“I don’t believe in fate. Random events happen, and it means nothing—or it was planned.” I tug at her ponytail, and it falls. I card my fingers through her hair, arranging it around her shoulders. “So pretty.”
She swallows. “Tuck ...”
I run my nose up her throat, inhaling. “I want to fuck you again—that’s the truth. I want to spread you out and taste that delicious pussy. Again. I want those rosebud lips around my cock. Again.” My teeth nip at her lobe, and she gasps as she arches her neck. My lips trace over her cheekbone. I touch the edge of her mouth—
She pulls my face to hers, and our eyes lock as little puffs of air come from her chest.
“Your eyes are dilated.” My whole hand covers her cheek as I cup her face.
She leans into my palm—
Ping!The elevator opens, and an older, well-dressed woman steps off and heads our way. She arches her brow at us as she passes.
“Dammit. The widow Carnes,” Francesca whispers as she dips below my arm and escapes. “She’ll tell the whole book club circle Tuck Avery was at my door by tomorrow.” She leans against her door and rubs her forehead.
“I don’t care who sees us.”
She exhales. “Never mind that. Look. We wanted fun that night. One night, no strings.Youasked for that.”
I pause. I didn’t want strings because I never expected Decadence to be the place to meet someone real. “I changed my mind.”
“Tuck, I—I don’t want ...” A frown puckers her forehead.
“What?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know. My life is at a crossroads right now, and dammit, I didn’t mean to say that—ugh, but no, I can’t have a drink with you or whatever.” She rubs her eyes with the heels of her palms. “It’s been a really crazy day, okay? I’ve got things to figure out, and it’s not a good time for this, and I kind of need to pee.”
She steps inside her apartment.
“Francesca. Wait—”
The door slams in my face.
I stand there, exhilaration rushing through my veins.
Fuck if I don’t love a good chase.
Game on, little princess.
I didn’t last fourteen years in the NFL without being a competitor. Once I have a goal ...
I’m already dialing my agent’s number as I stalk down the hall.
“Yo, Tuck. It’s late. What’s going on?” Ben says as he answers.
“There’s this girl.”
He chuckles. “I thought you’d want to go over the game.”
“Later. This girl. Can you look into her?”
“I don’t usually do those types of things.”
“But you know people who do. The thing is I only date women I know, and I don’t know this one. The way we met is sorta weird.”
“You could get to know her. That’s how normal people do it.”
“I’m not normal people. I’m one of your top clients, and I’ve been burned before, remember?”