Play Me

by Alla Kar

  I shrug. “Just having a friendly conversation with my amigos.”

  Roxy’s chair breaks our stare down. She has a worried look on her face as she glances back and forth between the two of us. “Everything okay?” she asks.

  “Never better,” I say.

  Blake turns toward her. “I have to get going. I have a class in a few minutes. Can I get your number? This was fun.”

  Automatically my hand clenches around my crutches that are leaning up against the table beside me. Roxy’s face turns blood red but she nods. “Sure. Give me your phone.”

  Sure? Is she serious? Ricky Martin over here? Really? She’s into that? A heavy pressure swarms my chest but I push it down. It doesn’t fucking matter. I’m so not into her. She’s a lunatic. Blake digs his phone from his pocket and slides it to her. I watch in horror as they exchange numbers. She’s really into this guy? Whatever.

  Blake slides his phone back into his pocket and stands up. “It was fun. I’ll give you a call later.” His gaze drags toward mine. “See you at practice, Weston.”

  Then he just leaves.

  Fucking bastard.

  ***

  Roxy is in the training room when I walk in. She’s bending over to tie her shoe. A thin black strap of her underwear peeking out from over her shorts. My dick moves in my shorts. Damn. Knocking my crutch against the door, she shoots up to a standing position. Her dark brown hair is pulled up on top of her head.

  She watches me through narrowed eyes as I walk to the table and take a seat. “I’m ready to be fondled doctor.”

  She points in front of her. “Stand up. We’re stretching today.”

  She’s mad. She won’t even look me in the eyes. Sliding off the table, I take a small step to stand in front of her. My thigh throbs but I bite my lip to keep from screaming. “Hands up,” she says, stretching her hands above her head. A slither of skin shows between her pants and shirt. Mocking her, I bend over and touch my toes. The weight I put on my leg burns.

  “Up.”

  I follow her like this for ten minutes. We go up and down then over to the side. I watch her body bend so easily. “So … you and Blake.”

  With her hands above her head she narrows her eyes at me. “What about it?” she snaps.

  I hold back my smile. “Nothing. Just didn’t peg you as someone that easy.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean,” she asks, slamming her fists down on her hips. “I’m not easy. We just exchanged numbers, not bodily fluids. Not that it’s your business either way, Sunshine.”

  Pressing my lips together, I take a step toward her. Pain shoots up my leg. Then I take another one. Roxy’s back is against the counter as she watches me closely. “First the number, then the date …” Carefully, I place my hands on each side of her body. She smells like flowers. The scent goes straight to my dick and makes camp. “Then the kiss,” I whisper, my lips skimming the length of her shoulder. She’s still in front of me, her breath increasing. “Then the fuck, where you’d scream his name.” Roxy’s mouth presses together tightly and her chest begins to move rapidly.

  “What are you doin’?” she whispers.

  Smiling, I grab the water on the counter that’s sitting behind her. “Getting my water,” I say, taking a cautious step backwards. I watch her as I take the bottle in my mouth and guzzle it down.

  Both hands curl into fists at her sides. “I think we’re done for today.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “You’re the professional. If you think we’ve done enough stretching.” We’ve only been here for fifteen minutes. We both know we’re not nearly ready to call it a day.

  “Get on the table.”

  “Oh, I like when you talk dirty, stalker,” I say, winking before wobbling back to the table.

  She groans and then reaches inside of her pocket to get her ringing cellphone. “Hello. No, I said six not four! It’s six every day. Can you just please wait until I get home? Just a little while longer. Thanks. Bye.” She shoves her phone back into her pocket.

  Who the hell is nagging her like that? It’s not Blake because his stupid ass is at practice where I need to be. “Boyfriend?” I ask.

  “What?” she asks, turning to look at me.

  “On the phone?”

  She shakes her head. “No.” And that’s all I get. I can’t really blame her, though.

  She twitches over to me and stands between my legs. One hand reaches out and pushes down on my upper thigh. A brown piece of hair falls from the top of her head and she tries to blow it back up.

  Pressing harder into my thigh, she begins to make slow circles. “Fuck,” I groan out and tighten my hands around the edge of the table.

  “That feel good?” she asks. God, I never thought anything she could say would be that fucking sexy. Maybe it’s the way those perfect DSL’s are so pouty, and coated with pink gloss.

  Lifting my eyes to meet her green ones, I nod. “It feels fuckin’ great, sweetheart.” Reaching over, I tuck the fallen piece of hair behind her ear. Trailing my fingertip down her jaw I stop at her lips. She has that doe in the headlight look. My eyes drop to her lips, and I have no idea why but I want to fuck her mouth with mine. I never kiss on the lips. Never. And I want to devour her mouth. Why? I have no fucking idea but it’s taking over me. The urge to slide my tongue into her pretty pink mouth and fuck it up in every way possible.

  What the hell …

  Leaning closer to her, I hover my mouth an inch from hers. She isn’t massaging my leg anymore; she’s gripping it tightly in her small hand. The movement doesn’t go unnoticed. God, I’m so fucking hard. Leaning even closer, she takes a step backwards. She’s shaking her head like she is snapping out of a daze.

  “I –I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she turns around, grabs her things and bolts like I told her I had Aids.

  I stare at the empty doorway. Did she just bail on me?

  “What the fuck,” I say to no one.

  ***

  Dom is sitting on the couch reading a text book when I wobble in. “Hey, crimple. How was rehab?”

  God don’t get me started. “You don’t want to know,” I say before slipping off my shoes and flopping onto our old love seat. “This fuckin’ sucks massive balls.”

  Dom laughs and closes his book. “Coach has made the freshman fucker that tackled you run drills every day.”

  “Good. That’s what the bastard needs,” I say into my pillow.

  Dom laughs and shuts his book. “I’m heading uptown soon. You need anything, bro?”

  I shake my head into the pillow and listen while he gathers his things. “What do you know about Blake?”

  The sound of Dom shuffling through some papers stops. “Not much. Why?”

  I glance over my shoulder at Dom and shrug. “Just curious. I don’t think I like the bastard.”

  Dom laughs and pulls his dreads out of his ponytail, letting them fall around his shoulder. “Because of Roxy?”

  I scoff. “No, that girl drives me fucking looney tunes. I swear I want to strangle her one minute and fuck her the next.”

  Dom raises his eyebrow. “But you’re not interested?”

  “Hell no.”

  “Then why the curiosity?”

  “Damn, can’t a guy just be curious about his teammate? Shit.”

  Dom presses his lips together and walks toward the door. “Sure, Sunshine. If you say so.”

  Turning over, I place my leg on top of a pillow and flip Dom off. “Dude, I’m not interested. Just curious.”

  He puts his hands out in surrender. “Okay. Whatever you say.” He reaches for the door right as someone knocks.

  Rebecca is leaning against the doorjamb when Dom opens the door, a sultry smile on her face. The low-cut shirt she’s wearing shows me everything I’m about to get. “Hey, Dom,” she says.

  He gives her a small smile and turns back to look at me.

  “Definitely just curious,” I say before gesturing for Rebecca to come in. Dom laughs as h
e shuts the door behind him.

  Chapter Six

  Roxy

  “I’ve got him, Roxy. You two go have some fun,” Martha, Erica’s Mom says. She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. I swear she’d adopt Maddox if I’d let her. She’s the closest thing I have to a mother, since mine kicked me out as soon as I told her I was pregnant. She runs her hand over his black hair and tugs him close to her hip. “We’ll be here tomorrow ready for you.”

  Smiling, I give Martha a wave. “Thanks so much, Martha. Bye, baby. You have fun with Mrs. Martha.”

  Maddox steps forward and wraps me in a hug. “I will. Martha is going to let me watch the game.”

  I smile up at Martha and she winks at me. “Shoo, shoo. You two get out of here.”

  Martha guides Maddox inside and shuts the door behind her. I watch the door for a second after it’s closed. Erica loops her arm through mine and tugs me off of her mother’s front steps. She doesn’t give me time to let the guilt sink in.

  It’s ten at night but Erica makes it impossible to make a run for it. It’s not that I don’t like to party, I do, but I always feel guilty leaving Maddox with Martha. He loves her, but I’m his mother.

  “Stop thinkin’ about it, Roxy,” Erica says, opening the passenger seat door for me.

  “I’m not cripple, Erica. I can get my own door.” I slide into her car and shut the door. The skirt of my dress skids upward, exposing my lacey pantyhose that Erica insisted I wear. Tugging down the hem, I hear Erica laugh from beside me.

  “You look fuckin’ hot, stop worrying about it.”

  I’m not just worrying I’m freaking the hell out. Blake text me last night and asked if I wanted to go to the party tonight with him. Now he’s waiting on me. “I haven’t been out with a guy … since Ryan. And we all know how that ended.”

  Erica frowns. “Well, it’s about time you just go and let loose. Kiss him. Dance with him. And no rage this time, okay?”

  “Rage?” I turn toward her. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

  Erica gives me a long sideways glance. Her glittery earrings swinging when she tilts her head. She looks like a shimmery fairy. It’s adorable. “Well, you went off and got completely drunk. Then you went and caused a scene with Weston.”

  I groan. “Stop saying his name like that.”

  Erica raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”

  Pulling out my lip gloss, I pull down the passenger side mirror. “Like you’re going to orgasm just from saying it.”

  “I may,” she laughs. “Have you seen him? Or do you turn off your sight when you’re around him?”

  Do I see him? How in the hell could I not see him. He’s gorgeously annoying. That ridiculously hot guy in the mall that you can’t help but stare at and blush when he sees you fawning over him. It’s so infuriatingly destructive. “I’m definitely not blind around him.” I pucker my lips and shut the visor. Turning to look at her, I press my lips together. “We almost kissed the other day.”

  Erica jerks toward me causing us to sway over the white line. “What! And you forgot to tell me this? What the hell happened?”

  I rest my head against her seat. “I don’t know. He’s so aggravating. I can’t stand him but he’s always so close. I’m sure it’s the charm that’s evaporated every single pair of panties in this zip code.”

  Erica’s shaking her head when I look at her. “Didn’t you just tell me that you haven’t been out in a while?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then toss it back at him.”

  “What?”

  Erica blows up her blonde bangs. “Go get one good fuck out of him and then move on. This way you can get something you desperately need with a ridiculously hot man and you’re both happy.”

  “So you’re suggesting a one night stand? What about Blake?”

  Erica turns down the radio and turns into the Phi Lamb fraternity house. “Have fun with Blake. Dance. Kiss. Have sex. Date him. It’s up to you what you’re lookin’ for.” She fluffs her hair in the mirror. “But I’d suggest one … or two good nights with Weston.”

  A good night with Weston. I’m not sure those words even make sense in a sentence together. He drives me crazy. But … he has a little charm, right?

  “Here,” Erica says, shoving a flask in my face.

  “Aren’t we here to get drunk? Why are we drinking now?”

  “Because,” Erica says, adjusting her top. “We need to loosen you up before we get inside, especially if you’re going to let loose and have fun. Go ahead and take a drink.”

  She’s right. I need to let loose. Turning the flask up, I chug down some brown liquor. It burns my throat. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I hand the flask back to Erica who shoves it in her jacket pocket. “Ready?”

  I swallow the nervous lump in my throat. “Ready.”

  Music blares from the open fraternity house windows. People litter the lawn. Some of them dancing, but most are just drinking and laughing. My heels click-clock against the brick walkway as Erica drags me toward the open front door.

  Heat engulfs me as soon as we enter the room. There’s definitely more people here this time than last. And a lot of freshman girls are half-dressed and drunk.

  “This place is packed,” I yell over the music toward Erica. She turns back and wiggles her eyebrows.

  “It’s bloody brilliant,” she yells back.

  Elbows shove at me while I try to keep up with Erica who is halfway to the kitchen. A keg is sitting on the kitchen table. A litter of frat boys are chugging down Red Solo cups beside it. Jason, the quarterback, throws his arm around Erica. “You’re hot. What’s your name?”

  Erica looks back at me and gives me that live a little grin. I watch as he pulls on her hair and touches her arm. Erica laughs and leans closer to him. I don’t even worry about her; she can kick butt if it comes down to it.

  “You made it, Mami,” I hear in my ear.

  Turning around, I brace myself against the kitchen counter behind me. Blake leans closer to my ear. “You want something to drink?”

  Yes. I think it’s the only way I’ll get through this. Nodding, I watch as he turns and pours me a drink. His low-slung jeans look great on him. His T-shirt tightens around his arms as he reaches for the punch. He isn’t really big like the linebackers, but he’s lean. Dark eyes with a heavy brow. He’s got a Mario Lopez vibe to him but with tattoos and long hair. Handing me my drink, Blake leans against the counter. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “Me, too,” I lean up and whisper. “It’s nice to get out.”

  He smiles, a dimple denting on his right cheek. I sip on my drink for a few minutes. It’s strong but I push it down. “You want to dance?”

  My eyes turn to the group of gyrating students in the middle of the living room. Erica is in the corner grinding against Jason, who’s holding his hands up and pushing against her.

  I glance up at him and nod. “Hell yes.”

  With his hand pressed on my lower back, he guides me through the group of young adults. My pulse is in my ears, the liquor starting to course through me, giving me that extra nudge to let loose. Once we’re in the middle of the living room, Blake turns me against him and wraps his arms around my waist. I smile as we sway to the beat, his firm chest pressed against my back.

  Wrapping my hand around his neck, I smile as he whispers the words of the song into my ear. Spanish. He’s singing to me in Spanish. I think my heart just dropped from my body. Rolling my neck, I glance in front of me and my mouth dries up.

  On the couch in front of the open living room window, Weston is sitting there staring at me. His dirty blonde hair ruffled, light facial hair covering his jaw. Hooded eyes hold me in my place where I suddenly feel like I don’t belong. That strong jaw is locked, his thick lips pressed together in a hard line.

  Every inch of my body heats as I watch him watch me. Some freshman that probably fits into a size zero is giving him a lap dance. Her brightly pink bra shows every tim
e she bends over in his face. But he doesn’t look. His eyes are settled on Blake’s hands around my waist. “You move so smooth, Mami,” Blake whispers in my ear.

  Turning my head slightly, I give him a small smile. “It’s been a while.”

  He bites on my earlobe making my stomach tighten. “You’re doing great.”

  Heat swarms my neck and cheeks but the alcohol is sending me over the edge. Who cares if Weston’s watching? He doesn’t own me. Hell, he doesn’t even like me. Who does he think he is? Trying to kiss me one day and acting insanely hot because he’s jealous. I can dance with whoever I want to. I don’t need him giving me dirty looks while a girl gives him a lap dance. Who died and made him the king of me?

  Gyrating my hips against Blake harder, I toss my head back on his shoulder. Teeth and lips skim down my neck, spiraling ancient hormones that haven’t moved in a while.

  I have no idea how long we dance but before long I’m about to pee on myself. Turning my face up, I yell, “I’ve gotta find the bathroom. See you in a bit?”

  Blake nuzzles his lips against my neck and nods. “Come back.”

  How could I not? I’m actually having a decent time. Shoving my way through the crowd, I stagger up the stairs toward a long hallway. I check the rooms down the hall until I open the right door. I sit my cellphone on the bathroom counter and pull down my pantyhose.

  Finally, relief!

  It’s not until I’m washing my hands that the door opens. I drop the hand towel in my hand and jerk around. Weston is standing in the doorway. His huge hands wrapped over the top of the doorframe. The entire entrance is taken up by him. Dirty blonde hair is disheveled on top of his head. But he isn’t smiling. He doesn’t even look nice.

  “Uh … excuse you. I’m tryin’ to use the bathroom.”

  Weston raises an eyebrow, limps forward and locks the bathroom door behind him with a click. “What are you doing, Roxy?” he asks, his voice rough. Those brown eyes lock with mine and pin me in place. With an aggressive I haven’t seen from him, he stalks toward me, without his crutches. When he stops, I’m pressed against the counter. Both of his hands are resting on each side of me. His lips an inch away from my own. I try to regain my rational thoughts but my head is spinning. Devouring itself in his scent. “What are you doing?” he asks again.