Game (Gentry Boys, #3)(12)

When my hands went around her slim hips I let my thumbs graze her until she started moaning lightly. Then I did what I’d wanted to do since the first day of class in August, before I even knew her name, before I knew that she was anything more than just some tempting chick sitting three rows in front of me in the lecture hall.

“Holy shit!” I yelled as I got deep. I couldn’t remember when the first thrust had ever felt this f*cking good. But I also couldn’t remember a time when I’d held out so long for a girl I was into. Sex was never exactly the same from one girl to the next but they were all similar enough that I couldn’t be bothered sorting them out in my head. Getting into Stephanie was different. Maybe because I’d spent a lot of time desiring her, thinking about her. I wasn’t used to that.

I forced myself to slow down, trying to savor everything about this. Stephanie clutched me tighter and spread wider, unable to stop herself from crying out.

“Chase!” she shouted and then shuddered as she came again.

“Fuck,” I groaned and couldn’t hold out any longer. I came so hard I felt like I was inside out.

When I finally withdrew we were both shaking and sweaty. She turned her head to the side, her hair over her face as I checked the state of the condom. I was afraid it might not have held up but it was fine. I got rid of it and ran my knuckles over her smooth cheek.

“Damn, girl,” I said softly but she pretended she didn’t hear me. She pulled the comforter over herself and continued to face away. I propped myself up on an elbow and tried again.

“Stephanie.”

“Your phone keeps ringing,” she said in a toneless voice and I frowned. The damn thing had been blowing up for the past ten minutes but it was the lowest of priorities at the time. With a sigh I grabbed my pants off the floor and fished out my phone. Creed was calling.

“What?” I growled.

The grumpy gorilla growled right back at me. “What do you mean ‘what’, shithead? You disappeared an hour ago.”

“You can’t live without me for a little while?”

“Reception’s wrapping up and Cord’s been looking for you. So quit wandering around the goddamn casino and get your ass back here.”

“Despite the fact that you are way too attached to my ass, Creedence, I’ll be back down in a few minutes.”

Suspicion crept into his voice. “You are in the casino, aren’t you?”

I glanced at Steph. She sat up, her lower body covered with the comforter, her arms hugging her knees. She still wasn’t looking at me.

“Yeah. I’ve been sticking quarters in the slot machines. Now get off my case and tell Cord I’ll be down soon to kiss the bride.”

I hung up and started pulling on my pants. In the background the baseball game had already concluded. The Dodgers were headed to the World Series.

I reached for Stephanie. “Let’s go downstairs. Maybe they saved some cake for us.”

“No,” she grimaced, her pretty face troubled. “I’m done being dressed up for tonight.”

“I didn’t say you have to dress up. I like what you’re wearing now.”

She glared and pulled her blanket tighter. “I’m naked from the waist down.”

I laughed. “That’s why I like it. Seriously, just throw on your shorts and come with me.” I sat down at her feet, reached for her hand. “Let’s make a night of it, Steph. Come on, we’re in Vegas. Anything you want, baby.”

Her face reddened and she took a deep breath. I didn’t know what the hell was up with her, other than the painfully obvious fact that she didn’t f*ck around on a regular basis. She gave me an arch look. “I just want to get some sleep.”

She meant it. Stephanie had sunk back into her ‘Chase Sucks’ habit and I didn’t have time to beg for her attention right now.

“All right,” I shrugged, taking my hand away.

She sniffed. “And just so there’s no confusion, I won’t be answering my door tonight.”

My words were sharp. “What the hell makes you think I’ll be knocking?”

It was the wrong thing to say. She flinched, hugging her knees closer. I should have known better. Her bitchy behavior was only skin deep.

“Steph,” I started to say, but she threw a pillow at my face.

“Get lost, Chase.”

I tried to make a joke. “That would be tough, sweetheart. I possess keen navigational instincts. They are unlikely to fail me suddenly.”

“FUCK OFF!” she yelled.

“Jesus.” I stood up. The walls were thin and the last thing I needed was some nosy screwball to call security. I grabbed my shirt off the floor and started heading to the door. “You ever decide to lighten up and behave halfway decent, give me a call.” I turned around, my hand on the doorknob. I didn’t really want to leave her. And if she had just given me the smallest sign that she wanted me to stay I would have, no matter who pitched a shit fit.

But Stephanie Bransky had gone ice cold. For some reason she’d made the choice to close herself back up and feel nothing. It seemed impossible that barely ten minutes ago we were locked together in primal ecstasy.

“Good night, Stephanie.”

“Goodbye, Chase.”

As I walked down the long corridor I was bothered. There were only a handful of times over the years that a girl had kept my attention for more than a few short weeks. Even those weren’t memorable. The strange thing was, sometimes it really appealed to me; the idea of building something that would last with someone I was actually excited to see every day. It didn’t shock me when Cord got knocked on his ass by Saylor. It had been a little jaw dropping to watch Creedence fall in love. I thought I would be more likely to catch him French kissing a diamondback rattler than saying ‘I love you’ to a female.