Playing For Her Heart

by Megan Erickson

  “See?” Chloe held out her hands. “You’re one step ahead.” Chloe leaned in and lowered her voice. “And you know what I do when I’m nervous?”

  Sydney leaned in, her face open in wonder, like Chloe was about to tell her the meaning of life. “What?”

  “I picture people in their pajamas.”

  Sydney wrinkled her nose and giggled. “Pajamas?”

  “Yep. Pajamas.”

  “That sounds like something my dad would say.”

  “Well, then, I’m sure your father is a smart man.”

  Sydney straightened her back. “He’s so super-smart. He’s the reason I’m interested in computer science.”

  Now they were getting somewhere. Chloe waved her hand. “Great, so tell me more about why you’re interested in this industry and then I’ll ask you questions and you can ask me some. Sound good?”

  Sydney nodded eagerly. And the next ten minutes were spent with a talkative, full-of-life Sydney. Chloe enjoyed talking to the bright girl, hearing her hopes and dreams. She reminded her a little of herself when she was that age. So full of ideas, the future bright.

  Chloe basked in the girl’s enthusiasm, hoping a little rubbed off on her.

  When their time was up, Chloe didn’t want to let the girl go, and Sydney seemed to share the feeling. “So, if this isn’t okay, you can let me know, but I have more questions to ask and I’m wondering if we could do this again?”

  Chloe reached into her bag and handed Sydney her business card. “My email is on there, which is the best way to reach me. And if you want to meet in person, that’s fine. I’d just ask that a parent is present since it won’t be supervised by the school.”

  Sydney held the business card in her hand like it was gold, running her finger over the letters. In that moment, Chloe was glad she splurged for the raised print.

  “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll ask my dad. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed meeting you!” This girl was all exclamation points and energy.

  Chloe smiled. “Of course, and it was wonderful meeting you, Sydney. Keep up the good work in school.”

  “Will do!” Sydney skipped off, and Chloe thought maybe, just maybe she wasn’t such a failure after all.

  …

  Grant shook the hand of Aaron Shivers, the head of the advertising team of one of the largest technology security firms in the country—Erotech. He grinned big, hoping it wasn’t bordering on maniacal, because it had taken him a lot of coffee and a bonus Red Bull to be coherent for this meeting.

  A very important meeting.

  Which he was pretty sure he’d pulled off thanks to some charm, mild professionalism, and good old-fashioned luck.

  Mr. Shivers shook his hand firmly back and smiled. “Thanks a lot for meeting with us Mr. Osprey. My teenage daughter will be thrilled to hear I’ve met you. She’s quite the gamer.”

  “Bring her by sometime,” Grant said cheerfully, ignoring Marley Lake’s raised eyebrows from her position in the corner. “We can always show her around. In fact, she could shadow one of my editors if she’d like for a career-day opportunity.”

  Oh man, he was really pouring it on thick, but he wanted this account. His main goal this year was to get larger advertisers for the magazine. He had a sales team, but for the larger accounts, he liked to take the lead position.

  Good thing Mr. Shivers was eating it up. “Sounds great. I’ll let her know. My team and I are going to review everything we talked about today and we’ll be in touch on how we want to proceed.”

  Grant hoped it involved a big check but he wasn’t going to say that. “Sounds great. And don’t forget to tell your daughter about that tip I told you in Minecraft.”

  Mr. Shivers laughed. “I’ll never see her again. She’ll be playing nonstop.”

  “Ah,” Grant said with a wink. “Then I guess you’ll have to play, too.”

  “Ugh.” Mr. Shivers clapped him on the shoulder. “You take care and I’ll be in touch.”

  Once Mr. Shivers and his team left, Grant collapsed into his chair and rubbed his forehead, a headache from all the caffeine beginning to form.

  Marley, the newly appointed assistant editor at Gamers, sank down into the chair beside him, the leather creaking as she crossed her legs. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said.

  “Do what?” he mumbled. “Do we have any Advil?”

  Marley ignored him. “Charm the pants off people, that’s what. My God, that man was putty in your hands. You’re like a whole club of good ol’ boys all on your own.”

  She produced a set of pills from the purse at her side and set them in front of him, then slid a glass of water beside them. “There ya go.”

  “Why do you think Austin always made me be the face of the company?”

  Marley snorted, surely thinking of her antisocial boyfriend in a meeting like the one they’d just had. “That wouldn’t have gone well.”

  Grant grunted as he swallowed the pills along with the whole glass of water. He’d slept like shit since that night in the club. And had trouble concentrating. He was actually pretty damn proud of himself for pulling off that meeting, even if he still had to wait to hear if they decided to advertise with Gamers.

  Marley tentatively touched his arm. “You okay?”

  He sighed. “Just tired. Lot on my mind.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  He smiled at her. “Nah, I’ll live.”

  She stood up and gathered her papers and purse. “I’m heading back to work then. Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Thanks for sitting in on the meeting to make sure I didn’t go off the rails.”

  Marley laughed. “Anytime.”

  He watched her leave and knew he should probably get out of the conference room and back to his office. But man, he needed a moment.

  He’d prepared for this meeting in advance because big advertisers were a key to growing the magazine. And thank God he’d been prepared because this weekend had been a head trip. He couldn’t forget the feel of Chloe’s hands and skin and fuck, was he ever going to be able to think normally again?

  And on top of his memories of what happened, he was anticipating what he hoped would happen next. He’d slipped Chloe his address and a date and time on a slip of paper, asking her to come to his house this weekend. He assumed she’d come in a role again, and he’d spend all week tossing and turning thinking about it.

  He had never realized how much it turned him on to play games. Or maybe it was just because it was Chloe, but either way, he didn’t want it to end anytime soon.

  Of course, he needed to keep this from Ethan. Chloe clearly understood this was something they had to keep secret. Grant hated not telling his friend, especially in light of all he’d gone through, but this wasn’t about Ethan. This was about Grant and Chloe and fulfilling each other’s needs in some crazy way.

  That couldn’t be wrong, could it?

  Grant stood up and stretched, his back cracking. He’d need to do some extra time on the treadmill this week so he could tire himself out. Maybe that was the only way he could sleep. Because he sure as hell wanted to be rested for whatever was in store for him this weekend.

  Chapter Eight

  The floor was clean, the tables dusted, and a candle currently burned, filling the house with the scent of—Grant checked the label—lilac blossoms. He sniffed. Kind of strong but it was better than smelling the soup he’d burned. He’d thrown the pot away to hide the evidence rather than let Sydney see what he’d done. She’d never stop chastising him.

  Grant had even changed the sheets, even though he wasn’t sure he and Chloe would actually make it into bed. He had fantasized all day about the couch and the kitchen table. He was too old to fuck on the stairs but the up against the wall in the hallway was a real possibility. Or maybe on the sink in the bathroom.

  Damn, he was getting hard just thinking about it. He downed the rest of his wine and dropped his glass in the sink, wondering if Chloe would be on time. S
ydney was sleeping over at a friend’s house tonight, so Grant had the house to himself. He hoped Chloe came. It would suck if she stood him up, but he couldn’t get enough of her. He thought about her all week to the point he was incredibly distracted at work. He felt a weird possessiveness over her, too, which was new for him. This was just sex, and only that. Hell, they didn’t even call each other by their names. But was she doing this with other men? Was it just a fun game for her?

  He pushed the thought aside. The hottest girl he’d ever been with wanted to sleep with him. Repeatedly. With role-playing kink. Why was he analyzing this shit?

  His doorbell rang and he padded toward it in bare feet, the hem of his jeans brushing the floor. He rubbed his clammy hands on his pants. He rarely brought women here. And especially women he didn’t even fuck as himself. Which was weird but oh so very hot.

  He peered through the peephole. Chloe was standing on the front porch, large sunglasses over her eyes—even though it was nighttime—and wearing a belted trench coat.

  When he opened the door, he gazed down to her bare legs and sky-high black heels.

  “Mr. Osprey?” she asked, her lips a bright cherry red.

  He leaned on the door and raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”

  Her pink tongue slipped out, wetting her bottom lip. “My handler said you have hired my services for the night. I only accept cash.”

  He nearly swallowed his tongue. So she wanted to play some Pretty Woman role, huh? He went from kinda hard to full mast.

  “We agreed on two grand and I get you until two in the morning.” He deliberately leered. “All of you. Every inch of you. However I want you. Suit you, Princess?”

  The lapels of her trench coat quivered. “Suits me.”

  “Great.” He stepped back and gestured inside. “Come in, please.”

  She brushed past him and he smelled strawberries. He shut and locked the door, then turned around to face Chloe.

  She’d taken her sunglasses off and her hands were on her untied belt. In one practiced move, she flung open the edges of the coat and rolled her shoulders so the khaki material fluttered to the ground at her feet.

  Grant had to shoot out a hand to brace himself on the wall because he suddenly had vertigo.

  The physical parts of Chloe he loved the most were encased in lavender lace—a bra that didn’t cover much, because he could see her hardened nipples poking through.

  Her thong didn’t cover much except for a small triangle scrap, hiding her pussy—which he knew she shaved bare—from his view.

  Jesus, all that skin, that delicious lace, all for him.

  She watched him with those green eyes, a sexy smirk to her mouth. She slowly twisted, so that her ankles were crossed, and showed him her back. She looked at him through her lashes over her shoulder. Only a string ran along the top of her ass and between her crease.

  He was hard in his jeans, ridiculously so, and he hadn’t even touched her yet. Hadn’t yet taken that mouth or plunged his fingers in that tight heat. He was going to do all of that and then some.

  He stepped toward her. “Hands on the wall. Ass out.”

  Her breath left her in a rush and she complied immediately, laying her hands—tipped with red nails—on the wall, then arched her back.

  He raised a hand, bringing his palm down first on one cheek, then the other, loving the sound of flesh smacking flesh, smiling at the pink skin he left behind.

  She moaned and he reached for the string that covered her pussy, then tugged it aside roughly. He palmed her, sliding a middle finger between her folds.

  As predicted, she was soaked already.

  “Good girl,” he murmured, pulling her thong off and tossing it to the floor. He gripped her hip and returned his hand to her wetness, plunging two fingers into her opening. She gasped, most likely surprised at how fast he was moving.

  “Since I only get you until two in the morning, I’m going to make sure we get a couple of rounds in. First one is here. But this one’s for me. Only me. Understand?”

  Her cheek was pressed against the wall, eyes closed, hips surging as she bucked into his hand. He twisted his fingers. “Understand?”

  She nodded, her mouth open, lips wet. With a grunt he flicked open the top button of his pants and pulled down his zipper, freeing his cock.

  He pulled his hand away from her, giving her pussy a few smacks, wetting his palm with her fluids. Then he gripped his erection, coating himself with her arousal. The room smelled like sex and strawberries and he didn’t have to stroke himself for long. He was so turned on by her ass in front of him, the dazed look on her face.

  “I’ve been thinking about this, about marking you.” The possessiveness he’d thought about earlier flared and he couldn’t stop the claiming words rushing out of his mouth. “Push that ass toward me, sweetheart, I want to see it.” He only had to roll his balls with his other hand and listen to the wet sounds of his hand stroking himself, and then he was coming, shooting all over her bare ass, watching as his release streaked her red skin white.

  When he opened his eyes, she was watching him, her entire face flushed red. He let go of his sensitive cock and leaned his forehead against her back.

  He ran his fingers over the come on her ass, rubbing it into her skin. “You look good with my come on you, Princess. Now get on your knees and clean me up.”

  …

  Chloe was raw, an exposed, throbbing nerve as she pivoted and dropped to her knees on the hardwood floor.

  Her muscles ached, and despite the cooling wetness on her back, her skin was on fire. What was it about Grant that made her feel naked? It had nothing to do with clothes, or exposed skin. It was his eyes that saw too much and his hands that tore away the film over her eyes.

  It was him.

  She tried to slip back into the working-girl role she swore she’d keep but as she leaned forward, lapping at the tip of Grant’s still half-hard cock, it was through Chloe’s eyes.

  His hand rested on her hair, and she licked the vein on the underside of his shaft and nestled her face into the hair in his groin. When she pulled away, she pressed a kiss to his inner thigh. A kiss with Chloe’s lips and Chloe’s emotion.

  As she sat back on her heels, breathing heavily, eyes staring blankly at Grant’s bare feet, she thought about how she’d known this was a bad idea. Every encounter with Grant got more personal. He asked more and more of her, dismantling every roadblock she threw up. But she still had her role. So she clung to it and focused on the man who was fulfilling her fantasies.

  A hand on her shoulder signaled her to stand, and she did on shaky legs. Grant stepped forward, forcing her to retreat until her back hit the wall behind her. Then he took her mouth with punishing force, shoving his tongue between her lips.

  She pushed back, matching his passion with that of her own, as they dueled for the control of the kiss.

  When he pulled back, his full lips were swollen and wet. “Fuck, you can kiss.”

  She smiled. “I like kissing you.”

  He laughed once and leaned in, sucking on her neck. She let her head fall back as his renewed erection pressed against her swollen flesh. She shifted her hips, trying to get closer, but Grant’s head rose, and he pulled back. “Eager, huh?”

  She made a frustrated sound in her throat and he grinned. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her behind him. “Bedroom.”

  She liked the sound of that.

  When they reached his bed, he stood her at the end, deftly unclipped her bra and tossed it to the floor. He gently pushed on her shoulders, so she fell back onto the bed.

  Fabric rustled and in seconds, he was on top of her, naked, his body flush with hers. He went right for her breasts, squeezing them, sucking on her nipples and manipulating her flesh until her nipples were aching and hard.

  But still he continued, flicking the tip of his tongue on the stiff peaks, driving her out of her mind as she rocked her hips into him, wanting to be filled.

  He finally let her go
, giving each breast a soft smack. “I think I could spend all day with these.”

  She arched her back and his eyes flared.

  He reached to his nightstand, and she heard the crinkle of a wrapper.

  Finally, finally she’d get him inside of her, where she’d been aching for him since she walked in the door.

  A hand gripped her hip. “Close your eyes, Princess.”

  She did, even though she wasn’t seeing much anyway, her body overwhelmed with the physical sensation of his body against hers.

  Something soft touched her lips, rubbing across her flesh. It felt like smooth fabric and smelled clean, like laundry detergent. She opened her mouth and Grant pushed the fabric inside, just a small bit of it, enough for her to bite down.

  When she opened her eyes, his eyes were on her lips. He lifted the end of the fabric that wasn’t in her mouth and she recognized her panties, the ones Sari had left behind in the hotel room.

  He gripped her chin, keeping her mouth closed. “These have tortured me for weeks, these panties you left behind. Now I get to torture you a little with them.” His eyes were gleaming, his lips curled in a wicked smile. This was taking her out of the role a bit, and that was messing with her head. This wasn’t lining up with her call girl routine. But Grant was hard, his cock pressing against her. This was turning him on, and she wasn’t about to let him down after all he’d done for her. And she had to admit this was hot as hell, him fucking her while she was gagged with her own panties.

  But damn Grant for not sticking to the plan.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, and Grant’s lips brushed over her eyelids, leaving a wet trail down her face, nuzzling under her ear.

  His fingers plunged inside of her. “You want my cock here?”

  His fingers, good Lord those fingers, they were twisting and curling and her body was surging into them, riding his hand. She could do this, she could play the role and block out anything that ruined it.

  He took the panties out of her mouth and she opened her eyes. “I’m going to fuck you now, you understand?”

  Yes, yes, that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be the call girl he fucked in his bed. The woman he used to get off. That’s what she wanted and so she curled her hands around his biceps, her nails digging into his skin. “Fuck me,” she said. “Get what you paid for.”