Authors: Missy Johnson
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Contemporary Women, #New Adult
Resist (6 page)
Chapter Eight
Charlotte
We move around the thick velvet curtains that separate this section from the main room. I’m surprised to see a small bar, complete with plush sofas and small round tables. It’s almost like a private area.
Kasey comes into view. Her brown eyes dart to Jax. Surprise registers on her face, then hurt. I shift uncomfortably, unable to shake the feeling that I’m getting involved in something I really don’t want to.
“I didn’t realize you came with someone,” she says, eyeing me accusingly as she looks me over.
“Relax, Kase. This is a friend, Charlotte. I thought you two might hit it off.”
Kasey doesn’t look convinced, but she steps forward, her arms crossed over her chest, her lips formed into a pout. She runs a hand through her wavy, auburn hair.
“I just thought you wanted to be alone with me.”
He walks over to her, tilting her face up to his. “And I thought you wanted to play like the adults play. What happened to the woman who was so excited to peek into my life?” he asks, his voice mocking.
I look away as his lips meet hers. Guilt rushes through me. What am I doing here? What the hell is wrong with me that I’m willing to mess with this poor girl just for a fucking story?
It’s okay. He promised he wouldn’t hurt her.
I stifle a laugh. Why should his promise mean
anything
to me?
“Now come over here so I can introduce you,” he says, taking her by the hand. He leads her over to me, his fingers trailing down her bare back.
I can see the uncertainty in her eyes and my stomach lurches.
“Kasey, this is my friend Charlotte.”
“Hey,” I smile. I reach out and take her other hand as she smiles back at me. Jaxon stands behind her. The hairs on my neck prickle as I hear the sound of her dress zipper lowering. She allows him to lower her dress until it falls to the ground at her feet. She steps out of it and closer to me. All of a sudden the shy, awkward girl is gone. She’s like a completely different person as she wraps her arm around my neck, bringing her lips to mine. It’s like it suddenly clicked for her what he wants, and it’s obvious she’d do anything to please him.
I kiss her back, shocked at how different her mouth feels. Her lips are much softer than any guys’ I’ve kissed. My hands move around her waist as I feel myself falling into the rhythm of the kiss. Her fingers creep through my hair as my hands rush to undo the clasp of her bra.
I’m so caught up in the moment that I’ve almost forgotten Jaxon is there, until I feel his hand graze my ass. Along with the realization comes the guilt about what I’m doing.
Is this really me? I’m selling my soul to the devil.
I’m better than this…aren’t I? Just as I’m about to pull away I become aware that we are not alone.
“Get the fuck away from her.”
Kasey jumps back, her eyes wide as they fixate on the man standing behind us. I study the man, trying to figure out who he is. He’s older than Jax, with silvery gray hair and steely dark eyes.
“Daddy!” Kasey exclaims, scrambling for her dress. “What are you doing?” She gasps as she attempts to cover herself. I note the smirk on Jax’s face and I just know that he is somehow responsible for this.
“Get dressed and get out of here, Kasey,” he growls, turning to Jaxon. “What the fuck are you playing at? I told you, stay the fuck away from my daughter.”
“I would, but she obviously can’t keep away from me.” Jax narrows his eyes and takes a menacing step toward him. “Consider this a warning, Ryan. Next time I won’t be so nice.”
“A warning?” Ryan laughs, throwing his hands up. “You’re fucking insane, because I have no idea what the hell you want from me.”
“It’s simple,” Jax begins. “I want you to resign from my company. Give up your share. Then I might leave you the fuck alone.”
“The hell I’m going to do that,” he retorts, shaking his head in disbelief. “You can’t get rid of me, Jax, so don’t even bother. Why the hell would I give you everything I’ve worked for? Do everyone a favor and leave the past in the fucking past.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Jax sneers, narrowing his eyes. I jump at the venom in his voice. “This company was my father’s life. You were too busy fucking his
wife
to do your job back then. Maybe what I should do is tell the police everything I know about that night.”
“You think you’re the only one who knows things, Murphy? I know plenty that could ruin you.” He pauses and lets out a low chuckle. “You want a war, Murphy? You’ve fucking got one.”
My heart pounds. Is
that
was this is about? Ryan sleeping with Jax’s mother?
No, it has to be more than that
. What did Ryan do to him that would make him want to go to any length to ruin him?
Jaxon takes a step back and takes my hand, briskly strolling past the crowd that has gathered. We walk outside, the cold air hitting my face as he marches me over to the car.
“Have you ever ruined someone’s life, Charlotte? Completely undone everything they’ve worked hard to build? Crushed them so all that remains is a hapless shell of the person they used to be?”
His voice is so cold it sends shivers down my spine. What the hell is wrong with this guy? I shake my head, my eyes wide, and he laughs.
“No? Well, you’re about to help me do just that.”
End of Volume One. Volume Two will release 23
rd
December, 2014.
Other books by Missy Johnson
See full backlist, links and full blurbs at
Wildcard: A three part serial (see over page for chapter one)
Has the bad boy of tennis finally met his match?
Volume One:
http://amzn.com/B00MR2MK98
Always You
A sweet student/teacher romance that will make you appreciate love.
Wicked Innocence
He’s a twenty-five year old rock god who thinks I’m twenty-one. I’m only seventeen…
The Tease Series
Male escort. That got your attention.
Out of Reach (see over for excerpt)
My best friend is dying and I’m in love with his girl.
Provoke
Mace is hiding something. What would you forgive the man you love for?
Wildcard: Volume One excerpt
Chapter One
“Ryder, you’re becoming more well-known for your behaviour off court than your actual career. Do you have anything to comment on that?”
I raise my eyebrows at the reporter. Flashes from cameras are going off everywhere, as you’d expect in a post-match press conference—especially for a game I’d been
very
lucky to win.
“Not sure what you mean there, Stan,” I say, reading his nametag. It’s been less than two minutes, and I’m already sick of where this is going. “I came here to play tennis—that’s it. It’s a damn shame that reporters like yourself having nothing better to do than focus on what I do in my private time.”
“But is it private time when you’re out until three a.m. the night before a big match?” he persists.
I shrug, and wipe my mouth in an attempt to hide my smirk. “Players prepare for matches in different ways. I’m sure for some a good night’s sleep does the trick, but for me, I’ll take an evening of rough and sweaty sex over a quiet night
any
day of the week.” I ignore the glare of my manager, Matt, and nod at the next reporter.
“Ryder, do you think your pre-match actions showed disrespect for your opponent today?”
“How?” I fire back. “I treated the build-up to this match just the same as I would if I were playing Nadal or Federer. You all seem to want to focus on my life outside of the court. Does anyone here have any questions about my actual tennis?”
I cross my arms over my chest as Matt bows his head and sighs. A murmur rises through the crowd before someone puts their hand up. I nod, my eyes locking onto hers. She’s a pretty little thing with long, dark hair and stunning blue eyes. I can tell she’s feisty, and I find myself wondering if that attitude carries over into the bedroom.
“You play the number two ranked player in the world tomorrow, and your fellow countryman, Jason Dillard. Will you be having an early night tonight?” she asks. Her full, red lips curve into a grin, and I can feel myself harden.
I shift in my seat and lean forward, resting my elbows on the table in front of me. “Well, that depends.” I smirk.
“On what?”
“On whether or not you’ll give me your phone number.”
**
“What the hell, Ryder?” Matt groans and drags me out of the room. I’m sure it’s a preventative measure—before I can get myself into any more trouble.
“What?” I protest, a gleam in my eye. One of my favourite hobbies is stirring him up. He makes it so damn easy. “You’re the one who insisted I go up there and answer some questions. I told you I wasn’t feeling it.”
“You’re going to kill me. My other ten clients put together cause half the trouble you do,” he mutters, running a hand through his short hair.
“Yeah, and I probably make you more money than all of them put together,” I smirk.
He glares at me, but he knows I’m right. “You do understand it’s a requirement that you do a post-match press conference? You know, being the
professional
player you are, and all.”
Matt is in his late fifties, and one of the best managers in the world of tennis. He worries too much and always focuses on the negative, but I guess that’s part of what makes him so damn good at his job. He is my complete opposite.
“Oh, calm the fuck down. They love me. Everyone does. I’m the bad boy of tennis, right?” I laugh, not concerned in the slightest by his bad mood. I know he won’t stay mad at me; he never does.
“Yes, but you don’t know when to pull it in,” he says. The frustration in his voice is obvious. “Propositioning a reporter? Not a good move, Ryder.”
I laugh. It might not have been a smart move, but it hadn’t stopped her slipping me her number as I walked through the crowd.
“Settle down, Matt. Go out and watch some tennis or something. Don’t you have any other clients here you can hassle?”
“I feel like I need to watch you,” he grumbles, scowling at me.
I reach up and pat him on the back, a laugh escaping from my lips. As if that would make any difference to my behaviour. “Tell you what: just for you, I’ll head back to the hotel and have an early night, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Just remember, it’s your career you’re fucking with. Not mine.”
I laugh again and walk off, leaving him standing outside the pressroom. He just doesn’t get it. Not many people do. With the exception of my little sister, Hailey, and my training partner, Josh, no one really gets me. This isn’t an act. I’m not trying to impress anyone; it’s just how I am. Why pretend to be someone I’m not?
I love tennis, I really do, but the fact that I’m good at it doesn’t mean I want it to consume my life. I’m smart enough to understand that I was born with a hell of a gift, and I’ve used it to my advantage. Because of it, I’ve built a life for myself and my family that most people could only dream of.
But there are a lot of people who think I’m wasting my talent by not reaching the level I can. I’m the fucking number one ranked player in the world. I have twelve grand slams under my belt, and I’ve lost count of how many titles. How much better can I really get?
That’s not meant to sound cocky, either—though I know I sometimes come across that way. Imagine your life is Monopoly, and that every time you play, you win. There
has
to be a point when you think
why do I keep playing this when I know I’m always going to win?
Where’s the incentive? Where is the drive?
The late nights, the partying—it’s all
my
way of pushing myself, believe it or not. If I can win with the world’s worst hangover, exhausted after God knows how many orgasms, then that’s gotta say something about my natural ability, right?
Leaving the stadium, I
do
go to my hotel—to grab a quick shower and a change my clothes before I pull the hot journalist’s number from the pocket of my jacket. I grin as I punch the digits into my phone and wait for her to answer.
I
know
she will, because they always do.
“Anna speaking.” Just the sound of her voice makes my cock twitch.
“Hello, Anna,” I murmur. I help myself to the small bottle of scotch that sits on top of the fridge, pouring it into a glass along with three cubes of ice.
“Who is this?” Her voice is coy. She asks in such a way that I
know
she knows who it is, but I play along.
“You’re in the habit of handing out your number to random guys, are you?” I chuckle and take a sip of my drink, resting on the arm of the chesterfield sofa that faces the fireplace. “It’s Ryder. I was wondering if you had plans tonight.”
“I do have plans, I’m sorry. But I’m not busy right now,” she adds.
I smile. I know exactly where this is heading.
“I’m staying at the Royal, in room forty-six. Come over and we’ll go out. Or stay in,” I add for effect.
“Okay, give me half an hour and I’ll see you there.”
**
I’m standing in front of the door, half naked, when she walks in. I narrow my eyes, wondering how she got inside. I was sure I locked the door. She grins and holds up a swipe card.
“I convinced them that you had meant to leave a key out for me.”
I shake my head, not sure whether I should be feeling impressed or concerned.
She walks over to me, throwing her bag onto the couch as she passes it. “Are you dressing, or undressing?” she asks me.
I breathe in as her hands run over my bare chest.
Her fingers trail down to my crotch, and she smiles at my erection. “Because I’m really hoping for the latter.”
“You don’t mess around. What if I’m not that type of guy?”
She laughs and shrugs off her jacket. “I think we both know that you are.” She reaches behind her back and unzips her dress. I raise my eyebrows. I’m so fucking turned on by her confidence. She knows what she wants, and how to get it. She’s like a female version of me.
“I’m not interested in dating you, Ryder.” She wraps her arms around my neck. Leaning in, she whispers in my ear, “I’m only interested in
riding
you.”
I smile, my hand creeping around her narrow waist. I pull her toward me and press my mouth hard against hers, caressing the back of her head. My fingers rake through her dark tresses. She smiles and pulls away from me, rolling her tongue over her lips as she reaches behind her back to unclip her bra.
I watch, amused, as she tosses it to the floor. He breasts are perfect, just like the rest of her. They’re round and perky, and I admire them as I run my finger around the outside of her nipple. She smiles, a moan escaping from her lips as my finger trails down the centre of her stomach.
“Were you this wet while you were watching me during the press conference?” I tease her as I trace my finger along her bare pussy. My other hand curves around the back of her neck as I pull her toward me. She exhales, her eyes widening as I plunge two fingers inside of her. She is so fucking wet that my fingers move inside her with ease. Her back arches as I kiss her neck, my throbbing cock pressing against her thigh.
This was supposed to be all about her, but right now all I can think about is being inside her tight, wet pussy. Fuck being a gentleman. I’ll make it all about her for the next one. Turning her around, I position her over the back of the couch. She moans as my fingers continue to tease her. I reach into my pocket and pull out a condom, then I unbuckle my pants and shrug them down.
My cock springs out, hard as fuck, and I’m ready to go. I roll on the condom and push her a little further over the couch, spreading her legs in the process. She’s moaning as I gently touch her arse.
Lining up, I thrust myself inside of her. My fingers grip her shoulder as I push her back against me. She gasps and lifts her leg so it sits on the top of the couch, allowing me to drive even deeper. I close my eyes as my cock slides in and out of her pussy. She’s so damn wet. Grabbing her arm, I spin her around. Her eyes widen as I lift her onto my cock. I turn and slam her back against the wall.
Her thighs clench as she moans. I lift her arms above her head and grip them with one hand, my other hand supporting her weight. I’m so fucking close. I groan, pounding into her as I come. My whole body is shaking and I can’t even think straight. Her body slides down against mine until her feet touch the floor. She’s panting and her cheeks are flushed. I chuckle and reach out, my finger circling her erect nipple. She smiles and pulls me in, her arms wrapping around my neck as she kisses me.
“Holy fuck.” She shakes her head. “Now I see what all the fuss is about.”
I laugh, thinking how wrong it would sound if I said those words to her. But, I’m known for whoring myself around and I’m okay with that. Especially when it lands me great sex with hot journalists.
She sighs again and walks over to the entry, where she picks up her discarded clothes. I smirk, watching her dress.
“I hate to fuck and run, but I have a meeting,” she says as her dress slips down over her nakedness.
I bite my lip as I watch it pass her bare pussy. “I’m feeling used,” I tease. I walk over to the bar fridge and grab a bottle of water.
“I’m sure you’ll cope.” She grins and shoves her underwear into her purse. “I had fun. Call me.”
Volume One:
http://amzn.com/B00MR2MK98