Page 15 of Strike Zone

“Don’t diss the anaconda. You know better than anyone, there’s nothing small about my manhood.” He stares at me as if I just spat in his face. “That came out way different than it sounded in my head.”

“Did it not sound like you want to be my life partner in your head? That’s how it came out to everyone within earshot.”

“You wish. I’m too hot for you.”

“Dream on. I’d be in the major leagues of homosexual dating, and you’d be in the minors.”

“What? You’re insane. I’d totally be in the majors. What are you talking about?”

“You’re a player.”

“So were you until you met Brooke.”

The waiter arrives with our drinks as the dealer shuffles the deck and our chips are set in front of us. I’m ready for a long night ahead. “Here you are, gentlemen. The finest whiskey in Vegas, on the rocks, as requested. And if you don’t mind me saying, Mr. Nash, you would definitely be considered the major leagues on the team I bat for.” He gives a solemn, knowing smile, and I can’t help but laugh. Anders was right, the entire room heard me.

“Well, you just doubled your tip tonight…”

“Derek.”

“Excellent.” I hold up a light blue poker chip. This small, insignificant-looking piece of clay is worth two grand. “Your tip will be whatever this chip makes tonight, my friend, as long as there’s never an empty glass in my hand.”

I’m true to my word. Derek walks away with ten thousand dollars at the end of the night, and I fall into bed with a lot of money and an impending hangover that could kill a lesser man. I’m almost asleep when my phone pings, and the second I lay eyes on the screen, I’m as sober as a judge.

Unknown: One-time offer. Top floor, last door on the left.

Me: Who’s this? And what’s my one-time offer?

Unknown: Dee. One night. Wild sex. No feelings. And certainly no mention of this after tonight.

Me: You realize this is Linc? The guy you called a self-absorbed, narcissistic, selfish womanizer.

Unknown: You said we didn’t need to like each other to have sex. I hate you. You hate me. Do you want to come up here and fuck me or not?

Fuck me sideways and call me Judy. I know I should ignore her siren call and avoid what will inevitably be a toxic rebuttal in the morning, but fuck it, you only live once.

Chapter Four

DIANA

Waiting for the three little dots to appear is mortifying. He’s not going to answer back. Shit. Shit. Shit. What was I thinking? I know better than to mess with a guy like Linc, and I’ve trained too hard to break the rules the night before a fight. Why did I think he was going to come running up here after the way I went off on him earlier?

The silence of my phone is deafening as I lie back in this huge bed, staring at the ceiling. Linc is probably in some other woman’s hotel room right now, having just fucked her so hard she’s forgotten her own name. In my head, he paused for a moment to answer my first text out of curiosity. Do men do that? Hopefully, not. Just the thought of him texting me while he’s rocking some other woman’s world is nauseating, and a guy like him won’t have been short on offers. He looked impossibly handsome tonight, and from what I could see, he was on a winning streak when I called it a night.

I hate that I’m so attracted to him. He’s an ass. A handsome, fit, glorious bad boy. The best kind of one-night stand. I’m horny, frustrated, and if I don’t get some of this pent-up energy out, I’ll never get any sleep, but I guess I’m on my own.

It’s not like I can really blame him. He got two weeks of my frustration and anger that should’ve been directed at my ex. I’m sure it’s for the best that he’s blowing me off. I know that, although it doesn’t mean I can’t fantasize as I slide my hand beneath the sheets and between my legs.

His eyes are piercing blue, and the way his pants subtly highlighted his trouser snake tonight is enough to get me going. Imagining his lips on mine, trailing down my body…

Knock! Knock!

My frustration builds, but so does my anticipation as I leap from the bed and head for the door in nothing but a t-shirt.

“Who is it?”

“How many guys did you text for a booty call?” I can hear the self-satisfied undertone in his voice, but it’s overshadowed by the deep rasping promise of sinful sex.

My pulse is racing as I twist the lock and open the door in my oversized t-shirt to find him leaning against the wall, his tie loose and the collar of his shirt unbuttoned. If he looked incredible earlier, he’s mouthwatering now.

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