Page 3 of Players Love Hard
I want him to kiss me.
We dance to the techno beat, our bodies rubbing against each other. The tension between us builds, hitting its peak before he dips his head to my level.
Is this our moment? It sure as hell feels like it.
He digs his fingers into my side, both hands on my hips. Our lips are so close they almost touch. I lick my bottom lip to give him the go-ahead. But he stops inching his way to me. Instead, Jamie moves his head to the side, taking me by surprise. His lips are brushing against my ear as he speaks in his deep, manly voice.
“I need another beer. Come with me.”
Jamie leads me through the living room and into the kitchen with our fingers interlocked. One of the fraternity brothers stands behind the bar along the right side of the room, handing out drinks. We make a beeline toward the bar. Jamie raises his hand to grab the bartender’s attention.
Jamie hands me a beer. “Drink up.” He dips the red plastic cup against mine to toast. “Wanna go outside?”
I sip the foam from the top of my cup and some sticks to my lips. Jamie’s eyes fall to my mouth, and he’s mimicking me as I lick the foam away.
“Yeah, I guess. If it’s not too cold.”
He hooks his arm around my back and smiles. “I’ll keep you warm if it is.”
Jamie has never been so forward with me. He looks sober, or at least not wasted, like his friends. His teammates are in the backyard playing beer pong. A large group gathers around the long table where people throw ping-pong balls into plastic cups.
I avoid playing games with the frat bros. They always seem to win, no matter the challenge. I learned my lesson freshman year when my pledge class played them in strip poker.
We lost miserably.
In the middle of the yard, I spot a mix of naked and close-to-it people playing poker at a table under the giant oak tree. I’m relieved when Jamie dodges both crowds and heads toward the koi pond at the far edge of the property.
We have some privacy by the pond, enough space for a private conversation. Greek Row is lit up at this hour, one party after another spanning the entire block.
I sit on the bench beside Jamie, who leans forward to look at the fish swimming in the pond before us. He sips from his cup, his eyes fixed on the ground. An awkward silence fills the air between us. Now that we’re finally alone, my nerves suffocate me, crushing my chest.
“How’s hockey going?” I ask him.
He takes one more gulp of his beer and then glances at me. “Okay, I guess. Tuck and Trent got suspended for two games.” A beat passes between us before he adds, “But no one can know.”
I touch his hand and smile. “You can trust me.”
A smirk turns up the right corner of his mouth. “I know.”
“How so?” I challenge.
“Because I’ve told you stuff when I was drunk, and it never got back to anyone.” He slides across the bench until our thighs are touching. “You’re easy to talk to, Shan.”
I wink. “Right back at ya.”
He holds my gaze, staring at my mouth again. The air hums between us, a palpable energy I can feel on my skin. My stomach churns from anticipating what I hope will be our first kiss. Jamie places his hand on his thigh, and I get a little jealous that it’s not on mine.
“Are you going to kiss me, or what?” I mutter before I can stop myself from confessing my desire.
Jamie chuckles. “Is that what you want?”
I nod. “You’ve never kissed me. Never even tried.”
“Because I don’t want to mess with a good thing. You’re the only woman I can talk to besides my mom or sister.” He slides his arm across my neck, causing the tiny hairs to stand at attention. “Are you sure you want to ruin this?”
“You’re a smart guy, Jamie. The smartest.” I cover his hand that’s rested on his thigh, the heat from his skin warming mine. “But it’s time to turn your brain off and stop thinking.”
Without another word, Jamie dips his head to my level. He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth. The sensation is so overpowering that my skin burns from his touch. His big, calloused hand travels up my bare arm until he’s cupping the side of my face, our tongues tangling together as he deepens the kiss.
