Page 83 of Player For Hire

Then there was a knock on the door.

I rushed to the door, but I took the time to check the peephole—though I really didn’t need to. I opened it and there he was. His hair was a little damp and he smelled of rain and cedar. He was wearing my favorite Colder uniform—lived-in jeans and a Henley that made his shoulders look so freaking broad.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He grinned down at me and lowered to kiss me. He drew me in, and his cedar scent made my head spin.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Lightly, he kissed me again. “Are we back in session?”

I rolled my foot to the side. Brutal honesty was scary, but I really wanted to know how he was feeling. “Maybe.”

“I’ll tell you without the bonds of our lessons, Naomi.”

“No lesson then.”

He slid his arm around me and walked me back inside. “Iona around?”

I shook my head. “Gone for a few days.”

His eyebrow rose. “Good to know.” Then he lifted me. “Legs around me.”

I yelped then I gripped his shoulders.

“I won’t always know what you’re thinking. Sometimes you’ll need to tell me, but you’re usually easy to read.”

I frowned. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not to me. You’re so open and I wouldn’t want that to change for anything. But there are cues that are unique to you, and I learn more every time we’re together.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “There are? Not just because you…” I lifted my chin. There was no denying his talents came from more than three partners over his lifetime, unlike me. “Because you’ve been with a lot of people.”

“Probably not as many as you’re thinking, but yeah, that’s part of it. But only because I pay attention.” He gripped my butt and lifted me up to meet his mouth. “Being a bartender means I read body language. But when you’re into someone, it’s important, no matter what.”

“You’re into me?”

“I’d like to get into you right now, actually.”

I threw my head back with a laugh. “I walked into that.”

“You sure did.” He looked around the apartment. “So this is the how the other half lives?”

“Iona, definitely not me. My place in Chicago is probably half of this size and I paid more than she is for sure. But then again, I was making a much better living.” I linked my fingers at the back of his neck. “You okay with me being a kinda poor author?” His expression turned serious, and my smile slid away. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s something.” I wasn’t used to him keeping things from me. I was tempted to call class into session to get the truth, but that was unfair.

I wanted him to tell me on his own. More than I’d even expected.

He started down the hall. “Which room is yours?”

“Second one.”

He nudged the door open and walked in, then he stretched me out on my full-sized bed. It was generally enough for me, but Colder was a good deal taller than me. He knelt between my thighs. “I don’t want to think about money.”

I lifted my hand to his cheek. “Okay.”

Then he distracted me for a really long time. Long enough that lunchtime came and went as he used every bit of knowledge he had about my body. I couldn’t think, let alone ask a question because he emptied my brain.