Scottish Player: A Hero Club Novel

by Karen Frances

  It’s a bit late for that. I enter the lift and watch as the doors close, leaving Fletcher standing in the hallway.

  The doors open and I exit onto the third floor. I stare up and down the hallway, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. Of course I’m not. But I’m so fucking angry with Jackson right now.

  “Which bloody way?” There are no signs saying which way to certain room numbers. I turn left, but after a few strides, I look at one of the doors and realise I’m going in the wrong direction. I walk back along the hallway until I’m standing facing room three-twenty-two.

  Taking a deep breath, I bang on the door loudly and wait. Nothing, so I bang again, this time louder than last. “Jackson, I know you’re in there! Open this damn door.”

  The door opens and there he stands. “What the hell do you want?”

  What do I want?

  I don’t think about what I’m doing until the palm of my hand connects with the side of his face. His eyes widen as he studies me, but I push past him, inviting myself in his hotel room. “You even need to ask? Why would you do that? You started a fight in the restaurant with a complete stranger! Someone I was having dinner with.”

  He leans against the open door, rubbing his cheek. “Please leave. I don’t want you here.”

  “Not until you start talking. Chance’s wife shouldn’t have seen her husband getting attacked for no good reason!”

  “No, she shouldn’t have, and I’ll be sure to apologise to them when and if I see them again. Now, if that’s it, I have things to do.”

  “Yeah, like go and pick up some hooker?” The words are out of my mouth before I even realise what I’m saying. It’s too late. I can’t take them back. But I know his reputation.

  His face reddens, his eyebrows knit tight together, and he slams the bedroom door closed and walks toward me. I back up.

  “Let me get one thing straight. I’ve never paid for sex and don’t intend to start now.”

  “Why were you so mad?”

  He runs his hands up his face and through his hair, sighing heavily. “Why? Because I ask you for a date, and you turn me down, even when I know you’re attracted to me, and then I walk into the restaurant, and you’re sitting all cosy with some guy.”

  “Get over yourself.” I laugh at him, but I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince about not being attracted to him.

  He places his hands on my shoulders and leans his face close to mine. “Well then, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you don’t want me to kiss you.”

  I gulp hard. My gaze drops to the floor and there’s nothing I can do to stop the twirling in my stomach or my racing heartbeat, which I’m sure he’s already picked up on. His right hand moves from my shoulder to my chin, roughly tilting my face until I’m looking straight into those mesmerising eyes. I’m lost to all the sensations running wild through my body.

  I drop my gaze to his mouth and there’s no doubt he knows I want him to kiss me, and desperately. Jackson has the kind of soft, plump lips I could kiss all day. And that could be dangerous for me. The corners of his mouth curve slowly into a smug grin.

  We both want the same thing.

  I press my flattened hands against his chest, feeling hard muscles under my touch. His face moves closer to mine, our lips almost touching. My breath catches in my throat as I wait, my body fuelled with anticipation.

  Without warning, his lips press hard against mine, as though he’s trying to destroy my mouth. His hands claw hurriedly up and down my back, anger and frustration boiling over between us.

  I want more than just a kiss.

  I hungrily work my mouth against his. He groans as I flick my tongue against his bottom lip. I smile when he sweeps his tongue across my lips, forcing its way inside. It’s not gentle, but I welcome the deep sensation building within. With desire running through my body, I grab at his t-shirt, desperate to rip it off, yet inching my body closer to his. His growing erection presses into me, and I moan as our mouths and tongues move together in a desperate need for each other.

  His hands do some wandering of their own as they run over my body, massaging my arse, his fingers pulling on my dress. Our kiss is strong and hard.

  His fingertips brush lightly on my bare thighs. I know where they’re heading, and I should stop this from going further, but with my body burning and my pussy clenching hard, I don’t want to stop.

  “I need you,” he says in a low husky voice in my ear. “Tell me you want this because I don’t want to let you go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere except that bed,” I say, my eyes darting from his to the enormous bed taking up much of the room.

  “Now, that I can help you with, but let’s remove this dress first.” I glance down and my dress is bunched around my waist. He takes a step back and spins me around. I close my eyes the second his hot lips touch my neck, sucking and kissing, teasing me with his tongue. My body reacts to Jackson with so much intensity, something I’ve never felt before. Slowly, he unzips my dress, slides it down my shoulders, and it falls to the floor.

  Jackson spins me back around to face him and I open my eyes. “Fucking hell!” he growls with his eyes moving slowly down my body, taking every last inch in. I stand before him in only my knickers, bra, and my black high heels. I should have doubts or at least feel anxious, but I don’t. Especially when I look into his dark eyes and see the smirk on his lips.

  Jackson is a man who commands presence, not just on the field, but in his life too. He needs control, and for tonight only, I’ll let him take control of me.

  Tonight, I’m going to surrender myself to Jackson because my anger has turned to something else: desire and lust.

  “What are you thinking?” he questions me.

  “I’m thinking you’re still standing there, your eyes lingering, and I’m wondering how long before you do anything. Should I take a nap and you can wake me up when you’re ready?”

  I maintain a straight face, even when Jackson raises his eyebrows.

  “No one will be taking a nap,” he says, stepping back and closing the small gap between us before scooping me into his arms. I scream out on a giggle and wrap my legs around his waist as he strides purposefully to the bed where he gently places me down.

  Goosebumps spread across my skin as he removes his crisp white t-shirt, exposing his broad shoulders, and my eyes linger on his chest. I’m hypnotised, watching it rise and fall with every breath he takes. I lean back on my elbows, enjoying the show. I can’t hide my appreciation of his perfect body as he unfastens his belt and the top button on his jeans.

  “Don’t. Keep them on, for now,” he says when I go to kick off my shoes. I guess Jackson has a thing for high heels. I wonder how much.

  He lowers himself onto the bed, spreading my legs. “The way you look right now, I’m storing it up here.” He taps his fingers on his head. “A perfect vision. If only you could see what I see.”

  His fingers trail up and down the inside of my thighs. I watch him. He’s smiling, with his gaze on me. I moan. My eyes close when he roughly moves my knickers to the side. He’s right there, feasting and tasting, as though he’s been starved for so long. I wonder if he knows my knickers are cutting into my skin.

  The pleasure. The pain.

  In this moment, they go together.

  I writhe, my fingers clawing on the bedsheets beneath me each time he gently flicks his tongue, adding extra pressure. Heat spreads at a lightning pace through my body. He groans, making me think he knows how close I am to falling apart. He works his tongue back and forth, the pace picking up.

  “Oh, God,” I moan. He presses his thumb against my clit, rubbing and adding more pressure as the stroke of his tongue sends me higher and higher… I moan louder and my body trembles as my orgasm rips through me.

  With my eyes still closed, I bask in the aftermath. Slowly, I open my eyes when I feel him move from the bed. He’s grinning as he lowers his jeans and boxers. Oh, shit! “One-nil to me. I wonder how many more times I can
make you come before it’s my name that falls from those lips? Now, these have to be removed.”

  I gasp as he rips my knickers from me, throwing them on the floor.

  He crawls up the bed, his dick pressing against me. I throw my arms around his neck, pulling his face to mine, capturing his mouth at the same time he pushes deep inside me and stills.

  Our mouths move together. Each thrust inside me is matching our kiss, as though it has been carefully planned. My head spins. I want this hard and fast, yet slow enough to savour it.

  Desire rushes through me as I push my hips closer, clawing his back with my fingers. I need him to move faster. I need him to push me over the edge. He lifts his head, and I instantly miss his mouth on mine. I wrap my legs around his waist and see that cocky grin. He pulls all the way out before thrusting back inside me. Harder, deeper, and faster than before.

  “Don’t stop,” I cry out, helpless to the pleasure as my body trembles and every muscle within me clenches. He pounds until I feel his body shudder above me, and I cry out his name.

  Moving to lie beside me, he wraps his arms around me, pressing a small kiss on my neck. “I like the feel of you next to me in bed. Stay,” he murmurs against my skin.

  I shouldn’t, and deep down, I know I’ll regret this decision, but I close my eyes and snuggle into the warmth of his body with a smile on my face.

  Chapter Six

  I smirk pulling my dress on, looking at my discarded ripped knickers on the floor. That’s a first for me, having someone rip my underwear from my body.

  My shoes are beside the bed. I’m not even sure when they came off. I grab them without slipping my feet into them. I don’t want to disturb him, but I need to get out of here. Need to put some distance between us… now. With my hand on the door handle, I take one last look over my shoulder. He’s sleeping soundly, and he looks so peaceful and perfect, but I know he’s far from that. I open the door and walk away, knowing that I should never have stayed in his bed.

  I’m so bloody stupid. Allowing my emotions to over-rule my straight-thinking. That’s not something I do often.

  I walk to the lift, press the button, and wait. The doors open, and Fletcher Adams walks out as I walk inside.

  “Not a word,” I say as he opens his mouth to speak. “Not a fucking word.”

  I can’t hear whatever he’s going to say. He’s my brother’s best friend, and I’m not ready for a lecture from him. I smooth down my dress, but I’m sure he’s already noted my appearance.

  The doors close, and I press for my floor. I’m sure it won’t take Fletcher much to work out that I’ve spent much of the night with Jackson. I just need to pray he doesn’t tell Logan because I can only imagine the problems me sleeping with one of his team-mates will cause.

  I swipe my card and enter the suite, closing the door behind me. I lean against it and sigh heavily. “What the hell was I thinking?”

  “That’s what I want to know. One minute you were there and the next, you disappeared without a trace.” Kate is standing before me, wearing her PJs, her head tilted to the side and her hands on her hips. “Come on, Miss Walker. You’ve been missing for hours. I could’ve called the police and reported you as a missing person.”

  “But I’m here and you didn’t,” I say, walking past her and heading to the bedroom. She stares at me and the shoes still in my hands.

  “Samantha…”

  “What do you want me to say?” I spin around to face her. “That I went to Jackson’s room and we fucked. Well, then you heard it here first.”

  “You surprise me.”

  “I’ve fucking surprised myself at my own stupid actions. What was I thinking?”

  She places her hands on my shoulders. “Oh, honey. You wanted him and he wanted you, so what’s the big deal?”

  “What’s the big deal?” I pull away from her, stroll toward the bed, and flop down. “He’s my brother’s friend. He’s also not what I expected.”

  Kate comes and sits beside me. “You have my interest. In what way?”

  “I don’t know,” I say, throwing myself back and thinking about the small fact that he wanted to wake up beside me in the morning.

  “Oh! Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not at the moment,” I say, shaking my head.

  “That’s okay. I’ll be right here with you when you do.” She fluffs the other pillow and leans back on my bed. I close my eyes, safe in the knowledge that she’s right. She’s always there when I need her, just the same as I’m always there for her. Isn’t that what best friends do?

  “Here. I thought you might need this.” Kate is by the side of the bed, a steaming mug of coffee in her hand.

  I pull myself into a sitting position on top of the bed, taking note that I never even changed from what I was wearing last night. “Thank you.”

  “How do you feel?”

  I take the coffee from her. “Stupid and tired.”

  “Samantha Walker, there’s nothing stupid about you. You’ve had a night of passion. That’s more than I’ve had. I would’ve done the same if it had been me.”

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Yes. I’m as jealous as sin. Come on, you’ve slept with Jackson Taylor, a hot footballer.”

  “Oh, God. I really did, and I’m sure I’ll live to regret it.”

  “Why do you have to regret it?”

  “Because isn’t that what happens after a one-night stand? I’ll regret it the first time I come face-to-face with him.”

  Kate sits down on the bed. “I can see that might be a problem. You know what’s strange?”

  “No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.” I say, taking a drink of my coffee.

  “That I forget your brother is a hot shot goalkeeper with incredible friends.”

  “With all my travelling, I forget that too. When I’m with Logan, he’s just my brother.”

  She smiles. “Okay, so what do you want to do today?”

  “You’re asking me? I have a choice?”

  “Of course you do.”

  “Well, then I suggest we have a relaxing day at the hotel spa and then we can have a night on the town. What do you say?”

  “I say that’s a very good idea.”

  “Perfect. I’ll call reception and book us in, but first I’m going to send Sid a few of the shots I took of Chance.”

  “Do you think Chance will be interested?”

  “Who knows? But they are going to talk, so something may happen, and if it does then I can say I’ve played a part in it.” I sit on the bed, drinking my coffee, but my head is filled with visions of Jackson. This isn’t good. Especially if I have to face him next week at the wedding. Oh, God. He’ll be there. That will be awkward.

  What the hell possessed me to go to his room?

  I’m so fucking stupid.

  I wonder when they’re all leaving Vegas and heading back home. I could do with knowing I won’t be running into him and I can enjoy the rest of my time here without looking over my shoulder.

  “What are you thinking about?” Kate asks.

  “That I have to see him next week at the wedding, or sooner if I run into him again here, and it will be so awkward. I’m not sure I’m capable of hiding my emotions. Logan will see straight through me. That’s if Fletcher hasn’t already told him.”

  “Okay… I may as well tell you. Logan, along with everyone else, knew where you were headed last night. And you thought Jackson was mad? That was nothing. It took Fletcher and Chance getting Logan drunk in the bar to stop him from storming to Jackson’s room.”

  “Oh, fuck!”

  “You were the only one fucking last night.” She laughs. “Aubrey and I had a good old laugh as we watched the men getting drunker and drunker, and Chance struggled to keep up with what they were all saying.”

  “I should call my brother.”

  “And ruin our day? Leave him and Jackson to sort things out. Which I’m sure they will, and they fly h
ome tonight.”

  I stare at her, not sure what to make about the bombshell my best friend has just dropped. Jackson is going home to Glasgow tonight. I should be happy, so why do I feel like a small child who has just lost her favourite toy?

  Kate wanders back to the living area, leaving me sitting on the bed, wearing last night’s dress minus my knickers, with thoughts of Jackson firmly in my head. I made the right decision leaving his room, I know I did, but there’s a part of me that says I should’ve stayed. See what would’ve unfolded.

  At least I can look on it and say we had an incredible night together. But in my heart, I know that’s all it was and would be. There could never be anything else between us. According to everyone around him, he’s a player.

  A player on and off the pitch.

  And I don’t play games, especially not ones that might break my heart.

  Chapter Seven

  “Well, look at you two!” Aubrey calls out across the bar as we enter. She’s smiling widely, and I have to admit, I’m glad we met them because I hope we will remain friends, albeit from across the pond. Although, with social media, I’m sure it will be easy for us to stay in touch.

  We both smile and wave as we walk toward her and Chance. “Ladies, drinks?” he asks.

  “They’ll have the same as me,” Aubrey tells him. Kate gulps, and I can see why. The size of the cocktail glass before her is huge. One drink and we might be drunk.

  “Hey you two,” I say. “What are your plans tonight?”

  “It’s our last night before getting back to reality,” says Aubrey. “What about you?”

  “We plan on dancing the night away. What are these?” Kate asks as our drinks are placed on the bar before us.

  “Pure alcohol, and after last night, I’m not having any,” Chance says, shaking his head. I remember Kate telling me he got drunk with my brother and Fletcher. I laugh when I look at the glass before him; it looks like water. “I struggled to keep up with your brother and Fletcher, but they’re good guys.”