Night Games (13 page)

Startled, he stopped to stare at her. “I don't ‘feed' fantasies to women during a game. It's against the rules. I can talk to the women, but I can't use a fantasy. If I do, the team is penileized.”

“
Penile-ized?
I hope that's just a strange pronunciation of ‘penalized.' What else is against the rules?” She was sick, sick, sick, to want to know about this. But hey, after her dull, dull, dull marriage, this was hot stuff.

The people were climbing from the donkey cart as Katy left the wagon with the Old One trotting behind her.

Ally could almost feel the waves of anger coming from Brian as he continued toward the three
strangers. At least he didn't seem angry at her. “No one can wear any kind of scent to gain an advantage, and the women can't touch themselves to hurry along their climax.”

Now he was getting into her embarrassment zone. “Fine. I have the picture now.”

He paused one last time and slanted her a grin that would have curled all her appendages if they weren't already in permanent crinkle mode from his gypsy fantasy. “I don't think so. I can use only touch and a few words to bring a woman to orgasm, and I can do it in two minutes. I call it my two-minute drill, and no one does it better.”

“From a cold start? That's impossible.”

“You haven't tried me, babe.”

He turned toward the visitors, while she worked at closing her mouth. “Meet two of my business associates. This is Jupe, my agent, and Nebula, my trainer.”

For the first time, Ally really looked at the visitors. Well, one of them anyway. Her gaze slid over Jupe and fixed on Nebula. Her eyes widened. Katy spoke for both of them.

“Holy hell, would you look at that? Stay right here while I get my digital camera.”

 

 

 

 

Brian allowed the stunned silence to drag on for a reasonable amount of time before he spoke. It always took people a while to recover from their first encounter with Nebula.

The moment of shock ended with the click of Katy's digital camera.

Brian checked to make sure the driver of the donkey cart had wandered toward the castle, out of hearing range. “You'd better have a good reason to be here, Jupe, because—”

“Wait.” Nebula held up her hand, and all movement ceased.

Brian hated to admit it, but she intimidated even him.

“Your friends have questions. They are not speaking because awe has closed their throats and frozen their tongues. It is the usual response.”
She nodded regally in Ally and Katy's direction. “I will tell them only what they need to know about me. Their primitive brains could not fully grasp what I am.”

“I never saw a woman as tall as you.” Katy aimed her camera for a second shot. “The leather jacket and pants are real cool, especially with all those studs. Turn around so I can get a shot of that skull and crossbones on the back of your jacket. Bet you could get your picture on the cover of
Bad-ass Bikers and Their Old Ladies
.” Katy frowned. “Don't know why those women put up with being called old ladies.”

Nebula looked insulted. “I am
more
than a woman.” She turned for Katy's shot, then took off her jacket. “You will probably want to take a picture of my tattoo.” She flexed a massive arm. “I chose a heart with the word ‘mother' inside so that I might lessen the fear of the masses by making them believe I have a sentimental side.”

Katy looked thoughtful. “Don't think that itty bitty heart is going to lessen anybody's fear. Why'd you wear that outfit if you didn't want people to be afraid?”

Nebula cast her a dismissive glance. “I chose clothes from your time that would enhance my status as more than a woman.”

Ally glanced up at Brian. “Just like the Old One is more than a cat. You have a lot of more-thans in your time.”

Brian didn't react to her teasing because he was so pissed off at Jupe. “Okay, Nebula, I know
you've concocted some story to throw off suspicion. So let's hear it. Then I want to know why you and Jupe are here.”

Katy shook her head. “Hate to break it to you, but it'll take more than a story to make Nebula, here, inconspicuous.” She cocked her head and studied Nebula. “Maybe if you cut off some of that green hair. All this humidity makes it puff up a lot.”

“Why would I want to be inconspicuous? And I chose this wig because it is memorable, as am I.” Nebula sounded sincerely puzzled. Evidently feeling there was no reasonable answer to her question, she launched into her speech. “I am seven feet five inches tall and weigh three hundred fifty pounds by your measurements.”

“Bet I know where at least a hundred of those pounds are. Must be hard to exercise without bouncing and jiggling.” Katy's gaze turned wistful. “I always wanted to be one of those wellendowed women. Tried a Wonderbra, but you can't push up what isn't there.”

Nebula forged on. “I have told everyone that I play for the WNBA.”

“You'd be a real hit with the World Wrestling Federation. Stone Cold Steve Austin would be toast.” Katy seemed excited by the prospect of Stone Cold getting squished.

Nebula ignored her. “Of course, I would never play for the WNBA. Those puny women would provide no challenge.” She brightened. “I would rather test my skills against Shaquille O'Neal, a
man worthy of my talent. It would be amusing to dunk over Shaq Daddy in front of his LA Fakers fans.”

“Wouldn't call them that to their faces,” Katy advised.

“Okay, now why are you and Jupe here, and why the hell did you come in that cart?” Brian could feel Ally shaking with laughter beside him, and it made him even angrier. “Your wig is slipping, Jupe. Wouldn't let it fall off if I were you.”

“Fat lot of good the cart did. We walked most of the way because the old guy said his donkey couldn't drag all that weight.” Jupe glared at Nebula as he straightened his wig.

Jupe's gaze drifted around the group and settled on the Old One, who didn't seem particularly interested in the new arrivals. “Thought maybe the Old One could discuss your incentive clause with me. Need to get that straightened out before the season begins.”

“She's a cat, Jupe. Cats don't talk.” Let Jupe slither out of that one.

A puzzled line formed between Jupe's eyes. “That was a stupid form to take.”

The Old One unsheathed her claws.

Nebula felt the need to insert her comment. “We were forced to travel in that primitive conveyance because all the males who had more modern vehicles were unavailable. It was obvious they feared me.”

“Bunch of wusses,” Katy offered in sympathy. Nebula shrugged. “Men are the weaker sex. It
is to be expected.” She turned away. “I will take our things from the cart and build a shelter near yours, Brian.”

Brian felt his explosion building, threatening to blow Jupe, Nebula, Cap, and the Old One all the way home to 2502 without the aid of a white stag. Jupe was here for the same reason as the Old One: to make sure nothing interfered with the return of their main moneymaker to the safety of his own time.

Jupe knew him well enough to be nervous. “I know what you're going to say, Brian, but you can't send us home. There won't be another stag until the one comes to take you home. We'll have to go with you.” He glanced at Brian to see the effect of his words. What he saw evidently didn't reassure him. “We'll stay out of your way.”

“Why did you bring Nebula?” His anger simmered and bubbled, his quiet words fooling no one.

“You could probably use some toning . . .” Jupe held up his hands. “The truth? She makes me feel safe. No one will mess with us while she's around.”

“Got that straight,” Katy offered.

Jupe seemed to notice Ally and Katy for the first time. “They know about you, Brian?”

Brian nodded. “Ally and Katy are staying in the wagon while I help Ally with a book.” He narrowed his gaze, daring Jupe to say something.

“Nice.”
Uh-oh
was in every worried crease of Jupe's gnome-like face.

Ally interrupted. “Don't worry. This is strictly a business consultation.” The flush rising to Ally's face proclaimed that the rest of her body didn't believe a word she said.

Brian exhaled sharply. He didn't believe it either. Something had gone terribly wrong. Back in the keep, it had taken every bit of his selfcontrol to back off, to keep from sliding his hands between her legs, touching her through her jeans. He wanted to feel the cloth grow damp with her desire, wanted to turn her into his embrace and press his erection against her until . . . No, he couldn't let it happen.

He had to be the strong one. He'd had a lifetime of practice. Ally didn't need a man who'd enjoy sex with her, then walk away just like her husband. That's why she'd asked for help with her book. She shouldn't have to go through an actual night of meaningless sex. No, Ally didn't have to go through the experience. She had an expert on meaningless sex.

He closed his mind to the bitterness of that last thought. His career had pulled him from a cycle of poverty and crime that would have eventually destroyed him. He was a survivor. And the money he made helped other kids break the cycle. So he'd continue doing his job until he couldn't anymore, then retire. He'd probably be voted into the Sex Hall of Fame, and they'd retire his number 69. Somehow he couldn't work up a lot of enthusiasm for any of that.

Jupe's worried look didn't fade. “Remember
your contract. Page fourteen, clause fifty-eight.”

No sex.
“Sure. How could I forget?”
Especially with you here to remind me every ten minutes.

He glanced at the Old One. If a cat could smile, she was smiling. For once, she and Jupe were on the same page.

Brian tried to slow his heavy breathing, control his rapidly expanding temper. Suddenly, he felt Ally wrap her hand around his clenched fist.

“It's okay, Brian. Don't let them get to you. Katy and I can run interference for you. I'd take odds on Katy over all of them, even Nebula.” She slid her fingers back and forth over his knuckles until he opened his hand.

Brian didn't even notice when Jupe scuttled away or when Katy climbed back into the wagon followed by the Old One. His attention was completely on Ally.

She probably had no idea why he was staring at her. He glanced down at his hand where her fingers still lingered, and she lifted her hand from his.
No, touch me again.

Women rarely touched him, except in passion. And they were paid well to do it. The bottom line was that even then, they didn't technically do any touching. They weren't allowed to.

And he avoided friendships with women outside the game. Those friendships could slide into the physical, endanger his career. Besides, he'd learned early that most of the women who showed interest in him didn't have kindness on their minds. He was famous and wealthy, incentive
enough to try to convince him to break his no-sex clause.

He smiled. Ally hadn't a clue she'd pleased him in a way she'd never expect. It would probably irritate her that she'd done even this small thing for him when she was so determined never to do another thing for a man. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Ally controlled the urge to shake the hand she'd used to touch him, to get rid of the connection in the same way she'd return circulation when it went to sleep. But this time the tingles were sensual and not the result of renewed blood flow.

“For being on my side. For touching me.”

His gaze warmed, his eyes moving with emotion she'd never seen there before. And it scared the hell out of her. Give her aggressive, sardonic, infuriating. Those were things she could deal with, battle.
Nonthreatening
things.

She shrugged. “I was just trying to calm you. No big deal.”

His voice softened, heating her from the inside out. “Your fingers do a lot of things, babe, but calm me isn't one of them.”

She inhaled sharply. “Remember that next time you run a fantasy by me like you did in the castle. You had your fingers on a lot more than my hand, and it wasn't a calming experience.”

“No kidding.” He grinned. “One thing I don't understand, though. You said you were finished trying to please men. So I should be the perfect
man for you. I do all the work, you do all the enjoying.”

Ally frowned. Logically, he was right, but something sounded off. “Fine. So you're the man of my dreams.”

Brian shook his head and offered her a wry grin. “We're arguing abstracts here. It's not going to happen. My sexual life is under contract for five more years.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. Funny how every time he reminded her she couldn't have him, he made her mad. Ally got the same feeling when she went on a diet and told Mom not to bake any fudge brownies. Then when Mom didn't bake the brownies Ally felt . . . deprived. “Sure. I forgot. You're dedicated to the endless accumulation of wealth.”

“Don't sound so ticked off, sweetheart.” He'd stopped smiling, but she could see the laughter in his eyes. “You only want me as a consultant, not for a hot night of sex.”

A hot night of sex.
Ally pushed and shoved the words into different corners of her mind, then stood back to see how they looked. They didn't look bad. She might be able to live with the arrangement.

You've come a long way, baby.
Just a few days ago she would have laughed at the idea of a man in her bed, a man she'd want to touch and . . . The
and
was still out there.

“I'm not angry.” And her nose
wasn't
growing. “Let's walk up and see what's so interesting to the
Night Games
owner of the ‘primitive conveyance.' ”

He nodded, then started up the hill. Ally dropped slightly behind, caught up in the beauty of the vivid green hills, the starkness of the old castle, the motion of marvelous buns. Strange, but she didn't remember much about Dave's buns. Probably because he didn't have any. He was bunless.