Page 48 of Playing Flirty

I was sure I’d electrocute anyone who touched me.

Leaning in, he whispered into my mouth before stealing a last kiss. “To be continued.”

Round 16

My deadlines had me fully booked over the next few weeks even though all I wanted to do was see William. I considered sneaking out for a quick kiss, touch, lick—I’d take anything. I was seconds away from sniffing Shaun to see if he smelled anything like his brother.

Addiction. Surely that’s what this was? I wanted to live and breathe William. I wanted to spend my days in his lap, feeling his hands caress my body and my lips drag across his skin. Any part of it. I needed to catch him looking at me, the way his gaze ate me every time our eyes locked, one small bite at a time, regardless of what I was wearing.

But I was here. Working on my MBA. Staring at my laptop screen, my mind drifted to my game—to our game—as I inhaled a slab of chocolate. I remembered when my father quit smoking and took up chocolate in its place. If it could work for nicotine, it should work for William.

How did he manage to infiltrate my every thought?

It didn’t help that William had started texting me too.

Memes mostly; he was terrible at texting. But every now and then, a message would come through that only I would understand.

William:I have some more ideas for the game.

Rose:Like what?

William:I think to make it a more immersive experience, we should extend gameplay between rounds.

Rose:I thought you said we need to shorten the game.

William:I was wrong. It’s too short. Players get frustrated. So frustrated they may not be able to eat, sleep, or work until they get to finish the game.

My heart beat so fast that I felt it in my flushed ears. If I called a taxi, I could be at his apartment in twenty minutes.

But I’d never do that.

By the time game night rolled around and I walked into his apartment, I worried I may need to be restrained. Predictably, William was in his usual place on the couch—lounging in those damned sweatpants I remembered all too well.

“What’s up?” he said.

“Nothing, what’s up on your side?” My gaze dipped and I cocked an eyebrow.

A flash of white teeth appeared as he smiled and shifted to create space for me. I scooted next to him.

He shook his head. “Wait until it’s my turn.”

The underlying threat in his tone tickled every part of me, but before I could question what he meant, Claire and Lincoln arrived. Well, I assumed it was Lincoln behind the tower of pizza boxes and the 30 Seconds booster pack resting on top of it. They greeted everyone and set the pizzas on the table.

I grabbed the booster pack to investigate. “You’re picking 30 Seconds, but with a booster?”

“Yep, because you and William have memorized the other set.” He held up a long finger to stop William from protesting. “And we’re doing unlikely pairings.”

“We’ve never been partners,” Claire said to Shaun. “Lincoln and Neema and…” She turned to William and me.

“I’ll trade with any of you.” William grabbed two slices of pizza.

As he lifted one slice to his mouth, I swiped it, and our fingers grazed. The casual contact ignited whatever it was inside me that burned for him.

Brain, focus. It’s game night.

And it wasn’t just any game. It was 30 Seconds, the game that had us at our most competitive. Each team had thirty seconds to explain as many terms on their cards, ranging from places to musicians, as possible.

And the unlikely pairings were causing a stir. Shaun and Claire made a terrible team with neither understanding the other’s hints. Whereas Shaun preferred using facts, Claire gave hints in the form of personal anecdotes.

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