Seduced by the Playboy

by Pamela Yaye

  A sly grin claimed his lips. “Trust me, bro, I intend to. I have a thick, curvy honey waiting for me in my bedroom as we speak.”

  That makes two of us, Demetri thought, grinning, but my girl’s more than just a pretty face. She’s the total package, and I’ll move heaven and earth to make her mine.

  * * *

  Angela tiptoed out of the master bedroom, closed the door behind her and glanced down the hall. It was empty. No maids, no Demetri in sight. Spending the rest of the day in bed with Demetri was tempting, but Angela knew it was time to go. The party was over, and she didn’t want to overstay her welcome. Besides, she had to meet her father at noon and didn’t want to show up in rumpled clothes and with tangled hair. She owed her dad an apology for skipping the Globetrotters game last night and hoped he’d had fun with Rodney. Angela checked her watch. If she hustled, she could make a quick pit stop at home for a shower and a wardrobe change.

  Clutching her purse to her chest, she headed down the hallway, careful not to make a sound. Angela didn’t know where Demetri was, but she sensed it was the perfect time to make a clean getaway. He was probably hiding out in his media room, anxiously waiting for her to leave. There would be no terse exchanges or awkward goodbyes, and if she was lucky, she’d make it out of the house without seeing any of his staff or family members.

  Her heart pounded as she crept down the staircase and through the grand sun-drenched foyer. Angela had a hand on the doorknob and a foot out the door when she heard Demetri call her name. Guilt pricked her heart and burned her skin with shame. She turned around, fully prepared to repeat the lie she’d rehearsed while upstairs getting dressed. But when she saw Demetri standing in the kitchen, holding a silver tray in his hands, she swallowed the fib.

  “Where are you rushing off to?”

  “Who, me?” Angela wanted to kick herself. Of course he’s talking to me! They were the only two people in the foyer, and worse, he was staring right at her. “I’m going to get out of your hair. I bet you have appointments and interviews and a million other things to do today.”

  “I have nothing planned, besides spending the day with you.”

  A smile pinched her lips. It was hard being this close to Demetri, impossible to withstand the heat of his gaze and his boyish grin. Her feelings were all mixed up, and her hormones were raging out of control. If her body got any hotter she was going to faint.

  “I made breakfast,” he said, holding up the silver tray. “Do you like waffle paninis?”

  “Waffle what? I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat because I made you an authentic Italian breakfast.”

  Angela stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and her mouth open. This was not what she’d expected to find when she came downstairs. Demetri Morretti had cooked for her—again. He stood there staring at her with such warmth and affection that she didn’t have the heart to disappoint him. “Okay, I’ll stay for breakfast,” she said, closing the front door, “but after we eat I really have to go. I have, um, things to do.”

  “Do you mind if we eat in the living room? My favorite show is about to start.”

  “You’re a big fan of The Girls Next Door, aren’t you?” Angela teased. “I knew it.”

  “No, today’s the start of celebrity week on Family Feud, and my old teammate is on.”

  “I love that show,” Angela said with a laugh.

  “What are we waiting for? Let’s go watch the Feud!”

  Entering the living room, Angela admired the dark couches, marble structures and the entertainment unit filled with the latest high-tech gadgets. But what stunned Angela were all of the towering built-in bookshelves. The estate had a two-story wine cellar, a bowling alley and a game room twice the size of her house, but Angela never dreamed Demetri would have more books than the Chicago public library. “You like to read?”

  “Not like, love.” Demetri put the silver breakfast tray down on the glass coffee table. “If you think this is nice, wait until I show you the reading room.”

  “The reading room? Sounds intriguing. I’d love to see it.”

  “Right now?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “But what about breakfast?” His expression was thoughtful. “We were up late last night. Aren’t you hungry?”

  “No.” Angela hid a self-incriminating grin. “I hope you don’t mind, but I helped myself to some of the snacks in the mini bar.”

  Demetri chuckled. “As long as you didn’t eat the last Snickers bar, we’re good.”

  “Now you tell me!” Angela giggled.

  He slipped an arm around her waist and led her down the hall. “This is my favorite room in the house,” he said, entering the spacious, wide den. “I spend more time here than anywhere else.”

  The room was filled with padded chairs and antique reading lamps. Angela ambled over to one of the shelves and drew her index finger along the books in the row. Demetri owned all of the greats—Hemingway, Steinbeck and Faulkner—and had the most impressive collection of African-American literature she had ever seen.

  Angela stood in stunned silence. Nothing made sense. The pieces of the puzzle didn’t fit, and the more she tried to figure Demetri out, the more confused she was. Bad boys didn’t garden or cook or read classic books. And they never, ever professed their love. But Demetri had. His words played in her mind now, but she pushed them aside and continued perusing the shelves. Angela didn’t want to offend him, but she couldn’t resist asking Demetri the question on the tip of her tongue. “Do you actually read these books, or are they here just for show?”

  “I’m more than just a baseball player, Angela. That’s what I do, not who I am.”

  “Then who are you?”

  “An honest, loyal guy who loves beautiful things, beautiful places and strong, beautiful women who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.” Demetri touched a hand to her face, stroking her cheek with the tip of his thumb. “There are a couple things we need to clear up.”

  His caress sent a quiver through her, and for a moment she couldn’t speak.

  “I didn’t storm into your studio for kicks, Angela. Your Athletes Behaving Badly piece was poorly written and full of lies.”

  “Lies?” she repeated, nailing him with a cold, hard look. “Name one.”

  “I never threw a beer bottle at that college kid in New Jersey.”

  “He said you did. Even pressed charges.”

  “It was one of my security guards, and as soon as I found out, I fired him,” he explained in a firm tone. “I would never condone that type of behavior.”

  “Anything else I got wrong?”

  Demetri nodded. “I never messed around with my teammate’s wife, and I’m not the father of her baby, either. She made a pass at me at a white party in the Hamptons, but I shot her down.”

  “That’s hard to believe.”

  “I’d never hook up with Lexus Washington. She’s an ex-stripper who’s screwed half the guys on my team. If I ever brought her home to my family, they’d disown me!”

  Angela bit the bottom of her lip, looked away.

  “I’m attracted to women like you. Classy, professional types who care about giving back and making a difference in our community.”

  “Don’t make me out to be a saint, Demetri. I’m far from it.”

  “You are to me and to a lot of other people in this city.” Demetri leaned into her. His lips touched her mouth. “I could get used to this, baby. You being here with me every day.”

  Angela didn’t trust herself to speak. Not when her heart was racing and her feelings were a jumbled mess. But that was no surprise. She always found herself flustered when Demetri was around.

  “I love you, baby, and I’m ready to commit to you.”

  “Love!” The word burst out of Angela
’s mouth and ricocheted around the den like machine-gun fire. “That’s outrageous. We only met a few weeks ago, and besides, we’re just kicking it, just having fun.”

  “There’s no time limit on love,” he murmured, brushing his lips against the slope of her ear. “When you know, you know, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re the woman I’m supposed to be with. No doubt at all. I’m all in, Angela. Ready to...”

  Closing her eyes, she soaked in the beauty of the moment. His words resonated with her, filled her with a deep sense of peace. As he spoke, her temperature rose and her body grew hot. That always happened when Demetri touched her. The way he was stroking her arms and hips incited her passion. Blood roared through her veins. Her breasts enlarged, her nipples hardened, and the lips between her legs grew moist. Last night, their lovemaking had been wild, but right now, her desire for Demetri was stronger than ever.

  Angela pressed her lips against Demetri’s, kissing him slowly as if she was savoring the feel and taste of his mouth. Sliding a hand under his T-shirt, she stroked and caressed his shoulders and abs. But touching him wasn’t enough. It didn’t quench her body’s thirst. Feasting on his mouth, she nibbled on his bottom lip, eagerly sucking and teasing his tongue.

  Demetri trailed his lips along her earlobe, down her neck and across her shoulders. He wasn’t shy about sharing his feelings or afraid to say what was on his mind. “You have no idea how amazing it feels being inside you,” he whispered, slipping his hands under her dress and cupping her butt. “I’ll never get tired of loving you, Angela. You’ll never have to worry about anyone or anything coming between us.”

  Overtaken by desire and moved by his sweet, earnest words, Angela crushed her lips against his mouth. Sliding a hand inside his dark-wash blue jeans, she stroked the length of his erection. Her passion was through the roof. And when Demetri slid a finger inside her, she shivered. His stroke fueled her desire, infected her body with an undeniable hunger.

  Angela couldn’t take any more. She wanted to feel Demetri inside her, loving her only the way he could. Burning up from head to toe, she felt sweat trickle down her face and back. They were stuck together, but the warmth of Demetri’s hard body only increased her desire.

  Demetri took a condom out of his pocket, protected himself and plunged so deep inside her that she collapsed against him. Winded, she fought to catch her breath, to stay in the moment. He gave her what she wanted and more.

  Bracing herself against the nearby window, she draped her hands around his neck and hiked a leg around his waist. They moved together as one, like dancers gliding across the stage.

  Suddenly her orgasm slammed into her with the force of a category-five hurricane. And by the time Demetri scooped her up in his arms and carried her upstairs to the master bedroom, Angela was no longer thinking about leaving the estate. So desperate to make love again, she couldn’t stop fantasizing about all the salacious things she was going to do to Demetri in his Jacuzzi.

  Chapter 15

  “I hate to toot my own horn, but toot, toot!” Remy shrieked, wearing a wide, toothy smile that made her eyes twinkle. “You look like a million bucks, girlfriend!”

  Leaning forward in her leather swivel chair, Angela inspected her hair and makeup in the lit oval mirror. “Thanks, Remy. As usual you did a great job.”

  “I know!” Winking, Remy snatched her jean jacket off the silver coat hook and slipped it on over her orange Bob Marley tank top. “I’ll catch you later. I have to be at Glamour Girlz by six, and it’s already ten to. Have a great show, girlfriend. Knock ’em dead!”

  Sitting in her chair, alone in WJN-TV’s cool, bright makeup room, Angela wondered if it was too late to back out of cohosting the live morning show. How could she go on the air when she was a nervous wreck? At times like this, when Angela was scared and stressed-out, she would usually call her dad. But he was en route to Nashville.

  Fidgeting with her bracelet, she restlessly crossed and uncrossed her legs. Outside in the hallway, Angela heard loud footsteps, the security alarm beeping in earnest and high-pitched voices. The room smelled of freshly squeezed lemons, and her favorite Wynton Marsalis song was playing on the radio, but it did little to relax her. Her stomach was twisted in a knot so tight, Angela feared she was going to be sick.

  I should have never agreed to fill in for Earl, she thought, wiping her clammy palms along the side of her black fitted pencil skirt. What if I trip over my words or misread the teleprompter? Those bloggers from Gossip News will crucify me online!

  Angela pressed her eyes shut. In the darkness, she saw Demetri’s face, heard his quiet, soothing voice in her ear. These days she thought of the gorgeous baseball star and nothing else. Last Saturday was supposed to be a onetime thing, a mere night of carnal pleasure. But since their first date, they’d made love on four other occasions. Five, if she counted the quickie they’d had on Wednesday night in the front seat of his tinted Mercedes-Benz SUV. Angela knew she had to stop sneaking around with Demetri, but every time he called and invited her over, she caved. It was hard not to. He was thoughtful and caring and gave her the freedom to be herself—her true, authentic self—not the person she pretended to be in front of the cameras. They were goofy together and had laughed so much while volunteering at the Cook County Food Bank that the other volunteers poked fun at them.

  Being with Demetri had become addictive. She had to talk to him and see him every day. It didn’t matter how late it was or how stressful her day had been; she was never too tired to make the hour-long drive out to his home. Seeing Demetri made everything better. And when they were in bed, making love, moving together in perfect sync, Angela was in heaven. Nothing else mattered or compared to the euphoria she felt when Demetri was buried deep inside her, whispering soft words in her ears.

  A smile appeared across Angela’s face when she thought about the unexpected surprise she’d received hours earlier. When she’d stumbled into her office that morning—after spending the night with Demetri—and seen dozens of vases filled with yellow tulips and bunches of helium balloons hanging from the ceiling, she’d let out a shriek. Her coworkers had come running. Everyone had squealed and cheered and told her how lucky she was to have found a sweet, romantic guy. Angela agreed, admitted they were right. Everything in the gift basket was dainty and heart-shaped, but what touched Angela the most was the personalized, handwritten card from Demetri. He’d written her words of encouragement, and as Angela sat in her makeup chair, his words came back to her and slowly soothed her troubled mind.

  Her cell phone rang, blaring her current favorite pop song through the room. Angela scooped her cell off the makeup table and immediately pressed it to her ear. The only person who would call this early was Simone. “Simone, what are you doing up this early? Raiding the fridge again?”

  “I’m not Simone, but I am raiding the fridge!”

  “Demetri?”

  “Your one and only.”

  Angela checked the time on the wall clock above the oval mirror. “What are you doing up so early? It’s only six-fifteen.”

  “You’re cohosting the morning show, and I didn’t want to miss it,” he said, his tone full of excitement. “Ready for your big debut?”

  “I thought I was, but now that it’s almost showtime, I’m scared to death.”

  “Baby, you’re going to do great.”

  “But what if I don’t? What if my nerves get the best of me and I screw up on live TV?”

  “It’s not going to happen. You’re smart and articulate, and you think fast on your feet. Don’t worry. You’ve got this.”

  His words made her smile, but the butterflies in her stomach remained.

  “Did you get the gift basket?”

  “Yes, it was waiting in my office when I arrived. Thanks, Demetri. I shared the bottle of champagne and the edible roses with my colleagues, and now they all l
ove me!”

  “I’m not surprised. You’re easy to love, not to mention gorgeous, intelligent and...”

  Angela felt a tickle emerge in her throat. The times when Demetri talked about his feelings and their relationship, Angela wanted to cry. She knew they would never be able to have a real future and share a life together.

  An idea came to her, but she dismissed it when her doubts quickly flooded in. Telling Demetri about her past, about the wild and crazy things she’d done during her college days, was not an option. Not today, not ever. The risk of hurting him was too great.

  “What time do you finish up today?”

  “Three o’clock, maybe four. It depends on how long my afternoon meeting goes.”

  “When you wrap up, there’ll be a town car waiting out front to bring you to my estate,” he explained. “I have the whole day planned. We’ll have a special celebratory lunch, play a round or two of golf, then watch the new James Bond movie in my home theater.”

  Angela frowned. “But that movie isn’t out until November.”

  “I know, but since you’re a huge Daniel Craig fan, I asked my manager to get it.”

  “Just like that?”

  Demetri chuckled. “Yeah, baby, just like that.”

  “Wow, it must be nice having friends in high places.”

  “Only if it helps me get closer to you,” he said, his voice soft and earnest. “I love having you here with me. If I had my way, you’d be living here permanently.”

  Growing up, her dad had never shared his thoughts or emotions, and over time Angela had adopted his passive approach in relationships. So instead of responding to what Demetri had just said, she changed the subject. “It’s going to be gorgeous outside today. We should get out, maybe check out one of the music festivals?”

  “I wish we could, but it’s just not worth the hassle. We’re better off staying in,” he said. “I went to the grocery store late last night, and if not for my security guards, I’d still be in the produce section, fighting my way through the crowd.”