Page 25 of Off Her Game
Her eyes dilated and dropped to his lips while her fingers traced up and down his spine. “A hot sexist, though.”
He fit two fingers under her chin and tipped her head up. “We can keep playing if you want.”
“Forget the game. I’ll figure out forty-two on my own.” Desire darkened her eyes. Her pulse ticked rapidly in her throat. The same floral combination that had teased him in the car saturated his nose.
Before he could slam on the brakes he leaned in. He caught himself mere millimeters from her parted lips. Her breath hitched.
Eyes closed, he drew in ragged breaths, trying to remember why they’d gone on this date tonight and the barriers between them. Why he shouldn’t do this. His lips on hers crossed the line. Sure, it wouldn’t be the first time tonight and it’d been so goddamned good the last time, but this felt different.
Her hand moved to his neck, pulling to encourage him to close the distance.
He ducked away from her lips to kiss the side of her neck with his hand resting on her stomach. Her body arched up into his hand, silently asking him for more.
He was going to lose his mind trying to avoid her lips. But he complied with her demand for more. Inch by slow inch he guided his hand to just below her breasts. When he halted a displeased groan escaped her.
“Noah, please.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to find willpower. Her fingernails dug into his scalp, guiding him to her lips.
Her lips glided across his, her tongue diving into his mouth. Someone was moaning. He wasn’t sure which one of them made the noise, but it was vocal and sexy. Moving his hand higher, his fingertips grazed the bottom of her breast. So soft. Round. He caressed below her nipple, never touching, just teasing.
“God, Noah…” Her body rocked against his, bringing on a fresh wave of longing.
This is getting out of hand.He pulled away, gasping for air. Distance. They needed distance even if doing so was going to hurt.
“We could up the ante. I’ll give you a level hint for every tattoo you show me.” The words hurt him to say. She’d think him a total dick, but he needed the offended gamer girl to react and back off at a hundred miles an hour. He forced a smile.
She froze. Her forehead creased and face fell flat with disappointment. “We’re not doing this.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
How could he not get it? Tori glared. “Level hints?”
“I meant it as a good thing. Tongue action…tattoos…right?”
She wasn’t going to whore herself for level hints. She hadnotfallen that low. No way she’d become the gamer slut every guy assumed of her before they pushed some of their bullshit prejudice on her and got their nuts crushed.
One glance toward Noah and her stomach plummeted at his devastated look. Had she misinterpreted again? Maybe he really didn’t understand how demeaning the suggestion had been. He also didn’t seem to understand how him programming Evelle with a secret seduction power was a crushing disappointment.
She stood, righting her dress and pulling back on her shoes. “I’m not going to mess around just to get level hints. I’m smart enough to figure it out on my own.”
“I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t.”
She massaged her forehead. “I think you really don’t get how deprecating it is to assume I’d do that for game hints.” She held up a hand. “This is my fault. I gave you the wrong impression from the get-go, wanting a game hint in exchange for a date, even if it was a fake date. Then I kissed you. I should’ve known it’d go this way. Let’s forget it. You and me…none of this is real.”
“I didn’t even think of it that way. I’m a dipshit, I guess. Whatever’s going on between us feels pretty real, but it’s best we not be involved. You’re right. It’d be too complicated. But you felt whatever this is, didn’t you?”
He was cute in his socially inept way. Yeah, she felt it.
“Look, right now has to be for show only,” she said. “There’s too much at stake for us to throw the mind fuck of sex into the mix. I can’t lose focus. You shouldn’t, either. Let’s not go in this direction. Let’s work to figure out how to take Symphis down.”
“You’re right. Sorry.” His hair stuck up at odd angles. Her doing.
She compressed her lips together as she admired the long lines of his shoulders and his strong arms. “Pretty sure I’m 51 percent responsible for what happened. Apology unnecessary.”
“I’ve got something for you.” He pushed up to a stand and went over to his hall table. He held out a small, round item. “Tom said to take this. It’s a listening device and tracker. Take it with you to the Stadium from now on.”
“Looks like a button.” She scrutinized the tiny piece.
