Winning Her Love (5 page)

She really hoped this worked out, because she knew after this weekend she wouldn’t be able to go back to anything she’d had before. She knew what passion was, what chemistry was, Chad had given that to her, and right now she wanted to latch onto him with both hands and never let go.

Chapter 3

Chad had driven Lana home to pick up some clothes and get changed so they could go out for a late lunch. He parked in the shops’ car park and they walked hand in hand to the restaurant section.

“Do you have a preference of where you want to eat?”

“I’m happy with whatever, as long as they have a vegetarian choice.” Lana was starving. All she’d had was some toast and a glass of milk. Chad’s fridge hadn’t been very full, only holding the basics, like milk, eggs, cheese, and bacon and steaks. Lana had been a vegetarian since her teen years, although even younger she’d never been fond of meat and only ate a little chicken and fish, so it wasn’t hard to cut those out.

“How about the Italian place?”

“Perfect. I’d love some carbonara.”

“Doesn’t that have bacon?”

“Not when I ask for the veggie option. Your mum does the best one for me.”

“I forgot Mum does a special meal for you. I guess ’cause I don’t have to eat it I forget you’re a vegetarian. You don’t seem bothered about people around you eating meat.”

They waited in line at the busy restaurant as they talked. “I’m not. It’s your choice what you eat, just like it’s your choice what religion you believe in and who you’re friends are. Olivia eats meat. The iron is good for her. When she’s older she can choose if she wants to be like me or continue on the way she is.”

“That’s really good. I’m looking forward to meeting Olivia.”

She smiled at Chad. She hoped Olivia liked Chad as much as her mummy did.

Lana’s smile turned to a grimace when Chad was noticed and some guys came over to them, interrupting their conversation. “Chad Douglas? Wow. I’m looking forward to you kicking the Dingos’ arse next weekend. Do you know if Bob’s ankle will be okay to play?”

The other men asked questions, firing one after the other. Lana was almost pushed away. Her feet were stepped on and she was elbowed and touched painfully. She let go of Chad’s hand, but he grabbed it again and gripped it tighter, and his voice raised, anger clear in it. “I’m happy to answer your questions, but please respect my girlfriend and I are out to have lunch.”

The manager pushed his way through the small crowd and ushered them into the restaurant. “I’m sorry, Mr. Douglas. I’m the manager, Hayden. I apologize for you being bombarded. Please come through. I have a private table at the back for you.”

As the manager guided them to the back Lana snatched her hand out of Chad’s hold. She didn’t like what had just happened. Being pushed out of the way like that made her feel invisible. Was this what she would have to put up with if she was with Chad? What if this happened while Olivia was with them?

When they were seated in a corner of the restaurant the manager said he would serve them personally. He left them with menus, and Lana pretended to study it.

“I’m sorry. They’re not always like that. The fans are excited for the start of the season.”

Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out as she put the menu down. Chad’s eyes bored into hers, and she felt bad that he’d apologized for being mobbed. “I didn’t expect it. To me you’re just Chad. I forget you’re this big time sports guy.” She winked at him. “I do like your Rebel sports ad. Although all the women I’ve spoken to have no idea it’s an ad for their shoes.”

“Really? You do though.”

“I thought I was immune to your body, but apparently your sweaty body does do things for me.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Next time the ad comes on I wonder if I’ll notice the shoes.”

Lana smiled as Chad laughed. She loved the sound of his deep rumble and the sight of his dimples when his face lit up. He leaned over and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. “You’ll notice, because you see me and not the Rugby League player.”

Yes, she did, but could she live with what came with the sports player? Right now Lana didn’t know. What she’d felt being pushed out of the way wasn’t something she ever wanted to feel again, and she knew she never wanted her daughter to have to go through that.

* * * *

Lana had been quiet throughout dinner. She hardly ate her food. Chad was pissed when the red marks on her arms darkened. He should have booked somewhere private, taken her to a place where he knew she would be safe. A lot of the time he didn’t get recognized, but all it took was one person and then the rest followed. He should have known that people would be getting excited about the first game of the season next weekend and that his team ads and other promo things would be everywhere. But his mind had been elsewhere, focusing on Lana.

Even now as they sat in the cinema watching a movie he could tell Lana wasn’t relaxed against him. He needed to stop focusing on what he should have done and devote his time to making it up to her. Hugging her to him, he turned her face up and captured her mouth to his. “Lana, you need to relax. We’re fine in here,” he whispered against her lips.

She brushed her lips over his and then leaned back and nodded. “Sorry. Am I ruining the movie?”

“No. I can just feel how tense you are.” He massaged her shoulders until she settled against him.

The rest of the movie Lana snuggled with him, her hand linked with his, their fingers intertwined. He brought her hand up to kiss every now and then. He enjoyed the movie once he knew Lana was comfortable.

When it was over he convinced Lana to go get a hot chocolate and a sweet treat. They sat at the café with their warm drinks, she had a cheesecake and he had a chocolate cake.

“I should have asked you this at lunch, but I was still shaken. Do you have what happened to us happen very often?”

Right now he so wanted to lie to her, especially with his friends’ words ringing in his head. “In Rugby League season it happens a lot, although it depends on where I go. I probably wouldn’t get recognized as much a couple of hours away, and if I went on holidays out of state I’d be safe too, unless I found some fans. When I do TV, like the Footy Show or other promo things, I get noticed a lot more.”

She nodded. “Does it bother you being mobbed like we were?”

Fuck, what happened earlier wasn’t a mob. It got worse at training or after a game, or even an event. “Would it bother you?” He held his breath as he waited for her answer.

“It did.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Chad, I don’t know if I could get used to or comes to terms with how I was treated earlier. I would definitely not put up with anything happening to Olivia.” She opened her eyes, and he let out his breath, his heart heavy. “I understand they’re your fans, but they need to have a little respect. I didn’t like being manhandled, touched, or having my feet stomped on as people pushed me aside in an effort to get to you.”

He understood where Lana was coming from. He was angry with how she had been treated. He’d never thought about how the fan-fame part of his life would affect someone else, he’d never cared about the other women he’d been with like he did Lana.

“I’m sorry you were treated like that.” He reached across and stroked her cheek. “I can’t promise there won’t be a next time, but I can promise you I will make sure I...we, are prepared.”

“Okay. I have to get used to the fact that you’re not just Chad, but Chad Douglas, the superstar Rugby League. I may not be a sports fan myself, but I know millions are. I’m sure if one of my favorite authors was lining up next to me I’d probably bombard them.”

His chest eased from its tightness at the thought of Lana not giving this a go before it really had a chance to start. He changed the subject, happy to leave it at knowing she was going to try. “Did you like the movie?”

“Yeah, it had everything—action, adventure, a bit of comedy, and love. It also had a happy ending, which is my favorite kind. What about you?”

“It was okay. I don’t know if I’d see the next one, but it was better than I thought it would be. I had a feeling you’d like it. The poster reminds me of one of those romance novels you always have in your hands.”

She winked and laughed. “Ha-ha, I have an eReader now, so I won’t get teased by you about the covers.”

“Where’s the fun in that? Come on, you have to admit some of those covers are hilarious. Remember the one with the guy with the shackled maiden, her clothes torn, and she’s in a swept up position in his arms, looking at him with utter devotion. If I shackled you and ripped your clothes, how happy would you be?” He homed in as she chewed on her bottom lip.

“I don’t know. It would depend on what game we were playing.”

He almost came in his pants as she finished by placing her spoon in her mouth, closing her eyes and moaning as she savored her cake.

“Mmm, I love cheesecake.” Her eyes popped open, and she piled more on her spoon. “Want to try some of mine?”

“You little vixen.” His cock was rock hard as images of her naked, chained to his bed, and him licking cake from her body entered his mind. He moved and leaned over, capturing her mouth to his. His tongue dove deep and he tasted. Easing away, he smiled at her wide, passion-filled eyes and cheeky grin. “You’re right, the cheesecake is yum.”

He chuckled as Lana turned a bright red and was surprised when she mumbled, “I think we should get these take-away. I say we go back and taste each other’s.”

Standing up, he gathered the plates and their things. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “Kiss me, and I’ll do anything you want.”

She let out a moan and stepped closer to him. He didn’t care if she was finished with her cake or not. The kiss was deep and one of need.

He broke away reluctantly. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right back, gorgeous.”

She smiled and he rushed to the counter, eager to get their treats ready to go.

The car ride back to his house was torture as they sat in lust-filled silence. Chad could feel Lana’s gaze on him, devouring him. Every time she fidgeted he wanted to pull over and take her in the car.

Driving into his garage, he almost forgot to shut the garage as he rushed to get the door open. It felt like weeks he’d been without sex instead of only hours. He had great stamina, but the recovery time he had with Lana was unbelievable.

Typing in the security code, he grabbed Lana by the waist, picking her up as she let out a squeal and gripped him tight around the neck. He took her to the lounge room and the closest soft surface. Placing her on the sofa, he slid his pants off and threw his shirt to the ground before he came back to her. Lana stood and shoved him to the sofa, moving onto him to straddle his lap, her dress flaring out.

His hands glided up her legs, and he groaned as he reached her bare arse. Reaching up, he took her lips to his own, ravishing them as he squeezed the globes of her arse. He bit her lip and pulled away. “Naughty girl, you’re not wearing anything under this.”

She hummed her approval as his hands moved down and his finger explored her pussy.

He muttered, “Fuck that’s hot. You were wearing nothing under your dress the whole damn time.”

She answered by slowly sliding down his painfully hard erection.

Chad plastered his mouth back to hers as he held her close, and their tongues moved to the rhythm their bodies kept. Her nails raked down his back, and he pulled away, panting. “You are so hot. Ride me hard, gorgeous.”

He laid back against the sofa and let her set the pace, watching the erotic image of her tits bouncing. Her hair fell in a wild array around her face, which was set in a mask of utter ecstasy. He loved her lust-filled eyes as she stared at him as she lifted herself off and on his stiff cock.

Chad undid the top of her dress and watched her breasts as they were freed, reaching up to caress them before leisurely moving a hand down her body to play with her clit. He licked his lips as she bit hers when his fingers found her nub. He lifted himself up just enough to bring the tip of one pebbled nipple into his mouth, then swapped to the other one.

Releasing her nipple, he groaned as her core held on to him tighter with each bounce she made on him. “Your pussy is so fucking tight it doesn’t want to let me go. You’re like a vise, gripping me within an iron-clad fist. Give me more. Come for me. Squeeze my dick with your tight pussy.”

She picked up her speed, grinding against him until she screamed and came around his cock. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

“Do you now?” He grunted as the pressure on his cock had him gritting his teeth and moving his hands to hold her tight.

“Yes. It makes me all hot and turns me on,” she murmured against his neck as she rested on him.

“You do that to me and more.” He couldn’t hold back any longer and felt his cum shoot from him as he thrust deep into her one last time. He moaned and decided not to say anything yet about not using a condom again. Chad didn’t want to say something and ruin the enjoyment and bliss they’d just shared.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t move. I’ve never had so much sex. Mmm, I could get used this.”

Oh, he planned for her to get used to it.

* * * *

Lana had wanted to arrive separately, which just pissed him off. They’d had an awesome weekend, which cemented what he already knew, that she was his one, the woman he wanted to settle down with, marry, have children and spend the rest of his life with. He’d dropped her off at her house late in the afternoon on Saturday. His parents had phoned her and told her they’d bring Olivia home. He’d wanted to see her earlier today, but she’d missed her daughter and wanted to spend the day with her. He still hadn’t met Olivia.

She was late. Dinner was about to start, and Lana and Olivia hadn’t arrived. He’d asked Steph if Lana had canceled and she’d shrugged, unsure. He sat outside by his parents’ pool with a beer in his hand, needing a moment alone before he went in and acted like nothing was wrong and nothing had changed in his life.

“Want to tell me what has you so agitated?”