STORY EXCERPT

Noble Truce rolled her eyes as overrated football star Finn Kipling strolled into Iron Horse Bar & Grill, looking like he owned the place. The six foot-three, short brown-haired, green-eyed, muscular quarterback was all ego, trailed by groupies, wannabes, and who-give-a-shits. He was seriously not worth the beer she was forced to serve him and his band of merry followers.

I should’ve called in sick.

She clenched her jaw, stunned by just how many people still adored him after the kind of year he’d had. He sucked. Big time. He threw more interceptions than she could count and was sacked so much she couldn’t believe every bone in his body hadn’t been permanently displaced.

Not to mention, all men like him want to do is talk about how great they are and screw anything with a hole and heartbeat.

No, thank you. Been there. Done that. Never again.

“Why the mega eye roll?” Claire Buckman asked, sliding up alongside Noble as they both waited for drinks at the bar.

Noble drummed her fingers in a quickening rhythm on the dark wood countertop, apprehension rising. The memories of the mistakes of her past were never far away. It didn’t mean she wanted to spill her guts up all over the floor. “What eye roll?”

“The one where you caused the wind to change direction,” Layton Goldman said with a snicker. “We all saw it the minute”—she changed her voice to sound like Marilyn Monroe—“Finn Kipling entered the bar.”

Claire and Layton sighed, fanning themselves.

Noble rolled her eyes. Again. Her friends had zero taste. The mere mention of his name churned the acids in her belly enough to make her want to gag. Finn was no longer the type of man she wanted anything to do with, even though he didn’t look half bad. She wasn’t interested in jocks. They were arrogant and selfish.

They’re jerks.

The room darkened around her, swallowing her up within its cold, suffocating grasp. Her hands grew sweaty as she fumbled with her serving tray, thinking back to her time in college. She’d given her heart and virginity to River Knight, star quarterback. He had shown her exactly how much he cared about her. She could still feel the burning gazes of everyone on the football team as she stepped from the room where she’d given everything to the man who betrayed her. River stood by the door, holding it open, wearing a smug look. He’d shared personal details about her with his teammates—how wet she was, how tight she was, he’d even made up things, too—dirty, nasty, unspeakable things. Her reputation was ruined. All because he was the star quarterback and she was just a regular student who’d stupidly fallen for his lies.

She cringed.

“See!” Claire cheered, pointing a determined finger at Noble. “There it is again.”

“Why do you dislike him so much, Noble?”

“My guess,” Jace Burnette started, placing drinks on her tray, “Noble had a groupie-styled one-night stand with him and he never called back.”

A switch flipped in her head, tearing her from her wayward thoughts. “So not what happened,” she grated, collected her drink-covered tray and headed back for the table she was tending.

“Excuse me?”

She turned and the smile that once coated her face slid down like a fast-moving avalanche. The cold chill that raced up her spine shot out to every limb, making her fingers tingle. Her stomach sank to her shoes as her eyes drifted over his face, suddenly feeling as though she were once again making her walk of shame. Whispers and snickers echoing like ghosts, forever haunting her.

Gritting her teeth, she swallowed down the bitter memories. “Can I help you?”

Finn Kipling smiled as if he were auditioning for some teeth whitening commercial. “My friends and I would love a round of beers.”

“Great. I’ll send someone over.”

She headed straight to her table to drop off her customers’ drinks, then she bolted for the bar, shouldering past Finn, not looking back. Even though she wanted to. His flawless olive skin, deep penetrating eyes, soft smile, and body that left a massive shadow over hers, played at the parts of her womanhood she’d wished would shut the hell up. She wasn’t blind, and she sure the hell wasn’t a saint; she just couldn’t get caught up in a man like Finn.

Even if he does smell like the deep woods after a crisp rainfall. So damn sexy. She groaned. What the hell’s wrong with me? Finn Kipling sucks.

“Who is waiting on Kipling’s table?”

“Not me,” Claire said. “My shifts ending and I have to go pick up my daughter.”

“Layton?”

“Sorry, babe. I can’t. Sam asked me to—”

“Seriously? No one wants to wait on—” Noble pursed her lips. “You know what? Never mind.”

She was sure one of the girls would’ve jump at the chance to cover a football star’s table, but no. They were busy, had plans, or just didn’t want to. Her luck sucked.

Locking her jaw tight, she turned and stalked toward Finn’s table, the one loaded with all the types of people she loathed. People who had no clue about how the world really spun. People who didn’t care who they trampled on their way to the top. Selfish asshats who never considered how their actions could destroy others around them.

Drinks and food. That’s it. Then they’ll be gone.

I hope.

ADULT EXCERPT

Reaching around her, he unclasped her bra and freed her beautiful breasts of the restraint. Her breasts fit perfectly in his hands, and as he massaged them, he gently pinched the nipple between his index finger and thumb, cupping and caressing her all at the same time.

When she gripped his cock through his pants, he practically came up on his toes and thrusted himself against her. Damn, how he wanted to be inside her, taking her hard, and making her come. He was so turned on by her, he didn’t think he could hold out much longer, especially when her other hand moved to unfasten his belt, pop open  his pants, and slide down his waist.

Control. Get control.

Her small hands wrapped around his shaft, and he bit the inside of his cheek to contain his groan. She stroked him, exploring his firmness. She glanced up for a moment to meet his gaze, her eyes liquid with desire. “Take them off,” she rasped, pulling her hand free to help him shove his pants down.

When he rose, she was easing her panties down her legs and moving backward toward the bed. She positioned herself on it, keeping her legs together. His mouth watered, craving a taste of the moist flesh between her legs. He didn’t go down on a lot of women. The world was a shady place, and the women who generally sought him out were not like Noble.

Looking her over, he was sure he’d never seen a woman as breathtakingly gorgeous. She was stunning, more ravishing than he could’ve ever dreamed. His cock hardened to the point of pain.

Growling under his breath, he stalked to the nightstand and pulled out a condom and tossed it onto the bed beside her. When she reached for it, he shook his head. “Not yet.”

Her eyes rounded, leaving the golden foil wrapper beside her.

With his tongue thick in his mouth, he stepped up to the side of the bed and clasped her ankles, cradling his hands up her tone calves and over her thighs, coming back to her knees to encourage her to relax. She did, but only a little. He caught the uncertain look in her eyes.

“Have you ever been so thirsty that you didn’t think anything would ease that feeling?”

She nodded.

“That’s how I feel about tasting your pussy, Noble. I want to pleasure you this way so damn much.”

She licked her lips. “I’ve never—” She closed her eyes, her expression strained.

“Has no man ever done this to you?”

She shook her head.

I’ll be the first.

“I’ve only ever been with selfish asshats and quick fucks.”

He didn’t like hearing that she’d been with other men. Not that he was jealous. He actually didn’t know why it troubled him. Maybe it’s because she made him work hard. He liked that she’d been selective and had finally chosen him.

“Lucky me,” he said, his voice a grumble of satisfaction. “I don’t plan for this to be quick and I’ll make it worth the wait. I promise.”

After a moment, she relaxed a little. With his hands on her inner thighs, he parted her enough to work his shoulders down.

Positioning himself on the bed between her spread legs, he kissed a trail up her thighs and along her pelvis. His cock punched against the bed at the view of her groomed, almost bald, and glistening pussy. God, help me. Her heady scent was driving him mad, and he longed to be fucking her with his tongue and fingers, tasting her juices as he heard her cries of pleasure. But he couldn’t rush things. He needed to savory her.

He parted the folds of her pussy to see everything. She was drenched and once again his pride surfaced. He had done that for her and he was going to make her even wetter. He swirled his finger over her moisture and teased slow, circular strokes over her clit. She arched the second he touched her. Leaning closer, he flicked his tongue over her sensitive button, gaging just how ready she was to feel his entire mouth feast on her.

For a time, he just explored her with his fingers, but he couldn’t wait any longer. In unison, he clamped his mouth over her clit and sank a finger into her pussy. She cried out, feeling him fuck her and suck her in rhythm. As if in approval, she parted her legs further, giving him all the access he needed to satisfy her. He tasted her thoroughly, while his finger dipped in and out of her. When her hands wandered to his head, her fingers weaving in his hair, he added a second digit.

Damn, she’s tight.

Fluttering moans rolled from her throat, her head whipping from side to side on the bed. “Oh, God,” she cried.

He sucked enough to feel her tight button press against his lips, his tongue teasing over it each time he pulled it back into his mouth. He could feel her sheath tightening around his fingers as he moved them in and out of her wet heat. She was close.

Then she cried out, her thighs clamping around his face as she came. Her hands gripped his hair, pulling as he wrung every drop of cream from her body. Heaven. Slipping his fingers from her pussy, she slowly let the tension fall away, her body relaxing against the mattress. He crawled up over her and smiled. Her eyes were closed, her breathing labored. When her eyes fluttered open, his smile grew.

“Worth the wait?”

A lopsided grin played at the corner of her mouth. “Maybe.” She laughed softly. “We might have to try a second time to make sure.”

His smile vanished. “If you think you can handle it.”

She grabbed the golden foil from beside her hip and held it between them. “Let’s find out.”