Throughout the following day, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It annoyed the hell out of me that she was so hot and unavailable. I’d always wanted what I couldn’t have. My mind flicked to Ashley again, and a strange excitement resided in the base of my stomach. I knew tonight was just a friendly dinner, of course, but I was seriously hoping to sweep her off her feet and make her change her mind by the end of the night. My preparations were already made. A table had been booked at a fairly nice and romantic restaurant, the flowers and chocolates had been bought – I was all set. All I needed before I went was to get my game back, and then I’d be able to charm her straight into bed. A punch to my shoulder made me wince, and I looked up at Russell, frowning. I’d been off in my own little world thinking about her again, and forgotten I was in the middle of a training, sparring session with one of my teammates. Shaking my head to clear it, I brought my hands up to protec
Minutes later the waitress came over to take our orders. Ashley was chuckling to herself quietly as the lady tried to flirt with me, but I wasn’t in the mood – well, not unless the little gorgeous brunette sitting opposite me was up for it. “So, what does it feel like to be the most beautiful thing in the room? I’ve always wondered,” I asked, once the waitress disappeared. Ashley smiled weakly. “Look, Jace, I know you’re trying really hard, and I honestly appreciate the effort, but this just isn’t going to go your way. I don't sleep with guys unless I’m in love with them, so you’re fighting a losing battle if you're trying to get me into bed. Let’s just cut the act, and maybe we could be friends?” she offered hopefully. I blinked, taking in her words. She didn’t sleep with guys unless she was in love with them? She had to have been yanking my chain with that. There was no way that could be true; she was probably just trying to scare me away from her. I nodded and t
As I turned, I saw her standing just behind me. I grinned as I set my hands on her hips and lifted her onto the counter. A sexy little squeak of surprise left her lips as a blush coloured her cheeks. While she busied herself pulling on the bottom of her dress, trying to cover up her legs where it had risen up, I grabbed two mugs from the cupboard that I’d seen her get them from last time. We took the coffees into the lounge and when she sat herself on the sofa next to me, instead of one of the two other free chairs, I decided to take that as a good sign. Now, if I could get her to agree to come out with me again, then maybe I would have a real chance with her. I’d just have to be patient for a few dates until she was ready to give it up. I could be patient; well, I was pretty sure I could anyway; I’d never actually tried. We talked easily about movies that we’d seen recently or things that she wanted to see. She was gushing about some crappy sounding romantic comedy that s
All through the next few days I couldn’t stop myself from texting her. Thankfully though, she obviously didn’t think I was coming on too strong because she replied to every single one, plus she hadn’t cancelled for Friday. Throughout the week, my mind would wander to her as soon as I had free time. I’d be sitting watching TV and something that she’d said or text me would spring to the front of my mind and I’d just sit there laughing. I’d had such a busy week, working twelve hour shifts, that by the time I got home all I wanted to do was eat, sleep and text Ashley. On Thursday night I called her just to make sure we were still set for our date. It was the first time I’d actually spoken to her since Monday and the sound of her voice made a goofy smile slip onto my face. We’d ended up talking on the phone for over an hour. Usually talking to girls bored me, but with Ashley I just seemed to enjoy her company and her personality. When I finally disconnected the
She tore her gaze from the book and finally looked up at me. “This is really, really thoughtful. I love it, thank you.” Her eyes were so soft and appreciative that it made my heart speed up. “Yeah, no worries,” I mumbled. And now I’m mumbling too. I’m doing so well with this date so far! Ashley took the book, brushing her fingers across the front cover, looking at me in awe as if I’d just bought her something remarkable instead of just a book. I smiled weakly, shifting on my feet, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t make me sound like a raving lunatic. When she looked at me like that I started longing for things, things I’d never really thought about before – things like the word girlfriend, and exclusive, and mine. I was in real trouble with this girl. The player side of me that was just standing here wondering what colour underwear she had on, was terrified of this girl and the tender way she was looking at me. My player side was trying to force me
We sat on the sofa still talking freely; everything just seemed so easy with her. I didn’t feel the need to put on an act or try to be something that I wasn’t, she seemed to accept everything at face value and actually be interested in me, instead of what I looked like. I loved that she was intrigued by me as a person; it didn't usually work that way with girls. While we were talking, some of her hair fell across her eyes and before I could stop myself, I reached out and tucked it behind her ear so I could still look into her eyes when I talked to her. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she bit her lip lightly making me so freaking horny it was unreal. It had been exactly two weeks since I’d had sex now, and if I didn’t get some soon then I was going to die. Alright, that was a slight exaggeration, but it was certainly a long time for someone like me to go without. I needed to kiss her. My mouth was already watering at the thought of it. As I bent my head to h
I barely slept that night; all I could think about was Ashley and what she said. She’d been burned by a player before, but if she was telling me that she wanted me to wait then she was clearly not opposed to the idea of sleeping with me at some point. Which meant that I was in with a shot. And that also meant that she didn’t have a boyfriend, after all, how could I be in with a shot if she were dating someone else? Ashley really didn’t seem like the type of girl to cheat and cause someone any pain. That still left the huge question of DJ. I knew he existed because Bryson had asked about him, but he wasn’t her boyfriend I would put money on it. She had never actually specifically told me she had a boyfriend, in fact, she’d never mentioned the word ‘boyfriend’ at all. I was just jumping to conclusions, and she was playing along trying to ward me off because she was scared of players. Due to her cancelling the evening date, I called Seth to see what he was doing instead;
When I went to pull back, she shook her head and wrapped her arms around my neck. “If I’m going to die then I want something incredible to be my last memory. So make it count,” she muttered, pulling my mouth back to hers roughly. I smiled against her lips and kissed her passionately, tracing my tongue along her bottom lip. She stepped impossibly closer, crushing her chest against mine as she moaned into my mouth. I grunted, sliding one hand to the nape of her neck. All I wanted was to kiss and feel every inch of her. I broke the kiss just as I was getting a little breathless. Dipping my head, I nibbled on her earlobe, listening to her pant for breath. “That was so hot,” I whispered, as I ran my tongue along the edge of her ear. She shivered against me and nodded. “That’s just what I was thinking.” “So, are we ready now, or was that not incredible enough?” I teased, pulling back fractionally. It was certainly incredible enough for me, if I died right now I would be