Page 24 of The Billionaire Gamemaker

“What does she need four security guards for? Lucy is tiny.”

“It’s just part of the process.”

Blue gives me an inquisitive look. “What process? She can just leave and go home.”

I shake my head, speaking in a low voice. “It’s not that simple.”

“What do you mean it’s not that simple? We’re all here willingly.”

“So you think,” I say, and can feel her assessing eyes on my face. But I ignore her for now. There are wandering ears around as I guide us up the staircase to the room we can now share.

“Tell me, Laurence,” she urges quietly. There’s something in her tone that makes me consider telling her the truth. Something close to fear.

Surrendering to her inquiring gaze, I lean in and say under my breath, “The only way off this island is to win. It will serve you well to focus on being the victor.”

Blue pulls away, that fire igniting in her eyes. Her lips part as if she’s about to say something, but then she sinks into a quiet cindering.

The disqualified Player, Lucy, is escorted past us. She looks around nervously, but is quietly led out of the door of the manor. Blue is watching her fellow Player intently, but I know Lucy won’t be considered a Player for too much longer.

And I worry I might have already said too much.

Chapter Ten: Eve

The Secrets of Men

The room is dark, the blinds folded shut, but with outlined in subtle illumination with the light that filters in through the slats. I have never been more grateful for air conditioning as the rush of coolness hits my skin. Laurence’s room is like Ivan’s; a large, livable space with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and master bathroom. The bed on the far wall of the space looks far more enticing than it should, adorned with a plush white comforter atop a king size mattress on a four-poster canvas bed frame. I bet it’s like sleeping on a cloud.

Exhaustion from the games catches up to me as I think about what it would feel like to sleep in Laurence’s bed.

He carries me to the bed as I sink deeper and deeper into his touch. Gently placing me atop the comforter, he kneels in front of me, positioning my legs on either side of him as he unfastens the garters around my thighs.

“You don’t have to do that. I can do it,” I say, even my words feel heavy on my tongue. His touch burns my skin in a good way.

I try to move his hands aside to work on the unfastening myself, but he grabs my wrists, his hand encircling it completely. His face is cast in the stripes from the blinds, the light falling over his dark gaze. “Iwantto,” he says firmly, placing my hands at my sides as he continues to work on undoing the garter belt and corset, removing each piece of lingerie he picked out for me.

Once I’m stripped naked, it becomes clear to me that I have no clothes. All my belongings are still in the remote cabin he moved me to yesterday. There’s discomfort in the idea of leaving my belongings behind, especially a specific item that recently came into my possession.

The book,I think as Laurence collects my delicates and heads to the dresser, placing the set in a drawer.If the wrong person finds that book…

A cold feeling that isn’t from the air conditioning slithers over me. For one, somebody finding the book and confiscating it would hinder me from the vital advice it holds. Two, I have no idea if it will get me in trouble, or someone else in trouble, for that matter. It appeared to have been hidden, untouched for some time, but I still wanted to protect its contents at all costs.

“Am I, uh…” I trail off, finding myself surprisingly nervous to inquire about my belongings.

To ask about the book, more like, I think to myself, clutching the comforter in my fingers.Just ask.

Laurence turns his attention toward me, waiting for me to finish my statement.

“Where are my belongings?”

“My assistants brought them in.” He turns his back to me again, pushing the dresser drawer shut.

“Everything?” I ask, a little nervous to know if the book was acquired as well.

“Yes, everything.” He enters the closet without another word, and I think how infuriating his silent, brooding personality is when it’s not unbearably sexy. This is one of those times where it’s infuriating.

Rising from the bed, still completely naked, I approach Laurence in the closet when he suddenly emerges. Standing before him, he looks down at me and hands me the book. “This seemed like something you wanted.”

I take it tentatively from his grasp. “Did you look at it?”

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