Winning the Game

by Leesa Bow

  Especially Lucy.

  RHETT

  I need to speak with Tori.

  I’m sitting beside Kaetrin on the plane home, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to get to know this chick. It’s one item on a short list of the positives of being on this show. I admire her courage and determination to give her mother the best care she possibly can. I was in awe listening to her explain her past, and how she gave up her dream to care for her mother. It made me think more about what I’m doing, and the direction my life has taken. More importantly, what I need to do to help my mother, and the family farm.

  Confused is a bloody understatement to describe how scrambled my thoughts are, trying to do the right thing for the contestants, and what’s best for me. The way Tori told me to remain focused and do what’s needed on Contest to get re-signed with the Blackbirds seemed more than advice by a mentor. It was like she was sending me a message to stay clear of her.

  Not happening.

  No matter how close I get to these girls, how connected I am, none compare to the feelings I have for Tori.

  I respect them, and the last thing I want to do is hurt any of the ladies, but it’s unavoidable on a show like Contest. Using girls and sometimes hurting them is a thing of my past. Thanks to Tori, I no longer want to be that guy, and I guess it was all about timing.

  I pinch my nose with my fingers, because I can still see the pain on Emma’s face when I asked her to leave. She questioned me. Why? There wasn’t a lot I could offer her except I couldn’t picture us in a relationship. I thought she was attractive. We got on well as friends, yet there was no spark.

  “You okay?” Kaetrin’s hand brushes my arm. When I glance up she’s looking at me with a drawn brow.

  “Yeah. The days are long and I’m still getting used to it,” I offer.

  “Yeah. The west-coast time difference doesn’t help,” she adds.

  “What time do we land?”

  “Nine thirty. So we should be back at the hotel by ten thirty at the latest. I’ll be falling into bed tonight.”

  “Yeah,” I say.

  Although I hope to see Tori first.

  Back at the hotel, Kaetrin hugs me before stepping out of the elevator. “Thank you for today. I appreciate you coming home with me, then spending the afternoon at the nursing home to visit Mum. I think she really liked you.”

  “My pleasure.” I kiss her forehead. “Your mum is a remarkable lady, and I was honoured to meet her. As for you”—I smile warmly—“you’re something else. Not many girls would do what you do. And to give up an Olympic dream—”

  “She’s worth it.”

  For a moment I think Kaetrin is going to cry. She dips her chin and hurries out of the elevator.

  “I’ll be training at six if you want to join me?”

  “Ha,” she says and forces a smile. “Good luck keeping up with me.”

  I cock an eyebrow. “Are you challenging me?”

  “Call it what you want. I’ll catch you in the morning.”

  I’m still smiling at Kaetrin when the door closes.

  Then, like a switch, my mind shifts to Tori. I head straight to her room and tap on the door. “Tori,” I say in a low voice. “Please open the door. I need to speak to you.” Like last night, I get nothing. “Tori,” I repeat. I rap my knuckles hard enough for her to hear, but not too loud to come off as aggressive. “Fine. I’m going to stay here until you open the door.” Sliding down the door, I sit on the floor with my legs out straight. After the flight I need to stretch them out anyway. “Come on, Tori, open up,” I mutter to myself, then lean my head back to rest on the frame.

  Down the hall the elevator door opens, and I spring to my feet. Tori steps into the passageway and, by her expression, she’s not surprised to see me.

  “Hey,” I say. “I thought you were in your room.”

  “So it seems.” Tori stops beside me. “I was in the camera room, discussing something with Ingrid, and we saw you.”

  “Is it a problem?” Because I, for one, don’t give a shit about upsetting Ingrid.

  Tori’s lips pinch together. “Too late now regardless. And, for the record, we could hear you even though the camera is further along the hall.” Her eyebrows arch. “So you need to talk to me?”

  I turn in the direction of the camera. “Is Ingrid still in the camera room?”

  Tori shrugs. “We were wrapping things up when she pointed you out.”

  “So she can hear us now?” Tori ignores me and unlocks the door. I wave at the camera before following her inside. “So I guess they all know I’m in here. Will they come up and ask me to leave?”

  “I can ask you to leave,” she points out.

  “Do you want me to?” My gaze takes in her snug tank top and casual denim shorts. Fuck, I hope not.

  Tori slides a bag from her shoulder and drops it on the table. “Depends what you want to talk about.”

  “Us.” She glances at the camera on the far wall before her eyes meet mine. “How I miss you giving me advice,” I add in a level voice. “I’m confused … with my feelings for the contestants.” Not a lie.

  “Off the record, then.” She glances toward the camera. “This is me working.”

  “And you being on the show as a contestant isn’t?” She ignores me and points at the chair. “So what’s in your bag? Secret stuff?”

  Tori slides the bag off the table and onto the carpet. “What’s bothering you, Rhett?”

  I don’t miss the lack of enthusiasm in her tone. “If you’re tired we can do this another time.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m tired but I’m interested in learning how your day went with Kaetrin.”

  For the next ten minutes I gave her details of the day, and tell her how much I respect Kaetrin. For the first time in weeks I see her face light up.

  “It sounds like you made solid ground with Kaetrin?” I nod. “And you’re confused because you’re torn over your feelings for—”

  “Lucy,” I finish.

  “How do you feel toward Fleur?”

  “Fleur’s a top chick. But I don’t connect with her like I do with Lucy and Kaetrin.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have my own problems to work out. Fleur has to work through hers, and I don’t think I’m the right guy after her husband betrayed her. I care for Fleur, but not enough to commit to a relationship. She needs someone who can give her more than I can.”

  I nod once. “So you’re torn between Kaetrin and Lucy?”

  “If it comes to that, yes.”

  Tori’s gaze avoids mine. “Well, you have nine days to decide. You’ll need to ask the girls important questions to help you understand them better.”

  “You’re still a contestant, right?”

  Tori narrows her eyes. “This discussion is about the other contestants, and it doesn’t include me.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes. I have a question for you, as a contestant. Who is Tait?” She raises her eyebrows. “I overheard you talking about him to the other girls. Which frankly surprises me.”

  “Right.” Tori lowers her gaze. “No one important. Just an old flame.”

  “Whom you never got over,” I say in a louder voice. “Kaetrin said you surprised her by not having had a boyfriend since you were eighteen. Want to tell my why?”

  She stiffens. “No. My past is not open for discussion. It was appropriate at the time to mention him because we were discussing old boyfriends. Tait has nothing to do with our professional relationship. So if you’re finished, I’d like to go to bed.”

  “Don’t let me stop you.” I sit there tapping my fingers on the table and ignore the glare she directs my way. “C’mon, Tor, what’s going on here,” I whisper.

  “What’s going on?” She leans back in the chair, folds her arms. “I’m trying to be professional, and help you to make a decision based on what’s best for your career.”

  I lean forward. “Is that right? You think you know what’s best for my ca
reer?”

  “Isn’t it why you’re doing the show? And you agreed for me to be your coach.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Dead air lasts a few seconds longer before she stands. “Okay, we’re finished here. Goodnight, Rhett.”

  Hypothetically she’s my boss, so I stand and walk to the door, open it. “Good night, Victoria.” I switch off her lights so the room is in complete darkness. Then I close the door.

  “Great,” Tori mutters.

  I stand by the door and wait for her to walk over to it. The anticipation of touching her makes my heart race. When her hand goes to the wall to flick on the lights, I reach out and stop her. “Sh.” I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her tightly. “I need to hold you,” I whisper. “Stay quiet and no one will know.”

  RHETT

  “Camera, audio,” Tori whispers.

  Pressing my lips to her ear I whisper, “So keep quiet. At least they won’t be able to see.” Tori relaxes into my arms. I pick her up and carry her to the bed. When her head settles in the nook of my neck I know I’m doing something right, because her hands are now linked around my neck.

  When my knees hit the side of the mattress, I lower Tori so she’s sitting on the edge. She scrambles to the centre and I follow, inhaling her fruity scent, triggering memories, and my dick twitches. “Thank you for letting me stay.” I roll onto my side and pull her into me. Snuggling my face into her neck I whisper, “You smell so fucking good. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” she says, loud enough for me to hear.

  My shoulders relax, and for a moment I just want to hold her, rewind the clock to the night in her apartment and not care about anything except the two of us. My chest expands with the truth, the weight of her words, and how in the safety of darkness she wants me as much as I want to be with her. Running my hand along her skin I trail my fingertips down her shoulders and her arms, then lace her fingers with mine. “I love you,” I say, pressing my lips to her ear.

  She releases my hand. “What?” She gasps and pushes up. Reaching out I stroke her back.

  “You heard right,” I say. “I’m confused about what to do because I’m in love with you.”

  I didn’t expect her to say it back. But dead air makes my gut tighten with nerves. And damn the camera speakers picking up everything we say above a whisper. It’s not the conversation I want to have in a soft voice. “I want to love you tonight.”

  Her breath hitches. I keep listening to the sound of her breathing. Each ragged breath urges me to keep going.

  I can barely think straight. Tracking my hand over her clothes, I fumble in the dark until I find the edge and pull her tank top over her head. My fingers shake, unclipping her bra, waiting for her to object. She gasps. It’s quiet, subtle. I only wait one second before gliding the straps along her arms and tossing it aside. Pressing my lips to the cool skin of her shoulder, I trail kisses lower, and waste no time in sucking on her nipple. Skimming my tongue over silky flesh I tease her until she’s moaning my name. I take as much of her breast into my mouth as possible. My hand seeks out her other breast not to deny it attention. I know what her breasts look like. They have the power to bring me to my knees. Caressing them while robbed of sight, using my fingertips to know their shape, still makes my hands tremble, makes my blood rush through my veins. I love how she’s arching into it, moaning my name. Releasing her breast from my mouth, I kiss my way along her neck and nip her ear. “You need to be quiet,” I whisper. She pivots and her mouth finds mine. Her tongue pushes inside and tangles in an urgent, rhythmic motion, and now I’m the one groaning. Desire flares through my veins. I tear at my clothes. I’m burning up and need to get naked fast. Tori’s hands are pulling at my shirt. Together our fingers meddle with my trouser zip, my erection straining against my pants. My erection springs free and into Tori’s grasp. A deep, guttural sound comes from my throat as I thrust against her palm.

  “I want you inside me,” she whispers.

  I need no more encouragement than those words. My body is humming, and my dick pulses in her hand with equal need. Fuck. My chest tightens, realising. “I don’t have a condom.” I press my forehead to hers.

  There’s an awkward silence and neither of us move. I silently berate myself until she whispers, “Okay.”

  “You sure?” I rasp. “The last time—”

  “I overreacted.”

  “Thank Christ.” I breathe out and slump forward. “Because I want to feel all of you when I’m inside you.”

  “So stop talking.”

  “And,” I say against her lips, “we’re taking it slow.”

  The bed dips and bounces as Tori twists away and struggles with her shorts. She flops backwards to yank her shorts and panties down her thighs. My fingers trace over her skin, waiting for her to unclothe, and when the steel button of her denim shorts tings against the wall, I hover over her.

  “Nice throw.” Leaning on my side, I cup her sex, and her body jolts beneath me. I can make out the contours of her face, her eyes open wide. Sliding a finger between her legs, I watch her chin jut forward, and hear the sharp intake of her breath. “Fucking hell,” I mutter. She’s so wet.

  I insert two, then three fingers, curling and teasing, finding her nub and making her ride my hand. In a room filled with silence it’s easy to recognise her arousal building, her orgasm climbing. With my thumb I press down on her clit while my fingers rotate inside her. She gasps, and I seal my lips over hers to smother her moans. She’s breathing heavily into my mouth, sharing the same air as me. “Quiet,” I remind her. Then I settle over her, edging her thighs wide apart. “No resting yet, because now I’m going to taste you. Taste the sweetness of your orgasm.”

  “No,” she says in a breath. “I can’t do slow. Not tonight.” Taking my cock in her tiny hands, she guides it to her entrance. My dick sinks in and she moans again, sending tingles down my spine. I withhold an urge to push deeper because I want to come right now. Slight legs curl around my thighs, as I move in and out. Her heels dig in, spurring me on. Then I push deeper, faster, lowering my torso until my face is inches from her neck. Her fragrance hits me, the sweet scent coaxing me to stay close to her. Tori arches her back and moans. Reminding myself to breathe, I quicken the pace. “Oh God.” Her hands are on my back, tensing, and digging into my muscles. It feels unreal to be like this, have her touching me this way.

  “Hold on, Boss.” I take her hands and hold them over her head. I kiss her cheeks, her chin, bending a little so my lips find her bare chest. I’m losing control, pumping her hips again and again. Tori tilts her pelvis, rotates it to meet my every thrust. It’s frustrating not to see her expression and, although her moans tell me she’s in a good place, I still ask, “You okay.” After the last time we fucked I have the urge to check, despite the way she’s panting beneath me.

  “Amazing,” she confirms.

  It’s a green flag. A primal instinct takes over my brain. My body lets loose. I’m bucking over Tori, driving into her with the force of a raging bull.

  “I need to touch you,” Tori whispers, and her hands wrestle with my grip.

  “If you touch me I’ll come now. Like a fucking explosion,” I warn.

  “Make it up to me in round two,” she suggests.

  The moment I release her hands her fingers are pressing into my back, soothing me and exciting me equally. Hoisting a leg over my arm, I hitch her knee a little higher and change the angle. It’s enough for her to come. Hearing her raspy breath sends me over the edge. I’ve missed her touch, her voice, everything Tori. I shudder as I release inside her, collapsing as all my energy slips away.

  For a few minutes we don’t move or speak. The satisfied sound of her breathing slows. Tori’s fingers tangle in my hair. “Wow,” she whispers.

  “Yeah. You blow my mind, Tor.”

  I feel her stiffen, and I realise I spoke too loud. Pulling out of her I lie to her side. “Give me a minute,” she says. The bed moves, and t
hen she’s no longer lying with me. “I’m going to make a phone call. I need you to promise me you’ll do exactly as I say.”

  “What do you mean?” I’m still coming out of a beautiful haze.

  “Rhett, promise me.”

  I can’t see her face and I don’t like hearing the desperation in her voice. I sense I don’t have much choice. “All right.”

  Tori picks up the phone. “Ingrid, I need you to cut the cameras in my room. Delete everything since I left you.” There’s a pause. “Because if you do I promise Rhett will pick Lucy.”

  “What?” I snap. My stomach sinks like a fucking rock in a river. She places her hand over my mouth.

  “Yes, but I need you to promise. I’ll come to you in the morning and tell you how it will go down. And yes he’ll do it.”

  My heart’s racing faster than when I was inside her. When she hangs up I wait a few seconds before I speak. “So that’s it.” I croak out the words. “I pick Lucy and not you?”

  “You couldn’t pick me anyway. I was never part of the plan. You have to pick Lucy. Promise me you’ll do it. Otherwise you can leave now, and we’ll both be in breach of our contract.” She sighs. “Again,” she adds, only quieter.

  Questions burn in my mind. “There’s no other way?”

  “No,” she murmurs.

  “And if I say yes I get to stay here all night?”

  “And be as loud as you want.”

  “And we’ll be okay?” I stress. “You and me when all this is over?”

  “Everything will work out fine. You’ll get re-signed and everything will go back to normal.”

  Normal.

  The idea of normal gives me some sort of peace. “As long as you’ll talk about this so-called plan with me tomorrow. And I still want to know about your ex.”

  “Tomorrow,” she promises.

  When she climbs back onto the bed, I pull her over me so she’s straddling my hips. “But for now I get to hear you scream when you ride my cock. Because if I’m doing a deal with the devil, I’m going to get the most out of it before I go to hell.”