Fair Game (The Rules #1)

by Monica Murphy

  When it comes to us, I don’t want her shy about anything.

  I approach her without saying a word, my gaze never leaving hers. I reach out, curl my hand around her neck, and stand directly in front of her. “You disappoint me,” I murmur.

  Her flirtatious look falls and I hate that. I’m teasing. Can’t she tell? “Why?”

  “Your hair. It’s all bound up again. You know I don’t like that.” I slide my hand further into her hair, tugging at the strands at the base of her neck. “Turn around.”

  She does as I ask without protest, offering her back to me and I admire her for a quick second, my gaze sweeping down the length of her, lingering on the curve of her ass, the graceful arc of her back. My fingers literally itch to get her naked.

  But I need to do something else first.

  I reach for the end of her braid and tug the band off slowly, letting it fall to the ground. She remains stiff before me, her shoulders ramrod straight, and I swear she’s holding her breath. Carefully, I start to undo the braid, flipping the thick strands of her hair undone, letting the silky softness slide over my hands. Up, up I go, stepping closer to her with every part I undo, until my mouth is on her neck and my other hand is beneath her shirt, fingers pressing into the skin of her waist as I finish taking apart the braid.

  Her hair falls around her shoulders, spills down her back. I grab the base of her T-shirt with both hands, murmur a quick, “Lift up,” and she raises her arms so I can take her shirt off. I remain standing behind her, pushing her hair to the side so I can press my cheek to hers and we both stare into the mirror that sits above my dresser.

  “You’re beautiful,” I murmur just before I nuzzle her cheek with my nose, inhaling her fresh, sexy-as-fuck, perfectly Jade scent. “Put your hands on the dresser.”

  She does as I ask, her gaze meeting mine in the mirror. She’s trembling. I can feel her, see it and she presses her lips together, her eyes falling closed when I reach for the back of her bra and slowly unhook it. I push the straps down her arms and the cups fall away from her breasts, revealing her to me. She sheds the bra, tossing it to the floor before she places her hands on the edge of the dresser once more.

  “Fucking perfect.” I kiss her neck and reach for her breasts, holding them in my palms, tweaking her nipples. She gasps, her butt brushing against my cock and I bite back the groan that wants to escape.

  Tonight, right now, is all about her. I want to get her off. I want her to watch as I get her off. And then when it’s over I want to turn around and make her come all over again.

  And again.

  And again.

  “Open your eyes, baby,” I urge and she does. “Watch what I can do to you.”

  I go to my knees and curl my fingers around the edge of her cotton shorts, pulling them down her long legs, until they fall to a heap at her ankles. She kicks them off and I sit back on my haunches to admire her pale blue panties that barely cover her ass. I can smell her, musky and sweet, and know for a fact without even touching her that she’s soaking wet. She’s always wet for me.

  “Keep your eyes open,” I remind her as I touch her ass, skim my fingers along the lacy hem of her panties. She shudders beneath my touch, her skin so warm and smooth and I lean in, press my mouth to the very spot I was just touching. The agonized moan that comes from the back of her throat makes my dick surge against my fly. “You like that?” I murmur against her skin.

  “Shep…” Her voice drifts. She sounds tortured.

  I fucking love it.

  “You’re still watching?” I glance up to catch her nodding, her eyes open and locked on the mirror. “Good. Don’t look away. Don’t close your eyes. Tell me what you see.”

  “I see…me.”

  I pull her panties off, past her hips, her ass, her thighs, over her knees, down her calves, until they’re off, and she’s completely naked in front of me. Pale and pretty and smooth and wet. “What do you look like? Describe yourself.”

  She hesitates. I feel it in her body language, the way she stiffens the slightest bit. She doesn’t want to play this game. “You know what I look like,” she says self-consciously.

  “I do. And I love what I see.” I press a kiss to the back of her thigh, to the very spot where that little constellation of freckles dusts her skin, and she jolts beneath my lips. “But tell me what you see.”

  “Um, okay.” She takes a deep breath. “My hair is a mess.”

  “It’s sexy,” I correct, dropping tiny kisses along her other thigh.

  “My cheeks are flushed.”

  “They’re always flushed when I’m touching you.” I kiss the very underside of her left ass cheek. “I think that means you like it,” I murmur against her skin.

  “I—I do like it,” she admits. “My eyes…they look a little dazed.”

  “Hmm.” I’m raining kisses on her cheek now. The skin is firm yet soft. I bet no one has ever kissed her here. This territory is all mine—unchartered Jade territory that I’m about to conquer. I feel like scrawling my name across her ass and claiming it as mine.

  Property of Shep Prescott. Hands off.

  “Do you like it when I kiss you here?” I ask as I run my hands along her outer thighs. I glance up at her to catch her nodding, like she can’t even speak. “Spread your legs baby.”

  “Oh, God.” She does as I command, her feet spreading apart, revealing her pretty pink pussy to me and I reach up, lightly drift my index finger along her center to discover she’s dripping wet. She whimpers at my touch.

  “Tell me something else,” I demand. “Tell me what you want.”

  “Wh-what do you mean?”

  “What do you want me to do next?” I touch her again, another teasing press of my fingers to her pussy. She’s so soft and wet. I want to put my mouth on her. Suck her. Bite her. Lick her. Fuck her with my tongue. Fuck her with my fingers.

  But I need to hear what she wants first.

  “Put—put your mouth on me,” she says and I smile. She’s so easy. I know this is her favorite thing. I can get at least two orgasms a night out of her with my mouth alone.

  “Like this?” I hold her hips and lean in, pressing my lips to the very back of her pussy in an almost chaste kiss. “Or like this?” I tilt my head, open my mouth and try my fucking best to consume her in the most obscene way possible.

  Her legs shake around me, a whispery, “Like that, like that,” falling from her lips just before she moans.

  I continue consuming her, licking and sucking her everywhere, pushing two fingers deep inside her. She’s babbling nonsense, her hands are gripping the edge of my dresser like she might fall if she let go and I’m kneeling between her legs, getting my girl off all while she watches herself.

  Fucking hot.

  “Your eyes are still open?” I ask once I pull away from her. I stare up at her, taking in her messy hair and flushed cheeks, bright gaze and swollen lips. Her eyes are open and she’s staring at her reflection in the mirror as if she’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen.

  Again, fucking hot.

  “Yes,” she murmurs.

  “I want you to watch as I make you come.”

  “Shep…” She sounds like she’s protesting and I cut her off.

  “Do it, Jade. Keep your eyes open. Watch yourself. See how pretty you are when I give you an orgasm.” I return my attention to her pussy, attacking her clit with gentle, swirling strokes of my tongue. I push my fingers back inside her body, slowly pulling them out before slipping them inside again, keeping up a steady rhythm that has her body working with me. God, she tastes so fucking good. I can feel her clit swell with every swipe of my tongue and the inner walls of her pussy cling tight to my fingers, like she never wants to let me go.

  “Come for me, baby,” I urge against her hot flesh, just before I draw her clit between my lips and give it a powerful suck. And then she is coming, chanting my name, her pussy quivering, her entire body shuddering. I grip her hips, hold her to me as I continue t
o devour her, my mouth, my tongue everywhere I can touch her and she’s holding my head, her fingers buried in my hair.

  I pull away so I can glance up at her. She’s still watching herself in the mirror, her lips parted. “Tell me what you see,” I whisper.

  She looks down at me, her expression full of wonder and pure, feminine satisfaction. “I see a girl who just had the best orgasm ever.”

  I start to chuckle. “There’s more where that came from.”

  “Prove it,” she demands as I stand up, rubbing my mouth with the back of my hand. Her eyes track my every movement so I lean in and drop a lingering kiss to her lips, hoping like hell she can taste herself on them.

  “Get your ass on the bed,” I tell her with a little growl, smacking her butt with the palm of my hand.

  She jumps and squeals, then runs over to the bed.

  And I have no choice but to follow, tugging off my shirt as I do so.

  It’s going to be a good night.

  “Don’t be nervous.” Shep catches my hand and pulls me close to him, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “They’re just people. They’re not going to bite your head off.”

  Easy for him to say.

  We’re in the parking lot of the Shellfish Company, one of the most expensive restaurants in town, of course. Every parking spot is filled but Shep didn’t even bother trying to find a space. He left his car with valet parking, which sounds decadent and expensive, especially since I’ve never done that sort of thing before. Hell, I don’t even own a car.

  Clearly I’m nervous. I’m babbling in my own head.

  He’s behaved like the perfect boyfriend the entire week. We’ve hardly spent any time apart. If I’m not in class or working and he’s not in class, we’re together. We talk a lot. Share stories. He’s a business major and plans on working for the family company once he graduates. Running the gambling house is like a practice run, he told me, which I found amusing.

  When I told him I was a pyschology major it was his turn to be amused. He found that fitting—direct quote. I don’t know what to think about that.

  With us spending so much time togther, I’ve stayed at his place every night this week, and that means we’ve been having lots—and lots—of sex.

  Awesome, wonderful, make me forget all of my inhibitions and hang ups, sex. Like, the best sex of my life. It just keeps getting better and better every time we get naked. And he seems just as into me as I am into him. We feel…connected.

  It’s sort of amazing.

  “Are they already here?” I ask as we approach the front entrance of the restaurant. There are a lot of people waiting outside, most of them dressed up, and I’m so glad I wore a dress. A brand new one Kelli and I found when we went to Old Navy yesterday. It’s white eyelet, sleeveless, with a full skirt that hits just above the knee and makes me look like sweet girlfriend potential.

  At least, that’s what Kelli told me when I tried it on for her at the store.

  I’m thankful Shep didn’t act all perverted when he picked me up, which is his usual way when he first sees me. Not that I don’t mind usually, but that’s not the reaction I’m looking for. Tonight is all about demure. Not sultry and sexy.

  “Probably not. My mother always runs late.” He sends me a look as we start to climb the stairs that leads to the front doors. The restaurant is close to the ocean and there’s a chill in the air that makes me wish I’d brought a sweater. “She made a reservation though, so we’re good.”

  We enter the restaurant and Shep releases my hand to go speak to the hostess, letting her know we’ve arrived. I take my chance to admire him yet again. He dressed up tonight. Black pants and a white button-up shirt that sets off his tanned skin, the sleeves rolled up to show off his sexy forearms. Who knew forearms were so sexy?

  His hair is actually tamed, like he might’ve brushed it and I’m tempted to run my fingers through it just to mess it up. I love it when his hair is messy. Which is a lot because every time I get my hands on him they’re buried in his hair, tugging and stroking and holding him close…

  Yeah. I’ve got it so bad.

  Here’s the thing though. I feel awful because I still haven’t told him I don’t have anywhere to live for the summer. I mean, does he really need to know? Not like it’s his problem. But Kelli’s furious at me. She doesn’t understand why I just can’t confess what’s going on and ask for his support and help. Because seriously, I need help. I’ve been looking for a roommate everywhere and have come up empty so far. Enid has committed to giving me forty hours a week at the store, so that’s good but I need somewhere to live.

  And I have nowhere. Kelli’s offer to come home with her for the summer is starting to look like my only option. Though she might pull it if I don’t fess up to Shep and let him know what’s going on.

  He’s been acting odd too. I can’t put my finger on it and finally chocked it up to him being nervous over this dinner with his parents. He’s never introduced a girl to his family before so this is a big deal in their eyes. It’s a big deal in my eyes too. So I forgive him for being a little sketchy and staring at me too long sometimes, like he wants to say something but he’s not quite sure how to approach it. Every time I ask him what’s up, he says never mind, or it’s nothing and I reluctantly let it slide.

  Nerves, we all have them. It’s been a hell of a week. I’m ready for it to be over.

  “My mother just texted me,” Shep says as he comes to stand by my side once more. The restaurant’s waiting area is packed with people and we’re pressed so close to each other I can feel his body heat radiating toward me. “They just pulled into the parking lot. And the hostess said our table would be ready in a few minutes.”

  I blow out a harsh breath. “Okay. Good. Great.”

  “Hey.” He takes my hand again, his fingers rubbing against mine in this soothing way that makes me want to purr like a cat. “They’re going to love you, I promise.”

  “Yeah?” I lift my head and meet his gaze, startled when he leans in and drops a sweet, soft kiss to my lips. I really love it when he does that. “What if they don’t?”

  He tilts his head, his expression incredulous. “How can they not? You’re beautiful. Sweet. And you like me. That’s all my mom has ever wanted. For some poor girl to actually see something in me,” he teases.

  “There’s plenty to see in you,” I tell him sincerely. “You have a lot to offer, you know.”

  His gaze dims and he shrugs. “Financially, yeah.”

  I’m taken aback. We never talk about his financial situation. I could care less if he’s rich or not, though I did take advantage of that amazing kitchen at his house a few nights ago and made a huge batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the boys. I think I now have Gabe and Tristan firmly in my back pocket.

  “I don’t care about your money,” I tell him almost fiercely. “You know this.” It’s never been about that between us. I tried my best to avoid him from the very start and he chased after me like a man possessed. He wore me down. And not with a bunch of expensive gifts either.

  “I do. And I appreciate it.” He touches my nose with the tip of his finger. “But that’s all anyone has ever really seen when it comes to me. That’s all I can offer. That or a quick lay.”

  I’m about to tell him that’s totally not true but then he’s turning away from me, an almost pained expression crossing his face. I turn in the direction he’s looking to see an elegant, perfectly dressed couple approach us, the both of them smiling though they don’t necessarily look happy.

  “Shepard.” The woman embraces him first, clad in a powder blue skirt suit that I think might be Chanel and a cloud of expensive perfume. Her hair is this color I can only describe as rich butter blonde and it’s cut into a perfectly symmetrical bob. She’s absolutely flawless. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

  “Mother.” He gives her an awkward hug and then turns to the man who looks shockingly just like Shep, only an older version. And he’s a little shorter
. Shep shakes his father’s hand, who offers him a clipped hello in greeting, barely looking him in the eye. The familial love is just overflowing.

  Oh, boy. What am I getting myself into?

  “This is Jade.” Shep is suddenly by my side, his arm curled around mine as he presents me to his parents like I’m some sort of prize. “Jade, these are my parents.”

  He doesn’t offer up their first names so I’m figuring it’s not proper for me to use them. “Hello, Mrs. Prescott.” I smile, my cheeks hurting from the frozen position they’re in. “Mr. Prescott.” I’m about to offer my hand but I can tell they’re not going to offer theirs in return so I don’t.

  “Well, aren’t you lovely,” Mrs. Prescott says, her assessing gaze roaming all over me. I think I just got thoroughly checked out by Shep’s mom. “All that red hair…I didn’t figure you one with a penchant for redheads, Shepard.” She flashes a smile at him.

  I want to roll my eyes. Or sock her in the face. But I refrain from doing either. I hate that my hair is always the first thing anyone sees.

  He slips his arm around my waist and smiles down at me before turning to face his mom. “There’s more to Jade than meets the eye, Mom. She’s not just cute freckles and red hair.”

  Okay. I sort of want to melt at his words. He’s the only guy who’s ever fully embraced the freckled redhead look I’ve got going on.

  “Mmm, hmm.” She studies me with a critical eye, judging me on sight, I’m sure. “Well, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m very interested in getting to know the girl who’s finally tamed my boy.”

  I stiffen at her words. Did she really just say that?

  “Oh, I’m not tamed yet,” Shep says as he starts to laugh, as does his father.

  His mother just scowls at him. “You’re getting too old for the antics, you know. You must settle down sometime, darling.”

  “I’m not a kid anymore. And there are no antics,” he protests and I think of all the many antics he’s up to on a daily basis. Hello, illegal gambling house. “I’m freaking twenty-one years old. Not ready to throw in the towel and settle down just yet.”