Page 16 of The Player

Sighing, I should have known better. It’s ridiculous to think that a guy I just met would stick around. Blushing, I push the covers off my body and whimper as I stand up.

Biting my lip, I walk into the bathroom and gasp as I turn on the light and see myself in the mirror.

My neck has fingerprints on it, and my breasts are covered in hickeys. I laugh as I look at my body. Last night wasn’t a dream. No, it was real and my body is the proof of it.

Touching the fingerprints along my neck, a shiver runs through my spine. He knew my deepest fantasy like he had been reading my journal. I’ve always wanted someone to stake their claim and dominate me. James did it perfectly last night.

Turning, I am almost sad to wash the lasting effect he has on me, but I need to get cleaned. Also, a run to the store is needed. I can’t walk around with the marks on my neck. There’s no way I would be able to explain they are there because of pleasure.

Oh, the pleasure. I whimper and lean against the shower. God, I want his hands and mouth back on me. Maybe now that he knows where my dorm is, he’ll show back up.

Once I’m cleaned and dressed in yoga pants and a mock turtle neck tunic, I walk out of the room, knowing that I’ll always have that special night and nothing can make me regret it.

Boy, if I had known how wrong I was, I would have never thought those words.

* * *

Two weeks later I’m still walking around, moping. James has not come to my dorm room, and I should honestly just forget about him. I know I should. I pour myself into my studies and work, trying to exhaust myself to the point I pass out at night. It’s not working. Every time I lay down in my bed, I feel him.

Grabbing my phone, I send a message to Kaylee.

Me

How did you forget about Jackson when he disappeared?

Wow, I haven’t talked to Kaylee in two weeks, and this is my first text? I can’t take it back now, but I should have at least asked her how she was doing.

K

Hello to you too!

She sends me an emoji with a middle finger, but the bubbles keep dancing around, so I know she’s responding to me.

Me

I’m sorry, I should have asked how things are going.

K

I went out with friends and got busy dealing with mom. Why, what’s up?

Girl, don’t even worry about it. I can tell you must be dealing with boy issues. Are you alright?

How do I tell her I had sex with a masked man and don’t know who he is other than his name is James, and he knows how to play with my body?

Me

Yeah, just…

I hit send before I can finish and roll my eyes. Screw it. I call her, and Kaylee picks up on the first ring.

“Dang girl, that was a fast pickup.” We laugh, and it feels like old times.

“You are going to spill some tea, and I haven’t had a juicy story since Maybelle, our cow, tried to skip the fence for the stud in the next pasture.”

My laughter is uncontrollable as we talk for what seems like hours. Finally, I sigh and tell her what happened.

“You know how you sent me the masquerade ball gown and demanded I go to the darn thing?”

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