Playing His Game Part 2

"Didn't I just blow your mind?"

Mya nodded, unable to summon a smile. She tried to recapture her previous enjoyment of Bobby's performance, but she was too preoccupied. How would she tell him? He would be so distraught.

His lower lip sank into a downward curve. "I can tell you loved it." He tossed the expensive red silk s.h.i.+rt

onto the thick gray-green carpeting.

She noticed his sarcasm and forced a smile when she touched his bare arm. "You were wonderful, as always."

"Why didn't you say so before I had to ask you?"

"I've been thinking about something."

His eyes widened. "What could be more important than me?"

"Mr. Thomas called me into his office." She twisted a long strand of hair around her finger nervously. "He

wanted..." She broke off as she searched for the right words. "Well, he started out by talking about you."

Bobby gripped her upper arms. "Really? What did he say? Did he love me?"

"He said he could make sure you have a long career." Mya didn't have a chance to add more.

"Yeah! He loves me."

"But, Bobby..."

"What?"

Mya bit her lip before continuing. "He wants something in return."

"I'll do anything."

"He wants me," she burst out.

Bobby blinked. "What?"

"He wants me to sleep with him to further your career." Mya's eyes widened when Bobby laughed.

"What's so d.a.m.n funny?"

"Seriously, what did he want?"

She glared at him. "He wants me to become his virtual s.e.x slave for the remainder of shoot time."

He finally seemed to realize it wasn't a joke. "But that doesn't make any sense."

She frowned at him with confusion. "Huh?"

"He's surrounded by beautiful women all day. Why would he pick you?"

Tears flooded Mya's eyes.

He awkwardly patted her shoulder. "I didn't mean it that way, babe. It's just he could have his pick of

any starlet. I don't understand why he wants my fiancee."

She sniffled, trying to fight back the tears. Of course, he hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. And he had a point. Why plain old Mya when he could have any woman? "I don't know."

"What did you tell him?"

Instead of answering, Mya said, "He threatened to fire you and demand your advance back. He said

you'd never work again if I said no."

"My G.o.d! He can't do that."

She nodded. "I thought maybe a lawyer..."

Bobby waved his hand. "Too much of a ha.s.sle, and we have no proof." His blue eyes darkened. "I want

you to know that I'm not happy about this, but I won't hold it against you."

Mya stared up at him with a frown. "Are you saying you think I should...?" She shook her head, certainshe had misunderstood. "You really want me to...?"With a solemn expression, Bobby pulled her against him. "I don't think we have a choice.""We can fight this," she said against his bare chest."Mya, we don't have the money for all that. If he fires me and I have to repay the advance, how will we manage? Especially if he ruins my career. I'll have to go back to Serpent Springs with my tail between my legs." He patted her back. "I don't want to share you at all, and definitely not with that perv, but we're both making sacrifices."

She lifted her head and didn't fight the tears. "Not this, please. I'll work two jobs until we have enough to repay him. I'll even borrow money from my folks." The prospect filled her with revulsion, but she would do anything to avoid Thomas' bargain.

His fingers were tender as he touched her face. "I hate this as much as you do."

Her lips trembled as she recognized the acceptance in his eyes. "I can't do it, Bobby. I've never been with anyone else."

"We both promised to do whatever it took to help my career."

She closed her eyes and recoiled from his reminder, but was unable to deny she had made the vow. She

was defeated when she dropped her head against his chest again and sobbed.

"It won't be so bad." Bobby's tone was soothing. "Once it's over, we'll pretend it never happened. It won't change things for us."

How could it not? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Mya knew it was pointless to utter them.

Bobby saw the long-term benefits of a short-term sacrifice. He was right-she knew that. Every fiber of her being protested it was wrong, but she knew it was the only option. She would grit her teeth, endure whatever that Thomas guy had in mind, and think of Bobby every step of the way.

Chapter Four.

First Encounter Mya took a taxi to the apartment on Flower de Boliva and used the key Roarke had given her to open the gla.s.s doors and access the elevator. She took it to the fourteenth floor, where she stepped out into the luxurious hallway. Her sandals sank into the deep carpet, which completely cus.h.i.+oned the sound of each step.

At precisely two-thirty, she let herself into the apartment. She tried to quell her nervous stomach as it protested her presence there. Her eyes widened at the bare living room and kitchen. There were no furnis.h.i.+ngs-not even pictures on the wall or a phone. The only items in the kitchen were a fridge, stove, and dishwasher. The white tile sparkled, and the scent of lemon cleaner still hung in the air.

Her legs shook as she walked down the hallway. Was he here yet? "h.e.l.lo?"

"In here, Mya. The last room on your left."

The sound of his voice made her grimace as she made her way down the bare hallway. Two of the four doors stood cracked open, and each room was bare. A closed door separated her from him in the other room. She knocked on the black wood and felt ridiculously like she waited for someone important to admit her.

"Come in."

She took a deep breath, then twisted the doork.n.o.b and entered the bedroom. This room was furnished with a recliner positioned near the foot of the ma.s.sive bed. He sat with his feet up on the footrest. A gla.s.s of amber liquid rested in the cup holder built into the elegant black recliner. A box lay on the bed.

"Welcome."

She frowned at him, refusing to answer. She didn't care how petulant her behavior seemed. It didn't hurt to remind him she didn't want to be here.

He waved her closer, and her reluctant feet obeyed. When she stood within touching distance, he handed her a sheet of paper. "What's this?" She stared at the crisp, white paper and tried to make sense of the black letters.

"My health report."

She dropped the envelope she held onto his lap before she looked at his page. Mya had no idea how to interpret it, but a.s.sumed he wouldn't have shared it with her if it revealed anything negative.

He opened the envelope and scanned the pages. "Excellent. You're on the Pill, I see."

"Yes."

Roarke took a drink from his gla.s.s. He fidgeted with the envelope, then sat up so abruptly the footrest folded in with a snap. "Would you like iced tea? It's all I have on hand." He winked at her. "I know tea isn't the stiff drink you probably think you need to get through this."

She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. She ignored his banter as she studied him. Was it her imagination, or did he seem lost? Mya dared to hope he had changed his mind. "What now?"

Roarke had fantasized about this moment repeatedly for the last three days, but somehow it didn't seem to be going so well in real life. "Take off your clothes."

Her eyes widened. "Already?"

He shrugged.

She compressed her lips into a straight line. "Fine. Where's the bathroom?"

"Out here."

Mya shook her head.

He grinned up at her. "I only want to see what you're wearing under those shorts and that prim little s.h.i.+rt

you have b.u.t.toned all the way to your neck."

With a glower, Mya unbuckled the belt on her khaki shorts and pulled it off. She maintained her glare when she dropped it on the floor. She tried to blank all thoughts from her mind as she fumbled with the

zipper and b.u.t.ton and pushed down the shorts. She shuddered when his eyes caressed the length of her leg from the hip to her toes in the rope sandals.

"Very nice." Roarke's erection hardened almost painfully, and he wondered if he could stick with today's

schedule of events. "The s.h.i.+rt too."Mya bit her lip as her trembling hands fumbled with the first few b.u.t.tons. She saw his lips part as the s.h.i.+rtgaped open at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She struggled to prevent the flush as it blossomed on her cheeks. She finishedunb.u.t.toning the s.h.i.+rt and let it fall to the floor. I have nothing to be embarra.s.sed about. He's the one who should be ashamed. Her pep talk didn't ward off an attack of self-consciousness as he eyed hercritically.Roarke shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Chain store bra and panties, Mya? It's a crime to cover your luscious curves with plain white cotton."

She tossed her head back and resisted the urge to cover her b.r.e.a.s.t.s when his eyes lingered. "Why does it matter what I wear under my clothes? No one sees it."

"Bobby does."

She lifted a shoulder. "He doesn't care."