Scored

by Valentine, Marquita

  Suddenly, he flips me on to my back and lifts my leg over his shoulder, opening me wider to him. He slides deeper, his eyes closing, then opening again as he groans my name. “Grab the headboard.”

  I grab onto the leather straps I thought were for decorative purposes only and hold on. Dallas plants his elbows in the bed and hovers over me, only inches of space separating us. He dips his head, teasing my nipples and sucking on them until they are swollen from the stubble on his face and his less-than-gentle ministrations.

  With a devious look in his eyes, he pulls almost all the way out but keeps sucking on my nipples until I’m a writhing, hot mess who’s on the edge of the best orgasm I’ve ever had.

  “Put your cock back in me.”

  “How bad do you want it?” He shifts so only the tip goes in, and my pussy clamps down on it.

  “So bad.” I try to raise my hips, but his weight keeps me pinned and unable to move. “You’re being cruel. Mean. A tease.”

  “Can’t have that.” He surges forward, going so deep my neck arches and I moan his name. “That’s right. I’m the one owning you. Say my name again.”

  “Dallas, Dallas, Dallas.”

  He licks my neck and bites down on the side, his hips rolling against mine and creating a friction so intoxicating that I can’t remember my name. Only his.

  We roll again, with me on top. “Make those perfect tits bounce.”

  I ride him for all I’m worth, my breasts jiggling so hard I know they’ll be sore later. He presses his thumb against my clit, and I whimper until he adds pressure. Then he starts to flick it, almost smacking me there over and over until I can’t stop chanting his name.

  I can’t stop moving. Can’t stop reaching for the orgasm he’s giving to me. I want it so bad, but he keeps me at the edge. Keeps me writhing on top of him and grinding down to take as much of his thick length inside of me as he’ll let me have.

  He leans up, latching onto my nipple and flicking my clit even harder. I come apart.

  Burst into flames.

  Become nothing more substantial than a wisp of smoke as my orgasm goes on and on. I’m barely aware of him flipping me to my stomach, pulling up my hips, and pushing inside of me with a single thrust. His fingers dig into my hips and I’m back in my body, pushing against him and wanting more as he finds his own release.

  Dallas groans above me, making sexy sounds that let me know he’s more than satisfied. When he pulls out, he disposes of the condom, then kisses his way down my back and up again, only to roll me and take my lips in a soft, sweet kiss that is in direct contrast with our sexual frenzy.

  “I care so much about you, Paige.” He brushes his lips against my nose, my cheeks, and my forehead. “And I should be fucking scared, but I’m not. This is right. We’re right.”

  I take a breath, not believing what I’m hearing. A part of me wants to run away because this is starting to feel a lot like love… but instead, I tell the truth because that’s what both of us deserve. “I feel the same way.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Dallas

  The next day, after another round of marathon sex with Paige, I give us a break and we join civilization by hanging out at the pool. Sam and Mitchell jetted off for parts unknown on day one, leaving me to entertain Aiden.

  Sorry fuckers.

  I’m going to be sure to thank them, but first, I’m going to ogle my girlfriend’s ass in a barely there bottom as she shoves Layton into the pool. Those two… I shake my head and smile.

  “She’s going to be pissed when she surfaces,” Aiden says.

  “Layton?”

  “Yeah, she’s not a fan of getting her hair wet.”

  I slice my gaze his way. “Is this based on personal experience?”

  He lifts his shoulder, dark shades hiding his eyes. “I’ve known her since she was eleven and I was nineteen.”

  “You’ve known her for fifteen years?”

  He nods once. “She liked to follow me around. I humored her because she was not only a sweet kid, but also my best friend’s sister. Once she turned eighteen, though, I avoided her at all cost because there was no way those pretty hazel eyes were going to mess with my head. I kept my distance for a long, long time.”

  Pretty hazel eyes? “Is that your only reason?”

  Aiden takes a drink. “She’s a straight-up brat when she doesn’t get what she wants.”

  Layton shoots through the water, sputtering and yelling at Paige that’s she going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with her a soon as she fixes her hair.

  “Told you.”

  “She’s never acted like that around me.” And she sure as shit can’t be that bad and still be best friends with Paige. It doesn’t jive.

  “Consider yourself lucky.” His head turns slightly. I swear he’s tracking her as she marches out of the pool, her bikini just as skimpy as Paige’s—not that I’m looking because I’m not.

  Just in case it appears that’s exactly what I’m doing, I find my girl again and zero in on her. She waves at me and dives into the pool before Layton can shove her in.

  “Let’s go out tonight,” Aiden suggests casually, but knowing him, it’s already in the bag. “New club. My friend said she could get us the VIP room that’s normally reserved for people who own houses like this.”

  Called it. “I don’t know. I don’t think Paige would be down with that.”

  As if reading my mind, Aiden says, “My friend has offered to give you a platform to talk about your foundation, and she promised there will be major donors there with cash to throw your way.”

  Fuck my life, I can’t miss an opportunity like that. My gaze lands on Paige again as she climbs on a float and lays back, her delectable body gleaming in the sun.

  I shrug. “They can go if they want, but I’m not going to make Paige go somewhere that makes her uncomfortable.”

  “Have you put out an APB yet?”

  “On what?”

  “Your missing balls.”

  I flip him off. “Stop obsessing over my junk, or I’m going to think you’re trying to make Paige jealous.”

  A few of the staff suddenly appear, out of nowhere like the butler in Mr. Deeds, to serve dinner. The ladies towel off and join us at the table.

  “Poolside service. I could get used to this on vacation,” Paige says with a grin.

  I wait until she has started eating and is making happy noises before I bring up tonight. “So I’ve been invited to a club to promote my foundation this evening.”

  “Fun. You go on and promote the crap out of the event for the foundation. Layton and I will have a girls’ night.”

  “Could you and Layton have a girls’ night with Aiden and me?”

  “At a club where you’ll be the center of attention?” She shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “C’mon. You and Layton would have so much fun dancing and seeing the nightlife in Miami.”

  Layton shakes her fork at me. “Don’t put me in the middle of this.”

  “Middle of what?” Paige asks.

  “Y’all’s drama.” Layton nods at me. “It’s clear he wants you to go, and it’s clear that you would rather braid your hair.”

  “It’s clear I’m right here and can speak for myself.” I work my jaw. “Paige doesn’t have to go. It’s her choice. Since we’re playing by her rules, she can stay here with you.”

  “Don’t take that tone with Layton. She’s rooting for you to win,” Paige all but snaps at me.

  Aiden smirks from his side of the table. The motherfucker. “We all are.”

  Layton glares at Aiden. “Stop stirring the pot.”

  “Your pussy isn’t mine, so don’t even try to whip me into doing your bidding.”

  Layton and Paige stop eating at the same time, shoving back their chairs and grabbing their food. One of the staff rushes to them and helps them inside.

  “You’re welcome,” Aiden says the second they’re out of view.

  “Why in the hell wou
ld I thank your ass?” I shake my head at him. “How is anything you said even remotely helpful?”

  “I made it possible for you to have a night out, without your girl, I might add, so you can be guaranteed lots of promotion and money. The ladies at the club are an extra bennie.”

  “I’m not interested in the ladies at the club.”

  “No problem. I’ll take them off your hands.”

  “You’re a dick, you know that, right?” I cut into my steak and take a bite.

  Aiden smiles tightly. “So I’ve been told.”

  * * *

  Paige isn’t in our room when I return to get ready. When I text her, she sends me replies like I can’t answer right now and Mr. Darcy would never allow Wickham to influence him.

  “Who the fuck is Wickham?” I mutter. I toss the phone on the bed, so I can shave and shower.

  I really need to look that shit up so I can hold my own with her. The thing is I like it when she gives me grief like this. She makes literary references and doesn’t dumb them down because she thinks I’m not smart. Hell, no.

  My bright eyes considers me her equal in brain power… but she’s also too fucking scared to go public with our relationship. On one hand, I get it—her past is messed up and her mom hasn’t been the greatest example. She doesn’t have a dad who has ever been in her life except to throw money at her, probably to make himself feel better instead of actually looking out for Paige.

  Aiden sticks his head inside the bedroom. “Are you finished putting on your lip gloss, yet?”

  “You didn’t tell me your favorite flavor.” I move to the door and start walking downstairs with Aiden. “I want to be clear before we get there that I don’t want to see a single doll, and I’m not interested in women.”

  Aiden smacks my back. “Whatever you say, boss.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Paige

  Layton is sitting in bed with me. She’s eating M&M’s she got from the candy room and drinking water to, in her words, ‘even things out’ in the calorie department. We are watching a movie in a television disguised as a mirror that’s as wide as the bed and as tall as Layton.

  Instead of watching Chris Pratt charm his way out of a dangerous situation in the new Indiana Jones movie, I’m busy stalking Dallas on Snapchat. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt and a pair of dress pants in grey. They make his butt look amazing.

  Heck, he’d look amazing in nothing at all… and that sort of no attire is something Dallas has been known to strip down to at parties in the past.

  “Do you think it’s possible to change your ways in less than two months?” I ask.

  “Anything is possible, and judging by these really innocent images, Dallas is being the best boyfriend he can be, considering his circumstances.” In total support, Layton is on Instagram, scrolling through feeds with his name as a mention or with him tagged in a post. “And your limitations.”

  “You make me sound like the DMV.”

  “Please, that’s an insult to the DMV.”

  I make a face at her. “I’m going to refresh one last time because the Snapchat stuff is winding down.”

  The first thing that pops up is a live interview with Dallas by a busty blonde who looks more than a little happy at seeing him. Immediately, I want to scratch her eyes out.

  “I have to ask what everyone is dying to know. Are you seeing anyone?”

  “Yes.” He tugs on his ear and looks directly at the camera, his green eyes like light emeralds. “Yes, I am.”

  “A woman has finally caught the Dallas Drake? Who is she… and what does she think about Drake’s Dolls? Or is she a member of that exclusive club?”

  His mouth flattens for a second, then he smiles. “She’s in a club all by herself. If you’ll excuse me, I have to make an announcement about Night to Play for next year.”

  “A Miami party, I hope.”

  He winks. “You know how much I love Miami.” He jumps on stage and grabs the mic. Everyone in the club goes nuts and starts cheering for him.

  With a sigh, I exit out of Snapchat and roll over to face Layton, wishing I’d gone tonight. How stupid is it to be so irritated and hurt over something he can’t control?

  “You didn’t get to tell me what you were able to find out about Joe from Aiden,” I say so I can stop my one-woman pity party.

  “A big fat goose egg.” She stops eating and makes a face. “He finds ways to answer my questions without answering my questions.”

  “I’m sorry, but the bright side is that there’s no confirmation of Joe’s possible cheating ways.”

  Layton waves a finger in the air. “Woo-hoo,” she says flatly.

  “Do you think I’m being unreasonable by not letting my relationship with Dallas go public?”

  “You don’t want to know what I think.”

  I sit up. “Sure I do.”

  Layton shakes her head, her messy ponytail swinging. “No, you want to hear me agree with the rules you’ve already put in place.”

  “Fine. I do like confirmation, but I’m being completely serious. I swear I want to hear the truth.”

  “I think you’re letting your past control your future. Your fear of abandonment and of turning into your mother is going to push away the man who wants to hold you close and never leave you… and if you don’t stop it, you’re going to lose him.” Layton grabs my hand, squeezing it tight. “If Dallas leaves, you’ll regret it more than anything else you’ve ever given up on in your life.”

  I think of a future without Dallas, one bereft of his larger-than-life personality, his thoughtful gifts, and romantic tries.

  Without his hugs and kisses.

  Without late-night talks and Saturday morning breakfasts in bed.

  Without laughter and making love to him, which at times are twined together.

  “I don’t want to keep him at a distance, but I don’t want to get hurt again. If he cheats, it will break me—I know it.” My mouth trembles and I’m on the verge of crying, something I never do. “I’m so close to being in love with him, Layton.”

  Layton smiles softly. “I know, sugar.” She hugs me, providing comfort that makes me love her even more. “They’re not all bad, and we both know it. Dallas is already a good man… but when he’s with you, he becomes a great one.”

  “Thanks,” I whisper, letting go of her.

  Layton yawns, stretching. “I guess I should go to my own bed so we can get our beauty sleep.”

  “Some of us more than others.”

  “You’re such a bitch.” She smacks me with a pillow and hops down, bare feet thwacking against the tile.”

  “Love you, mean it, byeeeee,” I say in a singsong voice.

  “And I mean this from the bottom of my heart.” Layton flips me off and opens the door.

  “I’m telling your momma on you.”

  “She won’t believe you.”

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Aiden says from the hallway. He has a girl on each arm and is dressed almost exactly like Dallas. Were they twinning tonight? I almost ask him if Dallas is far behind, but my pride keeps my mouth shut.

  “Fancy meeting your future baby mommas in the middle of the night.” Layton does this silly curtsy and rolls her eyes. “If you’ll excuse me, Your Royal Pain In My Tail, I’m going to bed. Ladies.”

  “Saw your man tonight, having his bachelor party at the same club I met Trista and Jean. Who knew Joe was such a traveler?”

  I perk up, my heart racing for Layton. I will castrate Joe if he’s cheating on her.

  She crosses her arms over her chest. “And?”

  One of the ladies rubs against Aiden. “Why are we still out here?”

  “Because the party can’t start until we’re in my room.”

  The second lady runs her hand possessively over Aiden’s stomach—gag—and gives Layton a pleading look. “Can you hurry up? He wouldn’t let us touch him at all in the VIP room at the club or in the limo.”

  “Soon as your ride for the night
tells me what’s going on, he’s all yours.”

  Aiden leans forward. “This is called a threesome. If you join in, it could be an orgy.”

  Layton’s face pales and she clutches at her pearls, twisting them around two of her fingers. “Joe cheated…” she whimpers and stumbles back. I get up from bed, halfway there to comfort her, but Aiden pushes his dates away. He catches Layton by the shoulders, holding her protectively against him. His face is all soft and concerned looking.

  Layton shoves him away. “Don’t touch me.”

  I rub my eyes. I have to be seeing things. When I focus on them again, Aiden’s usual smarmy smirk is back in place.

  Stopping shy of them, I sneak a peek down the hall to see if Dallas is lurking nearby. My heart drops when I discover he’s not anywhere around that I can see.

  “You guys go on,” he orders. “Third door on the left.”

  “We’re going to do you so good, baby,” one of them squeals, but from my vantage point and the look on Aiden’s face, he’s already dismissed them.

  “He’s not cheating on you, Layton.”

  “He’s not?” Layton’s smile is wobbly. “I mean, duh, of course he’s not. Thanks for telling me what I already knew.”

  “Don’t fool yourself, baby girl. Every man is a potential cheater.”

  “Is that from personal experience?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Don’t need to cheat when I get all the pussy I want.” He pins his dark blue eyes on me. “I didn’t cheat on your sister.”

  “That’s so charming, and thanks for clarifying the reasons your relationship with Finley ended badly.” Layton blows out a breath. “I’m going to bed.”

  “Mine or yours?” Aiden asks, and I grab Layton’s shirt before she can punch him.

  “Go on. You wouldn’t want to keep your guests waiting,” I urge while Layton fumes.

  As soon as he rounds the corner, I let go. “Feeling better?”

  She shrugs helplessly. “Yes and no.”

  “Because I wouldn’t let you hit Aiden?”

  “I’ll terrorize him on the plane ride home. Honestly, I’m more upset with Joe. He told me the bachelor party was going to be back home, at his cousin’s house. Not here. There hasn’t been a single picture or video posted about tonight on any of his stuff, which leads me to believe he’s either hiding it from me, or he didn’t know what his groomsmen had planned and is worried I’ll think the worst when I find out.”