Page 7 of One Night with the Player

Molten lava rolled through my veins, spreading flames and desperate heat everywhere it reached. I was on fire for him, burning for him from the inside out. His kisses started soft and gentle. As his lips trailed down my neck and across my collarbone, they became more urgent.

My body instinctively responded—arching, bending, rubbing—somehow knowing exactly what to do to elicit the perfect amount of friction in the perfect places between us. At the risk of embarrassing myself, I stopped trying to control it and decided to just hold on and ride out the wave. Leo had much more experience with this type of thing. I wouldn’t let myself think about how much. That was a talk for another time.

His hands went to my waist, his fingers gently tugging at the tie holding the dressing gown closed. Once loosened, the gown parted in the middle. Leo skimmed his hands up over my collarbone, then slid the gown off my shoulders. It pooled around my feet, leaving me standing in front of him in a dark blue bra and panties set with a matching garter belt and sheer black stockings.

He stepped back and let out a low, slow whistle. “You’re absolutely stunning.”

Blushing, I glanced at my feet. I wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of compliments, especially where my appearance was involved. I wasn’t ugly, but I didn’t consider myself especially attractive. I’d been one of those early bloomers who towered over the boys in my class until halfway through eighth grade. I spent most of my days slouching in my desk and crossing my arms to try to hide my chest. Though many of them surpassed me by several inches by the time we entered high school, it was like they’d continued to hold a grudge over something I couldn’t control.

The only time I’d ever felt like I belonged anywhere was when Ethan and Leo would let me tag along with them. They treated me like one of the guys—like the little brother they both wished they’d had—at least until Leo walked in on me changing out of my wet swimsuit at the swimming hole one day when I was fifteen. I’d seen the same heat in his eyes then that I saw now.

“I’ve wanted this for so long, Liv.” He ran his palms up and down my arms.

“What about Ethan?” Someone had to bring up the virtual elephant in the room. Leo’s friendship with my brother was enough to keep us apart before. I didn’t know how he felt about it now. They were still friends, but would he let it stand in the way of finally exploring the connection between us?

Leo drew his hands back and funneled them through his short, dark hair. “He doesn’t have to know. We can keep this just between us.”

I could see the conflict in his eyes, like he knew he was lying to himself but couldn’t stop it. There was no way either one of us would be able to keep this from my brother, but I wasn’t ready to burst the little bubble we’d created around us. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his head down so I could kiss his lips.

Leo slid his foot between both of mine and leaned forward. His thigh shifted between my legs and pressed on the spot at the apex of my thighs. Pinpricks of pleasure exploded outward. I moved closer, needing more.

“I’m going to take good care of you, baby girl.” His voice came out low and rough. “I promise.”

Nodding, I kissed him deeply, then mumbled against his lips. “I want you to be my first.”

He stilled, his body freezing in place. “Your what?”

I let my eyelids drift closed and sucked in a sigh. Damn me and my big mouth. “Nothing.”

“You said your first.” He nudged my chin up to meet his gaze. “Are you a virgin, Liv?”

The moment of truth. I could lie and let him find out when it was too late, assuming we made it that far without me botching things along the way. Or, I could tell him the truth and hope he didn’t develop a conscience in the next thirty seconds.

“Liv?”

I blinked my eyes open.

He looked down at me, his brow furrowed.

“It’s not a big deal.”

He shook his head. I could tell before he even said a word that nothing else would be happening between us. “It is a big deal. I’ve waited for you this long, Olivia. For once in my life, I want to do things right. I’m not stealing your virginity in the back of a strip club. I’m taking you out on a real date tomorrow night.”

“You’re in town for your class reunion. Remember? The one you’ll be going to with my brother? Your best friend?” I bent down to pick up the robe and pull it back up onto my shoulders.

Instead of backing away, he doubled down. “I’ll handle Ethan. I’m serious about this. I let you go once, and I’m not about to make the same mistake again. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow.”

“Is that your way of asking me out? Telling me you’ll pick me up?” Not even the thought of walking into the high school gym on Leo’s arm was enough incentive to get me to agree to return to a place I hated with my whole heart.

“You’re right. My apologies, I’m out of practice. It’s been a long time since I’ve asked a woman out on a date.” He reached for my hand. Rubbing his thumb over the inside of my wrist, he tilted his head. “Olivia Monroe, would you do me the honor of being my date to the reunion tomorrow night?”

Reality came crashing down on me. While Leo lifted my hand to his lips, I felt like time slowed to a crawl. I’d been prepared to confront him on my terms while he was in town, not fall into his arms. There was no denying the chemistry between us was still there, stronger and more potent than ever. But as tempting as it would be to give into it, I couldn’t.

The rest of our lives flash forwarded through my mind. I’d go to the reunion with him. We’d share an amazing night together, then he’d do the same thing he’d done fifteen years ago—leave. He was the developer and owner of a dating app that people used for hook-ups. What did I think would happen with him? He wasn’t the type of man who’d ever settle down. Not when he’d been nicknamed the Most Popular Player in Chicago.

“I can’t.” Before he had a chance to say something that would make me change my mind, I pulled my hands out of his grasp and fled through the door, praying I wouldn’t see someone who’d recognize me now that I’d dropped my disguise.

7

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