Page 110 of Destined To Fall

“You know I can’t give them to you. Please, stop fucking asking.”

“I’ll play you for them.”

At this I turn around.“What?”

He pulls out a deck of cards, and my eyes narrow.“What is with you Thatcher men?” I mutter to myself, my eyes going wide when I realize I said it aloud.“You always walk around Boston with a pack of playing cards in your pocket?”

“What did you say? And no, I got bored waiting for you and saw them at the corner store.”

“Nothing. This is ridiculous.”

“How so?”

“What, we play some silly game, you win, and I spill all the dirty secrets you’ve been trying to drag out of me for months?” He nods.“But you have nothing to give me when I win.”

He raises his eyebrows at that, one corner of his mouth curling up.

“Nothing? I’ve got nothing to offer you, nothing you want from me?” My heart stutters, and my ability to form words goes out the window.“Yes.”

That one word completely corrupts me.

I swallow the lump in my throat, my heart now racing.“You?”

“You win, you get me. All of me.”

I can’t help the turn of my lips that follows.“Any way I want?”

He laughs, easing the tension, and arches his brows, leaning in close.“I’ll let you do things to me no one else ever has. I’ll give you exactly what you’ve wanted since you first met me.”

“Cocky, much? You’re pretty sure of yourself.” I resist the urge to add for avirgin.

“You’re going to deny it?”

“God, no.”I grin.

“So that’s a yes?”

The misplaced hope in his voice gives me pause, and I purse my lips, contemplating all my options. I don’t have many. This is possibly the only way I’m going to get him to stop harassing me for answers. And let’s be honest, I can’t lose, even in my inebriated state. I know all of Jeremy’s tells. He’sone ofthe easiestpeopleto read I’ve ever met. He’s so honest and open and decent. Do I really want to take his V-card? He’s had his reasons for keeping it so long and so guarded. I might not get his reasoning, like at all, but I can respect it—well, him.Ugh. He’s basically offering himself up on a silver platter, and I’m supposed to turn that down because I know better and have morals? I should laugh and close my door in his face.

“Game on.”Well, shit.“Dealer’s choice.”

“Straight-up poker?”

“Fine.”

I open my door and wave him in. God, this is going to be like taking candy from a baby. He’s fucked. Or about to be. My spine tingles at the thought of getting him naked and under me.

“We going to make this interesting?”

“More interesting than we already have? You do realize we’re playing for my—”

“V-card? Man card?”

It’s Jeremy’s turn to swallow hard.“How does it get more interesting than that?”

“Strip poker.”

His eyes go wide, and a blush stains his cheeks. God, he’s adorable.

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