Page 28 of Off the Ice

He ignored that. “Rule number three: Draw Four means you lose two pieces of clothing. So better hope you don’t get stuck with those.”

I lifted a brow. “Cruel.”

“And fair.” He shot me a cocky look before picking up the deck and shuffling it like a pro. “Oh, and if you get hit with a Reverse, the person who was supposed to go has to strip instead. So be careful who you try to screw over.”

I let out a low laugh, shaking my head. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”

Logan finished shuffling the deck, his fingers moving deftly over the cards before he cut me a look, all mischief and challenge. “Ava, I don’t do anything half-assed.”

A shiver ran down my spine at the way he said my name, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. I shook my head, trying to play it cool. “You’re insane. Do you play this version with Jaymie?”

He smirked, holding out the deck. “Maybe, but that’s for him and me to know.” He winked, making my stomach flip. “I promise, this’ll make the game a lot more interesting.”

I hesitated, eyeing him. This was a terrible idea.

And yet, a laugh bubbled up as I grabbed the cards from his hand. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—I’m ruthless.”

“Good,” Logan said, his voice dropping a notch as he handed me my starting hand. “So am I.”

The first few hands were harmless enough. A hoodie here, a sock there. I was holding my own, managing to stay fully dressed while Logan had already lost his hoodie and one sock. He was still grinning, his confidence unwavering, even as I played my cards like a woman on a mission.

“You’re getting cocky,” I teased, throwing down a Reverse card and sending the turn right back at him.

“I’m always cocky,” he shot back, lazily tossing a Draw Two in retaliation. “Hope you’re not too attached to that sweatshirt.”

I groaned but slipped it off, my tank top clinging to me as I shook my head. “You’re loving this way too much.”

“Maybe.” Logan’s smirk deepened as he picked up another card. “Oh look, a Wild card. Guess I get to put something back on.”

I rolled my eyes as he grabbed his hoodie off the growing pile of discarded clothes and pulled it over his head.

The game escalated.

Logan was down to his last two cards, and I could practically feel the smugness radiating off him.

Then it happened.

I played a Draw Four card, grinning as he glared at me.

“That’s dirty, Ava.”

“Rules are rules.”

He exhaled slowly, shaking his head before grabbing four cards from the pile, and slipping off his sweatpants in the process.

I was not prepared.

Boxer briefs. Tight. Black. Clinging in all the right places.

I sucked in a breath, snapping my gaze to my cards.

Do not look.

Do not look.

Logan must have noticed. “Like what you see?”

“Not at all,” I lied, my voice coming out way too high-pitched to be believable. I was so distracted that I didn’t notice Logan’s next move.

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