Playing His Way Read online

  As he spilled into her, a groan of satisfaction and a sense of belonging squeezed his chest. And a contentment that was all new to him. Having experienced this level of intimacy with Stephanie, it was all he wanted and all he needed . . . and he fucking hoped she felt the same way.

  * * *

  Stephanie easily could get used to being held in Mac’s arms just like this for the rest of her life. After blowing her mind with a more forbidden pleasure she wanted to get better acquainted with, they were sitting on the red leather couch in the Fifty Shades room, with her cuddled on Mac’s lap. A red blanket was draped over her shoulders, and her head rested on his chest as she listened to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear.

  God, she hoped it wasn’t the last time she’d hear the sound.

  Hating to burst their idyllic bubble, she lifted her head to look up into his handsome face. “Brent . . . we need to talk.”

  His mouth quirked upward, giving none of what he was feeling away. “That sounds serious.”

  It was the same opening to the conversation they’d had at the hospital, and she prayed it didn’t end the same way. “It is.”

  “I have something to say first,” he said.

  She couldn’t deny that his serious expression made her a little nervous, and even though she wasn’t sure she could survive a second rejection from him, she tried to remain calm. “Okay.”

  He released a deep breath before speaking. “So . . . my reaction at the hospital with Kendall’s baby . . . it was part instinctive, and part self-preservation. Instinctive because, yes, I did think I knew what was best for you, because of your age and how old I am and the fact that I’m unable to have kids, which is what most women want.”

  Her first reaction was to argue his statement, but she held her tongue and let him finish because she wanted to hear everything he had to say.

  “And the self-preservation part? Well, the thought of you resenting me in the long run for something I could never give you, and possibly losing you years from now when you realized you wanted something more, made me feel nauseous. Letting you go was my attempt to try and get out of our affair without any emotional fallout,” he admitted. “But the moment I watched you walk away from me, I knew I’d made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Because despite keeping you at a distance for the past year, and swearing this past month was just all about sex and fucking you out of my system, you changed something in me.”

  She blinked at him in hopeful shock. “I did?”

  He nodded, a small smile pulling up the corners of his mouth as he tightened his arms around her. “You made me realize what was missing in my life, even though I’ve spent the past fifteen years swearing I was just fine with the way things were. That it was easier to just spend time at the club with various subs than to risk emotional involvement with another woman who might not be okay with who and what I am. The club and the women there were easy and safe, and at the end of the night, I could walk away.”

  He lifted his hand and gently skimmed his fingers along her cheek. “But you . . . God, Stephanie, from the first moment I met you, you fascinated me and challenged me, and I know I gave off the vibe that the whole situation irritated me, but it’s only because you messed with my head . . . and once we started our affair and we clicked so naturally, then the idea of you in my life started messing with my heart and that scared the shit out of me. In some ways, it still does, but I really want to believe that we can make this work.”

  A glimmer of joy wove through her at all the possibilities ahead of them. “I want to believe that, too, with all my heart, because for the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve found a man who gets me. I meant what I said when I designed this room for the dominant man you are and for the woman I’ve become with you, and only you. I love the dynamics of our relationship, how we can go from respecting one another in the outside world, but when we’re alone and it’s just the two of us, I also love that we can both let down our guard and trust the other person intimately and emotionally. I’m willing to fight for that, Brent. I’m willing to fight for us. But I also have to know that I’m not doing it alone, that you’re going to fight just as hard for me, and for us.”

  The adoring look he gave her told Stephanie that he was all in. “I will. That’s one thing I can promise, because I’m not losing you a second time, because Jesus . . .” He swallowed hard. “I love you.”

  The sound was rusty, but she saw the truth in his eyes and didn’t hesitate to make sure he knew she felt the same way. “I love you, too, Brent MacMillan. We’ll take this one day at a time and figure it out as we go, because that’s what people who are in love do.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a warm kiss on her knuckles that felt very romantic coming from such an alpha man like him. “How lucky am I that you’re mine?”

  She sighed happily. “Very, very lucky, and don’t you forget it.”

  “Never,” he promised, and she believed him.

  Epilogue

  One year later . . .

  Mac leaned against the slider leading to the deck at the back of his beach house, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Stephanie standing at the railing, her gaze on the gorgeous sunset in the distance. Her back was to him, her long, beautiful blonde hair ruffled by the light evening breeze. She’d taken one of the throw blankets from inside and had it wrapped around her shoulders to keep warm while she enjoyed what she deemed her favorite part of the day.

  He smiled, because life was exceptionally good these days, and she was the reason—and because he knew he’d never get tired of seeing this woman in his house. She belonged here, with him. He’d known that months ago, and when he’d initially asked her to move into his place, she’d been thrilled . . . but had also wanted him to be sure that he was ready for such a big change in his life.

  The fact that he didn’t want to wake up another morning without her in his bed and his life in general, told him everything he needed to know. But he loved that Stephanie never pressured him, or put expectations on their relationship. She was content that they were exclusive. That he was hers, and she was his.

  It was Saturday evening, and they’d spent the day with her nieces, who loved visiting and playing on the beach. He’d grown fond of the two girls, and even enjoyed when they occasionally slept over. But he and Stephanie were always happy to have their alone time back. Like she’d told him, it was the best of both worlds . . . having fun for a day with the kids and being able to spoil them, then sending them back to their parents to deal with the discipline and raising them aspect of their lives. The arrangement totally worked for the two of them.

  Stephanie’s company had grown exponentially since the article in the magazine a year ago, and her list of wealthy—and some famous—clients kept on growing. Her business was her baby, and she gave it her all, which was how she embraced everything in her life. This woman of his had so much drive and determination, and those were only two of the many things he admired about her. The fact that she was kind and selfless and made him feel like a king when he was with her were just a few more traits that told him she was the one, and always would be.

  He pushed off the doorway and walked across the deck toward her, and she must have heard his approach because she glanced over her shoulder at him. He’d pay a million bucks every single day to see the adoring smile that curved her lips as their eyes met. And to think that he’d almost been stupid enough to let this incredible woman go. Never again, he vowed.

  When he reached her, he framed Stephanie’s face in his hands and gave into the emotional need to seal his mouth over hers. She instantly leaned into his chest, her lips automatically parting for the slow, sultry slide of his tongue as he deepened the possessive kiss. The soft, sweet moan she made in the back of her throat made his dick instantly hard. No big surprise there.

  A few moments later he lifted his head and recognized what he’d deemed her sex face—the one that told him he was about to get lucky. Slumberous blu
e eyes that revealed she was in a submissive mood—instead of being feisty and giving him a challenge in the bedroom—the flush of desire on her cheeks, and the heat and arousal in her gaze that matched the same need running through his veins. The chemistry between them was still as hot as ever.

  She licked her bottom lip and gave him a coy look that he knew was so not coy, because she didn’t have a demure bone in her body when it came to sex, even when she played the dutiful sub to his dominant demands.

  “Want to go to The Players Club tonight?” she asked huskily.

  Still holding her face, he skimmed his thumbs along her bottom lip. “No. I think I want to have you all to myself, in our playroom here.” The one she’d designed just for the two of them, with all the toys and equipment they liked to play with the most.

  She nipped playfully at the tip of his finger, then licked the pad seductively. “I’m good with that, too.”

  “And when we go into the playroom, there is only one thing I want you to wear.”

  She arched a mischievous brow. “Those leather lace up boots that you love so much?”

  Oh, fuck, those thigh high boots with a five inch spike heel were like pure lust to his cock. “Okay, maybe two things,” he amended. God, he was so fucking easy when it came to her.

  Her smile was a little bit wicked, because she knew how much those boots drove him wild. “What’s the other?”

  He finally let her go and took a small step back, knowing the confused look on her face was about to change . . . to hopefully something that would more closely resemble joy and elation. Reaching into the front pocket of his jeans, he pulled out the small black velvet box he’d tucked there before coming out on the deck. With his heart hammering nervously in his chest, he popped open the lid to reveal the three carat diamond ring he’d had custom made just for her.

  “I want you to wear your engagement ring.”

  She gasped, letting go of the blanket around her shoulders as her hands flew to cover her mouth in shock. Then her wide eyes raised to his in disbelief and so much hope he already knew her answer before he asked the question.

  “Stephanie Randall, will you marry me?” he asked her, his voice strong and clear. “You are everything I’ve ever wanted and needed in my life. I love you so goddamn much and I can’t ever imagine me without you. I want to make you mine, in every way that matters.”

  Moisture shimmered in her eyes. “Brent, I already am yours,” she said in that selfless way of hers. “You don’t have to do this to prove that you love me. I already know, because you show me every single day.”

  Ahhh, this incredible, amazing woman of his. “I know I don’t have to do this, and that’s exactly why I want to marry you. Because you’ve never pressured me, or expected anything more than I was ready to give. But now, I want to give you all of me, for the rest of our lives together. Now answer the question because you’re fucking killing me.”

  She laughed, the joyful sound music to his ears. “Oh my God, Brent. Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!”

  He released the breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. “Thank fucking God.”

  Taking her left hand, he removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger, the massive stone sparkling from the fading sunset. Once he was done claiming his woman, she let out an excited squeal and launched herself against him, her arms wrapping around his neck and her mouth crashing onto his in a kiss that was smoldering hot, exuberant, then softened with so much love his heart almost couldn’t take it all in.

  When she finally lifted her lips from his, she looked at the rock on her finger again and released a happy sigh. “Wow, this ring is going to look amazing with those leather lace-up boots,” she teased as she grinned up at him.

  He chuckled. “It’s going to look even more spectacular when you’re clutching the sheets and your ass is pink from the spanking I’m going to give you for making me wait so long for your answer to my marriage proposal.”

  Then he hefted her over his shoulder like the caveman he was going to be tonight, ignoring her squeak of surprise as he headed to the playroom, where he planned to make his new fiancée scream with pleasure. Multiple times.

  If you enjoyed Mac and Stephanie’s story, please consider leaving an honest review for PLAYING HIS WAY at your e-tailer. It only takes a moment and is very helpful in spreading the word to other readers. Thank you!

  UP NEXT FROM ERIKA WILDE!

  A new sexy series for you to enjoy, starting with Tall, Dark and Charming!

  Aiden Stone loves life as a bachelor and has no intentions of settling down anytime soon. He has a great job and a career he enjoys, and women adore him . . . except for Daisy Parker, who doesn’t seem fazed by his flirtatious attempts or the sexy smile that normally has panties dropping to the floor. She’s a tougher nut to crack, but the fact that she seems immune to his charm only fascinates him more . . . until one hot unexpected encounter with her blows his mind and gives them both more than just a night of pleasure. Because Daisy is now his baby momma, and his life is about to change in ways he’d never anticipated.

  Want to meet Aiden Stone? Order TALL, DARK and CHARMING today!

  To stay up to date on Erika Wilde’s latest releases, please sign-up for her newsletter here:

  www.erikawilde.com/social-newsletter-sign-up

  Other Books in The Players Club Series

  Book 1: Playing with Temptation (Raina and Logan)

  Book 2: Playing with Pleasure (Paige and Sawyer)

  Book 3: Playing with Seduction (Kendall and Jase)

  Book 4: Playing his Way (Mac and Stephanie)

  Other Books by Erika Wilde

  The Marriage Diaries Series

  To learn more about The Marriage Diaries and interact with the series and characters, please like my Erika Wilde Author Facebook Fan Page at:

  www.facebook.com/groups/erikawildesfanclub

  To learn more about Erika Wilde and her upcoming releases, you can visit her at the following places on the web:

  Website:

  www.erikawilde.com

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  www.facebook.com/groups/erikawildesfanclub

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  www.twitter.com/erikawilde1

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