“Fuck. Let’s go,” he stated throwing money on the table.

“Keiran?” She stepped over to our table just as we were rising to leave. “I thought that was your car I saw outside. How are you darling?’ She moved to hug him but he sidestepped her bringing me with him and headed for the door.

“Take care of yourself, Joan,” he said not bothering to answer her question.

“Tell your uncle to call me!” she called out. I so wanted to know who that was and why Keiran was rude to her. Then again, Keiran was rude to everyone.

* * *

I watched his fingers clench and unclench the steering wheel as we drove.  His mood had shifted from playful to dark and I didn’t know if it was my refusal to have anything to do with him or his run-in with Joan. I was curious what kind of relationship she had with the uncle I have yet to meet.

“Does your uncle have work that keeps him away? I’ve never seen him around.” I decided to start off asking unassuming questions.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Think of it as an interview of sorts.”

“An interview? For what?” He briefly took his eyes off the road and regarded me with narrowed eyes.

“You said you wanted to be friends.” He grunted.

“You are something else you know that?”

I stared at him wide-eyed, projecting innocence. “What do you mean?”

He shook his head and licked those luscious lips and I instantly remembered the way they tasted. Like mint and sin. “Tell you what – we play for your answer.”

“Play?” I watched him warily.

“Basketball. One on One.”

“But you’ll beat me. It won’t be a fair fight.”

“I’ll make it easy.  If you can get two shots before I get ten I will answer your question.”

“It’s just a simple question that needs a simple answer.”

“I’ll sweeten the deal. I’ll answer one question for each additional shot you can make. Two shots get you your first answer. Every shot after that gets you an additional answer to any question you want to ask.”

This could work for me. “Any question?”

He nodded and waited for my answer. “What do you get out of it?” There had to be a catch, I thought as we pulled into his driveway.

“If I win then you give us a shot.”

He didn’t hesitate to answer and it was then that I knew I’d been setup.  My heart pounded in anticipation but it wasn’t for the game. “To be friends?” I clarified.

He looked into my eyes and I knew they were exposing my deepest desires and showing him exactly how much I wanted him. The forbidden was always the hardest to fight. I just hope he couldn’t also see how much I hate him.

“You know it will be much more than that but if that’s what you need to tell yourself then fine. Friends.” He sneered the word out, mocking me.

“I could say no,” I stated.

“But you won’t.” His jaw clenched and I could tell he was on edge. He was right. I couldn’t say no. I wanted answers.

“Let’s do it.”

* * *

I was growing frustrated but I refused to quit. Quitting would only mean he would win by default and I wasn’t about to just hand my sanity over to him. I managed to score one shot so far but Keiran had already scored seven. At this rate he would surely win but the fat lady hadn’t sung yet. No way.

I figured if I stopped staring at his biceps long enough I could score a few more shots. He changed into a muscle shirt before we started playing and I’d been drooling ever since. After seeing the fierce way he played with Keenan and the skilled way he way he played at the game I knew he was taking it easy on me but I still couldn’t deliver.

“Foul!” I called after he slapped my ass and took a shot. Eight. He grinned and dribbled the ball between his legs watching me.

“Doesn’t that mean I get a free shot?”

“Nope. That just means you get the ball. He passed it to me and I quickly took a shot before he could try to steal it from me. It bounced off the rim and he was there to catch it, dunking the ball and scoring his ninth shot.

So much for taking it easy.

“Why are you toying with me?” I heard the whine in my voice and cursed. I sounded like the numerous bimbos at school. I always thought they were born like that but maybe it was just male attention that made them act like that.

“I’m not. You’re giving up.”

“And you’re cheating.”

“I’m fighting for what I want. Are you?” He raised an eyebrow and wiped the sweat off his forehead with his shirt.

I got a peek at his glistening abs and felt my own tummy flutter. I touched my stomach, feeling the soft skin. He was hard where I was soft. Sculpted where I was smooth. I longed to rub against him to compare the difference.

“I can always show you more. Just say the word.” Shit. He caught me staring. I dropped my hand and got my head back in the game.

I was dribbling the ball fighting to keep the ball as he kept guard on me. We were close. Real close. Our breath mingled and our bodies touched. I grew hotter from a different kind of heat when my hip lodged into his groin.

“You know what I think? I think what you really want is to give in but you want the decision to be taken away from you so you won’t feel so guilty.”

I faltered and lost the ball to him as he effortlessly took a shot. I heard the telltale swish of the net signaling that he’d just won out match. The world seemed to stop until it was only us as we stared at each other. He was gauging my reaction and I knew he saw my need when his eyes darkened with lust.