They slammed her on the hood of a full-sized pickup truck, oblivious that in their haste to loosen her from the fence, they’d also untied the sash around her wrists. Ella held her hands still behind her back and waited for a more opportune moment.
“Get up, geekhead.” Rock shoved Jaden onto the ground. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt your pretty baby face?”
“Look over here,” one of the men next to Ella yelled. “She wants a real man, not a dipshit Asian nerd.”
Swiping the blood from his cheek, Jaden launched himself at Rock and ran right into an upper cut. Pow, his teeth snapped and bit his tongue as pain rocketed through his skull.
Jaden staggered back, his arms windmilling, and crumpled to the ground. Breathing hard, his head spinning, he struggled to his hands and knees.
“There’s no knockout yet, place your bets,” the organizer shouted. “Get up and fight.”
Two bystanders propped him up and shoved him toward Rock.
“No, no, let him go.” Ella jumped off the truck and climbed onto the loading dock.
Rock lunged at her. With a snap of his wrist, he yanked her into a chokehold and stuck his slobbering tongue in her ear.
Ewee … Ella cringed, her stomach turning loops of nausea.
“Get away from her,” Jaden yelled.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ella saw Jaden push off the bystanders and charge. He jumped and planted one foot. “Aaahhhhh!!!”
Grabbing Rock’s head like a soccer ball, Jaden leaped high and kicked for the goal.
An explosion of blood and sweat jogged Rock’s head, and he dropped Ella, before falling backwards. He hit the concrete like a limp bodybag.
There was a moment of stunned silence before cheers erupted from the people who’d bet on Jaden. They surged to collect, obscuring Ella’s vision.
Where was Jaden? Where could he be? She could be trampled by the mad crowd. She crawled, grabbing at arms and legs, but she was too short to see.
“Ella,” Jaden shouted. He muscled through the mass of crazed spectators and scooped her from the ground.
“Jaden, your stitches burst.” She clung onto him. “You’re hurt.”
Sirens rang in the distance and the scene changed from collecting bets to panic. All around them, people ran for their cars. Engines roared to life and tires screeched.
Jaden helped Ella off the loading dock. They barely missed getting hit by the cars driving out of the lot.
“Jaden, Ella, over here.” A trio of motorcycles skidded to a stop in front of them.
Oh, good. Ella’s heart surged with relief. It was Kimber and her friends from the KAO fraternity.
“Go with Vincenzo,” Jaden said, lifting Ella onto one of the bikes.
“Kimber,” Ella said, “am I glad to see you and the frat guys.”
“About time, girlie.” Kimber was sitting behind her boyfriend Jax. “Let’s get the hell outta here.”
Meanwhile Jaden jumped onto the back of the third motorcycle. He gave Ella a thumbs up to reassure her. “You were great. The night’s not over. Let’s party.”
Ella rolled her eyes. How could Jaden be so upbeat, bleeding and injured? But then, he’d won the fight, saved her, and called in the cavalry.
“I love you, Jaden,” she yelled as the motorcycles gunned their engines. They sped off just as police cars rounded the corner.
Ella buried her face in the back of the man called Vincenzo and held on tight. These were Jaden’s frat brothers, and they were the good guys. She’d been wrong to stereotype them.
She owed Jaden a huge apology.
Chapter 11
Back at Berkeley.
The victory party was all set back at the Muze, and all the players and their hotties were rolling in. One side of Jaden’s face was still swollen and his stitches itched, but he wasn’t going to sit this one out.
He hadn’t spoken to Ella since they were both taken to the emergency room. She’d left earlier with minor bruises and cuts, while they’d held him longer to glue his face back together.
“Hey, Jaden, dude, ready to party?” Vincenzo shoved him a can of beer and slapped his back. “Look at all the hot chicks. You gonna take someone to the funhouse tonight?”
Jaden rubbed his mouth and smothered a scowl. It wasn’t Vincenzo’s fault he was determined to cheer him up. All his brothers had noticed the gloom he walked around in since leaving Vegas.
He crunched his fingers against his cell phone and stared at Ella’s last message: Let’s make it a clean break. Thanks for all the fun.
And his: I’m all for dirty. One more night?
That had been an hour ago and she hadn’t replied.
Vincenzo grabbed his head and gave him a noogie. “I swear, Jaden, you’re going to have fun tonight.”
“Yeah, right. Leave me to my misery.”
“Don’t tell me you got your boxers wrapped around a girl. Get over it.” Another one his frat brothers punched his arm.
“I’m cool, doing good.” He moved away from the bar and cruised through the club. All around him, couples were wrapped around each other on the dance floor and the alcohol flowed freely.
Ah heck, he might as well show his brothers he wasn’t down on one girl. One who burned his heart and fried it to a crisp. Who played him good.
He downed the beer and headed to the dance floor. Maybe he had been only a dream, a fantasy character from her to-do list. Maybe he meant nothing to her after all.
A group of Asian girls ganged up on him, holding their hands out.
“Dance with us,” the bravest one said.
“All of you?” he winked. “I only do one on one.”
He couldn’t help laughing at their shocked looks. They surrounded him, giggling and dancing, each showing more skin than the next.
The music moved to a slower number and he thanked the girls. One whipped out a Sharpie and asked him to sign her chest.
Vincenzo grabbed his shoulders from the back. “Pick one. I’ve got champagne in the funhouse for you. The Lanai Room.”
Jaden scrawled his name over the woman’s cleavage and elbowed his frat brother. “You go, take any one of these babes.”
Vincenzo pumped his bicep and said, “Hey, baby,” in a low drawling voice.
The girls giggled and squealed, then skittered off with shy, backward glances.
“Oh, now look what you did.” Jaden punched Vincenzo. “Scared them away.”
“They can’t handle a hot blooded Italian.” Vincenzo laughed. He dragged Jaden to the exit and into the elevator leading to the Private area of the club.
“I’m not going there,” Jaden argued.
“Yes you are.” Kolby, the president of the frat, stepped in his face and jingled a key. Behind him, Nick and Xavier loomed.
The guys formed a wall and herded him toward the door of the Lanai Room, one of the private ones decorated Hawaiian style.
“I’m not going in there. I swear.” He waved his hands. “One of you take the prize.”
“She’s hot and waiting for you,” Kolby ordered. “Go in or you’re out of KAO.”
“I paid my dues. This is stupid. I don’t want anyone but Ella, okay? I’m leaving.”
Someone opened the door, and his brothers shoved him through the threshold.
The room was completely dark. Empty. A big joke.
Jaden slapped himself and laughed, glad for the respite. He might as well hide out here. They’d pushed him into the wrong room. He could hear the wall banging and bed squeaking in the room next door.
The only sound in his room was the gentle rattle of the ceiling fan. The air was fresh, like vanilla rain and a tropical breeze. Jaden sagged onto the bed and lay down. The sounds from the party blended, music and laughter thundering from the floor below.
Longing and desire inflamed him, and the only voice he wanted to hear was Ella’s. He called her. Of course she wasn’t answering. After four rings, the call rolled to voicemail.
“It’s me, Jaden. I m
iss you and wish I didn’t have to abide by your wishes to break it off. Everything Zack Fair said to Lady Daenerys was from my heart. I don’t playact, Ella, not like you. I know I’m only the actor of the day on your little stage of life, but I wasn’t playing. I’m not a player or a frat guy when I’m with you. I’m just me, Jaden Song Sloup. I never meant to fall in love, but I have. I love your ladybug, your princess, your hip-hop girl, and your warrior. But believe me when I say, the character I love the most is you, Ella Kennedy.”
“Jaden? Do you love my vampire?” Ella’s voice floated through the room.
Jaden dropped his phone and sat up, squinting. Now that his eyes had adjusted to the dark, he spied her, a shadow with her arms raised, her blond hair white against the wall. The pillar of her neck was exposed, and she wore nothing but snatches of red cloth across her breasts and around her hips.
He smashed into her, his elbows trapping both sides of her head and his body pressing hers against the wall. Biting and sucking her neck, he ground against her, enraged by the passion and need charging his blood.
Her moaning and writhing drove him in to a frenzy. He dragged his mouth across her chest, and trailed his tongue around her breasts. She tore his shirt and scratched his chest. Their lips fused, tongues plundering as he devoured her pleasured groans.
Her desperate breath rasping in his ear, she shoved his pants down and pulled out his cock. The red strips of cloth fell off her breasts, and he unwrapped her pelvis.
The beat of the music pounded in his pulse and his blood was on fire. “Tell me what you want, Ella. Tell me.”
“I want you, Jaden, I belong to you,” she gasped. “Take me now.”
In one swift move, he lifted her, scraping her back against the wall and impaled her, driving a stake up and into her vampire heart. He thrust and he plunged, each stroke shouting his love for her.
Her legs held tight around his waist and she bounced, riding him hard, as her head bopped against the wall, the sweet sexy sounds from her throat urging him to drive harder.
Jaden held back, waiting for her core to clench, for her screams to escalate, for her climax to shatter her. But she was too freaking hot. Gritting his teeth, fire burned deep in his belly like a shot of pure ice. Ella tightened her thighs and shuddered in his grip. He exploded at the same time she raked his back, crying out his name.
Holding her tight, he spun around and placed her on the bed, kissing and caressing her into the warm, balmy afterglow. He licked the salty sweat from her quivering skin and pulled her around, wrapping her with his arms and legs.
“I guess you heard my confession,” he said. “You surprised me good. I’m sorry I ever lied to you about being who I am. Even though I didn’t wear a costume, I played you into thinking I was a Korean nerd.”
She hooked her hand over her head and pulled him around face to face. “I never wanted anyone but you, Jaden. I already knew after our hip-hop date.”
“Wait. How?” He raised to his elbow and stared at her. “What was with all the ‘I wanna fuck’ in Korean?”
“Silly, I hacked your cell phone, but played along like I was clueless. You didn’t really think I was so stupid, did you?”
Uh, actually he had. But the joke was on him. He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. “So you’re not disappointed? My mother doesn’t cook Korean food and we don’t eat with chopsticks. I promise I’ll never play you again.”
“On the contrary.” She dragged a fingertip across his lips. “I want to keep playing you over and over, lovers, forever.”
“Played by love sounds good to me.” He joined his lips to hers and kissed her with all his heart.
-THE END-
“Hey everyone, Ella here. Jaden and I would like to thank you for reading. Be sure to check out Jax and Kimber’s story. I have a bit part in there.”
“Whoa, wait. I want that part taken out. I can’t believe she says you enjoyed it.”
“I was only pretending, Jaden. What about you? You had a major deal in Jax and Kimber’s story.”
“At least I didn’t kiss Kimber.”
“I didn’t do all the nasty stuff you did.”
“Hey, you forgave me, remember?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe I better read Dani Evan’s book, The Next Contestant, to see what you really were doing.”
“Actually, I claim the fifth.”
“Oh no you don’t. Where’s my copy of The Next Contestant? I bet you haven’t told me everything.”
“Help! I’m being attacked by a mermaid. Ahhhh!!!”
“Cut, cut.” Rachelle here. I’d like to thank my best writing friend, Dani Evans, for lending Jaden Sloup and Ella Kennedy for Played by Love. Look for Dani’s book The Next Contestant where you’ll meet all your favorites, Kimber, Jax, Kolby, Vincenzo, Tiffany, Sandy and more hotness from the Kappa Alpha Omega guys. Be sure you’re over 18 and fasten your seatbelts, because The Next Contestant is just the beginning of Dani’s Next series, and the ride is hot out of this world.
Put The Next Contestant on your reading list today. [click here for Goodreads]
WARNING: Adult content with sexual scenes between two consenting adults.
It’s a contest only Jax and his fraternity brothers are playing. Whoever scores the most points wins the game.
Kimber’s a feisty young woman enjoying life. No plans for finding Mr. Right. Not when Mr. All Wrong left her in a world of deceit and crushed her spirit.
Jax is the epitome of men. His striking good looks turn heads. Lots of them. He walks past Kimber in a cloud of sex and arrogance, and he’s slowly dragging her in to his perimeters.
This wasn’t a part of Kimber’s strategy—she hadn’t planned on him and struggles to pull back, away from his striking distance, the kiss of death.
It’s a game of command and docility.
He’s gaining control.
She’s falling prey.
When stakes are high and Jax is at the top, will he let it all go for Kimber? Because choosing Kimber will end his game and he’ll certainly fail if he drops out now. And if he backs out, will Kimber still want him when she learns the dirty little fraternity secret?
Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed Played by Love. It’s the first novella in my upcoming #Played series featuring hot men in sports and feisty heroines doing their thing.
Up next is Playing the Rookie.
Jessica Song is tired of being a good girl, staying in a relationship well past closing time. Fresh from a breakup, she takes a walk on the wild side as a sports events intern.
Baseball rookie Jay Park Ahn has been burned one too many times by good girls, especially his cheating ex-fiancée. When he meets wild Jessica, he throws away all caution to enjoy her to the fullest.
Jessica and Jay agree to a week of enchanting, starry-eyed dates and wild, unrestrained sex to get their exes out of their systems.
Their pasts collide, exposing the secrets in Jessica’s heart and threatening Jay’s position on the team. Jessica must leave her disappointment behind while Jay has to decide whether Jessica comes before baseball. What will they sacrifice to turn their fling into true love?
Please visit me at my blog and watch for more titles at http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/rachelles-romances.html
Don’t forget to check out my Chance for Love series and Michal’s Window, the novel that started it all. If you like steamy love stories, take a look at Taming Romeo and Whole Latte Love.
Join my private Facebook club and have a chance to be an early reader or suggest things to me, help me name characters or just talk about what you're reading. Please check out Club Rachelle Ayala at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ClubRachelleAyala/
Taming Romeo (Teaser)
If you liked the heat in Played by Love, you’ll love hot, studly Romeo Garcia, in Taming Romeo
Taming Romeo
Copyright © 2014 Rachelle Ayala
Evie Sanchez is recovering from heartbreak by working at her parents’ Fili
pino restaurant when in walks Romeo Garcia, the boy she left behind. Only now, he’s a hot movie star surrounded by gorgeous actresses and adoring fans.
Bad boy Romeo Garcia never understood why Evie stood him up at the prom. When he rescues her from a flying coconut in the dumpster, he is determined to dig into her heart for the reason. Their mutual attraction and unresolved feelings ignite in a scintillating night of daring sex, and Romeo shows Evie what she’ll miss the rest of her life if she walks away again.
Evie lands a part as Romeo’s co-star and falls into her role, totally in love. He plays his part, too, with his romantic gestures and skillful lovemaking. But is the fantasy real or revenge? Evie and Romeo are about to discover if their buried feelings will explode in pure delight or utter disaster.
Taming Romeo is a contemporary romance featuring family secrets, delicious food, and hot, steamy loves scenes. Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+.
“Second chance love is always the sweetest.” - Jessica Cassidy
“Sexy and funny, a unique take on love reignited.” – Racquel Reck
Buy Taming Romeo
Click here if you are reading this on a Kindle.
Click here if you are reading this via a Kindle app on another device.
Whole Latte Love (Excerpt)
Whole Latte Love
Excerpt Copyright © 2014 Rachelle Ayala
All Rights Reserved
Carina Chen had no time for nonsense.
“Show off.” She couldn’t help glaring at the shaggy-haired barista as he demonstrated the art of milk frothing to a gaggle of college girls.
Played by Love (New Adult Romance): A #Played Novella Page 7