Page 71 of Playing Dirty
“Now.”
Callie lost again but she didn’t care. We were circling each other, every hand pulling us closer.
“Next lesson?” she asked.
“Patience,” I said, meeting her gaze. “And knowing when to go all in.”
Her smile was gentle and confident. The city lights shimmered in the background, yet she was the only thing I noticed. Callie was determined and right where I wanted her: sitting across the table, absorbing my game.
I turned on the speaker, letting a slow, bluesy guitar line fill the room, and topped off our glasses. Callie was down to nothing but her bra and panties, cheeks flushed from champagne and competition. I, on the other hand, was still in my pants, but not for long.
She narrowed her eyes at me over her cards. “This is rigged.”
“Guess you’ll have to prove it,” I said, deliberately folding a losing hand and pushing my stack her way.
Her jaw dropped. “I won?”
“Fair and square,” I said, standing. She crossed her arms.
I unzipped my jeans and stepped out, leaving my boxer briefs on. Her laugh came out low and warm, curling right through me.
“You’re impossible,” she said.
“And you’re falling behind,” I teased, dealing again.
The next round went quickly as she lost again. Rather than complaining, she stood up, holding her cards close to her chest, and approached me. Silently, she nudged me back into the chair, slipped out of her panties, and straddled my lap.
Callie reached down with one hand, slipping me free from my boxers, and gently guided me into her. Her warmth enveloped me, her breath catching as she welcomed me.
“You still in?” I asked, my voice lower now, hoarse with desire.
“Deal,” she murmured, leaning close enough that her hair brushed my cheek.
Even as her hips began a slow, deliberate roll, she kept those cards tight to her chest. I could barely focus on mine, not with her moving like that—riding me, teasing me, daring me to break first. I could feel every inch of her, every slow grind as she took me deep, then pulled away, only to do it again.
I set my cards down, my breath ragged. “You’re not playing fair.”
“I thought you wanted to play dirty,” she said, smiling against my jaw, her voice a sultry whisper. She picked up the pace, her body moving in rhythm with the bluesy guitar line, her breath hot on my neck. I could feel her tightening around me, her body trembling as she neared the edge.
I gathered her up and rose from the chair in one easy motion. Her legs locked around my waist, the warmth of her body pressed tight against mine as I carried her toward the bed.
The city glittered through the windows behind her, but she had my full attention. I lay her down slowly, letting my hands skim from her shoulders to her hips, memorizing the soft give of her skin, the little hitch in her breath when my fingers traced the curve of her waist.
"You're beautiful," I said, and it wasn't just a line—it was a fact.
Her eyes softened. "You're not so bad yourself, Rhett."
I grinned, leaning down to kiss her, slow and deliberate, letting our mouths linger. No rush. No stakes. Just us. Her hands slid over my chest, her fingertips warm and sure as if she'd known me like this forever.
She arched beneath me, her body a perfect curve against the sheets. I traced the delicate line of her collarbone with my tongue, tasting salt and sweetness, feeling her pulse quickenbeneath my lips. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging just enough to make my breath catch.
"I want to feel you inside me again," she whispered, spreading open her folds.
I obliged, settling between her thighs. The heat of her against me was intoxicating, better than any high I'd ever chased. I kissed my way down her body, lingering at the soft swell of her breasts, drawing one taut peak into my mouth until she gasped my name.
Her skin flushed pink beneath my touch, a beautiful contrast to the white sheets. I moved lower, trailing kisses across her stomach, feeling the muscles tense and relax under my lips. When I reached the apex of her thighs, I looked up to find her watching me, lips parted, eyes heavy with want.
I took my time, learning her all over again, every sigh and little sound, every way her body moved beneath mine. She laughed once when I kissed that spot just under her jaw, then whispered my name like it was something she'd been holding onto for years.
