"Amazing," she echoed.
"But I'm thinking it might be time for some changes."
She turned to look at him, surprised that he agreed with her. And what did he mean by changes with an s? Was she one of those changes?
They were standing on the edge of a football field she hadn't yet seen with stadium lights and bleachers. Ty walked over to a metal lockbox and flipped several switches. The grass turned bright green beneath the powerful lights.
Julie felt like they were standing in a private wonderland.
"See what I mean?" Ty said and she shot a glance at him.
He was facing the empty field with a look on his face that spoke volumes. Usually, he kept his true emotions well hidden behind teasing, and joking. Only during their lovemaking had she caught glimpses of another Ty. He always had such an easiness about him, but now in addition to his usual relaxed, confident stance, she saw joy too.
"I never thought I'd say this about a football field," she said, "but it is pretty amazing."
"Come out here," he said, pulling her forward.
"I've only seen one football game before in my whole life," she admitted. "On TV. This January. When you won the Super Bowl."
Surprise registered on his features, along with a healthy dose of delight. Julie was pleased that she could make him happy by divulging that she'd seen his amazing moves.
"Seriously? That's the only one?"
She laughed at his incredulous expression, "Believe it or not, some people just don't watch football." He raised an eyebrow. "You never went in college with friends?" She'd always made an excuse not to go, not wanting to be reminded of Ty in any way. "Not even the tailgates."
He shook his head. "I'm surprised you even know the word for pregame parties in parking lots." Frustration welled up inside her. Didn't he know why she'd brought this whole subject up? Didn't he know how hard it was for her to risk thinking beyond the end of her assignment?
"What I'm trying to say is that I'd like to see a game," she spat out. "In a stadium. I'd like to see your talent in action."
"It's just what I do," he said, downplaying his natural ability yet again. He was given countless opportunities to toot his own horn as fans fawned all over him, yet he remained incredibly modest. They moved down the field toward the stands and climbed halfway up before sitting down. Julie's skirt fluttered around her knees in the light evening breeze.
"Did you ever doubt yourself?" she asked, figuring they both knew she was talking about the final seconds of the Super Bowl.
His long, dark eyelashes rose and she lost her breath looking into his beautiful dark eyes.
"You want something bad enough, I figure you should go get it." When he put it like that, everything sounded so simple. No doubts. No fears. Just pinpointing exactly what you wanted and going after it, knowing it could —and would—be yours. All day, desire had been building within her, along with a longing to seize her remaining time with Ty, to make all of her fantasies come true before they said good-bye.
So far he'd been in the driver's seat, deciding when and where they'd had sex, instigating it each time. She hadn't let herself be in a position to be turned down, to be hurt by him.
"You want something bad enough, 1 figure you should go get it." Ignoring how fast her heart was pounding, she said, "I had a really great time tonight. Only one thing could make it better."
Fire jumped in his eyes and she could have sworn he got an instant erection.
"What's that?" he asked, leaning back against the wood bleacher.
"I keep seeing this picture," she began slowly, "of you. Blindfolded." She stopped to let her words sink in.
"Go on."
"Naked."
He swallowed hard. Nodded. "Anything else?"
She shifted her hips on the hard bench, her skin already feeling tight and warm from the naughty little picture she was putting together.
"I believe you were tied up to something."
"We could have left right after dessert, you know."
His words were mild, but the desperation behind them belied his calm tone. She licked her lips. "I'm not good at being rude."
"As long as you keep coming up with brilliant plans like this, you can be as polite as you want." He pulled her into his arms and she felt so safe cushioned by his strength. He tipped her chin up so that she was looking at him.
"All day long, I want you," he said. "Every hour, I'm thinking about you. Touching you. Being with you."
"It's the same for me. Exactly the same." He kissed her, his mouth caressing, tasting, telling her how much he wanted her. She moved closer, pressing her br**sts into the hard wall of his chest, threading her fingers into his soft hair. She slipped her tongue into his mouth just as his hands covered her br**sts, cupping and squeezing them until she was crying out into his mouth.
She moved her hands down his neck, over his shoulders, down his rippling pecs and abs until she found the hem of his Outlaws T-shirt. She lightly ran her fingers beneath the soft cotton. His stomach tightened and his lips hardened against hers. She felt herself sliding into that out-of-control place he always took her, and tried desperately to remember her original plan. She wanted to show him what it was like to be at her mercy, slave to her every whim. And at the same time, she wanted to give him great pleasure, to show him in the most intimate way how special he was.
Pulling her mouth away from his, she asked, "Are you ready to make my vision a reality?" He answered by pulling his T-shirt over his head. "Here's your blindfold." She laughed in spite of the voice in her head that said he was too good at this, had obviously played this game many times with other women.
"Maybe we should head back to my house," she said, fighting the voice inside her that wondered why she'd decided to tell Ty about her secret fantasy. Wasn't she just going to get burned even worse in the end?
She looked up and realized he was watching her closely.
"No one's going to disturb us," he said. "Especially not if the lights are out." He walked down the bleachers, crossed the field, and flicked the lights off so that the field was bathed in the dim light of the moon.
Sex with Ty was risky and exciting, but it was more than just the crazy places they'd done it. No matter where they were, they shared an intense connection.
A connection she might never find with anyone else.
He gestured for her to join him at the base of the bleachers.
"There's one more way to make sure we don't give a free show to the neighbors." Julie carefully negotiated the steep rows. With every step, she regained her sensual confidence. And when he pointed to the dark space beneath the stands, she could hardly wait to get down to the business of tying up her gorgeous temporary lover.