Rookie Move

by KB Winters

“Chels! Stop!”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for Paris to catch up to me. She grabbed my arm and I looked over at her. “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to—”

  “Yes, actually. Yes, you are!” I shouted back. “You’re going to ride my ass on this until I give in and fuck the next eligible guy to cross my path!”

  A guy in a leather jacket and slicked back hair stopped in front of us like he’d been pulled back by a shepherd’s hook. “Hey, ladies…”

  “Fuck off!” Paris yelled at him. He jolted and ambled off. “There, see, I didn’t want you to fuck that guy.”

  Beside myself, a laugh broke free. “Well, I’d hope not. I’d hardly consider that eligible…” I said, watching him strutting down the corridor.

  Paris laughed too, and the tension fell away. “I really am sorry, Chels. I know you do things your own way.”

  “It’s fine. I’m just edgy because…” I stopped and bit back the next part of the statement.

  “Because?” she grinned.

  “Because of the game and this whole work thing,” I lied. In reality it was because Cody wouldn’t get out of my head—but if I told Paris that part—she’d become even more relentless than she already was. If that was even possible.

  She quirked her lips as she considered me. “You sure that’s it?”

  “Yes.”

  “All right. Well, let’s go get some drinks and cheese fries and forget all about that for the rest of the night.” She glanced at her phone. “Come on. The guys will be leaving the lockers soon. We wasted too much time on those Pioneer losers.”

  We went downstairs to the hallway we’d waited outside the other night and some members of the team were already filing out. Paris offered them all high fives and wide smiles as they passed. “There they are!”

  I glanced down the hall and my heart stopped as Cody emerged from the locker room doors. He had changed into a pair of black slacks, a button down shirt in a shade of forest green that made his eyes pop electric from twenty feet away, and his hair was dark and tousled, damp against his forehead. As he walked down the hall, he popped the buttons at his wrists and cuffed up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing his powerful forearms.

  Damn him.

  He cocked a half smile at me as our eyes met, and my heart plummeted into the bottom of my stomach. Did he know the things he did to me? His smile widened and I had my answer.

  Damn him twice!

  “Chelsea, what a nice surprise,” he drawled. “Glad you could make it tonight.”

  His eyes dragged down my body in slow motion and stole away any hope of coming up with a detached, cool reply. He lingered at the low cut neckline and his eyes swept from my cleavage over my collarbones and then back up to meet my eyes.

  I blinked slowly and nodded; my throat too dry to get out words if my mind even latched onto a few.

  Paris snorted beside me.

  “Hey, Cody. Nice game tonight,” she added.

  “Thanks, Paris.”

  Robby jogged over and swept Paris up into his arms. “Hey, baby! Damn you look smokin’ hot!”

  She giggled as he went to work nibbling down her neck. I dropped my gaze to the floor.

  “Twenty bucks they spend most of dinner off fuckin’ in the bathroom,” Cody said to me.

  I shot my eyes to his and found them light with amusement. I couldn’t help but grin. “Bathroom? No, that’s too demure for them. They’ll get it on right there at the table.”

  Cody cocked another sideways grin and my heart fluttered back to life. “You’re on.”

  Paris and Robby rolled their eyes at us. “Come on,” Paris said, taking Robby by the hand. “We have two special fans to introduce you to tonight at dinner.”

  “Really?” Robby asked.

  “Chelsea and I got ourselves tangled up in a little…altercation…with a couple of nasty Pioneers fans after the game. One of them started to dive at Chels and this guy and his buddy stepped in to defend us. I invited them to kick it with us tonight.”

  Robby’s eyes shot up and Cody’s hand went to my arm. I jolted at the unexpected touch and my eyes flew from Robby’s over to Cody’s. His expression was crumpled with concern. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”

  I shook my head, unable to find words at first. All I could think about was the way his warm hand felt on my bare skin, and the way he smelled. Damn him for smelling so good. “I’m—um, I’m fine. They were just trash talking for the most part.”

  He held my eyes for a moment longer and the rest of the noise and buzz around us faded to the background. In that moment, looking into his soft eyes, all I could think about was the way it would feel to have those eyes sweeping over all of me and what his hands would feel like caressing me—my legs, my thighs my—.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  I nodded and damn near choked. I needed to stay focused on him fully dressed and his hands to himself. “Uhm, yes. Thank you.”

  “They were just assholes with too many beers running through their fat heads,” Paris said, shrugging the whole thing off.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re both okay,” Robby said, glancing from Paris to me and then back again. “Let’s not keep our new friends waiting then!”

  We all headed off to Charcoal, which despite its name, was actually incredibly posh and swanky. After meeting the heroes of the hour at the bar, we all made the introductions and made our way to a table in a private room to accommodate the large group as several other Warriors joined us over the course of the evening. I ended up seated next to Cody and spent most of the night trying to keep myself from staring at him for too long.

  A task made far more difficult because of how much he was staring at me.

  11

  Cody

  Paris entertained everyone at the table with the story of the near fist fight in the stands after the game when she introduced Porter and Thad to everyone at the restaurant. I listened to her exciting recap but couldn’t tear my eyes from the gorgeous woman that I’d roped into sitting beside me at the table.

  “So you really came to our defense like that?” I asked Chelsea, dropping my voice so only she could hear me. “I gotta admit, that’s pretty fuckin’ hot.”

  She rolled those beautiful eyes. “I know guys have a one track mind, but you really take that to a whole new level, huh? It’s a wonder to me how you manage to get anything done.”

  I laughed away her would-be insult. Mostly because she couldn’t keep her picture perfect smile from playing across those candy sweet lips of hers. “I’m just sayin’, you’re wearing team colors tonight, lipstick included. Came to the team’s defense. If I didn’t know better—I’d say I was growing on you.”

  She snorted a laugh. “That’s what it always comes back to, huh? You think this is all about you. Maybe I was defending Robby. He’s my friend you know.”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, sugar. I’m not buying it.”

  Her cheeks tinged with pink and it took everything to keep myself from grabbing her and kissing her right there at the table. I wanted her. More than I could remember wanting any other woman before. It wasn’t that she was trying so damn hard to act like she didn’t want me—though that was certainly part of her appeal—but it was the way she tried to go toe to toe with me on every single thing. If I said left, she’d say right. If I said stop, she’d say go. If I declared the sky to be blue, she’d insist it was aqua.

  She was so infuriating and intoxicating and I’d have her in my bed by the end of the night. I had to get a taste of her. Tomorrow morning the team was flying to Dallas and I’d have to wait three days before I’d be back in town and get my next chance.

  Before Chelsea could rally with her next comeback, my phone chirped. I grabbed it from my pocket and glanced at the screen. “Fuck,” I growled at the name on the screen.

  “What’s wrong?” Chelsea asked.

  I glanced up and met her eyes. “Nothing.”

  The mes
sage was from my dad: Caught the game. Better keep that up in Dallas or you’ll be stuck behind some fry grill for the rest of your life.

  It was meant in good humor. I could imagine his smug face, set with a grin, as he sent the message. But it riled me all the same.

  Chelsea glanced down at her plate of food and pushed the bites around with the tip of her fork. “One of your groupies calling for a booty call?”

  Her comment caught me off guard. Even more so, the acidic tone she used to deliver it.

  A slow grin spread across my face. “Oh, Chelsea, you just showed me your hand.”

  She turned to face me. “No I didn’t. Wait. What hand?”

  I chuckled. “Nevermind.”

  She glared at me. “I don’t care if you have ten side pieces. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have even asked. I don’t know why I did…”

  I dropped my phone back in my pocket and then kept my hand under the table and set it lightly against her thigh. The muscles in her toned legs went stiff and her spine went ramrod straight at my touch. Her eyes flew open wide. “Cody…”

  I stroked the exposed skin at the hem of her black skirt with my thumb and she shuddered. Her full lips parted and a wave of heat whipped through me. “Relax, baby. I’ve only got one woman on my mind right now.”

  “Dessert, sir?”

  I glanced up at the server who had appeared on my other side. I smiled politely, not taking my eyes off of Chelsea. “No thank you. I’ve already got something in mind.”

  12

  Chelsea

  My heart stopped at the dark look in Cody’s eyes and the way that the last shreds of my resolve to hold off against him fell to the wayside. I was sliding downhill so quickly that I couldn’t stop myself. There was nothing to grab a hold of to anchor myself in place. All I could think about was the way he looked at me, the quirked smile on his lips, and the way his warm hand felt against my thigh.

  He inclined his head an inch lower, bringing his lips dangerously close to my ear. “Come on, baby. Let’s get out of here.”

  I licked my lips and nodded slowly.

  Cody grinned at me and sat back in his chair. He removed his hand from my leg so he could settle the bill with the server. I instantly missed the warmth of it against my thigh. I clenched my legs together, the pressure building to unbearable heights. At this rate, I wasn’t going to make it home before begging him for relief. The man did something to me. There was something about him that seeped into my brain and messed with the wiring. The things I shouldn’t want were suddenly all I could think about. It was like being under some kind of spell or drug. Thick, hot, heavy.

  When the bill was paid, he stood and offered me a hand. “All right. We’re blowing this joint. Many thanks to the super fans. Thank you for defending our lovely ladies.” He tipped his chin at the opposite end of the table.

  Paris caught my eye and I couldn’t recall ever seeing her smile wider. Damn it. I was never going to hear the end of this.

  I waved at the table and let Cody gather me against him with his arm at my waist. He flashed me a dark smile. “You ready for the after party?” he asked, his voice low.

  Sparks flew around my stomach, making it flutter and flip. “Come on, before I change my mind,” I said, offering the last of my sarcasm.

  Cody flashed me a wicked grin that told me he knew I was bluffing. He’d already caught me. I couldn’t pull away from him now.

  I could only hope that one night would get him out of my system so that I could move on with my life.

  We exited the restaurant and he wrapped his arm tighter around me as we made our way down the block. The sunny afternoon had faded into a chilly night and I hadn’t planned ahead to bring a coat. Apparently, Cody hadn’t either. “Not too much farther,” he said, jutting his chin in the direction of a nearby parking garage.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, looking up at him.

  He grinned at me. “Wherever you wanna go, baby.”

  His fingers traced circles along my side and then smoothed down my hip as we walked. “If my vote counts for anything, I’d vote my place. Much closer.”

  A shiver of anticipation shimmered over my skin and Cody tucked me against him tighter, misreading the shiver as a result of the brisk evening air. I licked my lips and considered the offer. I wanted Cody and he knew it. There was no more pretending. But I also didn’t want him to take this too far. “Fine. Your place works.”

  Cody chuckled. “Damn, you don’t have to sound like I’ve got a gun to your head. That’s pretty cold, baby.”

  I shook my head. “I just don’t—”

  He stopped walking and turned to face me, backing me up out of the way of other pedestrians on the sidewalk. Downtown was still busy and active in the aftermath of such an exciting game. The local bars, taverns, and restaurants would be flooded with hungry fans who wanted something more substantial than a greasy hot dog or a bag of salty peanuts.

  Cody pushed me gently up against the brick of a small vintage clothing shop and leaned down, bringing his face inches from mine. “Sweetheart, you know what your problem is?” I bristled and started to argue, but he set a finger against my lips to silence me. “You think too damn much. This isn’t some grand commitment we’re making here. All right? I’m not gonna fuck you over, babe. I just wanna fuck you.”

  His gruff tone and blunt statement reverberated through me and to my surprise, made me hotter. And wetter. And weak.

  “Don’t read too much into it, all right. You go to my hotel with me tonight and I’ll blow your fuckin’ mind. Then I’ll drop you at home and we’ll call it a night. You never have to see me again. Unless ya know, you want to.” He dropped his lips lower and mine parted in anticipation. “Which you will…”

  He took my lips with his and stole away any lingering objections. The kiss was hot and frantic. He commanded my attention and I clung to him to keep from melting right there on the sidewalk as my bones turned to jelly. His tongue pushed past my lips and danced across mine. He tasted like whiskey and I couldn’t get enough.

  Cody’s hands went to my waist and his thumbs easily found the space between my tight tank top and the top of my skirt. He slid up my shirt an inch and the feel of his fingertips on my stomach made my heart swoop. A moan crept up my throat and exploded into his mouth as he roved a little higher. My nipples went hard, aching for his hand, fingers, mouth, tongue.

  I’d never wanted someone so much.

  The busyness of the street and downtown bustle faded to black. All I could think, see, breathe was Cody and the way he felt pressed against me.

  He broke away abruptly and his dark eyes danced with flames in the soft glow of the streetlights above. “My place?”

  I nodded, far too breathless to say anything.

  We hurried to his truck and he helped me inside, as though he were a perfect gentleman and not at all the kind of man to make out with you in the middle of a crowded city street.

  He rested his hand on my thigh and my thoughts got darker and dirtier with each passing block until we reached the lot under the fancy hotel that was serving as his temporary home. We made it up to his room without tearing each other’s clothes off, but as soon as he swiped the keycard in the reader by the door, he grabbed me, backed me into the room that was dark except for the motion activated overhead light in the entry way as we rushed past, a flurry of tangled limbs, frantic, hot kisses, and quickly stripped clothing.

  The heavy security door fell closed with a slam and Cody was already halfway through removing my tank top. I was working at the buttons on the front of his shirt. He kissed me and I got the last two free, eager to explore the hard muscles veiled by the high thread count cotton fabric. He grinned at me in the dim room as he pulled the shirt off and tossed it to the back of the couch that dominated the small sitting area of the suite. He took a moment to rake his eyes down my exposed midriff and my nipples strained against my black lacy bra as his eyes flicked over my heaving chest.


  He fingered my nipples and I shuddered, biting back a moan. He grinned darkly. “Tell me the truth, Chelsea. Were you thinking about me when you put this on?”

  I hesitated but then nodded slowly.

  “And the panties?” He dragged his fingertips down my stomach and I sucked in a sharp breath. “Do they match?”

  I worked my lower lip between my teeth and nodded a second time. “Uh huh.”

  “Fuck,” he hissed. “This I have to see.”

  He reached for the side zipper of my short skirt and pushed it down in one fluid motion. The skirt dropped down my legs and pooled around my black stiletto heels. “Shit, Chelsea, you’re so damn sexy. I’ve pictured you a dozen times since we met and I must say, this reality is even more intoxicating.”

  Cody’s eyes roamed over the thin, lacy under garment and his eyes went wide with desire. I watched his mouth and wished it was against me. My pussy throbbed with heat. Pressure. Aching to have him on me, inside me, everywhere. “Tell me, baby. Tell me what you were thinking when you put this on.”

  I swallowed hard. “I wanted to look sexy.”

  “For me?” He flicked his eyes up to mine.

  “For you,” I breathed.

  He flashed a dark, wolfish smile. “So you knew we’d end up here tonight?”

  I faltered and brought my hands together in front of me. He pushed them aside so I couldn’t block his view of my body. He took a step closer and his hands went back on my waist. He toyed with the waistband of my panties and the muscles in my thighs clenched to keep me standing. This man was too much for me. He saw too much. Knew too much about me already.

  “I didn’t know…” I paused and dragged my eyes up his impressive wall of muscles that comprised his chest. Each section of his abs was perfect, taunt, and smooth. A thin trail of dark hair led down the center and I wanted to follow it all the way down with the tip of my tongue. He made me want to do things I’d never done before. I wanted to pleasure him. To live up to the fantasies he so unabashedly admitted to having about me.