All In: Playing to Win (Gambling With Love Book 5) (11 page)

"Why’s that a waste?" I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders. "You know, the whole starving artist thing. It never would've paid the bills, that's for sure, but I wanted to be a sports photojournalist. There's just something amazing about being able to capture a perfect moment and save it before it's lost forever."

"So why don't you? Why did you leave school?" I asked her again. The look on her face...she just seems so passionate talking about photography.

This time we're interrupted by a fan before she can answer my question.

Normally I don't mind signing autographs even if it takes all day, but I don't want Natalie to feel uncomfortable with the attention. I have to gradually ease her into the public spotlight or she'll probably run for the hills before this starts.

After the first brave soul that approaches me, there's always more that follow. On the sixth request I turn to Natalie. "You okay with this?" I ask, and when she smiles wider I brace myself for what's coming. 

"Hell, even I was once a Zack Bradford fan. At least until I actually met you," she jokes, or at least I hope it's a joke. The college aged kid I'm signing a hat for chuckles at her remark and tries to cover it with a cough. After Natalie takes a picture of us for him, the fan wanders off.

"I'm trying to sway you back into my fan camp again," I tell her, reaching down to squeeze her bare thigh above her knee.

"You're going to have to try harder," she says, covering my hand with her own small one.

Unable to resist, I lower my lips to run them across her hair and neck, then over the top of her ear before she tilts her head for me to kiss her lips. My hand on her leg moves higher toward the apex of her thighs as our tongues meet, tentatively at first, and then become more urgent, just like Wednesday night. Every time I kiss this woman I get swept away.

"Here you go. Can I get you anything else?" The waitress has to choose that moment to interrupt with food.

Damn it!
I know the woman beside me is going to instantly withdraw from me again and then it'll take another half hour or more to get back to where we just were.  

"Refills would be great," I tell her, figuring a little alcohol wouldn't hurt to lower Natalie's inhibitions enough to relax with me. 

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" she asks when the waitress finally wanders off.

"I just want you to loosen up and have a good time."

"Right," she says sarcastically. "Well, you're still going to be disappointed at the end of the night."

"I don't have any expectations, baby. I just want you to have a good time with me tonight before I drop you off at home. I want you to think about me when you go to bed alone, and wonder what it'd be like to have me there beside you," I tell her, placing a kiss next to her ear. "Or even better, what it'd feel like to have me above you, buried deep inside of you. But I have to admit that when I imagine our first time together...your sexy little body is riding the fuck out of my cock."

Natalie

I reach for my glass with a shaky hand and drain the rest of my first daiquiri when the second one arrives.  My body feels like it's strung tight and overheating. Just looking at the man beside me usually has that effect on me, but with the side of his big, warm body against mine, his hand moving up my thigh and my lips and neck still damp from his kisses, I'm about to catch fire. Oh yeah, and then there are his heated words that I have to deal with, too.        

I want him. Not just in the “wow, he's hot way,” but in the "I want to get naked and roll around with him until his long, hard length relieves the pressure building between my thighs," way.

No, no, no. I can't go there with him! Not unless I insist on a no-contact order for my upper torso and keep my chest covered the whole time. Kissing him is incredibly nice, but I don't want to end up on his long list of conquests. My resolve always seems to hold strong until I get around him and he starts touching me. I need to get some air and some separation from him to get my wits together.

"I'm going to run to the restroom," I tell him. "I'll be right back."

I'm out of the booth in record time, heading for the back hallway of the club. There's a line for the ladies’ room of course, so I stand and wait trying to take deep breaths to clear my head and cool off my hormones. I have to stop kissing that man or I'm going to keep drowning even further. It's too much, too good, and I can't handle it.

I realize now that my initial anger at Zack may have had more to do with him kissing me in college and not remembering me, more so than the fact that he'd been really late. It was silly to think that after that kiss that we'd end up together, but that's what my younger, dumber self imagined happening. At least now he knew it had been me that he crushed in more ways than one during that game.  

I'd promised him four dates and I'm half way through the third. It's for a good cause, I remind myself. I can do this. I will be strong, put a little more distance between us, and after the photoshoot in a little over two weeks we'll be done.

A sharp pang of sadness flits through me. I'm going to miss Zack and his surprise lunches, sweet flowers, tickets to games, and just...him. His smile, his touch, his playfulness and smooth, confidence boosting lines. Lines that lots of other women have heard before, long enough for him to get what he wants and then move quickly along to someone else. I'm no different than all the rest, and look where they all ended up. Cast aside and forgotten, quicker than yesterday's newspaper.

Zack even admitted that he doesn't do the relationship thing. That he cheated on his ex and has sex with women all the freaking time. Why would he give up his wild ways for someone like me? Someone missing standard female anatomy that most men probably obsess about on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

After I calm myself down and use the facilities, I head back out to our table. Zack gives me a questioning look when I glance up at him. 

"Hey, are you okay?" he asks as I slide back in the booth. Unlike before, I stop short, putting several inches between our bodies.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, grabbing a slice of pizza and taking a bite for the distraction. If my mouth is full then he can’t expect me to answer his questions. And damn, he's already eaten more than half of it during those few minutes I was gone.

"Uh-huh. Then why are you sitting all the way over there, acting like I have cooties?" he asks and I have to use a napkin to cover my laugh.

I grab my second daiquiri and take a big swallow from the straw to wash down the pizza. Which is probably a mistake. Throwing alcohol on the inferno inside me isn't going to be very helpful in keeping my distance. Lord knows it didn't help Wednesday night when I ended up making out with Zack in public for hours.                               

Luckily the lights dim, saving me from a response when the warm-up comedian comes out on stage. Resolving the distance issue himself, Zack merely slides around the booth until his thigh is against mine again, and his arm is around me.

Damn it, I can't resist him. It's almost painful to keep trying to fight the pull I feel, the one I've always felt toward Zack. Especially when he smells so good, like the sun and ocean waves, and he's wrapped around me all big and warm and…comfortable. Giving up on my pizza I lean into his chest, allowing his arm to come around and tuck me into his side. It seems so natural and perfect. I feel like I'm finally where I'm meant to be.

I can barely follow the jokes on stage because I'm distracted by Zack's large fingers trailing unknown patterns up and down my side. When I don't protest, his other palm comes back and caresses my bare thigh, sending delicious tingles all the way through me, tightening my belly.

I finish up my second alcoholic beverage and even start on the third when the waitress magically appears with another one.

"Mm, whipped cream," Zack whispers against my ear before he dips the tip of his long index finger into the white fluff and offers it to me with a cocky smile. He's daring me, and probably thinks I'll refuse. I'm starting to feel a rather nice buzz, so instead of declining, I grab his wrist and cover his entire finger with my mouth, swirling my tongue around it as I pull back, sucking off the cream. I hear Zack mutter a curse before his finger pops free and then his mouth is suddenly crashing down on mine.

It's a needy, sensual kiss that sets me on fire, and I'm not the only one burning. Zack's mouth and touch are almost frantic. His hand moves up my thigh, underneath my dress, and I don't even try to stop the progress of his quarterback sneak. In fact I may have uncrossed my legs to give him better access. The ache from earlier is back and growing stronger.

Alone in our dark, secluded corner with only a candle flickering for light, Zack's long, wet, and previously whipped cream covered fingertip glides over the center of my panties. I almost come right then. Instead, he swallows my gasp, and my hands reach out, grabbing the front of his shirt before rubbing my way up his rock hard stomach and chest. I hold him to me, making sure he doesn't move his hands away from my body.

As his tongue penetrates my mouth in sensual thrusts, his fingers do the same, feeling me through my damp panties. I almost cry out when he nudges the fabric out of his way to stroke my flesh. His expert fingers quickly find my swollen, and much neglected pleasure button, making me come so fast it feels like the room is spinning around us. I pant through the wonderful release as he continues kissing me. Softly and slowly, his lips and tongue begin calming mine as my body relaxes and floats back down content and sated.

"I want you so fucking bad I can't stand it," Zack breathes heavily against my ear as he removes his hand from underneath my dress.

Coming out of the lust haze, I remember where we are. I open my eyes and look around, but to everyone else in the club we'd only been kissing as far they can tell. I'm certain that our laps are fully hidden behind the thick table in front of us. There are no knowing looks, just the occasional, general glances from fans.

Oh God! I can't believe I just let Zack Bradford finger me in a crowded public place. I'm not sure what's come over me. I always seem to lose myself with him, and it feels so damn good that I don't want to ever be found.

"No one saw anything," Zack assures me and I nod against his chest.

Even if they had I'd almost say it was worth it. It’s been years since a man has touched me, and now after all that time the man doing the touching is a sexy football god. Speaking of which...

"We have any football fans in here?" the comedian asks from the stage, grabbing my attention. "How about the hometown team? Any Wildcats' fans in the house?" The crowd cheers loudly in response.

"Zack Bradford's here!" someone in the audience exclaims.

Oh no
.

"Zack motherfucking Bradford is
here
? Where the hell is that handsome son of a bitch?" Everyone laughs when the comedian uses his hands to shield his eyes and look over the audience. I feel the man in question tense up beside me. "Ah, there he is in the back! Yo, Zack, I'm a huge fan!"

"Thanks, man. Glad to hear it," Zack yells back.

"You are a legend among men! You're a damn good quarterback, well, most of the time, and the only thing you're rolling in more than dollars is pussy," the man on stage says and the crowd laughs.

"Fuck," Zack mutters under his breath. To me, he says, "Sorry."

I think he must be psychic because it was about to get worse.                                                

"And look at the fine ass woman on your arm tonight. Hell, I think I'm a little jealous. I know every woman in here is jealous of her, and probably more than half the men. Fine, that's not exactly true. All the men are jealous, too." After a short break of cackles from the audience he continues. "I'm not going to lie, I'd suck your cock for some sweet tickets." The crowd roars after that statement. Zack makes a small, quiet groan of aggravation. "I'm not even gay, but you better believe I'd sing to the world,
I sucked Zack Bradford's cock and I liked it!
"

Oh sweet baby Jesus. Everyone, and I mean
everyone
, is now looking at us. My face is scorching hot, and by now has to be the deepest shade of red possible.              

Pulling up his t-shirt to show his hairy pot belly, the comedian continues on with his inappropriateness. "I'd get you to autograph my belly afterwards and then I'd go get a tattoo of it, adding the words, '
Here lies Zack motherfucking Bradford's unborn children
.'"

At that point I can't contain my laugh at the man's ridiculous joke. It's impossible to hold it in any longer. Zack looks down at me in surprise for a second before his own face splits into a smile.

"Don't be shy, Zack's date. You're a lucky lady. You hold your head high and get your freak on with that sexy ass man while you can," the comedian says. "After he moves on to his next pussy, men will be lining up, just for a chance to stick their dicks where Zack motherfucking Bradford's dick has been. Your pussy can become a tourist destination. Step right up, come one, come all to get a look at the coveted pussy, stretched by the one and only Rookie of the Year
and
Sexiest Man of the Year!"   

"Oh geez," Zack mutters as he picks up his third beer and throws it back. "I'm sorry, Natalie. I had no idea…"

"It's not your fault. And he's kind of funny," I whisper.

"I owe you for putting you through this hell. You'll have to let me have a date redo to make up for it."

"It's fine," I tell him, giving him a quick kiss on his lips.

The comedian is right. I am a lucky woman to be with such an amazing man, and I'm not going to waste any more time trying to resist him. I could certainly use a little indulgence of the physical kind, and it won't necessarily have to lead to sex. Although, that’s exactly what I want at the moment.   

After those few minutes of the spotlight, the comedian moved on and the night came to an end way too soon.

Zack drives us back to my apartment and turns his expensive car off after he pulls into a parking spot, but doesn't offer to get out. During the short drive I'd been having an internal debate on how to end the night.  

"Thanks for coming out with me again tonight," Zack says as he turns toward me in the darkness. Only the glow from the nearby lamp post lights up the car, making his light hair and eyes shine. "I’m really, really sorry about the comedian. I should’ve realized it had the potential to go that shitty."

"I told you, it's not your fault. You can't help if you're famous and men want to give you blow jobs," I tell him and he returns my smile.

"Did you have fun?" he asks as he grabs my hand and threads his warm fingers with mine.

"I really did. Going out with you isn't as painful as I thought it'd be," I tease him.

"Are you seriously only going to give me one more date?" he asks.

"We'll see. After the calendar's done we might be able to renegotiate our deal."

"Good," he says, bringing our hands to his lips and kissing my knuckles sweetly.  

"I owe you an apology. You're not the arrogant asshole I thought you were," I tell him, which causes him to frown.

"I wouldn't go that far, but I want to be better. I'm trying to be better."

"And it's working," I tell him and he gives me a small smile.

Even smiling at only ten percent brightness the man is so gorgeous it hurts. He's like the sun, glowing bright and so damn warm. I know I'm going to end up getting burnt, and that I'll be even colder when it ends, but I can't resist him.

Before I even realize what I'm doing I unbuckle my seatbelt and crawl over the console, straddling Zack's lap. His eyes widen in surprise for just a second before his arms wrap around me, holding my body to his as he kisses me hungrily.

When his hands start moving up my sides, I freeze and grab a hold of them to stop his forward progress. "Would you mind…keeping your hands below the waist only?" I ask with only an inch between our mouths.

Zack grins right before his palms slap down and grab both of my ass cheeks. "That I can easily do," he says, and then his mouth is on mine again.