CHANGING THE PLAYER: Charleston Pirates #1 by Chance, Jacob (digital e reader TXT) 📕

“D, don’t ask me that.”

Darren stares at me, the whites of his eyes exposed. “Oh fuck. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

His question throws me. Am I in love with Nadia? Every minute we spend together is better than the last. Making love to her was the most incredible sexual experience I’ve had, but what I feel for her goes beyond the physical. I could live without having sex with her if I had to, but I can’t imagine not having her as the special person in my life. Jesus. I guess I am in love with her.

Darren slaps my arm to get my attention. “Did you just have a conversation with yourself? I swear I could see about twenty different emotions flash across your face.”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“Yeah, you had a conversation or yeah, you love her?”

“Both.” I swipe my forearm across my forehead, panicking. “What the fuck am I going to do?”

“Why are you losing your shit? Isn’t that what you wanted when you started dating her?”

“I didn’t really think about it,” I confess. I can’t tell him the truth about how we came to be a couple.

“Typical Flynn move. Why think about anything ahead of time?”

“Darren, shut up. I don’t need to be kicked right now. I’m trying to come to grips with the fact that I’m in love with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

“How is that a bad thing? You just said she’s amazing. At least you’re not in love with a woman who’s horrible.”

“I know, but what if she doesn’t feel the same?”

“There’s only one way to know that, Flynn. You have to confess how you feel about her.”

“What if she doesn’t say it back? I’ll be devastated. I’m not sure I can take that kind of rejection.”

“Look, you can’t go through your entire life not caring about a woman because it makes you vulnerable and you fear rejection.”

“You’re one to talk,” I toss back. “You’re not much different than me. You just go about fucking around more quietly.”

“Just because I don’t put my love interests out there, doesn’t mean I don’t care about anyone.”

“Who is she then?” I prod.

“It doesn’t matter, because nothing will ever happen with the woman I want.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“Look, I’m not ready to have this conversation with you. Right now, we’re dealing with your problems. You need to get over your childhood bullshit, bro. We all have some to deal with.”

I scowl at him. “You’d make a shitty-ass therapist, but I get what you’re saying.”

“Then suck up the hurts from the past and get on with your life with Nadia. You deserve to have a woman to love and a family to call your own.”

“Thanks, man.” I hold my hand up and he slaps his into mine, his grip strong.

“We’re getting too old to dick around.”

“So get off your ass and go after the woman you were talking about,” I say.

“I wish it were that easy. I’m not sure there’s a future in the cards for us.”

“Don’t lose hope. If I can find a woman to love, anyone can.”

Darren drags in a deep breath before exhaling and mumbles, “Loving her has never been the problem.”

Leaving him alone with his thoughts, I try to plan out how I’m going to have a heart to heart talk with Nadia. I bounce back and forth between just spitting the words out without preamble or keeping my feelings close to the vest for now. When the plane lands back in South Carolina, I still don’t have an answer for what the best plan of action is.

* * *

Nadia greets me at the door, jumping into my arms, and I kick the door closed behind me. She wraps her legs around my hips and her arms around my neck. “I missed you,” she whispers, joining her mouth to mine before I can reply.

Spinning around, I press her back to the door and devour her mouth like a starved man. It’s only been a little more than forty-eight hours since I’ve seen her, but it feels like much longer.

Pulling back from her lips, I smile down into her upturned face. “I missed you more.”

“Don’t be so sure about that. I slept until noon today. If that doesn’t say how out of sorts I was without you, I don’t know what does.”

“You must’ve needed the rest,” I say, tapping her on the nose with my fingertip. “I don’t think you’ll be getting much sleep tonight, so consider sleeping in this morning as preparation for what’s to come.”

“Don’t you mean who’s to come?” she jokes.

“Something smells delicious, but it’s going to have to wait.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Her eyes sparkle with desire.”

Hands braced under her ass, I carry her to the island and carefully set her down. Placing a hand in the center of her chest, I gently push, urging her to lie down across the marble slab. Once she’s flat on her back, I grip the waistband of her black yoga pants and peel them down her long legs. My words halt in my throat and my thoughts are a jumbled mess all because she’s not wearing any panties.

Dragging one of the barstools in front of her, I settle on the metal surface. Placing a hand on each of her inner thighs, I shove them apart before leaning forward. “I’ve been starved for a taste of your pussy. I’m gonna bury my face between your legs and never want to come up for air.” I swipe my tongue from the back of her slit all the way up to circle her clit.

“Oh God,” she croaks, clutching my head.

“I’m just getting started.” Sinking two fingers inside her, I hook them and rub the spot that’ll make her legs shake. At the same time, I focus my mouth on her bundle of nerves, flicking my tongue against the swollen flesh until she’s mindlessly thrusting her hips. “You taste incredible,” I mutter against her smooth mound before my lips draw