Page 14 of Midnight Player

Memories from last night assailed him. She’d moaned his name just like that when he had been balls deep inside her. He was hard instantly. He flexed his hands to keep himself from reaching for her. Because he wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss her brainless.

He just wanted—her.

“I’m sorry.” She placed her hand over his on the bar. Hope surged, combined with lust, and he was hard-pressed not to toss her over his shoulder and cart her up to his room.

“It’s all right.” He shrugged. In this business, you win some and lose some. It was as simple as that.

“Really?” She didn’t seem convinced by his response. But then, she saw him. Unlike all the other women he’d been with, she saw through all his bullshit to the real Jake. It was part of what made her unique and had him completely entranced.

He noticed her pulse fluttering in her neck and the way her gaze kept dipping to his lips. She wanted him all right. It didn’t explain why she ghosted him this morning. But he’d get to the bottom of it. “Yeah. They played a hell of a game. They beat us square. It’s the nature of the beast.”

“So you’re not sad?”

“Fuck yeah, I am. And I still want to earn the title of world champion. I will too. Just not this year. But I have a few more years left in the tank before I hang up my catcher’s mitt. It’s plenty of time to earn that ring.”

“That’s a remarkably insightful view.”

He caught a whiff of her amber perfume. And it aroused him beyond measure. He was thankful they were sitting, so his erection remained hidden from view. He would never smell anything with amber in it without thinking of her.

“Thought you’d like that. Come with me to my room.” She was so gorgeous he ached with longing. He wanted to touch her. Love her all night long and make her his by the time the sun rose in the morning. And he didn’t care if it took all night to accomplish his goals and convince her to be with him. Jake wouldn’t back down, not when he wanted her with every fiber of his being.

* * *

Willa wasn’t shocked he was in Nocturne. She figured he would have picked up another woman. But he’d returned to the scene of their first meeting—for her. Because he wanted her.

Willa’s heart thumped wildly.

Spending another night in his arms might be a mistake. Another night of sinful depravity would only lead to disaster. But she wanted another night with him. She couldn’t put her finger on why, only she had never felt such a deep-seated connection with anyone else before.

But it was the smoldering intensity in his eyes, eyes that looked at her as if she was special, that decided her fate. Taking his hand, a live wire of electricity jolted through her, and she murmured, “Why don’t you come to mine? I’m a girl. We need things.”

Not to mention, she had condoms in her toiletry bag. She’d packed a box of twelve. And remembered laughing at herself over it. Mainly because she was heading to a work event where she wouldn’t be searching for a hookup. But Willa believed in being prepared for any scenario.

Jake’s slow, seductive smile lit her up. A Fourth of July fireworks display had nothing on her. And her girly bits, those little bastards, broke out the streamers and kazoos. Tingling anticipation hummed in her blood.

She wanted this man in a way that defied logic. He gave her all the feels.

Lifting their joined hands, he pressed a kiss to the back of her palm. “Lead the way, sugar.”

Before she could fish out some cash for the bartender to cover her drink, he handed the man a few large bills. “Could we get a bottle of Dom and two glasses?”

“Right away, sir. I can have it delivered to your room.”

He shot her a quizzical glance. His inky brow arched in expectation.

“Room 1014.”

“I’ll have it up to you in ten to fifteen minutes.” The bartender, the same gangly gentleman from the previous night, wore a knowing smile. But Willa didn’t care if he knew they were about to hook up. It wasn’t like she would ever see the man again.

“Great. Appreciate it.” Jake shifted his attention back to Willa. And then he tugged her with him. She dutifully followed.

The trip to the elevator was much the same as last night. With one exception. Tonight, they weren’t strangers. At the elevator, they stood with a group of women who all had lanyards with their nametags on them. They were authors, although none that she knew personally.

When the lift arrived, Jake pulled her into the back of the elevator after pressing the button for the tenth floor. He pulled her against him so her backside was pressed against his front. And she felt all of him. She was talking every single hard inch.

Her pussy throbbed, aching to feel him inside her again.

He circled her body with his muscular arms, making them appear to be a real couple. One of the women, a tall, lanky blonde with legs for days and a killer complexion, sneered in their direction.

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