Page 23 of Your Play to Call
He sweetly grabs my hand, and we walk to my door. The wind runs through the trees, rustling the branches and leaves. Night has completely fallen, and the stars are putting on a show. That’s one of my favorite parts of being out of the SoHo apartment. Here, the stars have a chance.
Tonight feels new. There were never early dates with sweet hellos or goodbyes. It was dodging being seen or something else chaotic. Or finding somewhere “neutral” to meet.
I melt a little. Like I’m having an out-of-body experience and I’m a normal woman wrapping up a date with someone she randomly met. Almost like a fortunate fluke. I’ve been in the industry ever since I’ve been old enough to date. It’s always been complicated.
This is easy.
“What’s that smile for?” Tripp scoffs and nudges my shoulder with his. He matches my smile.
“This is all so… normal. Nice. It’s refreshing.”
“Nice?” Tripp teases. “Did you have anicetime?” He raises his eyebrows as he turns toward me.
“I did. Everything was lovely,” I say as I look down at the hand he’s still holding.
This man turns, scoffs, and bites his lip before turning back to me. A deadly combination. I’m no longer thinking about him holding my hand.
“I’m not that sweet…” His voice drifts as he takes a small step towards me.
“No?” I don’t know if I’ve had too much wine or tiramisu, but I bait him. “Prove it.” My words come out breathy, and Tripp’s eyes go wide, just long enough for me to register. He takes the hand he was holding and pushes it up, near my head, hitting the back of my door while he moves my back to the same place.
His free hand comes to my chin, like it did at dinner. This time, he tilts it up and greets me with a deadly smirk—the type that could make me tell him all my secrets.
Tripp’s mouth crashes to mine. His lips press in a way that screamshot hot hot,even though he tastes sweet from the tiramisu. I hear, and feel him, loud and clear. Consider the message delivered.
His body presses into mine. Muscles meet me and demand to be felt. He lets the arm above me go, and I run a hand over his chest, the soft shirt a stark contrast to his firm muscles. He nudges into me, and bites at my lip. I moan when I can’t help it and that urges him on. I throw my arms around his neck doing all I can to get closer.
Tripp picks me up, my back up against the wall, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
Damn, I know he’s a football player, but he picks me up and throws me around like I’m nothing. And I love it.
He envelops me. His skin smells like the forest after a rain. He tastes sweet thanks to the tiramisu.
All I can think of is his touch. Wanting more of it. How good it feels. Tripp’s hands go from the sides of my face to the nape of my neck until they’re in my hair. He peppers my neck with teasing licks and the lightest of bites. His lips are forceful but still soft.
Want builds and pulls, low in my core. The pulls rapidly turn to throbs.
He’s careful not to leave a mark. His arms, muscular and determined, wrap around my back, pulling me even closer to him. I tip my head back, and he kisses the tops of my breasts.
A car door slams.
“Ugh, shit. Sorry, Willow. I had something to check in the house.” Seth scrambles and has no idea what to do with himself.
Tripp sets me down, and my legs immediately miss his waist.
“All good, my man.” Tripp turns and waves to my security team like he didn’t have me pressed up against my front door. He’s full of surprises. I like that he took control.
He tugs at the crotch of his jeans, and I cover a laugh with my hand.
“Goodnight, Lo,” Tripp says as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and kisses my lips a final time.
Lo.It takes everything I have not to wrap myself up in him.
Tripp walks back to his car and waves to the security team before he pulls out of the driveway. Seth meets me at the door, and his cheeks are crimson.
“I can’t believe that happened. And we’renevertalking about it again,” I say, a finger in his chest, before opening the door and going inside.
Chapter 16