Players (Lessons by Loki) (10 page)

She stared at him for a long
, silent moment. Her face was shadowed yet her eyes gleamed. “Was that a question?”

He chuckled, amused by her stubbornness. “Will you please have lunch with me tomorrow?
You still have Saturdays off, don’t you?”

“I do and I will, but only if we go to a restaurant. I’m not going to be alone with you.”

He ran the backs of his fingers down the side of her face. “Don’t trust yourself to be alone with me? I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“It’s a restaurant or nothing.”

“Fine. I’ll pick you up at 12:30, dress casually.” He leaned down to kiss her, but she rotated the handle and hurried inside.

Katie closed the door and pressed her back against the cool wood. What the hell had she gotten herself into? Her skin still tingled and she couldn’t rid her mind of the overwhelming sensations they’d unleashed inside her.

“I am such a slut,” she whispered under her breath as she locked the front door then rushed
upstairs and closed herself in her bedroom. She shed the dress and donned an oversized sleep shirt. Then she dug a fresh pair of panties out of her dresser and pulled them on. As if changing her cloths could erase what she’d allowed them to do. No. She’d always tried to be honest with herself, so she wouldn’t hide behind denials now. She hadn’t just “allowed” them to do anything. She’d encouraged them, and actively participated in the hedonistic activities.

If her mother were still alive, she’d be horrified. Her mother had been a proper Southern lady
. She baked pies from scratch and went to church every Sunday morning. She’d been kind and loving and faultlessly reserved. The perfect homemaker and loyal wife. Her only flaw had been being attracted to her exact opposite.

Katie
had gotten her wild streak from her fathers. Both of the men in her mother’s life had been consummate bad boys, known for their hot tempers and rebellious ways. Katie had seen pictures of her mother’s first husband, Katie’s biological father, but she didn’t remember him. He’d been killed in a boating accident when she was three. Her stepfather, the man she considered her real father, was still alive and raising hell in Tennessee.

So maybe Katie’s attraction to sexually aggressive men wasn’t all that surprising. Despite her stepfather’s affinity for trouble, he’d doted on and provided for his wife and adopted daughter. Katie had seen firsthand that a passionate nature—and a tendency to rebel
against conformity—didn’t compromise a man’s ability to be a good husband and father.

And of course, there was her grandmother, the quintessential free spirit—in this world and the next. Gran refused to be bound by society’s rules or her family’s expectations. She’d encouraged Katie to follow her heart, even when the path her heart chose was unconventional.

Katie pulled back the covers, turned off the lights, and crawled into bed. Still, she was much too troubled to fall sleep. Over and over she’d featured Chase and Josiah in her fantasies, but never once had she actually thought she’d experience the things she dreamed about.

They were just playing with her! She could not allow herself to forget
she meant nothing to either of them. But it was damn hard to remember when their hands and mouths made her feel as if she were the most important woman in the world.

She’d expected Loki to be waiting for her so they could refine their strategy. More than that, she just needed someone to
help her untangle her knotted-up feelings.

“I haven’t forgotten about you
,” Loki assured, his voice announcing his impending arrival. He flashed into sight and sat down on the side of her bed. “I hung around to see what they’d have to say when Josiah returned.”

“Good idea. What’d they say?”

“I’m not sure I should tell you.”

“Oh come on.” Katie s
at up and stuffed a pillow behind her back. Loki was backlit by moonlight, so his expression was mostly lost in shadow. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am on your side, which is why I hesitate.” He ran one of his hands through his shaggy hair
reestablishing its careless style. “Chase wanted to call off the bet. He thinks Josiah is falling for you.”

Her heart gave a traitorous leap at the possibility.
“And what do you think?” How could she punish Josiah if she fell under his spell?

“I think you’re trying to catch your balance on a
very slippery slope.”

She sighed. “That’s poetic, but what does it mean? Should I let them off the hook? Did Josiah agree to end the competition?”

“He seemed as if he’d agree, but then he…reconsidered.”

Again, she wasn’t quite sure what
to do with the information. “What made him change his mind?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Weren’t you reading his mind? And if not, why not?”

Her impatience set Loki in motion. He stood and began pac
ing beside the bed. “I only sense what’s there. Josiah isn’t sure why he wants to continue, so all I could feel were conflicting emotions.”

Josiah had
certainly left her feeling jumbled and conflicted. It was only fair that he be just as confused. “I promised to have lunch with him tomorrow. Should I cancel?”

“That’s up to you.”

“Well, how did they leave it? Is the bet still on?”

“It is, but I think you need to change tactics.” He paused beside her, his gaze shimmering. “You’re too attracted t
o Josiah to pretend indifference. You want him and he knows it, so we need to use that intensity.”

“
If I sleep with him, I’ll be just like all the others.”

Loki grinned, his even white teeth visible despite the lack of light. “I’m not saying you should give in completely. I think you should ask for a whole lot more of what they gave you tonight.”

“I really do love oral sex, but it always leaves me ready for the real thing.”

“You’re being too literal. You need to encourage other sensual encounters. Touch him, even go down on him, but always pull back when he’s ready for the
‘real thing’.”

“The
re’s a phrase for people like that. They’re called a cock tease.” She shook her head. “I’m not comfortable with that strategy.”

“All right, how about if you ask him to tutor you. Tell him you’ve always been curious about less
mainstream forms of pleasure, but your lovers have always been too straight-laced to let you play. Trust me, Josiah will eat it up, figuratively and literally. Didn’t he say as much on your doorstep? He knows you’re ready to play with the fire and he wants to make sure you don’t get burned.”

The now familiar ache
erupted between her thighs. Just thinking about all the things Josiah could teach her made her edgy. “And how will any of that teach him not to screw with people’s emotions?”

“Because as soon as it becomes obvious that he’s really into you, you’ll thank him for the lessons and go off to find someone
worthy
of your affection.”

She scrubbed her face with both
hands, not at all sure she could be that cruel. “But I really like him, Loki. How do I just turn that off?”

“He’s charming and he’s intense, but he’s a
heartless bastard.” He sat back down and reached for her hand. “I think this will help you decide.”

Her s
kull caught fire and images exploded within her mind. She saw Josiah and his lovers, men, women, and every conceivable combination of the two. He gave and received physical pleasure, but only with Chase did Josiah offer any portion of his soul. And even with Chase, Josiah was guarded, emotionally distant. The parade of naked flesh went on and on. Katie felt cold, hollow. What had happened that left him so…broken?

“Enough,” she hissed. “I’ve seen more than enough.” She shuddered, feeling dirty and sad. “
You weren’t exaggerating. None of them meant anything to him.”

“H
e seems to have feelings for you, which makes you uniquely qualified to teach him this lesson. He deserves this, Katie. No, he
needs
it.”

There was
a significance in his words that she didn’t understand. She sighed. Loki was right. This lesson was long overdue.

B
ut what about her? How could she break Josiah’s heart without risking her own?

“I’ll help you.” Loki reached for her hand again, only this time he sent warmth and encouragement flowing through her. “Each time pleasure blinds you, I’ll help you see his true nature. I’ll make sure you’re protected from his lesson
s.”

“Then I’ll
ask him tomorrow at lunch.” She slipped her hand out of his, ready to be alone with her troubled thought.

“Are you all right?
I know this will take you deeper than you’d originally thought to go.”

“I’m
fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He seemed reluctant to leave, so she stressed, “And you really do need to leave this time. I want some time alone.”

“
Understood.” He winked and started to fade from view.

“Promise.”

He lingered for a moment, transparent yet still there. “I will not return until tomorrow unless you call out to me. Rest well.”

Loki wasn’t known for his honesty, yet he seemed sincere. Besides, she had no real choice but to trust him. Even if he hung around, what was she worried about?
That he’d see her naked? That ship had sailed and then some. He’d watched her abandon herself to the ruthless skill of two master seducers—and enjoy every minute of it!

S
he rolled to her side and tucked her hand under her cheek, fighting back a wistful smile. It sucked. She finally found a man, make that men, who made her seriously consider risking her heart again. One was hopelessly in love with his ex-girlfriend and the other had a lot in common with the Tin Man from the
Wizard of Oz
.

She couldn’t rid her mind of all those faces, all those bodies.
Josiah had fucked them all, used them for physical gratification while he’d felt absolutely nothing but lust. Tears stung her eyes and she stubbornly blinked them back. Something had to have made him like this. No one was that cold without a damn good reason.

Part of her needed to
discover the cause of his emotional paralysis. Who or what had wounded him so deeply? But common sense held her back. The more she knew about his past, the less likely she’d be to play her part. Regardless of what had brought him to this point, Josiah had to stop hurting people. And like it or not, she was the instrument Loki intended to use to open Josiah’s eyes to all that pain.

* * * * *

The 16
th
Street Mall was always bustling with activity and today was no exception. Josiah had knocked on Katie’s front door promptly at twelve thirty and driven her downtown. He pulled into a parking garage and they walked two blocks to the Rialto Café. They were greeted by a smiling hostess who confirmed their reservation and then escorted them to a table near the front of the restaurant. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered an unobstructed view of the activity on the outdoor mall.

“Is a buffet al
l right?” Josiah asked as the hostess left. “I’d forgotten they do brunch on the weekends.”

“Hey, endless
mimosas.” She pointed to the advertisement standing on the middle of the table. “I’m in.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I hope you’re not
inferring that I’ve driven you to drink.”

“I’m not much of a drinker, but I enjoy an occasional
mimosa. Or two,” she added with a guilty smile.

“And I’ll do my best to provide you with the things you enjoy.” His casual words took on a sensual undertone as he gazed into her eyes. His eyes were so dark it was hard to distinguish between the irises and pupils. Still, they were incredibly reflective and full of
mischief at the moment.

“Or the things I’m fond of?” Heat spread up her neck, so she turned her head
and looked out the window. Automobiles weren’t allowed on this portion of 16
th
Street, encouraging shoppers and sightseers to stroll at leisure or hop on one of the frequent shuttles. It created a relaxed yet active environment that Katie had always enjoyed.

He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “I won’t allow you to regret last night. It was an open, honest exchange between three consenting adults.”

She looked around, concerned that his comment would be overheard, but everyone seemed engrossed in their own conversations. “I’ve never done anything like that before.” She dropped her voice to just above a whisper.

“I know.
”

The waitress arrived and took their drink orders, momentarily postponing their conversation.

It had only taken a few minutes to reach downtown, but they’d exhausted the expected small talk about jobs, movies and the weather. She wanted to know how long he and Chase had been lovers and if they’d ever attempted to include Vanessa in their intimate encounters. But opening the door to those sorts of questions would give him permission to ask about her sex life and she wasn’t sure she was ready to revisit her relationship with Dillon.