The Risk Taker

by Cathryn Fox

  I smile at that, so happy to see his wounds healing. “Jamie, you were a wreck before I came back, and over the past few weeks, you became the man you used to be, the man I’ve always loved.”

  “You’ve always loved me?” he asks, his dark eyes half lidded, full of love and hope, and life…something I hadn’t seen in them for a long time.

  “Yes, and I wasn’t sure if I was right about Sara and Ethan. Even if I was right, I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell you. But I couldn’t let you keep blaming yourself either. I was so torn. When I said I was sorry that you found out, I meant it. I was sorry. I was sorry for what two people you really cared about did to you.”

  “To you, too.”

  “I know. But I was really sorry you found out the way you did. Getting blindsided like that. That wasn’t fair, Jamie.”

  He shakes his head. “We all know life isn’t fair. But life does go on, and I want to go on—with you at my side.” He pulls something from his back pocket and drops to one knee.

  A gasp catches in my throat and tears blur my vision. “Jamie.”

  “I love you too, Fallon. I’ve always loved you. I want to make a life with you. I want to summer here with you and our friends. I want Chase to be my son. I want to be a father to him. I want us to get that small house in the city by the hospital and good schools, like you want. Please say yes to all of this.”

  I stare at the man I love, and as he looks up at me with hopeful eyes, I shake my head no.

  “Fallon,” he says, still on his knees, his breath a little faster, a new urgency in his voice. “Tell me what I need to do to make this right. You’re my best friend, the woman I love. I can’t lose you. I can’t. I can’t be whole without you.”

  I fall to my knees with him and cup his face. “I can’t say yes to all those things, because I don’t want a small house with you. I want a big house, with a lot of bedrooms so we can fill them with children, children made and born from our love.”

  Water pools in his eyes as he slides his hand around my neck and pulls me in for a soul-searing kiss. “I love you, Fallon.”

  “I love you too,” I say.

  “Chase will always have his daddy in heaven, but I can’t wait to tell him I can be like a daddy.”

  “You’re going to be a great daddy,” I say and press my lips to his for another tender kiss.

  When we ease a part he grins and says, “And I’m getting that boy in a pair of skates asap.”

  I laugh at that. “Yeah you are.”

  He takes the ring from the box, and I hold my hand out to him. He slides it on, kisses me again and turns to our family and friends, who are hovering pretty close by.

  “She said yes!”

  Jamie and I both let loose a loud laugh as everyone starts clapping and jumping and come running our way. Jamie turns back to me, and cups my face.

  “We can find our normal now, babe.”

  “Together we can find everything,” I assure him. He’s about to stand, but I stop him. I press my lips to his again, and seductively whisper, “Thanks, Jamie.” He pins me with a heated look and the needy growl that follows thrills me to my core, and I know we’re going to have a life full of love, happiness, and a lot of thankfulness.

  Afterword

  Thank You!

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  Thank you so much for reading The Risk Taker, book five in my Players on Ice series. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I loved writing it. Please read on for an excerpt of Confessions of a Bad Boy Professor. Stay turned for more Players on Ice.

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  Interested in leaving a review? Please do! Reviews help readers connect with books that work for them. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

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  Happy Reading,

  Cathryn

  Bad Boy Professor

  Justin

  Another weekend. Another party.

  I need to give this shit up.

  I swirl the amber liquid in my glass and glance around the bar to take in the group of loud girls partying around me. I try to find the one I’d just danced for in a private party room off the main bar. I’m not really sure why I’m looking for her. She’s just another girl in a sea of women I dance for once in a while.

  My gaze lands on her, sitting at the other end of the bar, uncomfortable, nervous and so goddamn beautiful my dick swells.

  Okay, maybe I do know why I’m looking for her. I’ve been doing this gig for a long fucking time, and none of the girls I danced for were ever like her. The guys and I started dancing at parties to for cash when we were in college, and well, maybe my reasons had more to do with rebellion than money. The business flourished and spread to other states, and even though none of us need the money, we now dance when we have to fill in, or for kicks. But I’m tired of flying around, putting on a mask and shaking my cock in some drunk girl’s face. But this girl, well, she’s been nursing a drink for the last hour, and doesn’t seem at all like the kind who would enjoy a half naked guy shaking his junk at her.

  I catch her gaze, and hold it for a minute. She quickly turns away and my cock swells at her shyness. Shit. She’s way too young and innocent for me. I have no idea what her story is or why her friends would hire me to dance for her twenty-first birthday, and I should leave it at that. If I knew what would good for me, I would.

  But, fuck it. I rarely go with what’s good for me, which is why I’m sitting on a goddamn bar stool in Virginia sipping on a scotch when I should be back at Penn State, grading papers. I’m bored with that job, too. But dear old dad is the dean, and while I had different career aspirations, both he and mom pushed me into education—hence my rebellious stage.

  I swallow the rest of the liquid, let it burn its way down my throat. I don’t normally stay for a drink after a gig, but tonight, I don’t know, there’s something about the birthday girl that’s throwing me off. I pick up the backpack at my feet, the one stuffed with my dance clothes and mask, a necessity for me now. I’m a fucking psych professor, for Christ’s sakes. Ever hear of a code of conduct? Yeah, well, I’m violating every rule I promised to uphold.

  I really need to give this shit up.

  I toss the bag over one shoulder and stand. The heat in the room, as well as the mixed scent of alcohol and perfume, washes over me. I’m anxious to get the hell out of here. Looks like the recipient of my dance is, too.

  I push through the lively crowd, and slide in beside her at the bar. Her body goes stiff, and shit, I’m pretty sure I’d do anything to help her relax.

  “Hey,” I say.

  She nibbles her bottom lip. Sexy as hell.

  Fuck me.

  I shift, and lean on the bar so she can’t see my swelling cock.

  “Hi,” she says.

  “Not really your scene, is it?”

  She crinkles her nose. “Am I that obvious?”

  “Yeah, a little bit.” I take a glance around. “Want to get out of here? Walk the beach?”

  Her back stiffens, and her chest juts out, her lovely nipples pressing against the silk of her blouse. “I don’t even know you.”

  It’s true. She doesn’t. I was in costume when I danced for her, so no way can she know I’m the guy her friends hired to shake it in her face. I take in her wide blue eyes. So fucking innocent she’s killing me.

  Desperate to put her at ease, I shrug. “I don’t know you either. How do I know once we’re outside you won’t try to get me out of my clothes and have your way with me?”

  She smiles, and it rocks my fucking world. “I really could use some fresh air...”

  I pick up on her hesitation. “Pass me your phone.”

  What the fuck am I doing?

  Breaking all kinds of rules tonight, that’s what I’m fucking doing.

  “Why do you want my phone?” she asks as she slides it across the sticky bar top.

  I hold it up, and take a selfie. “There, now you have my picture. If I try anything you don’t like, you’ll have my mug shot
for the police.”

  She looks at me like I’m a bit insane. Maybe I am, because I should really leave this alone. She reaches for her purse, and I say, “Do you need to tell a friend?”

  Her gaze flickers to the dance floor, but none of her friends are paying any attention to her. Girls are supposed to look out for one another when partying—come together and go together. But it doesn’t look like she’s made that pact with any of these drunk party girls. She frowns, a hint of loneliness ghosting her eyes, and my heart squeezes. At least she’s in good hands with me. She’s sweet and innocent and I don’t—okay I do, but won’t—want anything more from her than a conversation.

  “Yeah, let’s get out of here,” she says.

  “Wait.” I pull out my phone and take a picture of her. “There, now if you try anything I don’t like, I’ll have your mug shot.”

  She blinks, surprised and I put my hand on the small of her back and guide her out the door. The night air is warm, sticky, but it’s a break from the heat and bodies inside. I breathe deeply as the waves laps against the sand in the distance.

  “I’m Justin, by the way.”

  “Violet.”

  Pretty, just like her.

  The music becomes faint as we remove our shoes and step onto the sand. She exhales and runs the warm grains between her painted toes. Painted toes. Fuck, that’s sexy, too.

  Don’t go there, dude.

  “Can I ask a question?”

  Her long curls bounce around her face and she purses her pouty, heart-shaped mouth as her big blue eyes meet mine. “You can ask, but it doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

  Beautiful and funny.

  A dangerous combination.

  She doesn’t know I’m the guy who danced for her, so I need to word my question carefully. “What were you doing at the bar? It doesn’t seem like it’s your kind of scene.”

  “It’s not really. I work with those girls. We’re not close, so I guess that’s how they thought I should celebrate my twenty-first birthday.”

  “I’ve only known you for five minutes and I would never throw you a party like that.”

  “No? Then what would you do?” she asks.

  I take in her skirt, the sleeveless silk blouse she has tucked into the hem, and say, “Quiet dinner, walk on the beach.”

  “You can tell all that from looking at me.”

  “Gut feeling.” I’m not about to tell her I’m a psychology professor and study behavior and mind. Her behavior tonight told me everything I needed to know. She’s a good girl, and I need to stay away.

  She arches a brow. “You’re pretty intuitive.”

  “You’re beautiful.” Shit. I hadn’t meant to say that. Fucking just slipped out. I don’t want her to think I’m coming on to her. She turns from me, and looks at the water. I’m pretty sure she’s about to run the other way. I’m a stranger, eight years older than her, and I’m probably coming off like a stalker.

  “Race you to the water,” she says, and takes off. “Last one there has to go skinny dipping.”

  Skinny dipping?

  I stand still for a moment, processing that as her skirt flies around her backside and she darts to the waves. She’s not the kind of girl to go skinny-dipping, of that I’m certain. My brain kicks in and I chase after her. When I catch her, she’s laughing and breathless.

  Jesus fuck, the sound goes straight through me, and zaps what little control I seem to have around her. I touch her face, my thumb sweeping across her cheek. Her laugh dies and her eyes go wide as they latch onto mine.

  “Violet.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I really want to kiss you.”

  A moment of hesitation, then, “Okay.”

  I step into her, meshing my hardness with her softness. Sweet fuck, my cock grows another inch, and she gives a little gasp when she feels it. “Sorry,” I say, but somehow I’m not. I actually want her to know she’s beautiful, see what she does to me. I dip my head, and softly, lightly brush my lips over hers, not wanting to hurry the moment I might never have again.

  A moan escapes her throat and I slide my hand to the back of her neck as I increase the pressure. I push my tongue in and we tangle. I catch the taste of the syrupy drink she’d been nursing, but it’s not nearly as sweet as her. I close my eyes, savor, enjoy, drown in her flowery scent and taste. I’m only half aware as her hands snake around my back, her questing fingers splaying, touching, exploring my body.

  I want to do the same.

  Using slow movements so as not to scare her, I sweep my hands lower, run my fingers along her vertebrae until I’m at the small of her back. The sweet curve of her ass calls out to me. I dare to go lower and cup her roundness, and massage lightly as I pull her against my cock.

  A sound lodges in her throat as she breaks from the kiss. I pull my hands away, and take in the flush on her cheeks as wide eyes stare up at me. Okay, now I’ve gone to far. She’s going to run.

  “You lost,” she says on a breathless whisper.

  Her words are a jumbled mess in my lust-filled brain. “Lost?”

  “The race.”

  It only takes a second for my thoughts to catch up. Holy fuck. Is she serious?

  Here I thought she was going to bolt, only for her to be staring at me, waiting for me to shed my clothes.

  Fine, I’ll play it her way

  About Cathryn

  New York Times and USA today Bestselling author, Cathryn is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.

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  Also by Cathryn Fox

  A Wolf's Pride

  Pride's Run

  Pride's Pursuit

  Pride Unleashed

  Boys of Beachville

  Good at Being Bad

  Igniting the Bad Boy

  Bad Girl Therapy

  The Complete Boys of Beachville Trilogy

  Captured and Claimed

  YOURS: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours To Take Part 1: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours to Keep Part 3: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours to Teach Part 2: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Confessions

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Professor

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Cop

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Fighter

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Gamer

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Doctor

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Millionaire

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Santa

  Confessions of a Bad Boy CEO

  Confessions: Book 1-3 plus Bonus Book

  Eternal Pleasure

  Instinctive

  Impulsive

  Indulgent

  The Complete Eternal Pleasure Series

  Firefighter Heat

  Firefighter Heat Trilogy

  Fever

/>   Siren

  Flash Fire

  Burn

  In the Line of Duty

  His Obsession Next Door

  His Strings to Pull

  His Trouble in Tallulah

  His Taste of Temptation

  His Moment to Steal

  His Best Friend's Girl

  His Reason to Stay

  The Complete Series, In the Line of Duty

  In the Line of Duty

  Invitation to Eden

  Breaking Free

  Players on Ice

  The Playmaker

  The Stick Handler

  The Body Checker

  The Hard Hitter

  The Risk Taker

  Players on Ice (Books 1-3)

  Pleasure Inn

  All Tied Up

  All Lit Up

  All Worked Up

  The Complete Pleasure Inn Trilogy

  Reform

  Betting Bad

  Stone Cliff

  Crashing Down

  Wasted Summer

  Love Lessons

  Wrapped Up

  Stone Cliff Series

  Sun Stroked

  Seaside Seduction

  Deep Desire

  Private Pleasure

  Sun Stroked Trilogy

  Whispering Cove

  Wet

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  Silk

  Flirty

  The Complete Whispering Cove series

  Standalone

  Holiday Spirit

  Hands On with the CEO

  Knocking on Demon's Door

  Liquid Dreams

  Unleashed

  Web of Desire

  Pin Me Up Proper

  Hot for Santa

  Panther's Pleasure