Played

by Natasha Stories

  Ri was on board, so we booked our flight to LA and our hotel on Priceline. We were committed. Drew even lined up one of his teammates to take Ri out on Friday, so she wouldn't be alone on Valentine's Day, either. He confided to me that he hoped they'd click. He liked Greg a lot, and thought it would be fun for the four of us to double even after we got back. I wasn't sure Ri would be down with that, but I figured she was strong enough to fight her own battles, so I said nothing.

  When the time came, I drove us to the airport and left the CRV in long-term parking, since the team had already left and we had no one to drop us off. Ri's posse was usually dependent on me for rides anywhere, not a car among them. I was nervous, hiding the fact that this was my first time flying, so when Ri casually ordered a wine from the flight attendant, I followed suit.

  The fruity red liquid soothed me almost before the first swallow hit my fluttery stomach, and I settled back to enjoy the short flight. Changing time zones was another first for me, so arriving an hour after we left having been on the plane for two hours was disorienting, as was the overwhelming number of people we had to wade through to reach ground transportation in LA.

  I'd been disappointed to drift down through smog as bad as Salt Lake's as we landed, and the smell hit me with an almost physical blow when we walked outside. I'd never been anywhere that had such humid air and the contrast between the dry, cold city we'd left and this tropical heat left me gasping for more oxygen than the air seemed to hold. And the noise! I felt buffeted from all directions as Rihanna took me in tow and found a taxi. We went first to our hotel, as the game wouldn't start for another three hours.

  "Better take a nap," Ri advised. "The game starts late, they won't be done until ten, which is eleven our time. You'll fall face first into the cheese fries." She was right. I wasn't a night owl; we'd established that.

  The game was a win, the only road win so far this season, and there were enough Utah fans in the stands to make a riot when the final horn sounded. If Ri and I hadn't clung together, we might have been trampled as our own fans rushed the team exit. An elated Drew and his buddy Greg found us cowering by the wall and moved us down the passageway toward the locker room.

  "They're with us," they told the security guards. "They were about to get killed out there. Can you look out for them while we shower?" Assured of the guards' care of us, they hurried into the locker room. Moments later, Drew came out with his wavy hair slicked back and wet, to wait with us for Greg, who took the time to blow-dry his.

  We had a great time celebrating the win over a late-night snack as usual, and Greg made plans with Ri to pick her up for their Friday night date at six, saying he'd need to get her back to the hotel early due to night-before-game-night curfew. I looked at Drew and he gave a slight shake of his head. I didn't know what he meant by that, but stayed silent as that seemed to be the safest.

  Drew was going to pick me up earlier, to take in some of the sights of LA, and invited Ri to tag along, but she said she'd be fine on her own, and we didn't argue. He'd rented a car, so he drove us through Beverly Hills, dazzling me with the sights on Rodeo Drive. He'd always wanted to live in California, he explained. Somewhere warm in the winter, instead of the desolate chill of Ogden, or even Salt Lake. If he was drafted to the NBA, he'd want to make California his permanent home, even if an East Coast team signed him. For the first time, I realized how much he was counting on that NBA shot, despite always saying he was too small. I guess it was his talisman against contrary luck.

  Drew dropped me off at my hotel for a shower and change of clothes, telling me he'd be back in an hour. He wanted me to dress for a very special time. I'd brought a black cocktail dress that Ri told me would be perfect no matter where Drew took me, so that's what I put on, catching my hair back in a smooth chignon, and putting on a pair of 4-inch heels that I was sure I'd break my ankle on before the night was done. At least it would give me an excuse to cling to Drew.

  All day, my anticipation for tonight's date had built as we took in the sights together. Drew's deep, sexy voice, his easy laugh, even the spicy cologne he wore combined to arouse my senses when I thought of a romantic dinner. I didn't know what else he had in mind, he wouldn't tell me, but I knew he'd prepared carefully for this evening, and that it would be special. Justin was far from my mind and Gracie only a distant nagging thought. Tonight was all about Drew and me.

  ~~~

  Drew had remembered my pleasure in the Fire and Ice roses last fall, so when he arrived at the hotel room shortly after Greg picked up Rihanna, he was carrying a wrist corsage made entirely of Fire and Ice buds except for the center rose, just beginning to open. I loved it and couldn't stop holding my arm out to admire it. It set off my black dress beautifully. I kissed Drew on the cheek to thank him, standing almost tall enough in my ankle-endangering heels to do so without him bending down to me.

  "I hope you like steak and lobster," he said, ushering me out the door.

  "I like steak. I've never had lobster," I confessed. Drew turned and pressed his forehead to mine.

  "I keep forgetting you spent most of your life locked away in the boondocks," he said. Before I could decide whether to be hurt by his reference to it, he said, "I'll bet you love lobster. Do you like shrimp?"

  That, I'd had. In fact, he should know I liked it, because he took me to a seafood restaurant one night and I took shameful advantage of the all-you-can-eat shrimp deal after getting one taste. I never told him that I was violently ill afterward, figuring it was the overeating that caused it. I'd be more cautious with the lobster, but was looking forward to a new treat.

  The restaurant was perfectly suited to my idea of a romantic dinner, with its heavy red velvet drapes and low, indirect lighting. Our table was tucked into a private alcove. A vase of roses on the table and a flickering candle set the ambiance in our own little world. The waiter didn't approve of Drew's indication that we'd have water rather than wine; his sniff and haughty look gave it away. I giggled when he was out of earshot, and Drew took my hand, gazing at me with a tender expression.

  "Sugar, thank you for coming. It means the world to me; I want you to know that."

  "Thank you for asking me, Drew. It was very sweet, and I'm glad to be here to support you at your games, too." I couldn't return the sentiment that it meant the world to me, because I knew Justin still had a piece of my heart and mind. Drew was gaining on him, though, and I hoped that my genuine affection for him would be enough for now. Until, in fact, he was willing to scratch my itch. After that, we'd have to see. Without having sex, just being friends wasn't enough to tip me over into love, as awful as that sounded.

  After our sumptuous dinner, complete with me learning that I loved lobster, we strolled along the sidewalk, Drew's arm around me comfortably until I stumbled, almost twisting my ankle. He looked at my shoes with horror.

  "Why do you girls torture yourselves with shoes like that?" he asked.

  "Because supposedly boys like them," I said. "Ri calls these my fuck-me heels."

  Drew gave a dry chuckle and said no more, but held me tighter in case of another mishap. "I was thinking you might like to walk on the beach," he said after a while.

  "I'd love to. I've never seen the ocean."

  "Of course you haven't." He turned us around to head back to the car park for the rental car. Then he drove to a spot where we could get to the beach, cruising slowly for a parking place. "Take your shoes off, you'll ruin them in the sand," he directed. Self-consciously, I complied, then laughed as he took his off but debated leaving his socks on.

  "Don't be ridiculous," I said.

  "Just kidding. I love your laugh, Sugar." Drew came to my side of the car, opened the door and pulled me out. This time, he kept hold of my hand as he guided me down to the sand, which was warm up near the grass but cooled off as we approached the water. We turned and followed the water line, still holding hands. Before long, the moon rose, looking almost full and casting a beam on the water that seemed to stretch to the h
orizon.

  "Oh, how beautiful," I gasped.

  Drew turned to me and pulled me to him. "Not as beautiful as you," he declared. I tilted my face to him, wanting the kiss that I knew was coming. The soft murmur of the waves accompanied the pounding of my blood in my ears as he held me tighter and tighter, until he'd lifted me off my feet. When at last he put me down, I sighed heavily and laid my head on his chest. His spicy scent overwhelmed the slightly fishy odor from the ocean, and I breathed in deeply. The whole night was conspiring to make me languid and willing, if only Drew would take what he knew I'd freely offer.

  We stayed there for long moments. I thought he gazed out at the moonlit water, as I did. I slid my hands into Drew's jacket and put them around him, smoothing his shirt at his waist and wishing I dared pull the shirttail out to feel his warm skin. Drew's big hand stroked my back. Finally, he sighed, and kissed the top of my head.

  "We'd better go, Sugar, it's getting late."

  I knew he was already out past the curfew that Greg had mentioned, so I didn't argue, though I wanted to stay on the beach, looking at the moonlight. All I could hope was that someday there'd be another time. It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. It might have been then that I decided I wouldn't return to the ranch to live after I graduated. I didn't know how I'd live in this magic place on a teacher's salary, but I was in love with California.

  We were on our way back to the hotel when I got a text from Rihanna. 'Don't worry about me, ditched Greg and found a dream lover. I'm spending the night. See you sometime tomorrow.'

  My cry of dismay made Drew look at me with concern. I read him the text.

  "That's Ri for you," he said.

  "I've never known her to do that before," I complained. "How could she desert me like that? And isn't it dangerous?"

  "Sugar, Ri is a force of nature; you can't contain her and she can take care of herself. At least she let you know, so you wouldn't worry all night."

  Remembering my own failure to let her know when I spent half the night with Justin, I went quiet. He was right. At least she let me know. Maybe it would work to my advantage.

  Drew walked me up to my room, where I asked him to come in. "I should get back to my room," he demurred.

  "Please? Just for a little while. I need a hug to keep me from being lonely without Ri," I told him. Was I manipulating him? I didn't care. The night had been wonderful; my senses were full of California, of the ocean and the full moon, and most of all, of the sexy man next to me.

  "All right, for a little while."

  I moved into his arms as soon as we'd closed the door, kissing him eagerly. When he started returning my kisses, I moved back toward the beds, pulling him with me, until I fell onto one of them, with Drew trying not to crush me as he also lost his balance. He was grinning when I looked at him.

  "I think you have ulterior motives," he whispered, before kissing me again.

  "God, Drew, I don't know if I can wait." My voice, desperate with lust and longing, broke on the last word, and he clutched me tighter.

  "Sugar, you don't know how much I want you, but…"

  "Don't!" I cried. I kissed him to block the words. "Don't say it again, Drew, it's killing me!" He moved his lips from my mouth, down to my neck and around to my earlobe.

  "It's killing me, too, Sugar."

  "You've got to be the only one on your team that's celibate, Drew. In fact, your center is married, and his wife just started showing pregnant. You don't think that was immaculate conception, do you?"

  His jaw clenched, his blue eyes darkened to nearly black, he pulled back to look at me, then with a groan, buried his face between my breasts. With wonder, I stroked his hair, my nipples puckering with the realization that his lips were so near.

  "Honey, it's okay. Isn't it? I want you so much," I whispered.

  In response, I felt Drew's lips nibbling into my cleavage, followed by his moist tongue. I gasped, clutching his head even tighter. Drew's hand smoothed up along my side, crept around my shoulder and hooked into the tiny strap of my dress. Slowly, he pulled the strap down, moving his lips along the edge of my skin just where it disappeared into the dress. He pulled a little more on the strap, revealing more of my braless breast. A groan ripped from his throat as he suddenly pulled the bodice all the way down to expose my breast completely.

  I had waited so long to feel his lips on my sensitive breasts that I cried out when he teased one nipple with his tongue. Drew lifted his head. "Is this okay, Sugar?"

  "Oh, God, Drew, it's what I've wanted for weeks!" I answered. He pulled me to my side and unzipped the dress, then helped me wriggle out of it. Drew's breath escaping his slightly parted lips whispered a reverent 'ah'. I lay before him in nothing but a black lace thong, my breasts quivering with my quick gasps. Drew looked into my eyes until the last second before he lowered his mouth to my other breast and gave it the attention it craved. My skin was so sensitive that the feel of his suit jacket was rough, and I pushed impatiently against it.

  Drew stood up, making me whimper with the thought that he might leave me now, when I was so in need, but instead he quickly undressed to his boxer briefs, then lay back down beside me. "I don't have any protection, Sugar. We can't do it all, I'm sorry."

  I quickly counted, realized he was right, and started crying in frustration.

  "Hey, don't, Sugar. I know how to make you feel good. It'll be okay." With that, his hand pushed down the last scrap of lace that covered me, and a big finger parted me gently. Drew stroked me until my own feminine moisture flowed copiously. Then, still gently, he pushed his finger inside. God! I'd needed this; well, needed more than this, but Drew's finger was big, and almost enough to fill me as he stroked me inside.

  My hands were all over him, tugging at his briefs, but he pushed himself away from me, scooting down to put his face in the V of my core. For a moment, his finger withdrew as he used both hands to spread my legs and locate the pearl of my pleasure, then his tongue replaced his hands and the finger found its way back in. I clutched and pulled at his hair as he drove me to a screaming, shattering orgasm.

  Trembling in Drew's arms, I kept saying, "Thank you, thank you," until he stopped me by kissing me deeply. I turned and snuggled into him, in the process brushing against his groin, which he'd kept carefully away from me. The bulge I felt was massive. Startled, I looked down and observed his briefs beating as if his heart…a very large heart…were contained within them.

  "Drew," I breathed. I stroked him through his briefs, but he caught my hand and held it away from him. "Honey, let me, please."

  "You don't have to, I'll be okay," he said, so low I could barely hear him.

  "No, you won't." I wriggled downward, planting a couple of kisses on his chest and abs on my way past. Drew caught my hands and held them against his torso. When my face was in position, I wrenched my hands from Drew's and seized his waistband, pulling downward and freeing the massive beast within.

  The sight of it made me gasp. I'd thought Justin's manhood large and beautiful, but this was a wonder of nature. Thick, long and heavily veined, it almost glowed in the dark room. Without conscious thought, I seized it, but couldn't span it with just one hand. I placed the other on it. Could I possibly get this into my mouth? I wasn't sure, but try I would, despite the half-hearted protests I could hear from somewhere above my head. I opened wide and took the head in, swirling my tongue around it and tasting the pre-cum that had gathered in spite of Drew's intentions.

  I kissed, licked and stretched to suck him in, lost in the moment. That I had this power, to subdue him and pleasure him until he was a quivering wreck, filled me with fierce joy. He’d given up fighting me. He was sprawled on the bed with me kneeling between his legs, ministering to his erection with hands and mouth. I buried my nose in the valley between his groin and his leg, inhaling the spicy scent that I loved about him. Pretending his massive cock was an ice cream cone, I licked from root to tip, all the way around. Each time my tongue reached the head,
he gasped.

  I came to my senses only when Drew clutched my head and began to thrust. Fierce joy coursed through me. I was going to help him release, as he had me, and he was accepting it! With a deep, groan that seemed to take forever to rip from his throat at last, Drew went rigid and spurt after spurt of thick, creamy cum filled my mouth. It surprised me, though of course I knew this would be the outcome. Struggling to stay where he needed me and still breathe, I swallowed convulsively, wringing every last drop from him until he seemed to collapse.

  Drew's hands were urging me upward, and as I scooted back into his arms, I wiped my mouth. "God, Sugar, God. I love you," he gasped.

  I froze. It was too soon for that word! I couldn't give it back to him. I panicked.

  "Drew, you can't stay," I babbled wildly, turning my face from his bewildered expression.

  "But, Sugar,"

  "No! You have to leave. Get your clothes on." He tried to pull me to him and I fought, pummeling his chest with my fists. I was crying hysterically, and Drew was trying to comfort me, but I was beside myself. "Get out! Please, Drew, just go."

  Clearly hurt, not understanding what had happened, Drew turned away from me and got up to put his clothes on, while I continued to sob in the bed. Even I couldn't explain my reaction. I only knew that what I'd just done was wrong on so many levels. When Drew leaned down to give me a last kiss, I turned my face away. He stood there for a moment, then, with a sigh, he left the room.

  I dragged my exhausted body to the door and put the chain on. Then I threw myself on the bed, still naked, curled into a ball, and sobbed myself to sleep.

  ~~~

  I woke to a frantic pounding on the door. Disoriented, I looked around for something to put on, settling for pulling the cocktail dress up over my otherwise naked body. "Okay, okay, I'm coming," I muttered, certainly not loud enough to be heard over the unrelenting pounding on the door. Taking the chain off, I yanked the door open. "WHAT?"

  Rihanna stared at me from the open doorway. Her eyes traveled from my hair in greasy knots to my bare feet, pausing to take in the cocktail dress. Then she strode into the room past me and said, "What the fuck happened?"