“If they’re going to take pictures, might as well give them something hot.” He winked at me .
My heart was still pounding, and he had awakened that deep ache between my legs. I took another sip of the cold margarita. I tried to be casual and not look around at the cell phones snapping pictures of us, or listen to the whispers at the table one over from ours .
“You really live like this ?”
“Always have. Growing up in a small town and being the first quarterback to take the team to state, it started early .”
“And you don’t mind the invasion of privacy ?”
“Comes with the territory. If this is the price of winning, I’m okay with that .”
I was stunned. I could think of lots of tradeoffs that would make this difficult .
“Why is winning so important to you, Wes ?”
“Is there anything else ?”
I folded my menu in half and placed it on the table. “I hope so .”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to lecture me on the meaning of life and how there’s more to life than winning a game ?”
“I don’t think I have to. You just told yourself.” The layers of ambition ran deeper in him than most men .
“This is what I do. I win. I compete. And I don’t let anything stand in my way. You should know that now .”
“Now?”
“Yeah, now before …”
“Before what? Before we go home tonight and you fuck me again like promised?” I was getting mad. I couldn’t help it. I was seeing his arrogant quarterback side. The side I had read about online .
“That’s not what I was going to say.” He lowered his voice. “I was talking about this. Us .”
“Oh. Us?” My tone softened. Was there an us? It had only been a few days since that night in his apartment .
“I guess I need to say something, Doc. Ask you something .”
“Okay.”
“I need to know you’re not seeing anyone else .”
“Me? You’re worried about me dating someone?” I almost laughed, but he looked dead serious and his green eyes were fixed on mine .
“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me.” He shook his head. “I need a straight answer .”
“And what about you?” I knew I had every right to ask this question, but I didn’t know I’d get the truth. This was the man who never saw the same woman two days in a row .
“Not since Saturday .”
I rolled my eyes. “Wow .”
He grabbed my hand. “Before Saturday doesn’t count. For either of us.” His gaze was deep. “I don’t want anyone else to have you .”
“I’m not property. You make it sound like you can own me .”
He traced the side of my cheek and my breath caught in the back of my throat. My body betrayed every word I said. I knew he owned me. He possessed my body. I’d give it to him as many times as he asked. So why was I playing this game ?
“We’re leaving.” He stood, pulling me up with him .