Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

“Where’s your condom?”

“Under my right thigh.”

Jaclyn looked up at him, her eyebrows knitted. DeMarcus shifted to his left. She found his wallet and handed it to him. He retrieved the condom and tossed his wallet behind him in the general vicinity of the nightstand. The thump beside his bed told him he’d missed.

Jaclyn extended her hand. “Let me.”

DeMarcus hesitated. “I won’t last much longer.”

Jaclyn smiled. “You can handle it.”

She tore open the packet, withdrew the condom, then tossed the empty wrapper behind him to join his wallet. She positioned the protection on his tip and smoothed it down his length. DeMarcus swallowed.

Jaclyn felt hot and damp with arousal. DeMarcus had said he wouldn’t last much longer. Well, neither would she. Jaclyn moved farther up DeMarcus’s thighs and positioned herself above his rock-hard erection. Her nipples puckered at the feel of him at her entrance. She held her breath as she lowered onto his length. Her breasts tightened. Her pulse quickened. DeMarcus lifted to meet her. She gasped, tipping back her head and closing her eyes. They moved in a slow and easy rhythm. Pleasure was a hot, summer breeze rolling over her skin.

DeMarcus’s large palms moved with a consuming fire up her thighs, past her hips, along her waist and over her torso to cup her breasts. His fingers pulled and plucked at her nipples, intensifying her hunger. Jaclyn increased her rhythm, bringing him with her. She bent her body backward, gripping DeMarcus’s thighs behind her. Her muscles were drawn tight enough to snap.

DeMarcus lowered his hands to her hips, pulling her tighter against him. He surged up, gathering her to him and flipped them over so he was on top.

Jaclyn’s eyes popped open. DeMarcus covered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply. Jaclyn closed her eyes and held on tight. DeMarcus drove deeper inside her, harder against her. Jaclyn felt her muscles straining toward him. The pressure built within her. DeMarcus slipped his hands between them and touched her. She dug her nails into his back and screamed into his mouth. Her body shuddered through her climax, wave after wave of explosive pleasure. DeMarcus held her tighter.

As their bodies stilled, she kissed his shoulder. “I told you, you could handle it.”

Jaclyn felt his smile against her hair. She was happy and relaxed, replete with satisfaction. This step in their relationship had been worth the risk. But as she drifted into sleep, Jaclyn hoped they’d both still be smiling in the morning.

DeMarcus hunkered down. With his left hand, he collected the complimentary copy of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper the hotel had laid in front of his room. His right hand balanced his day’s first cup of coffee. Straightening, he turned back into his room, pushing the door closed with his elbow.

The state legislature’s budget battle was the day’s headline news. DeMarcus wandered back to the sitting area, skimming the other front-page stories. He laid the newspaper on the table and pulled out the sports section. He sipped his coffee. What was Atlanta saying about tonight’s matchup between its Hawks and his Monarchs?

Coffee spewed from his mouth as he stared at the front page photo of Jaclyn in his arms as he gave her a final kiss good night from his hotel room doorway. The article’s headline read, A ROYAL INTERLUDE.

His skin iced over. His muscles went numb. Who had taken this photo? Why had they taken it? And what gave them the right to invade his privacy?

DeMarcus spun toward the door, bringing forward a mental image of last night—this morning. He couldn’t recall seeing anyone in the hallway. He’d checked because he hadn’t wanted players or other coaches, who also were staying on this floor, to see Jaclyn leave his room.

Anger exploded through him, heating the blood now rushing through his system.

“Jack.”

/> What would she think? How would she feel when she saw their picture in this morning’s paper? He started back to his door, then stopped. He wasn’t thinking clearly yet. He was just too angry. Talking to her now, he’d probably make the situation worse, and Jaclyn had enough to worry about. He needed advice.

DeMarcus unclenched his fist and snatched his cell phone from the front pocket of his black warm-up pants. He knew who to call.

His father answered on the second ring. “Yes, the papers here ran the photo as well.”

DeMarcus gritted his teeth. “I’m going to sue these papers for invasion of privacy.”

“You’ll lose. You’re a public figure. This story isn’t false. Is it?”

He rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. “No, Pop. It isn’t.”

“Then you can’t claim malicious intent.” Julian didn’t sound disapproving. He didn’t sound disappointed, either.

“What gives them the right to spy on me? This article isn’t news. It’s personal.”

“Well, as you can see, your personal life makes other people a lot of money.” His father’s voice was dry.

“They’re making money off of the sacrifices you and Mom made, and the effort I put into building a name for myself.” DeMarcus turned his back to the newspaper. He glared across the room.