Playing to Win (The Players #3)

by Monica Murphy

“Why?” “Don’t ask me questions, Red. Just tell me I can come over.” He sounds vaguely irritated. A little impatient. “But—” He cuts me off. “Like I mentioned earlier, I’m dying to fuck you again. Eat that sweet pussy of yours. Maybe even fuck your mouth if we have time? What do you think, Red? Sound good?”

“Okay. Come over.”

YOU WISH. “Ah, Red. Your shirt.” My gaze lingers on the words, how they track across her tits perfectly, just like the last one. “I don’t have to wish.” She frowns. “What do you mean?” “All of my wishes have already come true.”

“This is a terrible idea, by the way.” “What is?” “The two of us. Together.” She shakes her head. “Right now. I could lose my job, Ace.” The seriousness of her tone, the way she’s looking at me…shit. I feel bad.

Standing up straighter, I glance over at the door, knowing I should walk out. Leave her alone for the next couple of months. Anything worth having is worth waiting for, isn’t that how the saying goes? Ruby’s worth it. I know she is.

But I’ve had her already and I want her again. I know what it’s like to kiss her. Touch her. Take off her clothes. Eat her out. Sink my dick into her welcoming pussy and fuck her until she comes. I know what she looks like when she comes and she’s beautiful. Sexy. And I want to see that lo...

“You want me to leave?” I ask, my voice so low I can barely hear it. She stares and I get this sense she hates that I put the ball in her court, so to speak. She probably wanted me to walk out and leave her alone,...

I don’t want to. I don’t think I’m capable of it. She wields some sort of power, spell, whatever you want to call it, over me and I’m ...

But if that’s what she wants, then I’ll give it to her. I’m not going to be the reason she loses her job. She could end up resenting me, hating me and I don’t want that t...

“I’ll go,” I say when she still hasn’t spoken. I head for the door, my hand reaching out, fingers brushing the handle when I hear he...

“Just one more time with you,” she murmurs between kisses. “That’s all I want.” Hate to break it to her, but one more time between us won’t be near enough.

“What’s the hurry?” “I want you.” She slips her hand from beneath mine and drifts it down the length of my dick, making it leap beneath her touch. “And clearly you want me.”

“We don’t need to rush it.” I repress the groan that wants to escape when she curls her fingers around my shaft. Jesus. “We’ve got all night.” Pausing, she gazes up at me, her eyes wide and unblinking. “I want to do as much as possible with you tonight.”

“We will, baby.” I release her other hand and cup her face, tilting it up so I can stare into her pretty eyes. “I’ll let you use me and abuse me all you want.” Her s...

She’s a smart girl, my Ruby.

“Goddamn, you are perfect for my ego,”

This girl.

It was his dangerous choice of words. He loves a woman who’s full of surprises. Such as me. No way does Ace Townsend love me. Everything has happened so fast. I’m not sure if I love him quite yet. That’s just… That’s way too quick. Do I like him? Oh yes. Care about him? Definitely. Love him? I’m…falling for him. That’s for sure.

“You said one more time. Then that would be it.” He kisses my shoulder, his lips soft. “For us.”

Can I take that back? I didn’t mean it. There’s no way I want this to be over. I like him too much.

“Do you want this to be it for us?”

Pretty sure I’m in it to win it.” What…what does that even mean? “In it to win it? Win what?”

“What are you trying to win?” “You.”

Ace Townsend is, frankly put, a sex god. And he’s my sex god.

I watch her and Eric fall for each other harder as every single day passes, and I’m jealous. They don’t have to hide their feelings.

My roommate and… Big D? Derek?

What they have is what I want. What I wish I had. With Ace.

Me: You awake? He answers almost immediately. Acey Baby: Yep. You okay? I smile, touched by his concern. I love that’s the first thing he asks. He really is sweet.

Me: I’m bored, hungry and horny. Acey Baby: Is this a cry for help? Me: Yes.

Me: Come over. Acey Baby: What are you hungry for? Me: Surprise me. Acey Baby: You really want me to come over? Me: I’m alone and a little hungry. I need protection. And food. Acey Baby: I’ll be right over.

haul ass the rest of the way, eager to see her. Eager to take care of her.

I never thought I’d want to be with a girl for such an extended period of time, but I’m proud to say I’m not sick of her yet. In all actuality, I’m more entranced with Ruby now than I’ve ever been. She’s just so…fascinating. I like hearing her talk about her day. Her past. Her present. What she hopes for her future. I like hearing her stories about her family. How close they are, and how someday she wants a bunch of kids too.

Though she made that confession and immediately tried to play it off, like she wasn’t thinking about having kids with me. Honestly? When she said it, I could...

She’d be a good mom. She comes from a good family. She’s smart and thoughtful and sexy and funny and friendly and caring and… I’ve got it bad for her. So fuckin...

This no-dating clause thing is a real drag. I’m tired of hiding what we’re doing, but I have to be respectful of Ruby’s job. I don’t want to be the reason she loses it...

“Are you all right?” I finally ask after she still hasn’t said anything.

“I’m eating my feelings.” “Say what?” “I’m eating my feelings,” she says slowly, like I’m an idiot. “Oh, I heard you, I just don’t know exactly what you mean.” She throws her hands in the air. “Derek and Natalie are dating.”

“They are?” Ruby nods, seemingly miserable. “Isn’t it great? They’ve been together for like six weeks. I think they’re in love.” I take a step closer, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why do you sound so sad about it?” “Because I’m jealous.”

God, I hate this.” She polishes off the taco, wipes her hands and mouth with a napkin and then stalks off, headed down the hallway. “Where are you going?” I call after her. “Running away from my problems!” she yells. This woman. She makes absolutely no sense.

“Ruby. Baby. Tell me what’s bothering you.” “I’m tired of keeping this secret.” “Keeping what secret?”

“Us. You and me.” She sounds miserable. “I like you.” “I like you too.”

“I want everyone to know we’re together.”

“Wait a minute. I’m probably getting way ahead of myself.” “Are you?” “You tell me.”

“I am,” she says, not giving me near enough time to speak. She yanks her arm out of my hold. “Thanks for the snacks, Ace. You can go now.” “I thought you said you were horny,” I remind her. “Only for men who are totally into me,” she retorts.

“Ruby.”

“Baby. You’re killing me here.” “Don’t call me baby.” She closes her eyes. Releases a shuddering breath. “I hate it when you do that.” “You do not.” I press my lips to her temple, kissing her there. “You’re a jumble of emotions right now.” “I know.”

“Talk to me, Red.”

“Do you ever want…more?” Her lower lip trembles and it breaks my heart to see it. “With me?”

“I’m in it to win it.” Her face brightens the slightest bit. “Really?” “I told you that before.”

“You don’t need to play little miss innocent for me, baby. We’re in this. I’m into you.”