Hooked

by A. M. Hargrove

  Ryder pats his stomach and says, “I watch what I eat and work out a lot.”

  I almost spit out my wine. “You may work out a lot, but the only watching about what you eat is the way you put it in your mouth.”

  Everyone laughs, even Ryder. We finish ordering our food, and Mark tells us about his job offer. I have a brief panic attack until he says he’s still going to caddie for me.

  “It’s only an interview, so don’t worry, Eagle.”

  “But this is super important to me. It started out for a young girl with cancer, and a bunch of pros have joined in on this. It’s turned into a big fundraiser—much bigger than originally planned. That’s why it’s so critical for me to do well, which is why I need you on board one hundred percent.”

  Ryder and Gina are squirming now, so maybe it’s best if we talk about this later. “Look, we have a lot to talk about, and I probably haven’t shared some things with you that I need to, so let’s discuss this when we get home,” I suggest.

  “Good idea,” Mark says. Dinner ultimately ends, and when we get home, I pull Mark into the small den where Ryder has a large screen TV set up specifically for movies. This is the perfect place for a private chat with him.

  “So, this charity golf match has gotten so much attention from the LPGA and the PGA, it’s now become a huge event. There’ll be other sick kids there, along with their parents, and a total of eighteen golfers. Each kid will rotate and get to play with each golfer. So it’s a pretty cool deal. Not to mention some of the sponsors are ponying up large amounts, upwards of five hundred thousand dollars. The money will be divided among each of the kids, with bonuses paid out to the winning male and female golfers. The idea is for the golfers then to donate their winnings to Make-A-Wish. It stands to pull in a ton for these kids.”

  “I had no idea.” Mark rubs his chin.

  “Yeah, and that’s my fault. I didn’t tell you. Honestly, I didn’t get all the information until the other day.”

  “So, what do you need from me?” he asks.

  “I need you one hundred ten percent. I have to teach you my golf game. I know you understand golf, but you don’t understand how I play it. That’s why the next week is crucial because that’s all the time we’ll have to practice before the event.”

  He grabs my hand and says, “I’m there.”

  “But the job interview.”

  “I’ll figure it out. There has to be something. It’s only a couple of hours. Maybe I can meet them at night.”

  I chew on the inside of my mouth. He’s not my employee, so it’s not fair to make demands of him. “I will pay you for this. If I haven’t made this clear, I’m not expecting you to do this for free.”

  He wears an insulted expression. “I won’t do it if you pay me. That is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “It’s taking over a week out of your time. Of course, I’ll pay you, and it’s not ludicrous. I can afford it, Mark. If you are unaware, I’m one of the top LPGA players.”

  “Eagle, I am aware.” Now he looks at me as though I’m stupid. And I am. Mark is astute. He probably knows all my stats, too.

  “Okay, so what do we do?”

  “I’ll figure something out. Even if I have an evening meeting, I’ll be ready to work with you by the morning. It’ll work, Riley. I promise.”

  “You’re sure? Because if this doesn’t work, I need to make other arrangements, and fast.”

  “I’m sure. Now stop acting weird toward me. Like we haven’t slept together,” he says.

  “I’m not acting weird.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “Nah, I’m not. I’m tired is all.”

  “Come on, Riley. I’m not stupid, nor am I blind.”

  What am I supposed to say now?

  “Mark, honestly, it’s fine. I’m fine. We’re fine.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Totally. It was a grueling day. Randy hasn’t put me through a session like that in a while.”

  “Randy?” he asks suspiciously.

  “My coach.” My ego is cheering. He sounds a little possessive of me.

  “Oh. And how old is this Randy?”

  “Why? You jealous?”

  He shrugs. “Maybe.”

  “Don’t be. He’s married with three kids.”

  “Oh.” His blue-gray eyes dig deep holes into my own, punching the air right out of me. Fuck. Then, wouldn’t you know, Gina starts moaning. For the love of God. I stare at the ceiling, and the situation is too comical for me to ignore. Mark must agree because we both burst out laughing.

  But it doesn’t last long. Heat rolls off him as his fingers skim across my cheek.

  “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

  Words escape me, but his mouth is so close, too close, so I grab his arms and pull him toward me. Only he stops me.

  “I don’t want any more weirdness between us.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “I don’t think you can.” He dislodges my hands and starts to move toward the door.

  “Mark, wait.”

  “Riley, we’re two consenting adults, and if we do this again, you can’t be acting like a lunatic the way you did before. I’m way past that shit. Tell me now or I’m out this door.”

  MARK

  Her hand latches on to my cock in response.

  “No crazy, I promise.”

  I seal her mouth with mine, putting a halt to any further conversation. She tastes sweet like the chocolate and strawberry dessert she ate. Tangling her tongue with mine, I score my fingers down her back until I reach her ass. I cup it and lift. She’s all lean muscle and soft curves. I step backward, forcing her against the wall as her legs wrap around me.

  The door opens behind us, and Gina stumbles in.

  “My eyes, my eyes.” Gina claws at her face, while I groan.

  Sadly, I let Riley down and face my now former friend.

  “I could have sworn you and Ryder were fucking like rabbits upstairs,” I say.

  Gina, never having shame, freely admits what they’d been up to. “We were or he tried. But I thought it was rude. So I came down to see if you guys wanted to watch a movie.”

  “Sure,” Riley says.

  “No,” I growl at the same time.

  I glare at Riley. “Unbelievable.”

  “They’re leaving in the morning, and they’ll be gone for a while,” Riley adds.

  Grinding my teeth, I throw up my hands and head for the door. Half-jokingly, I say to Gina, “You used to be one of my best friends.”

  “Mark,” she calls out, but I make for the room Riley had designated for my use earlier that day.

  I might have closed the door a little loudly, but my dick could penetrate steel. If she expects me to watch a movie, I will have to either calm the fuck down or rub one out right quick.

  The attached bath becomes my destination, but I stop when the door opens.

  “Sorry,” Riley all but whispers. She leans her back on the door with her hands behind her. “Maybe we could do both.”

  She speaks like our conversation in the other room hadn’t ended.

  Pushing off, she strides for me with purposeful steps. Once she’s in front of me, she loops her arms around my neck and tugs me forward. I could resist, but I don’t. I accept her kiss. “I want you.”

  There’s no game in her statement. She’s blunt, and I like it.

  “Hard and fast?” I ask.

  She nods.

  The woman before me is so irresistible I have to grab my dick before it rips through my pants.

  “Take off your clothes, because if I do it, I’m liable to destroy them.”

  Her giggle is the sexiest sound in the world. My dick becomes a rocket launcher ready to shoot off inside her.

  “Want a show, do ya?”

  Slowly, I let my head tilt up and down. I lick my lips as she starts with her pants. Her pussy is the prettiest I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  “I hope yo
u locked the door. Otherwise, Gina is going to come looking for you because you’re taking too long trying to tease me.”

  She has no problem giving as good as she gets.

  “I just like the look on your face, like you’re ready to bite me.”

  Damn, this woman. If she only knew.

  “Oh, I’m ready to bite something if you don’t hurry it up.”

  Her infectious laugh makes my balls grow tighter. Any more and I will be able to sing soprano.

  She shimmies out of her pants, and she’s wearing what appears to be the smallest amount of black material that could cover her. I’m going to nut in my jeans if I don’t get inside her soon. Then she’s out of her top, and damn her for not wearing a bra. The back of my throat begins to vibrate with sound. Her small breasts are high and round with rosy nipples that beg to be sucked. I hadn’t had a chance earlier to really get a good look at them. But there’s not enough time to appreciate them with my cock’s detonation countdown engaged. Still, I want more.

  “Turn around and brace your hands on the edge of the dresser.”

  Without question, she does what I ask and stares at me with mischief through the mirror.

  It’s my turn for the show. Slowly, with as much patience as I can muster, I unfasten my belt after procuring a foil packet from my wallet. Everything pools at my feet, and I take my sweet time rolling the condom on. At the base, I fist myself.

  “Do you like to play games, Riley?” She nods her head, making me consider telling her to get on her knees. Only if she does that, I’ll come like a preteen boy having his first wet dream. “I know some games, too. I’m glad you kept your heels on.”

  Pulling her hips back, she’s at the perfect angle for me to thrust inside her wet folds. Her pussy is tight, and I have to hold her there or risk embarrassing myself. She’s having trouble, too. I watch her knuckles go white while she grips the edge tighter.

  “Maybe I should stay like this,” I tease.

  She wiggles in protest. Something comes over me, and I tap the fleshy part of her ass. And for a second, her walls clamp down on me, letting me know she liked that.

  “Stop moving or I will,” I command.

  “I don’t think you can,” she challenges.

  As much as I want to be inside her, I pull out and step back. She turns around and glares at me. Taking my dick in my hand, I start to jerk off, showing her exactly who’s in charge. She says nothing, only sucks two fingers into her mouth before spearing herself with them in and out. Fuck. Me.

  Challenge made and accepted. Neither of us is willing to beg. She ups the ante by using her other hand to pull one of her nipples taut. I’m giving her a show, too. I’ve hit the sweet part of my rhythm as my hand slides effortlessly up and down my shaft, though I wish it were her pussy closing around my cock.

  “Fine,” she shouts.

  Stalking forward, she shoves me back onto the bed. Then she does the hottest fucking thing ever.

  Climbing me like I’m Mount Everest, she hikes herself up my peak, holding my dick straight up to impale herself on it. She’s wet, and I reach up wanting to palm her breast. I consider sitting up so I can claim one of them in my mouth.

  Only she swivels around, reverse cowgirl style, and rides me like I’m a fucking mustang on the plains of the Wild West. The friction she creates has me on the verge of erupting so hard, I’ll probably burst the condom. I place a firm hand on her hip, needing to control the pace. Bucking into her a few times, I decide I want more. I sit up and take a fist full of her hair to expose her throat. Kissing my way to her mouth, I slide my hand from her hip to her clit, circling it until she’s begging, saying my name over and over.

  There’s a knock on the door, and I could give two shits who’s on the other side. I reverse our positions, leaving her bent at the waist. Her upper half is pressed into the mattress, and my hand cradling her center keeps her ass high in the air. Her legs are weak, but I’m nowhere near done. I thrust into her hard, making her fist the sheets.

  “Should we start the movie without you guys?” Gina calls through the door.

  I can almost hear the mirth in her voice, but I remove all thoughts of Gina out of my mind so I can focus on the woman before me.

  “What do you say?” I ask, applying pressure on Riley’s clit then backing off.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she cries.

  Her pussy closes around my dick like a cave-in. And no matter how much I wanted to play longer, that sets me off like a rocket into space. A couple more thrusts before I’m falling face-first onto the bed, rolling in time so that Riley’s on top of me, with me on my back.

  “Fuck me,” I grunt.

  My legs are Jell-O, and my dick starts to soften inside her. As much as I want to remain where it’s wet and warm, if I don’t pull out, wearing the condom will have been useless.

  I grip the end and take myself out of her.

  “And I liked you there,” she says in protest.

  “Me, too. But something tells me that pushing a stroller on the golf course isn’t the latest craze on the LPGA tour.”

  Her laugh is soft. She’s so strong, but in that moment, she seems almost vulnerable.

  “We should probably clean up and go watch the movie,” she suggests.

  “We could or we could stay here.”

  Soft lips land on my cheek, and she kisses me there. “As much as I want to, I think Gina is going to miss us. She won’t say it, but I think staying in New York for a while is going to be lonely for her.”

  She’s right on all counts. There was a time when I would have done anything for Gina. And now she has someone else to fill that role. And so tonight, I’ll pass that torch.

  After a few minutes, we go to clean up. It’s a damn shame when she gets dressed. I like looking at her naked with soft, drowsy eyes because I’ve taken care of her pleasure.

  When we finally make our way into the living room, Riley drapes herself across my lap. It’s a wonder how well she fits there as if we were made for each other. She’s so comfortable, she lays her head on my chest. Needing to touch her, I rub circles on her back as we watch the movie we all compromised on. It’s a romantic one where the hero is a bull rider. But even that can’t keep my eyes open. At some point, I dose off. Riley has to wake me up when it’s over.

  Gina coaxes Ryder awake in the background. “Come on, Cowboy. Let’s go up to bed.”

  “Night,” Riley says.

  I could stay in with her in my arms forever.

  However, after they disappear, she says, “I should get some sleep, too.”

  “You’re not going to sleep with me?”

  She shakes her head. “I’ll never get any if I stay with you. And we’ve got that three-hour drive before dawn if we’re going to make my tee time.”

  My half-lidded gaze pops right open. “Three-hour drive? Where are we going?”

  “Charleston. Where else?”

  She’s looking at me like I’m the crazy one.

  “Why are we going to Charleston?” I persist.

  “That’s where the event is being held. It’s at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. You know, where they played the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship in the past. Didn’t I tell you?”

  “No,” I say. “If I’d known that, I would have mentioned that’s where my interview is, which makes everything a lot easier.”

  “Oh, sorry. With everything going, I must have forgotten to tell you.”

  She’s forgotten to tell me many things. “What else do I need to know?”

  “Nothing… Well, I got us hotel rooms?”

  “Rooms?”

  “Actually, a two-bedroom suite.” She gives me a sheepish look. “I didn’t want to assume.”

  It feels like a step in the wrong direction. No way I’m going to go all clingy on her.

  “Yeah, maybe you're right. How long will we be there?”

  I didn’t exactly pack for more than a few days. I thought I would have time to go home because I didn�
��t want to bring a suitcase. I had a travel bag.

  “Over a week—until the event is finished. Why?”

  “I’m not sure I have enough clothes with me to wear. And if I drive home now, I won’t be able to make the drive back. I could meet you there. I’ll just leave from my place.”

  I watch as panic fills her expression. Then a light bulb calms her features.

  “How about this? You won’t let me pay you, so why don’t you let me get you some clothes instead?”

  I scrub a hand over my head. “No, thank you.”

  “What is it with you? Caddies don’t work for free.”

  “Yeah, and I’m not a caddie. Plus, you’re not getting paid for this event either. It’s for charity. And besides, I’ve done well. I’ve made wise investment choices. I can afford to buy my own clothes.”

  “You’re just stubborn and maybe a little sexist. I bet you're the type who thinks a woman shouldn’t do anything for a man.”

  For a second I can’t speak. “I may be a little old-fashioned, but I’m not a sexist. If anything, you’ve made my argument. Equal pay, right? You get paid zero, and so should I. If you were getting money, then I’d let you do something for me. Hell, I plan to pay for my own room.”

  “You will not.” She points at me. “I swear, you will not pay for the room or any meals. And if you don’t like it, stay here.”

  She marches off to her room, and I have to smile. It’s that fierceness she has that really attracts me to her. I’ve dated beautiful women in all varieties, but this woman stirs my blood. And I like getting a rise out of her.

  This trip should be fun with Riley in my bed. I’ll also get the chance to meet with Rhoades. Who knows what could come of it. And maybe I’ll end up finding a place to move to in Charlotte to start a new job and be closer to a certain fiery woman.

  RILEY

  This isn’t the first time I’ve played the Ocean Course. It’s tough, with the wind blowing in, but the views are spectacular, with the Atlantic, the marsh, and the gorgeous homes of the island. It’s also wild and unstructured in most places on this end of the island, giving it a more uninhabited appearance.