Page 58 of Craving the Player

"Shy doesn'tsuit you, gorgeous," Imumble, gently pulling her attention back to me. My fingers itch to touch her warm cheeks, to run them down the soft skin that her long lashes flutter against like the wings of abutterfly.

Iwatch as she rolls her lips, almost as if the voice in her head is telling her the same thing as mine. Calm the fuck down. It’san impossible task on most days, but as Ifall from aboxing induced adrenaline high with Sierra knelt in front of me, her concentration so focused on fixing me up and making sure that I’mokay, impossible has taken on awhole new meaning.

"You either," she counters, the tease taking me by surprise. "If you want something, why don'tyou take it? The Braden Iknow would rather be castrated than let his nerves sho—"

"Is that achallenge?" Icut her off, sliding my fingers from her wrists to her elbows before gently pulling her from her kneeling position and onto my lap.

"Does it sound like one?" she breathes, wiggling her ass on my thighs. My eyes darken, heat flaring in my groin as she rubs against my hardening cock with aknowing smirk.

"You’re playing avery dangerous game, my little fighter.” My gaze is hungry, straight primitive as Ibecome transfixed on the way her chest rises and falls so quickly, her attraction to me so obvious. It’slike looking in aGoddamn mirror.

Two small, warm hands fall to my shoulders, fingers slightly kneading at the sore muscles. "Sorry," she whispers. Ilet out acontent sigh and press my forehead to hers, basking in the charged energy that’sbegun to circle us. With alarge open palm, Ihold the side of her face, my eyes anchored to hers as Itrace the shape of her lower lip with my thumb. Sierra tugs it up in asmile that Ieasily return before sliding my hand to her nape and pulling her towards me. My eyes slide shut and our lips brush, the touch so gentle that Istruggle to catch my breath. My pulse is fast and thumping like akick drum. Fuck. It feels like I’ve just run amarathon.

Suddenly my hand on her neck isn’tenough, and I’mgripping her hip with asplayed palm, kneading it and using it to pull her closer. Agroan slips between us when her leather-clad center slides against my cock, our clothes the only thing keeping me from taking her right here.

“Braden,” she whimpers, the sound so soft, like adesperate plea. Her fingers move from my shoulders, finding purchase at the back of my neck amoment later. Iwish that Ididn’tlove the sound of my name on her lips as much as Ido. It only fuels my need to hear it fall from those pretty lips that much more.

"Iknew we should have just waited in the car,” my best friend grunts, joining us again. The locker room door slams shut afew seconds later. Sierra jumps away from me at the sound of his voice, struggling to stand on her own feet, and leaving my lap unbearably cold. Annoyance slithers under my skin but Itry to ignore it, not wanting to piss Sierra off.

But one look at Clayton’sarrogant smirk and my attempt at calmness crashes and burns. "Clay. Can you please get the fuck out of here?"

The prick turns to point at the blonde beside him. She’salready glaring at him, arms crossed firmly. "Wrong person, brother. Take it up with this one. Iwanted to go, but she refused to leave without Sierra."

"Which clearly was the wrong decision," Sophie speaks up, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. Her eyes flick between Sierra and me with afierce sense of curiosity.

“I'll take good care of your friend," Ipromise Sophie before straightening up beside my girl and properly introducing myself. “It’snice to officially meet you, by the way. Iwas afraid that Sierra was going to keep me hidden in her closet of dirty secrets forever.”

With apinch to Sierra’swaist, Ikiss the top of her head and pull her back flush to my front, wrapping my arms around her as my light laughter brushes her hair.

Sophie'snose crunches in evident disgust as she watches us. "Ibet. Anyway, I'mout of here. Call if you need me, Sierra.

Without sparing either of us asecond look, she clutches Clayton'shand in hers, taking him by surprise, and heads for the door, letting it close behind her. I’mnot sure what the two of them have planned tonight, but I’mglad Iwon’tbe finding out. Clayton hasn’tgotten laid in avery, very long time, and if Sophie is anything like Sierra, she’ll eat him alive.

Istare at the woman leaning back against my chest and smile, feeling completely at ease. With asigh Islide my thumb under Sierra’sshirt and rub the smooth skin above her pants. “You jumped away from me pretty quickly back there. You don'thappen to be embarrassed by me, do you, baby?"

As if commanded by my words, she spins around in my arms, placing her hands on my chest to steady herself. "Why? Would that manage to chip away at your giant ego?"

"No." Ishrug. "But it would make what Ihave planned for you later abit more interesting."

Her eyes double in size, and Idon'tmiss the way her throat bobs with amassive swallow. The thought of taking her home and hearing her scream my name while Ifuck her against every surface in my apartment has my cook hardening, pressing into her back. Mental pictures become adistraction. I’mmore than happy to take her to my place and keep her in my bed for hours—days even.

"Who said Iwas coming home with you?" she croaks, pushing back against me just enough to let me know that she can feel exactly what she does to me.

"Me." The word is harsh, dominant. My tone leaves no room for argument, taking me by surprise.

"Always the gentleman," she scoffs but nods towards the heavy gym bag resting afew feet behind me. "Let'sgo then. Iwork tomorrow morning."

With ahelpless grin that has me feeling like alittle boy, Ipush myself off the bench and collect my shit. Pulling open the locker room door, Iwait for Sierra to walk past me before letting my right palm connect with her ass. Her shriek is immediate, bringing achuckle up my dry throat as she spins around with her eyes narrowed. "My God, you're an actual teenager."

"You say it like it'sabad thing. We both know that you love it.”

"Just shut up and take me home."

"Yes, ma'am."

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