Playing For Keeps (12 page)

“Where are you going?”

“I have to get home so I can get ready for work.”

He pulled her back into the bed with him. “Not before I send you off properly.”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You will learn not to take Kayla so seriously.”

He smiled wickedly. “But I want to.”

Before she could respond, his mouth came down on hers. She was starting to dislike his kisses. They were distracting. Even so, she noticed when he slid his hand between her thighs. She closed her eyes hating that her body responded to him even when she didn’t want it to. His mouth left hers, and he moved on to place kisses on her neck. A moan of pleasure sounded from her lips as he continued downward and found her breast. The man knew how to lavish on and worship a woman’s body. He took his time, seeming determined to push her to the edge, whether she wanted to go or not. She stiffened as he slid lower.
He isn’t going to go there.
Eric slid lower, and she knew he was.

She had half a mind to stop him, but she wanted to experience what he was offering. Her legs still tensed when he lifted them over his shoulders. She cried out as she felt Eric’s lips touch her in a way that no one ever had. She reached out her hand and clutched at the bedspread. A scream erupted from her throat when his tongue found the direct link to her release. She couldn’t catch her breath because of the sensation flowing through her body. It was too much, and another scream bubbled up from a deep part in her throat as she reached the pinnacle of her release. Instead of stopping, he increased the amount of pleasure that he was giving to her. Her toes curled, and she dug her feet into his shoulders as he pushed her higher. Before she could catch her breath, he came up over her.

He reached for protection and covered himself with it before sliding deep inside of her. Neither of them could take their next breath. She cried out in what was a mixture of pleasure and pain. Another release sneaked up on her, and she experienced a fourth one before Eric let himself find his own release. She barely had time to recuperate before he was pushing her out of bed and out of his front door so she could get to work on time. The short drive home gave her enough time to reflect on everything she didn’t want to. The main thing being that Eric was better than a cup of coffee any day.

* * * *

Keirra looked up as Kayla opened the door. “You will never guess who just showed up.”

Keirra groaned and closed her eyes. She didn’t care who it was. She wasn’t up for company. Her only plan was to rest to try to get rid of or ease her stomach cramps so that she wouldn’t have to cancel on her sisters this evening. Kayla wanted to have dinner again, so they were going over to join her and Randy again.

“I don’t want to know.”

“Too bad.”

Keirra closed her eyes and tried not to curse at the sound of his voice. This was the last thing that she needed. Opening her eyes, she fought a grimace as Eric came into her view. Even though he was an unwelcome sight, he was still a pleasant one to look at.

Kayla being the traitor that she was backed out of the room closing the door behind her. Keirra sat up slowly but still winced.

Eric noticed and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She looked at him with surprise before smiling. He wanted to know what was wrong with her. Well she was more than willing to tell him. Maybe he would leave her alone.

“It is that time of the month.”

His mouth formed the cutest shape of an
O
she had ever seen.

“Are you okay?”

She would have laughed, but it would hurt too much. The expressions coming and going across his face were very comical.

“Can I do anything to help?”

She nodded her head. “You could leave and let me go back to resting.”

He gave her a look, and she sighed knowing what it meant. He wasn’t going anywhere. It was too close to dinnertime. Somehow, he’d managed to finagle an invite to dinner. It was the first time they’d been alone together since they had sex. She knew now she couldn’t trust herself around him and wanted to avoid that at all costs.

“I have taken some pain medication, but if you have anything stronger, I will take it.”

He laughed. “Do you trust me?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Too late to ask that, don’t you think?”

“I will take that as a yes. Lie on your back.”

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Now isn’t the time.”

He chuckled. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

Instead of replying, she lay back because she didn’t think she could sit up any longer without becoming nauseated. Eric came over to the bed. A groan of pain escaped her as Eric’s hand pressed into her stomach. He began to massage her achy body, and after a moment, the pain began to subside. Moments later, she was actually able to take a breath without wincing. When the last of the tension left Keirra’s body, he pulled back.

“Do you feel better now?”

She sighed in relief. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”

She started to wonder where he had learned his technique. Her question must have been distinguishable in her eyes since Eric answered her.

“A trick that Gaia taught me.”

Keirra scoffed. “Yeah right.”

Eric laughed. “That is what I like about you.”

“What?”

He placed a brief kiss on her lips. “You frustrate the hell out of me, yet you manage to make me laugh.”

She narrowed her eyes. The man was insane. She made sure he knew that was her opinion.

He chuckled. “That may be true, but you are still a major turn-on.”

She shook her head at him. “You are strange.”

He smiled. “Stranger by the minute.”

Keirra shook her head and sat up slowly. Eric’s touch had worked, but it didn’t mean she should push it. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Eric was a lifesaver. She pulled up her pajama pants and tugged down the matching camisole that had risen up. Showing her skin to Eric wasn’t too bright of an idea. He already had a hard time keeping his hands off her. She led the way out of her room and headed downstairs. Kayla was sitting on the couch watching
Deja Vu
. She looked up as she heard Keirra and Eric enter the room.

“Are you feeling better?”

She nodded. “Yes I am.”

“Good enough to go over to Randy and Kristen’s?”

“Yes.”

Kristen was probably working hard to set everything up for this evening. Thanksgiving was right around the corner, and they would all be too busy to get together again for dinner like this before it did. It had just started to dawn on her that there was a possibility they may be spending the holidays apart. She was happy for Kristen and wouldn’t do anything to take away from her sister’s happiness.

She and Keirra would just have to make the best of things.

“What time do you plan on leaving?”

Kayla nodded in the direction of the television. “As soon as this movie goes off.”

Keirra just shook her head and headed into the kitchen with Eric following close behind. She went to the refrigerator and poured herself a cup of water.

“So how was your week?”

She laughed before looking at him. “My students think I am possessed.”

His eyebrows rose. “You aren’t?”

Keirra almost spit out the water she had just taken a drink of. If she could hit him without hurting herself, she would have. “You aren’t funny.”

He winked at her. “I have been told otherwise.”

“If it was your family, they were just lying to make you feel better.”

He stepped closer to her. “My family would never lie to me.”

She shrugged because she knew that was probably a true statement. He took her glass out of her hand and took a drink before handing it back to her. She tried not to let him know the action affected her. It was a very intimate act.

She sighed. “So what brings you by?”

He smiled. “I came to pick you up.”

She knew Kristen and Randy had invited Eric. Since everyone officially considered her and Eric an item, it was a given. Did it bother her? Not as much as it should. She had to face it the man was getting up under her skin, and he was knocking down her defenses quicker than she could put them up. What was she going to do if she found herself in love with the man? If she thought she could get him to give up his occupation, she might have a fighting chance.

She would never forget the eventful night she lost her father. The night her life had changed forever.

Although she was aware most of the things that happened to them afterward might not have happened otherwise. They wouldn’t have moved to Baxley. The good high school years they had experienced might not have happened. She and her sisters might not be as close as they were. The exciting times they shared had normally been the consequence of something she had done. She had always been the one who wanted to add excitement. So it might be true that good things come out of tragedy. Even so, she still wasn’t ready to take actions that could lead her down that road again.

“Well, I am going to go get ready.”

He nodded giving her a teasing glance. “Wear something sexy.”

Keirra rolled her eyes at his exaggerated wiggling of his eyebrows as she handed him her cup and walked out of the kitchen. The man was something else. As she made her way up the stairs, she had to wonder if Eric was the one for her. Maybe he was someone who had been put in her way to make her face her fears, or maybe she was just thinking too hard. Either way, she planned to enjoy herself this evening, and that was what she was going to do.

“No, Kristen. That would be ridiculous.”

Keirra was surprised to hear the words come from her own mouth, but she meant it. She looked over at Kayla and smiled. They were in the middle of enjoying the wonderful dinner Kristen had prepared. Kristen had brought the subject up of what everyone was going to do for Thanksgiving.

Kristen was trying to figure out a way for everyone to spend Thanksgiving with Randy and his family. It was touching that her sister was trying to make sure that no one felt left, out but it wasn’t necessary. As much as she loved her sisters, they were three individuals, and they all knew this day would come at some point.

“I agree.”

Her baby sister was always putting others before herself. Keirra reached out and took Kristen’s hand in hers.

“This is your time. Kayla and I will manage.”

Eric cleared his throat. “If it makes you feel better, I’m going to invite Keirra to my parents’ place, and since my mother isn’t taking no for an answer, her Thanksgiving plans are taken care of.”

Keirra’s mouth dropped open and would have dragged on the table if Kayla hadn’t elbowed her. She was going to kill him in spite of his innocent expression. He knew exactly what he was doing. How could she say no to his invite in front of her siblings? She knew what their reaction would be. Still she opened her mouth to protest, but Kristen spoke before she could.

Kristen grinned. “Good.”

She glared at Eric, and he winked at her. She wanted to tell him he hadn’t won the battle yet, but she was distracted when Kristen’s smile started to fade a little. She knew why that was when she realized that the arrangements still left Kayla out, and she voiced her concern. It seemed as though Eric was willing to fix that problem as well.

“Kayla is welcome to join us in Atlanta. My parents have more than enough room.”

Kayla shook her head. “Oh no. I couldn’t impose on the two of you.”

Keirra wanted to elbow her, but she was too far away. There was always later, especially when Eric looked so smug. Eric leaned back and grinned.

“The more, the merrier. Besides I am hoping you and Keirra will play a few tricks on the family.”

Keirra had finally come out of shock and elbowed Eric. “
Absolutely not
. Besides, who says that I am going?”

He shrugged. “Well, it was worth a try, and I could always have my mother call you, so you can explain to her why you aren’t.”

Her eyes widened at the impact of his statement. He had her exactly where he wanted her, and he knew it. She tried to close her mouth, and after several attempts managed to.

“
Blackmail
, Eric?”

He nodded without shame. “Whatever it takes.”

She could have resorted to bodily harm, but then she would have to explain that as well. Kayla laughed, and Keirra glared at her.

Kayla held up her hands in surrender. “What? It isn’t my fault that you have met someone who can beat you at your own game.”

Randy cleared his throat and made his own offer. “Kayla, you are more than welcome to join us for Thanksgiving.”

Kayla laughed. “Well, thanks for inviting me. I think I will stay here and join Randy and Kristen.”

“If only my legs were longer,” Keirra muttered at her older sister. It didn’t make her feel any better when everyone laughed at what she was implying. It made kicking Kayla underneath the table sound even more tempting.

Kristen smiled. “Well, be that as it may, I’m just happy everyone was going to have somewhere to go for the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Everyone resumed eating, and the rest of the dinner conversation was light yet filled with humor.

Even she couldn’t keep from mellowing and enjoying the rest of the meal. After dinner, everyone pitched in to help clean up. Kristen and Randy were caught making out, which didn’t seem to bother them at all. Keirra gave Eric a look of warning when he reached for her and chuckled, but she went in the opposite direction.

As they rode back to the house, Keirra smiled to herself. She was happy that Kristen was happy.

After the rocky time that she and Randy had when they had begun dating years ago the two of them deserved all of the happiness that they could get. Eric pulled up into the driveway, and Kayla was out of the SUV before he could turn off the engine.

“Does she always move that fast?”

Keirra rolled her eyes. “Only when there is something on the television she wants to watch.”

Eric laughed. “Do you mind if I come in for a little while?”

She shook her head. “No.”

They got out of his SUV, and she led the way up the walkway. She shivered. The temperature had dropped since they had left Randy and Kristen’s.