Page 9 of Midnight Player

Jake collapsed against her back. His heavy weight pressed her into the mattress. Their breathing was ragged as they fought to come down from the excessive blissful high. His hand still gripped her neck. And Willa wanted to curl into him and stay like this forever.

But she couldn’t think that way. Danger lay down that path. Her heart wasn’t strong enough to even consider permanence. And after everything, it would destroy her.

Jake pressed a brief kiss against her shoulder blade and lifted himself up, withdrawing his shaft. But before she could mourn the loss of him, he gathered her close so they faced one another and were an inch apart. He had specs of gold amid the dark twilight in his eyes.

He cupped her cheek, gently stroking her skin with his thumb. “You’re an amazing woman, Willa. Stay the night. I’m not done with you yet. Let me help you work through some of those fantasies of yours.”

She shouldn’t. She knew deep down that way would lead to pain and suffering. But her mouth had disconnected from her brain. “Well, we do have quite a few condoms we haven’t used yet.”

He flashed her a seductive smirk and then kissed her. He kissed her like he never planned on letting her go. And she wanted to be kept by him.

“You won’t be sorry you did. I’m going to make you come so many times tonight, I’ll ruin you for other men.”

She wasn’t going to admit that he already had. And as she surrendered, she knew this was a night that would live with her. She would remember the way he made her feel.

And it had to be enough. He wasn’t hers to keep. A professional athlete at the top of his game didn’t date women who looked like Willa.

6

Willa woke with rays of sunshine peeping through the curtains. Beside her, Jake lay sprawled face down, breathing deep and lightly snoring. She sighed quietly to herself at the picture he painted. He was everything she wanted in a man, but he couldn’t be hers.

She ached to touch him again, to run her palm down his back. When he promised her a plethora of orgasms last night, he exceeded her expectations. Her thighs were sore. Peering down at her naked form, she spied bruises on her hips. Those she earned when he screwed her brains out that last time. She had beard burn between her thighs from his scruff. Her body ached from the carnal indulgences but in the best way.

But if she touched him, he would wake. And then she wouldn’t do what she needed to for herself—leave. She wasn’t cut out for a man like him.

If she stayed, he would convince her to see him again. He’d hinted at the prospect all night. Growling when he was balls deep that he intended to keep her. That he wanted her for all his nights.

His impassioned words hit far too close to home. It rocked her heart and warmed her soul. She wasn’t strong enough to say no, not when she felt the same. Just gazing at his naked back, she was hard-pressed to stay away.

But being with him long-term would break her. And not in the fun, he just took a paddle to her ass type of way.

With utmost care, she crept from the bed, double-checking the moment her feet hit the carpeted floor that she didn’t wake him. When he didn’t move, she tiptoed around the room, picking up her clothing. Her panties were a total loss. But it had been more than worth it.

She donned her bra and dress, stuffing her panties in her purse. They would wind up a memento from this weekend. Something to remember him and one of the best nights of her life by.

She took her phone out and snapped a photo of him sprawled sexily in bed, completely oblivious. He was so handsome he made her ache. She wanted to kiss him goodbye. Thank him for the hottest night of her life.

But she did none of those things. Carrying her heels in one hand with her purse strap over her shoulder, she blew him a kiss he would never know she’d sent him. He would be the hero she always wrote. After last night, no other man would ever measure up.

Then, as silently as possible, she exited his room. She slipped her heels on in the hall when she reached the elevator, which took her to her room three floors up.

It wasn’t until she reached her room that she realized she hadn’t left him her phone number. But then, what would be the point? Last night had been a one-night stand. Leaving her number flew in the face of the one-night stand creed. And she nixed writing her number on a piece of hotel paper and sliding it beneath his door. That screamed of desperation, especially after her vanishing act.

Her night with Jake was done, and it was time for her to move on.

Willa sighed when she glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed. She had a nine o’clock workshop presentation. It was already quarter to seven. Instead of crawling into bed for some shut-eye, she put in an order for room service and hopped in the shower while she waited for breakfast.

* * *

Jake woke, stretching the kinks out of his body, and reached for his guest. Willa was the most amazing woman. He wanted to ask her to meet up with him tonight after the game. He wanted a whole lot more than that, if he was honest. Dating long distance would be problematic. But he had a few months off coming up. He could rent a furnished place in Denver for a month and see where things between them went. And he could always find a local gym in Denver to keep up his training.

When his hand came up empty, he frowned. The space beside him was cold, like it had been vacant for a while.

His eyes snapped open. His gaze darted around and searched the room as he rose into a sitting position. The bathroom door was open, and it was dark inside the room. Her clothes and purse were gone. The only thing that remained from their carnal excesses were a few ripped foil condom wrappers.

She left. And didn’t even tell him goodbye?

What the fuck? He searched the bedside table and dresser. She didn’t leave her number. He gritted his teeth. Boy, if the media saw him now, they’d laugh their fucking asses off.

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