Playing to Win (The Players)
Playing to Win: Chapter 2

Ruby Maguire is a hot piece of ass.

That sounds shitty as hell, even in my thoughts, but it’s true. She’s got on a pale blue, tight in all the right places dress and it shows off her assets to the best of its ability. Meaning, she looks sexy as fuck tonight. Might be the sexiest girl at this party.

And that’s saying something. There are a lot of beautiful girls here—both in this house and on campus in general. I should know since I’ve talked to a bunch of them and the night is still young. But most of them…I’m not really into. They’re either too shallow or too grabby or scarily possessive and/or obsessive.

Some of them are flat out dumb, which is mean of me to think, but damn, it’s true. And then there are others who are way too smart and onto my game so I leave them alone. They know what I’m about.

Which is absolutely nothing. When it comes to women, I’m not serious. Not even fucking close. Coming here to Colorado University after growing up in a super small town with conservative parents who tried their best to shelter me, while attending a tiny high school, I turned into a kid at a candy store. Only my candy of choice is women.

Lots and lots of women.

I know how to have fun and I know when to be serious. School and football? I’m serious as hell. Women and partying? Fun. I work hard and play hard, and so far, it’s working out for me.

But shit is about to get even more serious come next year. I’m a contender for being the starting quarterback, taking Cam’s place. And while I’m positive I can handle it and even more positive I’ll get the coveted position, nothing in life—or football—is guaranteed.

Which means when spring hits—hell, when we return next semester—I’m going into full-blown serious mode. Right now, though?

It’s fun all the damn time. I have a small window and I’m taking advantage of it.

Maybe I can have some fun with Knox’s little sister. I might be an idiot to even consider it, but as I sit here listening to her explain her situation and how she doesn’t even go to this school, she’s sounding more and more…

Perfect.

The ultimate one-night stand. Have a little fun with Ruby, fuck her on the bathroom counter, maybe while we ring in the new year together, and then I’ll never have to see her again. Knox is graduating. Blair should still be around next year, but Ruby won’t be.

Sounds like the ideal way to spend the last night of the year.

“I’m feeling lonely,” I say when Ruby pauses to take a breath. She’s a talkative little thing, which makes me think she’s nervous. I pat the empty spot next to me on the couch. “You should join me.”

A delicate brow lifts and she crosses her arms, plumping up her tits. My gaze drops, lingering. “Does that work on other women?”

“All the time,” I drawl, smoothing my hand over the couch. “Come on, pretty girl. Join me.”

“Pretty girl? What, am I a parrot?” Both brows are practically to her hairline now.

I keep the smile on my face, not deterred by her sassy mouth. Her body leans forward, like she’s subconsciously drawn to me, so I know I’ve got her. I just need to be a bit more persistent. “If you say so. And might I add, you’re the prettiest parrot I’ve ever seen.”

“What’s with the parrot talk anyway? Are you a pirate?”

Now I’m the one with raised eyebrows. “Of course not.”

She remains quiet. Just sends me a look that says, okay? Like she doubts me.

What the hell?

“I’m definitely not a pirate,” I continue.

“If you say so.” She tilts her head to the side, her long blonde hair sliding over her shoulder. It looks soft. I bet it’s silky to the touch.

I have the sudden image of wrapping those wavy strands around my fist and giving them a hard tug. All while I fuck her from behind.

Damn.

“You sound disappointed,” I say when she remains quiet.

“I can’t figure you out.”

What’s she trying to figure out? We only just met.

I flex my wrists, lifting my hands, though I keep my arms planted on the back of the couch. “What you see is what you get, babe.”

I sound like an absolute cheese monkey. I’m trying to impress this girl, yet I’m saying stupid shit. I really need to know when to stop.

But she does the most surprising thing. The very last thing I expected. Without warning, she settles in right next to me, so close our thighs are pressed together on the couch. The moment her warmth seeps into me, I’m on high alert. My arm falls from the back of the couch to settle around her shoulders and she doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.

See? I knew she’d come around.

“You’re a giant flirt,” she tells me, and I open my mouth to argue with her, but she keeps talking. “Which is fine. I like it. You’re actually just my type.”

“You’re just my type too,” I tell her, leaning into her so I can murmur those words close to her ear.

“What’s your type? A willing female?” She leans back some, as if she needs the distance, our gazes locking. “By the way, I can feel Cam’s death glare penetrating my brain.”

We both turn our heads to replace Cam staring at us, Blair hanging all over him. She’s another hot piece of ass, but I would never ever utter those words out loud. First of all, I’m never going to disrespect my number one QB’s girl and I like her as a person. Second, Cam would hand me my ass and make me eat it for lunch if he ever heard me say that. He’s a grumpy son of a bitch.

And if Cam didn’t beat my ass, Knox would and he’s another grump, though he’s not as bad as Cam.

Honestly? I can’t wait for the seniors to graduate so I can slowly but surely take over the team. I’ll be a junior this upcoming season. Ready to lead our team and make it a well-oiled machine that takes us all the way to a bowl championship. It’s going to happen.

I can practically taste it.

“Ignore him,” I tell her, my attention zeroed in on her face. She’s cute, not one of those sisters who looks like her brother wearing a wig.

Thank fucking God.

Her lips are coated with a faint pink, glittery shine and her eyelids are covered with a pale blue shadow that matches the dress. I just impressed myself that I even noticed. She looks good with the makeup, but I’m guessing she looks just as good without it.

I’m not anti-makeup, but some women wear it so thick it’s like a mask, when that shit is absolutely not necessary. They take the cosmetics off and it’s like I’m looking at a whole different woman. Sometimes I even feel tricked.

That won’t happen with Ruby though. She’s hot. Pretty. The dress she’s wearing has a low-cut neckline that shows off the tops of her tits and I can tell…she’s not wearing a bra.

Nice. Easy access. I’m all about that.

The dress hits about mid-thigh and when she sits, the hem rides up, showing off her slender legs. Wonder if she’s got panties on.

Wonder if she’s going to let me check.

I must stare at her thighs a little too long because she begins to laugh, murmuring, “Are you Superman?”

My gaze jerks to hers, guilt flooding me. “What do you mean?”

“Do you have X-ray vision?” She tilts her head again, all of that blonde hair spilling down her back and this time, I give in to my urges and touch it, slipping my fingers into the silky strands, making her breath hitch in her throat. “It’s like you’re trying to see what’s under my dress.”

“Ah. No.” Well. Yeah. But I’m not going to admit that.

“Oh.” She sounds almost disappointed.

“Wouldn’t mind sneaking a look though.” I lick my lips for emphasis because yeah, sometimes I can be a prick.

An over-sexualized, looking to get in a girl’s panties, prick. I can’t help it. I’m young and horny and women are throwing themselves at me constantly, thanks to being on the football team. How can I resist? I never tell them lies. They know what they’re getting when they’re with me. A good time. A quick fuck.

Then it’s adios, baby. See ya around campus.

Ruby’s gaze flickers in Cam and Blair’s direction for the briefest second before she rises to her feet and bends over me, the front of her dress dipping, giving me an excellent view of her chest. Her tits. She’s definitely not wearing a bra, and I think I can see her nipples. “Come on.”

She grabs my hand and I let her pull me to my feet, which is impressive because I’m not small. I’m tall and I weigh a lot and it’s all solid muscle. But she comes from a legacy football family, so maybe she’s used to big dudes like me.

Ruby keeps my hand in hers and drags me through the house, her steps determined. All sorts of people yell out my name in greeting as we pass. Male or female, it doesn’t matter. They all want to talk to me. They all act like they want a piece of me.

But Ruby won’t let me linger. She’s stronger than she looks, pulling me through the room. I have no idea where she’s taking me. Pretty sure she doesn’t know either, but within seconds, we’re in a cramped box of a bathroom and she practically shoves me against the door, her body pressing into mine as she murmurs, “Show me what you’ve got, big boy.”

Big boy?

Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around her waist and maneuver us so she’s the one with her back against the door, her eyes wide when she tilts her head back, our gazes clashing.

We stare at each other, as if we can’t look away, and I reach out, tracing the neckline of her dress with my index finger, goosebumps rising on her flesh where I touch her. Her skin is so damn soft and I swear I’m witnessing her nipples tighten into hard points beneath the fabric the longer I touch her.

Her gaze still locked on mine, she sinks her teeth into her lower lip, her breaths starting to come faster. Damn, she smells good. Sweet and heady, reminding me of candy, and I inhale deeply, breathing in her scent. The pulse at the base of her neck is fluttering wildly and I’m tempted to kiss it.

I’m tempted to kiss her everywhere.

She tips her head back, a soft exhale leaving her when I lean in closer, my mouth hovering above hers, sharing the same breath with her for a beat. Two beats.

Anticipation curls through my veins and I dip my head, about to kiss her when—

The door swings open, shoving Ruby into me, me stumbling backward with her practically on top of me, my ass hitting the edge of the bathroom sink. The redhead I was talking to earlier is standing there in the slightly open doorway, a sly smile stretching her lips just before they form an O, her eyes comically wide.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She hides the laughter that spills from her lips with her fingers.

Ruby disentangles herself from me, straightening her dress before she brushes her hair away from her face. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks frazzled and I sort of want to tell the redhead to get the fuck out of here, but that’s mean as hell, so instead, I just shrug at her.

“It’s all good,” I say, my voice easy, my manner much the same because what’s the big deal? I can sneak Ruby into another room in the house and we can continue what we started later.

“I need something to drink,” Ruby mutters, pushing past the redhead and exiting the bathroom without another word for me.

Huh.

The redhead watches her go—damn it, I wish I remembered her name—before she turns her attention to me. “Looks like you got ditched.”

“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my head, my butt still propped against the edge of the counter.

She shuts the door behind her, leaning against it with a sultry smile on her face. “I can pick up where you two left off.”

Say what? This type of girl is always surprising to me. She has no clue if I was kissing on Ruby just moments ago. For all she knows, I had my tongue shoved down Ruby’s throat and my fingers inside her pussy. She literally has no idea. Yet she’ll happily offer herself up to me and that’s kind of wild.

Okay fine, it’s really wild.

“Thanks, but no.” I rise to my full height, ready to get the hell out of there, but the redhead slaps her palms against the door, like she’s not going to let me get by her.

“It’s almost midnight.” Her smile is now overly bright. “We can ring in the new year together.”

“Maybe.” I pull my phone out of my pocket to check that yep, it is close to midnight. “I need something to drink too.”

“Let’s go then.” She shifts away from the door and opens it for me and I have no choice but to walk out, the redhead right by my side.

I need to lose her. Fast. I need to replace Ruby.

Where the hell did she go?