Page 10 of The Player

She’d never been so attracted to any guy before. Not even Jimmy, whose body she’d known in intimate detail from the time they’d lost their virginity together in the back seat of his car at seventeen.

Because of the clothes she wore and the persona she presented to the world, guys assumed she was an easy mark. Even while she’d been dating Jimmy and Henri—albeit platonically in his case—guys had hit on her. Fellow soccer and basketball stars that assumed WAGs were up for anything. Commentators, managers, and agents who thought WAGs would do anything for stardom and recognition, including accept outlandish proposals.

The whole scene had sickened her and, while she’d seen enough hookups at parties in her time, she’d never been remotely interested.

What made Wade Urquart so special that she wanted to rip her clothes off the moment his sizzling-hot gaze connected with hers?

‘Glad you’re still here.’

He closed the door and slid off his jacket, and she caught sight of a telltale box bulging from the inside pocket. What looked like a surprisingly large box for what she’d envisioned as a brief interlude.

Her skin tingled again.

‘I contemplated making a run for it.’

‘What stopped you?’

He stalked towards her, stopped less than two feet away.

‘This.’ She laid a hand on his chest, felt the heat from his skin brand her through the expensive cotton of his shirt.

He didn’t move as her palm slid upward. Slowly. Leisurely, as she savoured the contours of hard muscle, desperate to feel his skin.

He watched her, his gaze smouldering as her fingertips traced around his nipples, his breathing quickening as her fingers skated across his pecs, along his collarbone and higher. When her hand reached his neck, she stepped closer, bringing their bodies less than an inch apart.

She could feel his heat. She could smell his expensive citrus aftershave. She could hear his ragged breathing.

She’d never wanted anything as badly as she wanted Wade at that moment.

With a boldness she had no idea she possessed, she tugged his head down toward her and kissed him.

The moment their lips touched Liza forgot her doubts, forgot her past, forgot her own damn name. She couldn’t think beyond their frantic hands and loud moans. Couldn’t get enough of his long, deep, skilled kisses.

Her body ignited in a fireball of passion and she clung to him, eagerly taking the initiative, pushing him down on the bed so he lay sprawled beneath her like a fallen angel.

His lips curved into a wicked grin as she shimmied out of her dress.

Another first. Letting a guy see her naked with the lights on.

She didn’t like being seen during intimate moments. She spent enough of her life in the spotlight, being scrutinised and evaluated, she didn’t need it in the bedroom too.

But this was a new Liza, a new life.

Time to shed her old habits and take what she wanted.

Starting with the sexy guy beckoning her with a crook of his finger.

‘Bronze is your colour,’ he said, propping on his elbows when she straddled him.

‘I like to colour coordinate my outfit and underwear.’

‘While I appreciate the effort—’ he snagged a bra strap and tugged it down, trailing a fingertip across her collarbone and doing the same on the other side ‘—I’d prefer to see you naked.’

He surged upward so fast she almost toppled off, but he wrapped his strong arms around her waist, anchoring her, holding her deliciously close. ‘Now.’

She cupped his face between her hands and stared into his beautiful brown eyes. Eyes that held shadows lurking behind desire. Eyes that intrigued.

She briefly wondered if they were doing the right thing, before ignoring the doubt. She wanted to celebrate her new life tonight. Having an exciting, impulsive fling with a hot guy who made her pulse race with the barest touch was the way to do it.

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