Read Wicked Game for Free Online

massive house. She lay in her bed, staring up at the blue ceiling while she tried to figure out where her limbs were. She sure as hell didn’t feel them, or anything else for that matter, and her mouth tasted like she’d eaten a dirty sock.
    Three dirty martinis and a glass of wine with dinner. She remembered that much at least. She also remembered that Jaime drank nothing but water or iced tea all night long while he ordered her drink after drink.
    “Prick,” she croaked to the ceiling. “Oh God, what time is it?”
    The clock on the bedside table read a little after eleven. “Pepper! Are you dead in there? If you aren’t downstairs in three minutes, I’m coming in.”
    “Jesus Christ, stop screaming at me,” she shouted back and winced as pain shot through her head. “I’m up. I’m up.”
    “Good. I thought I was going to have to shove you in the shower or something.” His voice was very close by. She rolled toward the sound and was startled to see him standing beside her bed, looking sweaty and way too awake after a night of carousing. And just as quickly, she realized she wasn’t wearing anything but a pair of blue panties under the sheet that covered her.
    “Do I need to ask if you had anything to do with what I’m not wearing?” She wouldn’t freak out. She would remain calm, cool, collected. Oh shit, she didn’t remember a damn thing about falling into bed.
    “Sorry to disappoint you, Pepper, but I left you standing at the door. What you did after you closed it—in my face, I might add—is all on you.” He reached for the cover, but she grabbed it and pulled it tight around her body. “But I’m flattered that you include me in your fantasies.”
    “Why has no one murdered you by now? Or at least taken a soap-filled sock to you?” That was a fun thought. Jaime on the floor, all tied-up and being flogged. “No, on second thought, murder is better. It’s more permanent.”
    “My, but aren’t you bloodthirsty in the morning.” He leaned against the post at the foot of the bed, his eyes traveling her body, belying his stated disinterest. “Do you always sleep naked? Or just when you’re drunk?”
    “You got me drunk, you prick, while you were drinking water. You poured enough gin into me to fill a damn bathtub.”
    “You could have said no at any time.”
    “That’s what your mother should have said the night you were conceived.”
    “Forget bloodthirsty, you’re just plain mean when you’re hungover.” The smile left his eyes at her remark. She knew she’d gone too far the second the words left her mouth. “Get up, Cass. My agent is coming at one, and since you’ll be working with him, I want you dressed for business and on your best behavior.”
    “Yes, Lord Ironman.” She remembered that much at least.
    “Brownie points for that.”
    “Goody, I like brownies. Hey, Jaime, I didn’t mean that about your mom, and I liked your dad, he was a nice man.” Sense was finally returning, and despite her personal feelings for their son, there was no reason to insult his parents.
    “Thanks for that. He was a good man.” He turned to leave, but something else occurred to her.
    “Hey, Jaime?”
    “Yeah, Pepper?”
    “I can’t feel my legs. I think I might be paralyzed.”
    “You are going to be a handful, aren’t you?” He grabbed her hand and hauled her up and out of bed so fast she barely had time to drag the sheet with her, much less stay covered.
    “There, you’re up. Do you think you can manage a shower on your own now, or do you need me to toss you in there after all?”
    Her legs were wobbly, but with the help of the bedpost, she managed to stay up. Unfortunately, that set the gin in her stomach to churning, and she barely made it to the bathroom before it all came back up.
    “Note to self: don’t give Pepper liquor.” She felt warm hands on her shoulders just before he dragged her hair out of the line of fire. “I’m sorry for getting you drunk.”
    “I think