Love and Other Games

by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, Kara Leigh Miller

  “Cole,” she said in a cautionary tone that was an octave above a whisper. “You’re really going to do this now?”

  Cole gathered her hair, his fingers grazing along the nape of her neck as he placed it over her left shoulder. His breath was hot against her neck, his kiss even hotter. “Do you have a better idea of what we can do to pass the time?”

  Nope. Her mind was a blank slate. That didn’t stop her from trying to come up with something, though. It’s not like they could talk. Cole slipped his hand up her shirt and cupped her breast, his thumb and forefinger gently pinched her nipple. She pushed back into him, her ass rubbing against his crotch. He groaned into her ear and with his other hand, flattened his palm against her stomach and pulled her tight to him.

  “I didn’t think so.” His hands went to her jeans and he slowly unzipped them, sliding his hand down the front of them.

  Brenna clutched his wrist, but his fingers were already on her, rubbing her and teasing her. “Cole,” she moaned, turning her face to find his mouth. His tongue parted her lips and delved into her mouth, kissing her with a frenzied desperation, swallowing her moans of approval. God, she couldn’t believe she was on the edge already. Damn, he was good. She reached behind her and massaged him through his jeans. Apparently he liked it because each time she’d squeeze, he’d increase the speed and intensity of his fingers between her thighs. Still holding his wrist, she rotated her hips, bearing down on his hand.

  “Feels good,” he murmured.

  “Yeah … ” She wasn’t sure if he meant the way she was touching him or the way he was touching her. Did it really matter? Not to her. She was too consumed with her building orgasm to care about anything but reaching that peak and plunging over the edge. Brenna started to cry out, and Cole silenced her with a hard kiss.

  “Shh,” he said against her lips. “Quiet, darlin’.”

  “Oh, God.” Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she succumbed. Of course he’d have to use that accent now. It was the thing to finally send her careening into blackness, spiraling deeper and deeper into pure physical rapture. Cole continued to kiss her, his ministrations slowing as her orgasm eased from her body. Her breath came in short, ragged bursts, and her knees trembled as he removed his hand from her jeans. She put her hand on the door to steady herself and fought to regain her composure.

  “I think he’s gone,” Cole said.

  Brenna elbowed him in the stomach. “You’re such a jerk.”

  Cole chuckled as he opened the door a crack and peeked out. The office was dark and empty. Brenna sighed with relief as they exited the closet. She took a deep breath. It felt good to be out of there and put some distance between her and Cole.

  “For the record, you didn’t think I was a jerk a few seconds ago.”

  Brenna rolled her eyes and refused to smile no matter how much she wanted to. She snatched their coats from the closet. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Chapter Seven

  Cole’s gaze lingered on her ass as she walked to the closet and bent over to gather their coats and the torch. He smiled and went to the door, intent on peeking out to make sure the coast was clear. “Uh … Brenna, we have a little problem.” Cole turned the doorknob, jiggling it a little harder. “The door is locked.”

  “What?” She put on her coat and looked at him in the darkness. “Nice try, Cole, but that’s not a very funny joke.”

  “It’s not a joke. I’m serious. The door is locked.”

  She walked over and tried the knob. The door opened. “You are such a jerk,” she said, hitting him on the arm and chest.

  He rubbed his arm and laughed. Brenna laughed, too, and he flung his arm around her shoulders. He really wished she’d laugh more often. It was a wonderful sound. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

  Peeking into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear, Cole dropped his arm from her shoulders, took Brenna’s hand and led her down the corridor, their footsteps and shallow breaths the only sound. They’d barely taken five steps when a voice spoke from behind them. “Hey! You’re not supposed to be down here.”

  “Run,” Cole said, keeping his grip on Brenna’s hand, dragging her through the hall.

  “Hey, stop! Stop right there! What are you doing?”

  Cole didn’t know if that guy would call security or not, but he figured it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of caution. He busted through the community center doors and out into the frigid air. He hesitated for the briefest moment before deciding to avoid going through the village. Instead, he led her away from the village. They didn’t stop running until they were far enough away that the lights faded and the only illumination was the full moon. Cole’s heart pounded in his chest, the sound of his rapid heartbeat deafening him to everything around him. He drew a deep breath, and then laughed. “That was close.”

  “Yeah, that was … ” Brenna panted, “that was the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” She laughed. It was a deep, genuine belly laugh that lit up her face, which was crimson from the exertion of their impromptu run. Her dark hair shone beneath the moonlight; her hazel eyes danced from brown to green and back again. In that moment, she looked more alive than anyone he’d ever seen. She looked happy. And beautiful. God, did she look beautiful.

  Something he couldn’t quite explain stirred to life in his gut. It was intense and overwhelming and it drove him to near madness in a mere second. One single thought consumed him: he had to have her. Here. Now. Maybe forever. Cole yanked her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, savoring the taste of her soft, sweet lips. He took a long drink of her lips before nudging his tongue into her mouth, re-exploring every delicious inch.

  “Brenna,” he groaned. Son of a bitch he needed her; he needed her so bad. Why did they have to be out in the freezing cold? Why hadn’t he dragged her straight back to his room so that he could tear the clothes from her body and kiss every inch of her skin? The desire to see her naked again, to feel her silky flesh beneath his fingers, consumed him. She slipped her hands into his open jacket, wrapping her arms around his back and leaning into him. The warmth of her body pressed against his made him forget about the cold air biting at his face and hands; it made him oblivious to the snow that had begun to fall.

  She pulled away from his kiss and shivered. “It’s freezing out here.” Brenna buried her face in his chest and clung to him, as if trying to absorb all of his body heat.

  He hugged her tight. “I think it’s safe to go back,” he said reluctantly. Cole knew that if he walked her back to her room, she’d say goodnight and he’d be spending the night alone—again. But he couldn’t necessarily keep her outside in the snow, either. With a sigh he removed her arms from around his waist and guided her back toward the village. For the first time in his life, Cole was beginning to think that he might not get the woman he’d set his sights on. That sucked.

  They walked silently back to Brenna’s room, her teeth chattered the entire way. Cole’s thoughts were preoccupied with how much he wanted her, the things he wanted to do to her, and how he would never get the chance. As she fumbled to get the door unlocked, he realized something. He was Colton fucking Campbell. And he wasn’t a quitter! He put his hand over Brenna’s and winced at how cold her fingers were. Taking the key from her, he unlocked the door and opened it. She didn’t rush inside as he expected her to. “Thanks for your help tonight,” he said.

  She smiled. “Thanks for not getting us arrested.” Brenna handed him the torch.

  Cole laughed. “Thanks.” She had a great sense of humor when she chose to show it. He leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. It felt like he was sucking on an ice cube. Straightening, he said, “Go inside and take a shower. Get yourself warmed up, and I’ll see you at the game tomorrow.” He stepped back; hoping that his last ditch effort wouldn’t blow up in his face.

  “You were outside just as long as I was.”

  “Yes, I was.” What was her point? “Good night, Brenna.” He turne
d to walk away before she saw the disappointment on his face. Five steps—that’s all he’d give her before he turned back around and kissed her so hard she’d have no choice but to beg him to come inside.

  One step … two steps …

  “You must be cold, too. Don’t you want to warm up?”

  “I will.” Three steps … four steps … Come on, say it, ask me to stay.

  “Y’know, you’re the reason I’m so cold in the first place. It only seems fair that you be the one to warm me up.”

  Cole stopped cold. Was that an invitation? Yup. That was definitely an invitation and he had no plans to decline it. He closed the gap between them with two long strides. He threw the torch into her room, not caring where it landed or what happened to it. Then he clutched her face in his hands and crushed his mouth over hers. Using the force of their kiss, he pushed her into her room and kicked the door shut with his foot. Moments ago she’d been cold; now she was hot, burning for him. “Took you long enough to ask me,” he murmured, guiding her coat from her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

  “It was clear you weren’t going to make a move.” She captured his lips and yanked on his coat until it was on the floor with hers.

  All this time he thought he’d been the one calling the shots, that he’d been the one trying to play her against herself when she’d been the one doing so. He smiled against her lips. “You’re the most frustrating woman I’ve ever met.” Cole grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it off over her head. Then he unhooked her bra and threw it over his shoulder behind him. Finally, he thought, his excitement getting the best of him. This was finally going to happen.

  ***

  “And you’re impossibly arrogant … oh God,” she moaned when his lips closed around her already hard nipple. His mouth was so hot, his tongue so diabolical. And to think she’d almost let him walk away. Sometimes she could be so stubborn—to the point it was detrimental to her sanity.

  “Not arrogant, confident.” Cole left her breasts and she used the opportunity to pull on his shirt until he obliged her by taking it off. “There’s a difference.” He smiled wickedly.

  She coursed her hand down the length of his torso, her fingers tracing the contours of his defined muscles and abs. He had the best looking body, better than any man she’d ever been with. He was gorgeous! “Shut up and kiss me.”

  Cole pulled her flush against his body, his erection poking her stomach, and he kissed her. It was a kiss unlike any he’d given her before, and she had trouble keeping up with him. There was so much passion and hunger in the way his tongue sliced over hers. She put her arms around his neck and moaned. Her breasts were pressed to his chest; his light dusting of hair tickled her nipples in a delicious, erotic sort of way. Keeping a hold of him, she began to walk backward toward the bathroom and the shower. Despite how hot things were getting between them, her body was still cold. Plus, she really wanted to see how he looked when he was all wet and soapy.

  “I plan on doing a hell of a lot more than just kissing, darlin’.” He reached for her jeans and she for his.

  By the time they reached the bathroom door, they’d left a trail of clothes behind them. Her hand was wrapped firmly around the length of his erection, stroking it. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside of her. It was an embarrassment to think about how long it had been since the last time she’d had sex, but she had a feeling that this—Cole—was going to be well worth the wait she’d endured.

  His hand was between her thighs, playing with her; his tongue was in her mouth, kissing her as they continued to awkwardly make their way into the bathroom. “Shit,” Cole said, tearing his lips from hers. “Condom.”

  She was momentarily snapped out of her sex induced haze. “Please tell me you have one.” Knowing her luck, this would be the one time playboy Colton Campbell didn’t have a condom in his wallet.

  He raised a brow. “One?” He laughed. “I’ve got a whole pocket full of them.”

  Brenna put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “You are so cocky,” she said with a laugh.

  “No, I’m just prepared.”

  “For what? An orgy?” she teased.

  Cole took her wrist and yanked her off balance and straight into his arms. He brought his lips to hers as if he were going to kiss her, but then stopped. “I don’t share, Brenna.”

  The tone of his voice, the look in his eyes was so serious it stole her breath. She swallowed the sudden dryness from her throat. “Good.” It really was a relief to know that Cole wasn’t into the kinky stuff. He traced her lips with his tongue before delving into her mouth. His hands trailed up and down her back causing tremors to shoot up her spine. “Cole,” she moaned, and then he deepened the kiss, ratcheting her already out of control need for him even higher.

  He was going to destroy her; she knew it. Physically, sexually, emotionally—she was a goner and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to. In the short amount of time she’d known him, Cole had made her feel more alive than she’d felt in the last four years. It was a feeling she didn’t want to lose no matter the cost to her heart.

  “Fuck, Brenna,” he snarled as he lifted her into his arms. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Fuck the shower. I’m not waiting a second longer.” Cole backed up a few steps, and then he sat down on the closed toilet lid, bringing her down on him, burying himself inside of her. Their simultaneous moans reverberated through the small bathroom.

  The sensations that spiked through her body had a dizzying effect. He felt incredible—and large, almost to the point of discomfort. But then he started to move, slowly at first, agonizingly slow, and then a little faster. Brenna’s body adjusted to him quickly; and just as quickly she became awash in the pleasure he was so good at giving.

  “I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you,” he said, holding her down on him, making it difficult for her to move, which she desperately wanted to do.

  Yeah, he wanted her all right. He wanted her naked and in his bed. That was it, and she wasn’t delusional enough to think otherwise. She wouldn’t allow her mind to wander with thoughts of being the first and only woman to make Cole want to settle down, and she definitely wouldn’t allow her mind to voice the one thought that truly terrified her: that she was starting to fall for him. No, this was just sex. Nothing more.

  Brenna cupped his face with her hands and nipped at his lips as she tried to rotate her hips—to no avail. “Stop teasing,” she whined. Cole gave her what she needed: several fast thrusts. Then he stilled again.

  “More,” he groaned as he stood. She kept her legs around him while he awkwardly made his way into the bedroom. “I need more, Brenna. I need to feel you, all of you.” He laid her on the bed and removed himself from her body.

  The lack of contact, the sudden intense feeling of emptiness hit her harder than a runaway freight train. She wanted to reach for him, to pull his body back down on top of hers, but she was paralyzed by her thoughts: If this was how she felt now, how was she going to feel when the Olympics were over and they parted ways never to see each other again? She mentally chastised herself for allowing Cole to get to her in that way, for letting her guard down and getting emotionally caught up with a man who clearly didn’t want anything other than sex. That’s just who he was. She knew that going into this.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said as he kneeled on the bed between her still parted legs.

  She’d been so consumed with her own thoughts she hadn’t seen him get a condom or put it on, but one look at him and she knew that’s exactly what he’d done. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she watched his mouth get progressively closer to hers. Kissing him would never get old. Then she felt the exquisite thrill of him filling her so completely—in more ways than just the physical. He kept his weight in his arms, his hands on either side of her head, and his upper body poised over hers. It wasn’t enough. She needed to feel the warmth and strength of his bod
y fully pressed to hers. Brenna’s fingers dug into the hard flesh of his biceps as she attempted to pull him down on top of her.

  As if knowing exactly what she needed, Cole gave it to her. She wrapped her arms around his back and tucked her feet under his ass, riding the sinfully rhythmic motion of his hips. “Brenna,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to her neck, peppering it with kisses before dragging his lips back to hers. “God, baby, you feel so good.”

  She half moaned half groaned. No man had ever called her baby before, not even her last long term boyfriend. The sound of it, soft, needy, filled with affection, had her throat constricting with the threat of tears. Each whispered word he spoke; every gentle kiss he gave had a devastating effect on her. What they were doing wasn’t having sex; they were making love. It was so far from what she expected from Cole that she wasn’t really sure how to comprehend it. She’d expected something frenzied, animalistic almost. Not something soft and caring. Not something that was both physically and emotionally satisfying. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

  “Open your eyes for me, darlin’.”

  It wasn’t a request she could deny, and when she opened her eyes, she was a little surprised to see him staring at her so intently. His eyes weren’t the same sparkly green they normally were. They were darker and wolfish with hunger, yet there was also something calming about his gaze. She lost herself in him. Totally, completely, and without regret, she gave everything she had to this man. And Christ if he wasn’t doing one hell of a job chipping away at the barrier she’d worked so hard to keep in place to protect herself from men like him. He was single handedly annihilating all of her defenses, leaving her raw and exposed to him.

  “That’s better,” he said with a faint smile.

  “Cole … yes … ” Had sex always been this good? Or was it just the man she was with? No, it was all Cole she decided.

  He took both of her hands and pinned them above her head, intertwining their fingers, effectively preventing her from being able to touch him. That did not please her. But then he steadily increased his pace, sending her careening toward the edge, and she forgot all about wanting to course her hands up and down his back, of wanting to feel him shudder beneath her touch. Moments later she lost what little control she had left. Cole’s name fell from her lips as a wailing moan. They succumbed to their orgasms, leaving them both sated and exhausted; and leaving Brenna with one all-consuming emotion: love.