“Is that the plan? To get me drunk so I don’t feel anything?” I teased.
He didn’t even smile. “Spread your legs.”
Oh my. He looked so serious, I immediately did as he said, grateful for the waxing as he stared at my sex for several long moments.
“So pretty.”
I squirmed under his gaze, and he took a long drink from his glass. Kneeling at the foot of the bed, he wrapped his hands around my calves and pulled me down until my ass was nearly hanging over the side, my legs over his shoulders.
I closed my eyes but opened them again when I heard a clink. Seconds later, he was tracing an ice cube over my belly. It traveled lower, over my clit and down my sex. When he replaced the cold with the heat of his mouth, I came unraveled.
Cold.
Hot.
He repeated this process until I was out of my mind with need. He took me to the brink several times, but wouldn’t let me fall.
“Please,” I begged, my hands twisted in the sheets.
Cold.
“Please what, baby?”
Hot.
“Please let me come.”
Cold.
Hot.
When he used his mouth the last time, he didn’t stop until I soared.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kane
I’d hoped a night of sleep would bring some sort of clarity to the morning. It hadn’t. Just a headache from too little rest, and the two glasses of whiskey I’d drank on an empty stomach watching Eliana sleep.
We had an afternoon game today to accommodate a bunch of kids on a field trip, and I needed to be at the field early for pregame practice. It was eight now, just enough time to hydrate and wash the stink of alcohol off me. Easing from the bed, I headed to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
Glad I’d thrown on shorts and a t-shirt, I found Zoe at the kitchen bar, sipping from a freshly brewed cup. Her hair was wild, and she looked embarrassed as I caught her nibbling on a protein bar, her nose in a thick book.
“Sorry. I hope it was okay that I scrounged around your kitchen.”
“Scrounge away,” I said as I poured a cup for myself. “Seriously, make yourself at home. I’ll give you all some money before I leave, and you can hit the grocery and stock us up on whatever you want. I usually drink a protein shake in the morning and then eat out the rest of the day. The cupboards are pretty bare around here.”
She grinned. “Yeah, they are, but you don’t have to pay—”
“Hush it. This is my treat. Please accept it.”
Her eyes grew watery. “Thank you.”
“And quit thanking me. I’m just glad the two of you are okay. Stay here as long as you need. I have tons of room.”
Taking my coffee with me, she stopped me with a hand on my arm. “She really likes you, you know. I mean, all this is fake, I realize that. She told me in confidence all that’s been happening. But she really likes you. I just hope she isn’t hurt too badly when it’s all over.”
Turning to face her more fully, I smiled down into dark chocolate eyes, and the ringlets of curls spiraling everywhere. “I like her too. It’s complicated. She wasn’t looking for anyone. I wasn’t looking for anyone. Crazy circumstances tossed us together, so I think we’re both trying to process it all.”
She smiled gently. “I know. You’re a good person. I hope you don’t end up hurt either.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so I just nodded and headed to the shower. I turned it on full blast and icy cold, willing it to wake me up.
Standing there with shampoo in my hair, I couldn’t help but think about the surprise I’d felt when Eliana stuck her damn finger in my ass. Not at all what I’d expected. And it only showed me a new layer to her personality. She might be all sweetness on the outside, but my little Eliana had a very naughty and very determined side dwelling deep under that sugar-and-spice exterior.
It was intriguing. And, holy fuck, I’d never come so hard. She was right. Magic button, indeed.
After the cold shower had me wide awake, I dressed in shorts and a hoodie before taking out my wallet and tossing down five hundred dollars. I was in the middle of scribbling Eliana a note, when she stretched and those blue eyes popped open. She smiled, looking all warm and sleepy, and it was an effort not to crawl back into bed.
“Where’re you going?” she asked through a huge yawn.
“Game at one. Want to come? I’ll leave tickets if you do, just give me a heads up.”
“Yeah, I think I might like watching you in real life and not on the screen.”
I bent down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Good. Bring Zoe too if she wants to get out. And I’ve left some money on the table. If you don’t mind, hit the grocery and stock up on whatever you all want. I’ll need to get you an AmEx card, and…”
Shit.
Now I’m giving her a credit card?
I met her baby blues. Yes, I guess I was.
“I’ll hit the bank later if that’s not enough,” I finished lamely.
Rising onto an elbow, she looked over at the five crisp bills. “I think I can manage to go grocery shopping on that.” She smirked. “Thanks, dear.”
I couldn’t resist kissing her again, this time on those sleep-softened lips. “You’re welcome, dear. I’m off to work now so I can earn some more bacon for you to fry up.”
She batted her lashes. “I’m so lucky to be fake marrying such a good provider. I’ll be barefoot in the kitchen when you get back.”
I slapped her on the ass and thumped my chest. “Is good. You cook. Me eat.” She laughed, and the musical quality went straight to my scrotum, giving my balls a little stir. “See you at one.”
Back in the kitchen, Zoe was gone, so I grabbed a protein bar and bottle of water and headed out. I looked expectantly at Joey and his newspapers when I pushed through the door and strode onto the sidewalk, but he just raised his hands, palms up. “Looks like you’ve been a good boy. This job just ain’t going to be as much fun.”
I shot him a little salute. “Don’t worry. I’m sure the snakes will find something to lie about.”
He snorted. “Yeah. No kidding. Let ‘em write about how the Beasts won the series, ya hear me?”
I stuck my aviators on my face and pulled my ballcap low. It was going to be a beautiful day. “Loud and clear.”
In the clubhouse, I stopped in front of my locker and just stared at it. Really, guys? There were black streamers hanging everywhere and black balloons tied to a ball and chain. A sign read: A Sucker Is Born Every Day.
Calvin Malone was horse laughing, a bag of ice tied to his shoulder.
Ace Newman was grinding on a pole. “I love weddings,” he yelled, “I’m planning the bachelor party.”
Todd Morris threw a cleat at him. “We ain’t going to the Chuck E. Cheese.”
Ace dodged the cleat and laughed. What a transformation. From drugged out whore hound to proud papa. I had to admit, I wished I’d gotten to witness some of the shit he’d pulled in his younger days, but I liked this Ace Newman too.
He slapped me on the back. “Seriously, congratulations, Steele. It’ll be the best thing you ever did. Just knock her up quick. Tit milk is the best.”