Page 65 of Ensnared

Luckyshakes his head with atsk. “Sodistrustful.It’sheartbreaking.Goodto play?Youcan start.Askme a question.”

Hesets the drink down, walks to the side of the mat with red circles, and looks at me expectantly.

Hmm.Tappingmy lip,Ithink for a moment, then ask, “Wereyou really in a circus?”

Luckylaughs and then pouts as though disappointed in me. “Yes,” he replies, then puts his right foot on a red circle. “Whydid you love your favorite childhood toy?”

Iscowl at him.Right.Yesand no answers are a stupid idea.Istand, put down my drink and walk to the opposite side of the mat, the one with green circles.

“Ididn’t really have many childhood toys.Idid have an old shirt thatIloved whenIwas little.Itbelonged to my mother.ButIthrew it away whenIwas ten and realized she wasn’t ever going to come back.”Iput my left foot on a green circle in the corner farthest from him.SensingLucky’seyes on me,Iquickly ask, “Whydid you join the circus?”

WhenIlook at him, he smiles again, although it seems a little forced, andI’mgrateful.Idon’t like thinking about my absentee parents.

“Myparents were both acrobats.Theyran a cirque studio and taught classes with other people in their troupe in the off season.Thecircus itself was only set up during summer.Ipicked it up over the years, mostly.Iwas there after school every day, and everyone was willing to teach me.EventuallyIstarted teaching classes too.Easymoney doing something fun.”

Istudy him, all lean, catlike grace and power.Yes,Ican seeLuckyrunning around with a group of people who laughed and loved as freely as he seems to.Thethought has me smiling too.

“Ibet you were popular with the students,”Isay, and then wishIcould swallow the words.

Mycheeks flame, but he only winks.Thenhe pulls his shirt over his head in one smooth movement.

“Whatare you doing?”Isqueak.

Smooth, golden skin covers corded, defined muscles.Heisn’t bulky, but his clean lines and tight, cut abs send me right into danger of combustion.Iclench my hands as my fingers itch to slide over him, andItry to keep my gaze somewhere safe.

Damnit, he’s gorgeous.Nowhere’ssafe.

“Twisteris a game of strength and balance.Imustn’t be impeded by something so insignificant as a shirt,” he tells me in a fair imitation ofJasper’shaughty, silken tones.

Despitemy distraction,Ican’t help my unladylike snort.Assoon as it escapes me,Iclap a hand over my mouth, mortified.

Hefrowns. “Nuh-uh.Nosmothering laughs, smiles, snorts, or any other bodily functions.Exceptcoughs—because hygiene.Doit again andI’mgoing to claim a dare.”

Aftergiving me a mock-stern look, he dimples and then bends over backwards, stretching diagonally across the whole mat and placing his right hand on the green circle next to my foot.Itplaces his head under me, andIshift back so he can’t see up my skirt.Hismuscles ripple as his back arches in the unnatural position.

Ilick my lips and mutter, “Show-off.”

Mirthbright in his voice, he says, “Tellme the most ridiculous fact you know.”

“Thename for a fear of long words is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia,”Ireply instantly, relief lightening my voice.Ihad worried he’d press me more about my childhood, but it seemsLuckyreally does want to keep it light.

“Iam shocked and impressed that you know how to pronounce that.”

Istudy the mat, deciding where to place my hand.Luckymade it hard for me, stretched across the whole mat as he is.IfIplace my hand on the easy green circle beside his,I’llbe bent directly over him with my breasts in his face—and placing my right foot would be very difficult next round.

ButifIchoose a more comfortable circle on that side of him,I’dhave to straddle his head next round in order to reach a circle with my right foot.Hewould be able to see directly up my skirt.

He’smade this impossible.

EvenifIclaim a blue or red circle with my left hand onLucky’sother side—the side closest to me—I’dneed to stretch along his body.

Whichwould put my face right by his crotch.

But... thereismore empty space on this side.IfIstart there, thenImight actually be able to place my foot next turn without crawling on top of him.

“Youknow, it doesn’t usually take this long to choose a circle.Butif you’re trying to cheat by tiring me out, then let me just tell you—Ican do this all night.”Toemphasize his point, he lowers and raises himself twice in an odd kind of upside-down one-handed push-up that makes his stomach, pecs, and arms tighten.

Isplutter and glare down at him, ignoring the way my pulse skids.HadIworried about not feeling a thrill withLucky?Whatan idiotIam.Itmight not be the maddening freedomIfelt whenJayk,Beau, orJaspertook control, but there’s something else here.Somethingjoyful and scorching and giddy.Somethingthat makes me want to melt into him and spend days giggling in sun-soaked meadows.

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