all. It's just…you trust me, trust that I'm clean and would never do anything to hurt you, and that means a lot. I know what you've been through."

His words curl around my heart and hold tight. "I do trust you," I say, my voice hitching as tears press against my eyes.

He cocks his head. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yes, this is just more emotional than I realized."

He nods, because he gets it. Then he dips his head and concerned eyes move over my face. "Do you still want this, Maeve?"

"Yes," I say, adamantly and definitively. He crawls onto the bed with me, and falls over my body. His cock presses between my legs. "You clearly do too." I grin, hoping to lighten this profound moment.

"If we're being honest. This is all I've been able to think about for the last week," he tells me as he slowly and gently inches his cock into my waiting channel.

He briefly closes his eyes, like he wants to savor this moment, and I cup his face, wanting that too. "You feel amazing," he grunts out as he moves his hips, giving me more, and I greedily take it as I moan and try to move my body beneath his weight.

I put my hands on his back, and lightly scratch his skin. He moans, and I wiggle and his eyes meet mine. "Need more?"

"I need everything," I tell him.

"Then I'll give you everything." In one quick thrust, he pushes so deep he hits my cervix and it nearly brings on another climax. But I don't want this to be over just yet. I put my legs around him, holding him in my body, but he inches out, only to slide back in again, and our moans of pleasure merge and curl around us.

His pace is slow at first. I sense he wants to draw this out as much as I do. Maybe he thinks it's our one and only time, but how can it be? I'm definitely going to need more of Tanner Bang. I lift my body, moving with him, each of us taking and giving until we're panting and struggling not to tumble over.

"T," I say. "I've licked you, so now you're mine. That means whenever I need you, you have to come."

He grunts out a chuckle. "Oh, I'll come." His head lifts. "Are you saying there's going to be more of this?"

"It has to be our little secret."

"You want to sneak around, Sweetness?"

"Until this…what's happening here…burns out. I don't think we have a choice."

He starts moving faster, angling his body so his cock can hit me in all the right places. I open my mouth but no words form as pleasure centers and fires every nerve ending. "Oh, God."

"Yeah, Sweetness. I want you to come all over my cock, then I'm going to fill you with my cum. I want you to think about me every time you feel me dripping out of you."

His words push me over the edge, and I convulse around him. He clenches down on his teeth, and I sense he's struggling to hold off until I've ridden out the waves. I lift my head, and lightly brush my lips over his. "Fill me," I whisper.

He throws his head back, pushes deep inside and goes silent as his cock pulses inside me. I close my eyes and concentrate on each pulse as warmth flares through me. He comes and comes and comes some more, like it's been building up for the last week, and I totally get it.

"Maeve," he murmurs and finds my mouth. With our bodies locked together, our tongues touch and tangle until the spasms subside. He inches back and searches my face.

I put my palm on his cheek, my heart pounding a little too hard, and I can't blame it all on the physical activity. "That was…everything," I tell him and he grins. "I like a man who keeps his promises."

He kisses me again and slowly pulls out of me. I wince as he leaves my body. He pulls me to him. "Should we shower, or are you too tired?"

"I don't think I'd ever be too tired to shower with you, Tanner."

He rolls off the bed, stands, and stretches out his arm to me. I admire his muscular body again as I take his hand, and before we can leave the room, his phone pings and I glance around, still unable to find mine. "Are you going to answer?"

He pulls it from his pants pocket and shakes his head. "No. Jesus. Do they not know what time it is here? Christ, it's Mom asking about my damn plus one again."

"Relentless," I mutter. "You better tell her something, or we're not going to get any sleep." Did I just invite him to sleep over? My God, I did.

His eyes hold mine, as he realizes the significance in what I just implied. "Yeah, I have to tell her something."

"So where exactly are you going to find this plus one?"

His head lifts slowly, and as his gaze zeros in on my face, my heart jumps. Wait, is he…

"I hope I'm looking at her."