Winning Ace: A Winning Ace Novel (Book 1)

by Tracie Delaney

  “Fine. Good.”

  He rocked back on his heels and looked her over. His lusty gaze made her blush as she lay in front of him, totally naked and utterly helpless. Okay, helpless was an exaggeration, but still…

  “See what I mean?” he said, trailing the tip of his forefinger over her red-hot cheek. “That keen mind of yours is ticking away.”

  He slipped the airline mask over her eyes, and as the shards of light in the room were extinguished, she sucked in a breath.

  “Promise you’ll tell me if this is too much.”

  She nodded. “I promise.”

  Her breathing was ragged, but instead of fear, she found herself overcome with excitement.

  “Wait there,” Cash said.

  “Where am I going to go?”

  He chuckled, then the bed dipped as he climbed off. It couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds before he was back.

  “Smell.”

  The scent of jasmine filled her nostrils, and she breathed in deeply. “Mmm.”

  “You like?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” Cash began massaging her shoulders, the oil helping his hands move slickly over her skin. Ever so slowly, he moved up her arms to her hands, where he paid attention to every single one of her fingers before moving back down her body. He hovered over her breasts before coating them, too, in the oil. She moaned and arched her back, pushing them into his hands.

  He didn’t miss an inch as he covered her skin with the heavily scented oil, and by the time he reached her feet, she was so turned on she could barely remember her own name.

  “I’m going to flip you over. Don’t forget, you can stop this at any time.”

  “As if,” she mumbled. “Best massage ever.”

  Cash chuckled as he gently shifted her until she was lying on her front. He began rubbing her back, and she moaned loudly as he dug his thumbs in between her shoulder blades.

  “Oh God, that feels good.”

  “That’s the idea, baby.”

  The tips of his fingers moved down her spine until he was kneading her behind. He eased her legs open and swept his fingers over her folds. On instinct, she lifted her backside in the air until Cash pushed her back into the mattress.

  “Tell me what you’re feeling.”

  She groaned in disappointment as he continued torturing her. “Crabby.”

  Cash let out a low chuckle. He slipped one oiled finger inside her, pushing in deep.

  She moaned loudly, rocking back against him. “Do that again.”

  He did as she asked, and she ground her hips into his hand. “More.”

  His teeth grazed her earlobe. “Patience,” he whispered. He started rubbing her thighs, his thumbs applying concentrated pressure at all the right points. She wanted to scream, but at the same time, she was feeling sensations she’d never had before—an intense, powerful need coupled with all-consuming desire and an added lump of exasperation at how unhurried he was.

  He leisurely moved down her legs and over her calves, ending at her feet once more. He kneaded the soles with his thumbs, the sensation resonating in her groin. She’d never thought of her feet as an erogenous zone, but if he carried on much longer, she was going to come.

  “Cash,” she mumbled even though she didn’t know what she was saying his name for. Her nerves had heightened to new level of sensitivity, and all the different and conflicting emotions were messing with her head. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, to scream or remain silent, to beg him to stop or pray he carried on.

  She felt his breath on her ear before he spoke. “What do you want, Natalia?”

  “You. I want you.”

  He turned her onto her back, cupped her chin, and kissed her hard. His tongue surged inside her mouth, and she thought she was going to get what she wanted. But then he pulled back.

  “Not good enough. Tell me. Be explicit.”

  Overcome with self-consciousness, her face heated. She didn’t have enough experience to do what Cash demanded. Before him, her relationships had been immature—boys who couldn’t find a woman’s erogenous zones with a map let alone through their own childish fumbling. Even during her relationship with Evan, she’d had more success making herself come than he’d ever managed. Cash, in contrast, barely had to touch her before she was on the edge of orgasm.

  Cash wiped the excess oil from her body with a soft, fluffy towel before he began the same torturous journey with his mouth as he’d done with his hands. “Natalia,” he prompted, his tone holding a hint of warning.

  She closed her eyes behind the mask, trying to shut off her mind and let her body take over exactly as Cash had encouraged her to do, as he pressed soft kisses to her breasts, her ribs, her stomach.

  “I’m tingling… everywhere. Oh God, my skin’s on fire. You’re making me burn, Cash.”

  She cried out as his tongue dipped inside her, his soft beard rubbing against her inner thighs. She tugged on her restraints and thrust her hips forward.

  “Keep going,” he said. Clearly, he wasn’t going to let her off the hook.

  She forced away all thoughts of embarrassment, and as she did, a wonderful sense of freedom loosened her tongue. “I love it when you go down on me. It makes my insides go crazy.”

  Cash licked her again and then sucked hard on her clit. She cried out. “It’s too much. God, Cash, I can’t.”

  She wasn’t making any sense. She was speaking, but her body was in charge, not her brain.

  “Yes, you can. More,” he growled, opening her thighs wide and lapping at her.

  She waited for another blast of self-consciousness to hit her, but it never came. She wasn’t herself. Cash was changing her into someone completely different. And she loved it.

  “I want you to make me come using only your tongue, and then I want you to fuck me from behind. I love that position because you feel so deep that way.”

  Cash sucked in a sharp breath. “At last,” he whispered as his tongue dipped inside her again. She cried out, driving her hips upwards. Cash clamped down on her thighs. “Stop moving.”

  She wasn’t sure she could. Besieged with so many emotions, she didn’t know what to do with them all, and a single teardrop ran down her cheek. She turned her face into the pillow as Cash took her at her word, touching her with only his tongue. The pressure of an oncoming orgasm built inside her, and she clenched her core tightly and squeezed her eyes shut. Cash flicked his tongue once more over her clit, and she tumbled into the most intense climax she’d ever had.

  She cried out as her muscles furiously contracted over and over. Her toes curled, and she tried to close her legs to control the burn, but Cash gripped them hard, forcing them even wider. He didn’t stop licking her until he’d drawn every drop of pleasure she had to give. As the intensity of her climax waned, Cash ripped open a condom before he turned her over and pushed himself inside.

  “You’re in charge, baby,” he said. “You tell me what you want.”

  He almost withdrew then rocked his hips so gradually she found herself thrusting backwards, meeting him more than halfway.

  “Untie me, Cash.”

  He removed the airline mask and unfastened the belt, and she blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. She glanced over her shoulder. Her gaze collided with Cash’s. His smile was so warm, so tender that another tear welled up. It hovered on her eyelashes before spilling onto her cheek. Cash leaned forwards and kissed away the tear before entering her again, as languorous as the first time. She contracted her core firmly, rewarded when Cash hissed. She pushed backward as he thrust into her, each time clenching hard.

  “Fuck, Natalia. What are you trying to do to me?”

  “Break you,” she whispered.

  Despite what she’d said about him taking her from behind, she wanted to see him. She turned over and eased him back inside her. Leaning up on her elbows, she kissed him, moving her mouth in time to his slow thrusts. She was determined not to ask him to go faster
but to make him. Balancing on one arm, she reached between his legs and cupped his balls, squeezing gently.

  Cash growled low in his throat, wrenching his lips from hers. “You win.”

  He hooked her legs over his shoulders and thrust into her so hard the back of her head knocked against the headboard. He curled his hand around her neck to protect her, and as he kneeled up and thrust into her again and again, his firm hold anchored her in place.

  An oncoming orgasm built once more as Cash made love to her hard and fast. He ground his teeth, and a pulse beat underneath his jawline. Tally reached behind herself and gripped the headboard, using the additional leverage to push against him.

  “God, yes,” he called out.

  Her eyes fell closed, and she pressed her head into the pillow as she drowned in her second orgasm. “Unbelievable,” she muttered as warmth spread outwards from her core, making her legs twitch and her toes curl.

  Cash continued to drive hard, and she opened her eyes in time to see him come. As his orgasm roared through him, he cursed softly, squeezed his eyes shut, and bit his lip, his forehead wrinkled with intense concentration. At that moment, Tally knew one thing: if she got to do this with Cash for the next fifty years, she’d never get sick of watching him climax.

  After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and gave her a soft smile. “I am so proud of you.”

  As he snuggled into her side, Tally covered his hand with her own. She didn’t know the person she was becoming. But she loved her.

  THIRTY-TWO

  Darts of excitement made the hairs stand up on the back of Tally’s arms as she waited for Cash to appear on court. The buzz in the crowd was a low hum that, no doubt, would rise to a crescendo in a few minutes. Tally sat on the edge of her seat and bounced her legs. She sensed Kinga’s icy stare on the back of her neck. Kinga was spoiling for a fight, but Tally wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Intense jealousy made her want to turn around and scratch Kinga’s eyes out for daring to lay a finger on Cash, but the more sensible part of her knew that would be a mistake. The press had pointed their cameras at her and left them there since she’d sat down a few minutes earlier, and she would never embarrass Cash by smacking his agent in front of all those photographers, much as it would give her huge satisfaction to do so.

  Her phone vibrated, and she smiled at the ID. She swiped at the screen.

  Hope all goes well today, babes. Love you xxx

  God, she missed Emmalee. Although dreading this week ending, at the same time, she couldn’t wait for a proper catch-up with her best friend. She sent a quick reply, tucked her phone back in her pocket, and glanced at her watch. Two minutes until the players were due on court. The hum from the crowd increased, and fans pointed their cameras toward where the players would appear. Tally fidgeted in her seat until Brad leaned across Jamie, placed his hand on top of hers, and squeezed her fingers.

  “You’re doing great,” he whispered. “Particularly for someone not used to being in the spotlight.”

  She glanced nervously at the row of photographers courtside. Some of them still had their cameras trained on her, while the rest pointed them in the same direction as the crowd was facing.

  As Cash walked onto court for his first-round match, the crowd burst into cheers. Her heart jumped up into her throat. Dressed in his customary black, he moved with poise and grace, a sight she’d never tired of in ten years of watching him play. He waved to the crowd as he sauntered over to his bench.

  He dropped two heavy bags on the floor and took a swig of pink-coloured water. His gaze found Tally’s, and she smiled tentatively, the fluttering in her belly increasing when he winked.

  “That boy has it bad,” Jamie said, giving her arm a quick nudge with his elbow.

  Kinga coughed loudly, no doubt for Tally’s benefit.

  Tally glanced over her shoulder before leaning towards Jamie. “Same for me.”

  Kinga rested both her hands on Tally’s shoulders, and Tally winced when she squeezed hard. “Enjoy it while you can,” she hissed in her ear. “Eventually, he’ll realise you’re just not woman enough for him.”

  Tally glanced at Jamie to see if he’d heard, but he was deep in conversation with Brad. Even though Kinga’s words stung, Tally twisted in her seat and met her cool gaze with one equally cool.

  “Your hollow warnings are getting awfully boring, Kinga,” she said in a low voice with a hint of confidence she didn’t feel. “A bit like you. No wonder Cash keeps turning you down.”

  The air whistled through Kinga’s teeth as she sucked in a breath. “You little bitch.”

  Tally pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhh, the match is about to start. Don’t go embarrassing yourself yet, Kinga. Save that for your next unrequited pass at my boyfriend.”

  With a small, satisfied smile, Tally shuffled around in her seat. Em would have been so proud, and Tally was damn proud of herself at that moment. She glanced down at the court. Cash was looking up into the players’ box, a frown marring his handsome face. Realising he must have seen the exchange between Kinga and herself, Tally gave him a bright smile and blew him a kiss. Her reassurance worked, because the frown disappeared, replaced with what looked like relief. He, too, blew her a kiss, and the photographers went crazy, the bulbs flashing so rapidly she was momentarily blinded.

  As play got underway, it was evident the crowd was fully behind one player, and Tally began to feel a little sorry for Cash’s opponent, a wildcard entry who was clearly out of his depth. Cash won the first set six–one in a little over twenty-five minutes, and at the fifty-one-minute mark, he served an ace to take the second six–two. The audience got to their feet and applauded loudly as the players walked off court.

  “Come on, Tally,” Brad said, taking hold of her hand. “Let’s go see our boy.”

  She shuffled past a few interested onlookers, their curious murmurings reaching her ears, and followed Brad inside. He led her down a narrow corridor, stopping outside a royal-blue door. Inside was an overstuffed sofa, a wing-backed chair, a coffee machine and water cooler in the corner, and a heavy oak table in the centre.

  “You can wait in here while I go and fetch him. He thought you’d be more comfortable here than in the players’ lounge,” Brad said.

  Tally settled into the chair and used the time to send a quick text to Em and Pete, telling them about the result. About five minutes had passed when the door opened, and she looked up with a smile. And then her smile fell. “What do you want?”

  Kinga glided inside and clicked the door shut. “I don’t think we finished our little conversation before.”

  “Really,” Tally said, her heart galloping. “I said everything I wanted to, thanks.”

  “Well, I didn’t,” Kinga replied, planting both hands on the arm of the chair and looming over Tally. “So you are going to shut up and let me finish.”

  Tally held back an overwhelming urge to swallow. She was not going to let Kinga intimidate her, so she fixed a bored look on her face and expelled a curt breath. “Okay, let’s hear it. Because you know as well as I do that at any moment, Cash will walk through that door. And how he reacts when he gets here is up to you. When we were in Paris, you told me you were the most important woman in his life. Well, sweetheart, you’d better move aside because there’s a new favourite in town, and in case you were wondering, it ain’t you.”

  Kinga glared, her eyes unblinking. She didn’t move from her bent-over position, although her face coloured up.

  “Wonderful,” Tally said, pushing herself upright. “Well, if that’s it…”

  “Sit the fuck down.” Kinga slammed her hand hard against Tally’s chest, and she fell awkwardly, her wrist twisting painfully as she tried to save herself. Tally massaged her wrist, and the sharp pain receded.

  “You have no idea who you’re messing with. Cash is mine. Mine.”

  “He isn’t yours,” Tally said, and then, in an attempt to diffuse the situation she added softly, “You know Cash. He doesn’t
belong to anyone.”

  With a derisory snort, she turned away, allowing Tally to finally stand up. Kinga crossed over to the water cooler. She grabbed a paper cup and filled it. “I’ve waited patiently for that boy to turn into a man,” she said, her hands shaking as she clung onto the cup of water. “I watched as he screwed his way through hundreds of women from here to Australia. I kept quiet, smiled and supported him, because I knew my time would come. And then you waltz into his life with your fat thighs and big tits and fuck up eight years of careful planning.”

  “I haven’t fucked anything up, Kinga,” Tally said, keeping her voice firm but quiet. “He doesn’t want you. I’m sorry, but that has nothing to do with me.”

  Kinga’s eyes widened, and she threw the cup at the wall. Water pooled on the floor.

  “Nothing to do with you?” She sneered, and then her face crumpled. “I love him.”

  Tally blew out a breath and crossed over to Kinga, gently rubbing her arm. “Do you really want to waste your time loving someone who doesn’t love you back?”

  Kinga wrenched her shoulder upwards, pure venom blasting out of her eyes. “I can make him love me. When you’re out of the picture, he will.”

  “But he didn’t love you before I came along.”

  “You don’t know anything about my relationship with Cash,” Kinga snapped.

  “I know everything,” Tally said, her patience with the conversation wearing thin. “He’s told me how you can’t seem to take no for an answer. That you keep trying it on despite him rejecting you over and over. Sounds more like obsession than love to me.”

  Tally caught sight of Kinga’s swinging fist a little too late. She couldn’t duck in time, and as Kinga’s fist made contact, pain exploded in her cheek and her legs buckled. She crumpled to the floor.

  THIRTY-THREE

  Brad smacked Cash on the back. “Good job. Take the rest of the day off.”