Read Online Out of the Game3 by Kate Willoughby - Free Book Online Page A

they all turned out to be upstanding citizens, Claire couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. Like Tim had said, she deserved a little happiness and some fun times. She’d spent ten years restrained by responsibility and obligation, but no longer. She was single. At twenty-nine, she was still young. And damn it, she deserved the chance to kick up her heels with a gorgeous sexy hunk of man for once in her life.
    * * *
    Alex knew something was up the moment he saw Claire’s face when she came back from the restroom. She walked right up to him and said, “We have to talk. But not here. Somewhere more private.”
    “Okay.” Part of him did a victory dance. Anytime a woman wanted to go somewhere more private, the probability of a fuck rose dramatically. However, the look on her face did not scream, “I want you, Alex,” so he followed her, curious as to what the issue was and hopeful it might turn into a make-out session at the very least.
    “What’s up?”
    She had led him to a covered patio near the big house. They sat on a sofa that seemed too nice to be outside all the time. Beautiful potted plants spruced up the area and there was a fire pit, but no fire. He was careful not to sit too closely to her. She seemed to have her feathers ruffled. He schooled his face into something resembling patience and mild curiosity.
    “I’ve decided to go on the trip with you.”
    In his mind, he dropped to one knee and fist-pumped energetically.
    “
But
I have some ground rules,” she said.
    “Okay. Shoot.”
    “We get separate rooms, like you said.”
    “Done.”
    “I also need you to be okay with it if nothing happens. In bed.”
    He smiled. “What about out of bed? Because I’m fine with doing it other places. The shower...the floor...armchairs are good, too.”
    “I mean it,” she said.
    He inhaled, exhaled, then rested his elbow on the back of the couch and leaned toward her. “I know you mean it.”
    “Are you okay with that?”
    “I’m not gonna lie. I’ll be disappointed, but honestly, nothing will happen without your say so. It’ll be like a really long game of Red Light, Green Light.”
    And he expected all green lights because he was this very minute vowing not to rush her. With women, just like in hockey, sometimes you had to have patience. You had to play with that puck a little and wait for the perfect opportunity, because when it finally went in, nice and slick, it was fucking amazing.
    “All right. Separate rooms. Possible platonicality. Anything else?” he asked.
    “Not that I can think of right now.”
    “Okay. I have one rule of my own.”
    She cocked her head at him. “What is it?”
    “That you kiss me good-night, every night.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Can it be on the cheek?”
    “If you want to chicken out like that, sure. Cheek kisses can count. Any contact with your mouth on my skin will count.”
    He noticed her nostrils flare. He wasn’t sure if that was because he’d called her a chicken, or if she was thinking about her lips on his skin, because
he
sure was. He was thinking about her kissing his neck, licking and biting her way to his mouth. He was thinking about her big tits, all nice and soft against his chest. How great it was going to feel when he finally pushed himself into her tight, wet body.
    “All right,” she said.
    He smiled.
    Game on
.

Chapter Eight
    The very next day, Claire woke to her cellphone ringing. Her first thought was of Erin and Tim and that something had gone wrong with their honeymoon, but it wasn’t the newlyweds. It was Alex.
    “How soon can you get ready for breakfast with me?”
    Claire glanced at the clock—seven o’clock in the morning. “Alex. I need at least two hours. It’s too early. Especially after the wedding last night.”
    “I can’t wait. I’m too excited. Let’s go to breakfast and make some plans.”
    “Oh, God.”
    “You’re not a morning person?”
    “Not particularly.”
    “Come on. I know the perfect place