“When’s your next game?”
“Tuesday night.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll still be there Wednesday for the reading program,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
She nodded.
“Then we go to Boston next weekend.” He paused, then the craziest thing came out of his mouth. “You should come with me.”
Her eyes popped open. “To Boston?”
“Yeah. The game’s Saturday night. We could make a weekend of it.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“I…I…just can’t. That’s crazy.”
He shrugged and picked up a strand of her golden hair, rubbing it between thumb and fingers. “It’s not crazy. It’d be fun.”
She shook her head. “I am so out my league with you. I don’t have money for stuff like that, Jason, and I…”
“I’ll pay for it,” he interrupted. Christ, what kind of scum did she think he was, that he’d invite her like that and not pay for it? “I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t going to pay your airfare and you can stay with me.”
“Oh.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “That’s nice of you, but I can’t let you do that. And that’s not the only reason. I can’t just take off like that.”
“Why not?” He lifted his chin. “Why can’t you go away for a weekend?”
“Because…because…I just don’t do things like that.”
“I thought you wanted to have fun? Break loose. Living on your own.”
She grimaced. “As you can see, I’m not on my own right now.”
“Your sister is an adult.”
Her brow furrowed and the lip-nibble continued. “I know. But I should be here for her. And.going on a trip…that’s big. I…hardly know you.”
“It’s just fun, Remi. Right?”
“Yes.” Regret shadowed her eyes. “But I can’t. You need to go and focus on your game, anyway. It’s probably better if I don’t come.”
He sighed. She was probably right. He didn’t know why he’d suggested it. Nobody brought girls on a road trip. It was kinda crazy and he’d be busy practicing, then playing. Boston was an in and out game, not really a weekend.
“Yeah. You’re right.” He tipped his beer and finished it. “I guess I should go.” He set his empty bottle on the coffee table and leaned forward for a kiss. He’d wanted to touch her since he walked in the door, slide his hands into that silky hair, feel her peachy-soft skin, get his hands under that black turtleneck sweater, find out if she was wearing black lace underwear again.
Christ, it seemed like ages since they’d slept together. He’d been thinking about her for the last few weeks nonstop. When he’d seen her at the school that first day, standing there all cute and little and big eyes full of apprehension, he’d been happily surprised. When he’d found out she was a teacher, that had just about put an end to the strange attraction he felt for her. But his impulsive invitation out for dinner hadn’t turned out so bad. She hadn’t made him feel stupid or lacking.
Even tonight. Although she’d been dismayed by the rough game and his little wound, she’d listened to him talk about the game and hadn’t made him feel stupid. She’d made him feel good.
He needed more of that. He needed to be with her. Bad. And now her sister was down the goddamn hall.
Frustration rose in him as his mouth covered hers and he fought to restrain the lust that made him want to toss her down on the couch cushions and fuck her brains out.
She tasted sweet and warm, her small tongue meeting and playing with his in a long, drugging kiss that had his head spinning even more than the painkillers they’d given him earlier. He put a hand on her cheek, so tiny and soft, and held her face while they kissed and kissed again.
“Remi. Please. Come to Boston.”
“I can’t.”
He wanted to growl. A small noise did come from deep in his throat. He coughed and drew back.
“I guess I’ll see you Wednesday, then. At school.”
She nodded, mouth full and soft, eyes so turquoise blue and clear he wanted to fall into them and drown in them.
“We’ll go out for dinner after.”
She tipped her head to one side and sent him a slow, so sexy smile. “Okay. Dinner, I can do.”
“It is a school night.”
She laughed. “Yes, it is.”
“And I might end up dragging you back to my place after.”
Her eyes darkened to teal blue and she lowered her chin. “Promise?”
His dick hardened. He could have groaned. “Hell, Remi.” He glanced through the French doors, and she caught his look and laid her palm on his cheek.
“I know,” she whispered. “Wednesday.”
He stood and let her get his coat, and then he picked her up and kissed her again at the door, lifting her feet right off the floor so he could fit her to his body. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back and his dick surged and hardened even more. “Ah, Remi,” he groaned against her mouth.
A throat clearing had him lifting his head to see Jasmine standing there, staring at them open-mouthed. He let Remi slide down his body to the floor and grinned. “Just leaving,” he told Jasmine. “Night, Remi.” He brushed one last kiss across her mouth before leaving.
Outside, he left his coat undone, letting it flap open as he strode toward his Jeep. The chilly March night air would hopefully cool down his overheated body. Jesus. A warm feeling of well-being simmered inside him along with frustration. He’d wanted to see her and he had. They’d talked and somehow she’d made him feel less pissed off at himself, somehow she’d made him feel like it was so easy, they’d win their next three games and be on top of the world. He was on top of the world right now as he walked to his Jeep, the nearby streetlight reflecting on chrome and sparkling off the glass, the neighborhood quiet and dark and peaceful. He took a deep breath of cool night air and let it out. She made him feel on top of the world—but he wished he were on top of Remi.
Chapter Seven
All through dinner Wednesday evening, all Remi could think about was going back to his place and having hot sex with him.
She clenched her thighs together as she ate, drank three glasses of wine to wet her dry mouth and pushed her food around on her plate—fabulous shrimp, but who cared—trying to keep her mind off Jason’s body. Naked. Over her. Under her. Inside her. Her womb clenched hard at that thought and she trembled.
They emerged from the restaurant on Michigan Avenue, a trendy upscale place that apparently wasn’t far from Jason’s apartment. Jason put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, then bent to kiss her cheek. His mouth felt warm in the cool night.
Then a blinding flash exploded in front of Remi’s eyes. She made a small sound and put a hand up. “What was that?”
“Shit.”
“Hey, Jase!” a voice called. Remi couldn’t even see who was talking to him, blinking at the spots in front of her eyes. “Is this your new girlfriend?”
She shook her head and looked up at Jason. He didn’t answer, just smiled grimly and took her arm, hustling her up the sidewalk.
“What’s her name?” the voice called from behind them.
“Who is that?” she huffed.
“Reporters.”
“Huh?”
“News reporters. Sorry about that, Remi. I had no idea they were out there.”
“Uh…” She sucked in oxygen as she practically ran to keep up with his long-legged stride. “What did they want?”
“Pictures. A story.”
“About you?”
“Yeah.” He laughed and slowed his stride. “I know it’s crazy, but sometimes they follow me around.”
Holy crap. She hung on to his arm as they walked around the corner and then into the entrance of the high-rise that housed his apartment.