Play Me

2. Daisy

Chapter Two

Daisy

I knew I was flustered, and I knew I needed to get a grip, but I couldn’t think straight. I jabbed Tristan’s chest with my index finger and repeated myself. I hated when people repeated themselves, and here I was doing exactly that.

“I am not tied up about it.”

Tristan looked down at me for a beat. Sweet hell. He was too handsome for words. He was tall, dark and mysterious, and so sexy it was dangerous. At least for my health and well-being. His black curls were slightly rumpled. His hazel eyes locked with mine, and my breath lodged in my throat. Heat spread like wildfire in my veins.

This was not supposed to be happening. About a year ago, I’d had a few too many glasses of wine, and I’d given in to the thrumming need Tristan had elicited inside of me ever since I’d known him. I’d meant for it to be nothing more than s*x. I’d figured Tristan would let me down like every guy did. Problem was, once his mouth was on mine and his hands were mapping my body, I came closer to two things I’d been chasing forever—an o****m and intimacy. Completely clothed with his mouth driving me mad and sweet streaks of pleasure shooting through me, I’d felt as if we were caught in a web together. I was so accustomed to s*x being distant and mechanical—and completely unsatisfying.

With every fiber of me desperately wanting to let go into the best feeling ever, I’d shoved him away from me and bolted. Because all of it scared me. I knew perfectly well how Tristan viewed relationships. According to my two best friends who happened to be respectively paired up with his buddies from the Seattle Stars, he didn’t do them. He declared them messy and steered clear. I’d always wondered why. Normally, I didn’t mind being nosy, but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to pry on this issue, too worried it would reveal just how personal my curiosity was.

So there I was nearly gaga over a guy who I just couldn’t expect anything from. Little did he know I wanted nothing more than to settle down. I couldn’t make a fool of myself over him. Leave it to me to be stuck pining for a man I couldn’t have.

Tristan arched a brow. Hell, he even had an amazing face. Strong features with a blade of a nose, and a permanent five o’clock shadow. I remembered just how his stubble felt against my skin. As these thoughts tumbled through my mind, my pulse took off at a dash and I could hardly breathe.

He curled his hand around mine where my finger pressed into his chest. My belly did a slow flip and everything in me tightened with need. He was quiet, his eyes boring into mine. I felt prickly hot all over, exposed and vulnerable. On the heels of this came anger. It infuriated me that I wanted him so much.

“I think you are,” he said, his low voice sending a hot shiver down my spine. “What I want to know is why?”

My cheeks were hot, and I willed the heat away, an entirely futile endeavor. I wanted to shake my head wildly and argue with him, but I didn’t. My ability to speak deserted me the second he lifted his hand and traced it along my hairline, slowly sliding his fingers through my hair.

My breath came in short pants, while my pulse lunged. Need throbbed at my core. I wanted him so much. This was precisely why I’d avoided him. I knew how it felt to have him touch me, and it was so good, it pushed me past the bounds of sanity and made me forget everything else.

“If you’re not lying, then have dinner with me,” he said, his eyes never once breaking from mine.

Sheer stubbornness kept me from closing my eyes. I wanted to, but dammit, he was not going to see how much he rattled me.

“Fine. Let’s have dinner,” I snapped.

He still had my hand caught in his, while he idly sifted through my hair with his other hand. Heat rolled through me and my low belly clenched, but I would not let myself push him away. I could handle this. I’d show him he didn’t have the upper hand, and I’d get over my body’s obsession with him.

His mouth curled at one corner. Oh hell. God, he was too much for any woman to deal with and not lose her mind. “Tonight then?” he asked.

I didn’t want to do this tonight. I needed time to armor myself. But if I said no, I’d look like I was chickening out. I couldn’t do that because, dammit, I had too much pride. He’d called me out on avoiding him, and I had to show him that wasn’t the case. Never mind that I had totally been avoiding him. So I nodded and willed myself not to moan at the feel of his fingers brushing against the skin of my neck as they slid through my hair.

When I nodded, his eyes widened slightly. Good. He’d expected me to put him off. Hell no. I could handle this. It would be good. I needed to get past the awkwardness I felt and stop avoiding him.

He released my hand. I stepped back, maybe more quickly than I should have, but I needed to get some distance between us. His eyes took on a gleam and instantly I knew he’d noticed. I lifted my chin. “Where and when?” I asked, my tone coming out bitchy. I didn’t care. I needed my inner b***h loud and proud right now.

“I’ll pick you up. Six o’clock.”

I so didn’t want him to pick me up, but if I argued about that, it would seem silly.

“Fine. Don’t be cheap,” I said as I turned to spin away.

His low chuckle followed me to the door. I was about to step through it when he spoke.

“Daisy?”

I glanced back to him.

“We will finish what we started before.”

My cheeks flamed hot again, but I clung to my dignity with my fingertips. “You don’t call the shots,” I retorted.

He shrugged. “Maybe not, but I know you want it as much as I do.”

I had no words for that. He had no idea how right he was.