Four Play Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’re home,” she said in a sleepy voice.
    He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Yeah, for a few hours anyway.”
    “If I didn’t hurt so much, I’d make the most of those few hours.”
    He frowned. Then he pulled away, staring at her in the darkness. “How come you hurt?”
    “Game. Made me play for you. Got laid out by the catcher.”
    Zoe never was the best conversationalist when she was half asleep. It wasn’t the optimum time to ever get straight answers from her, but he rolled back and reached for the lamp.
    She buried her face in his chest when the light flooded the bed.
    “Damn it, Chase.”
    “Look at me,” he growled.
    She raised her chin, blinking at the light. A bruise marred her jaw, and he touched it gently. She winced.
    “Ow. That hurts.”
    “What the fuck happened? Are you hurt anywhere else?”
    “Sore. Feel like I got hit by a wheelbarrow full of bricks. Mac tried to tag me out at home.”
    “With what, his fists?” Chase demanded.
    She put a finger over his lips. “Don’t snarl. Tate and Brody already crawled all over his ass. He didn’t mean to. Besides, he dropped the ball and we won.”
    He leaned down and brushed his lips across her bruise. “He should have been more careful. I’ll kick his ass when I see him.”
    Zoe snorted. “Leave him alone. He felt bad.”
    He cuddled her to him, then reached back to turn off the lamp. He didn’t like seeing her bruised and was surprised by his reaction to it. He wasn’t used to feeling so possessive of any woman. If asked, he would have classified his relationship with Zoe as fun, extremely hot, but very laid back. She wasn’t demanding—a fact he loved. And she didn’t pressure him to get serious too quickly—another thing he loved. In short, she was the perfect girlfriend.
    But this dark feeling that possessed him the minute he knew she’d been hurt—by another guy—wasn’t comfortable. It wasn’t fun and it wasn’t light. His mind screamed that she was his and no one better lay a fucking hand on her. How messed up was that?
    “Want me to cook breakfast?” she mumbled.
    He smiled and stroked a hand down her back. “No, baby. Sleep in and catch up on your rest. You’ve had a busy few days in the ER. Aren’t you working evening shift tomorrow?”
    “Mmm-hmm.”
    “Sleep tight, then. I’ll see you in a couple days.”
    She nuzzled closer and kissed his throat. “Night.”
     
     
    Nervous bubbles scuttled around Zoe’s belly as she checked her appearance in the dressing room mirror. She’s been careful not to use so much makeup that her identity wasn’t discernible. After all, that was the point. For everyone—especially Chase—to know who she was.
    But now that it was nearly showtime and she was as scantily clad as a stripper—hello, she was a stripper for the evening!—she was having some serious cold feet. Oh not about the idea in general. She was still a big fan of knocking Chase’s socks off, but she hoped to hell she didn’t trip onstage. Or fall off it. Or that the guys didn’t laugh her into infinity.
    Renting out the club hadn’t been cheap, but it beat having the entire town see her naked and gyrating.
    A knock sounded on her door. “You’re up,” the manager called.
    “Oh holy hell,” she breathed.
    She stared back in the mirror, cinched up her top so that a little more cleavage was shoved forward, and then ran her hands over her lean belly to her hips, where the sparkly little tassels flickered in the light.
    She wore only a G-string underneath and so with every movement, her ass was exposed beneath those shimmery little tassels. She wasn’t taking off more than her top. Not that she wasn’t proud of her wax job, and she knew damn well Chase loved it, but some things were too private to be flaunting. Her girly proclivities being one of them.
    With a deep breath, she walked into the hallway and headed in the direction of the stage. She paused at the curtain and then nodded toward the