Played by Love (New Adult Romance): A #Played Novella

by Ayala, Rachelle

  Ella’s heart sunk to her knees. Even though this was for a good cause, she should never have signed up. Why had she been so confident Jaden would play? He’d seemed interested when she told him about it, but now, a fricking soccer game was more important. A shot of cold adrenaline lanced her. What if he’d taken a date to the soccer game? Someone who liked sports better?

  “Going once,” the organizer said. “Twice, come on, top bid is six hundred. Anyone for six fifty?”

  “Seven hundred,” a deep voice shouted.

  Finally. Jaden made his way through the crowd. Ella’s heart pumped faster and her spirits soared. Jaden was so handsome, delicious, awesome. His hair was askew, as if he’d just come from taking a shower.

  “Seven fifty,” Scott countered.

  Jaden shoved Scott aside and planted himself in front of the stage. “I’m taking this sweetheart home for one thousand.”

  Ella jumped off the stage and launched herself into his arms. Her hunky geek had sailed to the rescue. Behind her, the organizer said, “Sold. One grand, to the man with the hands, the guy with the save!”

  Chapter 4

  Jaden covered Ella’s ears with kisses, making loud smacking noises. He’d gotten there just in time to outbid the knuckle-dragger from Delta Upsilon Mu, or DUM.

  In the background the announcer said, “That was some game. Bears won 1-0, thanks to the goalkeeper. Give a round of applause. Go Bears!”

  Please, please, please, don’t mention my name.

  “Yay, go Bears.” Jaden flipped his horn-rimmed glasses over his eyes and clapped. “You should have seen the goalkeeper jump.”

  “How come you didn’t invite me?” Ella jutted out her lower lip.

  Oops. Jaden led her away from the stage. Sweat broiled on the back of his neck, even though he’d just showered. One bad move here and he’d blow it all. This called for distraction.

  “Want to come to my dorm room and play with my robotic arm?” He wiggled his middle finger suggestively.

  A naughty smile lit her face. “Now you’re talking.”

  Jaden hooked Ella’s hand and swung her around. Her heated skin, sweet small waist, and luscious breasts revved the blood in his veins. Those deep blue eyes were out of this world. And the fact she was a dancer meant curves and muscles in all the right places.

  He’d been a gentleman for weeks, held off because of her aversion to jocks and players, listened to her stories of being mistreated by those types of guys, endured who knows how many flashcards of Korean phrases.

  “So, let’s see, you’re a hip-hop character today,” Jaden said. “Mind if I beatbox to your steps?”

  “Whoohoo, yes!” Ella twitched and popped her limbs, marching up Durant toward his dorm.

  Dang, that girl had moves. The way she shook her shoulders, twerked her hips, her golden hair flashing and shimmering.

  All he had to do was add the mouth movements. “Buh shika puh puh boh chicah pubbub boom skika shh, shhuh, uh, uh, ow!”

  Jaden accompanied Ella up the steps of the I-house, through the secured doors. They jived on down the long hallway of stairs, past startled international students, many whipping out camera phones.

  The energy of the crowd fed them, and soon, Jaden was making up his own moves. He and Ella beat and jerked and twirled their way into the elevator.

  The door shut, and Ella launched herself at the same time Jaden lunged for her. Their lips and teeth crashed as lust surged like a firestorm. Hot, sweaty, slick, pulsing.

  He’d abstained from women, kept away from his frat, let Mark enjoy all the privileges of the funhouse, the bar, the hookup clubs, while he, Jaden Sloup, surrounded himself with techie virgins, designing software, soldering circuit boards and hacking smartphone apps.

  The elevator doors opened to the shrieks from a gaggle of Japanese exchange students. Again, camera phones were whipped out in unison, followed by fingers busily adding commentary.

  Ella was latched around him, her hands crawling up his back, her lips tugging insistently. It was all Jaden could do to insert his key into the keyhole.

  They smashed into the door, staggered over the threshold, and Jaden kicked it shut.

  “I’ve been wanting you for a long time,” Ella moaned, sultry like a porn star. She writhed and wiggled, her hip-hop bling jangling. “Want me to strip for you?”

  Sweat bloomed over Jaden’s forehead, and his heart fought to escape his ribcage. She was so freaking hot, sex written all over her tight tank, short shorts and smooth sweet legs.

  Jaden slapped himself. This wasn’t happening. In fact, he was hallucinating. Had to be. But no …

  He licked his lips as Ella unwrapped the bandana around her neck and tossed her crystal studded visor on the bed. A wicked smile curving her pink lips, she lifted and shook her hair, rolling her shoulders and hips like a starlet in a modern dance routine.

  Her flexible body bent backward, exposing her slim belly. What exactly did she expect him to do?

  Jaden sank into his leather desk chair to enjoy the view. He slipped his finger under the desk and activated his digital video recorder. Just because he wasn’t going to ask her to sign a waiver didn’t mean he wouldn’t take precautions.

  “What else will you do for me, Ella?” He leaned back in the tilting chair to alleviate the tightness in his jeans and present an inviting target.

  Bouncing and wiggling, her boobs approached his face and she straddled him.

  “I want to eat you alive,” she hissed in his ear.

  “You do? Can you say that louder?” Jaden cupped his ear. “I can’t hear you.”

  “I want to eat you, bounce all over you, and spend the night.”

  “What does that mean? I don’t understand.” He faked an Asian accent.

  “You silly, I know you understand English, but here goes,” she said, then took a deep breath. “Hago sip-eoyo seong-gyo.”

  “Wh-what?”

  “You know …” She tipped her fingernail on his nose and rubbed her crotch against his bursting erection.

  “Say it again? You sound so cute.” He had a clue it meant something fun and playful, but he wasn’t going to let on he didn’t know.

  “Hago sip-eoyo seong-gyo. I want to have sex.”

  “Hago to you too. I love women who know what they want.” Jaden slanted her face and compressed his lips to hers, distracting her so she couldn’t see him shut off the video recording.

  # # #

  Ella was so hot she felt like busting out of her clothes. The weather was muggy for California, one of those hot fall days, and dancing all afternoon had her blood singing and thirsting for action.

  She wasn’t exactly a virgin, but she didn’t have as much experience as she wanted Jaden to believe. Most of it involved fending off heavy pawing, sweaty, hairy, bloated drunk guys, full of themselves, taking and not giving.

  Jaden took his time. His lips caressed hers, his hands gently rubbing circles on her back. He smelled clean, fresh from the shower, a mixture of body wash and soap. She was sweaty from dancing all afternoon. Hot. Flushed.

  He didn’t seem to mind, his tongue flicking between her lips, lightly teasing. She unbuttoned his shirt and spread her hands over his hard, smooth chest, raising goose bumps.

  Melting into his kisses, she claimed his lips, her tongue demanding his, heated and deep.

  He responded with a groan and played his warm, slippery tongue around hers, lashing her lips and ramming into her mouth, devouring her with sweeping strokes.

  A rumble of desire rose from deep within Ella’s belly and she rubbed herself against his length, her breasts dragging across his chest.

  Her movements unleashed Jaden’s restraint. He dipped his hungry mouth to her breasts and suckled through her clothes, driving Ella into a frenzy of need and want.

  Lifting her arms, she yanked her top off and Jaden lowered the shoulder straps of her bra.

  “What would you like me to do there, dear Ella? Tell me.” His voice deepened sinful
ly.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  “Louder, I can’t hear you. And what else?”

  “Kiss me and suck on them.” Oh, it felt too weird to express. “I’m not really that you know …”

  “Shhh … no explanation needed, I respect you totally. It’s okay if you’re horny.” The chiseled lines of his sexy mouth curved and a dimple appeared under his eye. He fluttered a kiss on her lips and moved downward, licking a silky trail down her neck, his tongue dragging tingles of delight.

  Her fingers dug into his hair, guiding him down to the valley between her breasts. He palmed them, pushing them to his smoothly shaven jaw. She sighed and jostled his mouth closer, and when he wrapped his hot, slick tongue around her nipple, she moaned, pressing herself harder against him.

  He skimmed her waist with his hand and tucked his fingers into her shorts. Ella quickly undid the snap and lowered the zipper, allowing his strong, sturdy fingers to probe and nudge. Meanwhile, his mouth worked her breasts into pert, upright mounds, and Ella didn’t know which sensation to enjoy more.

  She unbuckled his belt and fumbled with his zipper. Jaden raised his hips and slid his jeans off. The head of his cock poked from his boxers, causing Ella’s panties to moisten. Without asking, she tugged his boxers down, freeing his huge erection.

  Gulp. She should have expected it given the size of his hands. Her hand hovered over it, hesitant to touch, but Jaden cupped his hand around hers and helped her move, stretching the velvety skin over the hard smooth rod.

  “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

  Jaden groaned and blew on her nipple. “You feel pretty good yourself. Tell me what you want me to do next.”

  A shivery chill of delight prickled her skin. No man had ever asked her to choose. It was like being at a dessert buffet. She could fulfil her wildest fantasies, if only she were bold enough to ask.

  “I might be more comfortable on the bed.”

  “Really? I thought you’d like to ride me here. Like this.” He tilted the chair back and forth, rocking her, while the wheels rolled beneath them.

  “That’s for later, advanced techniques.”

  “Are you a beginner?” His eyebrow twisted in a puzzled shape.

  “Not a beginner, but most of the guys I’ve been with were the hump-em-and-dump-em types. You know, brutes.”

  “Which I’m not.”

  “Nope, I read that players are not good lovers because all they care about is themselves.”

  “I’m definitely not a player.” Jaden grabbed her by the waist and lifted her. He swung her around, laying her onto his bed where she shimmied her shorts down to her knees.

  “Help me with the shoes?” She loosened her hip-hop high-tops and he pulled them off.

  “You still haven’t said what you want next.” Jaden enunciated clearly, as if he were practicing English in a language lab.

  “Lie down next to me and rub your hands all over my body,” she said, breathlessly.

  “Just all over?” The bed sank where his weight pressed in. “Any particular spot?”

  “Between my legs, please.” She beckoned to him with her fingers and pulled his body over hers.

  His weight was comforting, protective, not smothering like the slobs she had before, and his body was hairless, like he’d had a wax job. Except it was natural. She couldn’t get enough of the silky feel over hard, knotted muscle, the beauty of his fine body.

  Ella shuddered at all the possibilities a guy with such a body could do her. First things first, she wanted him the regular, all-American way, missionary style. Then, and only then, could she loosen up to enjoy all the exotic delights Jaden offered.

  His hands caressed her, long strokes down her back and squeezing her behind. His mouth found hers again, and he kissed her slowly, lusciously, as if he had all the time in the world. She held onto his cock, moving the moist head against her belly and around her pubic area.

  “Touch me down there, Jaden,” she muttered, her breathing heavier, more urgent, searching for relief.

  Skillful fingers parted her folds and found her clit, feathering it with a light, paper-thin touch. A million tingles fluttered like butterfly wings. Ella let out the breath she held, her muscles relaxing. Jaden was no brute who crushed a woman’s delicate parts. Behind his muscles was an incredibly sensitive man.

  His finger found a rhythm matching the movements of her hips and a rapping beat stirred her mind as she sought her release. Jaden’s mouth on hers cooled and heated her. His cock against her leg reassuring, a promise of greater delights.

  Colors merged behind her eyelids, and her sense of smell heightened, taking in the musky warmth of a man’s bed, the minty sweetness of his breath, the dark undertones of his arousal. Ella held onto the threads of pleasure, bucking and jerking her hips, silently urging Jaden to increase the pressure.

  He seemed to understand, to know instinctively what she wanted. When he inserted his finger into her, bending and curving to hit her pleasure spot, she could barely hold back.

  A torrent of passion slammed her with feverish chills, and a spike shot up from her crotch to caress her brain with a mind altering orgasm.

  Shrill alarm bells screamed at high pitch, accompanying her screams of pleasure.

  Jaden jumped from the bed and threw her clothes at her. “I smell smoke. We have to get out of here.”

  “No way. That’s your robotic arm pulling the alarm.” Ella’s body shivered hot and cold. Talk about coming off the top of an volcanic explosion and tossed into a pool of ice water.

  Jaden tilted his head back, laughing as he shut off the siren and flashing lights. “Sound activated alarm. You, Ella Kennedy, are one hot, hawt, HOT chick.”

  “Oh yeah?” She turned it back on and pounced on him. “Prepare to shout, loud and proud.”

  Chapter 5

  “So, are you two, like, in a relationship?” Tricia slurped her bowl of ramen noodles.

  Ella lay on her bed in the dorm room with a bag of buttered popcorn. “I asked him to Cosplay-Con in Las Vegas.”

  A tingling shiver quivered around her shoulders at the thought of being in a relationship with Jaden. Nothing had been said, but by the way he acted, attentive and gallant, he was definitely smitten.

  “Wow, you did?” Tricia squealed. “What did he say?”

  “He checked the dates and said sure, he had a convention, some kind of sports medicine thing-a-ma-jig, at the same time, but he said he’ll hang with me when he’s free.”

  “Oh, cool. He can’t miss the dance opening night. What’s he going as?”

  Ella crunched on a particularly salty piece of corn and spat it out. “He said I could surprise him. Of course I took the opportunity to measure him everywhere.”

  “Oh, really? Everywhere? And how does he measure?”

  Ella’s mouth watered at the recollection of wrapping Jaden with a tape measure. “More than enough. Stop bugging me about details.”

  “What? I thought white girls love to share.”

  “Now who’s stereotyping?” Ella laughed, kicking her heels on the bed. “How come you didn’t tell me he was raised by white parents? Adopted from Korea when he was a baby?”

  She’d dug up this tiny detail by doing a reverse lookup on the phone number he marked ‘home’ and found his parents’ business. They owned a huge spread in Woodside, just over the Bay. His father was the CEO of an offshore manufacturer and his mother ran an exotic bird hatchery. Online photo albums showed Jaden growing up among colorful macaws and cockatoos.

  “I wanted to laugh at you,” Tricia said. “Twisting your tongue to say, ‘I want to have sex’ in Korean every morning.”

  “Well, it worked.” Ella wiggled her hips. “And since you wanted to know, Jaden’s an awesome lover. He knows exactly what I want and gives it to me, over and over. What stamina for a guy who spends his time in front of a computer.”

  “I wonder why?” Tricia hid her mouth and laughed. “Does he do a lot of aerobic exerc
ise?”

  “How did you know? He works out with the soccer team, but only because his mom wants him to be an orthopedic surgeon after herself.”

  Yeah, right. There wasn’t a ‘Jaden Song’ anywhere near the soccer team, but the hot goalie happened to be Jaden Sloup. The man masquerading as a Korean nerd was actually a jock.

  “And you’re okay with that? I mean, you wouldn’t want him to pick up any ‘jock habits.’” Tricia asked, her voice inflecting disbelief.

  “He won’t. He’s way too intelligent. Besides, he’s proved to be one of the good guys.” Her shoulders tingled just thinking about how he always cuddled and caressed her after making love. And since he didn’t know she knew, he tried all the harder to be a good boy.

  For now, Ella wasn’t going to let Jaden know she was onto him. Instead, she’d play along and see how long he’d keep up the charade, and boy did she intend to make him sweat at the convention. It was going to be so much fun. Hee, hee.

  “I think I’ll have him go as Zack Fair.” She fingered a shiny black piece of cloth she had left over from her last costume. “I’m going to be Lightning.”

  Tricia thumped the table. “Humpf, you should be Aerith if he’s Zack, I want to be Lightning.”

  “But Lightning’s a blonde.”

  “So? Watch me dye my hair.” Tricia threw a pillow at Ella.

  “You should be Yuffie. She’s really feminine.” Ella made a googly face at Tricia, knowing she hated to be a girly girl, and that Yuffie was a bad-ass tomboy.

  “Yuffie’s not a sissy.” Tricia rose to the bait. “She’s a thief and she’s proud, cocky and tough.”

  “Oh yeah? Bet you couldn’t act her if you tried,” Ella jeered. “Besides, her costume’s hot. You know, maybe you’re right. You should be Lightning. She doesn’t have a bare midriff.”

  “Fine. I’m not telling you. Top secret.”

  “Kind of hard when you’re my roomie,” Ella teased. “But then, I’m going to be staying with Jaden.”