Play With Me (7 page)

Lace tried pushing him away, but it was hard to put real effort into it, not with Silver sucking her nipple through the cotton. “March, please.” The plea in her voice was mortifying, but she couldn’t help it. “Someone…might…”
 

Silver bit her nipple, and Lace lost her train of thought.

Fortunately, Silver seemed to take pity on her, murmuring, “I told you. It’s all taken care of.” He moved to her other breast, and her body arched against his when he started tweaking her nipple. “I’ve got men outside every exit of this place. No one can come in without me knowing.”

With Silver sucking on her nipple right after, staying rational became an even greater struggle, but she did her best, gasping, “Does…that…mean...your men…know…about us?” Her head twisted left and right as the words came out haltingly. Lace didn’t know whether she wanted to escape from his touch or she wanted more of it. All she knew was that she had never thought she could feel this way, and she knew it was something she wouldn’t ever forget.

Silver stopped sucking on her nipple, and when he raised his head, the wicked glint in his blue eyes was evident as he said, “
Yes.
”

Lace moaned in despair, and she renewed her struggles even as Silver laughed at her. He was pulling her bra down, and she struggled harder even as her breasts spilled out. “March, no!” It felt like it was all she could say, and it also proved futile every time. Like now.
 

Silver was plumping her breast in one hand, and then he was sucking the skin on the side of one pale globe. When he was done, he told her, “Another mark to show you’re mine.”

Aaaargh.
Lace couldn’t stop herself from growling in protest. The sound only had him chuckling just before his mouth swallowed the rest of her growl.
 

By the time they came out of the dugout, she was red-faced and wearing his jacket, the only way to keep everyone from seeing the various marks he had made on her neck, down her collarbone, and—

God.
There was no point counting it.

“I hate you,” she mumbled even as she allowed Silver to twine his fingers with hers. It felt terrifyingly natural, like they had been holding hands for a long time.

“I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere and arrogant at the same time. “If it’s any consolation, it’s only with you that I’ve become…somewhat possessive.”

She glared up at him. “There’s no somewhat about it.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I stand corrected.”

Her teeth started grinding against each other again. So he was going to be reasonable now that he had gotten what he wanted? “Bastard,” she snarled under her breath. “Do you really think I’m the type to just let any guy do something to me? You were my first kiss—”

Both of them went still.

Oh. Fuck. Did she just let that slip?

“Umm—”

Silver bent down and stole a kiss from her. “I thought I was,” he whispered against her lips, “but it’s nice to have it confirmed.”

She was blushing by the time he lifted his head, and she blushed even more when she realized they had company. There were still students hanging out in the sports complex’s parking lot, and all of them were gaping at her and Silver. It was clear in their gazes that they knew who Silver March was, just as it was equally clear they didn’t understand what he was doing with a tomboy like her.

Damn if she knew
, Lace thought, scowling. Even she knew she was unsuitable for someone like Silver March. He was
the
boyfriend to have. He deserved someone equally perfect, someone feminine and well-mannered – someone who was Lace’s exact opposite in other words.

Being the object of people’s scrutiny was something Lace had long been used to, something she had known would go hand in hand with her unconventional dream. But being stared at because a hot guy was holding hands with her?

It didn’t sit well with her, and she would have pulled away and run to the opposite direction if not for Silver’s grip tightening. “Wyndham.” When she looked up at him with a scowl, his too-beautiful face remained impassive even as he asked softly, “Don’t you think we’ve danced long enough?”

His words almost had her stumbling, and she muttered, “I don’t know what you mean.” They had reached his car by then, a flashy red Lamborghini. Normally, she’d be all over it, but right now, the sight depressed her because it meant he really was going to leave. For Europe. For one week.

The thought killed her, but…she would also rather kill herself than let Silver know that.
 

“You’re going to miss me, aren’t you?”

His knowing smile had her scowl turning fiercer. “NO.”

He bent down and sucked her lower lip, whispering, “Liar.”
 

When he straightened, Lace was red-faced. “You—”

“I know I will.” A pause. “Because I think…I love you.”

Lace’s head jerked up.

Silver gazed back at her, his face unreadable.

She blurted out, “
Fuck you can’t be.”
 
But Silver didn’t answer, and Lace could only gaze at him, torn. Half of her wanted to demand that he tell her it wasn’t true, the other half wanted to make Silver say it again and again. How could he be in love with her? How?

She shook her head. “It’s not possible.”

There was mild curiosity in his beautiful voice as he asked, “Because we’ve only known each other for less than two months?”

She nodded vigorously. “Not just that.”

“Because we have nothing in common?”

More vigorous nods. “That, too.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m twenty-five and you’re nineteen? Or because you’re more foul-mouthed than I am or that you probably own more Nikes than I do?”

She wouldn’t be able to stop nodding, the rate this was going.

But she did since Silver had just cupped her face, and the way he was looking at her put Lace in danger of melting. She had heard of this…this
syndrome,
the way men with intense eyes could make girls putty in their hands. She had thought it was an urban legend, but apparently it was…
not.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Lace half-pleaded, half-snapped.

“Like this?” He looked even more deeply into her eyes.

Oh God, she really was going to melt.
 

Deeper and deeper, his eyes seemed to claim her very soul.

Yup, melting now.

“Those were all sensible points, but they don’t matter in the end. Because I really do believe I love you.” Before she could even think of what to say, Silver continued, “This is going to sound even more incredulous, but I think I knew the first time I saw you.”

“You couldn’t have—”

He said simply, “It’s the only way to explain why I couldn’t take my eyes off you, little lamb. It’s the only way to explain why everything you said fascinated me, and why basketball no longer seems boring—”

“Hey,” she protested, offended on her sport’s behalf.

“But you know what made it really clear?”

She almost didn’t want to ask, but she heard herself saying anyway, “What?”

“I’ve always been a selfish bastard—” Silver grimaced. “It’s flattering that you don’t seem to believe me, but I was. I am. Have always been so.” A self-mocking smile played on his lips. “But out of self-interest, I won’t give you any examples. I’m sure you’ll know soon enough.”
 

He sighed. “The point is, I’m not a good man, little lamb, but when I’m with you, I find myself doing things I never thought I’d do.” His head lowered, his lips brushing against Lace’s. “How can that be anything but love?”

She wished she had an answer, more for her sake than his, but she had none.

His head moved, and then he was whispering into her ear, “But I’ve got more bad news for you, I’m afraid.”
 

It nearly had her jumping and turned her into a stammering mess. “M-more b-bad news?”
 

“Really. Bad. News.” His head moved again, and this time, every word had his lips coming into contact with hers. It made Lace want to do all sorts of unspeakable things to his lip. Nibble. Bite. Suck. Things that she, Evangeline Lace Wyndham, never used to think about.

His tongue suddenly stroked inside, and her lips parted open automatically. The kiss turned deep and hot in an instant, but it was also all over before she could even think of resisting.

“The bad thing is…” He stepped away, and the sudden distance between them sent an aching pang through her, and the feeling of loss worsened as she watched him unlock his car and open the door.
 

When he was inside the car, Silver’s window lowered, revealing his expressionless face.
 

“What’s the bad thing?” she asked right away. And if he actually ended up saying he had just been stringing her all along, she was going to kill him. She really was. Because that was the most asshole thing to do—
 

“You’re in love with me, too.”

And she would never forgive—

Wait.
What did he say?

But Silver was already driving away.

Did he…did he just tell her she was in love with him, too?

Noooooooooooooooo.

That
was
the worst thing that could happen to her.

First Call

Silver: Good morning, my love.
 

Lace: Good morning. And I’m not your love.

Silver: You know, if you weren’t really in love with me, you wouldn’t even bother toreply.

Lace’s teeth gnashed when she read Silver’s text message. They both knew what he wrote was true. And honestly, she really, really wanted to ignore his message, but…

She missed him. More than she thought possible. So much so that even though she was supposed to be devising plays¸ all she could do was think of him.

Her phone beeped again.
 

Silver: How’s sports camp?

Lace let out a sigh at the question. She had been so excited when she first heard about the university giving them the green light to join the intercollegiate sports camp. Five full days of not having to attend classes and being able to think, breathe, and sleep basketball every moment. It had sounded like paradise until, of course, she learned about Silver March being half a world away.
 

Her gaze drifted back to her phone. She really shouldn’t be replying. Now was the time to prove to both of them that she was not at his beck and call—

Silver: If you’re too busy, I’ll be leaving for work.

At his answer, Lace couldn’t type fast enough, her face contorting in self-revulsion all the while.
Evangeline Lace Wyndham, you have no shame.

Lace: I’m not busy.
 

Silver: Thought that would get you to reply.

Lace: Asshole.

Silver: What are you wearing today?

Lace: ASSHOLE.

The entire week, even though the temperature sometimes rose as high as almost ninety degrees, Lace had forced herself to wear sports jackets she could zip all the way up to her neck. It was that or risk having any of her boys catch a glimpse of Silver’s marks on her body. The thought of it had her gritting her teeth. Damn Silver March for being so idiotically possessive.

Silver: What are you guys doing now?

Lace: It’s the last thirty minutes of our practice then we’ve got the rest of the day free.

Under her, Ivan demanded irritably, “Why the hell are you groaning, Coach? It’s not like you’re the one doing push-ups with a girl weighing like a ton on his back.”

“A ton, huh?” She clenched her abs, allowing her to rest more weight on the team captain’s back.

Ivan groaned.
 

“That should teach you. Also—” She checked her watch. “You’ve got one more minute to go.” Her phone buzzed.

Silver: Can I call you right now?