Rosalie's Player (15 page)

“Okay.” She had a way of not looking disappointed. Not making him feel like an asshole for being stubborn and emotionally mute.

He bent down and scooped up her panties. “You’ll probably need these.”

“Thanks.” When she took them from him, her hand brushed his, but before she could pull away, he grabbed her wrist, staring into her eyes. “What?”

“I’m glad you stopped by today.”

“I’ll bet.” She giggled, but he could tell that was her way of covering herself. He hated being the guy who hurt her. This was exactly why he didn’t do relationships. He wasn’t man enough to handle a woman like her. He was too weak, too afraid to let her down.

“No, really.” He ran his lips over her knuckles before taking a breath. “It’s hard to get through the day when you’re not with me.”

“That’s very sweet of you.” She kissed his cheek. “You better get going. I don’t want Nic on your ass for being late.”

“Me either.”

She reached down and wiggled back into her panties, holding onto him for support. “Maybe I’ll see you later?”

“We’re heading to Bennet’s tonight to celebrate Pax’s return. Can you meet me there after the game?”

“Sure.” She smiled and he felt like less of an ass. “I can do that. If you want?”

“I want.” He tilted her chin, kissing her slowly, savoring her taste, needing her to feel with his actions what he couldn’t say with his mouth. “I want.”

More than he had any business wanting. What had she done to him?

* * * *

Rosalie walked into Bennet’s with Nic and Sage. Most of the team was already there, drinking, laughing, and celebrating Pax’s return. He’d pitched seven solid innings before they pulled him and brought in relief. Not a bad start after coming off an injury and surgery.

“Your guy is over there.” Nic pointed to a table by the bar. Holt and Ryder and a few other guys were surrounded by half-naked girls who were giggling and practically gyrating in front of them. “Do you want me to knock his teeth out yet?”

“Nic?” Sage said as she took his hand. “Girls flock to you guys. Rosalie knows that. Stay out of her relationship.”

“I can handle this.” Rosalie made her way to Holt’s table. He’d been on her mind all day. After their sexual explosion in the dressing room, all she could think about was being with him again.

When his eyes connected with hers, he smiled, making her tingle all over. He stepped away from the girls and met her by the bar, taking her hands in his and leaning forward, stumbling into her. He laughed as he tried to straighten himself. He looked as if he’d been partying hard.

“There you are.” He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a wet kiss. She could taste the tequila on his tongue. “What took you so long?”

“How many shots have you had?”

“Three, four, maybe? We’re celebrating Pax’s return. You want one?” He pulled her close to him. “Damn, you look sexy in that little dress.” Brushing his lips along her jaw and to her ear, he whispered, “It’s a good thing I didn’t have to pitch tonight, because all I could think about was what we did this afternoon. I would have blown the game all because of the things you do to me.”

“Even with those girls hanging all over you?” She stared in their direction. “You still managed to remember what we did?”

“Uh-oh.” He guided her to stand in front of him until her back was to his chest. “Is my girl jealous?”

“I don’t like the way she’s looking at you.” She referred to the petite redhead who hadn’t taken her gaze away from Holt since he left the table. The one who had been inching toward his lap when Rosalie walked in.

“She can look all she wants.” He folded his arms around her waist as he kissed her neck, running his tongue over his love bite from earlier that day. “My heart belongs to one girl only.”

His heart?

She turned in his arms, not sure if she should comment on his declaration or just leave it alone. She’d waited weeks for him to give her some indication that she meant more to him than he was willing to admit. When they were together that afternoon, she had felt something was different. She dismissed it as him being caught up in the moment. Maybe she was too caught up and wanted to make more of it than it really was.

“God, you’re beautiful.” He took her face between his hands. “You make me insane.”

“That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

“Not at all.” When he hugged her, she noticed he wasn’t as steady on his feet. “Just takes some getting used to.”

“What does?”

“I think those shots are catching up to me.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I might have had more than four.”

“I figured.” She stole a quick kiss because she couldn’t resist his lips. “Do you want to sit down?”

“You know what one of my favorite things about you is?”

“What’s that?” She took his hand and led him over to a hightop table in the corner. She couldn’t wait to hear his drunken confession.

“You like to fuck.”

There’s the Holt I know.

“I like to fuck you.”

“I love when you talk dirty to me.” He twisted his hand in her hair, playfully tugging her to him. “Maybe we should get out of here so I can do all those things you like.”

“You don’t want to stay here with your team and celebrate?”

“I want to be with you. Just the two of us.” He placed his hand on her back and led her to the back entrance. “Did you park in the lot?”

“I came with Sage and Nic.” They stepped out into the warm June night. “I thought I’d go home with you.”

“Cool, but I can’t drive right now.”

“Hand those keys over, slugger.” She grinned at the idea of driving such a fast car. “I’ll get us home.”

“Wait? You want to drive the Porsche? Umm, maybe we should call a cab.” He looked around the full lot.

People were still filing into the bar. They could go back in too. Maybe have dinner and let him sober up, but she couldn’t resist the temptation of having drunk sex with him. Something screamed at her that it would be an event to write home about.

“Come on.” She reached into his pocket and fished out the key fob. “Don’t you trust me? I’ll be gentle.”

“No one has ever driven my car before.”

“The faster you give in, the quicker we’ll be at the cottage.” She dangled the fob in front of him. “You want to go back to my place, don’t you?” She pressed her palm into his chest. “We have all night to do all sorts of dirty things.”

“Fuck.” He twisted his fingers in her hair and brought her lips to his. “Let’s go.”

“Sweet.” She ran across the parking lot and to the sleek black car. “Buckle up, baby. This is gonna be fun.”

“You promised to be gentle, remember?”

“I’ll be as gentle as you were with me this afternoon.” She laughed as she slid into the driver’s seat. “I won’t even leave any marks.”

“Shit.”

Chapter 12

“That was the best ride of my life. That car is hot.” Rosalie opened the cottage door. “So invigorating.”

“If that was the best ride of your life, then I have some serious work to do.” He locked the door behind them before reaching for her hand.

“Then we better get started.” A current swept through her when she thought about spending the night with him. “I don’t want to waste a second.”

“Princess, time spent with you is never wasted.” He swooped her up and carried her to the stairs, swaying a little as he went. “I’m taking the long route, but I’m learning.”

“You’re a quick study.” She cuddled into his chest, indulging in his embrace as he took her to the bedroom. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He pushed the door open with his shoulder as he kissed her, taking his time as he made his way to the bed. When he placed her on her feet, he took her face between his hands, looking at her as he tried to steady himself. She could see he’d had too much to drink. His eyes weren’t as intense as they usually were when they were about to have sex. There was a relaxed look in them, something tame and calm. She liked it.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she reached for the hem of his shirt.

“For what?” He rocked back as he lifted his arms, but quickly found his balance.

“Maybe you’d better sit down.” She laughed at his impaired state as she tugged his shirt over his head. “Are you sure you only had four shots?”

“Six might be more like it.” He sat on the edge of the bed as she dropped to her knees, scooting in between his legs. “You look very fuckable on your knees and between my legs.”

“Then let’s see about that ride, cowboy.” She unbuckled his belt and undid the button on his jeans.

“You didn’t tell me why you thanked me.” He lay back on the bed and let her take his shoes and socks off.

“For making me see things your way.” She jerked his pants and boxers down his legs and off his ankles, tossing them behind her as she positioned herself eye level with one of her favorite parts of his body. “You were right.”

“I’m always right, but just so we’re clear, what am I right about?”

“Sex is hot. I just needed you to show me that it could be more fulfilling than I ever knew possible.”

“No,” he moaned when she took his length in her hand and swirled her tongue over his tip. “It’s me who has to thank you.”

“For what?”

“You were right.” He tousled his fingers in her hair and guided her down onto his shaft. “Sex could never be enough. Not with you. I need more.”

What?
She tried to release him, but he thrust his hips into her face, sliding his cock deep into her mouth. She bobbed her head up and down, fueled by his enticing moans of pleasure. She imagined him with his head back, biting on his lip as she brought him deeper into ecstasy. She was empowered, knowing she was the one fueling those sounds. It was her who made him see that they could be so much more.

“Baby.” He pulled her hair back, halting her actions. “Stop.”

“Why?”

“You know why.” He sat up and lifted her onto his stomach. She straddled his hips, rubbing her silky panties along his erection. “I’m not coming in your mouth.”

“Why?” She pouted. “I like when you come in my mouth.”

“Shit, Rosalie.” He flipped her onto her back. “You’re going to make me lose it before I even get inside you.”

“I love when you lose control.”

“You just like seeing me lose control.” He moved his hand up her thigh, gently running his fingers over her hipbone. “I think you’re playing me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Hmm...” He slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders, exposing her breasts. “Why don’t we start with how you always wear these skimpy little dresses? You know what they do to me. How they make me give you anything you want.”

“I bought them in every color.” She spread her legs when he rested his hand between her thighs. “Just for you.”

“Thank you.” He removed her panties. “That was very thoughtful of you.”

“What else?” Since he’d been offering so much tonight, she thought she should make the most of it.

“You make me jealous.”

“I can’t help it if you’re insecure.”

“Not insecure,” he said. “Stark raving mad when it comes to you.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“Let’s not even talk about couples yoga.”

“That would be fun.”

“Breakfast in bed, driving my car, the way you touch my lips when you want something, bubble baths, dates. The list is endless.”

“How did you let me get away with all of that?” she asked.

“Just so you know, a person can’t be played if they don’t truly want to be.”

“Really? I seem to have you right where I want you, Mr. ‘I’m not a romantic’.”

“Uh-huh.” He caressed her inner thigh.

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve wanted you from the first day I saw you. I’d have you at any cost too. In the process, I ended up wanting—no, needing more than I ever thought possible. I’m your player, sweetheart. There’s no denying it.”

“Holt?”

“Don’t act so innocent.” He yanked her dress down her body, leaving her naked and ready for him. “You knew exactly what you were doing to me, and I let you do it.”

“You’ve done things to me too.” She hooked her leg around his hip. “Made me see there’s more to relationships than the white knight gallantly riding up on his horse.”

“Those prince dudes are overrated if you ask me.”

“I’ll take a dirty-talkin’, inked-up bad boy any day of the week.” She kissed him, running her hands along his back. “There’s so much more to you than a fairytale.”

“Let me show you how much more.” He rolled on top of her. “How much you mean to me.”

Without taking his gaze away from hers, he nudged her legs apart and entered her. It wasn’t as forceful as their previous encounters. This was softer, slower. He took her hands in his, placing them on either side of her head, clasping their fingers together.

“I think about you all the time.” He stilled inside her as he continued to stare into her eyes. “When we’re apart, I go crazy thinking about how long it will be until I can see you again.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” She swiveled her hips, encouraging him to move. “It’s getting harder to be without you.”

He opened his mouth to say more, but lowered his head and kissed her instead. She shouldn’t be greedy. He’d already expressed himself more today than he ever had before. As he deepened the kiss, he moved inside her. Taking his time, allowing her to feel all of him. Releasing one of her hands, he propped himself up on the mattress, looking down between them, watching as he disappeared into her heat.

The unhurried pace created a steady buildup within her. Each time he pulled out, he reentered her tenderly. As he squeezed his fingers around hers, he brought his lips to her mouth. Taking his time, he explored her, tasting her, making her want him in ways she couldn’t have understood days before. But now there was clarity. The game was over. They were finally in complete unison.

“Rosalie,” he whispered. “You’re everything to me.”

His words unleashed a torrent of emotions she hadn’t expected to feel with him. She’d been doing a good job of keeping her feelings in check, letting him lead the way in an attempt to protect her heart. Tonight all bets were off. She didn’t care what happened when the sun came up. This moment would stay with her forever.