Page 21 of Reckless Games

“I’m not sure how—” my sentence is cut off by a sudden buzzing, forcing me to bend forward at the hips. Slow vibrations rock my center, and I realize Adam’s hands are in his pockets because he’s remote-controlling it.

“Adam.” I stand up, trying to catch my breath as the vibrations intensify.

“Yes, baby girl?” He takes a step forward, stopping in front of me, smirking.

“You can’t do that all night.”

“Can’t I?” He tilts his head. “I’m in control here, remember?”

“Yes but—”

“No buts.” His voice is firm as he kicks the vibrations up another level, and I have to hold on to the tree behind me so I don’t collapse. “Who’s in control of you here?”

My breath stutters. “Y-you.”

“Correct. And who will decide what you need?”

“You.” The word barely comes out as spots cloud my vision and my fingernails dig into the tree bark.

“And what’s the rule you need to follow today?” He steps forward, hands in his pockets, not touching me because he doesn’t need to. The remote control is doing his job for him as he kicks it up another level and my vision goes black.

“No coming.”

“Exactly.”

At my answer, the vibration stops, and I let out something between a moan and an exhale. I’m on the brink, but he’s not letting me past it.

“You’re evil.” I push past him and lay down in the snow.

Adam stands over me, grinning. “Now you’re getting it. Not a sweet bone in this body.”

“Clearly.”

I lay in the snow and soak in the coolness of it melting against my neck. Adam hovers over me, framed by the branches above. And if I wasn’t so frustrated and desperate to come, I’d almost think looking at him like this could make me fall for him.

“You’re going to catch a cold if you stay like that.” His smile falters.

“Just cooling off. And you’re to blame for it, so I don’t need your comments.”

Adam shakes his head, watching me.

I stretch my arms out, floating in this snowy forest the same way Adam makes me float above my thoughts.

The pressures I’ve felt since I was twelve are so far away here. The urge to keep it together gets further in the distance with each step. And for once, I’m actually just enjoying a moment.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, and when I open them, Adam is reaching a hand out for me. The chill on my neck is already ice cold, so I accept, and he pulls me up off the ground.

“We don’t know each other very well,” I say, as he brushes the snow off me.

Adam shakes his head. “No, not exactly.”

After all, the girl he thinks I am isn’t me at all.

He presses the wet strands between his fingers before letting it go. And when I reach for his chest, he doesn’t stop me as I lay my hands on him. One touch and it occurs to me he’s never let me touch him before, even when we had sex. And he’s never kissed me.

There’s a distance I’m only just now becoming aware of.

“Tell me one thing.” I look up at him, and his hand running through my hair pauses.

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