“Let’s get out of here,” Cooper said, laughter in his voice.
Ace didn’t say a word and didn’t dare touch Dakota. Instead he moved to the limo and climbed inside. He had damn well better learn how to get himself under control. If not, he was going to be in for a world of hurt.
He looked down at his feet, but even without seeing her, he felt it the moment Dakota stepped inside the limo—the large space suddenly became suffocating. He wasn’t going to survive this woman. He now knew that, as sure as he knew his own name. She was going to take him on a wild ride, and he wasn’t ever going to get off.
And maybe that’s exactly what he wanted to have happen. If the decision was taken out of his hands, then he would have nothing to feel guilty about.
CHAPTER TEN
Dakota had been cheering for the Seahawks for three years, and never had she had such an intense game as the one she’d just participated in. It was even worse than the first time she’d taken the field, hoping and praying she wouldn’t fall on her ass in front of the tens of thousands of people in the stands, along with the millions of people viewing her from the comfort of their living rooms.
But with Ace’s eyes on her the entire time—and she had felt his gaze burning into her—she’d had to concentrate even harder than normal on not messing up. The man was messing with her in far more ways than she felt she was messing with him. It wasn’t something she was used to, and she was more determined now than ever to get the hell over it.
Stepping inside the limo, she didn’t even give herself a choice of what to do. She swiftly moved through the large seating area and plopped herself down right next to Ace. She felt his body tense beside her, and that gave her a bit of her confidence back. She was certainly affecting him as much as he was her—that helped a lot.
“Did you enjoy the game?” she asked as sweetly as she possibly could.
The intense look he sent her way set her core to boiling levels as she squeezed her thighs together. The man looked as if he wanted to kick everyone out of the vehicle, which slowly began moving, and take her right there on the seat.
Dakota was thinking that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Her hormones were going crazy, and she could use the relief she was sure only he could give her. Of course, with all eyes on them, it might be best to behave—at least for now.
“Yes,” he told her shortly. It took her a moment to even remember what she’d said to him. She pulled herself together quickly, though, and gave him a beaming smile.
“Good. I like happy fans.”
His expression didn’t change, but if possible, his eyes darkened even more as he leaned in closer to her. Dakota’s breathing was coming out in short pants, but she was sure she was covering it up well.
“I aim to please,” Ace told her.
“I appreciate that in a man,” she said, making sure her hot breath whispered against his ear. She saw the shudder pass through him and felt herself on much more level ground again. If they were torturing each other equally, she could consider that a win.
“You know when you play with fire, you usually get burned,” he said, this time his breath rushing across her ear and neck. She was the one shivering. Dakota decided to take it up about a dozen notches.
“I enjoy the fire, Ace. Haven’t you figured that much out about me yet?” she asked as she let her hand trail across his thigh before settling it on her own lap.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and was immensely pleased by the rigid set of his jaw and body. She knew she was going to pay for her torture of him, but she didn’t care. Inflicting the pain was well worth it—at least for this moment.
“When I get you alone . . .” he began, and Dakota laughed, causing several people in the vehicle to turn their way.
“What’s so funny?” Chloe asked.
“Oh, Ace was just telling me a terrific joke. Want to share it?” she asked as she turned to him with big eyes and patted his thigh, letting her fingers trail off close to where she was sure he was pulsing. It would look innocent to anyone watching, but she knew what she was doing to him.
Ace looked up at the group, and she had to choke on the power she felt in being a woman. Looking natural and naive wasn’t as easy as it appeared. But she managed to keep her expression light as she waited to see what he would say.
“Knock, knock,” Ace grumbled.
Cooper burst out laughing. “I think we’ve missed out on an inside joke,” he said as he stared their way.
“Yeah, Dakota has quite the sense of humor,” Ace told them. This time it was his turn to torture her.
He slung his arm around her shoulder, dipping it into her back, his fingers resting on the side of her breast. She sucked in air as she sat stiffly in his embrace. If she pulled away, he won. She decided to squirm just a little bit closer and rubbed her thigh against his.
“Yes, she does,” Chloe said with a smile of affection.
Dakota could always count on her best friend. Whether Chloe knew exactly what was going on or not, she would always side wit
h Dakota and help her make the man suffer. That’s what besties did for each other.