Page 88 of Playing to Win
His smile returns. “You really do want me to come over, huh, Red?”
My entire body is on high alert, eager to have his hands on me again so yes. Yes, indeed, I definitely want him to come over.
“Sure,” I say nonchalantly, shrugging. “If you want to.”
“Oh, I want to,” he says without hesitation.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “For a proper invite?”
I take a step closer to him, noting that he appears as tall and as broad as the mountains that surround our little college town. Ugh this man. He is seriously going to be the death of me and I’m going to die a happy woman as long as he’s involved with it because lordy, all he has to do is look at me and I want to die.
Looks like I need to give him what he wants. That invitation.
“Would you like to come over to my place later?” Resting my hand on his chest, I rise up on tiptoe and he bends down at the same time, meeting me in the middle so I can whisper in his ear. “If you’re lucky, I might be waiting for you in my bed. Naked.”
He pulls away slightly so he can look into my eyes, the heat in his gaze scorching me. “I hope like hell that I’m lucky tonight.”
“Maybe you will be.” I smile, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “But then again…maybe you won’t.”
He rubs a big hand across his jaw. “Don’t tease me like that, Red.”
“I think that’s your favorite part about me,” I say. “The teasing.”
“I don’t know.” His gaze skims over me again, settling on all the spots of my body that tingle for him. “I pretty much like all your parts.”
I giggle.
Ace chuckles.
I’m clearly putting everything at risk, but in this very moment?
I don’t care.
TWENTY-EIGHT
ACE
Everyone is celebratingus tonight at Logan’s. Every round of alcohol is purchased for us. Beer. Shots. Expensive liquor that should be sipped that we’re shooting instead because we’re idiots and the majority of us are looking to get fucked up—it doesn’t matter what, people are sending it to us. I feel like we won a damn championship game, though I guess this is close enough.
I can’t lie, it feels good, basking in everyone’s adoration. We’re loved tonight and I want to savor the moment. I really do.
But I can’t stop thinking about Ruby and her invitation. Mentioning that she’ll wait for me in her bed.
Naked.
Jesus, this woman. Seeing her wear our school colors ignited something inside me that keeps growing. I want to see her in my jersey. My number on her chest, my last name on her back. Fuck, that would feel like a claiming. I don’t care about anyone else who wears my jersey—well, I do love it when they wear the T-shirts and root me on because they’re fans, you know? But Ruby isn’t just a fan.
She’s…oh shit, who am I right now, thinking like this?
Fuck it.
Ruby is my girl. That’s how I see her at least. And even if we can’t be together yet, I’m hoping—fingers crossed tightly—that we can be together someday. After the season? Which means not until December or even January, if we make it to a championship bowl.
Back to the waiting for me naked part. That’ll be the best part of my whole day. At the very least, it’s on par with winning the game. Though I’m not quite sure how she’s going to do it.
How she’ll manage the naked in bed part since she needs to come to the door and let me in. But I guess I shouldn’t worry about the logistics. I should focus on the idea of beautiful, luscious Ruby bare beneath the sheets. Wet between the legs.
