by Aliyah Burke
He should have known better. Mitchell didn’t stop just because someone said to. The man rumbled low in his chest and shoved him, right into the side of his own vehicle.
“She’s my sister and I can yell at her any time I want. I can say whatever the fuck I want to her. None of that matters because she is my blood. Not yours.”
Balling up a fist to take a swing, Kaeden spied the reporter just off to the left and let his hand relax.
“She’s my girlfriend, Mitchell. Don’t interfere.” He opened his car door. “See you tonight.” Getting in he drove off before the reporter had anything to say about this. He wasn’t about to lose his job.
He was nervous and moody when the clock clicked down to seven. She’d not arrived yet and still hadn’t even called or texted him. Christ! Had he been this bad when they were younger? Surely, he wasn’t this hung up on one woman not reaching out to him.
His phone rang and he snatched it up without looking at the screen. “Where are you?”
“I’m at this event.” His agent. “Why aren’t you here?”
“Waiting on my girlfriend to get ready.” He rubbed at his throat which had the tuxedo bow hanging down.
“You know it starts in less than an hour, right?”
“Well aware, Lannie. And we will be there.” Where? Is? She?
“See you are, you can’t be missing these events I have planned for you to make an appearance at, this is all about fixing and maintaining your image.”
Anger spiked. “I know, Lannie. Trust me, it’s my future. I know.”
“Don’t forget.” She was gone.
He threw his phone and ran a hand down his face. When he looked up again, he was no longer alone. Faye stood there, in the doorway to his living room watching him, uncertainty in her expression.
Lust replaced the anger the second his slower brain caught up with what he was staring at. He didn’t blame it because holy fuck, she was stunning. Her dress was a shimmering shade of the blend between the team’s gray, green, and blue colors.
“Hi.”
“When did you get here?” He couldn’t get over how the material hugged her, showing off every fucking delectable curve, tempting him, and yet, not being slutty.
“Just now.” She moved over the hard floor to stop before him. Her scent wound around him, seeping into his pores and he wanted more. Wanted it all over him. Always. Without asking, she reached up and tied his bowtie, the act intimate. With a small movement of smoothing out his jacket, she patted him on the chest. “We should get going.”
Kaeden wasn’t sure when she had stolen all the power, but he didn’t have it. This woman had the ability to turn him inside out. And he didn’t fucking care.
He walked beside her to his garage and held the door for her of his sports car. When he slid behind the wheel, he waited for her to say something about the ride. Not a word. Even when he pushed the button and the powerful engine purred like a sleek kitten, nothing came.
After they were on the road, he continually sliced his gaze to her. She didn’t look out of place or uncomfortable.
“You look stunning.”
She glanced at him, one eyebrow up. “No need to toss out compliments, Kaeden. Save it for the event when you have to play for the crowd. “Now, I know this is a fundraiser for some underprivileged children, but is there anything specific I need to know? People I should avoid or specific story that needs to be leaked?” Faye smoothed her hand down her dress and his mouth watered, he wanted permission to touch her like that. “Your agent sent me her timeline that she came up with for our dating history, I have that memorized, but is there anything you think I’ll be confronted with that you can give me a heads up about?”
He slowed for the red light and angled toward her. “Lannie emailed you?”
“Yes, you should know this. It’s how I got your list of events she expects us at.”
Fuck. He’d forgotten about that. Shifting when the light changed, they pulled away smoothly.
“I can’t think of anything.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sure, there, you’ll most likely…” He didn’t know how to say this.
Her laugh wasn’t the slightest bit amused. “I know your hordes of women will be popping up, Kaeden. It’s not like you have the reputation of a monk.”
“I don’t want you to feel put down, Faye.”
Okay, this laugh had zero humor in it, the previous one had to have had a bit.
“I’ll be put down all night, Kaeden. Let’s neither of us act like this is a shock. You’re a fucking star player and I’m one, not white, and two, not the size double zero you’re usually photographed with. I know what I’m getting into, I gave you my word and I’ll deal with it.”
Their venue came up and he slowed before valet. As he got out, he watched an attendant assist Faye out. Some sort of fancy hairdo showed off the elegant lines of her neck, her face, hell, he didn’t want to stop looking there, expect to take trips down her body and back.
The smile she gave the young man holding her arm shoved jealousy through him. It didn’t help he noticed the gaze lingering toward her breast with lust. Tossing the keys to the one on his side, he strode around to claim his woman with a causal, “Don’t get any scratches on it.”
Forced casual. Extremely fucking forced.
Instead of taking her other arm, he wedged between her and the valet, ignoring her slightly lifted eyebrow. Convincing himself he was playing for the crowd and any of the paps that would be watching, he dipped his head and claimed her mouth.
He ate her gasp and pushed his tongue inside, dipping and caressing all he could touch as his hand glided down her back, touching the smooth material of her dress and wishing it was nothing but skin.
Pulling her lower lip before releasing it with a pop, he held her swirling gaze. “Ready baby?”
One blink. Two. And…there she was, the woman he knew, the firecracker. Her eyes gelded him but her lips, those fucking wet dream creator lips, turned up in a smile.
“Always.”
Yeah, he could admit it. He was fucked.
Faye stepped out of the bathroom stall and walked to the sink. Adjusting the water to a nice warm temperature, she washed up then reached for a paper towel to dry her hands. The night wasn’t bad after all. Okay, if she were to admit it, she was having a fairly decent time.
Lannie had been there and given them both a quick talking to before she left to do her thing. When she’d come back around to collect Kaeden, Faye had been on her own and just walked around, mingling as she looked at the items up for silent auction. Not that she would be bidding on anything, but no harm in perusing.
She’d stayed away from any alcohol, just opting for water because quite honestly, she didn’t trust herself around Kaeden Archer in anything less than full mental capacity.
The door opened and two, rail thin beauties walked in, chattering together. One in a red dress that looked to be painted on and the other in a sky blue dress, also skintight. They stopped when the saw her.
And here it comes. She’d known there would be some kind of confrontation but had hoped it would be later. Lobbing the paper towel in her hand to the trash receptacle, she took one more for the door and nodded in their direction.
“Evening.”
“What do you hope to gain by being here?” the one in the red dress sneered.
Faye did recognize the women, they were here with Tanner Fleischman and Murdock Hamilton, both defensive players. And guys she’d met through Mitchell, getting along with them.
“Nothing personally. If you’ll excuse me.”
Neither moved and she lost her smile. A physical confrontation wasn’t what she’d planned on encountering. Not tonight.
“You shouldn’t be here.” Blue dress this time. “You don’t belong amongst the beautiful. You’re fat and ugly. Kaeden deserves someone better on their arm and he will have. One of us.”
Protectiveness toward him rose swift in her. “Didn’t you both come with other pl
ayers? Tanner and Murdock?” She stepped closer. “Shouldn’t you maybe be worried about how they will look when you start whoring right here at a private auction for needy children? I mean, I’m sure they know that about you but surely, when they picked you off the street corner and bathed you to put you in those dresses, they expected you to pretend you had decorum and manners. Not to just embarrass them and make front page news because you couldn’t wait to open your legs or mouth again for the next guy to come along.” A single blink. “Did those dresses come with knee pads?”
Faye wedged between them. “Surely there is a staff member here who will take you in the back if you just have to get off. I should go, I know both Tanner and Murdock, very well, friends of my brother and I’ll let them know you have your sights set on my boyfriend. Enjoy your night.”
She walked out. Tossing the paper towel into the trash by the door, she looked up and found Kaeden there, leaning against the wall, waiting for her.
A slow, sexy smile tugged his lips up the moment his eyes landed on her. Against all common sense, she walked over to him.
“New pastime? Stalking the women’s bathroom?”
Something foreign flashed in his eyes and yet, he didn’t answer her. Not verbally anyway. His left arm snaked out and curved around her midsection, pulling her tight to him. Then he kissed her.
Stunned for a moment, she didn’t react. But those pesky moans, just wouldn’t stay silenced and slid free as she wound her arms around his neck. Kaeden nibbled along lips, top and bottom. He sucked at them and flicked his tongue along, teasing her. Tempting her.
On the cusp of screaming at him to this torment, he pushed his tongue into her mouth and she realized, right then, he’d only been toying with her. Now he was kissing her.
Faye lost all track of time and when Kaeden pulled away, she wasn’t able to stand on her own for a moment, needing his body to anchor her. He smirked and he knew exactly what her reaction to him was.
“Just waiting for you, baby.”
The flash of a camera doused her warm feelings for him. He’s playing to the crowd. Exactly what we planned on doing. None of this was real.
Trouble for her was, she’d always wanted this with him so for her, the line had already been blurred. She could do fine holding her own so long as there remained the sniping tension between them but this, this, was going to end up killing her.
Forcing herself and her emotions beyond her own wants and needs, she gave a smile in return, playing it up for the ones watching. He kissed her once more, light and swift, but with no less punch, before he tucked her arm into his and walked them by those lurking and focusing on him.
“You didn’t tell me where you were going,” he whispered in her ear as they took another turn around the room, looking at the items up for bid.
“Didn’t realize I needed permission to visit the little girls room.” This time her voice held an edge.
He nipped the whorl of her ear and stepped back to glance down at her, suspicion in his expression. “What happened?”
Somehow, this was the Kaeden she recalled from childhood, the one who protected her along with her brother from bullies. And at the same time, it was completely different. While that Kaeden had filled her with childish fantasies of happily ever after, this one, his voice did the sort of things to her that would have her reaching into the one specific drawer tonight after she got home, just to allow herself some relief.
Aware, always aware, of those circling around them hunting for a moment of weakness, she ensured her smile never slipped. “Just a few of your usual type of females reminding me of my place. And that it wasn’t here.” She patted his arm. “We should mingle, and I think your agent is trying to get your attention.”
“They can all fucking wait for all I care. What are you talking about?”
Yep, definitely angry.
Giving into the insane urge that had been hounding her all night, she reached up and pushed some of his hair back from his face. A gentle smile turned up her lips as they stood there, eyes locked.
“It doesn’t matter, Kaeden,” she murmured, doing her best to make sure no one overheard. “I don’t need to you to have protection.” He lifted an eyebrow. She flushed grateful for her darker skin. “I don’t need you to protect me.”
He refused to release her stare and flicked his tongue along his lower lip. Her gut clenched in response. Kaeden got a hooded look about him and tugged her in closer. Dipping his head, he nibbled along her lips and she promptly forget where she was. All she knew was him and his touch.
A whimper slid free and she grasped the lapels of his tuxedo jacket. When he sucked her lower lip in his mouth, her legs gave out but he was there, holding her upright. A bolt of desire speared her when he nipped her lip before releasing it.
“I’m glad you don’t think I need protection because I want to be bare and raw when I’m inside you, Faye. All your slick heat, I want that coating my dick when I fuck you.”
Fucked?
Perhaps and she wasn’t positive about what was happening between them but she was fucked.
He captured her chin, brushed their mouths together once more and smiled. At something behind her.
Shit! They were in public.
With cameras.
Now she knew why he’d done what he had. He was acting for the press. Ice slammed over her but she didn’t let her smile slip. Not a single inch.
“Great shot, HP. With the photo in the background I made it look almost like you two are out on a date by that garden instead of here at the auction.” The photographer smiled and stepped back only to be replaced by a reporter.
The recorder was shoved into their faces and she drew back, noticing but not commenting on how Kaeden subtly shifted his body to protect her.
“How about a comment in regards to the rumors that this is only happening to try and save your career?”
Knowing this man as she did, he was ready to explode. She watched Lannie making her way there but knew that his agent wouldn’t be there in time to stop the fury boiling close to going over in the man with her.
This is what you were asked to do, Faye. Strap on your big girl panties and help him.
Readjusting her body so she was back in front, she faced Kaeden, resting her head against his hard chest. Fuck, this is going to be difficult because I want nothing more than to feel his touch all over me. With an innocent smile she angled her face toward the reporter.
“What this are you referring to?”
The woman looked at her, blinking a few times like she had to ensure she was there and not a figment of her bleached imagination.
The smile wasn’t nice at all and Faye braced herself for whatever was about to fall from her lips. She wove her arms around Kaeden making sure they were on the inside of his tux jacket.
“This, and I say this loosely, romance between the two of you. Rumors are that it’s only to show management that you can stop the wild ways.”
“I can answer that,” she said with an easy shrug, all the while pinching Kaeden to keep him in place. His entire body continued to vibrate but he didn’t move or speak.
How unfair it is that he has no fat for me to grab on. Still, he didn’t try to move forward or speak.
“While he wanted to tell people, I didn’t. And it’s okay that you said it loosely, I understand most of your things are the same as your morals, loose. So I understand how that was for you to state.” Other reporters and onlookers gasped but Faye didn’t stop to acknowledge them. “To you and most people here he is Kaeden ‘HP’ Archer, star tight end of the Vancouver Storm. But to me, he’s Kaeden, the boy I grew up and crushed on from the day I met him. I like my private, quiet life. It took me a bit to become okay with this being public. Now, if you’ll excuse me, his agent is wanting a word.”
Releasing him, she grabbed his hand and tugged him after her to meet Lannie in the middle.
This may come back to haunt her, but she would do all she could for him while she was
playing this role.
Chapter Seven
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were dating Faye, Kaeden! How dare you keep this from us.”
He sat outside on his patio, beer by his left hand as his mother continued her rage/rant. The phone was on speaker and his eyes were closed.
“Have you nothing to say for yourself?” A huff of indignation. “Beau, talk to your son. Kaeden, say something in your defense.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Mom, this is why we didn’t tell you. We hadn’t planned on you learning it from the paper, but it happened.” He cracked an eye and reached for his beer, indulging in the silky way it ran down his throat. “We’re sorry about that. How upset is Ms. Beverly?”
“You’re worried about her mother instead of your own? I ought to tan that hide of yours Kaeden Archer.”
Not such a harmless threat with his mother. “I’m asking because I already know the two of you love Faye, I’m the one who has to prove myself to her parents and everyone in town knows that Ms. Beverly’s word is law.”
His mother grunted. He figured that bought him a bit of time. A shadow blocked his sun and he looked up to see Mitchell standing there. Scowling.
What was it about this family and their lack of knocking or ringing the doorbell?
“Mom, I love you but I have to go. Mitchell’s here.” Without waiting for a response, he held out the phone, taking it off speakerphone. “Mom wants to talk to you.”
No matter how pissed the man was at him, he wouldn’t say no to speaking to his mother, just like Kaeden wouldn’t refuse to speak with Ms. Beverly.
Making his escape while Mitchell spoke to his mother, Kaeden stood at the kitchen sink when his best friend—or was that former best friend and soon to be murderer—walked in. Kaeden was exhausted, he’d slept like shit last night because all he could do was think about Faye in that dress she wore, how fucking incredible it had been to kiss her, hold her, and pretend she was his all evening.
He lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “What do you want, Mitchell?” Fuck, he didn’t have any energy for this. It was their day off from practice, he’d gone on a run and worked out in his gym, but there was an unmistakable edge, nervousness to him that he wanted to clear up. He wanted Faye.
