Page 67 of Ace My Heart

Joel looked away, clearing his throat. I leaned over and peered into his face.

“Joel Herbert, is that … ablush?” I teased, eyeing his face closely. “Itis! I never thought I’d live to see the day when I could makeyoublush!” I giggled.

Joel turned to me with a leer and pushed me onto the blanket. I sat up and retaliated, pushinghimdown with a laugh.

He righted himself, brushing sand off his arms. “You really want to play this game, Stink?” he asked, as if he was giving me a chance to back down. I shoved him down again with a cheeky snicker.

I wasn’t laughing long. He had me pinned on the blanket before I could even blink to register what was happening to me, his body pressed down against mine, lips curling as he gazed down at me.

“Get off me, Joel!” I pushed at his chest.

He chuckled, not budging. “Not until you surrender,” he growled. I looked up at him. His sapphire eyes were sparkling.

Suddenly I was all too conscious of his firm body on mine, andof certain parts of his body that were pressing against me in a more than friendly way. I wriggled. He let out a tiny grunt, his hips rocking against me. Heat exploded between my legs.

“Okay, I surrender,” I breathed, my chest tight, heart pounding. Joel didn’t move an inch.

“Say it like you mean it, Stinky,” he whispered. I felt the warmth of his breath on my cheek. He was staring straight into my eyes. Had I never noticed before how pouty his bottom lip was? I tried to speak, but I couldn’t find my voice.

Joel’s phone rang, rescuing me from a situation that had spiralled completely out of my control. He released me with a huff and sat up, reaching into his pocket and pulling it out.

I could hear the buzz of his voice as he spoke, but the actual words floated over me. I sat up and put my head between my knees. I didn’t like the way my breaths were coming shorter and sharper. I didn’t like the way my legs felt like they wouldn’t be able to support me if I tried to stand.

Idefinitelydidn’t like the way my heart was beating raggedly in my chest, or the way I ached … everywhere.

“You okay, Stink?” Joel asked, nudging me on the shoulder. I looked up and glared at him. He didn’t seem at all affected by having just rocked his semi-hard dick against me.

“What did I do?” he asked.

“You know exactly what you did, Joel!” I accused, the heat of my embarrassment fuelling my anger.

Joel laughed. “Oh, I know. It was fun, wasn’t it?”

Yeah, forhimit might have just been fun, but for me … I wasn’t willing to think about that in too much detail. I shook my head.

“Why?” he continued, his voice softer as he moved back towards me, “Was it working?”

I stood up very fast, brushing the sand off my butt. My head swam and I staggered, trying to right myself. He was up beside me in a flash, his hands on my arms, holding me steady.

“Don’t, Joel!” I warned crankily. He took his hands off me and held them up in a gesture of surrender. I stomped back towards the car.

“Hey, Mel, wait!” he called after me. He was beside me well before I reached the car. Damn him and his long legs.

“Don’t you want to hear who that was on the phone?”

I grunted. Of course,nowI was curious, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of asking.

“Well, I probably should just tell you anyway, seeing as it’s about you.”

“Who was it, Joel?” I asked, trying to keep my voice disinterested.

“Oh, just your new sponsor, that’s all,” Joel replied in a voice every bit as disinterested as mine. I stopped with a gasp, turning to him and grabbing him by both arms.

“What?! Who?” I demanded, shaking him. He laughed, but he looked anxious. That worried me.

“Well, you know how I said before that it might be good to look outside the tennis sphere for sponsors?” I nodded, wondering where this was going.

“Well, earlier in the week I was approached by Dudz who are interested in using you as the face of their new range. It would be a twelve-month brand ambassadorship deal, with options to extend for another year at the end. They just called to say that they’re all ready to sign.”

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