by J. H. Croix
“You’re too fucking beautiful as it is, but with your hair down, you’re downright dangerous. No man can see you and not want you,” he said bluntly. “I said I’d have you, and I will, but I don’t intend to share.”
His gaze had gone somber, while all I could do was gape at him. I was so caught in the wild beat of my desire for him, I could barely think. He was worried about my hair?
“Share?” I asked dumbly.
He shrugged, that insouciance he wore so well coming the fore. “Right. I don’t want your four o’clock appointment coming in and getting off on looking at you.”
I had no idea what to say. My mouth opened and closed. Finally, I gave my head a shake and tried to focus. A bit difficult with his cock hot and hard and nestled against my core. Hell, all of him was hard. His body was like an in-the-flesh example of the perfect male specimen—all honed muscle and sinew. Another shake of my head, and I managed to form words.
“Ethan, men don’t notice my hair. They don’t notice me. Trust me on this.”
He arched a brow. “Yes they do, luv. You don’t pay attention. You’re too busy being proper. Trust me on this.”
A laugh escaped as I stared at him. He stepped back and reached up, sliding his hands through my hair. After a second, I realized he was actually trying to put my hair up.
This time I really laughed and swatted at his hands. “Oh stop. I’ll do it. I usually leave it up, but I didn’t know you were coming in, and I hardly got any sleep last night,” I said as I quickly spun my hair into a knot.
I walked to the mirror and smoothed it back from my forehead. Wild though my hair could be, it was long enough to easily tie into a knot. I strode to my desk and snagged two bobby pins from the paperclip holder before returning to the mirror to pin the knot in place.
I wasn’t really thinking. It was all too much and too crazy what I’d just allowed to happen with Ethan. My body was thrumming with need. I spun back to find him standing by my desk, his eyes watching me.
“Have dinner with me,” he said abruptly.
One look in his eyes, and I nearly melted right where I was. But I couldn’t. This was insane. I couldn’t date a client. Not to mention if Ethan knew I was a virgin, he wouldn’t even consider me. He was a player, and I knew it. Good God, the man was in the gossip news all the time, mostly known for his healthy appetite for women and for being plain handsome as all hell.
I started to shake my head, and he shook his right back at me. “Don’t tell me no. I know you want me.”
Even though his words sounded cocky, his tone sounded earnest.
“Ethan, it’s not that, and it’s not just because you’re my client. That’s a thing, but I’m not exactly the kind of girl you go for.”
His eyes narrowed, and he arched a brow. “I think it’s pretty obvious you are,” he said, his tone droll.
Next thing I knew, I went and said the stupidest thing ever. “I seriously don’t think you’re into virgins.”
The second the words flew out of my mouth, I wanted to die. Right there. My face got hot. I fought the urge to run right out of my office because that only meant running right into Jana and my next client.
Ethan’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. He stared at me, hard, for a few beats and then straightened, walking to stand just in front of me.
“Oh no, luv. That’s not a problem.”
Chapter 7
Ethan
I hung back on the pitch and watched the play. Liam, as usual, had set our offense up beautifully. He’d just nicked one in the goal and was already bringing the ball back up the field. I wasn’t sure what was up with the opposing team tonight because the last time we played them, they worked our defense to exhaustion. Tonight, I had to be on my game, but it was a light game for the defense. Not much later, I walked off the pitch with Alex Gordon at my side. Alex was one of the best goalkeepers in professional play anywhere in the world. If you asked me, that is. Nice thing was, pretty much anyone who knew anything about pro football, excuse me soccer here in the US, agreed.
I glanced to him. Alex was forever serious. He’d just locked the opposing team out completely and didn’t even seem to notice. He dragged his sleeve across his face and glanced to me, his brown eyes catching mine. “Good game, eh?”
“It was a bloody easy win.”
He grinned, just barely. “That it was.” He started to say something else as we entered the stadium hallway leading toward the locker room, but he came to a stop, a slow grin spreading across his face. That grin meant only one thing. His girl Harper was here. I glanced ahead to see her weaving through the players ahead of us. She reached Alex, and he swung her up against him, drawing her close for a kiss.
Serious Alex wasn’t so serious when it came to Harper Jacobs. He’d fallen for her like a rock sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Thank fucking god she kept his head above water after that. She wiggled her way down and glanced to me.
“Hey Ethan, another win,” she said with a smile. “You guys barely broke a sweat.”
“Well, your boy here made it bloody hard for the other guys to score. Made my job even easier.”
Harper looped her arm around Alex’s waist as he pulled her to his side and kept on walking to the locker room. With her glossy brown hair and bright blue eyes, Harper was lovely. I could objectively notice that but didn’t feel the slightest pull for her. We chatted casually as we walked to the locker room. Alex dipped his head for a kiss before stepping away from Harper. I never paid much attention to my mates and their loves, but I couldn’t help but notice Alex and Harper now. Their mutual desire was plainly obvious, as was the tenderness in Alex’s eyes. He was crazy protective of her, but Harper was a strong woman and held her own.
I gave my head a shake. What the fuck was I doing staring at them? It wasn’t like I gave a damn about their constant PDA, but all I could think was what it might be like to have something like that with Zoe. Another hard shake of my head, and I made my way into the locker room. A scalding hot shower might get my mind off of Zoe. Problem was ever since she’d dropped her little bomb the other day, I could hardly stop thinking about her.
The noise of the locker room faded when I stepped into the showers, heading to the far corner. With water sluicing over me, all I could think about was the way it felt to kiss her. Some kind of mad, insane heaven. She was so fucking hot and she had no clue. Her mouth was an unholy temptation. And her body? Fuck me. It took all I had not to rip her clothes off and fuck her right there, and that was before I knew she was a virgin. I recalled her taut nipples under the black silk.
Mate, you can’t be fantasizing about Zoe here unless you want a cock stand for everyone to see.
I forced my thoughts off of her nipples, but my mind went straight to the feel of her against me. She was tall with those legs that went on forever. Her skin was like silk. Her panties had been drenched. I’d meant to tease her, but I hadn’t anticipated what it would do to me. I’d barely held onto my control. That wasn’t a problem I ever had. I loved to drag things out, to tease a girl until she was wild. Once again, what I meant to do and what happened with Zoe never turned out to be the same thing.
Hell, I’d gone into her office fully intending to find a chance to kiss her. I’d thought I’d tease her, have a little fun and leave her hot and bothered. I bloody nailed leaving her hot and bothered. Problem was, I left her office so hard I had to go back to my flat and take matters into my own hands. Literally. I was bloody certain that hadn’t happened since my grammar school days. There were many perks to being a pro-footballer. Back in London, you were practically royalty. Hell, just about anywhere in the world. America was a bit behind the times with the hero worship of soccer players, as they dubbed us, but we had our pick of women anywhere we went. I hadn’t had to trouble myself to find a girl since I left for university.
Under usual circumstances, if I had a raging hard on, I found myself a more than willing woman. At the moment, n
o woman other than Zoe appealed to me. Just thinking about scouting about for one nearly bored me to tears. Coach’s warning that I needed to steer clear of pubs would be no trouble. Problem was, how the hell did I persuade Zoe to stop being so uptight about this whole client thing? And was I insane enough to chase after a virgin?
I pondered that question as I toweled off and tossed my clothes on. Out of habit, Tristan and I walked to our flat together. Some nights, I might leave him behind to go out looking for fun. Tonight, I appreciated his typical quiet. I was pondering how the hell it could be Zoe was a virgin. I mean, I knew with utter certainty that she hadn’t gone through life without turning heads. She was bloody gorgeous. Oh, she gave off that buttoned up, proper air for certain. I grinned thinking about how tidy she looked when I left. Her blouse was perfectly in place and her skirt pulled back to its demur length. My mind flashed to the way she’d looked before with her breasts nearly spilling out of her black silk bra, her nipples perked up, and her skirt up around her waist.
Bloody hell. I couldn’t be walking around with a cock stand all the time.
Within a few minutes, I followed Tristan into our flat, heading straight for the refrigerator. A glance inside reminded me it was my turn to do the grocery run this week.
“Aw hell. I forgot to take care of the groceries,” I said, straightening and letting the refrigerator door fall closed.
Tristan flashed a grin and shrugged. “No worries, mate.”
“Oh no. It’s a worry. I’m bloody starving. Pizza?”
At Tristan’s nod, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and promptly dialed our preferred delivery place.
A bit later, we were lounging on the sofa with the pizza on the coffee table. I finished off a slice and eyed Tristan. I had a question and one I wouldn’t ask many of my mates. In fact, likely only Tristan because I trusted him completely. Problem was, I couldn’t believe what I was pondering.
I’d never actually had sex with a virgin. I knew some guys thought it was a thing, but it had never been something I chased after. Zoe dropping that little bomb would normally have sent me the other direction. Instead, the opposite seemed to be happening. All I could think about was her. Even worse, I was worried about it. To be honest, I was a player and I damn well knew it. I liked to have fun and keep things light and easy. I made sure I left women satisfied and figured all was in good fun. But…a virgin? I was having nightmares it would be horrible somehow. I had four sisters I could ask, but I wasn’t about to do that. We were close, but there was no way I wanted to know about their respective first experiences, nor to hear what they might have to say about me even asking them something along these lines.
Tristan had his own sisters and I figured him to be one of the more sensitive mates I knew. Right then. I’d simply ask him.
What I meant to be a question came out not quite so. “Zoe’s a virgin.”
“What the hell, mate? Are you announcing random facts about women now?” Tristan asked as he sputtered on a swallow of his beer.
The funny moment steadied me. I handed him a napkin from the coffee table. After he wiped his chin, he eyed me for a long moment, his way too perceptive gaze boring into me.
“You’re telling me this, why?” he finally asked.
I grabbed another slice of pizza and took a bite. I needed something to do to keep from squirming where I sat. After another few bites, I’d basically inhaled the poor pizza slice. I eyed Tristan and shrugged. “Uh, dunno why I’m telling you,” I finally said.
He gulped down some water and looked back my way. “Right. You don’t know. Perhaps it’s because you’ve got it bad for her and haven’t a bloody clue what to do about it?”
I almost choked on the bite of pizza I’d just taken. I should’ve known better than to try to ask Tristan anything. He was too damn perceptive. There was that and the fact he wasn’t a player, not like me. Rather, he approached women as an interruption to the deeper pursuits of his brain. Beyond playing ball, his only passion was medicine. At least, as far as I could tell. He didn’t avoid women. In fact, the few I’d known him to be involved with were absolutely gaga for him. Back in London, he had a long-term dalliance with a girl he’d gone to university with. It was strictly business. She was as cool and guarded as he was. They had sex, they kept it casual, and there were definitely no messy emotions to interfere with his life.
You asked him for a bloody good reason, and he’s right. You’ve got it bad for Zoe and you have no idea what to do.
All of this would be so much simpler if she weren’t a virgin. I wished like hell I didn’t know that giant detail.
“Don’t see why it should be a thing. If you like her, do something about it. Though I’d wager she’s not the kind of woman you usually chase after. Like I said before,” Tristan said, interrupting my train of thought.
Annoyance flashed through me. “Now why do you say that?”
I didn’t share that Alex had said something to the same effect once before. I might like to have a little fun, but I wasn’t an asshole. Nor was I an idiot.
“Because she’s the real deal man. She’s obviously a damn good attorney, brilliant if her reputation means anything. She’s gorgeous too. However, she’s not the kind of woman to be charmed by a pro athlete. You won’t be finding her at the pubs or anything like that. Never know though. Maybe she wants the same kind of casual thing you prefer. Work seems to be her priority,” Tristan replied.
I stared at him. The side of me I knew so well—the easy-going player side—thought perhaps that would be ideal. I’d show Zoe what she’d been missing all these years and then move along. Strange thing was, this other side of me—one with whom I wasn’t too familiar—didn’t like that so much. Zoe deserved more than a roll in the sheets. Bloody hell. I’d made a muck of things, and I hadn’t even gotten started yet.
My silence must’ve lasted a bit too long. Tristan shook his head slowly. “Mate, I know you’ve got it bad when you haven’t got a thing to say. I’m betting you meant to ask my advice. Not that it’s worth much, but you’ll get it. Zoe’s top shelf. Treat her like she should be treated. The virgin part, I wouldn’t worry so much about. Unless you meet her at her level, it won’t matter.”
I was entirely unaccustomed to anyone implying I couldn’t get a woman I wanted and was affronted. It didn’t help that I was feeling uncertain, something I couldn’t ever recall feeling when it came to women. As such, all I could manage was a muttered curse at Tristan. “Fuck off. If I want Zoe, I’ll have her.”
He grinned. “Aye then. Let me know how it goes.”
Chapter 8
Zoe
“Oh my God, you’re being ridiculous,” Jana said with a shake of her head.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not. Ethan is way out of my league.”
Jana finished chewing the bite of omelet she’d just taken and brushed her hair off her shoulder—her hair was naturally brown with streaks of purple and burgundy. With her typically eye catching hair colors, wide blue eyes, porcelain skin and hourglass figure, she tended to draw attention no matter where we were. At the moment, we were having breakfast at a nondescript diner before heading into the office. The man seated at the booth across from us had spent the last half hour eyeing Jana while she was entirely oblivious. The diner in question was aptly named West Coast Diner. The simple name was befitting its simple location in a square building with silver flashing and a neon sign. It wasn’t fancy, but the food was sublime. We met here once or twice a week before going into the office.
Jana set her fork down and rested her elbows on the table, her eyes narrowing as she considered me. “Trust me, Ethan Walsh has the hots for you. He could barely stop staring at you when I came in because you were making your next appointment wait too long, and I couldn’t miss the fact you two looked like you’d been making out,” she said with a sly grin.
My cheeks flamed. I bought some time by taking a gulp of coffee and waving for our waitress to get me a refill. I’d been beyon
d flustered by the time Ethan left my office the other day. That had been a full four days ago, and not an hour had passed since that I wasn’t replaying those heated moments. Just now, my mind flashed to the teasing feel of his fingers dragging across the wet silk of my panties. Oh hell. Just thinking about it elicited a throb of need between my thighs. I’d managed to avoid Jana’s prying questions at the time because I had an impatient client waiting. I let that appointment run late because I knew she had to leave for her exercise class. She’d been gone when I finally emerged from my office.
I’d been waiting for her to say something for days and had almost, not quite but almost, convinced myself she must not have noticed that my clothes had been hastily put back in place and my hair wasn’t as tidy as usual. I should’ve known she was letting me fret and waiting to pounce.
I sighed and glared at her. “I don’t know what you mean,” I finally hedged.
Jana threw a glare right back at me. “Hon, I’ve had way more experience with men than you. I know how I look after I make out with someone in the office.”
“You make out with guys at the office? When do you have time for that?”
That earned me a slow eye roll. “Not since I’ve been working for you, but you do remember why I left my last job, right?”
“Oh right. I forgot.”
Jana had a hot and heavy relationship with her last boss who’d lied to her about the tiny detail of his marriage. When she discovered the truth, she promptly quit, but not before her reputation took a hit. She’d been a paralegal at a major law firm in Seattle. She should’ve been an attorney, but she only made it halfway through law school when her younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and died. Between that and the sordid details that leaked out about her alleged affair, well, to say her career had been derailed was an understatement. She’d been a friend in law school, so I’d reached out and offered her a job. We’d gone from being sort of friends to the best of friends since then.