Rules of the Game

by Lori Wilde

  He spread his legs, nudging her knees wider apart with his. His hand slid down her hip and across her inner thigh. His other hand gently massaged her buttocks. Her breathing quickened and her heart thumped.

  “I’m going to kiss you here,” he promised. Not asking her permission, simply telling her what he was going to do.

  Flashes of pleasure bombed her and she let out a desperate purr, letting him know she approved of the path he was following with his wicked mouth, dancing his tongue down her belly. She felt his hands at the waistband of her panties, his fingertips taunting her.

  He fueled her arousal to fever pitch. His heated breath against her bare belly was driving her insane. His fingertips shifted through her moist curls, headed for the area she most wanted him to touch.

  In response, she arched her back.

  Come on. Come on.

  If she didn’t feel the warmth of his hot, wet tongue against her soon she was going to lose her mind.

  Jake slipped her panties over her hips, slid them down her thighs, past her knees. She kicked them off.

  “You smell so good.” He inhaled and then placed a smattering of kisses down the area below her navel.

  She felt every quiver of his body, every ragged breath.

  With excruciating slowness, Jake moved his hand to cover the triangle of hair between her legs.

  Jodi moaned her pleasure as his hand cupped her, and she allowed her legs to drop open, giving him full access to her body. He lay on his belly between her knees and lightly brushed his lips over her.

  He hissed in air. “You are so wet.”

  Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of wonder in his voice. Desire for him seared her nerve endings as she surrendered to him completely.

  It wasn’t easy for her. Jodi wasn’t used to exposing herself like this, neither out of bed nor in it, but urge forced her to relinquish the reins to Jake’s tender tongue. She wasn’t sure she liked it.

  The air was thick, weighted with tension and strange meaning. The sheets smelled slightly scorched. Her breath crawled sluggishly through her lungs, filling her with lazy heat. Her limbs were made of granite, heavy and smooth.

  Then everything vanished from her mind except the erotic moisture of his lips against her throbbing sex. And when his mouth formed a gentle suction over her clit, she came unraveled.

  Gently, he inserted one thick finger inside her. She lost all sense of herself, all sense of time. The world tumbled, an easy fall into ecstasy.

  The pressure mounting inside her womb was sublime torment. At that point, nothing else mattered to her except Jake making love to her with his mouth and his fingers.

  He teased her, nipping lightly with his teeth.

  All the air left her body and she felt reborn. Her pulse pounded in her ears, rushing heated blood through her engorged veins.

  Jake tried desperately to fight off the need biting into him, but it was almost impossible. The soft sounds of her sexy cries of pleasure, the way she threaded her fingers through his hair.

  She wanted him to be inside her. He had to get inside her now. “Please,” she whispered. “Please take me.”

  “Not yet.”

  Cruel, sweet torment. He kept at her. Licking and teasing until she was quivering from head to toe and oh so wet.

  He paused long enough to retrieve a condom in his wallet and slip it on. Bracing his body over hers, he looked down into her eyes, and just like that, he slipped inside.

  He peered down into her.

  She stared up at him.

  He pulled her hips flush against his and held her there for a hundred heartbeats, not moving inside her, just being there.

  They hung on the prongs of an epic mind-body connection, the cosmic merging of physical form with dynamic spirit. A hypnotic string of energy stretched from him to her and back again as he slowly began moving inside her. She watched his pupils widen, heard his breath quicken.

  “You’re shaking,” he said. “Scared?”

  She nodded silently.

  “Why?” His voice was a sliver of glass, high and brittle as if all the oxygen had been sucked from his lungs.

  She couldn’t find the words to describe what she was feeling.

  “Do you want to stop?”

  “No!” she said, alarmed, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Don’t stop.”

  “Then tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “It feels … I feel …”

  “Yes?” His voice sounded anxious, like a man waiting on a verdict. What was going on here? What was happening between them? She felt like a stranger who’d stumbled into a foreign land, only to discover it was her long-forgotten home.

  His eyes, dark and mysterious, pried deep inside her, as if trying to excavate all her secrets and put them on display. “What is it?” he whispered. “You can tell me.”

  “I’m afraid.” She whimpered.

  “Of what?” he prompted when she didn’t go on, his voice as tender as a newborn baby’s skin. So tender and filled with concern that the purity of it blinded her.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted, unable to give voice to her fears.

  “Are you absolutely certain you want to do this?” His naked belly was placed flat against hers and she could feel him inside her, big and warm.

  “Yes. God, yes.” She clasped the cheeks of his butt with both palms, pulled him deeper inside, held him snugly in place. Tears misted her eyelashes. “I’m afraid I’ll never be the same again.”

  “You won’t,” he said huskily. “Nor will I.”

  They moved together in mindless wonderment. Their bodies in tune on a level so primal it leveraged their souls.

  Jodi whimpered gratefully.

  Her body enveloped him. She met each of his thrusts with corresponding movement of her hips, arching her back up to meet him. Urging him to quicken his pace.

  Instinct took over.

  She could no longer think. Could only feel. Her focus was attuned to one thing and one thing only, the merging of their bodies. His energy swirled up through her until her whole universe spun dizzily. His stark reaction was such a powerful thing to behold. Jodi felt both awed and blown away by his power.

  His hands trembled as he held her. He thrust into her again and again. Her entire being seemed to pull him deeper and deeper into her until she simply could not differentiate where his body stopped and hers began.

  He cried out one last time and shoved himself as deep as he would go into her warmth, the walls of her body sucked at him—gripping, kneading, pulling.

  Then Jake’s body shuddered as he poured into her.

  He collapsed onto her breasts, with his arms wrapped around her. She clung to him. Bent her head and kissed the top of his. He stayed inside her and she held him close. Memorizing every minute of it.

  The one time in her life she’d had head-banging sex—wild, casual, beautiful sex with a gorgeous stranger.

  And she looked up at the ceiling and smiled.

  Jodi woke in a panic. Oh God, it was dawn.

  She hadn’t intended to stay all night. Her plan had been to slip out as soon as he was asleep and head back to the Motel 6 a changed woman. No longer the good-girl rule follower who got dumped on her wedding day, but someone new and strong and bold. A sassy woman who could have a one-night stand and not get hung up about it.

  But by the light of day, a one-night stand could look a little seedy. She wondered how she was supposed to handle this casual new way of being. Didn’t know if it was freedom or rock bottom.

  Why had she allowed herself to fall asleep?

  Softly blowing out her breath, she cast a wary glance to the other side of the bed. Jake was lying on his side, turned toward her, hands stacked under his cheek, looking way too adorable. Thankfully, he was still asleep.

  Yay!

  Maybe he was a sound sleeper. Maybe she could ease off the mattress without waking him. Get dressed and get out of here. Except that she had to pee som
ething fierce.

  Pee later. Lobby bathroom. Get out while the getting is good.

  Carefully, she pushed back the covers. Waited a second. He didn’t move.

  Running her tongue over her lips, she touched one foot to the floor, and then the other, and glanced over her shoulder at him.

  What a gorgeous profile. Then again, everything about him was irritatingly gorgeous. His nose was the perfect size. Not too big, not too little. Straight and sure. Not broad, not thin. Jodi reached up to finger the slight bump at the bridge of her own nose.

  Get a move on.

  Yeah, okay. But she indulgently let her gaze caress his biceps. Last night, those magnificent arms had been holding her tight. Mmm. She went dreamy remembering. What if she leaned over and …

  Snap out of it. That was last night. This was today. Her parents were expecting her for dinner.

  She stood up, winced when the bed creaked, waited a minute, then looked over her shoulder at him again. Still sleeping.

  Moving as quietly as she could, she tiptoed around the room, gathering up her things. She found her purse, her shoes, and her evening dress. Now where were her bra and panties?

  She searched the room. Nada. Gosh, but she had to pee.

  Forget peeing. Find your underwear.

  On it. She pulled the dress over her head, dropped quietly to her hands and knees, and raised the bed skirt. Nothing under there, not even dust bunnies. Kudos to the diligent housekeeping staff at the Grand Texan, but boo to the fact that meant there was only one place her underthings could be.

  The bed.

  Ugh.

  Carefully, she inched over and lifted the top sheet. Jake’s breathing stayed slow and deep. Gotta love a one-night stand who was a sound sleeper.

  Aha! There her panties were nestled at the foot of the bed. She ran her hand down the sheet, snagged her panties, and wriggled into them as stealthily as she could.

  Now where was her bra?

  Forget the bra. Just get out of here.

  And go jiggling out of the hotel dressed in last night’s rumpled dress and call-girl stilettos?

  Yes, that might be embarrassing, but she simply had to get away from the naked man on the mattress and the smell of their lovemaking and that weird sensation knotting up her stomach.

  Besides, she seriously had to pee.

  Bra be damned, she was out of here. She plunked down in the chair parked at the desk just long enough to slip on her shoes. She grabbed her purse, lifted her head, and froze.

  He was sitting up.

  His hair was adorably tousled and his eyes were half closed, but he was awake and eyeing her like she was his favorite dish of ice cream. She could almost feel his gaze reach across the room and stroke her. Luckily, he had the sheet draped over his waist.

  Inwardly she groaned and dipped her head, unable to hold his direct gaze.

  “Running out on me?” His tone was light, but his eyes were disappointed.

  She couldn’t help feeling guilty. Guilt. The good-girl default mode. Dr. Jeanna had asked her why she thought she had to fulfill everyone’s expectations but her own, and she hadn’t been able to give her an answer.

  “Hmm, no, not at all,” she lied. “I’ve got a really busy day ahead.”

  “Such as?”

  “I really have to go.” She headed for the door.

  Um, said her bladder. Now that he’s awake, you might as well pee.

  Okay, fine. She darted into the bathroom and took care of business. When she came out, he was still lounging in the bed looking way sexier than any man had the right to look. Good grief, where did he get those amazing genetics?

  “Sure you don’t want to grab some breakfast? And by breakfast I mean sex.” He wriggled his eyebrows.

  She tried not to smile. She didn’t want to encourage him.

  His mouth curled into a you-don’t-know-what-you’re-missing grin. “C’mon.” He swept a hand at his bare chest. “How can you turn down this buffet?”

  “I’m not greedy,” she said. “I’ll leave some for the next wedding crasher.”

  His grin softened, humbled. “Then breakfast for real? I know this great little diner and it’s the most important meal of the day—”

  “Propaganda from the breakfast food industry.”

  “You’ve got a gorgeous butt. Did I tell you that last night?”

  “I’m not coming back to bed with you.”

  “Ouch. Cock-blocked.”

  This time she couldn’t stop the smile.

  “Ha!” He pumped a fist in the air. “You do like me.”

  “I like cake too, doesn’t mean I binge eat.” Gosh, it would be so easy to get sucked into that smile.

  “Hey, you like me, I like you—”

  “Not happening.” Gingerly, she took two steps backward toward the door.

  He made an imaginary phone with his thumb and pinky finger, held it to his ear. “I’ll call you.”

  “You don’t have my number.”

  “Then you call me.”

  “I don’t have your number.”

  “It’s 555—”

  “I don’t want to know it.” She covered her ears.

  He snapped his fingers. “Curses, foiled again.”

  “Charm away. I’m not giving you my name or number.”

  “I feel so cheap.”

  Jodi rolled her eyes. “Gotta go.”

  “Really? This is good-bye?”

  “Goodbye, hasta la vista, ciao, au revoir, daag, sayonara … you get the picture.”

  He held his arms out, faux beseeching, his eyes laughing. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

  “Seriously, keep that up, Romeo, and I will hurl.” Why did he have to be so much fun? Determined to make her escape, she headed for the door.

  “Wait.”

  She stifled a sigh and turned back. “Yes?”

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  “No. I’m good.”

  He held up her bra, the thin strap of material dangling from the tip of his big masculine finger.

  Jodi’s nipples got hard. Jake’s gaze dropped to her breasts. She folded her arms over her chest, and stalked back across the floor. “Give me that.”

  She snatched for it.

  He pulled his hand away, dangled the bra just out of her reach.

  She lunged and lost her balance on the stilettos, ended up with her face planted in the mattress. She glanced up. Jake looked down.

  Wham!

  In his eyes lurked a mixture of longing, regret, and sadness so deep she felt it straight to her soul. The look disappeared, quickly replaced by stark sexual hunger and that knowing smirk.

  Curiosity urged her to grab him and just go at it again, but that was exactly why she had to get out of here. She wasn’t ready for this. Wasn’t ready for him. She was still gluing back the pieces of life. Last night had been about facing her fears, asserting her independence, and having some fun. That’s all she wanted. All she needed. All she had room for.

  She scrambled to her feet, or at least that was the intention.

  But before she could get there, Jake handcuffed his hand around her wrist. “I’d like to see you again.”

  “Impossible.”

  “Impossible?” His touch burned her skin, sent heat flaring up her arm. “Such a negative thinker.”

  Jodi sucked in her breath. She might be a lot of things but she was no coward. She’d been cornered. She’d tell him the truth.

  “Look, Jake …” she began, and tried to tug away from him, but he wasn’t letting go.

  “I’m listening.”

  “Last night was great. We met each other’s needs, and I thank you for being there when I needed someone. It’s just that—”

  “In the light of day you’re ashamed of me?”

  “No, no.” She shook her head. “That’s not it.”

  “What then?”

  He had a way of looking at her that made her feel both guilty and empowered. It was a bizarre
combination. She cleared her throat. “Look, I don’t normally do things like this. Crash a wedding, spend the night with someone I don’t know.”

  “And you think I do?” His hand was a bear trap, holding her fast.

  “You don’t?”

  He shook his head. “Not in a long time. This was … you were … special.” He looked so earnest that she believed him, and that made her feel worse.

  “I’m still getting my footing after a bad romance,” she said.

  “I could help you with that,” he said hopefully.

  “Another relationship is not the solution.”

  “We could just be friends.”

  “No we couldn’t. You’re not a friend-zone kind of guy.”

  He cocked his head, considering that for a moment. “True.”

  She shrugged. “Impasse.”

  “Screw friendship then. We don’t have to label it. Let’s just spend some time together.”

  It was so tempting. Too damn tempting. “Look, I don’t even live in Dallas.”

  “Where are you from? I don’t mind driving.”

  “I’d rather just have this one great night and let it go at that.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded. He scared her. Not because he was so big and imposing. Not because he was so damn hot. Not even because his self-control barely masked a powder keg of sexually potent emotions. What really frightened her was this impulse to jump headlong into a relationship with a stranger. Which was why she absolutely, positively could not do it.

  His smoldering eyes took her in and she felt as if she was not wearing a stitch of clothing. Jodi trembled as violently as if he had just cupped her bare breasts in his calloused palms. She held his gaze and they were joined as surely as if he had just slid his hard, angular body into hers.

  He said nothing.

  Neither did she.

  Abruptly, he let go of her wrist, and Jodi, who’d been steadily tugging against his grip, stumbled backward at the sudden release. She had to get out of here before she crawled back up in bed beside him and begged him to make love to her again.

  “Take care of yourself, Jake,” she said, grabbed up her purse and coat, and ran out the door.

  “Yo, Gwendolyn,” he said.

  With her hand on the doorknob, she turned back one last time. “Yes?”

  He looked so wistful it hurt her chest. “Don’t crash any weddings without me.”