Player

by T. N. King

  “She had good taste,” he answered

  Courtney had to stop herself from getting sucked into his captivating gaze. She knew that he wasn’t looking at the car any longer. It felt good to be admired, but she had to remind herself of why she was there.

  “So can you do it?” she asked him again

  “I sure can, do you want to wait? It shouldn’t take too long,” he said

  She smiled and nodded her head and followed him into the shop. Just as she was heading inside, her phone began to vibrate. When she saw it was Katherine, she looked back at the mechanic to see that he was busy already with her car. She stepped away from him and answered the phone.

  “Hey,” she said, “I am so sorry about how things ended.”

  “I know me too. I just don’t want you to get hurt,” replied Katherine

  “I know. I’m sure that Amber Middleton is a wonderful person, but I can’t help how I feel. These things just sort of happen, you know?” responded Courtney

  “Sure, listen I’ll talk to you when you get home okay?” said Katherine, a little bit distant

  Courtney said her goodbyes and hung up the phone before Katherine had a chance to scold her anymore about her life choices. She turned back to the mechanic and for the first time noticed how his shaggy hair seemed to fall perfectly into his eyes.

  “Listen, I couldn’t help but overhearing your conversation there,” he said

  She raised an eyebrow, “oh really?”

  “Sorry, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to have lunch,” he replied

  “What?” she said, obviously caught off guard

  “My name is Kyle; I think we may have something to talk about. How would you like to hear all about Amber Middleton?” he said with a smile

  Courtney looked at him in shock, “well, I think I could probably make some time. It’s nice to meet you Kyle.”

  She held out her hand and smiled at him as he took it. As soon as their hands touched, it sent a thrill of desire unlike any other she had ever felt. She watched as he closed up the shop, admiring the muscles that worked so hard to shut doors and Instantly, Courtney knew that Kyle may be throwing a wrench into her plans.

  Chapter Six

  They walked down to a small café and sat down, Courtney already felt like she was spending time with an old friend as they laughed about growing up in a world so far from the one they lived in now. It was refreshing to talk with someone who wasn’t part of the elitists that she’d become so friendly with. As the hours passed, Courtney knew she would have to end their time together if she was going to get ready to meet Jared.

  “I hate to do this,” she started, “but I really do need to get going.”

  Kyle’s hand reached for hers. “Can I see you again.”

  “Yes,” she whispered before thinking about the repercussions.

  The smile that lit up his face was worth all the fancy footwork she was going to have to do later. She rose to leave.

  “Before you go,” he started, “I wanted to fill you in on a little secret. Your perfect miss Middleton has a pretty shady other side. She likes her pain pills and booze a lot more than she lets on.”

  Her jaw dropped, “no, really?”

  He nodded his head.

  “How do you know?” Courtney asked suspiciously

  He smiled, “I have my ways. I live on the wrong side of the tracks so I can dig up all sorts of dirt.”

  Courtney couldn't believe the good fortune that had just fallen into her lap. The perfect girlfriend had a flaw, and it was one that Courtney planned to exploit.

  Late that night, Courtney waited for Jared in the discreet hotel room. She'd taken care to look perfect for him. When he knocked on the door, she opened it and watched his eyes travel down her body. The pale pink negligee she was wearing complimented her blond hair perfectly.

  “You look stunning,” Jared said

  She smiled at him, “I'm glad you like it. I bought it just for you.”

  “I never would have thought someone as breathtaking as you would want this,” he said modestly

  She laughed, “oh please, I bet you use that on all the girls.”

  He looked at her and his face lost all joking, “I've never done this before actually. I just knew from the minute I saw you that I needed more.”

  Courtney bit her lip, she was done with words for the time being.

  His confidence sent a shiver of desire down her body as his hands, along with hers began to unbutton the clothing that kept his body from hers. When he was naked, she licked her lips, looking at his firm body and hard shaft. He was already glistening with anticipation. Courtney dropped down to her knees and took his manhood into her mouth. Caressing him softly with her tongue. He moaned with pleasure, making her stomach twist in anticipation.

  She felt him grow firm and worked her body along with his, wanting to feel him fill her. Before she could stop him though, he pulled away from her.

  “That's not fair now is it? Why should you get to have all the fun?” He said, gazing into her eyes

  She smiled up at him, “maybe because I'm so good at it?”

  “No argument here. Still, I think you'll be pleased,” he said as she pouted.

  Lifting her from the ground he pushed her back onto the bed. Her body was already dripping for him. as her core quickened with lust, his head fell below hers and he playfully bit her nipples. Courtney had been caught off guard and gasped.

  Jared chuckled softly at her reaction. her fingers combed through his hair as the trail of kisses went lower. With each move, she arched her back for him more. Finally, his mouth found her waiting core and began its assault. She knew she wouldn't last long with his skills. With each touch, her core clenched in desire and flooded her passage, begging to be filled.

  “Please, Jared, please take me,” she said breathlessly

  “As you wish,” he said with a sly grin as he moved up to kiss her lips tenderly

  She reached down and wrapped her hand around his shaft, guiding it to her waiting entrance. When he thrust into her, she screamed out his name. A flurry of sparks passed over her eyes as euphoria flooded her body. With each penetrating stroke, his manhood stroked the fire of her orgasm until her nails found his back. she wrapped her legs around him and felt him drive into her deeper until his own juices exploded within her body.

  When the blinding lights subsided, Courtney found herself lying next to the doctor. She was struggling to catch her breath. Never, in all her plans, had she anticipated such undiluted passion.

  “You are amazing,” she said to him

  “That goes both ways,” he replied.

  They laughed for several minutes until a chiming noise pulled him away from her. He reached for his phone and read the message. His face changed and he went pale as she watched him read the message.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked innocently

  He didn't answer for several minutes, “yes, actually. Now that I have you, everything is perfect.”

  Courtney smiled at him and kissed his cheek. It had been a very productive day.

  Chapter Seven

  As the days turned into weeks, Courtney found herself leading a life wrapped in sex and lies. It didn't take long for her desire for Kyle to boil over. Since their first meeting, they had spent many nights wrapped in each other’s arms, talking for hours. Courtney was torn between the two men. To complicate matters even more, she hadn't stopped the escort game.

  Each night brought with it a new thrill. She had discovered a sordid underworld of the upper class. Men who liked nothing more than getting dominated and woman who secretly desired her body. Katherine had brought her into a world of sexual power and she loved everything about it. Her body constantly felt like it was tingling from the orgasms that dominated her life now.

  Today she was practically skipping to meet Jared. She knew why he wanted to meet her. You'd have to be blind and deaf not to know the latest gossip in Houston. Courtney herself had found out that m
orning when Katherine came crashing through the front door.

  “Oh my god,” she exclaimed

  Courtney jumped from her seat, thinking something was burning down.

  “What!” She yelled

  “Dr. Wright just broke up with Amber!” Katherine said with a smile

  “No!” Whispered Courtney, her face the picture of shock, “what happened?”

  “The inquire posted pictures online of Amber snorting pain pills this morning,” said Katherine

  “Oh my god!” was all Courtney could say

  Katherine continued, “The doctor broke up with her almost immediately. He said he couldn't be associated with someone who abused drugs.”

  Courtney’s phone rang before they could gossip anymore. It was Jared. He wanted to meet at their usual spot and Courtney was ready and willing. When she arrived, he was already waiting for her. Their embrace was short, he pulled away from her.

  “What's wrong,” she asked him

  He got down onto his knee and her face went pale, “Courtney, today I found out devastating news and instead of being heartbroken, I was elated! The idea of being with you, out in the open made me the happiest man in the world. I know this is sudden but, will you marry me?”

  “What?” She whispered in genuine shock.

  “Please, be my wife. Your young, beautiful and I adore you,” he sang

  This wasn't part of the plan, Courtney thought to herself. Still, it would make things so much easier for her in the long run. She looked at Jared and with as much joy as she could muster, she nodded her head.

  Leaving the hotel had been far more somber than entering it. They parted ways, kissing for the first time in public. The sun hung low in the sky but still Courtney didn't go home. She had to tell someone. Kyle was waiting for her when she arrived. The second she opened the door, the tears started.

  “It was all supposed to be so simple,” she said as they sat on his sofa, “lure him in, then rip everything away from him. Just like he did to me.”

  “What do you mean Courtney?” asked Kyle tenderly

  He's known that she was seeing him and Jared both. He just couldn't do anything about it.

  “Kyle, that man killed my mother!” Courtney chocked out

  “What!” barked Kyle

  “Two years ago, my mother went to Dr. Wright for a routine cosmetic procedure. One that he'd done a thousand times before. I called her the day before but she made me promise not to fly home for it. She said, ‘it's no big deal honey, he's even got a flight to catch the same day.’ Can you believe that? My mother died so he didn't miss his vacation,” her words were venomous

  “Why didn't you sue?” Kyle asked

  She scoffed, “my legal team said it was a freak accident. They said he was rushing but they couldn't prove it.”

  “So all this? Why?” he asked her

  “Revenge,” was her only reply

  The doors to the shop flew open before another word could be said and Kyle grabbed her hand.

  “What's going on?” she said in a panic

  He pulled her to the fridge and pushed it out of the way, revealing a passageway.

  “Courtney, you aren't the only one with secrets,” he said to her as he pulled her through, “I'm not just a mechanic. How do you think I knew about Amber's drug habit?”

  “I thought you knew people or something,” she replied, still following him down the dark hall.

  “I do know people, the kind of people that buy expensive cars to transport drugs,” he replied, “I have a boat ready to take me to Spain and more money than we’ll ever need. Come with me Courtney, leave it all behind you.”

  They broke through a back door onto a dock where a boat was ready to go. Courtney thought for a minute. She could leave it all. Her mother’s death, the revenge, all of it. Then the doctor would go free and never know the suffering that she had endured after losing her mother. Her mother who was her whole world.

  “No,” she replied softly, pulling her hand from his.

  The look of heartbreak on his face tore through her as he spoke, “I'll always love you Courtney. I hope we’ll meet again.”

  A few minutes later, he was gone. Courtney watched from the dock as the tears ran down her face. Kyle was one more person that she would make the doctor pay for.

  Chapter Eight

  The press had fallen in love with Courtney as soon as the news of their engagement broke. Just like their courtship, the wedding plans had moved at lightning speed. Within three weeks of him proposing, Courtney was now sitting at a giant chapel in the heart of the city. The bridesmaids had all gone ahead of her, except Katherine.

  “It's not too late to back out you know,” she joked

  Courtney smiled, “I honestly don't want too. He's giving me everything I've ever wanted.”

  “Alright, but the option is always there,” replied Katherine

  “Thanks, I think things are going as planned,” whispered Courtney

  Katherine smiled, “I'm glad to see you’re happy, that all that matters. I’m going to go see if they are ready for us yet.”

  Courtney nodded at her friend. It was a lie. Things had not gone as planned. They had gone far better than she ever could have imagined. Jared proposing was just the beginning of the end. Before long, he would be left with no one in his life who cared. Courtney was going to take everything from him and destroy his reputation. Bed climbed so far on the backs of those her killed, it would be a long was for him to fall.

  She rose and walked over to her purse and looked inside. She pulled out a white stick with a little plus sign in the window. Courtney couldn’t be sure how far along she was, but she was Defiantly pregnant. Another unplanned wonderful occurrence. A wife leaving Jared would be one thing, but having her take away your child? It was almost too good to be true.

  Laughter coming from outside the door made Courtney jump as she dropped the pregnancy test back into her purse and closed the latch. She looked once more in the mirror and smiled. Today wouldn’t not be one of the happiest days of her life, but it was close. As if on cue, Kyle entered her mind. His tenderness had almost been her downfall. Still, she worried about him all the time. Wondering if he made it to freedom and if she made the right decision.

  The door opened and Katherine walked in, “they are all ready for you Courtney.”

  Courtney smiled at her, “I guess this is it then?”

  “You look so beautiful. Your mother would be so proud of you, moving on from her death like you have,” said Katherine

  Thankfully, her best friend hadn’t noticed a thing off about Courtney, apart from her quitting the escort service to Courtney’s disappointment. She would miss the constant wild sex but something told her that Jared wouldn’t approve of his wife having sex with other men for money.

  Courtney turned away from her friend and looked at her reflection once more in the mirror.

  “You know what Katherine? I think you’re right, my mother would be proud of me,” she replied

  She would be proud that I am a strong woman who refused to let an evil man go unpunished. My child will grow up knowing me and only me, thought Courtney. With a ragged breath, she turned to Katherine.

  “Ready?” asked her friend

  “Absolutely,” Courtney replied.

  Epilogue

  The reception hall was packed. All of Houston it would seem had been invited to the wedding. Courtney played the part flawlessly. She smiled and danced on cue like everyone expected her too. Finally, she needed a break and excused herself. Stepping outside, she took in a deep breath. The night air always seemed to clear her mind.

  The baby inside of her had made it almost impossible for her to eat all night. Placing a protective hand on her stomach, she smiled. She prayed that the child she was carrying wouldn’t be brides at all, but have the look of Kyle. Jared wouldn’t notice a difference, but Courtney would. Either way, she would love her child with everything she had. Turning away from the balcony, she saw
the figure of a man, standing in the darkness for the first time.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” she said, unable to see who it was

  “That’s okay,” came a sultry voice, “I wasn’t on the guest list.”

  Courtney felt the blood drain from her face. She would recognize that voice anywhere. Courtney had heard it call out her name and moan softly in euphoria. She had thought about this moment but now that it was happening, she was terrified. She didn’t know if she could break his heart a second time.

  “Hello Courtney,” Kyle said as he stepped from the darkness, “Did you miss me my love?”

  In a matter of minutes, her entire life changed. She knew that she couldn’t tell Kyle no twice. She’d give up everything for him. Even her sweet revenge.

  T.N King grew up in the heart of Texas, and now resides in the sunny beach of San Diego, California. He's a football fan, a Netflix binge-watcher, and loves barbecue. A writer of romance, he's the author of the Catching Fire Series, Chasing Dr.Bedell, The Seduction of Amy, and many more. T.N King plans to write many more sexy, suspenseful stories for his raving fans.

  Facebook | TN King Reader Group | Goodreads Author Page | Amazon Author Page | Bookbub

  Steamy Romance author, Roxie Odell brings you heat, steam and romance. Lover of all romance books, when she's not knee deep in work, she's got her nose in a book. Find her on Facebook:

  FACEBOOK

  Also by Butterfly Publishing

  The Midnight Series by NJ Cole

  Midnight Caller

  Midnight Eternal

  Also By NJ Cole

  Yes, Mistress

  Yes, Master

  Second Chances

  Breaking China

  Island Captives

  The Velvet Series by Leanore Elliott