Page 26 of Cocky Player

I imagined her receiving the text.Blushing as she read it.The tips of her ears turning pink in a way I’d only seen happen once or twice, when I really pushed her.Her hand would go to her hair, tucking a chunk behind her ear.She’d fidget, hands would tremble.Perhaps she’d drop the phone as she tried to come up with a response.

When her text came in while I walked to my car, it was me who almost dropped the phone.

And you will be mine.As far as food, I’m flexible.

My stomach flipped in an unknown, but not undesirable way, and I shoved my phone into my pocket.The last time she was at my place, it’d been a mess and I hadn’t given a shit.We weren’t going to spend time in the living area anyway.

Tonight, I wanted it to be different.Perfect.

Because tonight I was going to get my mouth on Brenna, onallof her.Fuck the consequences.I’d prove myself so worthy to the damn team and her father that even if he found out about us, it couldn’t possibly damage my chances of staying in Raleigh.

It waspossible I went overboard on dinner based on the piles of to-go containers spread on my counter.Beaux gave me shit all the time when we went out to eat.When it came to food, I liked so much of it, it was difficult to decide what I wanted.The excess of food didn’t bother me.I’d eat it all eventually.Next to a half-dozen containers of noodle and rice and curry dishes, there were burgers and fries delivered from Ride ’Em Rough bar where the team often went after nights we had late team meetings.It wasn’t only close to the stadium and had the best fucking “man food” in the world, it was where Beaux met his now-wife, Paige.

My apartment was clean.The food cooling.And there was a restlessness racing through me with the strength of a bear, the savagery of a lion.

I never cared before that I knew so little about the women I took to bed, but Brenna was different.When I thought of her, it was new in a way I didn’t always appreciate but was losing the fight on exploring.

For whatever reason, I wanted Brenna.And she’d now tried running from me three times.People didn’trunfrom me.They wanted something from me.My money.My dick.I kept my circle small for many of those reasons.

In a sense, Brenna was the same, but it was also part of her allure.She was upfront with what she wanted.She wanted me to teach her…she was willing to take what I gave her with no pretense, no manipulation.

A quiet tap rapped my door three quick times and I moved toward it, brushing down the simple navy colored shirt I wore and jeans, no socks, no shoes.Tonight would be causal.I wanted us comfortable.I wanted her relaxed so she’d spread those legs of hers and let me put my mouth between them.

Tonight, I’d teach the angel a host of wicked things she’d never get from any other man.

I swung open the door and arrested at the sight of her.Her strawberry-blonde hair was curled in large waves, pulled across her neck and draped over one shoulder.The black dress she had on was modest, except for the thin belt tied at her waist.I could tug on it and have it fall open in a second.Somehow, the simpleness of it was sexier than any dress she wore prior.I had a feeling this was the real Brenna.Not the person she pretended to be when she was at Glitz.

“Hey,” I said.“Come on in.”

I stepped back and she strolled in past me, grinning at me in a way that made me want to kiss her.It was so soft and shy.Yeah, this was Brenna without pretense and I liked it.

“Sorry I’m late.”I took her purse from her hand and leaned in, kissing her cheek.“I think I was still debating about canceling.”

“Not the best thing a guy wants to hear, angel.”She shivered as I brushed my lips across her jaw, back to her cheek.“But I get it.”

She was new to all of this.Hopefully dinner would loosen her up because right now even though she would melt at my touch, she was stiff as a board, showing her nerves.

“Food’s in the kitchen, this way.”I guided her there and dropped her purse on my kitchen counter.

A sound came from her, a half-snort half-laugh when she caught sight of the containers sprawled all over my countertops.

“Well.”Her hand covered her mouth.I pulled it down.She didn’t have to hide herself from me.“This was more than I expected.”

“I didn’t know what you’d like.”

“So you bought something from every restaurant in Raleigh?”

She poked me in the ribs and I flinched.I was used to the jackass kind of ribbing men gave each other in locker rooms, not the playful teasing from women.“Something like that.Come on, help yourself.I’m starving.”

I handed her a plate and as she scooped up some of the curry, I turned toward the liquor cabinet.In the fridge, I’d stocked it with tea and water and soft drinks, but I also had a couple wine bottles and beer.Everything stocked so she had her choice.

“Want something to drink?”

“Red wine would be great if you have it, otherwise water is good.”

I poured her wine and grabbed a water from the fridge.I wanted her relaxed, not drunk.Brenna slid into the chair where I put her drinks and grinned at me.

“This does all look really good.You outdid yourself.”

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