Page 9 of Well Played

I nodded, the hurt there still raw after three years. “Yes,” I said unsteadily, and looked down.

He let me, folding his arms around my body and pulling me in close. “You need to cry?”

I sniffled. “No.”

“Liar.” I could hear the smile in his voice before it changed. “You ever cry?”

“Too many nights.”

“Not any more. Cry now if you need. After tonight you stay with me. If you cry after that, then it’s for a different reason.” His lips grazed my ear. “I can teach you pleasure in denial and I can make you cry, beautiful. Want me to teach you that?”

A frisson of need rippled over my skin. “I’m so out of my depth,” I whispered, shocked my nipples hardened at his filthy words.

Solace laughed, cupping my breast and squeezing gently as though he already knew my body’s reaction. “Let me teach you everything.” He kissed my temple. “Let me show you what it’s supposed to be like.”

I risked looking up at him, unsure if his promises would give me all that he offered…or if he’d break me.

Dark eyes stared down into mine, unflinching.

This was the man who followed me each night for months. Who tried to scare me and made sure I got home safely. Who protected me and wanted me above everything else.

Who might be worth the risk.

Worrying my bottom lip between my teeth, I nodded once, and prayed I wasn’t making a mistake.

“All right,” I breathed, hating the way my voice broke, though he seemed to love that from the way his hands tightened on me.

“Tonight.”

4

SOLACE

A word in cap’s ear, and the vultures stayed the fuck away from my girl. Damn, for a moment there I thought she’d been scared off. Who the hell ever hurt her did a damn fine job but I got it—the same reason she couldn’t trust anyone and lived alone was the same reason I didn’t play with the puck bunnies or join team WAGS.

Staying out of her way all day and not haunting her every step was my next challenge, though I managed to watch her occasionally, especially when the media crew turned up for the afternoon shoot. I posed with the rest of the team, keeping an eye on the door but I never got the chance to head into the office any more than I had the last week since I finally approached her.

Between training and promotions during the season, I barely had time to myself to think. The rest of the team might spend a lot of time socialising but it never sat well with me. We signed on to do a job, so that’s what I did.

Someone spritzed oil on my back and rubbed it in massage style, but I threw the hands off. I already hated this part, but Ididn’t need anyone touching me after what I just promised to Hallie.

“I got it,” someone muttered. Hands that weren’t half as soft slapped my back hard.

I grunted at the intrusion but the contract wasn’t unwelcome. “Thanks, man.”

“Don’t mention it.” Shannon Incarsen squeezed my shoulder hard. “Hux said you had trouble with the slut squad.”

A snort left me. “Too apt, man.”

His next squeeze wasn’t so gentle. “My wife is counted as one of those.”

I stilled, knowing the rough time he’d had with her. “Apologies, man.”

“Don’t mention it. I get it.” He worked the oil in a little longer than necessary as the rest of the shoot went on. “We had some shit years, Lori and me. But we came through. Never really let her go, you know. Mighta been wrong but…I couldn’t give her up.”

I grinned. “I know how that feels. Been watching Hallie for a while.”

“Yeah? She the right one for you?”

---