Playing to Win: A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by Romi Hart

  “My scholarships. I can’t give up on my scholarships,” I reminded her.

  Monica said quietly, “That sucks. You really like him?”

  Looking at Ryan’s bedroom door, I whispered, “I love him.”

  Monica screeched, “Ohmigod! The L word!” She clucked her tongue. “See! That’s the problem with making your first time so special. You risking falling in L! That’s why I picked Mario. He was as dumb as a rock.”

  I snorted, “Didn’t he get into Harvard?”

  Monica guffawed, “Okay. Maybe he was academically smart, but he was definitely a doofus.” After a few moments of silence, Monica asked, “What are you going to do, Kass?”

  I bit my lip as I thought it over. “I don’t know, but it’s too late now to do anything. I’m already in love.”

  Monica sighed. “You’re right. It is. Has he said he loves you yet?”

  “No. Not yet, but I think he feels the same way I do,” I offered.

  “You’ve got the L bad,” Monica concluded. “And it sounds like he does too. He watches House with you for god-sakes. You guys are two nerds in a pod.”

  “We are! We even watch those environmental documentaries on Netflix.”

  “I’m getting bored just hearing you talk about it.” She sighed.

  “What do I do? I already feel terrible, thinking about him moving away,” I pleaded.

  Monica’s voice sounded sympathetic, “There’s nothing you can do now, Kass. What’s done is done. You two have the L bug, and you’ll just have to see how it plays out.”

  I giggled. “Why can’t you just say love?”

  Monica groaned. “Ugh. Love. You two are in love.” She paused. “Gross. I can’t believe you made me say the L word.”

  I laughed at my old friend. “One day, you’ll fall in L too! I guarantee it!”

  Monica made a gagging sound. “Don’t curse me.” I heard shuffling and a male voice in the background. Monica sighed. “Talking about avoiding L. I gotta go. This guy just woke up.”

  My mouth dropped open. “You were talking to me while there was a guy there?”

  Monica laughed. “Ya,” she whispered. “Just some guy. Nothing special, but I gotta go. Congratulations on becoming a non-virgin. I’m glad you did it before your thirtieth birthday. Good luck with the L problem, Kassie. What’s the saying? It’s better to have L’ed and lost than to have never L’ed at all.”

  Giggling, I said, “Thanks. Bye, Monica.”

  If only I was like Monica, I could sleep with Ryan and toss him like she did with all her guys. On second thought, I didn’t want to be like that. Last night was special precisely because it was with Ryan. I loved how he brought out a sex beast in me. I couldn’t imagine being as uninhibited with anyone else. How could I ever relax with complete strangers like Monica slept with all the time?

  Quietly, I opened the bedroom door to find Ryan still asleep. Slipping my robe off, I crawled back into bed, wrapping my arms around his warm body. It saddened me to think that around this time next year, we wouldn’t be able to share a bed together. Ryan would be out in California somewhere while I would be here in Baton Rouge.

  We still had the rest of the school year left. Monica was right. It was better to have loved Ryan and later lose him than to never have felt this love at all.

  Ryan stirred, grabbing my hand resting on his stomach. “You feel so good behind me,” he murmured.

  I pressed my body closer to him and intertwined my legs with his. “It’s so warm and cozy here with you. I don’t want to get out of bed!”

  Ryan took my hand and brought it down to his engorged dick. “I might have something that will get you up and out of bed.”

  I snatched my hand away playfully. “Oh do you? That’s rather presumptuous!”

  Ryan flipped over to face me. “Trust me. I know what buttons to push.” His hands reached out to my breasts and ever so slightly brushed his fingertips against my nipples. Immediately, my nipples responded, fattening to his touch. “Or should I say…” Ryan’s fingers clamped down on my nipples. “I know what buttons to pinch.”

  I moaned, feeling my pussy tingle as he squeezed. Ryan kissed me on the mouth, slowly tweaking my nipples with his strong fingers. With my hand, I stroked Ryan’s heavy cock, wanting it inside me.

  Ryan pulled away and jumped out of bed. With a hand on his hip and the other jacking his enormous dick, he said, “Let’s take a shower together.” His eyes traveled down the length of my body. “I want to see you soaking wet.”

  He held out his hand to me. Eagerly, I took it as he led me into the bathroom.

  16

  Ryan

  I’d had the most amazing night of my life with Kassie. She was a virgin so I expected sex to be low key. I was fully prepared to take it slow and ease her into it. It was her first time, and I wanted her to feel comfortable.

  But, Damn! I never imagined Kassie would turn out to be so wild and uninhibited. Naked and all over me, it was like she completely lost herself. It was a dream come true. Kassie was my living, walking, breathing fantasy girl.

  I’d woken up early, but she wasn’t next to me. My heart slammed, afraid that she had run away after having second thoughts about our wild night. Then, I heard her giggling in the living room probably talking to one of her girlfriends on the phone. Relief flushed through me. Turning over, I went back to sleep.

  When Kassie climbed back into bed, spooning me, I’d woken up again ready to have her again. Instantly, my dick hardened to alert. Just feeling her breasts against my back and her arms around me was enough to get me going. Even her voice, her sweet sultry Louisiana twang was incredibly sexy.

  I could have taken her right there in bed, but I was dying to see Kassie’s curvy body dripping wet. Restraining myself, I jumped out of bed, hoping she’d follow me into the bathroom. Like the sexy beast she was, she did!

  I had one of those tiled walk-in showers enclosed with glass. The shower was spacious, giving us plenty of room to play. It had stone mosaic tile and a built-in shelf for holding shampoos and soaps. That apartment was luxurious. LSU really knew how to take care of its athletes.

  I started the shower but didn’t walk in. “You go on in,” I said to Kassie.

  Kassie smiled sexily. “You’re not getting in too?”

  I stroked my firm cock. “I am. I just want to watch you first.”

  She held her hand out, testing the water before walking in and closing the glass shower door. Closing her eyes, she stepped under the rectangular rainfall showerhead, letting the water rain down on her. Hungrily, I watched as she swayed underneath the stream lifting her hair up off her back.

  She reached for the shower gel on the shelf as drops of water rolled off her sumptuous curves. Squirting gel into her hands, she lathered herself up. Turning around so her ass faced me, she started down low, rubbing soap with her hands on her legs, then her thighs, and then between her legs. She spun around to face me, grabbed more soap, and this time squirted the gel right down between her breasts. The gel oozed languidly down to her belly button.

  Slowly, she rubbed the gel on her tits and torso until she was soapy. Then, she began to focus more on her sweet sensitive nipples circling her hands on them. Closing her eyes, she moaned softly and tossed her head back. The water hit her neck and sprayed down her body.

  Fuck. I was hot for her. Quickly, I grabbed the handle of the glass shower door. Kassie had been enjoying feeling her body under her palms that her eyes popped open in pleasant surprise. Pushing her up against the tile, my mouth went for hers ravenously.

  Her mouth opened pliantly for my tongue to enter while grabbing my ass with her hands. She was so hot for me too. It made me want her even more. An overwhelming feeling came over me: she was the perfect woman for me.

  I pulled my lips from hers, but she pulled me back to her, shoving her sweet tongue into my mouth. Her tongue danced around my mouth as she moaned seductively.

  I laughed, pushing her gently away. “Kassie! Ka
ssie!”

  She kept kissing me and kissing me. Relenting, I kissed her back, sucking on her bottom lip. I began to suck on her neck getting caught up in the moment. I blurted out, “I love you, Kassie!”

  Kassie gasped, grabbing my face to kiss me. “I love you too Ryan!” It was a glorious feeling to hear those words coming out of her mouth. I tongued her mouth again, wanting to have every part of her: her body, her heart, her everything.

  I lifted her up and carried her to the wall opposite the shower head. Kassie wrapped her long beautiful legs around my torso while her arms clung around my neck. Looking down at me, she looked so gorgeous with her wet hair and water dripping down her body.

  I licked a water droplet off the inside of her neck. “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.” Kassie let out a half moan and half giggle. She smiled down at me, blushing. Licking a droplet off her cheek, I continued, “You are absolutely beautiful.” She giggled again. I stuck my tongue out to catch a drop of water rolling down off her chin. “You’re sweet, incredibly smart…”

  Kassie broke in, running her hand through my hair. “I feel the same way about you, Ryan. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner.” More drops of water began to run down her face. It took me a few seconds to realize that they were tears.

  I kissed her tears away. She sniffled and laughed. “You’re so sweet to me.”

  “I love having you here with me.” I looked around my bathroom. “We only have a few more months together. I want to spend every minute I can with you.” I looked back at her beautiful face. She started to cry again. “Don’t cry. Don’t cry,” I urged her. I kissed away the new tears rolling down her face.

  “I don’t want to think about not seeing you when you leave.” She threw her face into my neck and sobbed.

  Holding her to me, I asked, “Kassie, will you move in with me?”

  She lifted her head to look me in the eyes. “Move in with you?” She searched my face in surprise. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I mean it. I want to make the most of our time together. I want to shower with you every day I want to sleep next to you every night. I want to wake up and eat breakfast with you.”

  Her eyes smiled back at me. “I want all of those things, too. Everything!”

  “So will you move in with me?” I asked again.

  Kassie squealed, “Yes! I’d love to!”

  She nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck right in a sensitive spot. The sensation of her breath on that sweet spot sent shivers down my spine. Kassie ran her fingers through my hair, scratching my scalp lightly.

  I could feel the hunger for her building back inside me. Kassie murmured, “I love how that makes you squirm.”

  I pushed her gently back to look at her face in shock. “How did you know that makes me crazy?”

  Kassie flung her head back in a sultry nod. “I can see it in your eyes and…” She shifted her weight up and down in a light bounce sending her breasts into a dizzying display of jiggling beauty. From the way I had her propped up in my arms against the shower wall, the bottom of her ass dipped and touched the top of my stiff dick. “I can also feel that.” She gave a sexy giggle.

  “Oh my God. Kassie!” Adjusting my hold on her slightly, as she bounced up and down, I slipped my rock hard cock into her wet pussy.

  She gasped in delight. “Ryan!”

  “Keep bouncing like that on my dick,” I groaned.

  Kassie tilted backward arching her back against the wall. I held her up in my arms as she bucked up and down on my cock. She rested her head on the wall, closing her eyes and moaning softly. Watching her intently ride me, she peeked her eyes open with a wicked smirk. “Do you like how I do that?”

  “Yes!” I groaned almost losing it. Kassie, the sex beast was out again, and I loved it.

  She reached her hand out and ran it through my hair, scratching my scalp. Suddenly, she gathered a fistful of my hair in her hand and began to grind harder. She was riding me like a bucking bull in the rodeo.

  She looked amazing like that, but I wanted to take her back into the water. I picked her up off the wall and carried her under the shower head.

  Gently, I set her down and turned her around. The water from the shower sprayed down her back and rolled down her voluptuous ass. "I want you from behind," I said, admiring Kassie’s gorgeous body.

  Kassie bent down and looked back at me with a seductive smile. “Yes! It’s so deep like that.”

  With that, I spread her ass cheeks apart as I thrust my throbbing cock into her pussy. Kassie moaned. “Ryan!”

  “Are you playing with your nipples?” I watched in utter pleasure as my rock hard dick went in and out of her tight little cunt. I squeezed her ass with my hands.

  “Of course, I am, baby!” Kassie murmured. “It feels so good!”

  She was a dream come true. I was in love with a sex goddess.

  The bursting sensation of an orgasm exploded down through my body. I pulled out quickly, squirting my load into the water stream. I wasn’t expecting Kassie to turn around, bend down, and open her mouth to my cum.

  Standing up, she smiled and licked her lips. “I love you, Ryan.” The water fell down on her. Rivulets streamed down her torso and her hair. She looked like a dreamlike creature from the fantasy realm, a mermaid or a water nymph.

  “I love you, Kassie,” I said stunned by her colossal beauty.

  I was the luckiest man in the world, at least, until the school year was over. Then, I would be a man down on his luck.

  17

  Kassie

  We were in our second half of the Spring semester. Living with Ryan had been a dream. We got to wake up every day to each other and end every night in each other’s arms. Every evening was wonderful too. Ryan usually made a fabulous dinner, and we ate together as we caught up on our day. We’d either study together at the kitchen table or drive out to Memorial Library.

  Of course, I hadn’t told Mama and Daddy I’d moved in with Ryan. They’d be terribly upset! I’d been raised Catholic, and my parents believed a woman and man should be married before living together.

  I explained everything to Natalie, in case, my parents ever dropped by, although the chances of that were pretty slim since my brothers and sisters had busy schedules to keep up with. I kept a few things at the dorm to make it appear I stilled lived there just in case. Natalie was a great roommate, and I’d initially felt bad for bailing on her, but she had started dating Trent. I think she liked having the dorm room all to herself.

  It was a difficult lie to keep up because I’d never been dishonest with my parents before. Whenever they’d call, I’d run into another room to talk to them. Last week, my family called when Ryan and I were in bed. I knew if I didn’t pick up, Mama would keep calling because she knew my schedule pretty well. She was a worry wart.

  I grabbed my cell phone, leapt out of bed, and hurdled myself into the living room as I answered. It was hard to lie to my parents when Ryan was lying right next to me. It must be the Catholic guilt thing.

  The whole family was on the line on speakerphone. “Kassie Lee!”

  “Hi, Mama!” I said, flopping down on the couch.

  “You okay, honey? You sound out of breath!”

  “Oh, ya! I’m okay. How are all of you?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t inquire further.

  Lilah screamed, “Baby Toby can talk now!”

  I gasped. “He can talk!” My little brother could talk! I missed my family so much.

  James screeched, “Talk Toby! Talk!”

  Jeanie interjected, “James, he can’t talk on command.”

  Lilah protested, “Yes, he can!” I could hear Lilah clapping her hands. “Toby! Toby! Say bye bye!”

  After a few expectant moments, I could hear Toby in his baby voice say, "Bah-bye!"

  My family erupted into a cheer. Daddy’s deep voice rose above the others. “That’s my boy!”

  “Awww! Good job Toby!” I said.

  My
mom broke in, “How are you doing, Kassie? You taking a break for yourself? Don’t work yourself to death.”

  I cringed, thinking about how much fun I’d been having living with Ryan. That tiny bit of guilt inside of me for not being one hundred percent honest with my parents dug into my side.

  Besides, my living situation was only temporary. Ryan would be leaving soon. My life would go back to normal, and this dream come true would end. Every time I thought about it, I would tear up, but I made sure to not cry in front of him. It wouldn’t do any good to spend our time crying and being sad together. All we had control over was the time we had left, and I wanted to make the best of it.

  Even so, lately, I'd noticed Ryan growing noticeably more and more stressed and anxious as the semester progressed. A few nights I'd wake up alone in bed. When I'd gotten up and peeked in on him, he was on his computer, researching his baseball team options.

  He’d called his cousin, Alex, a few times, too, for advice. Ryan had told me that Alex and his wife, Jasmine, went through a similar situation when Alex graduated, but Jasmine was still at The University of Florida. Hearing about their story was reassuring.

  Although ultimately, Alex and Jasmine hadn’t been forced to be apart, Ryan told me that they would have worked it out in a long distance relationship no matter what. Long distance would be difficult though. Could Ryan and I withstand the distance? Would our relationship interfere with our personal goals? Was it really fair to make Ryan be in a relationship with me when he was so far away and struggling to adjust to his first year on a new team?