Page 38 of Boss Level

dominic

As Xander stepped up to take his shot, he pushed up the long sleeves of his Henley to almost his elbows, leaving tattooed forearms corded with muscle on perfect display. The way his body flexed with each movement felt more exaggerated than last turn.

Not that I minded.

And he made his shot.

My turn.

I almost felt ridiculous, fondling a pool cue. Taking my time gliding my hand along the shaft, brushing my thumb over the tip before chalking it. I stopped short of fellating the damn thing, but I had Xander’s attention regardless.

Judith didn’t look quite as captivated.

I’d need a better gimmick for the next round.

Judith strolled up to the table, her fingers sliding along the long chain that hung around her neck. The one with my ring on the end. She slipped her touch smoothly to undo one more button on her top and angled herself so that when she bent to take her shot, she offered a perfect view of her cleavage.

It was also a horrible angle to approach the balls from. “You’re never going to win that way,” I said.

She glided her tongue along her bottom lip and met my gaze without straightening up. “Aren’t I?”

When she knocked the cue ball, she probably barely struck her target, but I wasn’t paying attention to the balls on the table.

This would gnaw at the two of them. I wasn’t fond of losing, but they both hated it. Xander slid closer to me, until his arm pressed into mine. “I had a thought,” his voice was so low I barely heard it.

“Hey.” Judith stared at us. “Conspiring is against the rules.”

“It’s not,” I said.

Xander’s chuckle was low. “You know, if we redefinewinning, then it becomes easier,” he murmured in that same quiet voice. “Especially if she keeps taking off her clothes.”

Winning was winning, so I wasn’t sure his logic was sound, but I liked the desired outcome. “I’m in.”

“Are we playing, boys?” Judith stepped back from the table, eyeing us with suspicion.

Xander smirked. “We’re playing. My turn.” There was nothing unique or out of the ordinary about the way he approached to take his shot, except that he bent overmuchdeeper than he needed to, to sight the balls.

And then it was my turn. I felt a lot less peculiarnothaving to make out with the stick while I used it.

Judith studied us, brow furrowed, looking back and forth. “I don’t think either of you is trying.”

“We most certainly are.” The indignation in Xander’s voice was distinct.

“To win?” She asked in disbelief.

He nodded. “Without question.”

Cue in hand, Judith approached the table. She paused. “Are you still playing the same game I am?”

That didn’t take long.

“We are absolutely still playing with you,” I said.

She scoffed and rested her stick on the table. “Spoken like a top-notch attorney. That’s not what I asked.”

“Are you saying you’d like to make a plea bargain?” Hmm… That didn’t quite fit the conversation. I could take it back or leave it out there anyway.

She crossed her arms, exaggerating the curve of her breasts and the fact that she had extra buttons undone. “Pretty sure I’m not saying that. Positive you don’t practice that kind of law.”

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