Page 83 of Playing with Fire

I give a nod before scooping up some ice cream. I look at Emerson who also notices what I've spotted. During this vacation their romantic feelings for one another have grown significantly. The situation improved when Felix found the courage to kiss her.

My phone went off with a flood of notifications all at once. I removed my phone from my pocket where it revealed that all the notifications were coming from Instagram. The girls who started following me on Instagram turned out to be the same ones from the party once I checked their profiles.

Yeah nope. That's not even worth discussing. Emerson whispers "Manwhore, I see" beside me which makes me turn my head to look at him.

"Ladies, man. I don't have control over the fact that girls keep flocking to me. I boast, swiping out of the app.

"Yeah, because you're just so drool-worthy." Her mocking tone prompts her to drop her hand which strikes my leg unintentionally with her cold fingertips resting on my knee.

It's easy to overlook such things yet remembering her complete lack of action remains impossible.

Her hand remains still, and she chooses not to move it. My head turns towards her, but she remains seated as she scrolls through her phone and eats pieces of ice cream periodically.

She notices my gaze and looks back at me. I squint my eyes while she mimics my action and then gives me a subtle smirk that causes me to move in my seat. Bold, but I knew that.

She knows how to play. Always has.

As soon as we return home the outside world has completely turned dark. As the others enter the living room I make my way to the bathroom.

Throughout our entire bike ride back I kept thinking hard about ways to provoke her and move forward in this bet.

I left the bathroom but couldn't think of anything. While I walked down the hallway I noticed an open door. I pushed the door open and found the empty room I had visited just days earlier.

The sight of an attractive feisty girl trapped against the wall greeted me when I entered.

I entered laughing and moved toward the spinning chair where I sat down. I took out my phone to check what I missed. I rotated several times before understanding that pushing hard on the chair causes it to recline slightly but then I chose to get up and return to everyone when the door slammed shut.

I ended up walking next to someone I've really wanted to spend time with alone. She took care of me. "Emerson. Just who I was looking for."

"Aww. You've stayed in my mind this whole time Rowan which is really sweet.

Tell me a time she isn't. In either of these situations she always shows up.

She approaches me to ask a question after taking a few steps.

But she's still far. "Oh, c'mon, Em. I don't bite." I joke, and she walks closer. "Better. So, what question did you need to ask me?

She mentions the bet and my anticipation builds because I'm excited about where this will lead. Bets always have winners. How do we win?"

I explain my initial point stating that my goal is to make you fall for me while smiling at her. She gives me a nod and then moves to stand beside me. Again, too far for my liking. I move towards her until she sits at my feet.

I understand but I need more details about what you mean. She asks while taking the bold and dangerous step of straddling my lap.

I lift an eyebrow at her because I'm shocked by her daring move. She's getting bolder. I need to elevate my game.

My hands rest on her hips while she positions hers on my shoulders. The meaning depends entirely on your interpretation. I gave her a vague answer.

I was completely unsure how to respond when she asked. Her appearance was overwhelming as she straddled me with her superior beauty.

The chair reclines slightly when I push back and her unfazed face falters. She grips the armrests while biting her lip's inner side.

Jesus.

"This is a bit...compromising, isn't it?" The rhetorical question leaves my lips while I prepare to face her gaze. She attempts to stand but I secure her hips against the floor. Uh-uh. You got yourself into this position, Em. Deal with it."

She turns her head aside displaying clear signs of reflection on her recent actions. "Sit up," she commands me while she seems to be breathing hard. The situation amuses me but she remains unamused because she repeats herself. "Sit. Up."

"Boo. I was having fun." I respond sarcastically and yet instead of sitting up to her request I lift us both from the chair and her legs naturally wrap around my waist.

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