by Lisa Sommers
Reflection
BOOK TWO
IN THE GAME ON TRILOGY
Reflection
By Lisa Sommers
Warning: This work contains sexual content and is written for adults only (18+). All characters depicted in this story are over 18 years of age.
Cover Design by Kelly Emery
Photography by Shauna Kruse
Cover Models: Lance Jones and Kimberly Michelle Wright
Proofed/Edited by Jillian Crouson-Toth and Keri Quinn
Interior Design and Formatting by Lisa Sommers
Copyright © 2016 by Lisa Sommers
Published by Lisa Sommers
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are completely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission.
ISBN-13: 978-1530789528
ISBN-10: 1530789524
Discover other titles by Lisa Sommers:
Game On Trilogy:
Wishbone
Reflection
Unlove Me (To be released September 2016)
Caught Off Guard Series:
The Fall # 1
The Hidden Truth # 2
Her Salvation # 3
Twelve: Emily’s Story # 4
Stand Alones:
Red Roses
Charlie : Charlie
Lisa Sommers’ books can be found on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/lsommers
Dedication
Once again, my family has put up with me through this whole crazy book writing process. There have been many late night hours of plotting, strategizing, killing, and lots of hot scene writing going on and I could not have done it without their patience.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter 1
Chelsea
I don’t see why she cares so much. It’s not like I’m hurting anyone. “Alli, give me one good reason why I should settle on one?” Strumming my foot on the hardwood floors a million miles a minute, Alli kicks my shin. “Ouch! What was that for?”
“You know exactly what that was for,” If she for one second thinks I am going to back down, she’s wrong. “You pushed me, Chelsea. You told me to fight for what I wanted when I didn’t want to.”
What the hell is she talking about? I pick up my half-empty wine glass, turn towards the kitchen, and leave her to have this conversation out with herself. I don’t need to listen to her tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing.
“What are you doing?” She asks as she follows me into the kitchen.
“Refilling my wine glass, Alli. Is that okay with you?” Seriously, she needs to calm the fuck down.
“Your glass is already half full.” Clever bitch.
“No, it’s not. It’s half empty.” Take that!
“Chelsea,” her voice full of warning.
Bottle in hand, I spin on my heel to face little Miss Know-it-all. “Don’t you dare chastise me for living my life the way I want to.” I shake the neck of the wine bottle in her face. “You have no idea what I’ve been through. So don’t you think for one minute that you have any right to run my life.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “You know what, I can’t handle this.”
Her hands go to her hips. “Handle this? Chelsea, I have no doubt that you can handle anything that comes your way, but I just don’t get why you can’t be happy with one person.”
I shake my head. “I’m done with this conversation.” Instead of filling the rest of my wine glass, I drink directly from the bottle. Setting the empty bottle on the counter, I reach for my glass and finish what little is left. I pick up my keys and then grab my sweater off the dining room chair.
“Where are you going?” Alli asks, quick on my heels.
“Out.”
“You are not driving. You’ve had too much to drink.”
I chuck my keys on the counter and continue walking out the front door.
“Chelsea!” She calls after me.
I jog away without acknowledging her. I reach the corner of the street and reach for my cell phone. Shit, my pockets are empty. With all of Alli’s ranting and raving, I forgot to grab my phone. Great.
I rest the palm of my hands on my knees, huffing from the run I just did to escape my best friend. I should have known this was eventually going to happen.
Alli and I met in our sophomore year in college. She has no idea what I went through as a freshman student. She thinks she had it rough? Fuck, her pretty little life can’t even measure up to the hell that I’ve been though.
I cross the street and make a left. I run a few more blocks before I run through the doors of Moonshine Flats.
I grab a seat at the bar, rest my elbows on the glossy wooden countertop, and run my fingers through my hair trying to calm myself down.
Damn Alli. Why does she feel the need to fix me?
“Hey, Hon. What can I get you?”
I look up to see Chuck tossing a bar rag over his shoulder. “I forgot my purse at home, Chuck.”
He nods his head and takes in my demeanor. “It’s on me. What’ll it be?”
I offer up a slight smile. “Thanks, Chuck. I’ll take whatever it is you have on tap.”
“Sure thing, sweetie.” Chuck walks away and returns moments later with a nice tall frothy glass of beer. “Anything you want to discuss?”
“I wouldn’t even know where to start.” Not that I’d spill the beans to him, but it’s nice to know he’s in my corner if I ever need him. But then again, he’s a bartender, isn’t it in his job description to listen to the patrons? I shake my head at the thought. If I can’t even tell my best friend how can I tell a complete stranger?
“Well, you know where to find me if you ever need someone to talk to.” If it were any other man, I would think that Chuck is hitting on me. But I know that can’t be further from the truth. Chuck is like a father to me. I’ve been coming here ever since I turned twenty-one.
“Thanks, Chuck. But, at the moment, I think I’ll just drink this beer.”
Chuck nods his head, removes the bar rag off his shoulder and continues cleaning the rest of the bar top.
I am just about to finish when the sound of music starts playing behind me. I spin around in my chair, rest my back against the bar and begin watching the band play.
Moonshine Flats is a pretty cool bar. Chuck manages to pull in different local bands from around town every week. Tonight is a country band. I think the name on the bass drum says, Jackson Michelson. They sound pretty good and the singer isn’t half bad to look at either.
Keeping my eyes on the band members, I down the rest of my beer. I do nothing more than listen to their music. I close my eyes and sway my body back and forth to the rhythm.
“Hey babe, what are you doing h
ere?” I don’t need to open my eyes to know who it is.
“Hey Huntington,” I swivel in the direction of his voice. “I guess I can ask you the same thing.”
Derek smiles that sexy smile that originally caught my eye six months ago when Alli and I were in that Box.
“Just, uh …” He stutters, dragging out his answer.
“It’s okay, Derek. I get it.” I’ve been telling Derek for months that I don’t want more from him than just a casual thing. What we have is perfectly okay with me. As a matter of fact, I prefer it this way. No strings attached means, no heartbreak. No heartbreak means I get to live my life free of drama. Free of mishaps. Mishaps that lead to losing the one that you love. Forever. Never to walk on the face of the planet. Ever again.
Derek nods his head slowly, taking in my response. “I’m meeting a girl, Chelsea.”
I bring my glass to my lips all the while keeping an eye on Huntington. Unfortunately, it’s empty. I replace the glass back on the bar top and say to Derek, “I see,” And I do. It still hurts, but I get it. “Well, I guess this is my cue to high-tail it out of here.” I stand up, say my goodbyes to Chuck and pat Derek on the back on my way out.
Derek reaches for my arm, but I slip away from him. “Chelsea, don’t do this.”
Yelling over my shoulder, I respond to him. “Do what, Derek?”
“Leave like this. You know I want more with you.”
I stop dead in my tracks and turn back around. I purse my lips and watch as Derek makes his way over to me.
“I know you do.” I slide my hands up and down his arms as he slides them around my waist. “I wish I could give you more. I’m sorry.”
He pulls back in frustration. “Damn it, Chelsea. What’s wrong with you? You know you could have me if you wanted to.” His eyes look sad. I feel terrible for causing him so much pain, but I can’t take things further with Derek. Or anyone for that matter.
“I know, honey. I know.” I reach up, grip his shoulders and pull him in for a tight hug. “Mmm,” I groan into his ear. Damn, he smells good. I pull back slightly and the feel of his lips run against my neck sending a shiver down my body. He always was an expert at making me feel good.
“Don’t go,” he whispers. “Stay here with me. I’ll lose the other chick. You know it’s not her I want, anyway.” His hands roam my back, trying to pull me in for one of his bone-melting kisses. “Come on, baby.”
My fingers slide around to the backside of his biceps before I release my hold on him. “Another time, Hon.” I kiss the side of his mouth before pulling back completely. “Another time.”
Derek shakes his head and takes a seat. Clearly defeated over my lack of giving him more than what I can, he sighs.
I slowly make my way back to the condo, taking my time. I stop at a local ice cream shop and get a double scoop of my favorite ice cream, Salted Caramel Pretzel. I need something to cool me down and this will do just the trick. My old friend from high school works there and she’s always giving me a free scoop or two when no one else is around.
After making my way back home, I am glad to find that Alli is still here. I need to talk to her. I need to apologize.
“Alli,” I call out, walking down the hallway. Her bedroom door is open but I don’t see her. “Alli, are you home?”
“Hmm,” I walk back to the kitchen to retrieve my cell phone that I left on the dining room table earlier in the evening. I quickly type out a text message.
Me: Hey babe. Where are you? I’m sorry about earlier.
Before tossing my phone back on the table I notice I have a missed call. Checking the call log, I notice that it’s missed call from Brad. I’ll call him back later. I toss my phone back on the table and walk into my bedroom to change into something a little more comfortable. I throw on a white tank top and a pair of boy shorts.
It’s still early in the evening but I have no desire to go out. I hear my phone alert me of an incoming text message, but I ignore it.
After washing my face, I make my way back into the living room after grabbing my phone. I throw myself down on the couch and pull a thin blanket off the back and drape it over me. I open my text messages and notice that I have two texts. One from Alli and one from Brad. I open Alli’s first.
Alli: No sweetie, I’m sorry. I should not have intruded. I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m staying the night at Shane’s. Good night.
Me: Good night, babe.
I go to open Brad’s text when I hear a knock at the door. I open the text as I walk to the front door.
Brad: Too late for a visit?
I peek through the peephole and see Brad standing on the other side of the door. I swing it open and say, “No, honey. It’s not too late. Come on in.”
Brad and I go back a couple of years and the relationship we have fits both of our lifestyles. Brad is my safe bet. I don’t need to worry about him expecting more from me.
I shut the door and within seconds Brad has me pinned to the wall, arms stretched above my head.
“Why do you always have to look this sexy?” I laugh at Brad’s question. His lips are on my neck, biting and nipping his way to my ear. His teeth clamp onto my earlobe and he sucks it into his mouth.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” I moan. I lift my leg, sliding it up the outside of Brad’s thigh until I wrap it around his waist. He grips my wrists with one hand and lowers his other to tug down on the front of my low-cut tank top. Exposing my chest, he roughly grabs my right breast and lowers his mouth, running his cool tongue along the edges of my areola.
“God, baby. You taste so fucking good.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Uh huh,” he mutters against me, twisting my nipple in between his thumb and forefinger, he lowers his mouth and gently nips until the sting of pain resonates deep within me. I arch my back and lean my head against the wall.
“Fuck Brad,” I moan. “You know this turns me on.”
“That’s the point, baby.” The vibration of his voice against my flesh makes me writhe in agony. “Are you wet for me?”
Normally, yes. I really want to be, but after seeing Derek earlier tonight, I’m just not feeling it. Damn it! Why did he have to work his way into my head? Everything was fine until he said he had feelings for me. He went and fucked everything up. And now … now I can’t stop thinking about him. Even when Brad is making me feel so damn good.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Brad asks, trailing his tongue up the center of my throat, ending at my lips.
“Can we talk?” Brad never wants to talk and I usually don’t either. It’s not what our relationship revolves around. He abruptly stops then pulls back looking into my eyes. He looks confused.
“You want to talk?” His voice clearly reflects concern.
“Come on, am I that bad to talk to?” I huff my frustration.
“Um, no. It’s just that we never … we don’t usually,”
“Talk?” I rest my hands on my hips, looking Brad dead center in the eyes.
“No. Not really.” He folds his arms over his chest. “What’s going on, Chels?”
I shake my head. “Am I really that shallow of a person that fucking me is the only thing we have in common?”
Brad throws his arms up in the air. “You’ve lost me here, Chelsea. If I remember correctly, these were your rules. Not mine.”
I turn around, not wanting to look at Brad right now. “I know. It was. It is. I mean … shit, I don’t know what I mean. I think I need a break, Brad.”
It’s so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Suddenly, I feel Brad’s hands rest on my shoulders, squeezing gently. His thumb tucks under the thin strap of my tank top. He pulls it down slightly and presses his lips to my skin. I lean my head to the side, giving myself one last chance to let my body give in to his touch. It does feel good. There is no doubt about that. I just wish … I just want … fuck, I don’t know what I want.
I reach up and lay my hand on top of Brad’s. I exhale a deep breath of pent up air a
nd say the last thing I ever expected I would say to him, “I think we need to call it quits.”
His hands, lips, and arms still at my comment.
“I’m sorry,” I twist in his arms so that I can see his beautiful face. “I’m sorry,” I repeat my words. I run the palm of my hands down his cheeks and rest them on his chest.
Brad purses his lips and gazes longingly into my eyes.
I slide my hands around his torso until I lock my fingers together behind his back. He pulls me in tight against him and sways us both back and forth.
Any girl would feel lucky to have him in her corner and I wish that I could be that girl. It just doesn’t feel right at the moment. Brad doesn’t want anything permanent, anyway. I’m not sure of his story, but he clearly has one. Besides, I don’t want to be in anyone’s corner. And especially not since that dumb jock, Derek, expressed his feelings toward me.
Brad pulls back and places a sweet kiss against my forehead. “Call me if you need me.” He whispers.
I nod my head frantically. “I will.” Tears begin to prick at my eyes. I totally blame Derek for this. I don’t cry. Well, not since my freshman year in college.
Brad lays his hands on my cheeks, lifts slightly so that I have to tilt my head back to look up into his eyes. He lowers his head and presses his lips to mine. It’s long, sweet, sexy and final.
He pulls back and wipes at the few tears that managed to make their way down my cheek. “Goodbye, Chels,” and then he turns around and makes his way to my front door. Before exiting, he says, “I meant what I said, call me if you need me. Even if it’s just to talk.”
Chapter 2
Derek
I’m staring at this redhead watching her lips move, but I have no idea what she’s saying.
I can’t focus. Not when all I see is Chelsea.
