I felt a buzzing in my pocket and reached down for my cell phone, and I groaned when I saw the number. It was Josh. My heart sank. What does he want? And why does he have to call me now?
I knew if I didn’t answer, he’d just keep trying, so I picked up. “Hi,” I said. “Now isn’t a really good time to talk. If this is about work, please email me.”
“That would be pretty fuckin’ hard to do, considering you never answer your emails,” Josh replied, his voice slurring slightly. I realized he was drunk, and I frowned. It was barely mid-afternoon back in NYC!
“I saw you on TV,” he continued. “You were at some soccer match. They zoomed up on you.”
I winced. I hadn’t thought of that. In fact, during the game, I’d barely paid attention to the cam shown on the big pixelated board. I’d been too busy concentrating on Jay and pretending like I wasn’t.
I bit my lip. “I’m visiting my sister in Manchester,” I said. “I sorted it out with the boss, so if you have any questions, ask him. I’ll be back before we start taping the back-to-school specials.”
“I’m not calling about that,” Josh said. His breathing sounded heavy and ragged. “I’m calling to tell you that you need to come home. You belong here with me and you fucking know it.”
There was a pause, and I didn’t answer. I was too shocked at his incredible arrogance.
“Kate? You still there?”
“Yeah. What on earth are you talking about?” I asked. “I mean…are you kidding me? We broke up. We’re done. We’re not getting back together, and I’m not interested in you anymore!”
Josh laughed harshly. “Yeah, I guess you’re having too much fun whoring yourself out to soccer players,” he said. “If you knew what was good for you, you’d be on the first plane back to America.”
Rage filled my body but I somehow managed to keep my tone curt and polite. “Shows how much you know,” I said. “Over here it’s called football. Bye, Josh.”
Before he could answer, I ended the call and shoved my phone back in my pocket. I was seething mad. Just who the hell did he think he was? And why on earth did he think he could control me like that? I wasn’t his. I’d never even come close to being his, because he’d been such a disrespectful prick!
Jay finally returned, carrying two drinks in his hands, and when he handed me one of the glasses, I threw my head back and sucked every drop of vodka down my throat. The alcohol hit me at once; heady, strong, hot. A pleasantly warm feeling soaked through my limbs, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the familiar sensation of the vodka. When I looked at Jay, all thoughts of Josh slipped out of my head and vanished. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief and desire, and before I knew what I was doing, I leaned up on my tip-toes and crushed my body against his.
Oh, god…
This was a bad idea. I barely knew the guy, and up until a few minutes ago, I hadn’t even liked him. And yet, kissing him was the only thing I wanted to do right now.
Our lips met, and I tasted salt and musk as desire flowed like lava through my body. I wrapped my arms around Jay’s neck, pulling him closer, and as he slipped his tongue between my lips, I moaned softly.
Pulling away, I fixed him with my lustiest gaze. “Come with me,” I said in a husky voice.
Jay looked surprised, but also smug, like he’d won the lottery. He took my hand and I led him through the crowded room. All around us, couples were making out, but I didn’t want to do this in front of a huge crowd of people. I was already anxious about my picture appearing on the big cam at the football match, and the last thing I needed was to be plastered on the cover of some tabloid, wrapped around a Manchester United player.
Jay grinned at me and tugged me through a back doorway until we were alone in a deserted little hallway. My heart was pounding in my chest as I stepped closer and pulled him to me again. His lips were soft against mine, and I felt my lower belly thump with lust as he twined his fingers through my hair and gently tugged at my scalp. Up close, he smelled like spicy cologne and musk, and the scent flooded my senses as I closed my eyes, twisting my head to the side and deepening our kiss.
Jay groaned softly and pulled me close against his rock-hard chest, and his pecs pressed against my chest, making me shiver with the slight stimulation on my nipples. He slipped his hands down my back and kneaded my ass firmly through the jeans. It felt incredible, and I spread my legs, allowing him to nudge one of his muscular thighs between my own.
“Kate,” he murmured into my neck as he nuzzled my skin. “I want you…I really fucking want you.”