They’d only been gone five minutes—though it felt like an hour. Had the guys noticed?

  Reggie went to grab the pill bottle off his dresser. “Are you staying here tonight?”

  “I want to.” She bit her lip. “I drove with the guys, though, so I’d better leave with them. I’ll grab my car and come back.”

  This all felt way too cloak-and-dagger. She hated that they had to hide it.

  “Good.” Reggie maneuvered with his crutches to the door and glanced back. “Don’t be long.”

  Amber rushed to the bathroom that was in his room to check herself out in the mirror. She groaned at the reflection.

  Oh, yeah, she definitely had that I just came look all over her face.

  With a sigh, she turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on her cheeks. Then tried to think about anything besides what had just happened between them.

  Which had her remembering something he’d said.

  He hadn’t received her text? That was weird. She went into her texts and opened the ones from him.

  “Oh my god.”

  Dismay swept through her as she stared down at the unsent text.

  Why hadn’t she sent it?

  She thought back to when she’d typed it out and frowned.

  Right. She’d been in the gym and the captain had come in and started talking to her. She’d been so flustered, and in a rush to hide her phone, she must not have hit send.

  Guilt stabbed her. And to think she’d been annoyed at him when she’d arrived tonight for ignoring her text. Had jumped to all kinds of conclusions.

  All this time, she was the jerk in this situation.

  She glanced in the mirror one last time and nodded.

  Much better.

  After drawing in a slow breath and putting on her best poker face, she made her way back out to the living room where the guys were sitting around talking.

  The only one who glanced her way was Blake, and she could’ve sworn his lips quirked. But then, just as quickly, he looked back to Adam, who was talking.

  She grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and brought it into the living room to join the group.

  “What the heck is poking me?”

  Chuck shifted on the couch and reached into the cushions.

  Everything seemed to go into slow motion for Amber as he pulled out a purple lace bra. Her bra.

  She’d been trying to figure out where it had disappeared to for the last few weeks.

  And there it was. Buried in the couch cushions and now dangling from the captain’s finger.

  “You lose something?” Chuck asked, glancing at Reggie.

  “Reg, you dog,” Chad called out in awe. “Broken leg, and it still doesn’t stop you.”

  “Damn. Who is she?” Adam asked.

  If the warming of her face was any indication, Amber knew she was turning red.

  “Whoever she is, it’s none of your business,” Blake said tersely and grabbed the bra, tossing it to Reggie. “Give the man a break.”

  Reggie took the bra with a lopsided grin—that she knew he must be faking—and set it on his recliner.

  “Thanks, bro.”

  Amber forced herself to blink, because she wasn’t sure she had in a while. When her gaze focused, she found Blake watching her again. He quickly looked away.

  Oh crap.

  Blake absolutely knew about them.

  Chapter Fifteen

  By the time it was six, everyone had left. Amber included. But before she’d gone, he’d seen the heated look in her eyes that meant when she got back, they were going to pick right back up on the sexy times.

  Reggie went to clean up the dinner, but found someone had already done it.

  Needing to keep busy, he worked on some of the exercises his physical therapist had given him instead. While it was great for the body, it didn’t do much to distract him from the last couple of hours.

  What had he been thinking?

  Practically dragging Amber down the hall to touch her when the rest of the guys were in the other room?

  Damn, she went to his head. His need for her made him arrogant and reckless. Stupid.

  Still, there was no denying the rush he’d gotten from being the one to make her come after watching Adam ogle her over dinner.

  Another stab of jealousy hit, but he shoved it away.

  If Amber had any interest in Adam, she wouldn’t be here with you all the time. Stop being an insecure ass.

  Still, thinking of Adam’s not-so-hidden interest in Amber tonight lit something dark inside him.

  He sat down on the couch for a moment and checked his phone.

  The sound of a key in the door had him turning. Amber stepped into the house and shut the door behind her, leaning against it.

  His gaze swept over her. She still wore that denim dress that showed off just a hint of knee and legs above the boots.

  The blood in his veins quickened. Tonight he’d have her completely.

  His leg was so much better than it had been—it was time to stop being overly cautious. There were ways to have sex while still keeping it safe.

  “Hey,” she said softly, her gaze finding his.

  “Hey.”

  He made no move to rise, but she was already moving toward him.

  “So, I owe you an apology,” she murmured, unfastening the first button on the denim dress.

  His focus moved to the hint of cleavage she’d exposed. “Yeah?”

  “You’re right. I never texted you.” She unbuttoned the second button. “I meant to. I typed it out. I just never hit send. The captain interrupted me and I panicked and shoved my phone in my pocket.”

  “So that’s what happened. I got a little worried,” he admitted grudgingly.

  “I know you did.” She undid another button, which flashed the black bra that held her breasts. “And I’m sorry. I would’ve worried too. Let me make it up to you?”

  “I’ll allow it.” He gave a lazy smile.

  He watched as she shimmied out of the dress and let it pool at her feet, leaving her in the black bra and matching black panties.

  His cock twitched. Especially with the growing determination to have that part of him inside her tonight.

  She pulled off her boots and then sank to her knees in front of him and the couch.

  When she reached for the zipper on his jeans, he didn’t protest. Usually, he wanted to touch her first, but there was something so absolutely sexy about her determination to apologize this way.

  Within moments, she had him free from his shorts and boxers, stroking the length of him in her hand.

  When she took him in her mouth, the air hissed past his lips and he leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes.

  He slid his fingers into her hair and gave himself over to her skilled mouth.

  But closing his eyes meant he couldn’t watch her, and god, he loved seeing her do this.

  He stared with his lids half-mast. Loved the way her blond hair teased his thighs as she moved that sweet mouth over him.

  She was so damn good at bringing him to the brink.

  Before he hit that point of no return, he tugged her head up and off him.

  She licked her lips, her gaze raising to his. “You haven’t finished.”

  “That’s not where I want to finish tonight, angel.” He let the words hang in the air, seeing if she’d catch his drift.

  Uncertainty flashed in her eyes. “Are you saying . . .”

  “I want a home run tonight.” He grimaced. “If we’re talking in bases.”

  That had her laughing, even as a flash of excitement lit her eyes.

  “Are you sure it’s not too soon?”

  “Nah, we can get creative with positions. I messaged my doc.”

  “Did you now?” Still in her bra and panties, she rose and moved to straddle him on the couch.

  With her hands on his shoulders, she rubbed herself against his hard cock.

  “Creative like this?”

  Need hit him like a semi. If he wasn’t fully hard before, he was now.

  “Yeah,” he whispered, reaching out to remove her bra. Then, once her breasts were free, he moved to rub the silky fabric between her legs. “Maybe without these, though.”

  Her breath hitched. “Might be easier that way.”

  A smile tugged at his lips, and he slipped a finger beneath the material and inside her. So wet. Warm. Ready for him.

  “But not until I’ve taken you with my mouth.” He cupped her ass and lifted her, urging her up. “I think you know the drill by now.”

  He loved the little shiver that went through her and the groan she made.

  “I don’t need that, Reg. I’m ready for you. I could take you.”

  “I know you could, angel. But I need it. I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”

  He urged her up until she was standing on the cushions, gripping the back of the couch. The curtains were closed, and her body was in the perfect position for him to take what he wanted.

  And, damn, but he wanted this.

  With steady hands, he gripped the edges of her panties and eased them down. She shifted, lifting her legs to help kick them off.

  Then she was spread out in front of him, all soft and pink, ready for him.

  He flicked his tongue out to tease her.

  With oral being their only play for so long, he’d become addicted to the taste of her. The smell. And the way she responded to his fingers and mouth.

  And judging by the confidence she had while pleasing him with her mouth, she must’ve felt the same.

  He dipped his tongue inside her, loving the cry she made. Her short nails bit into his shoulders and he knew they’d leave those little crescent marks.

  Not that he minded. They felt almost like a trophy for bringing her so much pleasure.

  He found her clit, taking his sweet time tormenting it and bringing her closer to that edge.

  When she was almost there, he slid a finger inside her and groaned when she gripped him.

  Soon that was going to be his cock.

  “Reggie.” She rocked against his face, her movements frenzied and needy.

  He suckled her and brought her the release she begged for.

  Then her legs seemed to give out and she slid back down until she was straddling him on her knees. She buried her face against his chest, and he slid his arm around her to hold her.

  “You’re way too good at that.” She followed the unsteady words by brushing a kiss across her chest.

  He gave a small laugh, even as his cock strained against the softness of her ass that barely rested above it.

  She must’ve felt it because she lifted her head and pushed herself lightly against him.

  “Amber,” he hissed.

  “Where are the condoms?”

  “My bathroom drawer? Maybe? Nightstand? Not sure. It’s been so long.”

  “Okay, back in a second.”

  *

  Amber rushed through his room, tearing open drawers until she found the box of condoms.

  Her mind repeating the fact that it’d been so long. She wasn’t about to ask how long, but she was definitely curious.

  In the entire time she’d known him—what, three years?—she’d only been aware of him being in two relationships. The last being Nicole. Which, he’d admitted, wasn’t even really much of a relationship.

  When she reached the living room again, she found Reggie’s gaze on her. His eyes flickered with desire, but also such gentle tenderness, that had her insides heating for a different reason.

  There was something about making it official, after months of just oral sex. Something that made it feel like the stakes were being upped.

  Probably because you can’t get pregnant from swallowing.

  She groaned and told her sense of humor to shut up with the silent bad jokes.

  Her attention slid to Reggie’s erection and a new wave of nerves hit. It was one thing to touch it with her hands and mouth, but how would he feel inside her?

  He was big. No getting around it.

  Also, he wasn’t the only one who hadn’t had sex in a while. Three years of crushing on him had given her a big old abstinence streak.

  “Come here, angel.”

  His soft prompt had any nerves vanishing. She moved to the couch and pulled a condom from the box.

  He took it from her hand and ripped it open before rolling it onto his cock in such a smooth way, she was glad he’d done it.

  Then he leaned forward and placed his hands on her waist to lift her back onto his lap so they were facing each other.

  But now there was no clothing between them.

  Her legs straddled his hips, with her knees on the couch cushions. His cock nudged against her bottom, and she knew it would just take a small maneuver back to have him inside her.

  Her heart began a slow gallop as he palmed her breasts, and her nipples hardened.

  But he didn’t try to enter her right away, instead lowering his head to kiss her. To really, thoroughly kiss her.

  With slow rubs of tongue and sucking. Lip nibbling. All while he massaged her breasts and stroked her nipples.

  The hot need rose inside her again, even though she’d already come once, and she pressed her bottom against his erection.

  “Reg,” she whispered. “I’m ready.”

  “Take the reins, angel. You’re in control.”

  She drew in a slow breath, gripped his shoulders, and manipulated her hips in a way that pressed him at the entrance between her legs.

  Then she slowly sank onto him.

  It was almost hard to breathe with the sensation of him stretching her, filling her. He went so deep.

  “Amber,” he choked out, sliding his hands to hold her ass. “God, you feel amazing.”

  “So do you.” Even to her own ears, the words sounded drugged with pleasure.

  To have him inside of her, after all this time. To be joined in the most intimate, sensual way.

  Their gazes locked and emotion welled up in her throat, and tears pricked.

  “My angel,” he whispered, before claiming her mouth again.

  She rocked on him slowly, circling and lifting slightly as she got used to having him inside her.

  When he groaned, she broke the kiss and searched his face. “Am I hurting you?”

  “No way.”

  But his pained look had her doubting him.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I just don’t have as much control as you. I want to take you faster.” He squeezed her ass. “You trust me to take over?”

  “Yes.”

  Showing that impressive upper arm strength, he gripped her waist and lifted her almost completely off him before his hips flexed upward, and he pushed her back down onto him.

  The sensation almost had her eyes crossing in a mix of pleasure and pain.

  “Too much?”

  “Not enough,” she gasped. “Do it again.”

  He did, and soon they found a rhythm that went from fast and frenzied to slow and intimate.

  “I’ve wanted to be inside you for so long,” he muttered. “And it’s so much better than I ever imagined.”

  Their pace quickened, and she knew he was close to his release.

  She slid her hands up to cup his head and leaned in to take his lips, pushing herself down on him as deep as she could, taking him in fully.

  His groan turned into a gasp, and she softened her kiss as he came inside her.

  They rocked together a few more times until he went still. She couldn’t tell if it was her heart or his heart thumping wildly as she lifted her head.

  I love you.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The words almost spilled from her lips, but Amber caught them just in time.

  But the realization was there, and any euphoria from what had just happened was tapered by the new knowledge.

  So much for not catching feelings.

  She eased off him carefully, lowering her lashes to hide anything she wasn’t ready for him to see.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  His soft words had her trying not to cringe.

  “I’m good.” She offered a small smile. “My legs are cramping a bit from that position.”

  “You don’t do that one too much?” he teased, removing the condom and tying it off.

  “I don’t do any all that much,” she admitted. “I’ve only been with a couple guys before you, Reg. And they were pretty much the missionary-or-bust types.”

  He was silent for a moment. “Sometimes, I forget how young you are.”

  “I’m almost twenty-four. And I’m picky with who I sleep with, so yeah, it really hasn’t been that many.” She cast a glance over at him. “And, from my understanding, you’re pretty picky too.”

  “I am.” His smile wavered and his gaze softened on her.

  Her heart quickened. It wasn’t quite admitting feelings, but it certainly danced around the topic.

  “I’ll toss this.” She grabbed the condom and went to throw it in the garbage.

  After washing her hands, she filled a glass of water in the kitchen and finally asked the question that had been on her mind.

  “Does Blake know about us?”

  Reggie’s sigh could be heard from down the hall. “Blake has this sixth sense about who and when people are hooking up.”

  “Gross.”

  His laughter was drowned out by the water as she turned on the tap. She took a sip and then went back to the living room, handing him the glass.

  “Will he say anything?”

  “You know Blake just as well as I do. He’ll keep it to himself. He just wants us to be careful.”

  There it was again. The reminder that all of this could go badly for them in a multitude of ways.

  “Good thing we are.” It sounded lame, even to her own ears.

  Reggie was quiet for a moment. “You’re invited to Thanksgiving.”

  Her head jerked up and her eyes widened. “What?”

  “My mom wanted to make sure you knew.”

  Seriously?

  “I’d love you to come, if you can. If you don’t have other plans.” He leaned over and reached for his crutches, using them to rise to his feet. “I know you’re off that day.”

  Everything inside her melted a little. “I was going to volunteer to cover for someone who might want to be with their family. I’m single.”