Page 74 of Deceit
His lips lifted into a suggestive grin.“If you win, we spend the rest of theday doing whatever you want.”
“And ifyouwin, we have to do whatever you want?”I replied, my mindalready running wild with ideas.
I was normally competitive at games, Rafe was too. Maybe it was a twinthing. Whatever game we played against each other, we were both determined to beat the other. Now though, I’d happily lose if it meant spending the rest of the day at the mercy of Miles.
“Correct. You in?”
Of course I was in. But before I agreed, an idea popped into my head. Thiscould be an opportunity to get information from him. There was so much I wanted to know about Miles, questions I’d never asked because I knew I wouldn’t get answers.
Sure, with the way things had shifted between us, maybe he would be receptive to me wanting to get to know him, but why not have a little fun along the way?
“I’m in, but I’d like to add my own terms.”
His brow quirked.“Go on.”
“Every time I knock one of your pieces out, I get to ask you something, andyouhaveto answer. No bullshit questions either, like what’s your favorite color or what food do you hate. Real questions.”
I held my breath waiting for his answer as he ran a thumb over his lip.Convinced he was going to say no, I refused to look away from his penetrating stare as he thought it over.
“Deal,”he said, taking me by surprise.“But I get to askyousomethingevery time I take one of your pieces.”
I held my hand out for him to shake.“Deal. I’ll be white.”
He shook my hand.“I’m always black, anyway.”
“Huh, like your soul,”I replied, grinning sweetly at him.
Still clasping my hand, he pulled me toward him, my chest colliding withhis, and our mouths almost meeting.“You want to hope you win, Jailbait. Otherwise, you’re going to spend the rest of the evening over my knee getting your fine ass tanned.”
Unable to stop myself, I closed the gap and licked my tongue along hisbottom lip.“Promises, promises.”
His breath caught, and taking advantage of his distraction, I freed my handand moved back to the other side of the couch, giggling lightly as he composed himself.
Moving my first pawn forward two spaces, the game started. Neither of usspoke as we watched the other make their move, and my mind raced, trying to plan a few steps ahead of where I thought he was going to move his pieces.
It wasn’t long until I claimed his first pawn. I grinned triumphantly as Iswiped the piece from the board.“Ha, guess I’ll be asking first.”
“Slow and steady wins the race, Jailbait.”
“Yeah, Yeah, Milo. Okay, first question,”I paused, debating what I wantedto know first. Since he’d told me a little about his mom the night before, I’d had more questions. I figuredthatwas as good as any place to start.
“I know what happened to your dad,”I started, recalling Rafe telling me previouslythatMiles had killed his father.“But what happened to your mom?”
His mouth pulled into a lop-sided smile.“Straight in with the deep shit, Isee.”
“I warned you; no bullshit questions.”
He sighed and sat back against the couch.“My father kicked her out when Iwas seven. He caught her having an affair and booted her out. I haven’t seen her since.”
My heart cracked a little for the boy he’d once been. I was seven too whenmy mama was killed, so I knew how hard it was to lose a parent atthatage. The difference, though, wasthathis mom had a choice to walk away from her child; mine didn’t.
“Have you ever thought about finding her?”
He leaned forward again.“No. The day she left, she never looked back.Neverevenconsidered taking me with her. I decided a long time agothatI didn’t need someone in my life who didn’t want me,”he said, doing his best to hide the anger in his voice.“Thatwas two questions, by the way. I’ll be keeping a free one in reserve.”
He moved his piece, claiming my pawn like I knew he would, and I bracedmyself for his question.“Why haven’t you played the piano at home?”
My brows shot up. How did he know I hadn’t played?“Because it’s notmine to play. I was meaning to ask you if you would mind if I practised with it, but with the vanishing act you’re so good at, I haven’t had a chance.”
