by Candace Shaw
“Wow, so he really didn’t show up for the wedding? I’m sure Elle was crushed. I couldn’t imagine being left at the altar.”
“Yeah, she was pretty inconsolable. My other cousin Cannon and I tried to talk some sense into Brax, but he just couldn’t go through with it. He wasn’t ready, but now they’re married and happy. They’re soul mates. Get off at the upcoming exit,” he suggested. “There’s a shortcut that I use. Shaves off about seven minutes, and sometimes my exit is backed up during this time of day.”
“No problem.” The quicker the better, she thought before she took him up on his offer. The side of her that still reminisced about the kiss wanted to play; however, she didn’t know if she could handle being alone with him anymore.
“So, are you going to play the racing game with me?”
Dang it. She’d hoped he was teasing or had forgotten. “Um...don’t you have plenty of girls on rotation? I’m sure they would love to play with you,” she joked, veering toward the exit.
He chuckled. “Turn right at the light, and no, I prefer to play with the woman seated next to me.”
“Preston...”
“I promise not to flirt.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She turned right and recognized the intersection. “You’ve been flirting for the past ten minutes.”
“Seriously, I would love for you to play the racing game with me, and Hope wants you to come, too.” He glanced at the sleeping dog stretched out in the backseat. “Don’t you, girl?”
“She’s been snoring for the past twenty minutes, but fine. Besides, I’m curious about the game.” What the heck did I just say?
Twenty minutes later, she found herself in the game room playing Ms. Pac-Man while waiting for Preston, who was preparing Hope’s food. Blythe couldn’t believe she’d agreed to come up, but a part of her needed to prove to herself that whatever she thought she felt for Preston wasn’t real and that she could be comfortable around him.
“I see you went straight to Ms. Pac-Man,” he said, entering the room and setting some platters of food on a table in the bar area. “My personal chef stopped by earlier and left dinner in the fridge. Do you like Thai food? It’s curried cashew chicken with carrots and brown rice.”
“I do, but don’t prolong the beating you’re about to receive in the racing game. I always win.” Wait. Did I just challenge a gamer?
“Uh-huh. You do know what I do for a living, right? Plus, I know it may not seem like it, but I’m a techie nerd at heart. A true gamer. I will win. I will destroy you, so buckle up, baby girl.”
“Ha!” She walked over to the racing game. “What side do you want?”
Joining her, he waved his hand in front of it. “I’m a gentleman. I’ll let you pick.”
She slid into the right side, and he followed suit on the left. He scooted his seat back a tad to accommodate his long legs. His right leg brushed her left one, and she wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or not, but when she glanced at him, he winked and moved it.
“Are you ready?” she asked. Because I’m not.
“Born ready. It’s about to be on.” He revved the accelerator and placed his hands on the steering wheel.
She revved her side louder. “Prepare to eat my dust.”
“Oh, you want to make a small wager on that?”
“I’m sure your idea of a small wager is what I make in a year. No, thank you.”
“No, baby girl.” His voice deepened as a sly smile emerged. “Not money.”
Stifling a gulp, she cleared her throat. “Then what?” she inquired curiously as he scooted closer to her, ran his finger gently down her cheek and landed it on her lips. The subtle touch on her skin elicited emotions she couldn’t explain and reminded her of why she shouldn’t have come.
“Well? What do you want?” she questioned, regretting it as soon as she asked.
His lips curled into a naughty, How the Grinch Stole Christmas grin.
“One more kiss.”
* * *
As soon as he spoke his thoughts, Preston knew he had to be victorious. At first he’d considered letting Blythe win, until she started to challenge him and he realized she was dead serious. But wasn’t she aware that gaming was his life? He played online with other gamers who didn’t know he was the founder of JP3 Chase Technologies, the creator of half of the latest popular games on the market. They knew him only as The Chaser.
When Blythe had first entered the Winter Wonderland venue earlier, he’d wanted to strip her of her painter’s jumpsuit, pull off the hair scarf and devour her right there. The past few days since their kiss had been thought-provoking and awakening, to say the least. His mind had raced with all kinds of amorous thoughts about them, and he found himself wanting to know so much more about her. But he needed to kiss her once more. He needed to make sure it wasn’t a phase he was going through because it was the holidays, and he was in a sentimental mood.
Women didn’t stay on his mind like this. He’d never thought about a woman when he was in his element, but Blythe and the kiss were in the forefront of his brain during the technology conference. Even when he was at Braxton’s club or at Elle’s fashion show, not a single woman piqued his interest. They were downright beautiful women and normally he would’ve flirted with them all, taken the sexiest one back to his hotel room at the Waldorf Astoria and had hot sex all night. Instead he ignored them all, went back to his hotel, ordered a romantic comedy movie and thought about Blythe all night. He knew this woman was different than the rest when he watched a romantic comedy and enjoyed it.
Stopping by the venue tonight wasn’t on his agenda, but he knew she would be there and he had to see her again. His private jet couldn’t land fast enough. He had to make sure he wasn’t going crazy for her, but when he witnessed her affectionately feeding carrots to his dog, he knew this woman was special.
Preston rested his eyes on her face. She was speechless, to say the least, but he was glad she hadn’t darted out of there, either. But when a sly smile emerged as if she was up for the challenge, he realized maybe he had her pegged wrong. Maybe she really could play and play well. Or maybe, like him, she needed to sort out her feelings and wanted to kiss him again. He hoped it was the latter.
“Fine, and if I win, you can never flirt with me again,” she stated seriously.
That was a promise he knew he couldn’t keep. “Then don’t look so damn scrumptious and adorable in front of me, baby girl.”
“Whatever. Let’s get this race going.”
After agreeing on the course in Thailand to go with their cuisine for the evening, they started the race. He had to stay focused and concentrate on the task at hand, for winning the game meant so much more than earning the higher score. He had to admit, while she wasn’t a pro like him, she could keep up and was quite competitive. She was on his tail and had even jetted in front of him at one point, but he zoomed past and she swerved, causing her to crash into the wall and blow up her last car. She screamed out “No!” and jumped up and ran as if she was actually running away from the burning car.
He chuckled. “You’re hilarious, woman.”
Leaning against the pool table, she laughed uncontrollably. “Dang it... I just lost.”
“Not entirely. I mean, kissing me again is definitely not a loss.”
She stopped laughing, and a serious expression reached her face as if she’d forgotten they’d made a bet.
“You mean...like this second? Can we eat first?” she questioned, glancing over at the food. “We don’t want a cold dinner.”
“I have a microwave behind the bar.”
Pursing her lips together, she grasped the edge of the pool table. “That’s right. You did win.”
“I always do, baby girl.”
* * *
Blythe couldn’t believe this was happening. Again. S
he couldn’t believe she’d made a bet, and a nonsensical bet at that, with a gamer. Sure, she’d won video games the majority of the time before, but usually she was playing against the computer, not an actual person who just so happened to invent video games for a living. She grasped the pool table harder, and her breath lodged in her lungs as she waited for his next move. He was still seated but held her eyes in his smoldering gaze, and she couldn’t tear them away. However, he just sat there. Had he changed his mind? Was he messing with her? Why was he prolonging it? He was the one who had suggested one more kiss, and for some damn reason, she’d agreed. Now she just wanted to get it over with so she could breathe again.
“Changed your mind?” she asked. “Scared you won’t forget it? Scared it’s going to keep you up at night?” Like the last one did to me, tossing and turning with insomnia?
A sinfully sexy grin inched up his jaw as he let out a wicked snicker. “Why are you way over there? I would say you’re the scared one.”
“I’m not scared of kissing you again. I wouldn’t have agreed to the bet if I was.” She strolled back over with lead legs weighing her down like an anchor and tingles seared across her skin. “Just like last time, it’s not going to mean anything.” She slid back into her seat and turned her body toward him. “Go ahead. Lay it on me and then we can dive into the Thai food. I’m starving.”
Preston didn’t answer but instead yanked her to him and scooped her up so that he cradled her in his arms. His intense stare returned as he brushed his lips on hers. His touch was light. Tender and sweet. For a moment she thought that was all he was going to do and was about to release a sigh of relief, but his tongue sought hers and circled around it. The kiss was deep and slow. Arousing wasn’t even the word as he delved into her mouth more profoundly with each passing second. This kiss was different than before. It was more passionate and heat-filled than the last one, and she hadn’t thought that was possible. But this time it was as if she’d missed him and needed to be wrapped in his embrace.
A disappointed shiver rushed over her when he pulled back. His mouth lingered over hers while his eyes were intoxicated with lust. Was he stopping? She sure hoped not as she deepened her tongue into his mouth, which released a pleased groan and a half smile from him. She couldn’t get enough of his tantalizing tongue looping with hers in a kiss that shot electric bolts from the roots of her hair down to her red-painted toenails.
Lifting her body up but not leaving his dangerous mouth, Blythe straddled his lap and wrapped her hands around his neck. His hands settled on her hips, pulling her even closer to him as the welcomed assault on her lips never ended. The erotic sounds that arose from her throat were startling and out of character. When his lips left hers, she was about to yell out no, but he placed them on the side of her neck, which awakened more unfamiliar moans. Clenching his shoulders, she leaned her head back as he nibbled on and licked her skin with fast, fervent strokes. He wasn’t letting up anytime soon, it seemed, and that was fine with her. The blissful passion that erupted in her settled at her center. She tried to compress the tingles by shifting on his lap, but that only made the hardness of him pulse through his pants.
“This isn’t part of the bet,” she whispered.
“Do you want me stop?” he asked, resting his eyes on hers.
His question shocked her. “No, I’m fine.”
“Tell me when you need me to and I will.”
“Okay.”
He continued trailing kisses on her skin, and she surprised herself by not stopping him, but she trusted his sincerity. Some of the men she’d gone out with would do everything in their power to make her go all the way. But this time, if she wasn’t careful, she was going to make the decision herself. And she had a feeling she wouldn’t regret it. That scared her. She was supposed to have willpower, but now being with Preston was breaking down the barrier as no other man had been able.
“Um...” She tapped his shoulder.
“Now?” He slid his hands from her butt and rested them on her waist.
“No, it’s just cramped in here. My back is pushing into the steering wheel.”
“Hold on to me.”
After she wrapped her arms around his neck, he slid out of the game and slammed his lips on hers once more as he carried her to the sectional leather couch and laid her down on it with him following on top of her.
“Better?” he asked, hovering his lips over hers.
“Yes.”
He captured her lips again and sank in deeper, showing no mercy. He rested his hands on either side of her face, and she was almost disappointed they weren’t roaming over her body. However, she was grateful he was being respectful. She ran her hand up to his hair and wove it into his lush, dark, silky curls. A guttural groan rushed from him, and he jerked up and stared at her with dark, heated eyes.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you, Prez. You’re not so bad yourself, handsome.”
She reached her lips up to meet his, but he breathed out as a strained expression crossed his features, and he shifted slightly on her. That’s when she felt him hard against her center. She gulped as he cupped her face and trembled against her body.
Blythe cracked a smile. Maybe she wasn’t the one having an issue. She was used to having willpower, even though Preston was chipping away at it. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I...um...may need to stop before I begin to want something I can’t have, and I respect you too much even to ask.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you. Most men would try to coax me or convince me otherwise.”
He slid off her and sat up on the couch, facing her. Titling her head, she stared at him in disbelief.
“I’m not a perv.”
“No. I wouldn’t be here if I thought you were. It’s just... I...” She stopped. Was she really about to be honest with him?
“Truth moment. It’s something my parents would say to me and Tiff growing up. So, truth moment. What do you want to tell me?”
She knew about the truth moments. She’d heard Tiffani say it to her son when she knew he wasn’t being honest about something and needed to confess.
Clearing the frog from her throat, she decided to come clean. After all, they were adults, and game time was over. “I’m very comfortable with you, and I’m surprised. That’s all.”
“I’m glad you are, Blythe. I’ve always admired you from a distance, and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together lately, getting to know each other.”
“Me, too.”
“So, how do you feel about us continuing on this path? I promise, no pressure, but I...I like you, a lot. I’d love to see where this could go. Tiffani has joked to me about hooking us up since we met. My sister knows me well, and I think she feels that we would be good together. I’ve always trusted her judgment.”
Blythe couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. She’d kept him at bay and out of her thoughts because of his playboy ways. However, here she was contemplating exploring more with him, and the fact that they’d just had another mind-blowing kissing session wasn’t helping her clouded mind at the moment.
“I didn’t think you were the dating type. It always seemed as if you’ve had a different woman on your arm every other week.”
“I am, but sometimes the women I go out with turn out to be what I would consider not the dating type. Some of them only want to date me because of who I am, or rather who they think I am. I’m not going to lie to you and say that I haven’t had my share of one-night stands, friends-with-benefits or women-of-the-month, as Tiffani likes to say. But after a while that gets old, and hell, so am I. Yes, when I first met you, I was in awe of everything about you and laid on the charm. There was something about you that I knew I would have to commit to. I told you before I wasn’t ready for a woman like you. But spending these last fe
w days with you has woken me up, and I’d like to explore where this could lead. There’s something between us. We can go as slow as you want, and if it doesn’t work out, we could still be friends.”
Blythe soaked in everything he said, and in her heart she knew he was sincere. When she’d first met him, she was very much attracted to him as well, but because of his rep, she hadn’t wanted to go down that road with him.
“I’d like that, but for now, let’s keep this between us just in case we realize that kissing is the only thing we have in common.”
“Perfect, and just so you know, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment or juggling a slew of women, in case you were concerned about that.”
“I wasn’t, but now that you mention it...didn’t you have a hot date that night when you carried the tree inside for me?” she reminded him with a questioning smirk.
“I did and I canceled it. I ended up going to KJ’s karate tournament. I don’t like missing those. And are you seeing anyone?”
“Uh...no. Unless you count you, then no.”
“I count.” Standing, he grabbed her hand. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“Can we eat on the chaise lounges by the fireplace? They’re so comfortable.”
“No problem. I spend a lot of time there...staring at your painting and lately thinking more about the breathtaking artist.”
She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Didn’t I tell you my kisses are unforgettable?”
“That you did,” he replied, kissing her forehead.
Once they were settled with their food, Blythe was in such a daze she could barely concentrate on eating the delicious food. The turn of events happened so fast, but in a way, their light, fun back-and-forth banter over the past year had set them up for the moment they were experiencing now. She caught his eyes on her and an expression that told her he wanted to ask her something.
“What?”
“Tell me, why did you decide to take a dating break? I know you said it had nothing to do with a broken heart, but I’m just curious, if you don’t mind.”