Once Upon a Player

by Christina Phillips

  Violet takes my hand, and I squeeze her fingers. “That’s why I wouldn’t go out with you the first day we met. Because I couldn’t see past your reputation or career.”

  “And now you can?” I’m oddly touched by her confession. It’s not many people who give a rat’s arse what’s behind the mask of my rep or career.

  “Yes.” Her smile is strangely shy, and I have the mad need to pull her into my arms and never let her go. “You’re…kind.”

  I let out a shocked laugh. Of anything I imagined she might’ve said, kind wasn’t in the top hundred.

  Hot. Sexy. I’ve been called all that and more but, fuck, that’s the whole point, isn’t it?

  Violet isn’t like any other girl I’ve been with. She’s not talking about the shit the world sees.

  She’s talking about me.

  I could really fall for this girl. And that scares me more than anything.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Violet

  What’s the matter with me?

  Lucas has been so nice and understanding about everything, and then I go and spoil it by telling him he’s kind.

  What dork says that to the hottest guy in the world? It’s obvious he’s speechless, and considering this is Lucas Carter, who has a quip for every occasion, that’s really saying something.

  He clears his throat, and I steel myself for a put down. Except Lucas doesn’t do put downs because he’s kind, so he’ll make a joke out of it, which is fine. I’ll pretend I was kidding and hope my stupid red face doesn’t give me away.

  “Thanks.” There’s a rough note in his voice. Is that all he’s going to say?

  If he wasn’t gripping my hand so tightly, I’d pull free, but I’m not about to make an issue out of it and make a bigger idiot of myself than I already have. I lick my lips and flounder desperately for something funny or witty to say.

  Or anything that even vaguely resembles speech, if it comes to that, but my brain’s gone AWOL.

  “That’s, uh,” he pauses, and I hold my breath in the vain hope that might make me invisible. Lucas never hesitates. Like, ever. And I’ve seen way too many interviews of him over the years to be mistaken about this. “That’s the best thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  I blink. What? Is he for real? When he doesn’t follow up his comment with his famous smile but simply gazes at me with his mesmerizing blue eyes, my insides melt.

  He isn’t laughing at me.

  “Well, it’s true.” I give a little shrug. “I’ve met some entitled prats in the past, but compared to you, they had nothing to brag about.”

  “Whoa, Violet.” Now he grins, and although this is Lucas Carter and his smile alone is enough to sell anything from cars to cologne, there’s something different about it. Something special and rare, for my eyes only.

  Don’t get carried away, Vi. Unfortunately, I think that boat sailed the second time I met him.

  He tugs on my hand, and after a second’s hesitation, I go sit on his lap. He loops his arms around my waist, and I’m totally drowning in his eyes. “You know what I think? You’re really good for me.”

  He’s only flirting, I know that, but a tiny part of me refuses to believe it, and I bask in his compliment. “You’re good for me, too.”

  We kiss, and my eyes drift shut. His hand slides up my back and cradles the back of my neck. It’s sexy and possessive, and I thread my fingers through his hair. This is the most perfect moment, ever.

  He groans inside my mouth, and I shudder. Last night might not have gone the way I wanted, but this morning sure is making up for it. I manage to free a couple of his buttons and slide my hand beneath his shirt.

  “Violet.” His breath is hot against my mouth. “You sure about this?”

  I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. “Yes. And not just because you make the best pancakes ever.”

  His hand slips beneath the T-shirt, and I arch my back, loving his touch against my bare skin. “Every time I closed my eyes last night, you were there.”

  How does he always know the absolute best thing to say? “I was right there. All you had to do was open the door.”

  His fingers roam over my bra strap. I should’ve left it off.

  “You’ve no idea how hard it was to close the door on you. And you can take that any way you want.”

  I wriggle on his lap, and something is hard, all right. Primitive craving streaks through me, making me warm and needy. It’s just a summer fling, Vi. I sink against him and whisper in his ear. “I was waiting for you.”

  “You were asleep five seconds after I put you to bed. I had to go take a cold shower.”

  I shake with silent laughter before kissing his earlobe. And then, just because I can, I tease his earring with the tip of my tongue. It’s amazingly sexy, and a hot shiver ripples over my skin. How can this be such a turn-on? His tortured groan vibrates through me, so I do it again.

  “You’re asking for it.”

  Before I realize his intentions, he scoops me up. There’s something incredibly thrilling about being in Lucas’s arms as he strides into the penthouse, a possessive gleam in his eyes.

  I palm his jaw, and his stubble is unbelievably sexy. “But am I going to get it?”

  Oh my God. Where did that come from? It’s like a naughty side of me I never knew I had has come out to play.

  “Only if you’re a very bad girl.”

  His comment so closely mirrors my thought that I bury my face in his neck to muffle my laugh. God, he smells good. Like sex and sin wrapped up in a promise of never-to-be-forgotten orgasmic bliss.

  Yeah, it’s been a long time since I got any.

  He doesn’t bother closing the door to his bedroom before laying me across the bed, and then he draws in a deep breath as his hot gaze roves over me. “You look amazing. Your red hair is so gorgeous.”

  Oh, wow. Heat spirals through me, which is a good thing except my cheeks burn, too. And while red hair and black sheets might be a great look, I’m not so sure about the face thing.

  Having his undivided, admiring attention is exciting, but also a little unnerving. Does he expect me to do something?

  I push myself up and brace my weight on my hands. Before I can think of anything to say that doesn’t sound completely stupid, he unbuttons the rest of his shirt, revealing his toned, bronzed chest. My mouth dries.

  Today I’m going to make that gorgeous flesh mine.

  He tosses his shirt onto the floor, and I feast on his broad shoulders and beautiful biceps. And his tattoos. His impressive half sleeve is so hypnotic I want to tackle him onto the bed just so I can lick that stunning ink.

  As he loosens his belt, my paralysis shatters, and I sling his T-shirt across the room, except my aim is shit and it hits him in the face.

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I slap my hand across my mouth to stifle my giggle. Lucas kicks off his shorts and briefs and before I can sneak a peek south, steps toward me.

  “No, you’re not.” He towers over me, and I lean back until I lose my balance and collapse. He follows me, crawling onto the bed and pinning me in place, his knees bracketing my hips and his fists beside my shoulders. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  I glow, literally, from the inside out. No one’s ever called me beautiful before. Before I scuttled into my shell, cute is the word guys used in connection with me, on account of the turned-up nose and freckles. Not that I’m about to tell Lucas that.

  “So are you.” And isn’t that the holy truth.

  He lowers his head, and he fills my vision as his powerful biceps flex around me. “Your hair reminds me of a sunrise.”

  “You should be a poet.” I’m ridiculously thrilled by his compliment and can’t stop smiling up at him as though I’m totally star struck. Not far wrong there.

  We kiss, and I wind my arms around him, loving the warm, firm texture of his skin beneath my fingers. His tongue teases my lips, and when he slides inside, I give a needy groan and dig my nails into his back.<
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  He presses me into the bed, the hard ridge of his erection burning my stomach. I release his back and with clumsy fingers unhook my bra. He gives an appreciative grin, grasps the shoulder straps, and slowly peels it off my body. The hunger in his gaze as he devours my nakedness takes my breath away.

  “Babe, your tits are perfect.”

  Erotic shivers race over my skin, pebbling my nipples, and damp heat floods me way down low. I’ve never been called babe before, either, and as for the tits comment…

  Okay, it might not be hardcore dirty talk, but it’s a little naughty, and coming from Lucas, it’s electrifying.

  He circles his tongue around my nipple, and I arch my back, my hands fisting his bedcovers, greedy for more. “You like my tongue on you?”

  Is he really asking that question? I drag open my eyes, not that I remember shutting them, and attempt to focus on him. Not an easy task, considering he’s alternating between licking the tip of my nipple, and then softly blowing air over it.

  “Yes,” I croak, since it appears he’s waiting for my answer.

  “Good.” His voice is rough and sends sharp darts of need between my thighs. “Because I plan on licking every inch of your gorgeous body, Violet.”

  My skin burns at his promise, and I wriggle in a vain effort to relieve the heavy throb that’s consuming my girly bits.

  Good grief, Violet, just call it what it is.

  I can’t even remember. Not with Lucas’s words still ringing in my ears and filling every intoxicated corner of my brain.

  His hands and mouth are instruments of magic, teasing and caressing as he works his way along my body. I’m shivering and burning up. I can’t lie still to save my life. And when he hooks his fingers into the band of my knickers and slowly eases them over my hips, my breath strangles in my throat.

  I push myself onto my elbows and watch, spellbound, as he discards my knickers, without taking his hot gaze from between my legs.

  “So pretty.” His words are smoky, and he follows them by tracing his finger along my damp crease and circling my sensitive clit. “Are you hot for me?”

  I gulp. I’m not used to having to speak during foreplay. “Possibly.”

  He glances up, a wicked grin on his face, and I’m dying. “Let me know when you’re sure.”

  “Okay.” Are we seriously having this conversation? My hips are grinding into the bed with frustrated need, and I have the ridiculous urge to laugh. “I’ll send you a memo.”

  “Make sure it’s in violet ink, as well.”

  My heart melts, and I don’t have a hope in hell of stopping it. He knew I used violet ink for his invitation.

  He strokes my waist and hips, dropping kisses across my stomach, and fire licks through me wherever he touches, and wherever he doesn’t, too. I grasp his hair, barely aware of what I’m doing, only knowing I don’t ever want him to stop.

  “Warming up?” His hot breath scorches my skin, and then he gives me an open-mouthed kiss right on my clit.

  I buck, shock ricocheting through me, as his tongue swirls and teases. Harsh pants fill my ears, and I stare, transfixed, at his head between my thighs.

  And then our gazes mesh and slowly he licks his lips, like he’s relishing a tasty treat. “I’m going to fucking eat you up.”

  Yes. Yes. I’ve no idea if my primal scream is in my head or not, but my groan echoes around the room as his tongue penetrates. His hand cups my breast, pinches my nipple, and it’s like I’m on an edge-of-the-world rollercoaster. And when he sucks on my clit, I fall right over the edge.

  I’m floating on clouds, and engulfed in flames, and sucking harsh gasps into my starved lungs when Lucas crawls up the bed and kisses me. Hard, demanding, and I can taste myself on him, which is crazily arousing.

  “Lucas.”

  “Yeah.” He sounds in pain, and I’m vaguely aware he’s rolling on a condom.

  “Did you get my memo?”

  He gives a harsh bark of laughter and drops a rough kiss on my mouth. “Yeah. Best memo ever.”

  Best sex ever. Although we haven’t actually had sex yet. It’s still the best… He looms over me, bracing his weight on his fists, and I wrap my legs around his waist. I want you so much.

  He doesn’t thrust into me, as I half expect, but trails soft kisses from my ear and along my cheek. They’re feather light, teasing, as his morning stubble chafes my flesh. It’s tender and sexy, and raw need quivers through me.

  I grasp his shoulders and slide my hands over his powerful biceps. His gorgeous ink mesmerizes me, and when he kisses my throat, I savor him with the tip of my tongue. You taste like all my dreams come true.

  His groan vibrates against my throat, sending shivers racing across my skin. My legs tighten around his hard body, wanting him closer, wanting to make him all mine. His teeth graze me, and I imagine his smile, but he still doesn’t sink into me.

  A breathy sigh escapes me. “Do you want me to beg?”

  I can’t believe I said that. I love that I said it. And by the possessive gleam in his eyes, so does Lucas.

  “Never,” he growls, and claims my mouth. I writhe beneath him, loving the hard caress of his chest against my sensitive nipples, but so desperate for more.

  The head of his cock nudges me, big and unyielding, and I’m shaking. Can’t help it. Take me, already, before I die. A hungry moan fills my mind. I don’t even know if it’s me or him, and then it doesn’t matter as he pushes into me.

  Oh God, yes…

  He’s huge, filling me, stretching me in ways I never imagined before. I can’t even breathe, can’t think, and score his back with my nails, arching into him, wanting it all.

  “Christ, you’re so fucking tight.” He grasps a handful of my hair which is so hot my body shudders. “You okay?”

  His beautiful blue eyes are all I can see, and I’m melting inside. “More than okay,” I gasp. “Bloody amazing, actually.”

  His kiss is brutal, bruising, and damn if I don’t love it. His hands are on my thighs, my hips, and he’s banging me into the bed like it’s the end of time.

  Reality slides out of focus. All I can feel is Lucas, inside me, around me, possessing me.

  “That’s it.” His low, sexy voice fills my world, heightening every sensation, and my orgasm consumes me. “Come around my dick. Harder. Let me feel it.”

  Boneless, my arms flop onto the bed. Lucas is poised above me, and he’s out of focus, haloed like an angel. I don’t want this moment to end. My hand’s uncoordinated, but I manage to cradle his jaw and caress my thumb over his lips. He rakes his fingers through my hair before pulling out of me.

  Wait…what? I don’t think he’s come yet…

  Before I have time to hitch in a breath, never mind find my voice, he flips me over onto my stomach and shoves a pillow beneath me. “You’re so fucking pretty, Violet.”

  An exhausted tremor flickers through me. I pillow my cheek on my hands and bask in the knowledge he’s admiring my bottom. I give a little wiggle of my hips, and his low growl sets off a chain reaction of tingles deep inside.

  He grasps my thighs, adjusting me, and then pushes into me. His cock fills me, but the angle is different to before. He feels thicker, longer, and I hitch in a harsh breath as my muscles convulse around him.

  “I love seeing my dick sink into your sweet body.” He’s riding me hard, and I’m gasping, losing my mind. When he winds my hair around his fist and gently tugs, I let out a needy moan. “Jesus, Violet. You’re killing me.”

  You’re killing me, too. And when he grips my butt cheek, it’s way too much.

  “Fuck, that’s it, squeeze me dry.” He hammers into me, and it’s sexy and wet and primitive. And when Lucas roars his release, it’s the hottest thing ever.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Violet

  It’s early afternoon when Lucas drops me home. We kiss on the doorstep like we’re never going to see each other again when we’ve already made plans to spend tonight together.

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sp; “Don’t work too hard.” He cups my face as though he doesn’t want to stop touching me, and I’m down for that. Shame about real life having to intrude, but I have a four-hour shift at Sycamore Lodge this afternoon.

  “I won’t. Have fun training.”

  “I will.” He takes a reluctant step back.

  He gets into his car and drives off, and I’m smiling like I’m completely besotted by him.

  That’s because I am.

  I sigh and let myself into the house. My entire body tingles, a lingering afterglow of my mind-blowing orgasms. Did I think Lucas was a sex god?

  I was wrong. He’s the god of sex.

  In my room, I drop my bag on my bed and strip off my dress. There’s a rosy glow all over my skin, and while that might just be my imagination, I don’t think so. I fall onto my bed, fish my phone out of my bag, and call Katie.

  She’s left three messages since this morning, and I sent her a quick text earlier letting her know I was still alive and would fill her in with all the details later.

  “Spill,” she says, as soon as she answers.

  “I’ve had so much sex today, I can hardly stand.”

  “Good. Now that you’ve got someone other than shit-face to compare with, you won’t settle for any crappy, second-rate bonking in the future.”

  My feel-fab aura deflates a little, since I don’t want to bonk anyone else, first rate or otherwise.

  Summer fling, Vi.

  I haven’t forgotten. I just don’t want to keep dwelling on it, that’s all.

  It’s more than a summer fling, and you know it.

  I squash the thought before it takes over my mind.

  “I’m going back to his place again tonight, after work.”

  “Yes, good thinking. Get in as much practice as possible. As long as you remember this isn’t serious.”

  Even though she’s only repeating what I assured her the other day, it’s still annoying that she feels the need to throw it in my face. I’m about to end the conversation when I remember something else.

  “You’ll never guess. Geoff and Monica turned up at Overton’s last night.”

  “Ugh. Did they see you?”