Game of Love (13 page)

He did, and damn if her green eyes weren’t a breath away.

“I’m not running,” she said. She held his gaze. Her voice was serious, strong. But Dex knew better than to fall into her all at once. He’d done that and been burned. This time he had to try to keep his armor intact.

She reached beneath the covers and wrapped her fingers around the length of him. “Mmm.”

His armor didn’t stand much of a chance. Her lips found his stomach again, and she dragged her tongue down his body, then sucked her way lower. Dex closed his eyes again, felt her hands press on his thighs.

“Open your eyes,” she whispered. She locked eyes with him, hovering above him. “I don’t plan on running, Dexy.”

That was more than she’d given him in the past, and he clung to it like a security blanket.

When she lowered her mouth and took him in, he groaned. He’d never last with the promise of staying on her lips and her hot, wet mouth driving his thoughts to her naked body. She dropped lower, licking his balls and pulling a growl from deep within his lungs. In the next breath, she was straddling him, and she slid down upon him.

“Good God, Ellie.” His eyes flew open. “Shit. Condom.” He reached for the box in the drawer but not before she moved expertly up and down every inch of him, drawing him closer and closer to the edge. He grabbed her hips and stilled her. “Don’t move.”

She smiled and fought against his strength.

“Ellie, you’re playing with fire.”

“I’m on the pill.” She pushed against his hands.

“Why didn’t you tell me last night?” He was pressing her hips down, afraid to let her move. He was too close to falling apart.

She shrugged. “Just being careful, I guess. I didn’t want you to think I was some kind of tramp for being on the pill.”

“I could never think that of you.”

“I’ve only been with two guys and we always used condoms. The pill was my backup. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“I always use them. No diseases. I’m clean. But you couldn’t have known that. Why would you chance it with me?”

“I trust you. You’d never put me in danger.” She leaned forward to kiss him, and he stilled her again.

“You seriously cannot move. I’ll lose it.”

Her eyes narrowed with pleasure. She nuzzled into his neck, easing down onto his chest. Her soft breasts pressed against him, and she licked slow circles at the edge of his collarbone, then sucked the sensitive skin.

“Ellie,” he whispered.

Clearly enjoying the control, she curved her lips into a mischievous smile and gyrated her hips as she’d done last night; then she took him in a hungry, deep kiss. Her hair fell like a curtain around them, brushing against his cheek. She arched up and rode him fast and hard, forcefully taking his hands from her hips and cupping them over her breasts. Dex gritted his teeth against the mounting need to come. He sat up, pulling her legs behind him, and rubbed his thumb over her nipple, then took the perfect mound into his mouth. He reached around her and grabbed her ass, helping her efforts.

“Dex,” she whispered. Her eyelashes fluttered, her head fell back, and she grasped his shoulders, calling out an indiscernible cry of pleasure as she tightened around him, drawing out his release. They were chest to chest, Ellie’s body trembling from aftershocks and Dex’s body soaking them up. They crumbled, breathlessly, to the mattress, clinging together like they were afraid of losing each other.

“Who are you and what have you done with my Ellie?” He stroked her hair, unable to calm the worry that she still might leave.

“I think she’s working on sticking around.”

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Ellie left her second interview feeling even more disheartened about finding a job, but at the same time she was counting her blessings. Her bank card had arrived safely and the thief hadn't accessed her account. She’d been out only the cost of her cheap purse and wallet and forty bucks in cash. Not that she didn’t need the cash, but she wasn’t going to let anything steal the euphoria of the evening and the morning she and Dex had shared. She knew better than anyone that she couldn’t change the past. She could only focus on the future. And at that very moment, she was working hard to convince herself that Dex could be part of her future.

She’d always known that she loved him, but when they became one, in that first second of intimacy, she’d felt as though her entire world was becoming whole. She’d never particularly enjoyed sex with the few men she’d been with, and since girls in college had always talked about how great sex was, she’d figured it was her. That she really was incapable of enjoying intimacy. But with Dex, she didn’t have to try. The emotions she had toward him were as real as the ground beneath her feet. And while it scared her, it also gave her hope.

She texted Dex, as much to show herself that she could move forward as to bring a smile to his lips.

How’d your interviews go?
He’d had two podcast interviews to hype his upcoming release, and she knew he’d do great. Dex always did well. When he set his sights on something, he accomplished it. He was a strong, honest, driven, and good man. Now she knew just how
oh so good
he really was. Her phone vibrated.

Great. You?

She texted quickly before flagging down a taxi.
Okay, but same thing as last time. Kids don’t seem to be the priority. Keeping funding is the priority.
She didn’t like how negative that sounded, so she deleted it and texted instead,
Okay
.
I have another one Thursday
.

When he texted back, she stared at it for a long time.
Having lunch with Siena and my mom. Are u sure u can’t join us?

Ellie wanted to make an effort with Dex, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to face his family. His family was close. It was one of the things she loved about them. Surely they knew how much she’d hurt him in the past. How could they ever trust her with Dex? How could Dex ever trust her with his heart? How could she ever trust herself with him? Panic prickled her limbs. She took a deep breath and clutched her phone in her palm. If she was ever going to move forward with Dex, she had to take a step.

Tomorrow. I’ll take the step tomorrow
. First she needed to work on herself. Maybe it was her turn to make a difference in someone’s life. Maybe Dex was right to believe in her.

She texted him back before heading into town.
Want to check out ops at Dept of Ed for grants. Catch up after?

He texted back a few minutes later
. Meet at home 2 nite?

Home
. And just like that, she’d fallen back into the safety of him.

DEX WALKED INTO the café and scanned the tables. Joanie Remington rose to her feet and opened her arms. The wide sleeves of her colorful bohemian top hung loosely like the sleeves of a robe and her skirt nearly swept the floor.

“Please don’t tell me that you only have twenty minutes.” Despite her stern words, the smile on her lips told Dex that his mother missed him. Her gray hair flowed in thick natural waves over her shoulders and down her back. At five foot eight, she stood nearly shoulder to shoulder with Siena, who had also risen from her seat to greet Dex.

“Hi, Mom. Sorry I’ve been so busy lately. You know how releases are.”

“That I do. They’re like giving birth. Painful and exhilarating,” his mother said.

He hugged Siena and tugged playfully at her long brown hair. He’d never get used to men ogling his sister, and in her boot-cut jeans, white blouse, and colorful necklaces, she had at least four sets of male eyes looking her way.

“Sit down before the ogling husbands start getting in trouble,” he teased.

Siena rolled her eyes. “Why do you look so happy?”

“What?” Dex pulled out a chair and sat down. They were in a quiet corner of the restaurant. He could always count on his mother to find the perfect spot to be able to talk. That was her thing. Talking. She claimed to be able to look into her children’s eyes and see through to their…hell, he didn’t know what, but she always knew if they were telling her the truth or not.

“I don’t know. Usually you’ve got that nonplussed, I’d-rather-have-my-nose-in-a-computer look, but today you look happy.” Siena was two minutes younger than Dex, and at five foot nine and thin as a rail, with naturally full breasts—a combination as rare as it was beautiful—she had taken the modeling world by surprise at a very young age and was now one of New York’s most sought after models.

Getting into a discussion about his private life—the one that had him confused as hell—was not something he was up for. He ignored Siena’s comment.

“Dex, tell me how you are.” His mother leaned forward. “Every time I call, I get your voicemail or you’re in a meeting. What’s happening with that other company? I heard you were releasing on the same day as them. Is that smart? Didn’t you once tell me it wasn’t the best path to take?”

“You really do listen to everything we say,” he teased.

“I’m your mother. Shouldn’t I?” She arched a brow.

“I guess. Yeah, we’re going out the same day. I don’t want to play with my fans’ expectations. They expect the product, and I want to deliver. We’ve been working on this for three years. Delaying is just a tactic, and not one I want to play with.” He ran his hand through his hair and draped an arm across the back of the chair, thinking of Ellie.

Siena’s phone vibrated and she scooped it off the table and read it. “Oh, yes!”

“What?” her mother asked.

Siena texted as she spoke. “Remember my friend Jordan? The makeup artist? She just texted and said they’re going to move forward with that article on Sage sometime this year. But she doesn’t know when.”

“Why is a makeup artist interviewing Sage?” Dex asked.

“No.” Siena swatted the air, then finished texting. “There’s a gallery that’s hosting a show for him and Mom, and Jordan has been talking to one of the mags that she does some makeup work for about doing an interview. I don’t have all the details, but it sounds like it’s a good thing.”

“Mom?” Dex asked. “You’re doing a show with Sage?”

“Apparently so. I’m not sure why they want me to do it, but it’s a family theme featuring a few different artists.” His mother flagged down the waitress. “It should be fun. If nothing else, it’ll give me time with Sage and your father a chance to put on his Sunday best and be proud of us. You know how he likes that.”

They ordered lunch, and Dex texted Ellie under the table.
Thinking of you. D.
He set the phone on the table.

“Who are you texting?” Siena asked.

“Mitch,” he lied.

“I love Mitch,” she said with a dreamy look in her eyes. “He’s so…not like everyone else.”

“He hasn’t had a date in a long time. Maybe you should hook up with him.” Dex raised his brows in quick succession.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Siena said. “Besides, I think Regina has a thing for him.”

“Maybe in Mitch’s fantasies. You’re really out of touch with them.” He laughed.

His phone vibrated, and Siena snagged it before he could. She read the text and held the phone to her chest, her eyes wide, a smile on her lips. “Well, well, well. Who were we texting? Sure doesn’t look like Mitch.”

“Siena.” He reached across the table and Siena leaned back with his phone.

Their mother looked at them and shook her head. “Siena, give your brother his phone.”

“Who’s Ellie?” she asked.

His mother caught his gaze. “Ellie?”

“Ellie,” Siena repeated. “Dexy said,
Thinking of you
, and Ellie said,
Me too, you
.”

“Ellie.” His mother raised her eyebrows. “I haven’t heard that name in years."

Dex reached across the table and yanked his phone from Siena’s hands. He texted back,
Will text after lunch. Xox.
Then he shoved his phone into his pocket. He’d worn a white-and-blue-pinstriped button-down shirt, untucked, with the arms folded up to the elbows. Dex leaned back in his chair again and knew by the annoyed expression on Siena’s face that he appeared too relaxed for her to enjoy teasing him.

The waitress brought their lunches, and Dex took a big bite of his turkey sandwich, hoping they’d drop the conversation.

“Dex, Ellie?” His mother folded her hands on the table and watched him chew.

When he was done, he let out a breath and ran his hand through his hair again and said, “Ellie Parker.”

“Ellie Parker. Ellie Parker.” Siena tapped her chin. “Oh my God. Ellie Parker? The foster girl?”

“She’s not
the foster girl
. That’s a really asshole thing to say.” Dex felt the muscles in his neck tighten.

“Well, excuse me.” Siena poked at her salad with her fork.

“Dex, isn’t she the girl who broke your heart?” his mother asked.

I’m gonna kill Sage
. “The one and only,” he admitted. He didn’t even try to make up excuses for Ellie or lie to his mother. Ellie had hurt him, and for all he knew, she’d hurt him again, but he was willing to chance it. He respected his mother’s opinion, and if Sage felt she needed to know about what had happened a few years back, then he had to have had a good reason—although that didn’t dampen Dex’s annoyance at Sage for not telling him. Siena? She’d always be his little sister—even if only two minutes younger—and along with that came the innate ability to ignore her opinions.

“Wait a second. Dex, that’s the light in your eyes.” Siena looked at their mother with her mouth set in a perfect “O.” “Is she here? Are you seeing her?”

“Siena, leave him be for a minute.” His mother looked at him and tilted her head.

“Really? Since when do I have to report to you two about my dating life?” He took another bite of his sandwich.

“Well, considering you don’t usually have much of a dating life, I think it’s only fair that you share the dirty details,” Siena said before plucking a cherry tomato from her plate and popping it into her mouth.

“Dexy, as I recall, you were really taken with her for a very long time.” His mother reached across the table and touched his hand. “You’re a smart man with an enormous heart. Tread carefully, sweetie, okay?”

“Taken with her? Just because they were friends as kids?” Siena asked.