Page 60 of Dark Horse

“But the king needs his horse.”

He turns the chess piece over in his hand. “We need each other.”

“Why?” I ask, and something flickers over his face before he returns his attention to the board.

“Checkmate.” He smirks as his lashes lift, and his eyes meet mine.

“I haven’t played in a long time.” I offer up a weak defense.

“You should play more. You’ve got good instincts, just toohasty in some of the plays you make. Watch the board more. Watch how your opponent plays. You want to be thinking about what they’ll do next, not what you’ll do.”

“You could teach me. Get some practice in yourself.” I hold up his knight in my hand.

“I do need practice, but I’m not a great teacher. Levi would be better than I am for that.”

“I’m sure you’re perfectly adequate,” I tease, and he smiles at that. “We could play for stakes to make it interesting.”

“What kind of stakes are you offering?”

“Favors. Little ones at first and then work our way up to bigger ones once I remember how to play.” I round the little table and stand between him and the chessboard.

“Do I get a favor for winning this one?” he asks, and his eyes follow the movement as I turn the figurine over in the palm of my hand.

“Depends on what it is and if that means you’re agreeing.”

“Do I owe you favors if you win?” His lashes lift as his eyes work their way up my body.

“Seems fair, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t care about playing fair. I care about getting what I want.”

“But I do,” I argue.

He sighs and leans back in his chair, considering my proposal.

“Do we know the favors ahead of time?” he asks thoughtfully.

“I mean, the first one is going to be an introduction to Charlotte. I need to find out how to get three men at the same time and make one a gorgeous billionaire.”

“You get one gorgeous billionaire, or you get three men. You don’t get both.” There’s a firm edge tohis voice.

“She did,” I argue with him, even though there’s no real heat in it, and he knows it.

“She has a man with a stag kink and the patience of a saint. You don’t share that luxury.”

“What luxury do I have then?” I point the knight at his chest.

“I wouldn’t call it luxury.” His eyes follow the movement.

“Fine… what kinks do I get to entertain then?”

He gives me a skeptical look, like he’s not keen to answer.

“You have to tell me some. You already know a few of mine. You practically have a list. It’s fair,” I fire back.

“I don’t recall this list. Remind me.”

“If I tell you, you have to tell me.”

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