Page 68 of Player Problems

She shifts in my arms but I still can’t see her face. “That guy that was sitting at the bar.”

My eyes roll of their own volition at the reminder of the guy that was obviously hitting on her all night. A wave of satisfaction rolls through me at the thought of him watching me take her. Marking her. Claiming her. “Did he enjoy the show?”

Her body shakes in my arms and I know she’s trying not to show her amusement at how pleased I sound over the whole thing. It doesn’t bother me. Hell, I’d take her in front of my whole team if I didn’t think it would just make the lot of them double down on trying to steal her.

Her face lifts as she looks up at me. “Enough to pay me for it.”

I open my mouth to respond, quickly closing it again, unsure of how to feel about that. “Yeah,” I drawl, “I have no idea how to respond to that.” She laughs, and I run my fingers over her stomach and across her hips. “You do fuck like a whore though.”

I gasp in shock and pain when she pinches my nipple and twists in response. “Hey!” I scold, rubbing the sore spot. “It was a compliment.”

“Yeah, well you fuck like a whore too,” she says, but I can hear the smile in her voice as she settles back in my arms.

“Thank you.”

It’s quiet for a few moments before she shifts again and asks, “You really aren’t bothered?”

I shrug as much as I can with my arms still wrapped around her. “Not really. As long as he wasn’t a creep to you after I left.”

She hums and it spreads discontent through me.

“He wasn’t, was he?”

She shakes her head, but hesitates to respond. I wait her out until she finally relents. “It was weird though. He also gave me his card.”

I wait for her to say more but when she doesn’t I can’t help but point out the obvious. “I would also give you my number if I saw you naked. It would be weirder if he didn’t even try after hearing how well you take me.”

She snorts. “Not like that. Never mind, it sounds crazy.”

I pinch her side, making her squirm and sigh, but she caves. “He said he left it for if I ever need anything oranyonetaken care of.”

Bewildered, I huff. “Weird.” Not what I was expecting. “Do you think he was the stalker?” He definitely had an aura about him, not that I took him for a creep. It wasn’t protective I felt over Torryn when he had his eyes locked on her. But it is a weird thing to say.

She hesitates, but shakes her head. We don’t talk more than that, but my mind continues to spin even after minutes have passed and her breathing shifts into the slow deep breaths of sleep.

There’s a lot to do before Monday.

twenty-four

PUT ME IN COACH

There are many things I expected to wake up to the next day after finding yet another note. A shirtless Baylor? Obviously. I remember the heat of his skin as he pulled me against him and pretended he couldn’t see my tears. A disgruntled Potato and Karma? Of course. They never let it be forgotten if they feel ignored. An almost cracked out Isla who probably got no sleep from her fear and anxiety? You bet. Possibly some awkward moments with the rest of the house? Wouldn’t be surprised.

But never in a million years did I think I would be coming downstairs to random men in all black, installing sensors and cameras throughout and around the house with Beau taking charge.

Blinking slowly, I feel my forehead with the back of my head to see if I’m having fever hallucinations. Maybe I’m still asleep?

Beau’s eyes land on me and widen. “Morning.” His gaze travels down to my bare legs before flicking back up to my eyes. “Glad some things don’t change.”

“The fuck is happening?” I ask, rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes.

“Security,” Baylor answers from behind me. Wasn’t he just snoring thirty seconds ago? “I’m not messing around with this shit anymore, Tor.” His voice has the rough edge of sleep still coating every word, assuring me I wasn’t imagining the hulking man still asleep just moments ago. “It’s not a prank and whoever is doing this is obviously out to hurt you.” His words jar me out of my surprise at his appearance as I take in the deadly serious look in his eyes. No trace of the playful playboy. “We should have taken it more seriously from the beginning.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks and I drop Beau’s gaze, feeling properly chastised. Baylor has always wanted me to pay more attention to the notes and gifts and I kept blowing them off. It still feels unreal that someone is going so far out of their way to interfere with my life. I can’t even begin to understand why or who would be motivated to do any of this.

“We’ve got your back.” Beau squeezes my shoulder before turning away and directing one of the security guys to my bedroom.

Baylor wraps his arm over my shoulder, leading me around the men working their way through the house and into the kitchen. “Want eggs for breakfast?”

---