Page 98 of Playing to Win
Ruby nods, letting go of my shirt and reaching for my hand. “Come on.”
I let her drag me down the hall and into her tiny bedroom. She hits the light switch and the lamp on the bedside table turns on, casting the room in a gentle glow. She turns to face me, walking backward toward the bed, her expression full of promise. “I can’t believetheAce Townsend is in my bedroom. Again.”
“Oh, don’t start giving me a hard time, Red. I’m not that big of a deal.” My gaze slides over her, lingering on all of my favorite parts. There are too many to name so basically I’m ogling her like some sort of freakish pervert, but from the glimmer currently lighting her eyes, I can tell she doesn’t mind.
“You’re a huge deal, Ace. You were great out on that field. So commanding. In control. The entire bar was there for you tonight, and you deserve all the accolades.” She sounds in awe of me and I can’t lie.
Pride floods my veins. It means something, that she thinks I’m a big deal. I don’t care what anyone else thinks about me.
Just her.
“They were there for the team, not just me,” I correct because I can’t take all the credit for the win.
That game was brutal. I was sweating big time and secretly terrified of fucking everything up. But I didn’t.
We won. And I’m hoping I can claim Ruby Maguire as my prize.
THIRTY-ONE
RUBY
I haveAce in my bedroom and I’m suddenly nervous. My palms are damp and my heart is racing and I’m experiencing a serious case of self-doubt. I don’t know why. He’s made it more than clear that he likes me. That he wants me. And we’ve hooked up before. What we’ve already shared was pretty amazing, so I know it’ll be good between us.
Scratch that. It’s going to begreatbetween us.
So why am I panicking now?
“You’re so modest,” I finally murmur as I take a step away from him, letting my gaze sweep over him freely. Everything lately with Ace feels so…covert. Like we’re spies having to sneak around to see each other. Communicate with each other. I don’t like it. Not really. I’d rather let the world know what we’re doing.
At least the campus.
“I’m just giving credit where it’s due. I can’t play like that without them. I need that team just as much as they need me. Maybe even more.” He rubs his chin, his narrowed gaze lingering on me. “So. What are we waiting for, Red?”
My stomach jumps. “What do you mean?”
“Shouldn’t we be getting naked by now?” He cocks a brow.
My body grows warm at him using the wordnaked.
All sorts of images pop into my brain, all of them involving Ace with no clothes on.
“You start first.” I wave a hand at him.
“If you say so.” He reaches for the back of his shirt and pulls it off in one smooth move, revealing his magnificent chest.
I clamp my lips together so I don’t do anything embarrassing while I stare at him, like drool.
“Your turn,” he drawls when I still haven’t said anything.
Slowly I tug my CU shirt off, revealing the white lacy bra I wore special for the occasion. As if I knew this moment would happen.
I was definitely hopeful.
His gaze turns heated as he takes me in. “You have the best tits I’ve ever seen.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes. “Besttits?Your language is rather coarse, Acey Baby.”
A growl leaves him and I giggle even more. “Did you really just call me that?”
