Page 5 of Craving the Player

Chapter Three

BRADEN

Having made it twenty-six trips around the sun has its benefits, regardless of how shit it might make me feel. There are countless things that I’ve learned, gathering in my head and collecting like achipmunk storing nuts for the winter. And every once in awhile, Imake use of all of that information. Like when Iget dragged by the ear to aclub that smells like cheap whiskey and roofies.

For example, Iknow that if you want to be taken seriously in this competitive—sometimes unforgiving world—you have to carry yourself with an unwavering sense of confidence. Without confidence, how do you expect anyone to take you seriously? Without asense of high-strung determination and power, attempting to skip along line to get into aclub you don’teven want to be at would be nearly impossible. But with it . . . that’sawhole different story.

“Big Dave, have you been working out?” My voice carries strong across the packed, brightly lit sidewalk as we walk towards the front doors of Sinners Paradise. The at least three-hundred-pound protector of the neon gates turns away from the bloodshot-eyed teen in front of him, his lips threatening to tear straight from his face as they lift in atwitching grin. Clayton chuckles beside me when Isend him aprideful wink and raise my hand in aquick wave.

“Ihave, actually. You can tell?” Dave asks once we push our way in front of two women. One of them has awaist long, platinum ponytail that licks the top of her ass and if Ihad to bet, wouldn’teven reach my shoulders with six-inch heels on. The other, ataller, dark-haired beauty grabs my attention by the balls and clasps atiny fist around my throat, stealing my air. Her eyes are hard, narrowed on the dimple in my chin, and for some fucking reason that has my blood burning with frustration, Iwish that she would shift her gaze to mine.

With ashake of my head, Iturn back around and force myself to refocus on the burly, unattractive security guard. “Of course, those guns could end world wars, buddy.”

There’saslight, unnecessary flex of his arms when he puffs out his chest. Ichew the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

“I’mstill waiting for those boxing lessons.” Dave says, moving the black rope aside that was keeping us from entering.

“Anytime. You know where to find me.” Ipat his round arms and nod to Clay for him to follow me inside.

“Are you seriously going to let them in before us?” Ihear asnarky voice snap, the strength in the tone taking me by surprise. Turning around, Ilock my eyes with apair of narrowed ones—the colour of molten silver right before it'spoured into amold, glistening in the brass pot—belonging to the brunette Inoticed when we first arrived. She stands with anearly overwhelming sense of confidence and poise, like she doesn’tfear anybody or anything. Like we should all fear her. And maybe, if Iwas any less of an egotistical prick, Iwould have been terrified to piss her off even further, but that’snot me.

Instead, Idecide to lift abrow in asilent taunt before crossing my arms and snapping, “Well, aren’tyou asassy one.”

Her narrowed eyes roll as she places her hands on one of her full, totally graspable hips. And fuck do Iwant to grab and squeeze and knead them in my palms until Ileave the skin red and sore. “You have no idea.”

“How about you show me just how sassy you can be then.” Inearly combust staring at the scowl darkening her face. She laughs humourlessly before shaking her head, mouth opening to throw something back at me when she’sinterrupted.

“Leave it, Sierra,” her blonde friend sighs.

Sierra, hey? Ican already imagine that rolling off my tongue later while I’mfucking that attitude right out of her.

“Have fun inside, fighter. Iwould say let’sdo this again, but Iwould rather light myself on fire.” Sierra doesn’tspare me asecond look before turning her back to me and going inside. Ican’thelp but stand there, watching the sway of her hips and the way her perfect round ass bounces with each step with aloose hanging jaw and apulsing cock. Ihear afew snickers before Irun my thumb over my bottom lip and groan.

Well played, gorgeous. Well played.

“You made it!” Ethan shouts, his words already slurring into abarely eligible sentence as he stumbles his way to our spot at the bar. As graceful as ababy deer, that one.

“Isee you started without us.” Istretch my neck so Ican eye up the crowds grinding and drinking until they stumble, bumping into each other with grins that show they couldn’tcare less. Most of these people won’teven remember who they met or what songs they dirty danced to when they wake up. But that’swhat’sfun about being young and careless, right? The lack of repercussions for our actions and mistakes. So why does the idea of tipping back shot after shot until Ican’tmanage to walk three steps ahead of me without stumbling not give me the same buzz as before? Fuck, Ireally am getting old.

Ethan grins, naive to life outside of places like these. “Do you have adrink already?” He’smoving towards the bar before Clay and Ihave achance to answer. “Two pornstars!” he shouts, capturing the attention of the stern-faced bartender who looks almost as happy to be here as Iam.

“Iforgot how annoying he is when he’ssloshed!” Clay shouts and leans towards me, bumping my shoulder.

“Just when he’ssloshed?” Isnort.

“Here you go!” Ethan slides the red and blue-filled shot glass towards us with asense of urgency. Some of the liquid sloshes over the top of the glass and sticks to the bar top.

“Thanks.” Ithrow back the shot and fight back my gag when the horrendously sweet mixture slides down my throat, making my stomach whimper. Ethan is already making his way through the crowd when Ipush the empty glass back where he used to be.

“I’mgoing outside for aminute,” Clay says, getting anod from me before he disappears into the never-ending bodies cluttering up the dancefloor. Speaking of, where is this damn band that Iwas promised?

Peering over afew heads, Isearch for anything that the band could even use as astage but come up empty-handed. Unless they plan to shove adrum set in the middle of the dance floor, Ithink they’re out of luck. Pushing myself away from the bar, Ifeel asmall hand attempt to wrap around my bicep and squeeze.

My jeans pull tighter when Ilook down and catch an eyeful of aset of creamy tits spilling from asinful tube top. Iplace my hand back down on the bar and toss her astar-studded smile. The girl gives me awicked smile in return. She pushes herself closer to me, sending the blood rushing straight to my groin when her tongue slowly slides along her bottom lip, her hooded eyes locked on mine the entire time.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Iswallow the groan of approval in my throat and place my free hand on the bare skin of her lower back, pushing our fronts together.

“Do you remember me?” she asks, aslight glimmer of hope lighting up her eyes. Talk about afucking cock block.

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