Page 20 of Fumble

Chapter Six

HUNTER

She tastes even betterthan she looks—soft and warm, her body taut in all the right places. I have to stop before this goes too far, but from the moment I saw her, the caveman in me wanted to claim her. Her sex appeal is undeniable, potent, and arousing, but what makes her irresistible is her charm. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. God, she just asked me to take her virginity. I’m floored, honored, and turned on beyond measure. She makes me feel like the class geek on prom night ready to blow my load with a simple kiss.

The problem is this isn’t just a kiss. My body is vibrating with need for her, and yet, I don’t want to rush it. I can’t. I need to stop. Fisting my hands in her hair, I hold her tight, losing my mind to the sensation of her lips against mine, her tongue stroking, licking, teasing me until I can’t take it anymore. If I don’t pull back now, she’ll be naked in my bed within minutes, and I’ll be the guy who deflowers Coach’s daughter.

It takes everything I have not to ravish her and sink balls deep inside her. Pushing her away is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and the look in her eyes crushes me to the core.

“Don’t stop. Hunter, I want this. I may not have experience, but if that kiss was anything to go by, sex between us would be…”

“Earth-shattering.” The taste of her lingers, tormenting me in my attempts to create some space. Her demeanor changes on a dime, the playful enchantress returning to goad me in my despair.

“What if I don’t let you say no to me?”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“A wager. You’re a man who enjoys competition. Let’s play a game.”

“You want to wager your virginity?” I’m intrigued, disturbed, and aroused.

“No. I want to wager you taking my virginity.”

“And what are your terms, Miss Fairchild?” I can win any game she has in mind.

“Think of it as the sexual Hunger Games. Our baseline is kissing. Anything over that we have to work for. If I can seduce you to second or third base five times, then I win, and you have to stamp my V-Card.”

“And how do I participate in this game?” I’m not really considering this, am I?

“If you manage to resist my temptations for the full three months, you win. In the unlikely event you succeed, choose your winnings.”

“If I evade your advances, but I want to teach you some… tactics, does that count?”

“No. Teach me, Mr. Vaughn. I’m eager to learn.” Holy shit. She’ll be the death of me.

“Okay. If I agree to this little game of yours, we have to keep it a secret. If this comes out, it could ruin both of us.”

“Agreed.”

“And, if I win, you stay on as my permanent personal assistant.”

“Oh. I…” Her stunned silence is amusing, considering what she’s asking of me.

“So, you get to demand I take your virginity, but you’re shocked that I’d want you to work for me?”

“Well, yes. I thought you’d ask for a nude picture or my laptop, or that I do a walk of shame in front of the staff. I don’t know how this would benefit you. I win both ways.”

“And you think I don’t? I either get a highly qualified member of my staff, or I have sex with a beautiful woman who has a wicked ability to surprise me at every turn.” Her smile is devious, already scheming.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet, Hunter.” I hold out my hand, questioning this terrible decision, but resisting her charm doesn’t seem to be my strong suit.

“Let the games begin, Miss Fairchild.” She gives me a firm shake before settling in with her glass of wine.

“So, now that we got the business end out of the way, tell me about yourself, Mr. Vaughn.” Torturing myself, I take a seat beside her, the length of her thigh resting against mine. I sling my arm around her with disconcerting ease. Exposing the tension between us and channeling it into a game of cat and mouse has given us the freedom to acknowledge our desire to touch and taste each other with innocent gestures. Deep down, I know this can only lead to the most sinful, tantalizing, sexual deviance, but for now, I want to believe that I’ll stop myself before betraying the one person who ever believed in me. I know I’m already betraying his trust by agreeing to play this game with his daughter, but however much I want to walk away, my desire to explore this woman is too much of a draw to ignore.

We talk for hours, laughing and telling old stories. Obviously, I have twice as many, and it dents my ego a little to think of my age when it comes to her. I just about cry, laughing at her tales of blunder.

“My mom always told me I couldn’t be this beautiful and be graceful. So, I guess I just embraced my bumbling side as part of my charm.”