Twisted Collide: The new sports romance in the Redville Saints series
Twisted Collide: Chapter 38

Hours later, I’m driving to the address he gave me. The day went by pretty fast. I kept busy researching social media accounts for other sports teams to see what they were doing for marketing. I didn’t limit myself to just hockey but did a deep dive into all sports—soccer, football, and hell, I even looked up rugby even though I know nothing about the sport.

After I was done, I read, my personal favorite being fantasy romances, usually with an ancient Greek twist.

A laugh bubbles, no time to think about that right now, I need to focus on tonight and not on the book I’m reading.

I’m wearing a short floral dress. It’s innocent yet sexy, the perfect combo for a night in at his place.

For some reason, I’m nervous.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been alone together, but it’s the first time it’s planned.

It’s been spontaneous every time we’ve been together, but not this time. Will that ruin the excitement?

Or will he rip off my clothes?

My stomach tightens as his house appears in front of me.

It’s a large, beautiful, modern white house with floor-to-ceiling windows and no soul.

It’s so different from my father’s house, the type of house where you can raise a family. A bitter barb jumps onto my tongue, but I push it back. Tonight isn’t about my father.

It’s about Dane and me, so despite my curiosity about the cold nature of his house, I push the thoughts away.

Once I’ve pulled up to where the front door is, I throw my car in park and head toward it.

The soles of my shoes click on the stairs as I go to knock on the front door. Hand raised, I don’t even get to knock before it’s being opened.

Dane stands in front of me, hair still wet from a shower, in a thermal shirt and jeans. I can smell the faint scent of soap . . . it smells so good; I want to burrow myself into his neck.

Damn.

He looks good.

Tall and handsome.

A five-o’clock shadow dusts his face.

Despite being in his house, he still appears grumpy, with no smile on his face.

He steps back and allows me to enter, and when I do, I let out a small gasp. This place is gorgeous. It’s large and open.

Dane steps up to me, and I step back.

That makes him smirk, and I raise an eyebrow at him. “What?”

“Now that you’re here, are you going to play this game?”

“And what game is that?”

“That you don’t want to come all over my cock.”

I open my mouth to say something, but before I can get the words out, he pulls me toward him. Then his lips replace mine.

He kisses me as if I’m water and he’s been in a desert. He devours me. Plunders my mouth with his tongue. I sink against him, letting him take over and guide me.

I’m putty in his hands, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

He pulls away, taking a step back. “Let’s get a drink and go over some ground rules.”

I roll my eyes. “And there he is again.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Grumpy Pants.”

He throws his head back and laughs, a sound I don’t hear often, and it warms my belly.

The sound is so beautiful I vow to always try to make him laugh. “Well, we can’t all be hellfire, can we?”

“Nope. That’s my job.” I start to walk, placing one foot in front of the other, and wink at him. “I like Poseidon for you.”

“Poseidon, ehh. Not sure it works?” He lifts his hand in my direction. “I seem to have lost my trident.”

I lift my shoulder. “Well, he is the grumpy one.”

“If I’m Poseidon, who does that make you? Aphrodite?”

“Don’t you mean Amphitrite?”

He shakes his head. “No. Amphitrite ran from Poseidon to the mountains. Aphrodite always ran toward him. Always followed him.”

“Are you saying I follow you?” I place my hands on my cheek, channeling my best Kevin from Home Alone face.

“If the shoe fits.”

A laugh bubbles from my mouth. “I’m actually impressed. You know your Greek mythology.”

“I bet you will replace there’s a lot I can do to impress you.”

I arch a brow. “Such as?”

His lips tip into a sinful smirk. “I’ll show you after drinks.”

With that, he leads me toward a living room. He grabs the whiskey decanter and raises it for me to see. “Whiskey?”

“Interesting choice.” I force a smile. “Do you ever drink anything else—”

“Now, why would I do a silly thing like that?”

“I don’t know, maybe you wanted to live a little . . .” I know I do. “So what are these ground rules?”

I peer around the room, needing something to do with myself while he goes about making us drinks.

After he finishes pouring the two glasses, he hands one to me. I lift it to my mouth and take a sip. I choke at first, and he laughs for the second time tonight. I could die now, knowing I’ve made him laugh again. “Holy heck, that’s strong.”

He shrugs. “I guess it’s an acquired taste.”

“Yep. One I don’t have.” My eyes roll before becoming serious again. “What do you want to talk about?”

“This.” He gestures back and forth between us. “Ground rules.”

I look down at the glass in my hands, and then I look back up. “Okay.”

“No one can know.”

Despite knowing this was most likely how this conversation would go, it still makes my tummy hurt, which is stupid, seeing as it was my idea to embark upon a forbidden relationship.

Dumb girl.

Don’t jump into the deep end if you don’t know how to swim.

I puff my chest out and throw out my best fake bravado. “Obviously,” I respond, rolling my eyes.

All lies.

Even as the words leave my lips, I can feel the lie in the way my heart hammers harder.

It’s pathetic. I practically seduced the man with no-strings-attached sex, and he agrees. But then, what do I want?

Strings.

No. You just want him to fight for you. But of course, he doesn’t want me for more than a quick lay.

No one wants me.

Not my mom.

Not my dad.

I bite the inside of my cheek, needing to ground myself.

“That it?” I add, my voice flat with no emotions despite the way my heart hammers in my chest.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Great, then let’s get to it.” I wink.

If I’m going to be his secret, I might as well play the part.

He walks up to me and takes the glass from my hand; he places both our drinks on the side table before he walks back over to me and sweeps me into his arms.

He walks us into his room and drops me on his bed.

“I want you to strip. All your clothes off.”

I do what I’m told, pulling the dress over my head. Once I’m naked, I look up at him under hooded lids. The dress didn’t allow for a bra, and well, I didn’t have any clean underwear left because that would mean I would have to interact with Sherry.

“Very nice. Now I want you to lean back and spread your legs, Hellfire.”

I do as I’m told. Leaning back on my elbows, I look at him.

He stares at me like a lion waiting to eat his prey.

As he approaches me, he licks his lips. The mere action is decadent. No one should look this sexy; I swear I almost come from just watching him.

He moves to the ground, right beside where my legs hang off the bed, and then he leans forward until his mouth hovers against my skin.

I wiggle my butt closer to the edge.

Giving him better access.

“Good girl.” He slowly kisses up my thigh.

“I want to hear you tell me what you want,” he says.

“Please,” I whisper.

“Please what, Hellfire?” he taunts back.

“Do it now before I combust.”

His steely blue gaze meets mine. “Where do you want me to touch?”

I lift my hips.

“Not good enough. I need to hear your words.”

I close my lids and love and hate him for making me beg.