R. Mathewson - Playing for Keeps

"Then why hasn't she slept with you yet?" she asked, grinning smugly.

Everything in him froze with that question. His eyes darted over to his two friends to see that both men were staring at him, clearly shocked.

"You have absolutely no idea what the hell you're talking about," Jason snapped, trying to ignore the dread that was starting to rise.

They'd been together for two months and never once had he pushed or questioned her about her refusal to sleep with him. Even during those times when he'd thought he'd die if he didn't slide into her he held back. He'd assumed she just wanted to take it slow, make sure that he wasn't going to be an asshole and drop her ass when he got bored with her.

Suddenly he wished he'd asked her why she wouldn't sleep with him the first and only time she'd brought it up instead of just being happy that she was giving him a chance.

"Oh? I happen to know that she hasn't slept with you and has no plans to. She's playing you right now. According to her you just don't measure up to her standards."

Mitch laughed it off. "Sweetheart, go try and play someone else. You don't know shit about what you're talking about."

She cocked a perfectly trimmed eyebrow at him as she stood up. "Don't I? I know she won't sleep with him because she's not in love with him," she announced triumphantly, causing the air in his lungs to rush out of him.

"When you get tired of being played with give me a call," she said, pushing a folded napkin towards him.

He was barely aware of what Mitch and Brad said to her or Mitch grabbing the napkin and tearing it up.

Haley didn't love him.

"Jason, you don't look so good, man," Mitch said, getting up and taking the seat the cold hearted bitch just vacated. He grabbed the pitcher of beer and filled Jason's glass. "Take a drink," he said, shoving the glass at him until he had little choice but to do exactly that.

"Look, I don't know what bullshit she was spewing, but I do know that Haley absolutely adores you," Mitch said in a reassuring voice, scaring the hell out of him. Mitch wouldn't try comforting him unless it was bad.

"He's right," Brad easily agreed. "She's obviously trying to start some shit for Haley. Just ignore her bullshit. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

Jason forced a smile. "Maybe you're right."

Mitch snorted. "Of course we're right. Anyone who's been around the two of you the last two months knows you two can't keep your hands off each other."

But they hadn't made love, Jason thought bitterly. She'd done everything with him but that and now Jason had a sneaking suspicion the reason behind it was no longer so simple.

"Did you order hot wings?" Haley asked, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing a sweet kiss to his cheek.

Brad sent him an "I told you so" look over his beer.

"No, not yet," he said, putting his beer down so he could take her hand into his. His eyes shot past Haley to the table of women who were looking this way and laughing. His jaw clenched almost painfully at the idea of Haley playing him.

Haley of course was oblivious to everything including the change in his mood. "Well, I'm going to go place an order at the bar then. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Jason said, unable to take his eyes of the women laughing at him.

Mitch and Jason must have followed his gaze.

"Don't tell Haley this, but most of her friends are bitches," Mitch said, pouring the last of the beer into his cup.

Normally he'd agree with that, but right now he had a sinking feeling that he was the brunt of a joke. He really couldn't help but feel that Haley might have been playing him this whole time.

There was only one way to find out and tonight he was afraid he'd get his answers one way or another.

"Don't fuck this up," Brad said, no doubt reading the determined expression on his face correctly. "I don't know what's going on between you and Haley, but those women are clearly out to fuck her over. Please don't screw yourself over in the process."

Jason didn't answer right away. He drained the rest of his glass slowly. Finally he put the glass back on the table and sat back, allowing his eyes to search out his little grasshopper. She was at the bar laughing at something Becky the bartender said.

He didn't know what the hell he would do if he found out his little grasshopper was playing him, but tonight he was going to find out.

"Baby, are you okay?"

Jason looked down at her and smiled. "I'm fine," he said, putting his arm around her, pulling her tightly against him as he led her towards her house.

Without a word he unlocked her door. Haley tossed her purse onto the coffee table and headed for her bedroom more than ready to get out of her high heels and skirt.

"Haley?" Jason said, stopping her.

She leaned against the wall as she took her shoes off. "Yes?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "I....I was wondering if you wanted to go for a swim," he said, but Haley couldn't help but feel that wasn't what he wanted to say.

Ever since she came back from the bathroom she couldn't help but notice that Jason was acting differently. He seemed genuinely upset, but denied it anytime she asked. Mitch and Brad were surprisingly tight lipped about it. Every now and then she caught both men sending killing glances towards her friends.

More than once she caught her friends watching them and laughing. She knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help feeling a little paranoid. It was probably nothing.

"A swim sounds like fun," she said, deciding that she'd rather forget about everything else but Jason. "I'll meet you at the pool in ten minutes."

"Okay," Jason said, sounding a little sad, at least she thought he had.

She was being ridiculous, she decided.

Fifteen minutes later she shut the sliding glass door behind her just as Jason broke the water's surface. Even in the dim moonlight Jason was breathtaking. She watched the muscles in his arms flex as he ran his fingers through his short hair.

"The water's great," Jason said, gesturing for her to join him.

She took her glasses off and wished she'd turned on the outside lights as her vision dimmed and became fuzzy. Trying not to stumble, she walked the five feet to the patio table, cautiously, and placed her glasses down.

Unfortunately for her the time it took to put her glasses down hadn't helped her eyes adjust to the dim light. She didn't want to wreck a romantic midnight swim by throwing on the flood lights, but she also didn't think falling flat on her face was exactly romantic either.

Why couldn't she be a candidate for laser eye surgery?

She sighed heavily as she turned around, fully prepared to throw on the flood lights and wreck another romantic evening thanks to her poor eyesight when strong wet arms scooped her up.

"Don't worry, my little grasshopper, I've got you," Jason whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Maybe we should turn on the lights," she grumbled unhappily. "I can't see a thing," she admitted quietly, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment. It was just another reminder that she wasn't sexy or desirable.

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you," Jason promised as he carried her to the pool and helped her into the lukewarm water.

While Jason lowered himself into the pool she dove beneath the water to wet her hair. When she came back up ten feet away she smoothed her hair back and squinted.

"Jason?" she said, trying to separate him from the rest of the dim shadows. She really could not see a single thing out here. Maybe she should-

A small startled scream escaped her as warm arms wrapped around her from behind. Jason chuckled softly in her ear. "Did I scare you?"

"No," she lied.

"I'm sorry," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Do you forgive me?"

She huffed out a breath. "No."

"What if I promise not to do it again?" he asked, sounding amused.

"I'd break out the fists of fury because we both know you'd be lying."

"We wouldn't want that." He chuckled.

"No," she sniffed, "we wouldn't."

"Then perhaps you'll let me make it up to you with a kiss?" he said, already pressing wet kisses to her neck. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back and to the side to give him better access.

"I suppose that would be acceptable," she said, biting back a small moan of pleasure as Jason ran his hands down her hips and over her thighs before bringing them back up again.

"That's very kind of you," Jason whispered hoarsely, tracing his tongue up her neck, taking her earlobe into his mouth and sucking it.

His hands skimmed up her sides almost teasingly, ending just below her breasts before they glided down to her hips. Haley reached up with one hand and gripped his wet hair, yanking him down for the kiss he promised her.

He devoured her mouth on contact. His tongue pushed its way inside of her mouth and she welcomed it, suckled it, loving the way he groaned with every little teasing lick and suckle.

Feeling a little daring, she reached up with her free hand and released the front knot that held her bikini top closed. Releasing his hair she shrugged the top off, letting it fall between their bodies.

Her nipples hardened instantly from the mixture of water, cool air, and desire for this man. It felt so good, but she needed more. Placing her hands over his where they still rested on her hips, she gently tugged them up, gliding them over her wet body until they were where she wanted them, needed them.