Page 16 of Midnight Player

“Which one is yours? I don’t see your name.” And he didn’t like the pensive expression she wore.

She approached and pointed at a book. “That’s my book. My pen name is Miriam Quinn.”

“Why the pen name?”

“Because I wanted a bit of anonymity. I don’t care for the spotlight. And Miriam Quinn doesn’t have a social security number or anything like that. Not that a stalker with a modicum of hacking skills couldn’t figure out who I am. But it provides me with an extra layer of security as a single woman who lives alone. I know authors who’ve had readers show up on their front porch and knock on their door.”

“That’s smart. I want it.” The cover had a woman’s sexy legs featured on it.Tangled in Youby Miriam Quinn. And he couldn’t help but wonder just how hot the sex scenes were. But he was going to find out.

“Really?” Shock filtered across her beautiful features and settled on consternation. Did she not see how much he admired her? Above her name, it stated she was aNew York Timesbestselling author. She wasn’t just an author, but one with clout.

“Yeah, I want to read it.”

“Then you can take it.”

“Will you sign it for me?” He nodded toward the book.

“Why do you want to read it?” Willa’s frown deepened.

That was enough of that. He left the table and prowled her way. He didn’t stop until only an inch of space separated them. “I want to read it and find out how your mind works. I want to know all your fantasies. I want to know your real last name. In fact, I want to know everything about you. And just how dirty is the book?”

He wasn’t lying. Jake wanted to know everything about her. Fascinated didn’t begin to cut it.

Willa blushed profusely. “You could say I put the spice in spicy romance. And it’s Willa Burke.”

God, she was fucking perfect. He wanted to worship her. He wanted to take her home and keep her. Jake wanted her more than he had ever wanted another woman. “It’s mine, and I want you to sign it. Later.” He cupped her stunning face. “Because I’ve been thinking about these lips all damn day.”

“You were playing in the Championship Series,” she reminded him with a wry grin that arrowed straight to his heart. She was it for him. Every part of his being declaredmine. Now all he had to do was convince her to give him a chance. Because he was falling for her.

He tilted her head back and stared into her eyes, dropping his shields and allowing her to see the truth. “Exactly. I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Want to know what I thought about?”

She blinked up at him, like she didn’t believe the words but was as caught up in their passionate bond as he. “Yes.”

Victory surged in his blood. “Let’s see. I thought about how much I want to do everything we did last night again. How much I ached to bury myself in your hot pussy. That I’m dying to know every single one of your fantasies. Then spend eternity enacting each and every one, no matter how depraved they might be. Starting now.”

Jake crushed her lips, ravishing her mouth with all the pent-up need pumping through him. With all the women he’d bedded, not a single one had ever made him want to return for seconds or thirds—until Willa. Her hands clutched at his chest. Her nails dug into his skin.

And Jake knew he was sunk.

This was the woman he wanted to kiss for the rest of his life. She was skittish. But he knew he’d change her mind. All he had to do was show her how good it would be, but first, she had to answer for sneaking out this morning.

He ripped his mouth away, then spun Willa around and pushed her torso down against the mattress. He yanked the dress up, exposing the gorgeous globes of her ass, covered by black lacy panties.

“Jake! What are you?—”

He whacked her bottom with his palm. “This is for sneaking out this morning without saying goodbye.”

He swatted her butt again. “And for not leaving your phone number behind.”

Needing her bare, he ripped the lace, tugging the material off. “And this is for not leaving your panties behind for me. These belong to me now.” He shoved them in the back pocket of his slacks before resuming the spanking.

Jake didn’t hold back either. He was letting her know in no uncertain terms that leaving the way she had was not something he would tolerate in the future. They would have open lines of communication.

“Oh god.” Willa tilted her hips up, seeking his hand, his punishment.

“You like being punished like a dirty little slut, don’t you?” he growled, thinking she fit him in every way, satisfying his darker needs. Needs he had never allowed out with another woman.

“Yes,” she whimpered, her face buried against the mattress, muffling her moans.

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