Theirs to Play (2 page)

Frederick leaned in closer. “I wouldn’t mind being lost in you.”

Heat entered my center, but I ignored it. My body sampled many men, ones just like him, rich, bratty guys that thought they ruled the world and could walk over a poor girl like me. Messing with one always gave me a bad taste in my mouth so I stayed away.

“Lost in me? Really?” I rolled my eyes. “Does that even work with women?”

“Trust me. It works.” He frowned. The expression still couldn’t make him less gorgeous. I hated him for it.

“Are they drunk when you say it?” I asked. “And if you say something like, yes, drunk off of my awesomeness, then I’m going to vomit. There’s only so much male bravado I can take, and with the both of you my body’s flooding with it.”

Max snapped another image and winked. “Talking like that just makes us crazier for you, baby.”

“And this is where I move on guys.” I gathered my books into my bag, knowing that either I had to leave or this situation wouldn’t improve. Besides, what type of idiot tries to study on South Beach? I figured I could people-watch in one of the top spots in the city while getting some significant reading done.

Not possible. Apparently, no one studies on South Beach. They do everything else here of course, but not studying.

“Wait. We can go.” Frederick got up and helped me pack. “You don’t have to leave.”

“No. I probably won’t get any reading done, anyway. You two were just the motivation I needed to escape.”

“I feel bad.” Frederick seized the bag from me and filled it up. “Let us take you to dinner tonight. I promise we’ll leave now, just say yes to dinner.”

I scrunched up my face in confusion. “Now you both want to have dinner with me?”

They nodded.

“Why?” I asked.

“Why not?” Max took another image.

“What happened to your dire photo shoot?”

“It’s less dire,” Frederick said.

“What’s going on guys?” I glanced at Frederick and then at Max. “Something’s happening and I don’t think I should be a part of it. If you remember, I tend to keep weapons around for when the male species aggravates me.”

“It’s just dinner.” Frederick’s gaze lowered to my cleavage, which told me that he hoped I would be on the menu.

I stared up at Max. The same expression of lust was plastered all over his face, except his attention lay between my legs. I closed my thighs and breathed. Being ogled by men annoyed me. Being ogled by hot rich European brothers. . .well. . .fine it turned me on.

“And what will we be doing after dinner?” I asked. “How do I know you two aren’t crazy?”

“Do we look crazy?” Frederick countered.

I turned to Max because if I stared at Frederick any longer I would be saying yes to a lot more than dinner. Already I was stupidly reconsidering leaving the beach and remaining there with them. “Max, what’s your plan for me after dinner?”

“I’m not sure. Whatever serial killers do, I guess.” Max shrugged his shoulders.

“Not funny.”

Max chuckled. “We can do whatever you’d like or if you find you can’t deal with either of us anymore, then we’ll take you home. No problem at all.”

I shook my head. “If I go, then I’m meeting you there. I won’t be picked up by two guys I don’t know.”

“But you’ll let two strangers buy you dinner?” Frederick smiled.

“Yes.” I rose and tried to pretend that I didn’t catch their gazes to my hips and behind. My skin tingled with awareness. “Interrupting me while studying a boring topic is one thing. Inviting me to the most expensive restaurant in Miami is another thing. I’ll meet you there at eight tonight. Koti is the name by the way.”

“You’re name?” Frederick quirked his brown eyebrows.

“No. Dawn’s my name. Koti is the name of the restaurant that we’ll meet at tonight.”

Frederick’s jaw line twitched as if he was holding in laughter. “Okay. Any other instructions, Dawn?”

“Wear pink.” I took my now heavy bag from him. “I like my men in pink.”

“Very funny.” Max put that camera to his eye to take another picture.

I displayed my finger right as he snapped. “And another thing, you never told me why you two were famous.”

“I did.” Frederick nodded.

“No you didn’t. You said your parents own Prism which is pretty impressive, but that’s your parents. What do you two do?”

Frederick tilted my way. He was close. So near that I could feel the gentle whisper of his breath against my skin. His cologne embraced and touched me like I’m sure the man could. “We’re in the business of lust.”

I stepped back. “Well, too bad I’m already taken care of in that department.”

“Boyfriend?”

“No, but I have friends.”

He licked his lips again. I was really starting to detest the way his tongue’s movements snared my attention to the point that I could never look away.

“I feel really bad for these friends, Dawn.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“They’ll be nothing once you and I become friends.”

My brain wasn’t intrigued, but my body reacted with warmth. It seemed that my flesh was willing to forgive Max and Frederick’s bad lines just for the chance to see if they were all talk or not.

“Have a nice day, Frederick.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and turned away. “Nice meeting you, Max.”

Twenty feet into my defiant and hopefully sexy walk, I realized that I left my plastic smoothie cup, blanket, and rented umbrella back there with them. I glanced over my shoulder.

There they stood among my things, rock hard and pulsing with desire.

How the hell did I not start touching myself when they first came up to me? Oh yeah, I know. They opened their mouths like men do and said stupid things.

I decided not to go back to them and just head to the car. The blanket had been a four dollar deal at Goodwill, the bottle just one of many I filled with breakfast smoothies. As far as the umbrella, there’d already been a five-dollar charge for if I wanted to leave the thing there and not return it to the beach rental’s office.

A nine-dollar loss is not worth going back into the lions’ den.

And they were lions, bad pick-up lines or not. They were the kings of their pack, rich, sexy, and utterly over-confidant. I was sure the photography line worked on many women, hoping to just get a few seconds in their presence. Maybe the guys shared the women or something. I could sit for hours thinking about the sensual things these two did to spend their days.

They’re odd, but hey, who am I too judge? Either way, they won’t be sharing me, but they definitely will be splitting my bill.

Chapter 2

~Frederick

Dawn has taste.

Koti’s restaurant menu boasted some delicious possibilities. The food was a fusion of Cuban and Japanese cuisine, a combination I’d never knew existed, but was excited to find out. Instead of typical tuna or salmon rolls there were ones filled with mojo marinated pork and rolled with caramel salted plantains. The chef was a genius and regardless, if Dawn arrived or not, I’d planned to enjoy myself by diving into great food.

“She’s not coming,” Max mumbled.

Ignoring him, I scanned the captivating restaurant’s decor.

A multicolored mosaic of tiles served as the walls—aquamarine blues outlined jagged green crystals, copper circles dotted silver stones. They glittered in the dim lighting and soared high up into the air where massive sculptures dangled, twisted, and turned. The black stone sculptures were nude bodies tangled and intertwined into each other.

I found it fitting for tonight because I planned to be tangled and nude with Dawn as soon as our forks hit our empty plates and it was time to go.

“This chick’s too hard. I vote for another woman.” Max checked his watch. While I drooled over the entrees’ descriptions, his menu lay untouched on his side of the table. He’d been flicking his thumb against his watch all night which meant he was on edge. “She’s fucking twenty minutes late now. Is she fucking serious? She’s beautiful, but not that much.”

“Things happen.” I sipped my glass of red wine. “You’re just pissed she didn’t fall for the photo shoot trick.”

“No I’m not. Trust me. I’ll get a naked picture of her eventually.” He waved my comment away. “Damn, did you see that sensational ass of hers?”

I’d more than saw it. I’d been thinking about the possibilities that nice cushion could provide me. Bent over my yacht’s kitchen counter and her legs spread open ranked the highest of my thoughts. Taking her from behind in my Jacuzzi was another. Then there were the many whip cream images that danced in my head. I couldn’t figure out where on her body I would put the cream first, but I damn sure knew I’d enjoy licking if off. I planned on taking her in every part of the yacht even in my brother’s room as he watched and cried in defeat. I’d give it to her everywhere.

But not the bed. Never the bed for her.

Dawn needed the unusual, something different, an experience that she’d never had before. She was too tight and wound up with her bulky books sprawled on the beach while so many men and women partied all around her. She needed some man to loosen her up, fuck her good.

And I can tell from just the way she held that book that she needs a good fuck.

Any regular person studying would’ve causally had the book in their hand. Yet, she gripped that volume hard, like she owned nothing else and could see no other option in life. This goal of hers to go to law school had to be some sort of desperation for something.

Desperation for what?

I didn’t know, but I planned to find out.

Half of winning in this game I played with Max was that I took the time to learn each woman as well as discover their dreams and fears. Max over-sexed his game play, which turned many of them off. While he tried to flaunt his bed skills, I asked them questions. Once I realized the one thing that would make them happy, I became the pathway to it. If she dreamed of being an actress, I discussed how I had a movie in the works. If she’d just had her heart broken, I transformed into Romeo, catering to her needs and massaging those broken feelings.

What does Dawn need? Let’s hope it’s simple. Let’s pray she just needs to be fucked.

“Why are you over there grinning like that?” Max pinched a bit of his bread off and flung it at me.

“Stop.” I dodged the bread and watched it drop to the floor. “Can you pretend like we’re out in public?” I motioned to the other people dining in immaculate clothes.

“You just make me sick with that stupid smirk on your face. If she comes, you won’t win.”

“She
will
come and yes, I will win.” I flexed my fingers. “There are two simple facts happening right now. Although a real beauty, she probably doesn’t know anybody around Miami. She’s all alone here. What type of person studies at South Beach? A person that is crying for help. Plus, by looking at that brown clump of metal that she drove away in, there’s no way she can afford this place. She’ll come because she has great taste in food and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to try a spot that’s out of her budget.”

“You think you already understand her, don’t you. Oh God. Here we go. Frederico’s Master Plan.” Max twirled his fingers in the air and did a horrible Spanish accent. “First, you must learn about the woman, and then you must be the woman’s desire.”

“I don’t sound like that. You can barely hear my accent at times. You’re just jealous you never have a means for attack. You’re winning depends on my failing, nothing else. If a female decides she doesn’t want me, then she considers you.”

“Oh they come to me willingly way before they’ve listened to one word you’ve said.” He rubbed two fingers together. “Let’s bet some money on this one.”

I had a worry antenna in my head that only my brother could trigger. At his mention of gambling, no matter how small, my antenna sprung up and delivered waves of anxiety throughout my nerves. “You want to bet money?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t know. How much are you talking?”

“Let’s go big. She’s definitely not a sure thing.”

I slumped in my chair, not liking where this conversation was going. Anyone who didn’t consider gambling as a real-life disease never witnessed a family member devoured by it. My brother gambled on everything. It was how our games with women started. Back then our wagers involved non-monetary things. We both hated Sunday dinner with our parents. No matter where we were in the world Mom and Dad expected us to be there. So one of our bets dealt with the other going to Sunday dinner for the both of us. But in the past three years, the stakes shifted to large amounts of money. Lately, Max had been on a winning streak with our bets, doing all he could to win and then rushing off to Monte Carlo to gamble it away.

“Let’s place six figures on the bet with Dawn,” Max suggested.

Shock hit me. “Six figures? Have you been doing drugs these days?”

“It’s not too much for you. I know it. You save more than an animal preparing for hibernation.”

“It’s the smart thing to do when I’d rather not work. I won’t bet six figures on a woman, no matter how delectable she may be.”

“Anything lower would be boring.”

“Or the fact is that you need six figures.”

He averted his eyes. “Who said I needed it?”

“Do you need it or not?”

With his thumb, he smudged a circle on the surface of his watch. The more seconds passed by, the more my heart increased its beats in my chest.

“I’m a little low this month, Freddy,” he admitted.

“How low?”

“I haven’t been able to pay things.”

I placed my hand under the table and formed my fingers into a fist. “What things? Why don’t you elaborate?”

“Because I don’t want to hear a speech.” He slumped in his chair. “I just need some help.”

“Like a counselor for gambling addiction?”

“No. I need money.”

You always need money these days.

“How much?” I asked.

“Six hundred thousand.”

In my world six hundred thousand wasn’t a big thing for him to ask of me. I could transfer it to him with a few flicks of my finger on the phone. The problem was that he’d been borrowing more and more these past months. The total had reached well past a million.