Hooked on the Game (The Sterling Shore Series #1) (21 page)

More of my tears heat my cheeks as they trail free, but I'm paralyzed.  I can't move to wipe them away, because he's shocked me into a frozen state.  I should say something, probably, but I can't.  What in the hell could I possibly say?

He takes another step, and then another, until at last he's close enough to touch me.  And he does.  He tilts my head up with one hand, and then cradles it, while his other hand moves to be at my waist.

"You were all I wanted to see when Granddad went into the hospital, and you came. Even after all I did, you came.  After the way I treated you, you risked it all to help me.  I lost more than my girlfriend when I pushed you away.  I lost the only friend I had ever made on my own.  I don't want to lose you, Raya.  I can't.  I'm not hooked on the game anymore.  I'm simply hooked on you.  I love you," he murmurs softly, leaning down and brushing his lips against mine.

His confession of love melts every bit of lingering strength I have, and my arms fly up around his neck to pull him down to me, deepening the soft kiss.  His daring tongue sweeps in, and my fingers thread through his hair when I start losing what little control I have.

I hear the front door open and shut, a car crank and pull out of the driveway, and then I feel Kade's smile.  We're all alone.  Dad apparently knew what was about to happen.

Kade jerks open the button on my shorts, and I don't waste any time pushing them down, letting them take my panties with them.  He rips me up, and my legs wrap around his waist as his glorious tongue ring makes me think back to all the delicious things he can do.

The only sounds in the room are our torrid moans and clothes dropping.  At last, we're both naked, but still entangled as he presses my back against the wall.  Without warning, he's suddenly buried inside me, and I gasp as the feel of his bare erection makes my eyes roll back in my head.

"Fuck," he hisses, tugging at my lower lip with his teeth, and then he starts moving when he needs more.

His unkempt, ravenous strokes start pushing me forth, making me reach for that peak he loves to push me over.  I kiss him almost desperately, not caring how loud I get as he owns my body with his.  He pulls back just enough each time to slam back into me, pushing me against the wall each time with a
thump.

I claw at his shoulders when I feel the tightening in my stomach.  My legs reflexively clench tighter to his waist, telling him I'm close, and he growls low in his throat as his motions quicken.  A pathetic whimper comes out before my ungodly scream that doesn't even sound like me, and Kade surges in hard one last time as we both fall over that glorious edge.

He pulls me away from the wall as we attempt to kiss, but we have to give up on that endeavor when our need for oxygen wins out.  Instead, he presses his forehead against mine as we both form a panting melody.

He crashes to the bed with me still in his arms, and he pulls me to him as he cradles my body against his.  "I'm glad your dad left," he chuckles out before kissing my forehead.

I smile for so many reasons, not just what he said, and I snuggle as close to him as I can get.

"Me too."

"I meant it, Raya.  I love you.  I'm sorry I didn't say it the second you told me.  I was... scared.  That doesn't mean I didn't feel it.  Christ, I felt it.  I was... well, an idiot."

My grin only grows as I start kissing along the side of his neck.

"I love you," I murmur softly, pushing my leg over his waist.

"Then we have a lot of making up left to do," he says with a salacious grin before his lips claim mine.  "But, first things first," he adds while drawing back.

He jumps up, pulls on his boxers, and before I can even register his actions, he's jogging down my stairs.  I hear the door open and close, and I sit up, pulling the sheet over my bare body.  What's he doing?

After a few seconds, I hear the car door shut and then the front door opens and shuts again before I hear the sound of his feet start rushing back toward me.

When my door opens, he's wearing a smile and carrying a crate.  My crate.  My wine crate.

"I left that on purpose," I murmur softly.  "It should stay in your family."

He shakes his head as he opens the top, and I look over to see two bottles packed very safely inside.

"Raya, Granddad thought you were family.  I'm sure he still does.  This is yours.  He'd kick my ass if I kept it."

I almost smile at that thought.  It'd be nice if Thomas could wake up and kick his ass.

"This one is mine.  And I've been saving it for a very special day."

My eyes widen when he pulls out two wine glasses from the same crate.  I almost gasp when he pulls out a corkscrew.  He can't... no.

"Kade, don't be ridiculous.  I can't drink that wine, and you can't-"

Before I know what's going on, he's already pulled out the cork, making it too late.

"Have you lost your mind?  What are you doing?" I gush.

"Putting away the corkscrew," he says while tossing the pigtail looking tool into the crate.  Smartass.  "Now I'm pouring our wine."

His eyes glisten with a teasing hue as he pours the first glass.

"Kade, this wine-"

"Was meant for something special.  I happen to think telling a girl I love her for the first time in my life is pretty monumental.  So, you'll drink my wine with me and you'll enjoy every sip."

Tears fill up in my eyes.  Him doing this... it says more than the words.  I know how special that bottle of wine is to him, and it almost leaves me a mushy puddle at his feet.

He hands me mine, and he clanks the side of my glass with his before kissing me softly.  I almost lick my lips in anticipation as the first drop of the wine graces my mouth, and an involuntary moan comes out when I fall in love with a damn drink.

I'm not sure when my eyes closed, but when I open them, Kade is smiling, staring at me.

"Is it good?" he asks, leaning over to kiss my shoulder.

Good,
I scoff inwardly.  I almost roll my eyes.  It's not good; it's divine.  No mortal should ever have something so smooth, fresh, and completely delicious.

"I think I'm hooked."

Epilogue

Three months later
…

"I'll only be a second," I groan, but I'm unable to stifle my girly grin when Kade pulls me back for another kiss.

"Can't you just quit over the phone?" he pleads, pulling me closer.

"No.  Dane has been so good to me," I mutter against his lips.

He snorts as he pulls back.  "He better not have been too good."

I roll my eyes while letting my lips trail over his neck.  "I think he's gay."

He bursts out laughing, and I tilt my head to the side to question that little outburst.

"Dane Sterling?" he chuckles out.  "Gay?  That's like saying Tag Masters is gay.  Dane is just more discreet in his affairs.  Believe me.  I know.  He used to be best friends with my cousin up until he most likely screwed her and then screwed her over."

I frown.  "Well, he's never said anything out of the way to me, and I should be a big girl and quit face-to-face.  Unless you'd rather find someone else to help you out."

"Uh-uh.  You're not getting out of this.  You are incredible at selling wine, and I don't want to be away from you.  It'll be hard enough to deal with you at college.  Now go quit."

I chuckle and kiss him once more before I head inside.  Dane is talking to one of the new waitresses who is almost dissolving in front of his eyes.

"Dane?" I murmur sweetly, drawing his attention.

"Raya.  It's your day off," he says, confused, dismissing the girl who almost expires.

"I sort of need to talk to you," I mutter uneasily.  Maybe I should have been a coward and done this over the phone.

"You mean you came to tell me you quit," he says evenly, but a smile creeps up when my eyes widen.  "I assumed Kade would haul you off.  You sure that's really what you want?"

He props against the bar while he studies me, as if he expects me to beg for his help to escape.  He really doesn't have a lot of relationship experience - not good relationship experience anyhow.

"Positive.  I love him, and he's paying me double," I say with a wink, which prompts him to roll his eyes.

"Very well, be careful.  I assume the two of you are on your way to his family thing."

I cringe.  I really hope it gets off to a better start than my family cookout.  I should have known better than to take my rich boyfriend around a bunch of heathen cons.

"Yes."

He laughs when he sees my dread, and then he turns to walk away.  "Don't worry, Raya.  Paul makes them behave."

I'm not really all that worried.  I've met most of his family, so it's not like I won't know anyone.

I rush back outside, and Kade sweeps me in his arms before offering me a sweet kiss I'd love to turn into more.

"Behave," he mumbles, even though his body protests.

"You don't mean that," I tease, making him laugh.

He opens my door for me, and he quickly takes his seat behind the wheel before driving us toward his family's house.  Of course... it takes a little longer to get there than we originally expected.

When we arrive, the first familiar face I see is Tag, and he walks toward us while carrying three glasses of champagne.

"And you two are here just in time to see me leave."

"What?" I ask, glancing at my watch.

We're just two hours late.  Totally Kade's fault.

"It's Raya's fault we're late," Kade says, earning a glare from me.

It's not my fault he couldn't wait until later tonight.  He's the one that pulled over on the side of the road, and then pulled in behind the college, and then decided we had to go back to his house one last time after we had left Silk.

Kade smiles at me, and I lose my mock anger.

"Well, anyway, I have to head out.  The girls are drunk.  I don't mess with drunk chicks, so I need to go prowling for someone sober."

"You're prejudice against drunks?" I muse, finding that a little curious.

He laughs while shaking his head.  "I'm prejudiced against taking advantage of a drunk girl.  I've got morals, Raya.  Don't act so surprised."

I actually am a little surprised, but judging by the hurt in his expression, I shouldn't admit that.

"Well, have fun stalking your prey," I murmur as he claps Kade on the back.

"Always do," he jokes, but I forget all about Tag when Kade's lips find mine, and then his incredible arms wrap around me.

Thomas made some improvement today.  Everyone is celebrating.  He's still breathing on his own, and he wasn't supposed to be.

"Let's skip the party," he murmurs against my lips.  "I'd rather enjoy the night by simply holding you in our room."

Before I can say anything, Billy Prize walks out, seeming pissed on his way to his car.

"Leaving already?" Kade drawls, not really seeming to care.  I really wish I knew why everyone seems to hate Billy.  He's nice enough.

"Yeah.  Ash has a problem I'm about to deal with once and for all," he growls.

He rips the door open on his BMW and drives away before Kade can say anything else.

"I don't think she's real," Kade says with a shrug, prompting me to chuckle.

I just lean into him as we make our way toward the back where everyone is laughing and joking around.  A poker table is set up, and Paul waves us over.

"You two up for a game?  Billy and Tag just left, so we have two open spots."

I start to object, when Kade says, "Deal us in."

I glare at him, but he shrugs.  "It's not like they don't know what they're getting themselves into."

I roll my eyes as he leads me over to the table.

"Kade tells us you're good," Wren says before taking a sip of his beer.

Good?  These people use the word
good
at all the wrong times.

"I'll go ahead and tell you that you won't win.  Not even one hand.  Are you sure you want to play me?"

Paul's laughter climbs free, Wren grins huge, and another guy I haven't met shrugs.

"Let's see what you've got," the unknown guy with sandy blonde hair says.  "I've been playing poker a while.  The name is Rye Clanton."

"Just don't say I didn't warn you," I mutter, grinning, just before placing the first bet of the night.

Kade's soft lips press against my neck as
Rye deals, and I lean into him, relishing the feel of his breath on my skin.  I hope I'm always this hooked.

Every story has two sides.  See Kade's version in Kade's Game (The Sterling Shore Series #1.5), coming this fall.  And learn Tag's story in Tagged & Ashed (The Sterling Shore Series #2), coming this June.

The cunning predator, the willing prey, and a weekend neither of them will be able to forget...
ever
.  Ash Branderwood was told one thing before going to her best friend's brother's wedding - don't get
Tagged.

There's always that one guy you shouldn't want, but you just can't help yourself.  He's going to be horrible for your health, he'll probably break your heart, but he's going to be so much fun while he's doing it. 
Stay away
.  Ash Branderwood can't seem to heed such logic when she meets playboy millionaire Tag Masters.

Weddings always seem to create a false sense of intimacy, but Ash doesn't take that into consideration when she starts fantasizing about the man she can't possibly tame.  She's a good girl... well, good enough.  She's never really taken any chances or done something irrational or foolish.  Tag is just the person to rectify that for her.

Tag has never done anything but take chances.  He never had anything to lose - so he risked it all and built his name up in Sterling Shore.  Meaningless sex is one of his many hobbies, and he's not looking to settle down any time soon.  After all, these are the best years of his life.

But, one look at Ash, and he almost forgets his own name.  And what in the hell is she doing at Wren's wedding with Bity?

Tag is almost furious when he sees Billy Prize brought a girl as stunning as Ash, considering Tag doesn't feel as though Billy deserves such a thing.  He has to have her... at least once... possibly twice.

It was supposed to be a weekend of fun, one she'd remember just long enough to forget.  But she quickly realizes there's one thing for sure... she's never going to be able to forget Tag Masters, only it isn't for reasons one might think.

All hell breaks loose when secrets emerge, but when Ash's life is endangered, Tag has to put aside his own issues to keep her safe.

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