The Wildcat (Playing to Win, #2)

by Bella Matthews

“How do you know who she is?” Ares asks, and I realize he kind of reminds me of Leo. “And why’s everyone picking on me?” “Because you just checked me out like I’m a stripper,” I tell him, and Cross and Bellamy both turn and stare. “What?” I ask Cross. “I told you I can handle brothers. I...

This man isn’t a player. It’s written on every cell of his DNA. It’s in the way he looks at his daughter and the way he holds his son. The way he brought me home to meet his family after one date. Still doesn’t mean I’m not scared of giving him the power to hurt me. But maybe . . . maybe I need to try and take a few baby steps.

“Any chance she’s got a sister?” “She’s got a twin sister,” I tell him, only partially paying attention as I move across the kitchen so I can see my girls sitting down together on the couch. Because whether that woman in the other room knows it yet, she’s my girl.

“Dude. She’s hot, and she knows sports. You better lock that shit down.”

“I need us to take this slow, Cross.” She ghosts her lips against mine. “Your pace, Everly. My life gets crazy when the season kicks into full gear, and it’s a long fucking season. But I’m here, and I know what I want.” “You’re going to destroy me, Cross Wilder.” “I’m pretty sure you’re going to save me, baby.”

She straddles my lap, and her skirt inches up to her hips. My hands follow the same path. “I love the rain,” she whispers, looking out at the lake. “It’s so pretty.” “Yeah,” I agree, never taking my eyes from her. “Beautiful.”

“I should probably get going.” I press my lips to her forehead. “You gonna run, Cinderella?” “Not yet, big man.” It’s the yet that I’ve got to work on.

“Yeah well, we like to watch the Kings games together when the team is away. I thought maybe you’d like to come over and watch with us. You could bring the kids. But I totally understand if you don’t want to. I mean . . .” “You inviting me over to your house, Everly?” His tone is teasingly low and sexy. “We’re loud and obnoxious. And if you bring the kids, I can’t promise they won’t hear cursing.” Geez, I’m really selling the hell out of this. “You sure you want my kids too?”

She looks to her father, like I’m learning Kerrigan always does first, and waits for his nod, before she takes my hand. I decide to take a chance and scoop her up so she’s sitting on my hip, and then this little girl steals my heart. She wraps her arms around my neck and starts playing with my hair. Yup. I’m a goner.

I move over to the girls and introduce Kerrigan to baby Griffin, who’s much more her speed, and watch Cross over her head as he stares at me. It’s getting harder to remember why I’m not supposed to fall for this man.

“Evil twin is picky. She likes her friends and her family and doesn’t ever bring people into her inner circle. She never brings guys in. That’s a good thing for you. I might not have said it all flowery and shit, but it was meant as a good thing.” “You always call your sister evil?” I fucking hate it, and they all do it. He shrugs. “It’s her nickname.” The front door closes, and Leo looks around me. “Good twin just got home.” “Yeah. Those nicknames suck.”

Dumbass. I run my thumb over Everly’s cheek. It’s been minutes, and I can already tell them apart. “You have a freckle on your cheek.” I look over again at Grace. “Yours is on your right cheek. Grace’s is on her left.” Ares laughs, and bartender boy stares like he’s never noticed before. Maybe he really doesn’t have a thing for my girl. Maybe I’ll start using his name.

Madman always has a way with the ladies.” “You know I really wanted to hate him,” I tell her, enjoying the happy look on her face. “I told you.” She kisses Jax’s hand again. “He’s like a brother.” “I’m way more sane than your brothers, evil twin,” Maddox calls back, clearly having heard every word we said. “Yeah . . . I had a talk with your brother.”

I stand back, watching Everly charm Jaxon. He’s half in love already, and I’m tempted to say, yeah, kid, same.

“Leo mentioned you don’t bring people around your fa...

“I told you I wanted to try, Cross. And I meant it. This is me trying. I’ve got no clue what I’m doing, and you scare me to death. But I’m still trying. Just try to remember that when I mess it all up, okay?”

press my lips against hers until Jax shoves his fat fingers into my eye, prying us apart. “Guess the little man doesn’t like to share.”

“Neither does his dad.” “Get a room,” Hendrix yells, and the room erupts around us. These fuckers are crazy.

“Whatever. I always thought he put the kids in a trance. I was gonna say that’s kind of what your girl has done. I’ve never seen Kerrigan so taken with anyone before. And no offense to Everly, but she’s got boobs, and Jax is a boob man. The minute his head hit those, he was a happy baby. So she’s got a fan for life in him.”

“Did you have a good time?” I can feel her smile before I see it. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” “You’re happy, and my kids are happy. It’s a good day.”

“You two haven’t been sneaking the tequila into your tea, have you?” “No, dear. Whiskey goes in tea.” My mother, ladies and gentlemen.

“I’m falling hard, and I’m petrified.”

Some days, I wish I could be the good twin. Fearlessness is overrated.

Technically, Lindy owns the condo. So maybe I am casing the joint. My ass would look great in one of those cat burglar suits. Cross It would look better up in the air, bright red, and covered with my handprints. But that would require you coming inside. Cinderella Is that a promise? Cross Thirty minutes, Cinderella. Come inside. Tell me what’s on your mind. Then we’ll see about the rest.

We might destroy each other, but I’m not going down without a fight. I fist the front of his shirt and lift my chin. “I want this, and I need you.”

“I need you so fucking much, Everly. You’re mine, baby. Mine to take care of. To protect. And I’ll tell you as many times as you need to hear it.”

“Everly . . .” “I don’t trust easily, Cross. I’ve been hurt. And before you ask, no, I don’t want to talk about it now. But you . . . It’s like my heart knows I can trust you. And if it makes any sense at all, my brain knows it too. But man, the fear is still there. The fear is louder than everything else.” “Baby, you’ve got nothing to fear. Not from me. Never from me. I’m not that guy.”

“I don’t like to be vulnerable, and you make me feel that way. I’m not sure I’d ever be able to put the pieces back together after you.” “Then it’s a good thing I’m never letting you go.” His tongue slides along my lips, and I moan as he pushes it inside my mouth. “Mine, Everly.”

“I’ve dreamed of you naked since July, Cross. You’ve got on way too many clothes.” Cross’s silent laughter makes me smile. “At least I’m dressed. What the hell are you wearing?” “Dance shorts and a sports bra. It’s what I practice in.” “Fuck, baby. My boxers cover more than those.”

“Fucking drenched.” His eyes find mine and hold them as he teases my entrance. “Is this pussy needy for me?” he growls. “I’ve pictured you every time I fucked myself for months, Cross.” I drag my lips over the scruff of his jaw until they skim his ear. “You already own this pussy.”

“You gonna be a good girl and come for me, Everly?” I nod my head and get lost in the crackling heat dancing in his dark eyes. “You gotta be quiet, baby. Can you be quiet?”

Fuck it. I don’t need to breathe.

Breathing is overrated.

“So fucking pretty, baby. So pretty and so mine.” “I am yours, Cross.”

“Now I need to make you mine.” Fuck . . . “You’re fucking right, I’m yours. And I don’t share, Everly. Not with anyone. Not even a past that haunts you. You’re gonna let me in one day, so I can destroy those demons for you.”

Fuuuuccckkk . . . Patience I can do. But with her mouth on me, restraint is way fucking harder.

“The first time I have you, I’m coming inside your pussy, baby. Not in your mouth.” “You’ve already had me, Cross,”

“I had your body before. Now I want the rest of you. But I’ve got to go grab a condom first. I didn’t exactly think to put one in my pocket when I thought you were sitting in front of my house ready to end things.”

“You sure?” I run my hand up her ribs and wrap it around her throat, then press my thumb over her thrumming pulse. “Because once you let me inside you bare, I’m not letting you go, baby.” “Don’t let go, Cross. Even when I run. Don’t let go.”

I want to keep her. To claim her. To make sure she feels me between her legs for fucking days. All fucking mine.

“You’re getting cold, Cinderella. I think we better take this inside.” She lifts her head up and rests her chin on my chest, a mischievous look on her face. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at rain the same way.”

“I’ve always loved the rain. The way it washes everything away. I love the way it smells. The way it feels. Growing up, I loved that it would turn to ice. Ice we could skate on at the lake in the center of town. But I gotta tell you, I’ve never loved it more than tonight.”

She asked me not to let go even when she runs. I guess she hasn’t realized I’m not going anywhere. Unless it’s to chase her.

The kettle’s whistling and I’m eating a cookie I found in the cabinet by the time Cross walks into the kitchen with Jax in his arms. Yup. I’ve got a daddy kink. It’s official. Because my man—bare-chested with his baby in light-blue footie pajamas and curled up on Cross’s big, broad, bare chest—is fucking stunning. Holy hot daddy. I want that.

“Oh, buddy . . .” I rub a hand soothingly over his back as his heavy breathing slows. “Giving my heart to your daddy scares me. But you . . . You just took it without my permission.”

“You know, you look really good holding my son, Everly. Not many things scare me. I’m just not that guy. But the idea of letting you in their lives and then them possibly losing you too . . .” He stares at me for a long minute. And I feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting for his next words. “That’s fucking terrifying.”

“Amateur.” “Yeah well, I haven’t had seven months of practice. Dating a daddy wasn’t in my plans. Dating an athlete wasn’t in my plans either. I don’t date, Cross. I don’t do this.”

“I haven’t gone to a boyfriend’s game in a long time,” I answer softly. Cross sits next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Boyfriend, huh?” “Really? That’s what you got out of that?”

“What exactly am I supposed to call you after all that outside and now . . . ?” I look down at Jax, who has milk dripping out of the corner of his mouth. “And now, all this in here? Pretty sure we’re past just friends with benefits, Wilder.”

“We were never just friends, Everly.”