Page 38 of Reckless Abandon

I just shrugged. Did I want to talk about it? Especially to a hot NFL playboy? Looking over at Rich, I saw a beautiful man, his broad shoulders holding his strong arms open to hold me. The look in his eyes seemed sweet and sincere, like all he really wanted to do was make sure I was okay. I couldn’t resist his invite, and crawled up in his lap, put my head on his chest and allowed my whole body to relax into his. Damn, he felt good. We sat silently on the couch sipping our drinks until the knock from room service interrupted us. Rich carefully set me down on the couch and went to take care of the food.

I didn’t think I was hungry until the scent of steak and lobster filled the room. Rich spread everything out on the coffee table. “Ready to eat?” he asked.

“Damn, is this the celebrity extra treatment? I need to do this more often,” I giggled as I started to bite into the mouthwatering lobster.

“I’d like that,” he said almost too quietly for me to hear. I looked up to find him staring right at me.

Crap. I needed to change the subject and fast. “I have to be honest, I had no idea who you were the first time you came into The Cave and I went home and Googled you. So tell me, G, why is it always strippers and porn stars?” I asked with a little wiggle of my eyebrow.

The question must have caught him off guard, he practically choked on his beer when I asked. “Well, they’re easy,” he laughed.

“What the hell, Rich? That’s a messed up thing to say. Is…is that what you think of me?” I asked a bit irritated.

“No, that came out completely wrong. What I mean is that girls in those professions usually don’t want serious commitments. No drama relationships. At the moment, my career is my number one focus, not women. And no, Ryann, that’s not what I think about you,” he calmly responded. “My turn now, what’s going on with you and Nathan Sims?”

“You know Nathan?” I asked.

“Yeah, I follow professional poker. I love the game. Now stop changing the subject,” he scolded me.

“There was something between us but I broke it off,” I answered never looking up from my plate. As much as I know it was for the best, it still pains me to actually say it.

“Do you want to tell me why?”

“Nope, it’s complicated.” Thankfully he didn’t ask again.

“So, tell me what had you hightailing it out of the club like a bat out of hell?”

“That I will tell you, but it will require another drink,” I said as I held up my glass for a refill.

I told Rich about my divorce and why Lucas left me, and that to make matters worse, I was called in to give him a private dance for his bachelor party. “Okay, that is one of the most fucked up things I've heard in a while. I think that calls for another drink,” he says as he picked up my glass for a refill.

Sitting back on the couch, he summoned me back to his lap. I was actually feeling quite tipsy so I had no problem filling his request. I crawled back up and nestled myself into the same spot I was in before. Rich gently started running his large fingers through my hair. I unconsciously let a lusty moan escape my lips.

“Does that feel good, baby girl?” Rich asked as he softly brushed my hair to the side. He placed soft kisses on the back of my neck. I felt myself starting to give in to his touch. The strong hold of his hands around my made me feel so safe. Leaning my head back, I allowed his mouth to meet mine. His were soft and gentle, yet his tongue wasn't fighting to invade my mouth. He continued to place soft kisses on my lips, with an ever so gentle nibble of on my bottom lip. I’m not sure if I actually returned his kiss but I definitely did not push him away.

Rich put both our drinks on the table, picked me up and carried me into his room. He laid me down on the bed and crawled in right next to me. Instantly, I felt a huge knot form in my stomach. Too much to drink or not, I knew that I couldn’t sleep with Rich. Even if he was sexy as fuck. Nathan’s face kept creeping into my mind. I remembered how angry he was when he even thought I slept with G. Broken up or not, I don't want to cause Nathan anymore pain.

“Rich, I can’t have sex with you,” I meekly said.

“Baby girl, I didn’t expect you to. You aren’t like most of the girls I've met at clubs. I can sense this higher level of respect for yourself and that you wouldn’t sleep with me just because I'm Richard Grovanski,” he told me.

“Thank you.”

“But that doesn’t mean I'm not going to hold you, kiss you, and make you feel safe.”

We laid together for the next few hours wrapped in each other’s bodies, kissing, laughing, and just having a good time together. Rich was the type of guy that would make sure you were safe and smiling in any situation. We continued to drink and he made me forget the thoughts of my beyond horrible week. Eventually, we fell asleep in each other’s arms.

I awoke the next morning with another raging headache. I really needed to stop this drinking thing. I heard Rich singing in the shower, and fuck he sounded sexy. Not only was he an amazing athlete, but a decent singer too. As I laid there listening, the ache between my legs started to grow for him. Thank God the water stopped and Rich got out of the shower before I allowed myself to give in to temptation. I did not need any more confusion in my life.

He walked out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Every defined chest muscle was glistening with drops of water, his six pack looked good enough to eat off. The man in front in me was absolutely delicious. And yet he wasn’t the meal I was craving.

“Good morning, baby girl,” he smiled. “How are you feeling this morning?”

I groaned and put the covers back over my head. “Can I just stay in bed all day?”

He leaned in closely, pulled the blankets down and gently brushed his lips against mine. “I would love nothing more than to keep you locked up with me all day but I have a feeling that would get us in some trouble. And the last thing I want is to be another complication for you. But I'm still taking you out,” he said matter-of-factly. “Now get up. Go take a shower and breakfast will be here when you get out.”

As the hot water ran over my body in one of the most luxurious showers I've ever stepped foot in, I let my mind wander over the events of the last few weeks and where my life was at. I felt like I was in the middle of a giant shit-storm and I kept getting deeper and deeper with each move I made. And now if I was worried about Cristina before, I should sure as hell be worried about Lucas—considering he worked for the same school district I did. I never thought running into Rich would be the best part of my night. It was probably time to come clean with Nathan and everyone else and let the pieces fall where they might.

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