Tempting the Player

by J. Lynn

  “You shouldn’t have to live your life differently.” Her pink tongue darted out, wetting her lips, and his body jumped to attention. “But is it necessary to be doing it with three ladies at once?”

  So caught up in staring at her lips, what she said didn’t process immediately. “I didn’t sleep with three ladies at once. Okay. Wait. Not anytime recently.”

  Doubt clouded her eyes. “Okay.”

  “I’m being serious.” He sat up straight. “I didn’t do anything with those women other than make a dumbass decision of jumping in bed with them. Clothes stayed on. No kissing or touching. I was in that bed for about thirty seconds, enough time for someone to snap a picture.”

  Bridget stared at him for so long he wondered if she’d been struck silent, and then she lowered her gaze to her drink. “What about the model you were pictured with?”

  He’d been pictured with a lot of models over the years.

  “Stella,” she said, throwing him a bone. “What about her?”

  “Stella?” He laughed. “We did some things a long time ago, but we’re just friends now. When she comes into town, we hang out at a bar or with friends. Sometimes she stays here in one of the guest rooms.”

  Bridget’s cheeks were a little flushed as she put her empty glass down on the end table. “How long ago is a ‘long time ago’ in your world?”

  Chad debated not answering, suddenly unsure if his “long time ago” was going to be long enough for whatever Bridget was thinking. “Almost a year ago. You’d like her. You guys have the same kind of fashion thing going on.”

  Her brows rose in a way that said, Doubtful.

  “Refill?” When she nodded, he did the waiter thing and returned to the ottoman. “Any other questions you want to ask?”

  A sexy little smirk appeared on her lips. “Yes. I do.”

  Chad chuckled. “Okay, but if you ask me a question, I get to ask you one.”

  After taking a drink, she leaned back against the supple cushions and arched a brow. “Okay. Deal.”

  Shaking the ice in his scotch, he mirrored her expression. “Go ahead.”

  “When’s the last time you’ve had sex?”

  Chad let out a short laugh. “Wow. You go right for the big stuff, don’t you?” He liked the way her cheeks flamed. “Okay. It’s been several months.”

  Bridget snickered. “Whatever.”

  His brows slammed down as he leaned forward and tapped a finger on her knee. “I’m not lying.”

  “You?” She laughed. “You haven’t had sex in a couple of months.”

  “No. Going on three-and-a-half months to be exact.”

  “Oh. Record-breaker.” Her wide smile slipped off her lips the longer he stared at her. “Hell. You’re being serious?”

  He took a drink and nodded. “Serious as a massive heart attack.”

  “Cornball,” she said. “Three months isn’t a long time, but that’s impressive for you.”

  “Geez, thanks.” But Chad wasn’t insulted. He liked sex. A lot. And did it. A lot. He was always careful, used protection, and operated the “If he was too drunk to walk, he was too drunk to fuck” rule that went for all parties involved. “How about you? How long has it been since you had sex?”

  Bridget eyed him through thick lashes. “Longer than three months.”

  “How long?” Damn. He really needed to know.

  She didn’t answer him immediately, instead taking another drink. “It’s going on two years.”

  Chad schooled his expression. “Two years…?”

  “Go ahead.” She waved a hand. “Say something smartass.”

  “Wasn’t planning on it,” he said, his gaze dropping to her lips again. “So are we talking no sexual interaction for two years or just no sex?”

  She unfolded her legs, causing her knee to brush his. “It’s my turn. Do you regret leaving college for baseball?”

  Again, he was a little surprised by how much she knew, but considering how much Maddie liked to talk, he shouldn’t be so shocked. “Yes and no. If I blow out my arm, it would be nice to have a different kind of career to fall back on, but I could always work with one of my brothers.”

  “Which one?” she asked.

  He tsked and gently nudged her knee with his. “My turn. Are we talking no sexual interaction or no sex?”

  Her eyes rolled. “Nothing up until the night I went home with you.”

  Oh yeah, he was really liking the sound of that. “And after?”

  “Answer my question.” She set her half-finished drink aside.

  Chad grinned. “I’d probably do something with Chandler. His job’s a bit unorthodox, but it would at least be interesting.”

  Bridget bit down on her lip. “I could see you doing that—the bodyguard thing. And no.”

  “What are you saying no to?”

  Her cheeks turned pink. “Nothing before or after you. Happy?”

  Chad’s eyes met hers. “Yes. Very happy.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  She didn’t look away or giggle or lower her lashes or do any number of flirty behaviors. Their eyes locked, and he saw what he had the night in the club and in his bedroom. Heat. Need. Want. His state of arousal amplified to a million. Confined by his jeans, his cock swelled to an almost painful state.

  God, he wanted nothing more than to get on his knees and pay worship to her.

  Bridget’s chest rose sharply, and finally she broke eye contact. Reaching for her glass, she nearly downed the whole thing…and that was kind of hot. “So…” She cleared her throat. “Madison never told me what you studied in college.”

  “Sports management,” he answered, voice husky. “You?”

  “History.” She smiled a little.

  “History nerd?”

  “You betcha.”

  They went back and forth like that, taking turns asking one question after another. At some point, he moved to sit beside her, their legs pressed together. Hours passed. Another glass was refilled. He discovered she had wanted to be an anthropologist but had decided not to go that route. She didn’t elaborate, and when he told her that his parents had never watched one of his games, she didn’t push it. She talked about the Gala and he told her what it was like to live on the road during the season. Every so often, their eyes would meet and that unspoken yearning burned alive.

  She wanted him—that much he knew. Maybe even as much as he wanted her, and his body was strung tight, his cock throbbing each time she shifted and their bodies brushed.

  But as it neared one a.m. and she stood to go to bed, he let her. He actually fucking stood there and said good night.

  Bridget stopped under the stairwell, her hair a deep auburn in the soft light. “Good night, Chad.”

  He felt himself nod and then forced one foot in front of the other, going not where his body so wanted to go. Inside his bedroom, he closed the door behind him and then leaned against it, pressing his forehead against the cool wood. “Shit.”

  Tonight really was going to be the longest night of his life, especially since self-restraint wasn’t something he typically practiced.

  …

  Bridget considered going naked. The pajama bottoms and tank top felt like too much on her hypersensitive skin. She was too old and too realistic to blame the champagne on the glow she was rocking right now or her ultra-bright eyes staring back from the bathroom mirror outside the guest room.

  It was due to 100 percent Grade-A Chad.

  With her ex, she’d never been this turned on. So ready for sex that every time she moved and her clothes brushed against her skin, she wanted to cry.

  Hell, the one person who had ever left her body burning without even touching her had been Chad. She wasn’t sure she could do this, stay the night knowing he was only feet away.

  After yanking her toothbrush out of her toiletry bag, she squirted toothpaste on it and set about brushing her teeth with a little too much vigor. When she finished, she turned off the water and clenched the toothbru
sh as she stared at her reflection.

  “I like the jammies.”

  Chad filled the doorway to the bathroom, startling her. His bare feet peeked out from underneath the hem of jeans that hung so low on his hips she wondered if he was wearing anything underneath them. He’d lost the shirt and sweater and his rock-hard abs were on full display.

  Good God…

  It looked like someone had placed indentations next to his hips, and she wanted to lick those chiseled slopes and then move on to each hard ripple. The man had a body to worship.

  Heart pounding, she put her toothbrush back into its bag. When she was sure she was breathing normally, she faced him completely. “I thought you were going to bed.”

  His stare was heavy-lidded. “I’m not tired.”

  She gripped the edge of the sink with one hand as her chest rose and fell rapidly. His gaze dipped and through the thinned slits, his eyes were a deep, intense blue. Under his concentrated stare, her nipples hardened and the low fire that had been simmering all night long rushed through her veins. There was no mistaking her arousal. The tank was thin.

  Bridget’s brain just clicked off and her body took over. Pulse thrumming, she felt no need to cover herself. “I’m not tired, either.”

  Chad was on her in an instant.

  Her gasp was cut off as he wrapped one powerful arm around her waist and pulled her against him. With her front against his, there was no questioning his desire or what he wanted, either. She felt his long and thick arousal pressed against her belly and her knees went weak. She gripped his shoulders, his skin hot and firm.

  This was insane. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

  One hand tightened on her hip and the other traveled up her spine, leaving delicious shivers in its wake. “Probably not,” he admitted.

  Good to know they were on the same page, but she didn’t pull away and neither did he. That traveling hand of his delved deep into her hair and cradled the nape of her neck. Her breath came out in short bursts.

  “Chad…” She trailed off as the hand on her hip skated down, cupping her rear. Heat exploded through her core.

  His lips were a hairsbreadth from hers, tantalizingly close. “Yeah, we shouldn’t be doing this.” His voice was a low growl. “But can you tell me you don’t want this?”

  Bridget knew she should, but the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She couldn’t look away from the intensity of his gaze.

  “Didn’t think so,” he said, and lowered his head. His lips brushed against her lower one, and her hands tightened on his shoulders. “You want this as badly as I do.” To punctuate his words, his moved against her, and she bit back a moan. “Isn’t that right, Bridget?”

  Oh, she did.

  Chad made another slow, teasing sweep against her mouth. “Admit it.”

  The hand on her ass tightened, and then he lifted her onto the tips of her toes so that his arousal pressed into her core. Her eyes drifted shut and her mouth opened. When he kissed her, his tongue slid over hers and then across the roof of her mouth, and she moaned softly.

  “Admit it,” he said against her lips.

  She shook her head.

  He smiled and slipped his hand away from her neck, down to her aching breast. At first, his hand just skimmed over the swell, eliciting a muffled whimper from her. Then his thumb found the hardened peak and teased the nub until he was breathing as heavily as she was.

  “I want to hear you say it, Bridget.” His thumb and forefinger pinched her nipple, and she cried out. A smug, satisfied grin split his lips. “Bridget?”

  She clamped her mouth shut.

  Challenge flared in Chad’s eyes. Letting go of her rear, he let her slide down and then both hands were on her breasts. Lowering his head, he caught the other peak in his mouth and suckled through the thin cotton. She cried out as pleasure rolled through her.

  “Say it,” he teased, biting down gently.

  Bridget could barely think around what he was doing. His fingers teased one nipple as his mouth tortured the other. He backed her up, until she was pressed against the glass shower door. The coolness against her back and the hotness on her front sent her mind spinning.

  As he sucked harder, he slid a hand down her belly and over the flare of her hip, then to her front. He slipped his hand between her thighs, his fingers moving down the seam of her pajamas, creating a wild friction. Her hips rolled against the movement as she pressed her head back. She went wet between her legs, so close to release already she was sure her heart was going to explode in her chest. Her body shuddered.

  Then Chad let go, taking a step away from her. His hands closed into fists at his sides as he stood before her, and she could see the length of his arousal pushing against his jeans. He stared at her like a man on the verge of losing all control.

  “Say it, Bridget, or God help me…”

  A wicked thrill went through her. “Yes.”

  “Yes to what, Bridget?” The deepness in his voice stroked her.

  An unbearable heat built. “Yes. I want you.”

  Bridget had never seen a man move so fast. His arms were around her, his lips demanding and ravishing. Chad spun her around and they were moving backward, out of the bathroom, his mouth never leaving hers. His hands were everywhere, on her hips, her breasts, sliding between her thighs.

  They didn’t make it to the bedroom.

  When the back of her legs hit the couch, he hooked his fingers under the hem of her tank top. Not giving her much of a chance to feel self-conscious, he tugged the material up and over.

  Standing back at arm’s length, she saw the muscles in his shoulders and chest bulge and tense, taking her breath away. “You’re so beautiful,” he said in a way that made it sound like a prayer of sorts.

  Her heart fluttered crazily as she stood before him, letting him take his fill of her. A flush stole down her neck and traveled farther south. She’d never stood like this before, letting a man soak her in. She felt intensely vulnerable, and in the same respect, deeply powerful.

  Chad moved forward and when he placed a hand on her cheek, she swore it trembled. “So fucking beautiful,” he said again, kissing her gently.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He smiled, and his hands settled on her shoulders, pushing her down until she was on her back and he was kneeling over her. Then his lips were on the swell of her breasts. As he laved and suckled, his other hand slipped between her legs to her core. She pressed against his palm as she skated her fingertips down the hard planes of his chest and his stomach, and then lower.

  His growl of approval brought a smile to her lips. Then he was tugging her bottoms down and she lifted up, aiding in the process. Their eyes met and air punched out of her lungs.

  There was definitely no going back from this, as wrong or crazy as it may be.

  Chad’s hard thigh parted hers, and then he was cupping her. A finger slid inside her slick folds, setting up a mind-blowing rhythm as his mouth captured her soft cries.

  Unlike last time, she was going to touch him.

  Bridget tugged his jeans down his legs and his hard, hot length landed on her thigh. Good Lord, he was big—bigger than she expected. She wrapped her hand around the base of him and he stilled, his finger deep inside her.

  “Bridget,” he ground out. “If you touch me, I’m not going to last. I want you too badly to play around.”

  His words hummed in her blood, melting her into a pool of heat. She wanted him to lose control, to prove just how affected he was by her. Bridget’s hand slid down the smooth length of him, and she loved how his body jerked at her touch. She did it again, and he rewarded her by slipping another finger deep inside her. Her thumb smoothed over the head and his tongue speared her mouth. They moved against each other, their hips straining. A tremble ran through Chad, transferring to her. Every muscle locked up. Chad’s movements picked up pace, his fingers going in and out of her as she moved her hand over his pulsing sex.

  When he pressed
down on the bundle of nerves, her world tilted and then blew apart. His kisses caught the sound of her release as she shattered, her body spasming against him and her hand tightening on his sex. Chad let out a ragged groan as he punched his hips in her hand. As aftershocks rocked her core and her entire being, Chad came with a roar, his big, hard body shaking against her softer one.

  As he settled down, she tentatively moved her other hand to his bent head, running her fingers through his hair. He turned into the touch, tilting his head to the side. Dark lashes framed his cheekbones as she stroked him. They stayed like that for several heartbeats, and then he opened his eyes.

  “I’m not done with you,” he said. “Not yet. Not until I’m deep inside you.”

  She felt him thicken and harden against her belly, and a shudder rocked her. Oh yeah, she liked the sound of that. Her body was primed and so, so ready.

  Chad prowled over to her, and she felt good caged in between those powerful arms, but when he kissed her flushed forehead and then the tip of her nose, she lost a little of herself forever. The sweet gesture swept through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden rush of tears.

  There was nothing sexy about what he just did, not sexy in the way it was all about two bodies coming together with one goal in mind. The act was something lovers did, and her heart swelled so fast she was afraid she was going to say something stupid and horrifying.

  They wanted each other—yes. There was a mutual, powerful attraction between them—yes. He was going to bring her pleasure she had never imagined—yes. But none of that changed the fact that they were pretending to date. There were no feelings. No future. All made worse by the fact that Chad could be incredibly charming.

  But having sex with him, forming that kind of intimate bond, was going to be so much harder to break and get over when this month ended and she never saw him again.

  Bridget had gotten her heart broken before, and she really didn’t want to experience that crushing weight again—not with someone like Chad, whom she doubted she could easily recover from.

  For the second time, she put the brakes on what was happening between them.