For the Win (27 page)

“Nah, just preoccupied with my quest to take over the world.”

His eyes narrowed, showing no trace of humor. It blew her mind how much her teammates adored the man. She always got the impression he was secretly plotting ways to make her disappear.

“Looks like your schedule just opened up.”

Jaime knew there were only two ways to get out of a hairy situation like this. She could knee him in the balls and make a run for it, but there was no guarantee he wouldn't catch up and hit back just as hard. The other option was to scare him off.

It was an opportunity too delectable to pass up.

She widened her eyes to make her look both innocent and flirtatious, a technique she'd perfected since she first discovered boys at the tender age of twelve. She relaxed against the door and arched her back in an utterly coquettish pose, and traced the muscle bulging in his forearm with her index finger.

Victory, she thought as his eyes flashed with surprise and his body recoiled.

“I have to admit,” she said in her most breathy voice, “it really turns me on when a man acts all bossy and domineering.”

He recovered quicker from his shock than she'd expected. The corners of his mouth lifted into a slight grin. The look of desire on his face was almost frightening. It was the kind of expression that said he liked forbidden dangers. The problem was, so did she. Jaime swallowed her panic, heart pounding in her chest. He slid his hands behind her butt and hoisted her up until her legs wrapped around his waist, hands clinging to his muscular shoulders for balance. Her back hit the door, arching sharply as his pelvis pressed into hers.

Jaime's brain went dizzy. This was not what was supposed to happen. Her body, already ablaze with adrenaline and excitement from the chase, reacted traitorously to the hard planes of his body that she could feel perfectly through her flimsy cotton shorts and tank top. His large hands cupped her ass like they were designed to fit her body. With his mouth barely an inch from hers, she noticed his lips for the first time. They were remarkably thick and luscious. Kissable.

Jaime was impulsive, but this was crazy even by her standards. It's not like he was actually planning on ravaging her on the third-floor hallway of a Best Western.
Right?
“We're not really going to do this here, are we?”

“I thought you liked living on the edge.”

She gulped. “Some things are better in the dark, don't you think?”

“Have it your way.” Just when she thought her plan couldn't backfire any further, the door behind her jerked open and gave way. She shrieked and clenched her limbs around him in a death grip.

He flashed a key card in front of her face with his free hand.

“This is
your
room?” This time, the breathiness in her voice wasn't faked.

“Yep.” With only the harsh light from the parking lot seeping through the dark room, he walked her to the springy king bed and plopped her down on the burgundy duvet.

“There are probably five hundred rooms in this hotel,” she muttered.

Ignoring her whining, he settled on top of her and forced her arms above her head, locking them in place with one hand. “So you like to be dominated?” His whisper tickled her ear and sent heat shooting to her core.

She gasped involuntarily. The thick denim of his jeans scratched against the bare, sensitive skin on her inner thighs. Her legs were speckled with bruises from the game, but the occasional flashes of pain only made their contact seem more illicit and arousing. She writhed beneath him, and his expression grew darker. And damn if it didn't turn her on, too. God, this was sexy as hell. But she didn't really want this, did she? It was as though she just met a whole new Alex. One that needed to get naked right now and show her every hard edge of manliness hidden beneath those perfectly fitting dark jeans. Down, libido! Down!

He dipped his head, dark eyes taking in every inch of her body. His warm breath brushed the sweet spot of her neck, making her gasp. Oh god, right there. Please, right there. He growled, teasing her with his breath, but his lips never made contact. The frustration snapped her rational mind back into place. The bastard was calling her bluff. And worse yet, she was actually falling for it.

Time for a little revenge. She hummed her agreement and arched her back, pressing her chest to his. “And sometimes I like to do the dominating.”

A heavy, pregnant silence passed between them. His brow furrowed, a classic tell that he was calculating his next move. The balance of power was shifting back in her favor.

“Why don't we save that until next time,” he said, voice cracking ever so slightly. “Tonight, I'm in charge.”

She had him right where she wanted him. One more sexual innuendo and he'd probably be running for the hills with his balls in his hands. “Well then,” she purred, “what do you have in store for me? Keep in mind . . . I like it rough.”

His body went still. His eyes met hers with scorching intensity, like a match being struck. “I'm going to make you scream my name and beg for mercy.”

Her breath rushed from her chest as his words, however fake they may have been, sent pulses of desire to her core. It had been a long time since she'd felt this kind of consuming heat. Much too long.

Alex leaned forward in the unmistakable “reaching for a condom” move, rocking his pelvis into hers. That's when she realized she was in way over her head. He was as hard as steel, and it felt amazing.

Her thoughts whirred in a million directions. Even if he was as turned-on as she was, and there was some pretty indisputable evidence to support her case, he couldn't possibly be taking her advances seriously. After all, he was Alex. And she was Jaime. Oil and water. They couldn't do this. Not without brushing her teeth first to get rid of her tequila breath, at the very least. If she was going to go through with accidental pride-sex with Alex, it had to be amazing, mind-blowing pride-sex, and that couldn't happen if her breath wasn't minty fresh.

A burning cold slashed through her frantic thoughts and seared the skin on her ankle.

“Argh! What the hell, Alex? Get it off me!” He hadn't grabbed a condom. He'd grabbed an ice pack.

“I think your hormones were getting a little overheated. This should help cool you down.” Alex's triumph was etched into the smug crinkles around his eyes as he stared down at her. Arms still pinned, she couldn't escape as the initial sting settled into a deep, freezing ache all the way to her bones.

Jaime wasn't easily embarrassed, but falling for his counterploy was not going to go down as a favorite memory. “You finally develop a sense of humor, and this is what you use it for?” She jerked her wrists but couldn't break free from his hold. The effort only made his grin wider.

“Whatever gets the job done. You forced me to get a little creative in my methods.”

“Do you have some kind of cold fetish you want to tell me about? 'Cause it's really weird to keep an ice pack next to your bed.”

“I had it ready for you on the assumption you'd come willingly. But it works just the same, regardless of whether you want it or not.”

“Okay, okay. You win. How long do I have to stay here?”

“At least fifteen minutes,” he said as matter-of-factly as if they were in the back of the stadium's treatment room.

A few more silent seconds passed, adding a heavy weight to the air around them. Though the charade was over, the chemistry that sparked between them had not dissipated, probably because his body was still planked above hers, forcing her to think some very naughty thoughts. Like wondering what he could do with those lips. Those damn fine lips that were still kissing distance from hers.

“Are you sure you can hold your arm like that for much longer?” she asked, referring to the awkward angle of his left elbow, his arm stretched out behind him holding the ice pack against the ankle that was still wrapped around his waist.

“Don't worry, baby. I can go all night.”

She scowled. The bastard was enjoying tormenting her way too much.

Want even more laugh-out-loud, sexy, competitive romances from Sara Rider?

Don't miss the next book series, on sale Fall 2016 from Pocket Star!

Keeping Score

acknowledgments

I am so grateful for everyone who helped make this book a reality. Thank you to my wonderful agent, Rachael Dugas, for believing in this story from the start and for your constant support. I also want to thank my fantastic editor, Marla Daniels, for making this book better than I could ever have imagined. I am so privileged to work with and learn from you. I want to thank my mom for giving me my love of reading and my dad for my love of soccer. Finally, I want to thank my incredible husband for believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. You are my rock, my biggest cheerleader, and the person who makes me laugh every day. I couldn't ask for a better partner in life.

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ISBN 978-1-5011-3280-3