Page 33 of Scoring Position

I guess if she’s committing to the character, I can too.

Reaching out, I graze my hand up her side, watching as goosebumps rise along her flawless skin. I lick my lips, and she follows the movement with hooded eyes—a look that tells me I’ve got her right where I want her.

“What does a beautiful girl like you drink?” I ask, ghosting my thumb along her hip. A visible shiver makes its way through her entire body, and she steps in, clearly wanting more. Her hand slides closer to my dick as she does, and I want to pull her over my lap and spank her pretty ass raw for the way she’s trying to make me hard in public. There really aren’t that many people in here, but the idea of anyone seeing me with this gorgeous woman giving me all her attention makes me feel like a fucking king. I turn the tables, sliding my hands around her ass and pulling her against where I’m sitting on the barstool. Her breath hitches, and I squeeze the supple flesh, waiting for her answer.

“Ummm,” she says, shaking her head rapidly to clear the fog I’ve created in her mind. “V-vodka cranberry, please.”

Smirking, I turn and raise my hand to the bartender as he makes his way to where we’re sitting. I order her drink, neverremoving my touch from her body while we wait for him to return.

“So, what brings you to Denver, L?” I ask, moving my fingertips over the bare skin of her lower back. Her pink nails gently scratch at my thigh as we both slowly work each other up, making everything else in the room fade away until it feels like it’s just us.

“Work,” she replies. “I’m just here for tonight, so I figured I’d come down to relax. But as soon as I saw you over here, I had to introduce myself. What about you?” The bartender sets her drink down, and she picks it up, wrapping her plump lips around the straw. I watch, becoming more aroused by the second as she swallows, and I follow the motion of the liquid as it makes its way down her throat.

“I’m also here for work. I play professional baseball. We had a game tonight, so I came down to celebrate our big win.”

“Oh, wow,” she replies, her eyes going wide with faux surprise. “That explains all the muscles.” Her hand abandons my thigh, running up my arm and settling on my bicep. I flex, and she giggles before taking another sip of her drink.

“Does that turn you on?” I ask, turning in the barstool and opening my legs so I can pull her between them.

“Mhmm,” she replies coyly, her gaze burning into mine. “You’re so fucking hot.” She bites her bottom lip, and I use my thumb to pull it free before leaning forward and pressing my mouth to hers. I coast my tongue along the seam, begging to taste more until she finally lets me in. Deepening the kiss, I swallow every quiet moan that escapes her as my cock grows harder with every passing second. She grips the front of my shirt in her fists, and I use my free hand to pull her even tighter against me while we make out right in the open, not giving a single fuck who’s watching.

It feels like hours have passed before she breaks the connection, slowly bringing her mouth to my ear. “Do you want to get out of here, Ace?” she whispers, nipping at my earlobe.

“Fuck yes.”

TWENTY

ACE

I openthe door to my hotel room, ushering Lark in with my hand on the small of her back before closing it behind us. On the outside, I’m trying to stay in control of the situation, but on the inside, my whole body feels like it might give out at any moment.

My heart pounds in my chest as she turns, her gaze burning into mine before she blinks those gorgeous doe eyes of hers, and my restraint snaps. I lunge forward, bringing my hands to her face and diving in for a passionate kiss. She wastes no time opening for me, and I take the invitation, plunging my tongue into her mouth as a moan rises up her chest. Her fingers tighten around the fabric of my shirt, and that’s when it all clicks in my head.

This is it.

I pull away, resting my forehead against hers as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm myself so I can get out the words. She chews on the inside of her cheek nervously as she waits, but I take my time because I want her to understand that this isn’t a hasty decision. I’m one hundred percent sure.

“I want you,” I whisper on an exhale, kissing her softly. “I want you so fucking bad.”

“Ace,” she breathes, flattening her hands over my chest. I’m sure she can feel my heart beating like I just ran a marathon, but I don’t care. I’m nervous as hell, but I’m absolutely positive that this is what I want. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

I nod my head, swallowing. “Yes,” I say, looking into her eyes. “But this isn’t part of our role-play. That ends here. You’re not some random woman. You’re Lark Dawson, and I want to give you all of me.”

She tucks her lips over her teeth, quietly reaching into her clutch to pull out her phone. Confused, I look down as she powers it off, walks to the dresser, and places it into an empty drawer. After pushing it shut, she turns back to me.

I stand there dumbfounded as the meaning of the gesture settles in, and as much as it makes my chest tighten with emotion, I need her to know how I’m feeling right now. “I know you’d never hurt me,” I say, stepping toward her. “And I trust you with everything I have. Let me show you.”

She nods her head, and I close the rest of the distance, pulling her into my arms as I kiss her again. Walking her backward, I don’t break the connection until the backs of her legs hit the mattress, causing her to fall onto the bed. I stand before her, taking in the way her golden hair looks like a halo around her head as she stares up at me with adoration in her eyes.

My angel.

That’s exactly what she is. She may not realize all the ways she saved me from a life of loneliness, but I do. Who knows if I’d have ever been able to trust again if she hadn’t come along?

I wrap my arm around her waist, climbing onto the bed and sliding us both up until her head is resting on the pillow. Nerves wash over me as the magnitude of the moment settles in, and doubt creeps into the back of my mind. What if I can’t make itgood for her? What if I fuck it all up and shit gets awkward? I can’t lose her—ever.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her expression full of concern. “Do you want to stop?”

I shake my head, swallowing. This is fucking embarrassing, but I need to be honest with her. “What if I’m bad at it?” I say quietly.

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