Page 97 of Playing to Win
Sending her a meaningful look, I head deeper into the bar, finding Javier and pulling him aside so I can talk to him. “Hey, I’m out of here.”
Javier glances around the space before returning his gaze to mine. “You meeting someone somewhere?”
“Yeah.” I rub my jaw, not about to reveal who I’m meeting. “You still having people over?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. We’re having a pretty good time here and besides…” He shrugs, his grin faintly embarrassed. “My girl promised me a naked FaceTime sesh if I go home soon.”
“Bro, you better jump on that.” I grab hold of his shoulders and give him a slight shake. “I’ll see you later.”
I get the hell out of there before any of my teammates notice, but that doesn’t stop other people from talking to me. It takes me an extra fifteen minutes to leave Logan’s. It’s mostly guys congratulating me on the win, but there are also a few women who tell me I did a great job, flirting it up.
Not interested. I’m too eager to get Ruby alone. In bed.
Naked.
Finally, I’m standing in the alley to the left of Logan’s ordering a car. It’ll be here in seven minutes and I check the time before I send a quit text to Ruby.
A group of loudly laughing women exit the bar, all of them squealing when they see me standing in the alley.
“Ace Townsend!” one of them screams.
“See ya around, ladies.” I offer a wave and turn my back to them, making like I’m going to leave. They sound disappointed but keep moving and I nearly sag with relief when they’re gone.
I need to get the hell out of here.
Within minutes, Ruby is in the alley with me and we head to the back of the building, where the tiny parking lot is. I instructed the driver in the notes to pick us up there and when his car appears, I usher Ruby inside the back seat, following after her and slamming the car door.
“Ace!” The driver catches my eye in the rearview mirror and I want to groan out loud. I can’t get any peace. “I thought that was you.”
“Hey,” I say weakly, pleased when Ruby snuggles close to me, her face pressed against my chest. I slip my arm around her shoulders.
I chat with the driver the entire ride back to her place while Ruby remains quiet. Cuddly. Her arm is curled around mine and her hair is practically in my face and I don’t mind at all. This moment is nice, being able to sit with her freely without judgment. Who’s this guy gonna tell? He’s a former student at CU and still lives in the area, and this is his weekend job to earn extra cash that he’s saving so he can buy a house.
Yeah, I know a lot about this dude because he’s giving me his entire life story.
By the time we pull up in front of Ruby’s apartment building, I have to nudge her to get her moving. “We’re here, Red.”
We spill out of the car, me taking Ruby’s arm to stabilize her. The moment the car drives away, I take her hand, momentarily disoriented. I know I’ve been here before but… “Where’s your apartment?”
“This way.” She gestures with her free hand and starts walking, leading me to her front door.
“You think Nat is home?”
“She works pretty late on Saturday nights. She usually works the tables in the bar. That’s where the best tips are,” Ruby explains as she turns left and steers us up a set of stairs to her apartment.
I loom behind her as she unlocks the door, impatience making me eager, and when we’re inside the apartment, I’m on her like I have no control. Pinning her to the door, reaching for her and cradling her cheeks in my hands, tilting her head up so I can study her pretty face for a moment before I swoop in and kiss her.
A soft sigh leaves her the moment our lips touch and I keep it gentle, restraining myself. Brushing my mouth against hers again and again, her lips parting with every pass. Until I tease her with my tongue, her tongue immediately meeting mine. Flicking. Circling. Until I can’t take it anymore and deepen the kiss.
She moans, her body going limp, her hands sliding down my chest, fisting the fabric of my shirt. I press more firmly against her, holding her against the door, letting her feel what she’s doing to me, and when she finally breaks the kiss first, I can tell she’s giggling.
“What’s so funny?” I dip my head and rain kisses down the length of her neck.
“You’re always kissing me against a door.” A shiver moves through her when I gently bite the spot where her neck and shoulder meet. “We should go to my room.”
“Is that an invitation?” I lift my head away from hers, the lust coursing through my veins as I take her in.
God, she’s beautiful. And so damn sweet. All that silky blonde hair and those big green eyes. Or are they hazel? Right now, they’re glowing green, eating me up, and my skin fucking tingles as her gaze sweeps over me.
