Play With Me Read Online Free Page B

“NO.”
    His laughter rocked his body, his strong hard chest vibrating against her back. “Stop being stubborn. Close your eyes.”
    Even as she gritted her teeth, she found herself doing what he said.
    “I want you to forget everything that happened today.”
    “Easier said than done,” she muttered under her breath.
    “I know. But try it anyway.” His tone was low and cajoling.
    A deep sigh, and then she did as asked, doing her best to clear her mind.
    “I want you to think about your favorite memories of the sport.”
    Now that was easy. It was the first time she played ball with the men in her family, the only time she felt like they were all on equal footing.
    His breath suddenly tickled her ear, electricity crackling over her skin as he said, “Now, open your eyes and try to shoot.”
    Slowly, Lace’s lids drifted open. She dribbled the ball, aimed, and let it fly. It went in. Before she could jump for joy, Silver had already stepped towards the ball tray, tossing her one ball after another. Everything went in. He jogged away, positioning himself under the ring so he could catch the ones she threw and toss it back to her.
    Everything went in.
    “Do you get it now?”
    “Get what?” She was grinning as she asked the question, could feel her face flushing again, but this time out of happiness.  
    Silver smiled, and the sight of it was so beautiful that when he threw the ball, she wasn’t able to catch it on time, and the ball hit her flat on the face.
    “FUCK!”
    Both of them swore at the same time, Silver dashing towards her while she slowly felt herself falling—
    But Lace didn’t hit the floor, Silver catching her in time.
    “Fuck.”  
    “You shouldn’t swear, too,” Lace mumbled even as she winced at the pain on her nose. That hurt, dammit! She touched her nose then lifted her fingers over her face, wincing again when she saw the blood staining her fingertips.
    “Don’t move.” His voice was grim, and he hadn’t even smiled at her quip. A second later, he had whipped out a snowy white handkerchief—
    The sight of it almost had Lace rolling her eyes. Too. Irritatingly. Perfect.
    “Sorry.” His voice was thick with disgust and self-loathing as he gently pressed the hanky to her nose. He was extraordinarily careful as he slowly lowered them to the floor and laid Lace’s head on his lap.
    Her eyes closed. “You know, this happened to my friend, too.”
    “She got hit by a ball?”
    “No. A nosebleed. Her ex accidentally punched her.” The silence that followed was easy to interpret and she grinned. “It was truly unintentional, and my friend told me it had him almost paranoid about touching her for a long time.”
    “I guess it means you two have the same taste in guys.” The words, delivered in a deadpan tone, had her laughing.
When she opened her eyes, Lace found Silver gazing down at her with a stoic look on his face. Slowly, Lace reached up to touch his cheek. Why, she wondered dizzily, did she act so different when she was around this guy? He was not the only beautiful man she knew, but somehow he was the only one who made her heart feel like it was being dribbled at lightning speed.
    “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
    “You’re a bad liar.”
    “I meant, it doesn’t hurt as much.”
    Silence, and then his lips curved the slightest bit, and dammit, it dazzled her still, that sexy little smile of his. “Thank you for wanting me to feel better, but it’s your condition that’s the most important right now.”
    She grimaced at his words, but even so, she reminded him, “It’s not my first time to be hit by a ball on the face, you know.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Probably not the last either.”
    “I’m sorry about that as well.”
    She blurted out, “You’ve got better manners than I do.”
    “Do I?” He was visibly bemused. “Do you mind?”
    Slowly, she shook her head, mumbling, “I think it’s…cool.” God, what was she saying? That ball must