Page 20 of Midnight Player

Jake lifted his mouth and demanded. “Look at me.”

The moment their gazes connected, he snarled. “Don’t you do it. Don’t you dare walk away from me, from this, from us.”

She should have known that he would know her thoughts. That he would see her intent before she could verbalize it.

“Jake.” Her bottom lip trembled, and a stray tear slid down her cheek.

“No. I won’t let you. I can’t—not when I just found you. We’re meant to be, you and I.”

Her heart was breaking. Shattering into a million pieces over his declaration. But she had to remain firm in her resolve. She cupped his cheek. “Just love me for whatever time we have left.”

Anger flashed across his gaze. “It doesn’t have to be like that. We can make it work.”

“Jake.” More tears fell, and she shook her head. And he knew. She saw it in his eyes that this was it. That there would be no happily ever after for them.

On a groan that sounded as if it had been ripped from his soul, he slammed his lips over her mouth. He punished her with his kiss. Made her understand she’d hurt him with her refusal to continue their relationship. And Willa gave him what he wanted. She surrendered.

And his fury bled through. He screwed her riding that fury. Showing her what she would miss out on. God, she would miss him. She didn’t see herself ever getting over him.

She tried holding back the tide. Tried stalling the ecstasy battering her being. And yet, her body no longer belonged to her. It was a vessel for him to slake his lust. Malleable. His, forever.

And the climax tore through her body and had her damn near levitating off the bed. An acute profoundness of the forthcoming loss acted like a dagger through her heart. Tears squeezed from between her closed eyelids.

Jake’s body strained, furiously thrusting, driving inside her clasping sheath as he emptied inside her. And it was driven home they’d forgotten to use protection this last time. That they’d taken one another without any latex between them.

In her heart of hearts, a part of her hoped her birth control failed. That she would have a little piece of him she got to keep.

But she also knew that was wishful thinking.

He buried his face against her neck. And they simply held the other. No words. No promises. No turning back.

His heartbeat thumped against his chest. Willa would watch him play year after year. She didn’t even watch baseball, but she would be his biggest fan. And she would watch him fall for another woman. A woman who fit in his world and looked like she belonged, which was something she would never achieve.

Willa pressed her lips against his neck, inhaling his scent. And Jake held her tight. Acting like he didn’t intend to let her go.

But she had to move. Otherwise, she would cave. She wasn’t strong enough to put up much of a fight. “I need to get ready to head to the airport.”

He lifted his head and stared. “Give me another day. I’ll buy you a new ticket and pay for the hotel room. Just give me more time.”

It took everything inside Willa not to jump at the chance. His offer swam through her mind and made her heart clench. If she stayed, if she said yes, she wouldn’t be strong enough to let him go. Another night in his arms and she would drag him before a judge and make him hers forever, and damn the consequences.

It was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. Willa cleared her throat and swallowed back her tears. “I can’t. I have deadlines.”

Jake’s expression shuttered. His lush lips flattened into a hard line. And he withdrew, breaking the connection, and rolled off her. Before she could apologize and make him understand, he rose from the bed.

She sat, pulling the sheet up over her nakedness. But he didn’t even glance her way. He dragged his boxers and slacks up his legs, then angrily shoved his arms through his shirt sleeves and covered his chest.

He snagged the book she’d signed to him while he’d gone to the bathroom earlier. She had signed it:I will always remember that you chose me. This weekend will live with me forever. I wish I was strong enough for your world. But know not a day will pass that I won’t think of you. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

At the door to her room, he glanced her way. “Last chance.”

The ultimatum fell between them.

Willa rose from the bed, taking the sheet with her. She ignored the light of hope in his eyes. Reaching up, she pressed her lips against his cheek and whispered, “Be happy, Jake.”

And then she retreated and headed into the bathroom. She locked the door. Because if he followed her and touched her again, she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist.

But she had nothing to worry about. Jake slammed her room door as he exited. The reverberations echoed and trembled through the space.

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