Playing to Win (The Players)

My heart is racing as I leave Ace behind and I don’t look back. It’s like I can’t. But I can definitely feel his eyes on me, hot and heavy, watching my every move. My legs are shaking as I push my way through the crowded room and when I finally spot the bathroom, I practically run inside.

The room is massive and dark. The stalls are large, with a single light pendant hanging above each one. The bulbs cast a warm, golden glow, but it’s still dim in here.

Perfect.

I go to one of the sinks and wash my trembling hands, sudsing them up with lots of soap before I rinse them. Trying to kill time before Ace joins me.

God, he better join me.

A toilet flushes and a woman comes out of the stall and smiles at me, washing her hands quickly before she dashes out, the door slamming behind her. I wait by the sink, noting how silent the room is, and I glance around.

I peek under the stalls.

I’m the only one in here.

Thank God.

I didn’t even consider what would happen if there were other women in here and Ace just strutted in. His presence would cause a commotion. Some women might freak out. Some might demand he leave.

Fear squeezes my stomach at the thought. Why did I believe this was a good idea again? We probably won’t be able to make this work. And I don’t even know what I was expecting, asking him to meet me in the bathroom.

I do know what he whispered into my ear practically turned me inside out, it was so hot. Referencing what happened the last time we were alone together. Like he still thinks about it.

Like he still thinks about me.

This man is going to destroy me, I just know it. And I’m going to enjoy every single second of his destruction too.

The door suddenly swings open, Ace standing there, his gaze finding mine immediately. We stare at each other from across the cavernous bathroom, neither of us speaking a word. He has no right to look as gorgeous as he does in the simplest outfit. A pair of jeans and a white T-shirt that clings to his chest and arms, emphasizing his muscles. It’s been what…two weeks since our last moment together? And I swear he’s bulkier than he was before.

My hands tingle at the opportunity to touch him.

“Are we the only ones in here?” he asks, his deep voice settling right between my legs, making me throb.

I nod, my voice gone.

He starts heading toward me, his steps hurried, his hands reaching. Landing on my waist, steering me backward, until my butt hits a stall door and it slaps open. We’re crowded into the stall in mere seconds, the lock sliding into place, Ace turning me so my back is pressed against the wall and he’s directly in front of me. So close, his warmth seeps into my body, making me hot.

For him.

“I missed you,” he murmurs, just before he dips his head and nuzzles my neck with his nose.

I close my eyes, my mouth falling open at that first contact of his skin on mine. The fact he admitted that he missed me. I would’ve never said that out loud. I still haven’t. But he confessed his feelings without hesitation and I…

I love that.

“We’ve seen each other almost every day,” I remind him, setting my hands on his very broad, very hard shoulders.

“It’s not the same as touching you.” His lips move against my neck, a shuddery breath escaping me. “Having you close to me.”

His hands slide upwards, along my rib cage, pausing right under my breasts, his thumbs pressing into my skin. As usual, I’m not wearing a bra. I hate them and he knows it and he doesn’t even hesitate.

Within seconds, he’s fully cupping them, kneading my flesh, his thumbs rubbing back and forth across my nipples, making me want to cry out. Instead, I bite my lower lip, a soft moan sounding from behind my teeth when he drags his hot, wet mouth down my neck.

“You feel so good, Red. It’s been way too long,” he mutters against my cheek, kissing me there. It’s a sweet gesture, yet there’s nothing sweet about the way he’s touching me. His hot body pressed against mine, his knee nudging between my legs. I spread my thighs, allowing him access, and the next thing I know, his mouth is hovering above mine, his knee pushed firmly against that needy spot between my thighs, making me see stars.

Already. That’s all it takes. A few rushed minutes in a bathroom stall and I’m on the edge of coming.

“We need to make this quick,” he whispers against my lips. “Someone might catch us.”

I would die if someone caught us. I would also die if he decides to put a stop to the hottest encounter of my life.

“Let’s make it quick then,” I encourage, my voice soft. I run my hands down his chest slowly, savoring the hard muscles beneath his smooth, hot skin. His body is absolute perfection and if I could, I’d yank his shirt up and stare at him for a little bit.

But I don’t think we have enough time.

He slips his hands down to my ass, lifting me up and I go with him, my legs wrapping around him as I tilt my hips forward, brushing against the bulge in his jeans. He’s hard and huge and I wrap my arms around his neck, my mouth finding his.

The kiss is instantly hot. A tangle of tongues and clash of teeth. Wet, greedy lips and warm puffs of air. He groans. I whimper. He slides his fingers in my hair, curling it around his fist. I shove my hands in his hair and tug, making him growl.

The sound leaves me weak and I’m grateful he’s got me pinned against the door or else I’d probably be on the floor.

We kiss and kiss, until my jaw aches and my lips feel raw. He’s thrusting against me, nice and slow, driving me out of my mind and when the bathroom door suddenly slams open, a bunch of giggly women entering the room, Ace goes still.

I crack my eyes open to find him watching me. He shifts away from me, our gazes still connected, his hand settling over my mouth, fingers clamping tightly to silence me.

A whimper sounds beneath his hand and his expression becomes stern. I can practically read in his gaze that he’s telling me to be quiet. I must be really fucked up because I can’t stop thinking how sexy this is. How he’s got his hand over my mouth and his knee pressed against the seam of my jeans. He applies more pressure, making my clit pulsate, and I close my eyes, lost to the sensations this gorgeous, dominating man is giving me.

I feel him lean in close, his cheek pressed to mine as he whispers in my ear, “You’re being too noisy.”

I say nothing in response as he pulls away from me slightly. His hand still covers my mouth, his knee still firmly against my crotch, his other hand resting on my side, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of my cropped shirt. He surrounds me, leaving me breathless and dizzy and filled with the need to consume him just like he consumes me.

God this man. He’s overwhelming in the absolute best way.

The women are chatting so loudly, it sounds like there are at least twenty of them in the room, though it’s probably not even ten. A few of them enter the stalls. Others remain at the sinks, checking themselves in the mirror, I’m sure. Applying lipstick and gossiping about the night.

“Saw Ace here,” one of them says.

Ace’s gaze turns amused. A little curious.

“He’s so hot,” another one adds.

“He rejected me,” says yet another one.

Ace’s eyebrows shoot up at that statement.

“Girl, he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

“That’s what I thought. He’ll regret turning me down.”

He shakes his head, chuckling. Removes his hand from my mouth so he can kiss me.

And he doesn’t stop. He keeps kissing me, his hand dropping to the front of my jeans, fingers fumbling over the button and the zipper. He drops his knee too, disappointment crashing inside me, replaced by total euphoria when he slips his hand into the front of my damp panties, rubbing my clit.

I don’t even know how we’re making this work, but we are. He’s getting me off with his talented fingers, his wicked mouth and sweeping tongue. The women being on the other side of the stall only makes it hotter. That we’re doing this in secret. That anyone could discover us.

He rubs me harder. Faster. I can’t catch my breath. Can’t focus, can’t even think. All I can do is feel, the sensations radiating through my veins, sparking my blood. I thump the back of my head against the stall door and close my eyes, that familiar feeling building within me.

I’m close. Like he knows it, he slows his pace, his fingers sliding up and down my pussy, just as he pushes one inside me, his thumb resting against my clit.

It’s sweet torture, what he’s doing to me. How delicious it feels. How he’s driving me out of my mind. One by one the women eventually leave the bathroom, and it’s surprising to me, how the place empties out so quickly that we’re the only ones left. This would never happen at Logan’s. The bathroom is always busy.

“Finally,” he mutters against my lips, just as his hand becomes busier. Bringing me to the brink. Leaving me hanging there until I fall over the edge, my body shaking.

His mouth lands on mine the moment the orgasm hits me, his lips swallowing my cries, my moans. I cling to him, riding out the orgasm, riding his freaking hand, and when the trembling finally subsides, I’ve got my face buried against his neck, my arms around his shoulders, my hands buried in his hair yet again.

“Fuck, you’re so hot, Red,” he murmurs against my forehead before he kisses it. He removes his hand from my still throbbing pussy, tugging the zipper up, though he’s not quite able to close it. “I should go.”

He carefully sets me on my feet, smoothing a hand over my hair, pushing it away from my face while I gape at him, still dazed from my climax. Confused as to why he’d just…leave.

Like this is it.

“Ace—” I clamp my lips shut, unsure what to say next.

His smile is small. Even a little sad. “I know, baby.”

That’s it. That’s all he says before he reaches behind him, undoes the lock and then slips out of the stall. I can hear his hurried footsteps slap across the floor, the door opening and closing, leaving me in silence.

Leaving me alone.

I take a fortifying breath and release it slowly, my heart still racing. My head still spinning. I don’t know how to explain exactly what just happened, but I feel changed.

I feel like I want to toss aside all responsible thought and chase after Ace. Beg him to take me home so we can continue where we left off. Is he purposely trying to drive me out of my mind?

Because it’s totally working.