Playing Games (Endgame Series Book 3)

by Cara E Holt

  “Grayson’s dad is trying to marry him off to some air-head socialite for a business deal.” I explain.

  Izzy’s eyes widen, and she turns her attention to Grayson. “Seriously?”

  Grayson nods in response.

  “That is fucked up. I mean this is not the eighteenth century!”

  Grayson sniggers. “Yeah, well, you’ve met my Dad, Izz, so this should not surprise you one bit.”

  Izzy reaches over and grabs the gaming remote off him. “This is serious shit. Why are you playing along with this?”

  Grayson rolls his eyes, clearly not wanting to have another conversation about this subject. “I’m biding my time, that’s all. I just have to make the right noises until my inheritance comes through from mum’s will.”

  Izzy looks at me, brow arched. “And you’re okay with this?”

  I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Of course I’m not okay with it, but I’ll have to live with it for now.”

  Grayson pulls me from my seat at his side and on to his lap. “You know it means nothing.”

  I nod, running my hands along his shoulders. “I know. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.Can’t you just move out? Dad would let you stay here if you told him what is going on.”

  Grayson grimaces. “If it were that simple I’d have done that straight away, but he still has to pay my final terms tuition. I can’t afford to miss this last term and my exams.”

  I look at him in horror. “He wouldn’t do that though, would he?”

  Grayson scoffs. “You’ve met my dad, right? He’ll do anything to get what he wants.”

  Little did Grayson know how true that is. I am still wrestling with whether I should tell him about his dad’s attempt to buy me out of his life, but I don’t want to hurt Grayson any more than his father has already done so countless times over the years. Over the years he has grown used to his disappointment in his father, and I don’t want to add to that.

  THE WEEK PASSES BY quickly. Paige is a thorn in my side of college. Constantly talking loudly whenever I am nearby about the weekend away and her new BFF Imogen. Imogen, with her perfect blonde hair and blue eyes. Imogen, with her fifty thousand followers on insta and even more on her you-tube channel. I torture myself by looking her up and scrolling through photo after photo of her in some barely there bikini or in her underwear. She looks like she belongs on the cover of a magazine, and it makes me feel insecure and insignificant. I hate that I am feeling so insecure. I know Grayson loves me, but I can’t help those insecurities niggling away in my mind. Grayson can have any girl he wants and together they would look like the ultimate couple, both devastatingly gorgeous and powerful and rich. They are on paper, a perfect match. So, by the time Friday comes around, I’m an anxious ball of nerves and anxiety.

  “Okay enough,” Grayson declares, indicating and pulling his car over on to a side road. “You have been quiet and moody all week. What’s wrong Manchester?”

  I avoid his searching eyes. I feel weak and pathetic in admitting I feel insecure about this girl. “I’m fine,” I protest.

  He gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t believe me one bit. “Talk to me.”

  Sighing and folding my arms protectively around my body, and meet his gaze. “Will she be there this weekend again, the blonde goddess?”

  Realisation dawns on my man’s face. “So, this is why you have been crabby all week?” He kills the engine and turns in his seat so he can face me. “Yes, she will be there. You don’t need to worry about her one bit, Manchester.”

  I scoff and look away. “Have you seen her? She looks like a model, with her perfect face and her perfect body.”

  I hear him release a deep sigh before I feel his fingers under my chin as he gently forces me to meet his eyes. “You are ten times more beautiful than she is.”

  I scoff again and go to protest, but he shakes his head at me. “Listen to me, sweet cheeks. Do you not see how others see you? You’re so stunning that sometimes I pinch myself that you’re mine. How did I possibly deserve someone so beautiful inside and out? Imogen may look perfect on the outside, but that’s where the illusion ends. Inside she’s self-centred, vein and shallow.” He sighs again and cups my face in his hands. “Does the fact that I have you tattooed into my skin not tell you something? I love you so much it scares me, Manchester. The thought of my life without you in it,” he shudders, “is unbearable.”

  My insides flutter with delight at his beautiful declaration. “Ditto.”

  He smiles, his blue eyes twinkling. “Trust me. Trust in us.”

  “I do, I will.” I nod.

  Seeming satisfied, he leans in and kisses me. His kiss conveys all of what he has just said and then some more. He pours everything into it, making sure I do not doubt his love for me. “No more talking about Imogen. I want to spend the next couple of hours, lost in you. Okay?”

  My core heats with desire at his words. “I’m down with that,” I tell him with a wry grin.

  We reach Grayson’s house and the minute we are inside; he throws me over his shoulder and strides up the stairs like a man on a mission. He throws me down onto his bed and I bounce down on to the mattress. My guy stands at the foot of the bed and studies every inch of me, like he is committing me to memory.

  “This is what I’ll be thinking about tomorrow night. You laid out on my bed like this.” He lifts his t-shirt over his head and throws it behind him. “Of your legs wrapped around me and those little breathy moans you make.” He pulls the zipper down on his jeans and steps out of them and then his boxers quickly follow. He strokes his hard cock with his hands, biting his lips as he watches me. “The only one I desire is you. You’re my obsession, Manchester. I can’t get enough of you.” He slowly crawls over me until his face hovers above mine. Grayson lightly brushes his lips over my own, making me tingle from head to toe with need. His hands reach for the bottom of my school shirt and he tugs at the buttons that pop open and he greedily drinks in my white lace bra. He leans down and sucks one nipple into his mouth through the sheer fabric, and I intake a sharp breath. His lips move across my chest until he gently kisses the tattoo that now sits beside the one I had for my mum. The Celtic heart, with posh engraved in tiny writing along the intricate design.

  “Mine,” he says, his voice firm and sure. He reaches behind me and unclasps my bra and he pulls it down my arms and throws it somewhere across the room and then his lips are back on my skin, sending shivers down my body and making me yearn for more. His hands pull at the zipper on my pleated skirt and he tugs it down and off. My white lace panties quickly follow. He leans up on his knees from in-between my legs and he devours me from head to toe with lust filled eyes. “Open your legs for me, baby.”

  Flushing slightly, I drop my legs open wider and he grins as he drinks all of me in.

  “So fucking perfect. So fucking mine.” And then his mouth disappears down my body until he licks at my folds and I whimper at the feel of his touch. He works me to a heady frenzy until I am clasping at his hair and moaning his name and crashing over the waves of my climax. He doesn’t give me time to recover as he turns me so that I am on my front. Grayson lifts my hips up and he thrusts inside me in one quick hard thrusts and I moan at the fullness of him inside me. He pounds furiously in and out with each thrust, owning me. I grasp onto the headboard as he grips my hair around his hand and he pulls me back until my back is against his chest. I moan as the position makes it deeper. He kisses my neck as he continues to pound into me. I love it when he’s like this, possessive, greedy, and he doesn’t hold back.

  I moan loudly as I chase my orgasm. I don’t care that there could be anyone around to hear us; I am too caught up in him and the way he makes me feel.

  “Come for me, baby. Let me hear you,” He urges and I arch my hips into him as I come, shouting his name and declaring my love for him. He grunts loudly with satisfaction as he moves faster and I know he is close. I move my hips to meet his movements and he groans and swears incohe
rently about my magic pussy before he empties himself inside of me. “Fuck,” he exclaims as he pulls out of me and he tenderly kisses my shoulder. “Never doubt this, Manchester. We’re endgame you and I.” He drops down onto the bed at my side and he playfully slaps my arse.

  I remain lying on my front and drink him as he lies beside me, catching his breath. He opens his eyes, and he smirks at me, rolling onto his side and placing his lips over mine. “You okay?”

  I nod. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m sorry for coming across needy.”

  He shakes his head, a frown forming. “Don’t apologise. Just trust me sweet cheeks. Trust in this.”

  Chapter 5

  SATURDAY DRAGS SOMETHING chronic. Dom is with Izzy today, they are at her cousin’s twenty-first birthday garden party. I am so bored that I end up spending a good few hours building Lego with Olly. He is police mad at the moment and my dad bought him a new police Lego set for doing well at his swimming, so we have spent the afternoon building that and making a jail cell for all the bad guys his policeman is going to catch.

  My phone pings and I leave Olly to check it, thinking it will be Grayson. I frown when I see Tyler’s name on my screen.

  Hey, how are you?

  I stare at the message for a few seconds as I debate whether or not to respond. I didn’t want to give out the wrong message.

  I’m good. You?

  His reply comes a few seconds later.

  I’m good. I’m just talking about you with this one.

  I smile when a photo of him, Courtney and Jake, all in a group photo pulling stupid faces, accompanies the text.

  When are you up north again?

  No idea. Prob not for a while.

  I laugh when he sends me a sad, emoji face.

  You have to come up for my birthday in April. It’s the big 20!

  I’ll see what I can do.

  I don’t know why I text that, because I have no intention of attending his birthday celebrations. Tyler has made it clear he wants more than friendship, and I need to steer clear and not give any false messages. I put my phone down on the sofa and re-join Olly. My mind keeps wondering to what Grayson is doing right now. Is he with her? I reach for my phone again and I can’t help but go to her instagram page. I should know better than to torture myself. My heart drops when I see her latest post. It’s a photo of her in a tiny fitted pale blue dress, and beside her is Grayson. Her manicured fingers wrap around his bicep and the photo is accompanied by the caption ‘weekend shenanigans with this guy.’

  It’s the comments that gut me, though. One after the other, speculating if they are dating and how much of a gorgeous couple they make and the hash tag couple goals. My heart sinks. I do trust him, but I can’t help feeling like I’m going to lose him.

  I pick my phone up and call Lottie, and I’m just about to give up on her answering when she picks up.

  “Hey, Ev.”

  “Hi. What are you up to?”

  She giggles, and then the sound is muffled. “Uh, sorry, what did you say?”

  “I asked what you were up to? Am I interrupting something?”

  “No, of course not,” she proclaims quickly. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. You’re obviously busy. I’m just bored and thought I’d call you for a chat.”

  “Oh, okay. Listen, can I ring you back later?”

  “Yeah sure.” I tell her before ending the call.

  I need a distraction, and everyone is busy. I find myself video calling Courtney, who picks up straight away.

  “Hey girl!” She answers with a big smile.

  “Where are you?” I ask her, seeing she is somewhere crowded and noisy. She turns her camera on her phone round to show me behind her. “I’m at Queens. There’s a live band on. Remember Zac from school? Well, it’s his band. They’re fantastic.”

  Courtney squeals when Tyler’s head pops up over her shoulder onto the screen.

  “Hey gorgeous,” he says with a cheeky wink.

  “Hey Ty.”

  He reaches for Courtney’s phone and wrestles it off her and moves through the room until he gets outside where it’s quiet.

  “So, Everly Taylor, are you coming home for my party?”

  I roll my eyes and smile. “I said I’ll try.”

  “Nuh-huh, that aint good enough. I want a definitive yes. Come on, Taylor. You know no one parties like us northerners.”

  “I’ll try. I’m saying no more than that.” I pull my eyes away from the screen and pick at some lint on my joggers.

  “What’s eating you beautiful?”

  I look back at the screen to find him studying me.

  “Nothing. Just bored and got things on my mind.”

  He nods as he sits down on a bench. “Talk to me. I’m a good listener.”

  I chuckle. Tyler did not strike me as the type to listen to people’s problems. “It’s nothing. I’m just being pathetic and insecure.”

  “In what way?”

  I sigh. “My boyfriends at some business event and there’s this gorgeous girl that attends them and she is posting photos of the two of them.”

  Tyler frowns. “Why aren’t you at the event with him?”

  “His dad doesn’t like me. He even tried to bribe me with money to break up with his son.”

  Tyler reels in surprise. “That’s fucked up Ev. If you were mine, I’d take you with me whether or not my dad liked it. If you were mine, Taylor, I’d show you off at every opportunity I got.”

  I roll my eyes again. “Quit it, Ty.”

  He grins knowingly at the screen. “What, I’m being honest. Being serious though, do you trust him?”

  I pause before I answer. “Yeah, I trust him. It’s her I don’t trust.”

  Tyler shrugs. “You don’t need to trust her. If you trust him, that’s all that matters.”

  “Who’d have thought Tyler the player giving out relationship advice.” I chuckle.

  He grins and winks at me. “Maybe I’m not so much of a player anymore.”

  I scoff, and he holds his hand over his heart and pouts. “You wound me, Taylor. You think I can’t do serious?”

  “Nope,” I answer, laughing.

  “Who’s the girl, anyway?”

  “Imogen Hilton. You should see her, insta.” I groan.

  Tyler lift his own phone out of his pocket and start typing with his other hand on his screen.

  “Wow!” he exclaims.

  “See?” I groan.“Now do you see why I’m worried?”

  Tyler shakes his head. “She’s no more stunning than you are, Taylor. I prefer brunettes myself.”

  I give him a pointed look.

  “I’m serious,” he protests. “She just owns her beauty whereas you shy away from yours. Trust me, a girl who ain’t full of herself is far more attractive to a guy.”

  “I suppose,” I reply.

  “Evy, can I say hello.” Olly leans over my shoulder, moseying at whom I am talking to.

  “Tyler meet my little brother, Olly.”

  “Hey kid,” Tyler says with a smile and a salute.

  “Who are you?” Olly asks, scrunching up his face when he realises it’s a stranger.

  “I’m an old friend of your sisters. I’m trying to convince her to come to my birthday party.”

  “Will there be cake?” Olly asks, his eyes widening with interest.

  Tyler nods. “A big cake.”

  “Evy likes cake,” Olly tells him. “She had three pieces of the cake mum made yesterday.”

  I cover his mouth with my hand. “Little grass,” I joke. “What happened to the code?”

  He giggles. “I forgot. Can I come to your party?” he asks Tyler.

  “Ah, I’m sorry kid, but my parties are for grown-ups.”

  Ollie sighs, disappointed. “Can Evy bring me some cake home then?”

  “For sure,” Tyler says, grinning.

  “Then she’s coming to your party,” he tells Tyler firmly.

  I prod Olly p
layfully in the arm. “Err, excuse me, mister. I’ll decide if I go or not.”

  Olly giggles, his tight dark curls bouncing as he laughs. “Come on, Evy, I want to build a police bike next.”

  I shake my head, smiling. “Okay, okay, I’m coming.” I turn my attention back to Tyler who is watching us, smiling. “I got to go. Make sure you give my friend her phone back.”

  Tyler grins. “I’ll make a deal. I’ll give her, her phone back if you promise to come to my party.”

  I shake my head with a smile. He is relentless. “Okay, Okay. What weekend is it?”

  “The weekend before Good Friday. I’ll text you the deets.”

  “Sure. I can’t believe your blackmailing me into coming.”

  He grins and shrugs. “A guys got to do what a guys got to do. See you soon, Taylor.”

  “See ya, Ty.” I grin at the phone and shake my head. I’d not expected to talk with Ty and certainly not to talk to him about my relationship issues. I am suddenly feeling a bit homesick. I miss the old and the familiar; it is like a blanket around my insecurities. I move back to sit with Olly and we start to build more police vehicles and somehow I manage to keep myself distracted for the rest of the day and evening.

  BY TWO O’CLOCK SUNDAY I haven’t heard from Grayson and it is increasing my paranoia and anxiety. Why hasn’t he text me yet? He said he would head home first thing Sunday morning. I have gone to call his number three times already and then stopped myself. I don’t want to come across as needy. He will call me when he can. Maybe he was busy, or maybe he had a lie-in this morning. Or maybe he’d been up all night with a leggy blonde. Jesus, I have to stop these constant thoughts. I hate that I am being so insecure. Is this what loving someone turned you into?

  I head down to the den and find Dom playing Mario Kart with Olly. Olly is giggling excitedly as he overtakes Dom and I sit down beside him and cheer him on.

  “Have you heard from Grayson?” I ask Dom.

  He shakes his head, keeping his eyes on the screen. “Not since last night.”

  ‘He texted you last night?” I ask, trying to sound casual.