Playing to Win (The Players #3)

by Monica Murphy

His gaze shifts to my neglected beer bottle on the table. “You done with that yet?” I clear my throat again. “Why do you ask?” “Because I’m dying to leave with you.” He tips his head toward mine, his voice lowering. “Get you alone.”

I’m dying to fuck her. Though it’s more than that. I haven’t even kissed her yet and I want to know what she tastes like. I want to see if her lips are as soft as they look and what might happen when I get my hands around her neck again. That’s a turn-on, knowing she likes that. I’ve never been into that sort of thing. Never even really thought about it. Now Ruby’s got me thinking all sorts of things, all of them filthy, and feature me dominating her. Holding her down while I fuck her hard. Or nice and slow. I’ll take it any way I can get it. Swear to God I’m breaking out into a cold sweat just thinking about it.

I shouldn’t have pulled that kind of shit but she’s the type who lets her doubts get in the way of a good time. I didn’t realize she was that kind of girl, but apparently, she is. At least when it comes to me.

Pretty sure this girl’s got it bad for me. Fairly certain I feel the same way about her.

He whispers in my ear and his voice is almost menacing, which is such a contradiction from how Ace is perceived by everyone else. Including me. He’s the easygoing guy. The friendly, flirty, hot football player. But in this moment, there’s nothing easygoing about Ace.

His hands are on my waist, his fingers splayed, like he wants to touch as much of my skin as he can possibly reach, and I realize I’m in big trouble. This guy is going to ruin me. I just know it.

He makes me feel small and dainty and completely protected and I can’t lie. It’s hot. Everything he does is hot.

I can’t resist him. It’s like he’s fire and I’m drawn to the flames. I need to remember… Spending more time with Ace will only result in me getting burned.

She shrugs, her hair sliding over her bare shoulders and I’m tempted to go to her. Kiss her bare skin. Her neck, breathe in deep her fragrance just behind her ear. No other woman smells as delicious as Ruby Maguire.

“You were a big help to me today at practice.” “I did nothing.” You exist, is what I want to tell her. Just looking at you calms my chaotic thoughts. Like right now. Having her in front of me, looking at her is enough.

what good is life if you’re not taking any chances?

An unfamiliar feeling sweeps over me, leaving me breathing deep, my head swimming. One single word beating like a drum in my brain. Mine. Mine. Mine. But she can’t be mine. We’re not supposed to do this. Maybe that’s why this experience was so fuckin’ hot.

This is going to be really difficult, avoiding Ace Townsend. Worse? I don’t want to avoid him. Not even a little bit.

I can’t stop staring at her. She’s so fucking pretty.

I’ve got it so bad for this woman. Does she even know? Understand the hold she has on me?

“I like blondes—specifically one.” I shift closer to her, dipping my head so my mouth is at her ear. “With a sweet pussy and my cum dripping all over her tits.”

I do know what he whispered into my ear practically turned me inside out, it was so hot. Referencing what happened the last time we were alone together. Like he still thinks about it. Like he still thinks about me. This man is going to destroy me, I just know it. And I’m going to enjoy every single second of his destruction too.

He surrounds me, leaving me breathless and dizzy and filled with the need to consume him just like he consumes me. God this man. He’s overwhelming in the absolute best way.

I feel like I want to toss aside all responsible thought and chase after Ace. Beg him to take me home so we can continue where we left off. Is he purposely trying to drive me out of my mind? Because it’s totally working.

I’m the guy who didn’t want a relationship. Who avoided that sort of thing because I couldn’t commit. Now I actually want to commit and she can’t do it. It fucking sucks.

I want more. More time with Ruby. Listening to her. Watching her smile. Hearing her laugh. I’m completely entranced with her and it’s fucking killing me that we avoid each other.

There is nothing I enjoy more than getting Ruby off. Seriously. It’s my favorite thing to do. Maybe even more than football. It’s pretty damn close.

Ugh this man. He is seriously going to be the death of me and I’m going to die a happy woman as long as he’s involved with it because lordy, all he has to do is look at me and I want to die.

Ruby is my girl. That’s how I see her at least. And even if we can’t be together yet, I’m hoping—fingers crossed tightly—that we can be together someday.

I want to sling her over my shoulder, slap her perfect ass and cart her right out of here so I can get her alone and fuck her properly. On a bed and everything. I’d take my time and savor her. Touch her everywhere. Kiss her everywhere…

I’d give Ruby whatever she wants. Orgasms. Flowers. Chocolate. Plenty of hugs. She wants to make out all night? I’m down. Cuddle in bed naked? Yes, please.

It means something, that she thinks I’m a big deal. I don’t care what anyone else thinks about me. Just her.

We won. And I’m hoping I can claim Ruby Maguire as my prize.

This is what I’ve been craving since our last encounter. His hands on me. The delicious way his touch makes me feel.

“So you like all the parts.” My breath stalls in my lungs when he sweeps his hand down the outside of my thigh, making me quiver. “Only your parts.” His smile is soft. Intimate. “I guess I’m a Ruby man.” Oh my God. He shouldn’t say things like that. My heart is soaring out of my chest and my head is filled with all sorts of ridiculous thoughts. Like what we share could turn into something real, which is impossible. I need to keep this moment light. Sexy.

He’s doing this because he knows I like it and God, I do. I actually love it. It feels like he owns me and for some weird reason, that’s what I want. For Ace Townsend to claim me. Own me. Completely.

he’s so cute. And sexy. And easy to rile up. But I forget about all of those thoughts when he slides deeper, entering me until we’re both completely still, getting used to each other. I feel so full of him, stretched out completely because he’s long and thick. Like a dream dick, if I’m being real with myself, and of course Ace has a dream dick. He’s a dream guy. It makes sense that he’d come properly equipped.

Because I want to look at your beautiful face when I make you come.” Oh God. He says things like that and I want to melt. I want to fling myself at him and never let him go. Ever.

“Are you into that sort of thing?” “Not really. Until you,” I say with all honesty. Only because I want to claim every single part of her and make her mine.

Is Ruby Maguire turning into my dream girl? Apparently, the answer is yes.

All I can think about is her. How am I supposed to keep our relationship strictly professional? Give me a break. We’re too far gone for that.

We were wrapped up in each other all night long and it was awesome and I’m dying to do it again.

Acey Baby: I can’t stop thinking about it. Acey Baby: Can’t stop thinking about you.

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 look on her face again. I want to be with her. Damn it, I’m weak. Weak for her.

“You really want to be with me?” Her voice is so soft, I almost don’t hear her. “Are you serious?” I pull away, so I can stare into her eyes. “It’s only been you since school started. You’re all I think about. You’re the only one I want.”

I crush her lips with mine, cupping her face, communicating without words that she’s it for me. I don’t know when this happened. When I realized that I’m halfway in love with this woman, but here I am. A complete goner for Ruby Maguire. Wait, there’s no halfway in love with her. I am in love with her. How do I tell her? How do we make this work without her having to give something up?

Acey Baby: It’ll be nice to have you on the field with me. Me: You have to ignore me. Pretend I don’t exist. Acey Baby: Impossible. You’re all I see.

I can imagine her in a pretty dress, standing at the altar near Joanna. Or even better, her wearing a wedding gown, walking down the aisle on her father’s arm. Headed straight for me. Sitting up straighter, I swallow hard, shaking the image from my brain. What the fuck? Marriage? Now that’s pretty fucking serious. We’re only twenty-one. I’m not ready for marriage yet. But the idea of spending forever with Ruby? That sounds… Perfect.

“Ruby Maguire, I want you to be my girlfriend,” he murmurs, leaning in to kiss me again. His lips are so soft and warm. They hold the power to revive me. Make me feel lighter. Make me feel whole. Make me feel loved.

“I want everyone to know that you belong to me.” My heart feels like it might explode, it’s so full of emotion. “So territorial.” “I am,” he says without hesitation. “I didn’t know I had it in me, but when it comes to you, I am. You’re mine.” “I’m yours,” I whisper, unable to deny it.

“I’m in love with you.” I open my eyes to find him studying me with a mixture of pain and love swirling in his eyes. It’s written all over his face. Like it took everything out of him to admit that. “I will do anything for you. Do you realize that? You want us to keep this quiet to save your job, my lips are sewn shut. You want me to squeeze your throat because it gets you off? I love that. I will do it for you every single time. You like it when I pick you up Taco Bell when you don’t even ask, and you love it…you absolutely love it when I eat your ass.” He chuckles when I shove at him. “You do, Ruby. You love everything I do for you. And I love doing those things for you because I’m in love with you.”

There’s a connection between us that can’t be denied. This man admitted that he loves me. And I admitted that I love him. What we’re doing doesn’t feel like just fucking anymore. It feels…transcendent.

He grabs my hand, resting it on the center of his chest. “Feel this? That’s my heart beating for you. It’s yours.” I curl my fingers slightly, scratching his warm skin, the steady thud of his heartbeat pounding against my palm. “I’ll cherish it forever.” “You better. It wants no one else.” He’s smiling, his head descending, those magical lips landing on mine and I lose myself in his kiss. Lose myself in his arms. There is nothing better in life than being loved by this man. Nothing.

There is no one I’m happier for than this man who loves me. Who stands by me and supports me no matter what. I do the same for him. His wins are mine and I can’t wait to celebrate him with everyone else tonight. Can’t wait even more to celebrate with just the two of us alone, either.

I love you.” “Love you too, Red.” “Forever?” I ask him, needing the confirmation. His eyes glow as he stares up at me, nothing but love shining in his eyes. “Forever.”