Page 20 of Her Power Play

Ruby stares at me for a moment, then she rises to her knees, the sheet falling from her body as she moves toward me. I find it increasingly difficult to concentrate with her naked body so close to mine, but I try.

She stops when she’s at the edge of the bed, her eyes searching mine, her lips curved up, but only in the corner. Damn, she’s cute as shit. Sexy too. And mine. I don’t know how it happened, or when it happened, but I’ve fallen for her. Head over heels.

“Liam,” she calls out. I jerk my chin toward her, waiting for her response. “I’m nervous because this is all so new. I’ve never done this before.”

I’m standing as naked as the day I was born, but that doesn’t stop me from moving directly toward her. Climbing onto the bed, I crawl toward her, wrapping my arms around her again, and pull her against me.

Lowering my head, I touch my mouth to hers in a chaste kiss. Once I break the kiss, I shift my head back slightly, look down into her eyes, and glide my hand up the center of her back.

Tangling my fingers in her hair, I search her gaze, my lips curving up into a smile as I take her in—soak her up.

I’m fucking falling for this woman.

No, I was falling.

I’m pretty sure I’ve completely fallen now.

There’s no getting back up either. Absolutely done for when it comes to her, and I’ve never been happier. Which is weird as hell, because I can’t remember a moment in my entire life where I even thought I might want to fall for just one woman, let alone that I would be happy about it if I ever did.

“Me neither, Ruby. But there’s nothing to be nervous about. They’re going to love you, and I’ll see you at three.”

She dips her chin in a single nod. “Okay,” she exhales. “Three.”

Touching my mouth to hers again, I begrudgingly release her. It takes every ounce of my self-control to walk away from her and into the bathroom to shower. I don’t want to wash her scent off my body. I wish I could carry it around all day long, but I need the splash of water to wake me up.

Once I’ve rinsed off, I step back into the bedroom and flick my gaze back to the bed. She’s fast asleep. Fucking beautiful. That’s how I leave her. Sleeping peacefully, gorgeously, and sated.

TWENTY-FOUR

RUBY

The entire day I’m preoccupied with what is going to happen this evening, and now I’m standing in front of the practice arena, wondering why I didn’t cancel earlier. I picked up my phone to do just that about a dozen times throughout the day, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

Liam was so excited to have me come, and I just couldn’t stand the thought of hurting his feelings or upsetting him, so here I am. But being here very much feels like a mistake. I’m not sure why.

There’s no real reason other than I know I’m not going to fit in with his friends. Mainly because I don’t fit in with anyone. I’m not even sure why Liam is attracted to me himself. I’m frozen in my place, unsure if I should reach for the door, wait here for him to come out, or run back to my car and race home.

It’s a conundrum of sorts.

I take one step backward, my body ready to flee, when the door opens and out walks Liam. He’s wearing the biggest smile on his face, and for a moment, I forget why I was going to run. But then several other tall, handsome hockey players walk out behind him, and I remember.

He doesn’t say anything immediately. I watch as he takes one step toward me, then another. Before I realize what’s happening, he wraps an arm around my waist, hauls me against his chest, and crashes his lips against mine.

This kiss is hard and fast, but not deep. He doesn’t taste my lips with his tongue, even though I wish he would. Instead, he rests his forehead against mine, and I hear him murmur just loud enough for only me.

“I’m glad you came. Missed you today. Let’s eat so that later we can enjoy our dessert.”

Goose bumps break out over my flesh at the mention of dessert, because I know exactly what he means. The way it drips with innuendo makes me wonder if he can skip this early dinner and maybe head straight for that dessert.

“Food first, I want you to meet everyone,” he murmurs as he steps back.

His arm falls from around my waist, and then his fingers lace with mine before he tugs me gently and begins to walk straight for his pickup truck. I’m forced to follow behind him, and because his gait is so long, I’m half jogging.

He stops at the side of his truck, releasing my hand before pulling open the door. He looks back at me over his shoulder. His eyes are dancing as he takes me in. I don’t understand how or why he wants anything to do with me. But he’s standing here smiling, holding the door open for me and waiting for me to climb up inside his truck.

“Ready?” He asks.

“Ready,” I lie.