Page 70 of Playing to Win
“Is that because you’re on the social media team?” he asks the ceiling.
“Yeah. I guess there was a girl on my team last year who was deemed a total distraction and she tried to date as many football players as possible. I’m not allowed to date anyone. I could get fired.” I hesitate. “And I’d really like to keep my job.”
Ace doesn’t say anything, still staring at the ceiling, and I finally give in to my feelings and go to him. He spreads his legs when I draw closer, letting me step in between them and when I rest my hands on his shoulders, he closes his eyes.
Swallows hard.
I press my face into his neck, breathing in his intoxicating scent. He smells like the ocean. Clean with the vaguest hint of salt. I stay like this for way too long, inhaling him, my head beginning to swim when he wraps me up in his thick arms and holds me close. But not crushing me to him close. More like…
Perfectly close.
Ugh, I like it. I likehim. I’ve had fun spending time with him, and I firmly believed he wasn’t looking for anything serious so that’s why I wasn’t worried about the no-dating clause included in my employment paperwork. I know Gwyneth has some suspicions about us, but I fully planned on reassuring her tomorrow that nothing is going on between me and Ace.
Then he had to go and make all of my secret dreams come true by asking me on a date. He looked so cute when he did it too. Normally, I would’ve said yes. Thrown all my worry aside and just agreed because what good is life if you’re not taking any chances?
I’m almost positive my dad said that to me once.
Can’t risk my job though. Even though I’m only like a week in, I sort of love it. I enjoy working with Eric and Gwen—it’s a fun challenge, trying to get on her good side. I like editing content and creating fun clips that showcase the team in silly ways. That’s what I was doing tonight when Ace texted me. Editing content and scheduling posts on Instagram. I’m having a lot of fun with this and it’s going to look great on my resume someday.
“We probably shouldn’t do this,” he finally murmurs. “I don’t want to get you fired.”
“Just…let me hold you for a few minutes,” I tell him, nestling closer. I feel him swallow and I turn my head slightly, dragging my lips across his skin.
He shivers, his arms tightening around my waist and he dips his head, his mouth at my ear. “You should stop if you don’t want me to do something you might regret later.”
“What would I regret?” What could I possibly regret when it comes to this man? I know I just turned him down but…
He has to understand I did it with extreme reluctance. Maybe we could date later. After the football season is over? Though he probably wouldn’t wait for me that long. I might not either. He could have any woman he wants and I might meet someone too.
Or maybe I won’t. I don’t know.
And that’s the tough part about life. All of the unknowns. Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball so I could see into the future, but then I wonder if that would just freak me out?
Probably.
“I don’t know. If we keep this up, you might find yourself naked on that bed with my head buried between your thighs,” he says conversationally, as if he’s talking about the weather.
Now I’m the one who shivers at the vision his words put in my head. I know how he kisses. He’s, very um…
Thorough.
“That would probably be a colossal mistake,” I murmur when he traces the curve of my ear with his tongue.
“Right? Just imagine it.” He kisses my ear. Nibbles on the lobe, his hot breath coating my skin. “Probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve been dying to taste that pretty little pussy of yours, Red.”
Oh…
Oh God.
Dirty talk never did much for me in the past, not that I’ve ever tried it with anyone. I was always too embarrassed and I’ve never been with a guy that I’m comfortable enough with to just…let my freak flag fly.
I have a feeling Ace is the one I could do that with. I already told him I liked it when he put his hand around my throat. He didn’t even bat an eyelash. He did it again for me, knowing I liked it.
This man…he just might be my sexual unicorn.
Though I’m most likely getting ahead of myself. And I shouldn’t think of him that way because this can go nowhere. We can’t date.
His hand shifts up my back, and then slowly down. Over my hip. Tracing the waistband of my old sleep shorts until he slips his fingers beneath the threadbare waistband and slides them over the curve of my bare ass since I’m not wearing panties.
