Page 111 of Destined To Fall

“I figured if,”—when—“I win, we may appreciate the extra stimulation. Foreplay, if you will. You are familiar with the term, yes?”

His eyes narrow.“If my memory serves me correctly, your body is well aware I’m familiar with foreplay.”

Jeremy hits his target, and my blood burns, but I manage to fight the urge to squeeze my thighs together. He smirks all the same.

I watch as Jeremy takes a seat opposite me across the coffee table and starts shuffling the cards.It’s mesmerizing. The more I stare, the more time slows, his fingers moving in slow motion as they glidewith easeover the cards. The hairs on the back of my neck rise with my growing awareness and the realization that we’re doing this. Playing for his virginity.

I try to let that settle in my mind while Jeremy deals, but it doesn’t seem to be sticking.All nightI’ve been struggling with the fact that Jeremy is a virgin and not just celibate. I don’t understand why.Thethought of him not having sex at allwas a struggle; never mind the prospect he’d never had sex, ever.

Something must have changed on my face because Jeremy pauses his dealing and looks at me hard, his gaze narrowing and his forehead furrowing.

“Drink?”

Feeling way too sober for this, I pour myself a very large tumbler of scotch and turn to catch Jeremy’s look of need for the amber liquid glistening in my glass.

“Same.”

I turn back in time to hide my grin, fix his drink, and place them on the coffee table before plopping myselfontothe floor opposite him.

“What were you thinking just then?”

“You can’t know everything all the time, Jer. That’s not how private thoughts work. It’s a free space.” I wiggle a brow, and his lips purse.

“I thought we were being more open and honest here.”

I laugh.“You haven’t won yet. No answers for you.”

“Right. What are the rules, then?”

“Every time you win a hand, I take a piece of clothing off, and vice versa.”

Jeremy looks at all I’m wearing, and his eyebrows narrow.

“Lose the wig.”

“Ah, no.”

“You have more items on than I do.”

I do the math in my head, and sadly,he’s right.“Fine.” I throw it at him, and it sits kinda askew on his head, making me fall back and laugh.

“Let’s get this over with.”

“So quick to get naked?”

“Oh, you think you’re that good?”

“Mmm, no, I think you’re going to be that bad.” He glares, but it softens when he bites the corner of his lip, and I can almost read the thoughts in his head.“At poker, Jer. I’m sure you’re going to be fine at the sex.”

“Yeah, yeah. Check your cards, woman.”

“I’ll take two, please.”

Jeremy deals, and my face doesn’t move a millimeter, but inside I’m grinning. Full house right off the bat.

“I’ll take…hmm, three.” His nose twitches. He’s got squat.

“Okay, we’re not betting, so one round, right?”

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