Page 53 of Craving the Player

“Please tell me that we’re almost there,” she begs, sounding exasperated. The street lights move over the front seats every few seconds, granting me the pleasure of catching her shooting daggers in the side of Clayton’shead when he purposely drives over adeep pothole, causing all three of us to jostle around in our seats.

“Oh, please. Ican list at least five girls who would love to be sitting where you are.” Clay clicks his tongue while strumming his hands against the steering wheel.

“Yeah, right,” she scoffs. “My mistake.”

“You don’thave to be jealous, gorgeous.”

“Fuck you.”

“You always could.”

“In your dreams, asshat.”

With aquiet sigh, Ilean my cheek against the cold window and tune out their pointless bickering. My eyes slide shut, letting the darkness calm down my jittery nerves.

I’mnot sure what to expect tonight. The only thing Iexpect is to see acompletely different side of the laid-back, quick-tongued playboy that I’ve come to know. When he first told me that he boxes for aliving, all Icould think about was seeing him break Logan’snose, and suddenly Icouldn’tstop myself from asking to go watch him. I’mway more excited than Ioriginally thought Iwould be to watch Braden in his element. Maybe if Ihad been spending more time getting to know what makes him him instead of just how he works his dick, Iwould have been able to realize he was afighter to begin with.

The scar through his eyebrow and the fresh ones over his knuckles seem more important to me now, like pieces of the puzzle that Iswept under the couch and forgot about. Even the way he walks—completely confident in himself and his ability to to drop anyone who so much as thinks of making awrong move without breaking asweat—screams fighter. Ialways assumed that it was just his ginormous ego that called to me, making my clit swell with need with the briefest flash of his smile. But maybe it was his strength and power instead. They both radiate from his broad shoulders like sound waves, calling to me at afrequency that has my head doing adoubt take, not grasping as to how this man has such easy control over me.

“We’re here,” Clayton grumbles. We come to ajolting stop as he slides the Jeep into park and whips open his door, walking into the dark. Ilook at Sophie, my eyes wide with surprise when he slams the door behind him.

What did Imiss?

“Don’task. Let’sjust go before he abandons us.”

Inod quickly and open my door. The noise hits me like afreight train as soon as Istep outside. There’sno music playing, the noise comes solely from shouted voices, the clear aggression behind them taking me by surprise. Igrab hold of Sophie’shand and squeeze when she steps out and gasps.

“We’re going to die,” she groans, eying the bulky guys standing in front of the front door, chatting with Clayton. There’saglowing red sign above the door that says, Rampage. “Ipissed him off so badly that he wants to have us killed.”

“We’re not going to die.” Ihope. “Come on.” Igather up my confidence and pull her towards the intimidating men. Great, for once I’mthe one dragging us into the lion'sden.

“About time!” Clayton yells when he notices us slowly creep up to him. “This is Roy.” He points to the taller but leaner of the two men and Iget agrin of welcome from him before we’re moving onto the bulkier man. “And this is Brooks.”

Gulping, Iforce my lips to spread in awelcoming smile. “Nice to meet you. I’mSierra.”

They both return my smile with more genuine ones. The shockingly handsome, much stronger looking one—Brooks, Ithink, offers me his hand. I’mtaken aback by the strength of his grip when Iplace my hand in his, shaking it before dropping it back to my side. Ieye him curiously, focusing on the familiar, thick bushy brows, prominent cupid’sbow and amber-coloured eyes that Icould have sworn I’ve looked into quite anumber of times. Inearly sputter an embarrassed laugh when he winks at me, informing me subtly that he caught on to my gawking.

“I’ve heard all about you, Sierra. The pleasure is all mine,” Brook’ssays in alow rumble.

My cheeks burn as Igrow confused. Heard all about me? From who? Clayton? Igo to offer him aforced smile but he’salready moved on, slinging amassive arm around Clayton’sshoulders. Okay then.

“And I’mSophie.” Ihear from beside me, the voice suddenly entirely at ease. When Icatch the slight flutter of her eyelashes as she stares up at Brooks, Iknow that it’stime to go.

“Hello, Sophie,” he chuckles, shaking her hand like he did mine.

“Should we go? Ithink we’re already late, Clayton.” Iexpel aheavy breath of relief when he turns to me, nodding. He says his quick goodbyes to the two men before pushing open the door and holding it for us.

“Come on, Soph.” Igrab her hand again and yank her past Roy and Brooks, forcing her to follow Clayton inside. When we finally make the front doors, she turns to me, visibly annoyed.

“You’re such apussy block, S.”

“Ispotted afew grey hairs in that man bun. He’sway too old for you,” Ireply with asharp roll of my eyes. If it weren’tfor her comforting me in this unfamiliar place Iprobably would have let her try and shoot her shot with the guy, but I’mtoo selfish for that right now.

“Whatever.”

Our shoulders knock together when we’re brushed off to the side by acouple of dominant looking women shoving their way through the growing crowd around us. Panic slices up my spine as we become surrounded with large, sweaty bodies. But Irefuse to let fear rule me tonight. So with ashake of my head that Ihope is enough to clear out my worries, Iturn my attention to the view in front of us and steady myself.

Oh, shit fucker. Idefinitely wasn’tprepared for this.

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