Game, Set, Match (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) (Love Match) by Nana Malone Page A

of her conference.
    Using both hands she tapped out a response.   What’s the matter, Cienna not up for a cuddle?
    His response was instant.   I’d rather spend the night with Izzy Connors.
    Wisely, she chose not to answer. She stumbled back to bed and sank into the comfort of her mattress. Flopping on her belly, she willed sleep to come. To her frustration, memories of Jason danced through her consciousness.
    He was the last person on earth she’d ever thought she’d see again. But now he was back. And she couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that came with his reappearance. The swell of anger that tightened her chest when she thought of how he left. Her heart beat a snare drum of excitement when she saw him now or heard his name on the news. The raw lust that coursed through her veins and threatened to liquefy each cell when she caught his gaze on her. She hadn’t been prepared for any of it.
    For fifteen years, she’d tried to not think of him. As if it was that simple. She’d done what she could to tune out any gossip or rumors about him. Of course, that had been increasingly difficult since any number of magazines splashed him on their covers every other week.
    She didn’t need the flirtation. She didn’t need to be the focus of anyone’s attention. She was perfectly happy, she lied to herself as heavy lids drooped shut.
    Izzy trembled as Jason’s hands gripped at her waist. She wanted him. Only him. “Jason…”
    A low moan sounded in his throat, and he wrenched his lips away from hers. “Izzy, wait, we…”
    “I don’t want to wait.”
    He groaned when she pulled his head back to hers. Firm lips molded to hers. When she parted her lips to allow him deeper entry, he took full advantage. His tongue thrust and teased as it mated against hers.
    Izzy couldn’t believe this was about to happen She’d dreamed about this since she’d first laid eyes on him. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders. Heat radiated off of his body and scorched her fingertips as they roamed. Emboldened, she let her hands roam lower.
    “Izzy, oh m…” He didn’t finish the thought when she unsnapped the button of his jeans.
    She’d never been so bold in her life. But tonight, she could do anything, say anything. Including caress the hard length of him. She drew in a sharp breath, and her gaze flew to his. There was no way they would fit together.
    He must have seen the alarm on her face because he bit off a colorful curse and stepped away from her. “Izzy, we can’t do this. I—I can’t do this.”
    “Why not?” She told herself she wouldn’t cry. That didn’t stop the pinpricks of tears from stinging her lids.
    He leveled his eyes with hers. “This isn’t right. It shouldn’t be like this.”
    He didn’t want her? This time, she couldn’t keep the tremble from her lips. She’d gotten it wrong. He trapped her face in his strong hands, despite her attempts to wrench away. Wasn’t she humiliated enough?
    “Izzy, sweetheart. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life.” He looked down and smiled ruefully. “You feel how much I want you.”
    She blinked tears out of her eyes. “Then why are you stopping me?”
    He took her hand and sat her down on the bed. “For once in my life, I’m trying to be the good guy. You deserve the good guy.”
    “But you are—”
    “Izzy, if I were the good guy, I never would have kissed you. You’re sweet and perfect, and I want you so bad I can’t think straight most of the time, but this isn’t right.”
    She tilted her chin up and crossed her arms. Every bit the petulant seventeen year old. “Jason, I know what I want.”
    He shook his head and indicated the bottle of wine on the peeling Formica counter of the shabby kitchenette. “Really? Then why did you need the influx of liquid courage?” He sighed before adding, “You’re seventeen.”
    She glared at him. “I’ll be eighteen in a couple of months. If you don’t want me, all you have to do