Page 42 of The Players

He was already pressed between my thighs with his hands so close to my core I could almost imagine what those fingers could do. The pleasure he could give me…

But this was Easton Hill. He hated me, and I hated him, right?

“Why do you want this?” I managed to say through quivering lips. What I should have asked wasWhy do you wantme?but I was too chicken to hear the answer.

He shrugged as if my question wasn’t anything he’d ever thought about. “I… think you’re interesting. I want to see what the fuss is all about.” He lifted his blue eyes to mine and gave me a look that would be my undoing. “Don’t you want to see what all the fuss is about, Vivian?”

I swallowed hard and said nothing. “If I agree, will you tell anyone?”

“No, I won’t.” His hand left my thigh. He took his pointer finger and drew an x across his breast. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“How can I trust you?” I could barely get the words out. I was trembling with a swirl of emotions I didn’t fully understand, but I knew they were strong. I also knew there was no way I was getting up and walking out, not without seeing where this went.”

His hand dropped back to my thigh and squeezed it. He leaned forward until his mouth was inches from mine. His minty breath pulsed against my lips as he replied. “You can’t trust me. You’ll just have to dive in head first. See what happens.”

His lips were so close. Mine had parted. I had no idea when. I had no knowledge of doing it.

Dive in head first? That was a great way to get killed. Still, I felt myself leaning towards him.

My lips brushed his as tingles exploded across my chest. His hands squeezed my thighs as his mouth lingered near mine for a heartbeat, then two. He was making me wait. Teasing me.

Then he fit his mouth to mine and kissed me in a way that unraveled all thought.

His lips. His tongue. His mouth. Everything about him made me only want more. He was an expert kisser. He let go of one thigh and gripped my chin, his thumb skimming across my lips as he pulled back and licked his.

“That’s enough,” he said, his lips looking bruised from the kiss.

He knew how to leave me hanging. I tried not to let it show how badly I wanted him to continue.

“Okay, one weakness,” he said, watching me carefully from his position between his knees. “Savannah hates to be embarrassed.”

“Everyone does,” I said.

He shook his head. “Shehatesit. Anything that makes her look bad can set her off. And if she can’t destroy the person who embarrassed her, she’ll run away.”

“Run away,” I repeated, trying to think clearly with Easton between my knees. “I’d like that.”

He nodded, but it was clear his mind was on the next phase of this little trade. His eyes lingered on my breasts beneath my sweater. “But you still need more, right?”

He meant information, or at least I was assuming he did. Or maybe he meantsomething else. Either way, I nodded.

“Take your sweater off.” His eyes never left my chest.

I was shaking again, that feeling swirling in my gut, but I did need more. Taking both hands, I crossed them over my body and grabbed the hem of my sweater. Then I pulled it over my head.

Easton watched, licking his lips again. “Now the bra.”

I swallowed hard. My mouth went dry. I reached around back and pinched the clasp together. I felt it loosen in my hands, the lace sagging on skin that was covered in goosebumps.

“That’s a girl,” he encouraged. “Take it off.”

I let the fabric sag, slowly revealing my breasts.

He sucked in a breath. His eyes were drinking me in. The look on his face made it seem like he was ready to devour me in one bite.

His hand left my thigh and hovered over my breast, but he didn’t touch me. Not yet.

“Second base. You consent?”

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