Page 3 of Playing with Forever
I’d clearly been wrong, or maybe my lack of maturity at the time had shown and been part of the problem. I couldn’t pinpoint any one thing, but by the end of that barbeque, it had been clear that something had changed and shifted between us. That what might have started as a mutual attraction had somehow, someway, turned one sided.
Since then, he’d been polite but cool and distant every time we met, even as Madison and Rick’s other acquaintances greeted me warmly. Chase made it almost feel like I didn’t exist for him, and that indifference stung. I couldn’t even figure out a way to ask him, or saylook, let’s bury whatever hatchet this is and play nice, okay?
Over the years, I’d come to realize that Chase was infuriating that way because he never did anything that I could truly call out. Just little things that got under my skin and made it clear that he was avoiding me whenever we were in the same vicinity, and keeping me at arm’s length…and I had no freaking clue why or what I’d done to cause his dismissive attitude.
Annoyed by this unexpected and unwanted surprise, I lifted my chin in determination, because I wasn’t about to let the presence of Chase Noble ruin my evening. I’d come to the Players Club with a singular goal in mind, and that hadn’t changed. There were plenty of other attractive men around, and I put on a sultry smile as one approached me.
The night was young, and before it was over, I was determined to find myself that thrilling, dominant partner I craved to play with…even if that man wasn’t Chase Noble.
CHAPTER2
Chase
Iknew it would sound insane to anyone outside of our family and friend group, but I was genuinely just at The Players Club to have a drink and hang out. Oh, sure, maybe if the right woman caught my eye I’d have some fun, too. I certainly wasn’t opposed to releasing a little tension. But I was there first and foremost to catch up with friends and co-workers in a more relaxed atmosphere, including my brother, Austin. It was always nice to spend casual time with him outside of the hectic pace of the office.
We were sitting in the lounge area, the guys discussing one of the security cases that had just wrapped up while the next show began onstage—a demonstration on Shibari techniques, which wasn’t my thing, but it was always interesting to watch a skilled rigger tie up his partner with intricate knots in pleasurable ways.
That’s when I saw Austin, who was sitting to my left, shift his gaze to someone, or something, behind me. The knowing smirk on his lips definitely didn’t bode well for me.
“What’s that look for?” I asked, taking a sip of my bourbon.
Austin gave me a full-fledged grin. “I just see someone I recognize. You’ll never guess who.”
“If you sayMom, I’m going to strangle you.” It was always a possibility, considering my parents owned the joint with my dad’s best friend, Mac, and they all frequented the club when they were in Vegas visiting.
My brother grimaced. “Jesus, if mom and dad were here, then I wouldn’t be. That’s just way too fucking weird.But, I guarantee someone far more interestingishere tonight. Take a wild guess.”
Clearly, he was goading me. We were two years apart, and he’d been doing annoying shit like that since we were kids. I had always been the more serious one, even before I enlisted in the Navy and that stint had changed my mental disposition and temperament, while my brother had opted for college. Despite being close in age, our personalities couldn’t be more opposite, and Austin had always enjoyed pushing my buttons to get a reaction out of me. The guy was lucky I loved him.
“Austin, please,” I said on an annoyed sigh. “I’m not playing this game.”
“I can really make it a game if you want,” he quipped, his eyes returning to whoever it was that had caught his interest to begin with. “I spy with my little eye…”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I groaned, and looked at the other guys sitting around our table, hoping for a little support. “Please, someone, make him stop.”
“You think we can stop him?” Ford asked me, laughing because he’d seen this sibling rivalry and just how relentless Austin could be. “That drink you’re sipping must be a lot stronger than you realize if you think any of us have that kind of influence over your brother.”
Jaw clenched, I flipped him off. I’d known Ford and the other guys at our table for a couple years now, since I’d moved to Vegas to help open the new branch here for Noble and Associates security firm. I hadn’t expected Austin to tag along with me, of course, but I supposed that was just how it was. Younger brother chasing after big brother. Even after all these years.
“I’m not the one you need to stop,” Austin said, more serious now as he nodded over my shoulder. “Heis, and you’d better do something quick, before it’s too late.”
I frowned, then followed my brother’s gaze because now I was admittedly curious to know what the fuck he was talking about. Shock rippled through me when I saw that none other than Andrea Corbin was here.
Oh, fuck no.
My stomach tightened and heat flooded straight to my dick with a surge of lust. I hated how I couldn’t stop my body from responding every time I saw her, and it didn’t help that she was wearing a short, body-hugging black dress that showed off her perky breasts, highlighted her curves, and exposed way too much damn skin.
Normally, she wore her hair down in loose waves, but the fact that she’d pulled those strands back into a sleek ponytail made me feel a little primal, especially in a place like this. I could easily imagine wrapping my fist around that silken rope, completely controlling her as I forced her onto her knees and did unspeakable things to that lush mouth of hers while she looked up at me with those bright blue eyes, all while swallowing my cock like a good fucking girl.
What the hell was she doing here? Everyone who knew Andrea described her as a bit demure, hardworking, and practical. Someone who kept their head down and stayed out of trouble. But from the moment I first met her, I’d seen that daring spark in her eyes, and it made me think maybe Andrea was someone who liked dancing with fire. That was a dangerous notion for someone like me who liked to deliver the heat in ways that would undoubtedly singe every single one of her sensibilities.
I’d known six years ago that I wanted her. Visions of stealing all that sweetness and innocence and making her sob with pleasure, or whimper from the carefully administered pain I inflicted, made my dick throb. The idea of her beggingplease, sir, another,as I used one of my toys on her, while I corrupted her, was the hottest thing I’d ever imagined in my entire life.
That was exactly why I had to stay away from her. I wasn’t a man that people would describe as demonstrative or emotionally engaged, and I preferred it that way. After the shit I’d endured in the military, I’d learned to keep my feelings locked down tight, for my own sanity. Sex, physical release, was easy, but I was smart enough to know that I wasn’t cut out for any kind of a committed relationship, or even marriage…and girls like Andrea eventually wanted those things.
And ultimately, Andrea was the sister of someone I knew and respected. There was no way I would ever start something with her, only to inevitably disappoint her and potentially cause tension and friction in our extended friend group. Which was why I’d spent the past six years trying to keep my distance from her, even at the expense of making her dislike me. It was safer that way.
Andrea’s light laughter yanked me out of my dark thoughts, forcing my attention back to her and the man who was flirting with her. My jaw clenched before I could stop it. I knew that my brother could see my response, but I couldn’t hide my reaction. Someone as guileless as Andrea had no business being in a club like this. She probably had zero idea how to handle what went on in this place…what depraved men likemedid in the playrooms that were equipped with implements that delivered equal pain and pleasure.
