Risky Play (Red Card #1)(6)

The elevator dinged at our level, and we stepped off. “I’m just going to . . .” I pointed to my door.

“Nap? Relax? Drink?” he offered.

“Yeah, all of the above,” I admitted.

“See you around, then.” I felt his smile make its way down my body like a caress and then experienced extreme disappointment after I slid my key card and was met with emptiness when the door opened.

This was supposed to be our room.

Our honeymoon.

Filled with champagne and sex, that was what you did on a honeymoon, right?

Like I would even know.

I walked out to the balcony and swim-out pool as the sound of waves crashing against the sand filled my ears.

A chilled bottle of champagne waited with chocolate-covered strawberries.

“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Davis!”

I ripped the card in half, then in thirds, then momentarily lost my mind and imagined setting it on fire, when a voice called out. “Great view, huh?”

Hugo was literally my neighbor except for a partition that blocked him from seeing my pool and into my room.

I gulped and looked out at the ocean. “Yeah, it is.”

“More champagne?” He pointed to my hand still clutching the champagne with a viselike grip.

“Yeah,” I croaked.

“Are you by yourself?” he asked a few seconds later.

“Yes.” Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“Do you want to be?” he asked softly.

I shook my head, no . . .

Just then he hopped over the partition, swept me into his arms, and lowered his head. His mouth was searing hot, his grip tender like he knew my shame, my sadness, and wanted to make them go away the only way he knew how. I clung to that kiss like a lifeline and promised myself I’d do whatever it took to forget Alton—and be the girl of adventure I’d always wanted to be.

I was going to start with Hugo.





Chapter Four SLADE

I was kissing her again.

Maybe it was because it had been months since I’d had a decent kiss, since I’d jumped into the arms of anyone who didn’t know me by name.

I could be Hugo for a few days.

Hugo seemed spontaneous.

Hugo seemed relaxed.

Hugo seemed fun.

I sure as hell needed some fun.

I broke away from her kiss and trailed my fingertips down her chin. “So, now that we’ve established the plane didn’t crash and we’re here side by side, what did you have in mind?”

Ashley grinned up at me, her eyes a bit hesitant as she looked from me to the ocean. “Well, I’ve never gone cliff diving, I heard there’s a great place close by.”

My eyebrows shot up. “No offense, but you don’t seem like a thrill seeker.”

She laughed. I decided I liked the way her laugh relaxed me, made me respond with a smile and a need to kiss her again. “I’m not, trust me.” She sobered a bit. Her lips turned down.

I wanted nothing more than to press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth just to see if it would make her decide to smile in my direction again.

“But it would be fun, I need fun.”

I sighed heavily and looked at my feet. When the hell had I ever looked away like that? “That makes both of us.”

“Great!” She walked ahead of me into her penthouse suite, which matched mine even in color. I suddenly wondered what she did for a living. I mean I could afford it because I had been the highest paid soccer star in Europe for the last ten years. I could literally wipe my ass with hundred-dollar bills on a daily basis and still have money to burn.

The place was around three grand a day.

I eyed the large master suite as she ran around and then held up her hand. “One sec, I’m going to change into a suit, alright?”

“Great.” I smiled reassuringly. It would give me time to look around, not that I was stalking her, but I could never be too careful. I was still surprised she didn’t recognize me. And I knew when she did, this little facade, this freedom I felt in my chest, the easy way she let me breathe around her? It would go to hell, and I’d need another escape.

I thumbed through a few of the magazines on the table, and dropped the last one down just in time to hear the sliding bathroom door open and see a goddess emerge.

A one-piece swimsuit covered her body. It had a plunging neckline that showed off two generously sized breasts, and I immediately regretted not telling her who I was.

Because clothing tended to get pulled off, not put on, when I was in the room.

I eyed the scrap of material she called a swimsuit, my eyes raking over her muscular legs, her curvy body.

“Unless you’re jumping naked, you should change too,” she pointed out, then cleared her throat and looked away like she was insecure. Damn, the woman could make a man cut his own heart out for a taste of her special brand of sin.

I peeled my shirt off over my body and shrugged. “Ready.”

Her eyes went so wide I had to fight not to laugh.

I knew what she saw.

I had fucking Instagram pages dedicated to my eyes alone, don’t even get me started on my abs.

Eight.

Tight, packed abs, all tanned and golden like I was the sun god himself.

“Uh, right.” Her cheeks brightened as she clasped her hands together. “Let’s go!”