“I don’t know that I’d go that far,” I scoff, but my woman is smiling at me and no longer believes I don’t want to be there for her while she’s playing. That is a fucking win as far as I’m concerned. “But I know people in the right places and am willing to use those connections when it suits me.”
Her eyebrows pull together and I already know she’s thinking big thoughts. I watch as her face changes with whatever she’s thinking, just taking her in for a long moment.
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Hollywood?” I can’t help but ask the question and her eyes snap to mine before she gives me a sheepish smile.
“You don’t need me,” she whispers the words like a confession. I rear back from her slightly and she grimaces. “I just mean you have your own notoriety, your own place in the world that has nothing to do with me. There’s nothing I can bring to the table that you don’t already have yourself.”
“Were you worried it was any other way?” I can’t keep the slight edge of hurt out of my voice, even though it probably isn’t fair for me to feel it.
Her hand comes up to rest on my cheek, and I allow myself a moment just to soak up her touch. Fuck, I don’t ever think I’ll get tired of the way it causes tingles to cover my skin.
“It’s not because of you. I’m sorry I learned not to trust people long before I sat next to you at that game,” she sighs and I can see the apology in her eyes. “I learned a long time ago I can’t trust people’s intentions for the most part. I’m not even sure I can trust the people on my team, the people who I pay to be close to me.”
“That has to feel impossible,” my words are slow, my mind trying to process what she’s telling me, not just her words, but the meaning underneath them.
“It’s one of the things which has been bothering me lately about my life. I’m surrounded by people, but none of them care about me beyond what I pay them to care about. Margot was a great friend, but those aren’t always easy to maintain in this business, in that town. She’s in Denver now and she’s so damn happy,” her voice breaks slightly and it shatters something in me.
“You can be happy for someone else and want what they have too,” I murmur, saying something out loud I hadn’t even allowed myself to admit.
Because I wasn’t just studying Cowboy and Brielle trying to understand it. I was watching because I wanted it. Not with Brielle, but with someone.
Now I know who.
Her eyes find mine and soften. “Exactly and I am so happy for her. She deserves the life she’s built for herself and the love she’s found. Her family is adorable and I would never begrudge her that. But for me it’s different. You know,” she pauses, her mouth twisting to one side before she speaks again, “even when you date other people in the industry, they might be using you. Or at least they see and understand the benefit when you’re together. It feels manipulative and I’m just over the whole thing.”
“But I don’t need you in any capacity other than finding you to be the most intriguing,” I tug some of the sheet away from her body and her eyes round, “blindingly brilliant,” I tug a little more, “and goddess level gorgeous woman I have ever met.”
Quincy sucks in a breath and I love the hitch. It’s the same feeling I get when the river hits and it’s exactly what I need. The cards falling perfectly at the right time.
I look deep into her eyes, my voice firm, “I’ll never use you, Quincy, and you better fucking believe I’ll destroy anyone who tries that shit. You can do whatever you want. If you want to build a different life, I’m there.”
“Just like that?”
One side of my mouth tips up and I roll us. Her limbs wrap around me and cradle me like we’ve done it a thousand times.
Maybe in a different lifetime.
“Just like that,” I grunt. Her smile is luminous and I growl softly. “Now, I’m going to fuck you and then we’re ordering room service. I’m going to make sure you eat before this tournament, and you better fucking believe that I’ll be there. Front row, Hollywood.” I wink at her.
“You’ve got it all planned out, huh?” I fucking love the challenge in her brown eyes.
I reach between us and plunge two thick fingers inside of my woman, finding her already soaking wet. I groan out my pleasure. “Always ready for me,” I growl.
After pumping my fingers inside of her, watching the way her eyes glaze over with lust when I circle her clit with my thumb, I replace them with the crown of my cock. With rapt attention I watch the way her golden hair fans across the pillow as she arches her back while I slowly push my way inside her pussy. Her walls cling to me, begging me to never pull out of her.
If fucking only.
“Look at you,” I grit out, “taking my cock so fucking well.”
I can’t keep the desperation out of my voice, and I don’t want to. It’s what this woman does to me. She makes me desperate; she makes me hungry.
Only for her.
The truth of it echoes through me. I fuck her hard and deep, the glide of my shaft as I pull out of her slowly before I plunge back in is maddening. My thrusts are punishing.
I know it.
And she fucking loves it.
