Playing with Desire (The Players Club Book 6)

by Erika Wilde

  Abruptly pulling out of her, he quickly worked the cock ring off his dick, groaning as new sensations tingled and rushed back along the length of his shaft. With an animal-like growl, he slammed back into her, pounding hard and fast and so fucking deep he felt as though she was an integral part of him—and still it wasn’t enough.

  He moved completely over her, his chest smashing her breasts as he shoved his hand into her hair and gripped the strands against her scalp so he could tilt her mouth up to meet the hungry, desperate crush of his own. The ferocious need inside him became monstrous. Every time he fucked her—thinking, hoping it would diminish his desire before he had to leave—it did the exact opposite and only increased his need to be a part of her in every way.

  It was pure madness, and there was nothing he could do to stop the wild beast in him as he took her far more roughly than he’d intended, his tongue and cock filling her, again and again, while she willingly gave herself over to his darker inclinations, accepting everything he had to give.

  And fuck, he couldn’t get close enough. Deep enough. The need inside him was rising, amplifying, drowning out all else when he’d never needed a damn thing in his life before her. And selfish bastard that he was, he wanted to ruin her for any other man, even knowing he could never be the one she deserved.

  He shuttled in and out of her body, grinding against her clit, the hard, fast, slick slide of his flesh against hers finally taking them both to the edge and tipping them over. Unable to move because of the restraints, Summer moaned softly against his lips, and with her pussy fluttering around his cock with her third orgasm, her release sent him straight into a wave of ecstasy that gathered up inside him like a cyclone, dangerous and all-consuming.

  The storm unleashed, destroying the last of his control in ways that only this woman was able to do to him. The climax that had been brewing at the base of his spine shot through his balls and sped up the length of his cock like white-hot lightning, and with a hoarse shout, he buried himself to the point that he pinned her to the bed completely, and in a few powerful, jolting thrusts, he came inside her with a ragged groan he felt all the way to the depths of his soul.

  Chapter Nine

  A short while later, after releasing Summer from her wrist and ankle cuffs and removing the last of the toys, they each made a quick trip to the bathroom before returning to the bed. Now naked without the lingerie, Summer automatically cuddled up to his side, her head resting on his chest. With her body lethargic after her triple orgasm, she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.

  Smiling, he slid his arm around Summer to give her a more comfortable crook to snuggle into, wondering how he’d become that guy who indulged in postcoital intimacies. When it came to women, he’d always liked his space, which was one of the reasons he didn’t do relationships. One and done had been his motto for more than a decade, and it had served him well. Once he’d gotten what he needed from a female, he didn’t stick around, and he didn’t double-dip.

  Yet here he was, breaking all the strict rules he’d lived by since joining the military, all because one guileless woman had gotten under his skin and he’d been desperate to have more of her. Now, after a week of having her in his bed, he actually enjoyed the way she curled up next to him, like the sweet kitten he called her, or how they’d wake up at daybreak with their bodies spooned together before he gently pushed her onto her stomach for a long, slow, leisurely morning fuck that satisfied them both.

  And it would all come to an end in two weeks. There was no changing what they’d agreed to, even though he already suspected it was going to be hard for them to part ways when the time came. For Summer’s emotional stability, as much as his own mental clarity going into his next mission, the clean break was necessary, even if the thought made something twist painfully in his chest.

  Feeling Summer’s steady breaths feathering across his skin, Declan was certain that she’d fallen asleep, but then she lifted her head and gave him an impish smile.

  “Know what I’m in the mood for?” she murmured.

  “Me?” he teased.

  “I’m always in the mood for you,” she said and affectionately brushed her lips over his. “But what I want right now is a hot fudge brownie sundae.”

  He chuckled, having learned that Summer enjoyed sweet treats, and especially chocolate. Earlier this week, she’d baked brownies for him and Rick and had picked up a jar of hot fudge, ice cream, and whipped cream at the store, which meant indulging her request was as easy as them walking to the kitchen.

  “Your wish is my command, kitten,” he said, because she was so easy to please.

  Grinning happily, she slid out of bed and donned one of his T-shirts and panties just in case Rick came home early, while he pulled on a pair of sweatpants. He followed her to the other room, enjoying the light bounce to her step, along with the whimsical part of her personality. She was so untouched by the monstrosities he saw on a regular basis, so bubbly and effervescent compared to his more jaded demeanor, and he never wanted those traits of hers to change. Never wanted his less-than-ideal life to tarnish hers.

  Reaching the kitchen, she switched on the light and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard. While she put a few of the brownies in the dish for them to share and warmed up the hot fudge in the microwave, he retrieved the vanilla ice cream and can of whipped cream from the freezer and refrigerator. Once the sundae was layered, she picked up the whipped cream and turned toward him.

  “Want some?” she asked, her features mischievous and her finger on the nozzle as she gave the can a shake.

  He found it impossible to resist that frisky gleam in her eyes. “Sure.”

  “Open wide,” she told him.

  Giving in to her playful side, he parted his lips, waiting for her to squirt a quick dollop, except she kept going until the white stuff was overflowing and he couldn’t close his mouth. He grabbed her wrist to stop her from adding more, and she giggled at how ridiculous he must have appeared nearly choking on a mountain of whipped cream.

  “You look like you’re frothing at the mouth,” she said, so satisfied and amused with herself while laughing at him once again.

  He managed to swallow half of the sweet cream, then released her hand to curl his fingers around the back of her neck, taking her by surprise as he pulled her face up to his and kissed her with what was left in his mouth. She gasped at his unexpected and playful retaliation, then moaned as he deliberately smeared the sweetness around her lips, which he then licked off.

  “You are so goddamn naughty,” he growled, though he was grinning at her.

  “I know,” she admitted impishly. “But I love seeing you have fun and hearing you laugh. I get the feeling you don’t do nearly enough of either when you’re on assignment.”

  Her comment was too accurate. With what he did for a living, genuine laughter and authentic grins were few and far between, and Declan had to concede that it felt nice just to play around with her and not be so serious all the time.

  He shook his head, and while she grabbed two spoons from the drawer, he carried the bowl to the table, putting it between his chair and hers for them to share. After enjoying a few bites of the dessert, she glanced at him inquisitively.

  “What do you do in the military?” she asked softly.

  The unexpected inquiry took him off guard. For the most part, he’d deliberately avoided any personal conversation about himself, because he didn’t have happy stories to share. His current life and the career he’d chosen for himself were dark and grim and ugly. The things he’d seen and done had left mental and emotional scars that he constantly had to keep from pulling him down into a deep, black pit of depression and despair.

  That’s why he liked being with Summer. She was goodness and light and kindness. She made him forget all those gruesome memories and made him feel like he lived a semblance of a normal life when he was with her. And the last thing he wanted to do was taint her with what his job description really entailed.

  She�
��d asked him the same question when he’d first met her at The Players Club, and he gave her the same vague reply now. “I already told you. I capture bad guys.”

  Appearing a bit miffed, she placed her spoon in the dish. “You’re giving me the pat answer that doesn’t fully explain your position in the army,” she said, calling him out. “I’m not some fragile little flower that can’t handle the truth, and considering you pretty much know everything about me, I think it’s only fair that you share, too.”

  He wanted to protect her from the grim truth but realized that she needed to know the reality of his situation since a good part of it tied into his reasons for not making any woman a permanent fixture in his life. “I’m a sniper in the Army Special Forces. Which means I’m part of a special team of trained soldiers who is deployed to various countries to handle unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and terrorist activities.”

  With each thing he listed, the shock on her face grew more apparent. “That sounds so dangerous.”

  “It is,” he said honestly, and set his spoon down, too. “When we’re sent out on an assignment, there’s always an organized agenda to achieve whatever our goal or objective is, and on a good day, things will happen smoothly and by the book. Our team usually has the advantage, but there are times . . .” He let the remark trail off, because what happened when things went awry was difficult to put into words and not something he wanted to expose Summer to.

  “There are times that what?” she prompted gently.

  He exhaled a deep breath and scrubbed a hand along his jaw. He’d just told himself that it was important she knew what his life was like, and that included telling her how treacherous things could get out in the field on a mission. “There have been times that my unit has been ambushed by some unforeseen situation. Of course, we’re trained to react to those unexpected attacks, but a lot of times in that moment it’s a reign of terror and pure chaos that leaves behind a lot of casualties on both sides.”

  He didn’t give her specific stories or tell her about all the good, skilled soldiers who’d been killed in combat and the innocent civilians who’d gotten caught in the cross fire. It was difficult enough for him to sleep at night and function during the day without those terrifying flashbacks replaying in his mind, no matter how good he’d gotten at compartmentalizing his emotions. Summer didn’t need all that shit in her head, too.

  He met her gaze, making sure he had her full attention, because there was one last thing she needed to hear, which was the most important. “Every time we go out on a mission, every one of us knows that there is always a chance that we’re not coming back. That’s how we live our lives every single day when we’re out in the field.”

  She quietly absorbed everything he’d just told her, her expression troubled. “Why did you join the military?”

  He rested his arms on the table and thought back to what had propelled his decision. “Growing up and through my early teenage years, I never intended to enlist. My father was in the army and fought in Desert Storm. He was killed in the line of duty, and I saw what his death did to my mother.”

  She inhaled a soft, startled breath and placed a gentle, compassionate hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”

  He nodded, accepting her sympathetic gesture. “It devastated my mom to the point that she spiraled into depression and had a mental breakdown. So, I always had that image in my head, and I knew it would have destroyed my mother had I followed in my father’s footsteps. But once she died in such a senseless accident, I was so bitter and resentful over what had happened, because she was finally so happy again with Rick’s dad. I was twenty at the time, and joining the military was a reckless, spontaneous decision made out of anger over the loss of my mother. It was only supposed to be a two-year term.” He smiled ruefully at her.

  She tipped her head in confusion. “So then why did you stay in the army?”

  They’d already come this far in the conversation, and Declan figured Summer needed to hear this truth, as well. “When I enlisted, I had a steady, serious girlfriend, and I honestly thought we were heading toward getting married. I figured a few years in the military and I’d save up some money and come out of it with some experience for a decent civilian job, but Julianne couldn’t handle me being gone for months on end and traded me in for my best friend at the time. I found out about their affair when I came home on leave. After that, I figured I had nothing else to lose and nothing to stay home for, so I just kept reenlisting each time my contract came up.”

  Her delicate brows furrowed as she picked up her spoon and ate another bite of the brownie sundae, seemingly mulling over what he’d just shared with her and the underlying message beneath his words. As difficult as it might be for her to hear everything, it was more important to him that she understood why he wouldn’t and couldn’t promise her anything beyond this short time together.

  Not only were there too many reasons why a long-term relationship with him was a bad idea while he was in the military, but it was stupid for him to envision a future with her that couldn’t happen, even if a part of him was starting to wish otherwise.

  Chapter Ten

  Two weeks later . . .

  Summer entered the lavish lobby of the opulent hotel that Mac and Stephanie had chosen for their wedding venue flanked by two gorgeous men wearing fitted suits for the formal event. Her arm was looped through Declan’s, who’d come as her plus-one, while Rick walked next to her other side, without a date, as they followed the signs through the establishment to an outdoor area set up for the small, intimate ceremony of about forty people.

  White chairs were assembled in rows that bisected the aisle that Stephanie would eventually walk down to meet her groom, where they’d take their vows beneath a beautiful archway covered in white and pale pink roses and textured greenery. Pre-wedding music played, indicating that the ceremony would be starting soon. Close family and friends began taking their seats, and Paige waved the three of them over to where she and Sawyer were already settled, along with Kendall and her husband, Jase.

  Summer, Declan, and Rick took the chairs right behind the other two couples, and they all conversed for a few minutes until Mac walked out and took his position beneath the floral archway, with Dean standing next to him as his best man, followed by a minister. Mac, wearing a tailored black suit, appeared more excited than nervous to marry his bride, and Summer had to admit that Stephanie was one lucky woman to have found a man who adored her so much.

  God, Summer wanted that kind of unconditional devotion. Hoped for that. She’d been waiting years to find that one man who complemented her. Completed her. Filled that missing space inside of her soul that had felt empty for too long. She might have found that incredible man in an unlikely place, except Declan’s commitment to any woman was unattainable, and Summer was trying to brace herself for the devastating pain and heartbreak that was coming very soon.

  As joyous as this day would be for Summer’s two friends, it was also a bittersweet one for her, because it was her last evening with Declan. After they’d spent three short weeks together, tomorrow afternoon he was heading out to the army’s National Training Center in Fort Irwin, where he’d spend a twenty-one-day rotation being briefed on his next assignment before being deployed overseas.

  Every time she thought about him leaving and their time together ending, a huge lump of dread and sadness formed in her throat because she had no idea when she’d see or hear from him again. According to Declan, he would most likely be gone for up to a year, and he’d made it clear that she needed to “move on” after he left. She knew his insistence that she live her life and date and find someone who could give her everything he couldn’t hadn’t been issued with callous disregard on his part, not when she’d seen and felt his caring and affection. He truly believed that looking forward to the future with someone else was what was best for her, despite Declan’s own feelings for her.

  She couldn’t disagree more. Their a
ffair might have started out casual, but in a very short amount of time, they’d shared so much and had grown so close, enough for her to know that even Declan’s emotions had gotten more involved than he’d intended or would ever admit.

  Earlier, as they’d both gotten dressed and ready for the wedding, he’d been unusually quiet and subdued, as if he felt their silent deadline looming over them, too. But God, Summer knew the devastating hurt and irreparable heartbreak was coming, and there was only one thing left in her arsenal that might potentially give him reason to believe in her. In them. Even if it meant figuring out a way to make a long-distance relationship work. Declan was worth that to her, and so much more.

  The ceremony started with Jillian—as Stephanie’s matron of honor—walking down the aisle, followed by Stephanie’s two young, adorable nieces as flower girls. The guests all stood up as the traditional wedding march began, and a minute later, the bride appeared in her gorgeous, beaded, blush-colored, formfitting wedding gown, arm in arm with her father as he proudly escorted his daughter toward the man she was about to marry.

  Stephanie looked radiant and so deeply in love with Mac that Summer’s heart tightened with envy. The sentiment was clearly reciprocated by her groom, and during the course of reciting their vows, Mac’s voice cracked as his emotions got the best of him. He managed to clear his throat and compose himself, and when the minister finally pronounced them husband and wife, Mac didn’t hesitate to swoop in and kiss his new bride with a deep, passionate embrace that had the guests cheering and clapping.

  While Mac and Stephanie took their wedding pictures, friends and family moved inside to the elegantly decorated ballroom reserved for the reception and dinner. Waitstaff walked around offering cocktails and premium bourbon for the men, along with trays of hors d’oeuvres that included items with lobster and beluga caviar. Clearly Mac and Stephanie had spared no expense on their celebratory party.