Page 74 of Sidelined Love

When I snatch his bishop, Levi almost gleefully unzips his hoodie, and he, too, is left in a t-shirt. For some reason, I am expecting him to be shirtless. Or maybe that is wishful thinking.

When it's my turn to lose my bishop. Levi's smirk grows. “You owe me a piece of clothing,” he says.

I stand up and unbutton my jeans, shimmying them down my legs. I catch him staring as I fold them and place them on the chair. Now clad only in my t-shirt and underwear, I feel exposed under his gaze.

Yet I'm loving it.

When I capture Levi's knight, he pulls his shirt over his head in one smooth motion. I take in the defined muscles of his chest and abs, allowing myself to admire him. He notices and chuckles. “See something you like?”

I shake my head to hide my embarrassment at being caught staring. “Your cockiness is off the charts tonight. What gives? You're usually worried about the things you say to me.”

“How do you know that?”

“It is obvious.”

Levi shrugs. “Well, to answer your question, I'm confident because I know that I win no matter what the outcome of this game is.”

“That's sweet in a twisted way.”

“I thought so too.”

The game continues and pieces fall steadily from the board. My pulse quickens as clothing flies off, and soon Levi is down to only his gray sweatpants and his boxers.

When I capture his rook, fittingly enough, he stands, sliding his sweatpants down his muscular legs. I try not to stare so he doesn't call me out again. I shift in my seat, clenching my thighs together in a silly attempt to relieve the desire building within me.

Levi notices my discomfort and a knowing grin tugs at his lips. “Getting distracted, Rook?” His voice is husky, and he knows exactly what he's doing to me when he uses that voice.

I clear my throat and force myself to meet his heated gaze. “You wish, Jamison. I'm still in this game.” And I am because I fully believe that I'm going to win.

Levi makes his next move swiftly, capturing my remaining bishop. I hesitate for only a moment before pulling my shirt up over my head. His eyes rake over my nearly naked body hungrily, but I keep my expression neutral. I will not let his need for me become a distraction.

The game progresses tensely as we both seek to gain the upper hand. I manage to take Levi's remaining knight with my rook. Levi stands, his fingers sliding beneath the waistband of his boxers. I hold my breath, waiting for him to expose himself fully to me. At the last moment, he pauses, cocking an eyebrow at me, but he doesn't say a word.

If he is naked, but the game isn’t over, did I still win? “Am I the winner since that's your last piece of clothing?” I'm proud of myself for making a cohesive sentence all the while staring at his V-line.

“Not so fast. The game's not over until you take my king.”

He slides his boxers down inch by inch, maintaining eye contact with me the whole time. I forcefully shifted my eyes up to his face when he started removing his boxers. Now I'm trying to keep my eyes on his face, but they inevitably wander down his muscular frame. He steps out of the boxers and kicks them aside, completely naked before me.

“Your move,” he says, sitting back down across from me. I tear my eyes away and study the board, forcing myself to focus again. I have to be strategic if I want to win this.

After contemplating my next move, I advance my remaining knight and put his king in check. “Check,” I say, meeting Levi's gaze again.

He moves his king out of check, but I quickly counter and check him again with my other rook. But he escapes again. We continue in this pattern with me checking his king while he barely escapes.

After a few more turns, I finally yell, “Checkmate!” when there's nowhere for his king to go. Holy shit, I won. This is the most excited I've been about winning a chess match in a while.

Levi nods as he studies the board. “Well played.”

I had faith in myself that I would win, but Levi had given me a run for my money. My heart pounds against my ribs as I meet Levi's heated gaze.

“So…” I say, suddenly feeling shy under the intensity of his stare. “What happens now?”

Levi stands up from his chair and walks toward me. “I guess I owe you the surprise now, huh?”

I like the sound of that. But adrenaline is coursing through me and I'm feeling playful. Who am I and what has happened to Hailey? Before I overthink something else, I stand up too and take a step back just before Levi would have reached me. And then I take another.

Neither one of us utters a word before I turn around and run into his bedroom with him hot on my heels.

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