by Joanna Blake
Well, normally anyway.
I hid a frown, realizing I was going to be stuck dealing with him all year.
I could have kicked my father.
I could have screamed.
Instead, I smiled sweetly and nodded.
"I look forward to working with you Mr. Dupree."
He grinned at me.
"I'm sure you do."
I bit back a sharp reply. It was clear he thought he was winning points with me, just by standing there. Oh how I longed to wipe that smug look off his handsome face! I was sure he was used to women falling at his feet. And now that he was a professional player it was just going to get worse.
Well, he'd just met the one woman who would never bend over backwards to please him. I was not interested. Not in the least.
I picked up my bag and nodded to them.
"I'll see you at home, father. Goodbye Mr. Dupree."
He jogged after me.
"I'll walk you to your car."
"That won't be necessary."
"I don't mind."
I kept walking, ignoring the man looming over me. He actually blocked out the sun, which could come in handy on such a hot day. Maybe if I wasn't so aggravated I'd thank him for being SPF 1000. But I was way too annoyed by his presence.
I picked up my pace. After a few minutes I was breathing heavily in the humid air, a thin sheen of sweat covering my skin. I scowled, annoyed to see that his long legs carried him so much farther with hardly any effort. He looked dry as a bone too, smiling at me as if we were good friends.
"What do you do around here for fun anyways?"
"I don't."
"You don't have fun?"
I shook my head, trying not to let him see how angry I was getting.
"That's too bad."
I had my opening to tell him that it was not too bad and just to move on to the next woman. For some reason I said nothing. Maybe I was curious to see what outrageous thing he would say next.
"I was thinking… since we're going to be working together so closely we should get together. Let our hair down."
"We won't."
"Won't what?"
I stopped in the middle of the parking lot, trying to stare him into submission. The daft man just stood there, grinning at me like a fool.
"We won't be working together closely. A few events here and there. We don't need to be friends."
"But I want to be friends."
He stepped closer to me.
"Real good friends."
I gasped at his audacity. He was either the most brazen, or the most stupid man I had ever met in my life. Possibly both.
"Whatever you are thinking right now… That will not be happening so you can just forget it."
I started walking again. I clenched my fists as he followed me to my car. I reached into my purse, fumbling for my keys. He had me so unnerved I didn't know what to do with myself.
"But I can't forget it."
I looked up at him sharply as I found my key chain, clicking it to unlock the door. I was annoyed as he opened the door for me. Even more so when he held the door open after I'd got in. He tilted his head to the side, staring at my legs.
He made a grimace as if it was hard for him to look at them. As if my very legs caused him pain. A pain he was clearly enjoying. It was absurd.
"No ma'am, no I won't be forgetting you. I'll be thinking of you later. Quite a lot of thinking I expect. More than once, that's for damn sure."
My jaw must have dropped. Was he saying that- that he was going to-
He stopped looking at my legs long enough to wink.
Dear lord, he was. That was exactly what he was saying. He was implying that he would think of me while he… while he pleasured himself.
I wanted to tell him to go to hell. I wanted to run over his foot. I wanted to drive off and never see him again.
But I couldn't. He was too important to my dad, and quite frankly, I didn't have the heart to hurt anyone, let alone a superb athlete like Cade Dupree.
I reached out for the door and grasped it, giving him time to get out of the way.
"Goodbye Mr. Dupree."
"Goodnight Ms. Rivers."
I ignored his smirk as I slammed the door shut. But I couldn't ignore the feeling of his eyes on me as I drove away. I could still feel those eyes on me hours later as I crawled into bed.
Chapter Four
Cade
I pulled on a beer, sitting on the terrace of my room. I heard the low rumble of the other guys talking at the other end of the hotel. Since I was a late addition, my room was in a different wing. I didn't mind though. I liked my quiet, and I wasn't sure friendship was on the agenda with most of these guys. Some of the big shots had their own houses, but a bunch of us stayed in a hotel.
And what a hotel it was.
I had never, not once in my life, stayed in a place like this.
It stank of money. Thick carpets in the hallway, chandeliers in the lobby, deep leather chairs. And the bathroom was bigger than some of the houses people lived in back home. Never mind the king sized bed or the enormous terrace overlooking the swimming pool.
Oooeeee, this was livin'.
Yes sir, things were looking up for one Cadewell Easton Dupree.
I grinned, remembering the skirmish with the filly in the parking lot. It was almost like she didn't know what to do when a man showed interest in her. I found that hard to believe considering she looked better than an ice cream sundae to a diabetic.
I closed my eyes and let my mind recreate the moment when she got into her car. She'd had to bend down to get into that fancy Italian sports car of hers. And that had been a very good thing.
Her dress had stretched across her ass. A nice, round ass that made my fingers itch to grab it. Her legs looked even better up close. Shapely, creamy and smooth. And I could see down the top of her dress just a tiny bit when she sat there, all the way below me.
Almost like she was on her knees…
I snorted.
It was going to take a lot of dancing on my part to get that woman on her knees. Even for me. But I had a feeling it would be worth it.
She was cold hearted. But that was alright. She just needed the right man to warm her up.
Damn straight, the woman was feistier than a June bug in July. She was hotter than the bed of a pickup truck that had been sitting in the parking lot of a big box store all day. Hellfire, the woman looked like an angel but she talked like a devil. A snooty, snotty, spoiled little devil.
For the life of me I couldn't figure out why I liked that about her.
But I did.
Just thinking about her was getting me hard. I went inside and turned on the shower. I needed to be well rested for tomorrow.
I slid my hand into my pants and gave Thor a tug.
And I knew just how to relax myself.
I'd told the lady I would be thinking about her later, and I was about to make good on that promise.
The hot water felt amazing as I took my third shower of the day. This one was going to be the most enjoyable of them though. I soaped myself up and let my mind wander.
Thor bobbed against my stomach impatiently as I imagined Camille stepping into the shower with me. She was naked, her skin gleaming as she slid her palms up my chest to twine them around my neck.
Umfff… the feel of her against me would be so right. I knew it. Her perfect tits pressed against my chest as I lowered my head to kiss her.
But I wasted no time getting to the good stuff.
My hands grabbed her ass as she threw her head back in ecstasy. She couldn't wait. Neither could I. In my mind I saw her bend forward over the bench and look over her shoulder at me. The globes of her ass were slick with water and the pink lips below glistened invitingly. With one thrust Thor was inside her. I groaned as I closed my fist over the tip of my cock and started pumping it.
I ground my cock into her sweet little pussy as she came again and again. I reached down to grab those
big titties of hers and rode her till the cows came home. She squealed with pleasure, begging me to go faster, harder, deeper.
She wanted more and I was just the man to oblige her.
I stifled a curse as I came, filling up my hand and sliding over it as I milked my cock for all it was worth.
Damn.
Fantasy Camille was one hell of a lay.
I cleaned up and dried off. I climbed into bed and fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Yes sir, I was going to like playing for this particular team.
I just needed to win over the team's very own Princess.
Camille
I bounced on the balls of my feet, waiting for the next lob. I had the tennis machine set on random so I wouldn't always know when to expect the next ball.
I swung hard, hitting the just inside the baseline of our private court. I grinned, waiting for the next ball. Then I did it again, with expert precision. I still took lessons from the club's tennis pro now and then, but now it was just to keep my edge.
Besides, he said I could give him lessons at this point.
"Need some help with that?"
I turned sharply at the sound of his voice. Cade Dupree. The damn man had been haunting my dreams all week. I glared at him, ready to tell him to go to hell.
"Look out!"
I jumped out of the way just as the ball came careening towards me. I watched as Cade walked to the other side of the court and turned the machine off. I rubbed my face and neck with a clean towel, wondering what the hell he was doing here. He walked back over and leaned against the fence, looking supremely relaxed.
"Mr. Dupree."
"Ms. Rivers."
He was staring at me with unconcealed lust.
"Damn girl you look good in that short skirt."
"It's called a tennis dress."
He grinned at me stupidly.
"I like it."
Something about the way he was looking at me annoyed me, but didn't offend me the way that it normally would have. He wasn't looking at me like a piece of meat exactly. It was more like I was a ten course meal and he was a starving man.
I did want to smack him though.
"May I help you with something? Or do you always sneak around, interrupting innocent women who are trying to play tennis?"
"Who me?"
He gave me a hurt look. I snorted. I didn't buy it for a second.
"Your father invited me to dinner. "
I smiled sweetly.
"He has a thing for strays."
I wiped down my racket and slid it into its case.
"But I don't."
"I'm real sorry to hear that ma'am."
I rolled my eyes, scooping up my bag.
"Since you are obviously lost, I will show you the way."
"I'm not lost."
He wiggled his eyebrows at me. He was so ridiculous I almost laughed, but I didn't want to encourage him.
"Darlin' I have been found."
Now that did make me laugh. I couldn't help it. I smothered it quickly, forcing myself to give him a dirty look. Cade wasn't fooled though. He just chuckled and followed me to the house.
Just when I thought he couldn't get any more annoying he managed to do just that.
Cade Dupree was whistling.
Chapter Five
Cade
I sat in a wingback chair by a fireplace. It was gas so there was so smell, and no crackle. Boss said something about his late wife having asthma. The whole house had been designed with minimizing dust and airborne toxins in mind.
I was listening politely to him until Camille walked into the room. After that, I barely heard a word he was saying. She looked stunning in a black silk dress that covered her front from the neck to the ankles. I scowled, annoyed that she'd covered herself up. Almost like she'd done it to spite me.
Until she went to the bar and poured herself a drink.
I swallowed, realizing her back was bare, almost the whole way down to her-
"What the hell is that?"
I almost jumped out of my seat as an enormous wild animal slinked into the room.
"Camille. Do not move."
I stood up and slowly walked between her and the creature. It looked like a cheetah, or some sort of African cat. The kind that could rip your throat out before you could even blink.
"What? Why?"
She turned and I glanced over my shoulder at her. She smiled at me condescendingly, covering a laugh with a perfectly manicured hand. Clearly she thought something about this was hilarious.
"I was about to offer you a drink. Scotch?"
"There is a very large animal in here."
Her smile grew even wider. She was even more beautiful when she smiled. Even if she was laughing at my expense.
"Uzuri. Aki, aki."
I barely saw a blur, the damn thing moved so fast. I gaped in awe as it rubbed against her legs. Camille bent down to pet it and I realized I probably had just made a giant ass of myself.
"Uzuri is a Savannah. She's part lynx and part domestic cat. She's mostly tame, as you can see."
She laughed and the cat sat down and started cleaning her paws. Huge paws with four-inch claws sticking out of them. I swallowed nervously.
"She's tame?"
"Like I said Mr. Dupree. Mostly."
I stared at her and shook my head.
"Is this some sort of rich person thing? Keeping wild animals at home?"
She nodded her head.
"Its true that Savannah's are costly to buy and maintain. But they are domesticated. I promise she won't bite."
"That thing belongs in a zoo."
"This 'thing' is a marvel of genetic engineering. And my friend."
"You don't strike me as the type that needs friends."
She breezed past me, the enormous cat following her like a dog.
"For once Mr. Dupree, you are exactly right."
She perched on the arm of a sofa and sipped her drink. I could practically hear her legs slide together as she crossed them. I realized that Mr. Rivers was watching me and sat down abruptly. I picked up my drink and ice hit my teeth.
Camille was watching me. The woman didn't miss a damn trick.
"Would you like a refill Mr. Dupree?"
I nodded curly as she took my glass.
"Bourbon."
"What kind of name is Uzuri anyway?"
"It means beauty in Swahili."
I watched her walk away, thinking her name should be Uzuri instead. She was beautiful… more than ordinary beauty. Camille was damn near perfect.
Even though she could be a real bitch.
She was getting under my skin despite her ornery temperament. Even worse, her damn cat was staring at me like I was dinner. I tried not to react when it strolled across the room and lay directly at my feet.
Mr. Rivers let out a bark of laughter.
"Don't worry Cade, it's a sign of respect."
I wasn't sure I believed that until the cat rolled onto its back and gave me a come hither look. I reached down and let my hand glide over her silky belly. It was incredible. Warm and living… she had the softest fur I'd felt in my life.
The cat started to vibrate, a loud rumble that practically shook the floor. For a moment I thought there was an earthquake. Then I realized what it was. The damn thing was purring. Well, I'd never heard the like. It was like thunder, but softer. There was something sweet about it.
"Uzuri! You traitor!"
Camille was glaring at her cat. But Uzuri didn't give two hoots. She started cleaning herself and then curled around my ankle possessively. I winced as her claws dug into my ankles.
"She likes me I guess."
Camille was staring at the cat in shock. She handed me my drink and walked away, muttering to herself about gratitude and loyalty. I smirked and leaned down to scratch the cat behind its ears.
"I've never seen that animal behave that way. Not even with Camille."
I looked at Mr. Rivers in surpri
se.
"She seems real friendly to me. Unlike some people."
I gave Camille a look but she ignored me.
"Not with me. She only likes my daughter. Follows her around like a puppy. Camille, looks like you have competition."
I smiled and sipped my drink. He'd just given me an idea. Camille didn't strike me as the sort who liked to lose. Maybe if I could get her to play a game with me, I'd have a chance at winning… more than a chance.
Damn straight I would win.
I always did.
Camille
I sipped my wine, picking at my food. My appetite was ruined, destroyed for the same reason that I kept turning restlessly in my seat, willing the dinner to be over.
But it wasn't. Not even close. Daddy had pulled out the stops tonight, treating Cade as an honored guest.
That meant five long courses.
And I'd drank my way through half of it.
I laughed to myself and tipped my glass back. I wasn't even nearly done yet either. The way I was feeling, I could put down two bottles of wine by myself. After the tequila on the rocks I'd had before sitting down.
Not that I would. I didn't overindulge in anything, let alone alcohol. But at the moment, as annoyed as I was, it would be easy to become a belligerent drunk.
Fun even.
Cade was watching me, his eyes on my lips. I couldn't help myself from playing with him. I slowly licked the excess wine from my lips. He inhaled sharply, his eyes lifting to mine. He looked a little pink in the cheeks.
I'd gotten him back then. Good.
He'd been trying to get a rise out of me all night. I'd ignored him steadfastly but he hadn't given up. Oh, he'd been extremely polite to my father. Meanwhile he'd been trying to seduce his boss's daughter right under his nose.
And he was not being subtle about it.
I felt Uzuri against my feet and slipped off my shoes. Her soft fur tickled me as she curled around me. She moved away and I sighed. Father frowned on letting her into the dining room but I loved having her nearby.
She brushed against me again and I closed my eyes. I heard a servant pour me a fresh glass of wine. I reached for it and froze. Someone was rubbing my foot. But I didn't feel soft fur.