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  I don't see who did it, or what they hit her with, but I know she's been struck by the way her head snaps back. Her balance is off again, and she's sliding down, knocking her head into the bar along the way. This is when I realize getting there a moment too late is getting there exactly at the right time.

  I know if her head hits the ground she's going to be trampled and seriously hurt. I lunge at her, and catch her in my arms. Selene doesn’t know it’s me, she’s hiding, shielding her face from anymore unwanted blows.

  I pull her tight to my chest as I straighten us up, ready to do whatever I need to keep her safe.

  "It's ok I've got you," I say close to her ear, pulling her to safety. I want to get her settled, then go back and help my friend, but I don't see any sign of him.

  Once we're outside, I steady Selene on her feet. She's not up against me anymore, but her arms are around my neck. My hands now rest on her hips. Our eyes lock, and there it is again. She' staring at me with that look; a look I've never seen from anyone before, one that drinks me in and makes me feel like I'm king of the fucking world.

  "Cooper." She says my name like she's waiting for someone to disprove it, to tell her that no, it's not me. I'm a figment of her imagination.

  I can't help myself. I'm lost in her eyes. "At your service."

  "Cooper?" She looks confused.

  I let my eyes waver from hers for a moment to scan the area for Noah. I don't see him yet which is making me very nervous, but my eye catches June. She comes running over. Fuck. Not how I want this go.

  "Thanks for getting us so close to the door. How did you know that was going to happen?"

  I feel a weight grow at the bottom of my stomach. It's heavy and awkward, and feels like I have a fifty pound dumbbell sitting there. I need to get away from these girls, get them away from Selene. I don't want to scare her away, or worse, give her any reason to leave me and go home with Noah.

  "I didn't. Just a stroke of good luck I guess."

  I turn my attention back to Selene. Hoping June and Janice take my not so subtle hint. Selene's sneering at me. I'm sure it has to do with the twins. Just one more reason for her to hate me.

  "Ouch."

  I'm flooded with relief, and I hate how good that makes me feel. That look isn't for me, it isn't because I disgust her. Selene's rubbing her head, and her face is pained. I want to take her in my arms and make it better, but I don't know if she'll let me.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I don't know. My head, it just hurts."

  I lean in to her and use my hand to replace hers in gently rubbing the tender spot. She moans, and I can't tell if it's a moan of pleasure or pain. I wrap her in my arms as I continue stroking the sore area on her head.

  "Is that okay?"

  Selene's still as a statue. Fear slices through me, until she relaxes in my arms and rests her head against my chest. Once I know she's allowing me to comfort her I can breathe again. Without any thought or realization that I'm doing it, I kiss the top of her head, like I've done it before; like she wants me to do it. And damn it, I think she does.

  "Cooper?" Hearing my name, I don't release my hold on her, but pull back enough to look in her eyes. "You smell really good. I know it's weird, but I wondered about how you smell close up, and if it's half as good as you look. And you know what?"

  "What?"

  "You smell every bit as good as you look."

  I squeeze my arms around her tighter and laugh. It's absolutely ridiculous, but it doesn't matter. The key is she wondered about me. She thought about me, and right now, at this moment, my world is right on track.

  "Give me a fucking break."

  It's Noah. He found us.

  "You okay?" I ask.

  "I was until now." His eyes drop to Selene in my arms and he shakes his head. "For the record, I saw her first."

  "No way, man. I called dibs a couple of weeks ago."

  "Dibs?" She asks, but doesn't pull away. "What is this kindergarten that you called dibs? Am I a cupcake or something? The one that calls dibs gets it?"

  I smile down at her and laugh. That's exactly what she is, a sweet treat that I plan to lick, taste and devour.

  "You're full of shit." Noah challenges, but Selene doesn't make a move to leave my arms. "I never saw her here before."

  I'm staring down into her eyes and she's looking into mine. Even if she doesn't say it, the fact that she's not pushing away and making a move to get out of my arms is all the proof I need to know she wants me and not him. My chest swells with a feeling I'm not familiar with, but it's nice. A little unsettling, but nice.

  "Not here, man. But trust me, I saw her first." I glance over to the side, knowing exactly how I plan to make this up to him. "June, Janice," I call out to the twins with their backs turned a few feet from us.

  June comes over, arms crossed in front of her chest, attitude written all over her deliberate walk and pissed off sneer. Janice on the other hand stays where she is and shoots her death glare at me.

  "Noah, I'd like to introduce you to my very beautiful friend, June."

  Noah's face lights up and he flashes his dimples at her. It takes half a second for her demeanor to soften. He uses those dumb holes in his face as if they're the secret to world peace. Fucking prick, all he has to do to seal the deal with the ladies is smile. Right now I don't care. It's all irrelevant, because I have the grand prize in my arms.

  "And standing over there," I nudge my head in Janice's direction. "Is her twin sister, Janice. As in identical twins."

  "No fucking way."

  "Yep. Jan's the dinosaur though," June teases as they walk away. "She's two minutes older than me."

  Sirens sound in the distance growing closer. I don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when the cops arrive. I know I don't have anything to worry about, I wasn't involved, but I'm finally getting somewhere with Selene, the last thing I want is to spend the next hour talking to the cops about a fight I had nothing to do with.

  "What do you say? You ready to get out of here?"

  She shrugs. Disappointment clouds her face.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I don't know. My head I guess. I'm not sure I want to be alone yet."

  "Are you kidding me? I finally got my hands on you. I have no intention of letting you slip away."

  "Cooper," she closes her eyes. "I don't want you at my place."

  "Ouch." Bitch much?

  "Don't. I like you. More than I should. But I don't trust you. At all. I see how quickly you turn it on and then the next minute . . . I don't want one night with you, no matter how good it might be, to ruin the one place that's mine. It's the one place I get to just be me."

  "One night?" Is she fucking kidding me? One night doesn't come close to what I want with her. I already know one night isn't enough. I want a lot of one nights. An infinite number of one nights. I want her one night, every night until I satisfy the uncontrollable need to touch her, to kiss her. Doesn't she understand she's a physical need? A need I'm addicted to. Just thinking of her writhing beneath me has my cock standing tall.

  "Fine. I didn't plan on going back to your place anyway."

  "The last thing I want is to go spend the night in a hotel. I've had enough of that."

  "No, baby. No hotel. You're coming to my place."

  "I thought you don't entertain at your place."

  "Nursing you back to health isn't entertaining." I kiss her forehead again. This time she pulls away, out of my arms, as if my lips were dangerous. Lethal. I wonder if I'm getting under her skin the way she's gotten under mine.

  "You don't have to. I'll be okay."

  "Oh, no, you don't." I grab her hands.

  I want to yank her back hard against me, and show her who's in charge, but I'm not sure how hard she hit her head, and I don't want to make the pain worse. Instead I inch her back slowly, gently. This time as she stands in front of me, I bring my mouth close to her ear and move it across her collar bone breathing her in; so close to her s
kin that she can feel the heat of my mouth and imagine it on her; so close to her skin I can almost taste how sweet she is.

  "I told you I'm not letting you go, so just relax and enjoy it."

  "Enjoy what exactly?"

  I pull back and pin her down with my stare. I'm looking at her with an intensity that's probably scaring the shit out of her. I know, because It's terrifying me.

  "Enjoy me waiting on you hand and foot, as if you're the queen of the palace and I'm your humble servant. Enjoy watching me fulfill every order that passes those beautiful lips of yours because tonight your wish is my command. But once this night is over, then I'm back in charge.”

  "Back in charge? When were you ever in charge?"

  "Since the minute I rescued that fine ass of yours, and dragged you out here to safety."

  "And if I refuse to go with you?"

  "Easy," I smirk, bending down and tossing her over my shoulder. "I'll just carry you off into the sunset."

  "Put me down you crazy son of a bitch!"

  "Sorry, babe. Can't do that."

  "What happened to my wish is your command?"

  "I only have to listen to you when we're in the kingdom. Out here, you're just a peasant like the rest of us.

  Chapter 6

  "We'll be there soon."

  Good thing I had the foresight to have a car waiting. When I left my apartment, I had every intention of this night ending with me shit-faced and laid. If I checked those two boxes, I accomplished what I set out to do. Going back to my place before midnight wasn't on the agenda. Neither was running into Selene. But right now while all my plans are a big fat fail, I consider myself the luckiest son-of-a-bitch on the face of the planet because here we are, together; heading to the one place I never brought any girl aside from my mother and my sister. Ever.

  I want to say something. Actually I want her to say something. But neither of us has spoken a word since I helped her into the car. If she doesn't speak soon I'm going to lose what little is left of my mind. She seemed like she was into me, until I decided to toss her over my shoulder. Now I can't be sure. The silence is pricking my skin like little tiny needles. She's not making a sound, and it's driving me fucking crazy!

  "Selene. If you really don't want--"

  "No. It's okay." Her blue eyes shift my way for a second before turning back to the window.

  I don't speak any further. I mean, what is there to say? I don't know, but I'm sure if I try to say something I'll just end up putting my foot in my mouth. That seems to be my specialty when I'm with her. I choose to keep my mouth shut and play the cold heartless dick. It's a role I've mastered.

  "Evening Mr. Sutton, sir," the doorman greets us.

  "Night, Adam."

  "Wow," Selene says as we walk down the hall to the elevator. "Is this a hotel or an apartment building?"

  "Apartment building," I answer recognizing the look of awe on her face.

  She's discovering one of my favorite things about this building; it has everything. I don't have to leave it. Ever. That's what I love most about living here. If I don't feel like it, I don't have to step one foot outside of this structure. At all. It has everything: a dry cleaner, a small convenience store for things like milk, toilet paper, and all the necessary shit, a restaurant, a gym. You name it, it's in the building. There's even an indoor pool I have access to. The part I don't like about it is the extravagant price tag. Every red cent I earn goes into this place. But you have to act like the elite if you ever hope to be one of the elite. Not that that's my end game, but it sure as hell isn't a bad place to start.

  And living here has helped. Helped a lot. The day I caught the woman down the hall staring at me on the elevator my life turned around. While appreciating the long legs and curvy ass she was showing off, I know better than to shit where I eat. Not that fucking her would be shit. There's got to be some reason this cougar trend has taken off like a rocket screeching into space. I'm guessing it's because a woman with a few years on a guy knows what she wants; and can direct his ass to perform. In my head I sifted through excuses to let her down gently. I planned to use everything from the fact that her husband wouldn't approve to the fact that she lives down the hall.

  To my surprise, she didn't want to fuck me. At least not that she'd admit. She was a best-selling author and asked if I'd like to be on the cover of her next novel. I grasped that opportunity with both hands and held on tight.

  Once the contract was signed, she arranged a photo shoot that lasted over two days. The first day was me alone; dressed up in a tux, a suit, shirt open. Shirt off. Everything off. In bed tangled in the sheets, water pouring down my chest, down my back, right down to the crack of my ass.

  She wanted a plethora of images for promotional teasers. The next day she arranged, for a hot chick to join us. A hot chick that gave the mother of all blow jobs. That part was off camera. I was a happy boy. Still am, as she pays me more than anyone else I've worked for. Due to the success of the novel, she turned it from a standalone into a series. A series that uses me on each of the nine covers so far, with no end in sight.

  She credits part of her success to me, and her cover artist. Together we brought a fresh new look to the industry. One that everyone wanted a piece of, and everyone is trying to copy. My phone and my checking account blew up.

  While living here keeps my savings on the endangered species list, I stay and enjoy every minute of it, because I'm sure at some point, the buzz around me will simmer down. Women won't want me. Not with the same demand I've had over the past three years. I've no doubt when they have their fill of me I won't be able to make my monthly payment and my ass is going to get kicked out of this place.

  "How's your head?" I ask turning the key in the lock, my heart sputtering.

  "Fine."

  I'm hesitating outside my door, because I'm not a hundred percent sure I made the right call in bringing her here. What if this is a mistake. Am I willing to let a piece of ass ruin me? Is that the risk I'm about to take?

  When I hook up, I never tell the truth about what I do or where the women might recognize me from. When I attend events with the authors, I flirt, I take pictures, but I never go back and fuck the fans. I've gone out and partied with the authors, and even that stays platonic, but never the fans. I keep a low profile about the modeling so if I fall into a mess like I did with Madison/ Madeline, it doesn't destroy me or anyone I'm associated with. Here, now, I slipped up. Selene's not from the writing world and she knows about me. She knows who I am and what I do, and now she knows where I live.

  I'm so fucking stupid!

  I'm standing here frozen. I feel like a thirteen year old boy having his first go round with a prostitute. Is my hand trembling? What the fuck is wrong with me?

  I'm not an inexperienced kid. I don't get nervous around chicks. I remind myself of June and Janice hanging all over me less than an hour ago. There were no nerves there. They wanted me and I wanted them, simple as pie. Does Selene want me? I think she does, but she's been so hot and cold. Simple solution to both problems; bring her in, make sure she's okay and call a cab to send her on her way.

  I can't let anything happen with her. Nothing. I need to forget this chick, because when I'm around her I act, I don't think, and that's bad on so many levels. I need to cut her loose because I feel it in my gut, if I don't, she's going to destroy me.

  I open the door and stand back with my arm extended for her to enter. I push, no shove the thought of shutting the door and slamming her up against it out of my mind. I can't. I won't. Because she's hurt. And nothing can happen I remind myself. Nothing. Can. Fucking. Happen.

  "Excuse the mess. I didn't plan on having company. I say looking at the pile of clean clothes strewn over the arm of the couch.

  "You really live here?" she asks looking around and taking it all in.

  "Yep. Home sweet home." I drop my phone and keys on the coffee table next to the couch, she follows suit and places her purse beside them.

  "It�
�s amazing. You have everything in this building. It's like a five start hotel, but a million times better since you're not packing up on a regular basis."

  What's the deal with her and hotels? I wonder if she has a sugar daddy. Probably. And the shit must have a wife. That's why she's so fucking paranoid. Dumb ass. Selene isn't the one you keep secret, she's the fucking trophy you carry around and show off.

  She walks over to the entertainment center and lifts a photo frame off the shelf. I see the disappointment in her eyes, and fuck me, it pisses me off to no end. I don't want her to look at me like that.

  "Who is she?"

  "My sister, Lexi," I answer taking the frame and placing it back down. I don't like anyone messing with my stuff. Another reason I don't bring chicks back here.

  Selene narrows her eyes at me as if she's contemplating whether or not she should take me at my word.

  "No fucking way did I plan on seeing you tonight. So before you start spewing shit, don't bother accusing me of renting this apartment to pull the wool over your eyes. I'm not fucking desperate." I'm not sure where my attitude is coming from, but it's ripe, and I'm unloading it on Selene.

  "I know."

  "I'm not married either. She's not my wife. I didn't kick her out for the night so I could trick you into coming back here. And I sure as hell didn't set up that fight for you to get hurt so I could whisk you away."

  "I'm sorry. I wasn't going to accuse you . . ."

  "Look, the truth is I am committed to a woman, and that happens to be her." I point to the picture of Lexi. "And that commitment is to make sure she's happy and no one hurts her. I held her and wiped the tears from her eyes for years after our father left, and I don't ever want to see her cry again. So if some prick screws with her, he's going to have to answer to me. But she has nothing to do with you, or anyone else I might want to fuck. Nothing at all."

  She nods, not saying anything, but I see the change in her eyes, and I'm sure I just fucked up royally again. You can only strike out so many times before the game is over.

  "She's beautiful."

  "Thanks." I have no idea where she's going with this.