Page 29 of Restoring Faith

His eyes search for more, but he nods gently and adverts his eyes, understanding a little more of why we are the way we are. He reaches for a fork and scoops up a pile of scrambled eggs. Matching my savage eating style, shoves the whole forkful in his mouth. His delicate lips closing over the silver utensil give me memories of what those lips can do.

“It’s good, right?” I whisper hopefully. I know this isn’t his style.

“Mmm hmm, so good,” he says with a mouthful. He leans back slightly against the pillows and softly moans with appreciation.

My lips pressed together, satisfied at seeing him so relaxed. He quickly wipes his hands on his bare chest and grabs the chessboard, placing it between us. He leans forward, reaching for the collar of my shirt to pull my face to his for a quick kiss.

“I love to play chess. So, I’m challenging you,” he arrogantly states.

“Warning, I’m really good.”

“I was on the chess team in high school,” he proudly puffs his chest out.

“Not sure that is something to brag about?” I tease.

Victor fakes a laugh and throws a piece of hash brown toward me. “Collins, you are talking a big game. Not sure if you really are as good as you say.”

“Ok, let’s do this.” I wipe my hands on the top of my thighs and then rub them together. “Remember, you asked for this.”

I’ve never met anyone so determined to win. Victor and I spend all day in bed playing this one game of chess. Some people may think it’s extreme, but chess is a game of patience and skill.

And I’ve never played like this. With a sexy, mostly naked man in my bed, all wrapped up in sheets. Flirting and playing chess. I am having the best time. I watch his face as he makes big decisions on where to move his pieces. Then it happens, just as I expected. Victor’s next move opens up his king, but he doesn’t see it.

Trying to hold my giddiness, I make my move. “Checkmate.”

His eyes look like they might pop out of his head. “What the fuck?” Victor glares at the board. His eyes dart back and forth at the pieces before him, and then he looks up at me. “You cheated! I never lose.”

“Well, I didn’t cheat, and you lost. I got your King.” I’m holding his chess piece in my hand, doing an unladylike dance.

“No,” he whispers, confused. His eyes continue to roam the board, and his finger retraces his movements. But it’s the talking to himself that makes me laugh.

I am hunched over to the side, holding his King in the air and admiring my work.

“Collins,” he says softly but sternly. I look over at his hooded eyes filled with desire. A half-smirk teases his lips. All I can think of is … run!

I let out a squeal that even I’m not sure where that noise came from and take off out the double doors toward my private beach. Victor is following closely behind me. Both of us laugh like fools.

“You cheat,” he accuses again. “You had to have cheated!”

“I never cheat!” I yell behind me.

I round a palm tree, with him hot on my heels. He doesn’t time the turn right and ends up sliding through the warm, grainy beach.

“I am just that good,” I say as I run past him. His long-defined arms reach out but miss.

Victor jumps up from the seated position he fell in and quickly catches up to me. My body shivers when his hands grasp my shoulder and hip, spinning me around before throwing me over his shoulder. I am laughing hard when I realize the position that I’m in. I swing my palm down hard on his butt.

“Fuck, Collins,” he screams.

I’m still laughing hard as he trudges into the water.

“No!” I beg between fits of laughter. “Don’t be a sore loser.”

“You cheated. That’s the only way.” He still can’t believe he lost.

He walks us deeper before submerging the both of us under the warm water. Coming up for air, I feel like a new person. It feels good to giggle. I couldn’t tell you the last time I laughed like this. Victor’s soft eyes have me swimming to him. I’m hypnotized by the warmth they hold when he looks at me. We reach out for one another with me wrapping my arms and legs around him. His hands settle under my thighs, pulling me close.

“Okay, I admit defeat at this,” he finally concedes.

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