The Player

by Aliyah Burke

  “You’re beautiful, Faye. Thank you for doing this with me.”

  “What are friends for.”

  His look was different as he stared down at her. Taking her hand, he escorted her out to his low slung sports car and held the door for her. Tracking him as he moved around the hood, she tried to control her thoughts.

  I have to focus and pay attention tonight.

  Silence stretched between them as he left her driveway and put them on the road to the event. As they pulled up, he reached for her hand, setting it between them as he laced their fingers.

  Just part of the plan. Except it didn’t always feel that way. Especially when he was on his knees before her. Her breathing stuttered.

  “You okay? Faye?”

  “Fine.” She removed her hand from his and used it to hold her clutch.

  The valet opened both doors and she pasted a smile on her face as she settled her hand in the man’s there. He assisted her to her feet with ease, then Kaeden was there, slipping one strong arm around her and brushing a kiss along her temple.

  They walked in and right away, the cameras began snapping photos. Smile not slipping an inch, she did the necessary bit, then slipped away when some of the reporters began asking him questions about his game.

  “Faye.”

  Taking a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, she looked up to see her brother there, also wearing a tuxedo.

  “Mitchell.”

  He looked uncomfortable and she didn’t care. Her pain still remained fresh from his callous behavior.

  “You,” he cleared his throat, “you’re looking nice.”

  “Thank you.” A familiar face caught her eye. “Excuse me, there’s someone who actually likes talking to me that I see.” She took a step before he grasped her wrist.

  “Damnit Faye, talk to me.”

  Looking from him to the hold he had on her arm, she waited for him to get the message. He released her and she arched an eyebrow.

  “Again, Mitchell. You made it perfectly clear. I have nothing to say to you now.” Faye walked away, the smile hurting her cheeks.

  And I’m barely one hour in.

  Closing in on the group of tall, built men talking, her smile because so much more relaxed and real.

  “Boys only or can this girl slip in as well?”

  The four men gave a rowdy cheer as they saw her and she hugged them all. Trevor, Noah, Lucas, and Leo.

  “Normally we’d say boys only but hell, you’re one of the gang.” Noah held her at arm’s length. “You are fucking hot, love. Why didn’t you ever dress like this for us?”

  “Umm, not exactly rugby clothing. Plus, I’m not dating any of you.”

  Trevor scowled. “Still with that American football player pussy that pads up?”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “I am.”

  The other three scowled as well.

  “He treating you right or is this more like a stekkie?” Lucas crossed arms she swore could have their own zip code they were so large.

  “You know,” she said only partially teasing. “I’m already on the outs with my brother because he’s been an ass.”

  Leo smiled and chucked her under the chin. “Because he’s a wanker.” He thumbed at them. “We’re your crew.”

  “I know and I can’t thank you enough for always having my back.”

  “Excuse me.”

  They all looked to see a reporter there. Trevor, always had been the spokesman for the group, stepped forward. “What?” This wasn’t his typical, playing it up for a reporter tone, this was his, I’m hanging on by a thread temperament wise one.

  The pale woman smiled in what Faye assumed was an attempt to be flirtatious.

  “We’re just trying to get some candids for our article. And I was hoping that she could step back out of the photo.”

  All four of the guys snorted. Rather a menacing sound if she’d not heard it multiple times before.

  “She,” Trevor said, his voice getting louder. “You want to get a candid of us but want her out of sight?”

  The reporter’s skin flushed. Faye didn’t think this was going to end well and she didn’t need to be bringing bad press to Kaeden’s name.

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I do.” He drew her closer. “We all do. You’re our friend, Faye. The fact that this woman doesn’t want you in a candid shot they are taking is bullshit. Do you know who she is?”

  She noticed the anger on Kaeden’s face as he began stalking across the room. His eyes riveted on where Trevor held her arm.

  Shit cometh and she was located direct in the path.

  Trevor didn’t move nor did he release her, even though his grip wasn’t painful. “This is Kaeden Archer’s girlfriend. You know of him, right? The number one tight end of the Vancouver Storm. Here he comes now. How about you tell him that you didn’t want his girlfriend in a photo for your paper?”

  Leo stepped up. “A paper we will not support now and use all of our platforms to keep others from supporting it as well.”

  “Faye?” Kaeden pushed through to her side, slipping his arm around her. “Everything okay, baby?”

  “I’m perfectly safe with them. They’d never let anything happen to me.”

  His grip flexed against her side and he practically vibrated with anger beside her. Right now, she didn’t have it in her to monitor everyone, she needed to diffuse the rapidly escalating situation.

  “That’s…that’s not what I meant,” the reporter bumbled.

  Trevor released her but none of the players backed down. Her brother struck out for them as well.

  “How exactly did you mean it then? We were in a lovely conversation with a woman we’ve been friends with for years and you came over asking for a photo, a candid, but without our friend in it. Do you even know what candid means? You don’t stage a candid.”

  Mitchell arrived and without commenting, slid around to the other side of Leo, crossing his arms as well.

  Trevor glanced back at her, and she lifted a brow at him. One she knew he would understand. “We’re done here. Like I said, all my mates and myself, will not be a supporter of your paper anymore. We don’t get on board with behavior like yours.” He faced front once more. “And you’d better pray that nothing bad about this woman or her boyfriend slips onto those pages.”

  The four of them cut her off from everyone else other than Kaeden and Mitchell. Ignoring her brother, who steamed beside Kaeden, she lifted her chin and met Kaeden’s stormy gaze.

  “I’m sorry. We didn’t want to bring anything down on you.”

  His jaw flexed. “Not your fault.”

  She knew he was livid even though his touch on her never changed from gentle and possessive. The smile on his face was as real as the enjoyment derived from the heels on her feet.

  He reached around her to the other men there and there were introductions. Trevor’s hand was the last he shook.

  “Thanks for sticking up for my girlfriend.”

  Trevor rolled his shoulders in an easy move. “She’s been my friend for longer than she’s been your girlfriend.” He smirked. “I’m sure you’ve seen all my jerseys in her wardrobe.”

  She cleared her throat. “Not the place gentlemen. This is a fund raiser. I believe I’ve been in the center of attention enough for the night.”

  With an easy smile, Trevor touched her cheek. “For you, love. For you.”

  All of them bent and pressed kisses to her cheek before strolling off, talking and laughing amongst themselves. Mitchell actually had gone off with them, which was fine, he knew them as well.

  “We need to talk.”

  She opened her mouth but they were already moving. He pushed her into an empty room and the door clicking behind him reverberated through her. Faye lifted her gaze to his, still angry one, and froze.

  This was far more than the man who’d demanded she take off Trevor’s jersey. There was something else at play here.

  “I’m sorry,” she stammered. �
�Trevor—”

  “Don’t!” he interrupted. “Don’t say his fucking name to me.”

  “He’s my friend.”

  “And you’re my girlfriend.”

  His lips were on hers before those words faded from the air.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kaeden knew he shouldn’t be doing this. Somewhere, back in the sane part of his mind, he knew this wasn’t the way. However, caveman mentality had taken over and right now there was one thing on his mind.

  Remove the image of her and Trevor together, the touching, the laughing, and the fact she watched him with a smile on her face when all Kaeden typically received was a scowl. Unless she was playing for the camera.

  Hands on either side of her head, he held her there, immobile where he could devour her mouth. And he did. Her flavor seeped over his tongue, a harmonious blend of her taste and the champagne she’d had earlier.

  With a curse that would have his mother and father beating his ass, he tore his mouth off hers and stomped away. Two seconds and he was back to her for another kiss until his air had run out and he had to release her once more.

  She sagged against the wall, the white of her dress, driving him to fucking distraction with how it hugged every single one of her curves. The slits up the side stopped a bit above her knees and allowed him to catch glimpses of her smooth brown thighs.

  Some fancy design held up her breasts and he only knew he wanted to rip the fucking thing off her and bury himself balls deep into her pussy. Right now, she breathed as hard as he did, eyes wide with shock and bit of uncertainty.

  “I’m—”

  “If you fucking mention his name, Faye,” he raked his hand through his hair, “so help me, I’m going to rip your dress up and bury my dick into that pussy of yours until the only name you can think to utter is mine. Don’t challenge me on that, I’m already on edge and barely in control.”

  She sucked her lower lip in her teeth and wrung her hands before her.

  Fuck. Now he was scaring her.

  But as he looked at her again, he wasn’t sure it was fear. Her nipples were hard and pushing against the material of her dress.

  And her eyes, well, they fucking begged him to not have it only be in words.

  Three strides and he was back before her. Hands on the wall over her head, he put them face to face.

  “You would let me, wouldn’t you. Right here, knowing full well there is some highfaluting party going on down the hall, you’d let me fuck you.” He dragged his fingertip over one breast, loving the way she sucked a sharp breath. “You’re wet aren’t you baby.” He shook his head. “Not a question. I know you are. Is that why you’ve not sat all night, scared there will evidence left behind.”

  He nudged his leg between hers as much as her dress let him. “If I rubbed against you here, would I feel how wet you are through my slacks?”

  “Kaeden, stop this.”

  “Tell me you want me, baby.” God he needed the words.

  “You know I do.” Her voice was thready and faint, but the words didn’t falter.

  Knowing it and hearing it were completely different animals. He flicked his tongue along the side of her neck before nipping her.

  “You’re staying with me tonight, Faye. God knows I want a taste of you now but it’s not going to be quick. I won’t get enough of you if I give in here.”

  “I have to get back out there.”

  Another drag of his tongue as he stepped back. Kaeden moved away from her and held up his hands. “Stay away from him, Faye. It will be ugly next time.”

  She blinked. “You’re not coming with me?”

  He gestured to his cock. “Not like this. I have to take care of it.”

  Faye dropped her gaze to where he gripped his cock in his tuxedo pants. She sank her teeth into her lower lip as she retraced the steps she’d just taken to get toward the door. Damn!

  He was lost in her stare as she finally lifted it back to his. Then seconds later it dropped again and his dick strained harder. Without a word, in her fucking killer heels, she dropped to her knees before him, covered his hand with hers and slid it aside.

  “Allow me.”

  His eyes crossed, hand falling away from his dick. The brush of her fingers along his abs while she undid the lone button to his pants sent flames scorching through him. his breathing hitched as two fingers, French-tipped and a square shape lowered the zipper.

  Part of him knew he should stop her. That part, got it’s ass whooped by the rest of him who wanted nothing more than her lips around his dick, blowing him.

  “Commando?” A secretive smile turned up her mouth, tempting him more by those plump lips covered in a gloss he wanted streaking his dick. “Why am I not surprised?”

  He started counting back from one hundred, not about to lose it at first touch. He’d fucking dreamt about her hand on his dick so much, the real thing was almost too much.

  His eyelids fluttered down as she took him in hand and began pumping him, the warm breath from her mouth searing over the swollen head.

  “Faye.”

  “Hush Kaeden.”

  She didn’t have to worry from that moment on, the second her mouth covered his dick’s head, he lost all ability to talk. Most likely think as well. Her heat closed around him and he moaned, hips bucking involuntarily, needing for him to be further in her mouth.

  The witch tormented him, little by little she allowed more of his dick to slid over her tongue. He raised his hands to grip her hair but she released her grip on him to stop his hands and put them back on his legs.

  How the fuck was he supposed to stand here and not move?

  His head hit the wall the moment his cock bumped the back of her throat. She swallowed and it took everything within him not to nut right that second. Nothing in the world had felt this good for him and he knew, there would be one thing to rival it and that was when he would be balls deep inside her pussy.

  “Again, baby. Do that again.”

  She listened to him, licking his shaft as she drew back then sucking him in hard as she pushed swift to nuzzle his pubic hair as he filled her fully. Her rhythm was torture, he couldn’t touch her but she worked him like a master. He’d had women paid to please him that hadn’t done this good or gotten such a reaction from him.

  “Fuck me. Holy Jesus, your mouth is going to kill me. I’m about to nut, baby.” He clenched his fists to keep from grabbing her head and holding her there.

  Damn woman read his mind. She relaxed her throat, took him all the way in and hmmed before swallowing. He lost it.

  “Fucking shit!” he hissed as his cock bucked and jetted his release down her throat.

  Faye didn’t move, her eyes were locked on his and her hand right on his thighs. His legs were weak but she didn’t just immediately release him. She took her time cleaning as she backed away from his dick.

  He watched his cock emerge from her mouth and smiled when he saw the streak of her lip gloss on his skin. Branded.

  Fuck yeah!

  “You killed me, Faye.” He cupped her chin and tipped her head up. “You have no idea how hard it was, is, to not touch you and fuck you until you know you’re mine. I love how your gloss looks on my dick. Like you marked it. What’s it called?”

  She pushed to her feet with the ease of someone in flat shoes, not heels. Color him impressed.

  Faye touched the corners of her mouth as he put himself away. Reaching around her, he kissed her neck as he opened the door.

  “Blacker the Berry.” She touched his chest and swept out the door like a goddamn queen. “That’s the name.”

  Hooked far more than he wanted to admit, he followed her back to the engagement. He watched her talk to one of the wealthy ladies there and shook his head, how she did it, he wasn’t sure. Hell, his legs still weren’t working the best. He couldn’t run down the field if his life depended on it at the moment.

  Blacker the berry, sweeter the juice.

  He couldn’t stop thinking abo
ut that line. Nor how fucking true it was.

  Finding himself in a group conversation about their chances for the year, he only partially participated. His focus remained on Faye as she mingled with the crowd. When he watched the owner’s wife, join them, he wanted to head to her side, but Marvin stepped up beside him.

  He gabbed for a few more moments then stepped away after excusing himself. He checked the gold face plate of his watch and noted he could leave. He wasn’t staying until the end of this. His time required had been met.

  Locking onto his girlfriend, he swept across the room to her and slipped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. She didn’t stop talking but she did turn and give him a small smile before nodding to something one of the other wives had mentioned.

  “Excuse me, ladies, I’m stealing my woman here.”

  A skinny redhead who was Jason’s wife curled up her lips. “Like anyone would want to protect that. It’s probably offered for free.”

  He scowled at her. “What did you say?”

  “Rebecca, stop being such a bitch. You weren’t invited to this conversation anyway. Go away.” Another woman he didn’t know stood up for Faye.

  The redhead glared and sashayed off.

  The one who’d stood up for Faye, shot them both an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry. I don’t get her. Faye, please call me. I’d love to do lunch one day and pick your brain about that.” She gave her a smile. “Now, go, if I had that tugging me out of here, I wouldn’t tarry. Enjoy your night.”

  “Goodnight, Michelle. Thanks for everything.”

  Kaeden noticed how the owner’s wife hadn’t stepped in when Rebecca had made her comment. Yeah, that wasn’t going to settle well for him.

  Later. Right now, he had Faye to get home.

  At his car, he didn’t even let the valet assist her into his vehicle, doing it himself. As he walked around the hood of his sport’s car, he couldn’t help but see all the knowing looks from people out there. As well as the cameras flashing.

  He needed to get out of here.

  Fast.

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