First Time Player

Title: First Time Player 

Author: Poppy Parkes 

Genre: Contemporary Second Chance Romance 

Release Date: December 22, 2018 

Cover Designer: Angela Haddon Book Cover Design 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

It’s their first time — in more ways than one. But will that be enough to make their second chance at love last?

Ana has worked hard — and endured a lot of b.s. — to establish herself as owner of the best damn video game store in town (if she does say so herself). She’s at the top of her game, nerd pun intended, but she can’t help longing for love. At the same time, she can’t decide if true love really exists, thanks to all the basement-dwelling, toxic, doxxing men she’s had to handle in her line of work. Then she runs into Wes, her secret high school crush, at a gaming con. The sweet desire she felt for him as a teen has transformed into an overwhelming, magnetizing attraction, and Ana doesn’t know if she should resist it or abandon herself to it. But Wes has his own secrets, and his own doubts. If Ana breaks all her rules and gives into her hunger for him, will he meet her there or break her heart? First Time Player is a sweet and sassy second chance instalove nerd romance from the author of The Light Between Us books and will be sure to please fans of quick ’n’ dirty love stories.

CHAPTER 7

WES

“And you, Wes — what do you want to do with me?” Her words were heavy with a bold and unabashed hunger. And yet they held a barely perceptible tremble of vulnerability that made Wes want to cradle her body close, not to blend their flesh into one — although he certainly wanted that, too — but to protect this woman whose brisk exterior only served to shield the sensitive soul it housed.

Some ancient instinct deep within him rose, wanting to be not only her lover but also her defender. I wondered if she would allow me to be either, or if she only wanted me for the night.

He thought about how, over the course of his life to this point, he’d lucked out on love even while he’d done so well in nearly every other endeavor he put his hand to. But for some reason, he seemed to attract women that only wanted what they saw without attending to his heart. They wanted his body, but for one night or two.

Wes wanted more. He wanted a woman who would let him pursue her, romance her, win her hand. He wanted a woman who would fall back in love with him, with his heart and mind. A woman to share life with.

He knew exactly what he wanted, and what most women offered him? That was exactly the opposite of his desires, and he never said yes to that which was not right for him.

So he’d retained his principles — and also his virginity.

Wes swallowed hard. He wondered if he, inexperienced as he was, could give Ana what her dark eyes were asking him for. And at the same time, everything in him longed to try.

He didn’t know if she wanted him for this night or a string of nights or for forever. She probably didn’t know herself.

But for some reason, with her, he didn’t care. Unlike every other woman who’d wanted him, he didn’t give a shit about how long Ana wanted him for. He would take anything and everything she was willing to give him.

Because this connection, this pull to each other that they both clearly felt — and had been feeling for a long time? He couldn’t walk away from it. He wouldn’t.

He looked at their fingers twisting together, and then at Ana’s eyes, where need and doubt swirled together.

“I want to be as close to you as you’ll allow,” he said, voice husky with his own hunger. “I’ll sit on a bench outside and hold your hand and watch the moon rise and set, or I’ll take you back to my hotel room and make love to you all night. I’ll do anything for you, and with you, Ana. What do you want?”

The worry washed from her eyes, and her full lips turned up at the corners. “I want you to kiss me. Now.”

Wes grinned. “I was hoping you might say that.”

He slid his hands around her waist, fingertips digging into those delicious curves, pulling her to him so that their hips pressed together. She reached up to Wes, clutching his collar and tugging his head down to hers. He hesitated a moment, teasing, lips a breath away, exhalations hot against each other’s faces. And then he tasted her, plying her mouth with his own.

The kiss was soft and hard at the same time, and she tasted like sweet fire and cinnamon. Wes pulled back to press his lips at the corners of her mouth, then crushed back into her full on. She gave a little sigh and yanked on his collar, opening her mouth and teasing his tongue with hers.

He could feel himself growing hard, ready, and he ground his pelvis against hers. She must have felt his arousal, because she grabbed a handful of his ass, drawing his hips into her even more.

Without warning she released him and stepped back, leaving Wes gasping and blinking in shock. The sudden space between them felt cold, drafty, and he longed to return to the heat of their embrace.

“Is everything okay?” he managed, struggling to get his body under control.

A flirty smile flickered across her face. Ana reached out a single hand without stepping closer, taking his.

“More than okay.” Tossing him a last searing glance over her shoulder, she headed for the door of the con bar, leading him by the hand. He followed, eager and willing to submit to her control.

Wes let her lead him through the venue’s foyer and to the main entrance. Here she paused, winding herself around him and flicked her tongue over his lips before diving in for a bottomless kiss that practically made him see stars.

It felt like the kiss lasted a moment, or forever. When she pulled away, she said, voice guttural. “I want you, Wes. Tonight. Take me to your hotel.”

He closed the space between them, cupping her face in his palms and planting blossoming kisses across her cheeks.

And then it was his turn to lead her, fingers entwined, his low belly pulsing with primal desire, ready to let Ana make him hers.

Poppy Parkes is the author of sweet and hot love stories, including THE LIGHT BETWEEN US and FINDING ME AND YOU. Poppy writes, paints, and dreams in Montana, where she raises her two boys. She is in love with luscious color, moon-gazing, and dancing wild. And coffee. And wine. And chocolate. You know how it is.