Opposites Attract

mused with a secret smile. Slowly and deliberately she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. Taking a long, preliminary stretch, she served. Distracted, Ty was slow to meet the ball. Asher had little trouble blowing the return past him.
    “Game point,” she said softly, sending him an intimate smile. Keeping her back to him, she bent to pick up a fresh ball, taking her time about it. She could almost feel Ty’s eyes run up the long length of her legs. Smoothing a hand down her hip, she walked back to the base line. “Ready?”
    He nodded, dragging his eyes away from the subtle sweep of her breasts. When his eyes met hers, he read an invitation that had his pulse racing. His concentration broken, he barely returned her serve. The rally was very short.
    Victorious, Asher let out a hoot of laughter before she walked to the net. “Your game seemed to be a bit off, Starbuck.”
    The gibe and the laughter in her eyes had him wanting to strangle her . . . and devour her. “Cheat,” he murmured as he walked to meet her at the net.
    Asher’s look was guileless and she was faintly shocked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The words were hardly out of her mouth when she was pulled against him, her lips crushed under his. Laughter and desire seemed to bubble in her simultaneously. Without being aware of it, she dropped her racket and clung to him.
    “You’re lucky I don’t toss you on the ground here and now,” he mumbled against her mouth.
    “What’s lucky about that?” Enchanted, Asher strained against him. How was it possible for one kiss to make her head swim?
    Ty drew back, inches only. His whole body was throbbing for her. “Don’t tempt me.”
    “Do I?” she asked huskily.
    “Damn you, Asher. You know just how much.”
    His voice shook, delighting her. She found she needed him to be as vulnerable as she. “I’m never sure,” she whispered, dropping her head to his chest.
    His heart was beating too rapidly. Ty tried to fight down the impossible surge of need. Not the time, not the place, his sanity stated. Control was necessary. “You were sure enough to use a few tricks to distract me.”
    Lifting her head, Asher smiled at him. “Distract you? How?”
    “Took your time picking up that ball, didn’t you?”
    She seemed to consider a moment. “Why, I’ve seen Chuck do the same thing playing against you. It never seemed to make any difference.” She let out a whoop of surprise as he lifted her up and over the net.
    “Next time I’ll be ready for you, Face.” After giving her a brief, bruising kiss, he dropped her to her feet. “You could play naked and I wouldn’t blink an eye.”
    Catching her lip between her teeth, she sent him a teasing glance. “Wanna bet?” Before he could connect his racket with her bottom, she dashed away.
    The locker room wasn’t empty as Asher walked in, but the crowd was thinning. With the fifth rounds completed, there were fewer contenders, and therefore fewer bodies. She was looking forward to her match that afternoon with a hot newcomer who had hopped up in the rankings from one hundred and twentieth to forty-third in one year. Asher had no intention of strolling into the finals. Even the pressure of Grand Slam potential couldn’t mar her mood. If ever there was a year she could win it, Asher felt it was this one.
    She greeted a towel-clad Tia Conway as the Australian emerged from the showers. Both women knew they would face each other before the tournament was over. Asher could hear a laughing argument taking place over the sound of running water. As she started to remove her warm-up jacket, she spotted Madge in a corner.
    The brunette sat with her head leaning back against the wall, her eyes shut. She was pale despite her tan, and there were beads of perspiration on her brow. Asher rushed over to kneel at her feet.
    “Madge.”
    Opening her eyes slowly, Madge sighed. “Who won?”
    For a moment Asher went blank. “Oh, I did. I cheated.”
    “Smart girl.”
    “Madge, what’s wrong? God, your hands are like ice.”
    “No, it’s nothing.” She let out a breath as she leaned forward.
    “You’re sick, let me—”
    “No, I’ve finished being sick.” After a weak smile Madge swiped the sweat from her brow. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”
    “You look terrible. You need a doctor.” Asher sprang to her feet. “I’ll call someone.” Before she could move, Madge had her hand.
    “I’ve seen a doctor.”
    Every sort