A Wicked Game

by Evie Knight

  “I need a model. Pronto!” the designer exclaimed.

  “Elisha,” the woman called.

  “No. What’s wrong with you? It’s the summer men’s fashion show.”

  The woman’s mouth opened, forming an O.

  “Yes, oh. I need a man. A man model. Orlando is sick and I don’t have anyone to replace him.” He paced. “Oh, this is such a disaster.” He lifted his eyes, fixing his gaze behind Tori. “You.” He pointed his finger at Jack. “You are perfect.”

  “Whoa. I’m here for her.” Jack wound his arm around Tori’s waist and pulled her in front of him like a shield.

  Tori swallowed a laugh. “Antonio, I’m sure your designer friends will let you borrow one of their models,” she said.

  “Cariño. Your naiveté becomes you. Don’t you see? This is rivalry at its best! They’ll be happy to see me fail and I won’t have it.”

  “Talk to one of the other models. There’s got to be one who’d be willing to help you,” Jack said.

  Antonio laughed. “Querido. You make it sound too easy. It’s not. They all have exclusive contracts. Not one would risk his neck to help me—you understand, no?” He approached Jack, grabbed his upper arm, and pulled him away from Tori, studying him from head to toe. “Yes, you’ll do.”

  Jack put his hands up. “I don’t think you understand. I’m here for her.” He waved his hand in Tori’s direction.

  Antonio pursed his lips and crossed his arms, tapping his foot on the floor. “Victoria, I will give you an exclusive to next year’s women’s collection if you get your Mister Gorgeous—” He pointed to Jack. “—to help me out here I know you know I don’t give exclusives. I don’t think I need to mention how an exclusive with me will boost your career, do I?”

  Tori’s lips arched into a smile as she processed what Antonio offered her. He wasn’t talking about next year’s collection, because they were presenting it now. His offer was good for the year after next’s collection. Oh, this is good! Better than great. She turned to Jack. “You want me to hear you out, right?” She lifted an eyebrow.

  He stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Dead serious.”

  Jack straightened to his full height. “I’m not doing this.”

  She cocked her head, letting out her breath. “Safe travels, Jack.” Tori turned and walked toward her staff, disregarding the curious gazes on her, Antonio, and Jack.

  “I’m not a model,” Jack said.

  Tori stopped and looked back at Jack. “That’s right. You know the way out.”

  “Stop this nonsense. You’re a man and you can walk, right?” Antonio snapped his fingers at two of his assistants. “Get him ready,” he instructed.

  A man and a woman grabbed Jack by his arms and led him to a booth. “Tori, I’m doing this for you.”

  She glanced at Antonio then Jack. “Then you better do it right.”

  * * * *

  Jack stared at his reflection in the three-wall mirror. Who the fuck invented Speedos? It should be illegal for men to wear them if they weren’t professional swimmers. He was thankful for the long black robe that came with the outfit but hated that he’d have to wear it open. To make matters worse, he’d been forced to wear open-toe sandals with adjustable crisscross straps reaching past his ankle. Fuck, I look ridiculous.

  “You look fabulous,” Tori said behind him.

  He pursed his lips and turned to her. “You better not let your photographer shoot a picture of me to put in your magazine or you’ll be sorry.”

  She chuckled. “It hadn’t crossed my mind. Thanks for the idea.”

  He closed the distance and grasped her by the waist. He fixed his eyes on hers, holding her gaze. “After this, you and I will talk.” He leaned forward to steal a kiss.

  “You can kiss her all you want later.” Antonio drew him from Tori, his eyes inspecting every detail of Jack’s attire—or lack thereof. “Nice package,” he said, openly staring at Jack’s cock. “Good. Very good. Let’s go.” Antonio clapped, and one of his assistants led Jack to the line of the models waiting their turn to walk on stage.

  “Good luck,” Tori called behind him.

  “She’s staying at Le Meurice,” the assistant said. “I’ll find out her room number in case she skips on you.” She winked at him and spanked his ass before walking away.

  “This better be worth it,” he murmured.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Tori exited the elevator on her floor and headed for her room. Her cheeks hurt from smiling all afternoon, and getting the image of Jack in that outfit out of her head would take years. Her photographers took a few shots of him—after all, it was part of their job and what they were there for.

  She wouldn’t put him on the cover of the magazine, though one of his photos would fit quite nicely somewhere in their article highlighting the best moments of fashion week. He’d kill her for doing so. Heck, he’d think it was her ultimate payback—of course, revenge had nothing to do with it. Or maybe it did a little.

  Tori laughed at the thought, lifting her eyes to the door of her room. She slowed down when she saw Jack leaning on the frame, hands in pockets.

  “Somehow I knew you’d try to skip out on me,” he said.

  She raised her chin, walking the rest of the steps to her door. “You thought right,” she said, opening her door. “Goodbye, Jack.”

  He stepped in her room right behind her and closed the door.

  “What are you doing?” She furrowed her brow.

  “We have a conversation pending.” Jack closed the space between. “Do you have any idea what my life’s been like?” He stood inches from her.

  “I don’t think I care.” She stepped back.

  “It’s hell, Tori.”

  “I fail to see why that’s my problem,” Tori said, folding her arms.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll admit I was a jerk.”

  A mix of anger and longing battled inside her, making her emotions race. “You’re an asshole. If you’re done with what you came to say, you can go now.” She gestured to the door.

  Jack shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on a chair. He took the few steps separating him from her. “Hear me out, please.” He grabbed her hand and drew her to him. “I miss you,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I can’t sleep at night because you’re not there with me.” He touched his forehead to hers.

  The heat of his body flooded hers. She bit the inside of her cheek, closing her eyes. “You said you’d call—you promised,” she whispered, hearing the loud thrum of her heart. She wouldn’t be surprised if he heard it too.

  “I know I didn’t keep my promise, and I’m sorry.” The tip of his nose stroked hers, their breaths mingling. “I was afraid of how right it felt having you by my side.” The heat of his lips kissed hers without their lips touching.

  Tori inhaled deeply, regretting she had a second later as his scent invaded her nostrils. She longed to touch him, to have him make love to her. “You hurt me.”

  “I know I did. I’ll make it up to you if you give me another chance.” Jack slid his arm around her waist, pressing her body against his. “Please, Tori.” He brought his other hand to her neck and his thumb stroked below her earlobe. “It’s hell going home knowing you’re not there.”

  She closed her eyes, letting her body drown little by little in the heat of his caresses. “I wasn’t there before,” she whispered.

  “No, you weren’t, but I need you there now.” He twined his fingers in her hair, tugging her head back, forcing her to open her eyes and look at him. “It was a wicked game we played, and you won.” He paused. “I fell for you, Victoria.”

  Tori parted her lips to speak, but he covered her mouth with his. All thoughts left her the moment his hot tongue bumped into hers. She dragged her hands up his arms and clung to him, intensifying the kiss, asking for more, making up for all the times they hadn’t kissed in the past three months.

  He stroked her back and unzipped her dress.
Tori yanked his shirt out of his pants to unbutton it. She moaned in protest when he took a step back, breaking the kiss, helping her out of her dress. His scorching gaze searched her from head to toe as she got rid of her bra and shimmied out of her thong.

  He finished stripping off the rest of his clothes and reached for her. His lips captured hers and he lifted her off her feet, carrying her to the bed the way he always did. “I’ve missed you,” Jack whispered against her lips, settling between her legs.

  Tori arched her body, craving the contact with his, and fire shot through her when his hot cock touched her wet pussy. “I’ve missed you too,” she said, locking her legs behind him.

  He obliged, thrusting into her in one full plunge. “I’m never letting you go.” He swept his lips over hers, taking his time thrusting into her. “I love you, Victoria.” Jack stopped moving and stared at her.

  Tori drew in her breath, processing his words. “I-I—”

  Jack thrust his hips and a moan escaped her lips. “I may not be the man you deserve, but I promise to be the best husband there is. Marry me.” He closed his mouth on her upper lip, sucking it gently into his mouth.

  “I love you too,” she said.

  He plunged into her. “Is that a yes?” he whispered against her lips. Jack quickened his pace, moving his hand between them, reaching for her sex, his fingers massaging her clit. Her muscles tightened around his shaft, her body trembling alongside his. Jack thrust into her twice more until his own orgasm rode through him.

  “Y-yes.”

  Epilogue

  Tori took a sip from her wine glass, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window of her and her friends’ favorite rooftop restaurant, admiring the nighttime lights of downtown LA. Tomorrow would be her six-month engagement anniversary, and her friends insisted to move up their girls’ night out since Jack was taking her some place secret for the weekend.

  “Tell me again, what does your handsome nerd do for a living?” Vivienne asked, inspecting the diamond on Tori’s finger.

  Tori turned to Vivienne, smiling. Her friends wouldn’t give her a break on anything. They’d always been there for her during her ups and downs, the same way she had for them. When she’d come back from Paris, she’d been nervous about their reaction when she shared the good news with them. For some inexplicable reason, she’d thought they wouldn’t be receptive to the news about her and Jack. She couldn’t have been any more wrong. A wave of relief washed over her when they all gave her a group hug, expressing how happy they were for her.

  Ariana cocked her head. “Why do you care?”

  “I don’t know. We may have some competition going on here about whose rock is prettier.” Vivienne paused. “Bigger, too” she murmured, chuckling.

  “Why? You want yours to be the biggest one?” Scarlett said.

  “No. She doesn’t want one,” Tori said.

  Vivienne straightened on her chair. “She’s right. I don’t want one.”

  “Not yet,” Tori added.

  “I agree she’s not ready yet. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t want one,” Ariana said, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

  Claire tapped her index finger on the table. “You know, the one thing still not clear to me is how Vivienne keeps getting these select invitations.”

  Tori leaned forward, gesturing with her hand. “I’ve wondered the same thing.”

  Vivienne slid her eyes from one friend to the next. “Well, you shouldn’t. Thanks to the likes of me, you both have found your happily ever after.” She focused her gaze on Claire and Scarlett. “So I suggest you two be nice. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get another invitation I may not want to use. Or, depending on the timing, I may just use it myself. Now, you wouldn’t call me selfish if I did, would you?” She raised her wine glass in a toast and drank from it.

  “Ladies.” A waiter approached their table. He placed a small black envelope next to Scarlett and another next to Claire. “These came for you a few moments ago. I was asked to let you know you must read the content when you’re alone.” He turned to leave but looked back. “Ah, right. Your dinner bill has been taken care of too.” Smiling, he walked away.

  “What the hell is this?” Claire stared dumbfounded at the envelope sitting in front of her.

  Vivienne touched her throat. “Those are from Elite Classified,” she murmured.

  Scarlett glanced at her, a puzzled expression on her face. “H-how do you know?”

  “Trust me, she knows,” Ariana and Tori said in unison.

  Scarlett angled her head and Claire waved her hand in question.

  Vivienne shrugged. “I just know.”

  * * * *

  Vivienne

  What the hell happened? Why didn’t I get an invitation? Not that I’d use it this time. But, still. If Elite Classified is being generous and issuing invitations to the rest of my friends, why didn’t they give me another one this time?

  The valet guys bring around my friends’ cars first, so I watch them leave one by one as I wait for my car. I never like being excluded from anything and now I feel a total outcast, even though I’m not—not yet. Who am I kidding? I’ll be an outcast sooner rather than later.

  Two of my friends found the men of their dreams and are on their merry way to getting married. My other two friends received invitations to the exclusive online dating service. They wanted it so bad, I don’t doubt they’ll find their perfect other half soon. I hope it takes them a while to find their matches because that would buy me time to find new friends. Oh God, what kind of friend am I?

  I shake my head in time to see my car stop right across from me. I walk to the driver’s side, still bothered by my own thoughts, by my fear of being lonely. Perhaps going on a short getaway somewhere will take the edge off and get me out of the funk I’m starting to drown in.

  “You’re the glitch in my system,” a man says.

  I blink, looking at the man standing by the driver’s door, not bothering to make eye contact. “Are you with the valet?” I slide my gaze down his body, noticing he isn’t dressed like the rest of the attendants. “Because if you are, you should know better than to address your customers that way.” I cast a glance at the booth, ensuring there are other people nearby should I have the need to… well, scream?

  “What if I’m not?” he asks.

  I let out a slow breath, closing and opening my eyes, and look back at him, meeting his eyes this time. Holy shit. A pair of the most enchanting amber eyes stare back at me, gluing my feet to the ground. I swallow, realizing my throat is dry. Straightening to my full height, I say, “You shouldn’t be driving my car. People may take you for a thief.” I hold his electrifying gaze, trying to ignore the warmth invading my body and the tingling I shouldn’t feel for a man I’ve just met.

  He throws his head back, letting out a soft chuckle. “Darling, I’m not a thief, but you are indeed a troublemaker.”

  I blink at his statement. “I fail to see the humor in that. I don’t know how you think I’m a troublemaker when we’ve never met before now.”

  Backing me back to the doorframe, he places his hand next to my shoulder on the car. “Does Elite Classified ring a bell?”

  My knees almost give way. “Y-yes.” My gaze lingers on his perfectly sculpted lips, feeling the heat of his body creep up mine.

  “Darling, you’re a system glitch I intend to fix,” he says, leaning forward. His lips hover over mine and our breaths mingle.

  My heart races and I swallow again, glancing up at him. If I am his glitch, I don’t have a problem with him fixing me. He could start right here if he so wants. I lick my lips, wishing he’d close the distance. Is it wrong to want a stranger to kiss me senseless?

  He brushes his hot lips over the corner of mine. “There’s a new invitation on your passenger’s seat. Do me a favor and use it this time.” He pauses. “If you don’t I’ll be back and, darling, you’ll hate me then.” He steps back.

  A cold chill crawls up my body, replacing the warmth th
at enveloped me moments before. Who is this man? Where is he going? All these questions rush through my mind, but I’m tongue-tied and can’t utter a single word before he disappears in the distance.

  About Evie

  Evie Knight writes wickedly sexy contemporary romances with irresistible bad boys, sassy heroines, a bit of conflict, humor and a dash of spice. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time blogging, reading, listening to music, or looking for a muse.

  She lives in sunny Southern California.

  Evie loves hearing from her readers. Feel free to stalk her here:

  www.evie-knight.com | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr | @inlovewromance | Goodreads

  Books by Evie Knight

  In Bed with the Enemy Series

  Ariel’s Song

  Gérard’s Quest

  The Scarlet Promise (Coming Soon)

  Elite Classified Novels

  A Perfect Match

  A Wicked Game