Page 40 of Player For Hire

I had a feeling the lessons would do even more damage to me. Evidently, I was a glutton for punishment.

CHAPTER 12

NAOMI

I fell back on the sheets of his huge bed. My body felt loose and glorious.

Two orgasms.

That was so wild to me as I generally was happy to have one—even if I was on my own. Seemed stupid to keep going when I usually just used masturbation as a way to shut off my brain when I couldn’t sleep. Just a nice little pop and then some blissful sleep.

But this was so much more.

My body felt like silly putty, and I was pretty sure I would have slid onto the floor in a heap if he hadn’t picked me up. I stretched my arms up over my head and arched my back. And he hadn’t even taken my clothes off.

This was the best idea ever.

I rolled over and found his pillow, pressing my face into it to get his scent. I tucked it under my cheek and resisted the urge to slide right into sleep. If this was the way people went to sleep, I could see why they’d pass out after sex all the time. With Trent, I’d usually been more annoyed and...well, itchy for a lack of better word.

As if I was missing something.

And evidently, I so was.

The low pulse of music surrounded the bed and hummed through the room. The shower was still running, so he must have put his music on. The smoky tones of Hozier didn’t quite match the sunny day, but it was soothing.

His apartment was much smaller than ours. It was masculine and neat, which I appreciated. His bookcase was a natural way to close off this space. It felt almost like a nest. Distantly, I wondered how many women had been in this bed. Women who knew the score and wanted fun, maybe even women he’d dated.

My imagination took a turn beyond the post work pick-up, intrigued rather than annoyed. What must it be like to be secure enough in yourself enough to go back with someone from a bar? I could see the appeal of Colder. He was smart and kind around the eyes. I might not have been overly up on the dating scene, but I could tell a slick asshole from a flirt.

Like that other bartender.

Immediate ick factor—one that Colder didn’t have.

He could, I imagined. And I filed that away for future perusing for creating a character. Novak, the main male character of my story, had a few fellow dragon shifters in his milieu. I loved reading series and had instinctively added other people that could possibly get their own story.

Maybe one could be like Colder, unencumbered and happy to be alone even though he needed to continue the species. He often thought to leave that job to his brothers and friends.

Just as I was about to slide off the bed and go to get my coat, which held my phone and notes app, Colder appeared at the edge of the living area. He had on another pair of shorts, but no shirt.

Water still dotted his chest and shoulders, and his blond hair was dark and wet.

Good grief, he was unnaturally hot. So many muscles I couldn’t name, but all of them were deliciously firm. Even his feet were sexy. Where was the justice there?

“You’re still here.”

“Still here.” I sat up, not sure where to put my hands and arms. I wasn’t really the kind of girl who hung out in her underwear. I tugged his pillow in front of me and hugged it.

“None of that.” He walked in and knelt on the bed, then he tugged the pillow away and tossed it at the top of the bed. “You’re gorgeous and I want to see every inch of you.”

“What’s my next lesson?”

“Feminine power.” His dimple popped as he crawled closer.

I scooted back until I hit the headboard.

He curled his arm around my back and slid me back down. “First thing you need to do is get comfortable with my body. I’m much bigger than you are, but I’d never hurt you. All you need to do is say stop and I’ll be hands off. Not all guys are great at that, unfortunately, but you’re safe with me.”

“Just because you say?”